Category: d100 random tables

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d100 Book Titles

 

How familiar is this scenario? Your players’ characters enter an old study, library, or town bookstore and immediately ask what kind of books they find.

The problem is, you’re not prepared to answer that question. Maybe you were rushed in designing your adventure, or perhaps whoever wrote the adventure didn’t bother to tell you.

Have no fear!

Below are 100 titles of books you can use to help flesh out the more literary settings in your adventures. Some are serious. Some are a bit tongue-in-cheek. While none of the books listed are inherently magical, there is no reason why you couldn’t imbue some with eldritch features.

Read through the list and see if any titles speak to you, or roll a d100 to pick one at random and improvise on the spot. Not all titles will fit all settings. That’s okay. Reroll and/or adjust as you need.

Have fun!

d100 Books!

  1. The Book of Common Law
  2. Carnivorous Gardening
  3. The Book of Twelve Seasons
  4. A Journey Beyond the Veil
  5. Raising Weasels With Confidence
  6. What Lights Shine Forever? A History of Sun Deities
  7. A Short History of Dwarves
  8. What Color Is Your Dragon?
  9. Samwell’s Guide to Arms and Armor
  10. The Silent Bard and Other Myths
  11. The Letters of Saint Cuthbert
  12. Secret Doors and Passages (bad poetry collection)
  13. A Journeyman’s Guide to Barrel Making
  14. Basic Carpentry For Complex Dungeons
  15. The Great Extraplanar Hoax
  16. Fungal Crop Rotation For Underground Dwellers
  17. How To Use a Sundial In the Rain
  18. Farming Wheat, Barley, and Giant Frogs
  19. A Caretaker’s Guide to Giant Centipedes
  20. 101 Untraceable Poisons
  21. All Giants Great and Small
  22. 50 Things To Do With a Dead Lich
  23. Beauty Is In the Eyes of the Beholder
  24. Planning Your Castle Construction
  25. Tavern Management In Rural Areas
  26. The Assassin’s Inspiration (just a hollowed-out book with a dagger hidden in it)
  27. Accidental Pickpocketing and Other Excuses
  28. Spells We Are Still Trying To Make Work
  29. Samwell’s Guide To Wands
  30. The Legend of Tucker’s Kobolds
  31. Potatoes That Resemble Goblins: A Pictorial
  32. Basic Ammunition Accounting for Archers, Crossbowers, and Slingers
  33. Vines: Small, Medium, Giant
  34. Defeating a Heavy Iron Gate
  35. Counting to Ten for Orcs
  36. The Arrow of Benevolent Intent
  37. Monstrous Philosophies
  38. Thirty Ways To Skin a Dragon
  39. Warlock vs Sorcerer: How To Spot the Difference
  40. Tower Defenses, What Works and What Does Not
  41. Samwell’s Guide To Holy Symbols
  42. Prayers For the Righteous
  43. Identifying Grubs, Worms, and Sentient Fungi
  44. Wyverns, Wyrms, Drakes & Dragons: The Differences
  45. Recipes For Disaster: A Cookbook
  46. A Field Guide To Fey
  47. 1001 Things To Do Underground
  48. A History of Thieve Guilds
  49. Weather Manipulation and Farm Management
  50. The Whole Hollow World Atlas
  51. The Great Bird Hoax
  52. The Physics Behind interdimensional Portals, Bags, and Holes
  53. What’s Behind That Door? A Listener’s Handbook
  54. Turnips. The Gods’ Own Gift To the World
  55. How To Make a Lantern Out Of a Skull
  56. Candlemaking for Clerics
  57. Surveillance Techniques That Don’t Work
  58. The Myth of the Useful Bard
  59. Samwell’s Guide To Useless Glyphs
  60. Thieves Cant… or Can They?
  61. Hunting Mushrooms In the Dark
  62. Cursed Idols and Relics of the Desert
  63. Climate Change During the Dark Wizard Times
  64. Airships. An Inflatable History
  65. How To Live Forever—or Close To It
  66. Giant Flowers. Friend or Foe?
  67. The Most Grand Illusion
  68. Daily Affirmations for Tyrants
  69. Hidden Staircases and Secret Doors
  70. Managing Your Giant Vines
  71. How To Get Way With Murder
  72. Poisoned Pens. Allegory or Literal Danger?
  73. Sonnets for Sorcerers
  74. Seven Knights For Seven Dragons
  75. River Navigation Through Magical Forests
  76. A Biological Survey of Gnomish “People”
  77. Mysterious Structures That Glow
  78. Samwell’s Guide To Blue-Colored Potions
  79. The Unlikely Romance of Owls and Bears
  80. Rocks That Sort of Look Like Orcs
  81. Animal Husbandry and Midwifery
  82. Castle Gardens For Long Sieges
  83. Doors That Don’t Go Anywhere and Other Dungeon Tricks
  84. How Green Is My Goblin?
  85. How To Tell a Brew Is True
  86. Cubicles & Commuters: A Fantasy Roleplaying Guide
  87. Explosive Grass and Other Lawn Care Tips
  88. Is Your Spouse a Polymorph? 50 Signs They Might Be
  89. Plots, Intrigue, and Politics
  90. The Book of Uncommon Law
  91. Feeding Your Village On One Enlarged Vegetable a Year
  92. A Simple Guide To Vampires
  93. Unwrapping the Mystery of Mummies
  94. Ghost Stories Written By Ghosts
  95. Samwell’s Guide To Love and Love Potions
  96. The Underground Horoscope
  97. Orienteering Without a Compass
  98. How To Work a Sextant
  99. Fabled Treasures and Monsters
  100. Puppetry For Evil and Parties

What are some of your book titles? Feel free to share in the comments.

 

Some artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 

 

 

 

 

 

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d100 Mountain Finds

What will you find in the mountains?

Player’s characters travel a variety of terrain when going from hither and yon. Sometimes those routes traverse grand majestic ranges, sometimes rocky foothills.

Don’t expect mountains to be devoid of life or activity. Whether it be mining dwarves, traveling merchants, mad wizards, or ornery goats, this list offers some possible options either for items found or creatures encountered.

Note: Every fifth listed item is actually an encounter you can also use. Some friendly. Some not so much. Just roll a d20 and multiply by five to see who your players meet on the road over the mountain.

100 Mountain Finds

Roll d100!

  1. A minotaur’s skull with horns attached and mounted on a pole
  2. A sizable pile of gold nuggets that are entirely illusory and which disappear as soon as touched. (Note: this can be used as bait for an encounter)
  3. A seashell
  4. A range of thorny underbrush—difficult to pass through— at the center of which is single rose capable of fully healing any and all who touch it. Only works once per month.
  5. [Encounter] A kobold hunting party that has not been very successful and will eat anything (or anybody)
  6. A tree that has been completely stripped of bark
  7. What appears at first to be the entrance to a cave, but is really just some cleverly applied paint to a bare rock face
  8. Three dead ravens that have been chained together at the feet
  9. A stack of seven flat hand-sized rocks balanced atop a twisted tree stump
  10. [Encounter] A human male older than any you have ever seen who can give legitimate guidance to your party. Some call him the Old Man of the Mountain.
  11. A book partially covered by dirt, rocks, and dead brush which tells the story of an explorer attempting to find the source of recent rockslides
  12. A broken sword
  13. A deep crevice within which all sound is muted
  14. A very territorial mountain goat
  15. [Encounter] A small, strange looking humanoid creature unlike any ever encountered before that has the ability to perfectly camouflage itself with its background. Very difficult to detect. It watches and follows for a short time, then leaves without threat or notice.
  16. A narrow path that ends at a sudden drop
  17. A campsite that looks like it was quickly abandoned
  18. A twisted rock pine that has been magically altered to produce fresh apples
  19. A broken sign that says “warning! Mountain trolls!”
  20. [Encounter] A pack of hungry dire wolves have caught your scent!
  21. A message in a bottle from a shipwrecked sailor
  22. A single flower blooming healthily from a small crack in a barren rock face
  23. A thicket of blueberry bushes laden with berries regardless of the time of year
  24. A leather hat someone lost a long time ago
  25. [Encounter] A stone golem blocking the party’s way. It will only attack if the party insists on moving toward the peak.
  26. A sack of potatoes about five days old
  27. A chess set sitting atop a flat rock with two small stumps on either side. The black pieces are about three moves away from checkmate.
  28. A crudely carved wooden life-size statue of a dwarf warrior
  29. A pouch of brightly colored polished stones
  30. [Encounter] A small party of simple merchants and their baggage carriers who have gotten lost. They have minor potions, foodstuffs, cloth, and seed for sale. One merchant has a small pouch with a few diamonds hidden on his person.
  31. An unexpected snowstorm that hinders both visibility and movement. Sudden cold temperatures should be a factor as well. Lasts 24 hours and over an area of about ten square miles.
  32. A small abandoned village. Only the rock foundations and crumbling walls of about a dozen structures remain.
  33. A patch of cultivated herbs native to this mountain region. There are signs of recent tending and the single gardening trowel has been thoughtlessly left behind.
  34. A coil of hemp rope in terrible condition. Unusable and likely left there for a couple of years.
  35. [Encounter] Two bandits around a small campfire who do not notice the party approaching until a sharp whistle signals them to jump up with weapons out. Three more bandits appear from behind rocks and shrub. An ambush!
  36. A fake beard and an eyepatch hidden underneath some thorny brush
  37. A fifty foot wide chasm stretching across your path as far as the eye can see. There is a rickety rope bridge ahead of you. It cannot support mounts.
  38. A bundle of fox pelts that have been exposed to the elements for at least a month
  39. A glass potion bottle—broken
  40. [Encounter] An old and antisocial hermit tending a dozen sheep. He appears to have some Druidic power.
  41. A torn flag featuring a red dragon facing left against a field of green
  42. A roughly fifty foot wide area littered with the pieces of over two dozen humanoid skeletons. Some of the skeletons appear fresher than others.
  43. Along a large bit of exposed rock face, a gigantic stone throne has been carved into the side of the mountain. From top to bottom, it measures just over a hundred feet.
  44. The remains of an ancient cargo ship—long since looted. There are huge holes in the side of the ship that suggest it was once sunk.
  45. [Encounter] A fey child of no discernible gender appears suddenly in front of the party. It utters the word “coin” then promptly disappears. Each party member hears the word in their native language. If the party continues, this Encounter is repeated twice more at roughly one mile intervals.
  46. A campfire still hot with red coals. There are the remains of some burnt rabbit that had once been roasting over it.
  47. A small, natural cave partially obscured by brush. Large enough to shelter up to 6 medium sized creatures.
  48. A broken hourglass
  49. A tall pine tree with unknown runes carved into the bark
  50. [Encounter] A crazed dwarf thinks the party is after his secret gold strike. Oddly, there is no evidence he has found any gold recently. He is armed with a mining pick and will attack the party with little provocation. If subdued and forced to tell the truth, it is revealed that he did discover gold over a hundred years ago, but he forgot where and has been searching ever since.
  51. Three white blocks of marble about two feet across and four feet high block a mountain path from any wheeled conveyance from passing easily
  52. An old mining cart with two missing wheels
  53. A small vein of gold within an exposed length of quartz. GM’s discretion if its total worth and how costly or time consuming it would be to mine.
  54. The entrance to a small silver mine, long since played out and abandoned
  55. [Encounter] A vicious and large hill giant (even by hill giant standards) rages toward the party out of nowhere, its eyes blazing with madness.
  56. A mountain goat dressed in tattered wizard robes. A polymorph gone wrong? A practical joke? Who can tell?
  57. An ancient iron helmet and spear, both rusted and unusable, but of certain value to the right scholar.
  58. A tightly bound leather sack hanging from a tree branch and filled with dried, salted fish
  59. A pair of well-worn boots with holes in the sole
  60. [Encounter] The party comes across an empty logging camp save for one old halfling caretaker. The camp is closed for the season, but he looks after it from time to time. He will offer the party use of the tents, fire pit, and some of his water. If the party has mounts, they may eat some leftover feed for a small fee. He does not have much food to spare as he is due to return to his village soon. He is friendly and unarmed, but he is also very quick and strong for his age, and he is nobody’s fool.
  61. A cart full of acorns and one greedy squirrel
  62. Deep in a ravine, a crashed airship of elvish design
  63. A broken iron cannon of unknown design or origin
  64. The remains of an unlucky adventuring party made up of two human warriors, an elf mage, a halfling rogue, and a dwarf wizard. They came to a messy, tragic end and their bodies have already been looted of valuables.
  65. [Encounter] Blocking the party’s way is a large ogre. It doesn’t move or appear to be interested in the party at all. If anyone from the party approaches within 10 feet of it or successfully hit it with a ranged weapon, the image of the ogre wavers and disappears. As the party considers its options, or if the ogre disappears, they are set upon by five ruthless bandits coming up from the rear. They have with them a drunk, low-level illusionist they have been keeping as a slave to use for creating distractions for potential victims.
  66. A pole set in the ground decorated with crude paint, feathers, the skulls of small animals, and a bundle of sage
  67. A lean-to made of canvas and stout branches. It is large enough for two medium-sized creatures to stay out of the rain. There are signs of a small campfire having once been set up in front of it.
  68. A rolled up piece of canvas, tattered and worn, that shows the most direct path the party needs to take through this terrain in order to reach their destination
  69. A small boulder with the image of an arrow scratched into it pointing away from the path
  70. [Encounter] A holy woman sits at the entrance of a small cave which is her home. She is unarmed and an absolute pacifist. At the GM’s discretion, she has the ability to heal the party, bless items, and remove curses. She could also be used as a source of information or wisdom.
  71. A wooden crate with iron bands wrapped around it. If the party manages to open it, they hear the soft ringing of a bell, but the box is otherwise empty.
  72. A blank wooden sign posted by the side of the party’s path
  73. A woman’s red silk robe hangs from a tree branch, fluttering in the wind
  74. A mysterious orange fog passes through the party. It is harmless, but the fog carries a faint scent of brimstone.
  75. [Encounter] A large black dog growls at the party from a distance, then disappears. The dog reappears two more times over the course of the day, then attacks the weakest party member on its third visit.
  76. A dusty, worn saddlebag with broken straps. Deep in the bottom of the bag is a decomposed apple and a finely-wrought silver ring.
  77. A rolled up tent large enough for two medium-sized creatures. When unrolled, it is discovered that one side of the tent has been ripped by what appear to be giant claws.
  78. Shed red dragon scales litter the ground for the next mile
  79. A crude depiction of a one-eyed giant chiseled into a large bare rock face
  80. [Encounter] The party comes across a large boulder blocking the entrance to a cave. On the boulder is written in dried blood, “Dead inside.” If the party moves the boulder even partly, three hungry ghouls emerge and attack the party hungrily.
  81. A lone pack mule with a broken lead. It is carrying a full load made up of four heavy woolen blankets, ten full waterskins, two camp shovels, five sacks of flour, a cast iron pan, a cast iron pot, a sealed wooden tub of butter, a large sack of potatoes, three dozen carrots, a two-pound bag of sugar, and a box of mixed cooking herbs and salt.
  82. The remains of a halfling adventurer who appears to have fallen from a great height
  83. As the party rounds a turn in the trail they hear a beautiful singing in each character’s native language. It’s a song of love and loss, of strife and victory. As suddenly as the song fades in, so it fades away and does not return.
  84. For a full minute, birds begin dropping out of the sky, stone dead
  85. [Encounter] A glowing apparition of an ancient eleven queen appears before the party and utters great wisdom and prophecies which have absolutely nothing to do with the party or their mission. This goes on for a couple of minutes, then she disappears.
  86. A discarded map to a gold mine that is nowhere near where the party is now. Not even the same mountain range.
  87. A sturdy wooden shack with one wall missing. Inside are three sets of bunk beds and a camp stove. It does not appear to have been used for several months.
  88. Twenty-five pine logs—long and freshly cut—stacked neatly. The ends of the logs are marked with red paint.
  89. A twenty-foot deep round hole in the ground measuring about a foot across. There is no dirt or debris piled nearby.
  90. [Encounter] A nest for two harpies lay just ahead. One is usually circling nearby. If they see the party, they will attack without hesitation.
  91. A dead end. The path stops at a sheer drop of 500 feet to jagged rocks below.
  92. A hammer and chisel on the ground beside a large stone. Chiseled into the stone is “Warning! Gian.” The message looks incomplete.
  93. A pair of broken reading spectacles
  94. A picnic laid out on a red checkered cloth complete with dishware and utensils. Just enough delicious food and drink to accommodate the entire party. The party may save leftover food, tablecloth, and other items, but they will all vanish after traveling one mile. Otherwise, it’s a genuinely offered nice meal with no tricks, traps, poisons, or other nasty surprises.
  95. [Encounter] A group of 16 mountain gnomes are on a foraging mission. All are armed with small crossbows and short swords, but are otherwise peaceful. They will offer traveling info if asked politely. If treated rudely, they will give bad advice. If threatened, they will attack. If a fight lasts more than three rounds, another 16 will appear over the nearest rise to help their comrades.
  96. A small fir tree decorated with colorful glass balls and red ribbons
  97. A bottle of wine hidden behind some rocks. Attached is a nearly-faded note that reads “To Aloysius and Montague. May you find this after I am gone. Yours, Principia.”
  98. A pit trap concealed by leaves and branches. It is ten feet deep and lined with sharp wooden stakes.
  99. Rockslide!
  100. [Encounter] A mad wizard has been conducting experimental rituals in these mountains. He is enraged that the party has stumbled across his attempts to enslave a demon lord. He is a big fan of fire and lightning related spells. His scrolls and notes are written in an unbreakable code, but may be worth something to a high level wizard or scholar of the diabolical arts.

 

Share your favorite mountain find ideas below, in the comments.

 

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d100 Pickpocket Finds

d100 Pickpocket Finds

Let’s hear it for all thieves, rogues, bards, and other sticky-fingered types! A well-timed pickpocket attempt can turn a boring encounter into one that might get just a bit too exciting.

The problem is coming up with an answer when the player tells you, “I reach into the sheriff’s pouch while he’s distracted by the bard.”

Sure, a successful attempt could net the player a few coins, but they could find something a lot more interesting… with a little prep.

The next time you have a player attempt to snatch something from a pocket, pouch, or purse, consider these one hundred items to present your player. Some are mundane. Some are mysterious. And some are even magical. Peruse the list and write down your favorites, or simply have the list handy for a quick roll and some quick improv.

Should your pickpocket be attempting to steal from a special character, note that every fifth item in this list is somewhat magical or fantastical in some manner or another. Just roll a d20 and multiply by five to roll for only these items.

Have fun!

 

  1. A note that says “Run!”
  2. A set mousetrap
  3. A broken locket with a picture of a beautiful elf boy inside
  4. A piece of paper intricately folded into the shape of a wyvern
  5. A magic ring that turns the wearer into a very combative giant frog. The wearer retains that form until killed or the ring is forcibly removed from one of its rear feet. Grappling rules apply if available. If killed, the wearer is restored—no harm done
  6. A wooden coin of no particular value
  7. A simple, but moving love letter
  8. A single key to an unknown lock
  9. A rabbit’s foot charm
  10. A ten-foot pole. The pole is normal. The pocket it came from is not.
  11. A small bottle of Samwell’s Miracle Hair Tonic
  12. A preserved human ear
  13. A small, featureless doll made of red fabric and crushed straw stuffing
  14. A small pouch of crushed chalk
  15. An enchanted sphere of marble, about 2 inches across, that, when touched, changes the toucher’s hair and skin to a random bright color (red, orange, magenta, blue, etc) for a full hour.
  16. A live rat named Mr. Bitey. Yes, he bites.
  17. A folding knife
  18. A pouch of smoking tobacco and a small briar pipe
  19. A bill of sale for a shallow-drafted cargo boat named The Tsarina
  20. A gem that, when held up to the sun for a full minute, gives the holder an accurate impression of the weather for the next 24 hours.
  21. An eight-ounce bottle of very strong dwarven liquor
  22. A folded piece of paper with the pickpocket’s name written on it in a demonic script
  23. A garrote
  24. A single silver piece of which one side has been rubbed smooth by years of compulsive habit
  25. A seashell which, when held up to the ear, reveals dark secrets of the listener in a hushed, diabolical voice
  26. A hand-written receipt for 12 skulls and an obsidian dagger
  27. A written message from the wife of a shopkeeper to a smith’s apprentice to come around during temple services… and to burn this note
  28. A string of brightly colored beads
  29. A string of brightly colored beads that conceals a message that, with a successful intelligence check to decode, says, “We strike at midnight.”
  30. A magic coin that, when flipped, offers an advantage (heads) or disadvantage (tails) on their next roll. Works once per day.
  31. A wooden collapsible cup
  32. An elven arrowhead
  33. A round piece of doily. Finely made, approximately 8 inches across
  34. A blood-soaked rag
  35. The fingerbone of a long-forgotten, but saintly cleric. Undead within five feet suffer disadvantage.
  36. A silver fork
  37. A jade brooch
  38. A small wooden comb
  39. A powerful merchant’s calling card
  40. An eight-ounce cup that can hold a gallon (liquids only)
  41. A pewter egg cup
  42. A small carefully painted lead figurine of a human warrior with sword and shield
  43. A child’s toy top
  44. A tiny pouch filled with toenail clippings
  45. A note that says “You can do it!” Once read aloud, the words disappear and the speaker is granted an advantage (GM’s discretion, usable only once)
  46. A small bottle of ink with a leaky stopper, guaranteed to stain one’s fingers
  47. A blank piece of paper
  48. A magnifying glass lens
  49. A small envelope containing five sewing needles
  50. A seed which, when planted and watered, sprouts and grows into a full-sized blueberry bush with edible berries with about three minutes
  51. A vial of the pickpocket’s own blood
  52. A detailed drawing of a member of the pickpocket’s party
  53. A child’s toy horse
  54. Three finger puppets of clerical characters
  55. An explosive dart which deals 1d10 damage upon a successful hit
  56. A written summons to appear before the magistrate by noon the next day
  57. A folded paper fan
  58. A one-inch thick candle about five inches long
  59. A handful of dried beans
  60. A reed straw which purifies unclean or poisoned water (fragile, will break after a few uses at GM’s discretion, works with water only)
  61. A bloody, severed hand
  62. A half bar of unused soap
  63. A shaving brush
  64. A biscuit shaped like a bone
  65. An amulet featuring a fly trapped in amber that, when put around the neck of a medium-sized creature or smaller, removes all ability to fly—either physically or magically
  66. A pair of brass knuckles with the words “Love, Mom” stamped into the side
  67. A folded piece of paper with a black spot in the center
  68. A handful of crushed rose petals
  69. A human tooth, root and all
  70. A dragon tooth whose possessor suffers only half damage from any dragon bite (other forms of attack do not apply)
  71. A potato that sort of looks like a goblin head
  72. A complete, fully cleaned rat skeleton
  73. A square of crushed velvet
  74. A thorny rose. Beautiful, but ouch!
  75. A whistle that can only be heard by those who are lawful good
  76. A well-used skeleton key
  77. A four-leafed clover encased in solid glass
  78. A nicked plectrum
  79. A license to kill one deer on royal property
  80. A small crystal bell that when rung summons one minute of light rain. Outdoors only and only twice a day.
  81. A token for one free ale at “Happy Hiccup’s House of Brew”
  82. Three pieces of broken crockery
  83. A fake gemstone
  84. A small pouch of hard candy
  85. A sparkling blue brooch that allows the wearer to survive comfortably without food or water for up to one week. Needs a full week to recharge even after a partial use.
  86. Genealogical notes that reveal that a seventh son of a seventh son resides nearby
  87. A metal fish hook
  88. A wooden slat with the words “You may already be a winner!”
  89. A lightly perfumed handkerchief
  90. A silver coin upon which a continuous light spell has been cast
  91. A live, angry beetle about two inches long
  92. A pocket-sized sundial on a light chain
  93. A small vial of poison
  94. An uneaten apple
  95. A cursed ring which removes any benefit from consuming food or liquid. User slowly suffers starvation and dehydration until the curse is lifted which allows ring to be removed
  96. A small prayer book appropriate for a widely-worshipped good-aligned deity
  97. A charm made of a dried frog and three iron nails tied together with red string
  98. A handful of dried bees
  99. A hand-drawn map of the local tavern suggesting a possible secret room behind the storeroom
  100. A magical pouch which converts 1 gold piece to its equivalent value in silver pieces, and vice versa. Only works for values equal to 1 gold piece.

 

What are some of your favorite pickpocket items or stories? Feel free to share in the comments.

 

 

 

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d100 Marketplace Finds

 d100 Marketplace Finds

Who’s ready to go shopping?

Your player characters might. When not delving dungeons or defeating dragons, many players engage in a little downtime and enjoy doing some roleplaying in town. And because you can’t (or maybe shouldn’t) spend all of that downtime in the tavern, the marketplace is a great place to let your characters explore.

It could be the central marketplace in a large city with its colorful awnings and open storefronts. It could be an open-air market in the middle of a field just outside a city, or perhaps at the crossroads of two major trading routes. It could be a market at a busy oasis in the middle of a desert.

Wherever your marketplace, you need to have some items for the players to stumble across to give your market some flavor and depth. Presented here is a list of 100 possible items for your players to discover among the various roots and vegetables. Use some dice, or just peruse the list and pick out what intrigues you.

For the most part, the items listed are not magical or enchanted… but they could be if you want them to be. Some items are fairly mundane. Others are exotic and mysterious. A couple might even be amusing. You’d be surprised by what your player characters may decide to do with some of these items should they purchase them. You can set your prices to match your local economy.

And because not every marketplace is a sprawling marketplace with vendors from far-off lands, I’ve tailored this list so that every fifth item is something one might find in a small village market. Simply roll 1d20 and multiply by 5 to pick something at random.

A future list may include a table of magical or enchanted items, but this list presented here will make a great start for you to find a variety of marketplace finds to add flavor and character to your setting or even form the basis for a whole new adventure hook.

 

  d100 Marketplace

  1. Treated leather waterproof slipcover sized perfectly for a spellbook
  2. Set of leg chains with a standard lock, missing the key
  3. Bag of clean, crushed clamshells
  4. Wooden statuette of a beautiful elf maid holding a harp
  5. Bottle of liquid soap with a slightly leaky stopper
  6. An oddly polished and fancy looking orc battle helm
  7. Large wooden chair with ornate carvings and ivory trim, but so poorly constructed that it won’t hold the weight of anyone heavier than a male halfling
  8. Map of the local area written in the language of the Underworld
  9. Commemorative plate with a well-known wizard’s face on it
  10. 1 lb. bag of roasted coffee beans (or tea leaves)
  11. Rat-on-a-stick (cooked)
  12. Heavy chain leash ending in three large, spiked dog collars
  13. Tuning fork
  14. Yo-yo with small, razor-sharp blades along the edge
  15. Blacksmith’s hammer with the word “Momma” stamped on the side
  16. Small grooming kit suitable for dwarven beards or furry halfling feet
  17. Antique compass
  18. Box full of empty wooden spools
  19. Pair of floral knickers made for a storm giant
  20. Preserved orc head in a jar
  21. Small cauldron
  22. Envelope containing a dozen tangle-vine seeds
  23. Large, exotic butterfly mounted on cork and displayed in a glass-topped box.
  24. Doll family consisting of two adults and three children
  25. Portable sewing kit, the case made of sturdy; water-resistant canvas reinforced with steel bands.
  26. Decorative shield with an unknown family crest featuring a purple worm on a field of orange
  27. Used silverware set for a service of six but missing all the knives
  28. Teapot fashioned to look like a goblin’s head
  29. Large tapestry featuring the hunting and slaying of a red dragon by a pair of elf warrior maidens
  30. Five barrels each a little smaller than the previous so they can all fit nested into one barrel
  31. Bandolier equipped with five throwing knives
  32. Bottle of Samwell’s Miracle Hair Tonic
  33. Pouch of 20 cat’s eye marbles
  34. Necklace with a dozen dried orc ears dangling from it
  35. Bolt of colorful plaid fabric (40 sq. yards)
  36. Small pots of paint: red, blue, green, white, and black
  37. Set of old navigation tools
  38. Pair of dice with dwarvish numbers on the sides
  39. A pair of brand-new children’s shoes
  40. Collapsible magnifying glass
  41. Thirty-foot spool of wire
  42. Stuffed owl dressed as a wizard
  43. 20 sheets of lambskin parchment
  44. An unused sharpening stone
  45. A hand-written collection of poetry from the local abbey, beautifully illustrated
  46. Three tiny bear traps measuring three inches across when open
  47. Fresh gingerbread cookies in the shape of centaurs
  48. Polishing mixtures and rags suitable for plate armor
  49. Facsimile replica of a wand of fireballs
  50. A dozen purple carrots
  51. Complete set of glassware for an alchemy lab. All pieces are individually wrapped in soft paper and straw and carefully placed into a wooden box designed for it. Extremely fragile and expensive.
  52. Violin and bow. Roll 1d6 for quality and cost, 1 is poor and cheap, 6 is exquisite and expensive.
  53. Set of five carved wooden figurines depicting different types of dragons
  54. Riding saddle designed to be worn on a pegasus
  55. Simple and complete chess set that has passed through a hundred different owners
  56. Sealed bottle of 1,000-year-old wine. Guaranteed drinkable. Very rare.
  57. Old guest ledger from an ancient inn far away
  58. Bundle of exotic feathers of various bird species
  59. Uncut diamond sitting at the bottom of a box of chunks of quartz
  60. Large bag of charcoal
  61. Pair of fingerless, calf-skin scribe’s gloves, new
  62. Candelabra featuring a sneering medusa’s head of which seven snakes branch out to hold the candles
  63. Taxidermist kit with enough supplies to preserve and pose a mammalian creature the size of a wolf
  64. Large pewter drinking mug with a glass bottom
  65. Collapsible campfire grill
  66. Modern grammar for the orcish tongue
  67. Long-stemmed clay pipe meant for a large-sized humanoid
  68. Set of four small souvenir spoons from a far-away land
  69. Saucy novel featuring the exploits of a halfling bard
  70. Wagon with a false bottom
  71. Bottle of highly effective laxative
  72. Pouch of finely ground graphite
  73. Insulated flask guaranteed to maintain the temperature of a liquid for 12 hours
  74. Written history of a small, local temple devoted to a god of light and justice
  75. Two pounds of iron roofing nails
  76. Severed monkey’s paw. Rumored to grant wishes to the right person. (It doesn’t.)
  77. Colorful mask intended for use at fancy balls
  78. Two dozen strange foreign coins made of steel and with holes punched through the centers
  79. Coiled beeswax candle (100 hours) with holder.
  80. Hand-carved wooden fork and spoon suitable as a modest wedding or baptismal present
  81. Ship’s anchor weighing 10,000 pounds
  82. Mounted head of a young red dragon
  83. Three-foot square piece of rolled up parchment with a 1-inch grid laid over its entire surface
  84. Bottle of black ink that claims to be waterproof
  85. Crude lantern made out of a large, hollowed-out turnip with a candle stuck inside
  86. Finely made rug
  87. Sealed glass bottle of a clear, carbonated liquid
  88. Silver runcible spoon
  89. Bundle of surprisingly absorbent rags
  90. Large jar of dried apples, figs, and nuts
  91. A very fancy, but heavily reinforced metal cage about three feet on all sides
  92. Exquisitely painted and gold-trimmed chamber pot
  93. Highly detailed drawing of a waterfall at the edge of a deep canyon
  94. Set of very heavy manacles designed for use on a humanoid of gigantic proportions.
  95. Large pair of sharp steel shears
  96. 25-foot roll of sturdy chicken wire
  97. Fresh, but fully tanned, deerskin
  98. Three marble spheres, perfectly smooth and polished, about five inches in diameter
  99. Sealed bottle of very rare elvish wine
  100. Coonskin cap

 

What are some of your favorite marketplace finds? Share in the comments.

 

Cheers!

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d100 Forest Finds

D100 Forest Finds

 

What’s in your forest?

A forest can be much more than a simple terrain sprinkled with occasional encounters. A forest exists whether the party is there or not and, therefore, has a life of its own. It is full of animals, creatures both mundane and fanciful, areas of magic and mystery, and places with history.

People have been through this forest before your party, and some may still be in the area. People drop the oddest things in forests.

In your game, you can break up the monotony of forest terrain travel with some of these items. Roll some dice, or just pick out something that seems like fun. Use an item below as described or apply your own twist. It can be a passing sort of thing, or you might decide to weave it into your adventure.

 

Roll 1d100!

  1. 13 straw dolls arranged around a weeping willow
  2. A broken down, abandoned tinker’s wagon
  3. A map showing the route from the nearest settlement to a spot just beyond where the map is found.
  4. A boot filled with water and a live fish.
  5. A silver medallion featuring a crescent moon.
  6. A severed hand holding a rabbit’s foot.
  7. A fairly new pair of children’s shoes.
  8. The crumbling, broken remains of an adventuring party that has been turned to stone. A dwarven warrior, elf sorceress, and human rogue are all in defensive poses.
  9. An oil lantern mounted to a post that casts Zone of Truth in a 15×15 area. Only works in this spot. Oil runs out in 8 hours.
  10. The smoldering remains of a small campfire.
  11. An assortment of small stones laid out in the shape of an arrow pointing north.
  12. An invisible tree.
  13. A large stone statue of a gargoyle facing east but pointing south.
  14. An old wagon wheel with unknown runes carved in the spokes.
  15. A wicker basket filled with edible mushrooms.
  16. A dead rabbit dressed in chainmail armor.
  17. A perfectly spherical granite stone, five feet wide, half buried in the ground. Weighs 11,230 lbs.
  18. A piece of parchment pinned to a tree with a rusty dagger. On it is the word “Run!”
  19. A large X on a large rock painted in blood.
  20. A traveler’s bedroll. It is old and moldy. Hidden between two blankets is an opal pendant on a leather string.
  21. Two empty crystal goblets and a bottle of fine red wine perched atop a tree stump.
  22. A perfectly healthy, but somewhat hungry, human baby wrapped in swaddling cloth.
  23. A deep hole, a shovel, and a wooden box with a strange looking wand inside.
  24. A wooden flute that has been snapped in half.
  25. A silhouette of a humanoid figure burned into the ground.
  26. A wanted poster with an image of one of the party members. The reward is insultingly low.
  27. A single tulip made of glass in the center of a clearing.
  28. A row of unmarked tombstones equal to the number of party members.
  29. A 10×10 iron cage. On one side, the bars have been broken and bent outward.
  30. A large iron cauldron that has been split in half. There is blast damage on the surrounding trees.
  31. Three trees with tall mirrors mounted on them and facing toward the middle.
  32. A broken beartrap. There are owlbear feathers found nearby.
  33. A four-sided wooden top. When spun, it will heal 1-4 points depending on which side is facing up when it stops spinning. Sides are unmarked, so players do not know the amount healed. Can be used three times a day.
  34. A large oak tree with five axe blades embedded in the trunk in various spots. Nonetheless, the tree looks healthy and strong.
  35. From one large oak to a large elm about fifty feet away, there is a five foot wide cobblestone road that ends at the base of each tree.
  36. A flowering mountain laurel that sneezes in the presence of a dwarf.
  37. A raven wearing a top hat and monocle is perched on a tree branch. It sees the party and says, in a loud voice, “Now I’ve seen everything!” and flies off.
  38. A bird’s nest that has toppled to the ground. Among the twigs and grass making up the neat is a locket on a chain. Within the locket is a very small uncut diamond.
  39. A glowing silver ring floating five feet in the air. When reached for, it teleports in a random direction 20 feet away. This happens 1d12 times before disappearing for good.
  40. The forest opens up to a large, hastily made clearing. There are a dozen campfire remains spread about and the signs of a large force of people having camped here. Careful investigation uncovers some abandoned personal cookware and a military style polearm. The campsite is less than a week old.
  41. A smashed lute with broken strings and a dagger plunged into the body.
  42. A tree whose branches all point west.
  43. A potters bench and a carefully cultivated bed of tea roses. The bench holds five empty clay flower pots and a small gardening trowel.
  44. Nailed to a tree, a broadsheet with the current date from a city over 200 miles away.
  45. Three dozen soap bubbles of various sizes gently floating on the breeze. They pop easily and release a pleasant rose scent which heals 1 hit point to the person closest to it and within two feet.
  46. An old tin box full of wooden buttons of various sizes.
  47. An open scroll case filled with live spiders.
  48. A 2’ x 4’ painting of an unknown mountain.
  49. A tree decorated with 100 white ribbons. Misfortune to any who removes a ribbon. The more ribbons removed, the greater misfortune.
  50. One half of a giant rat that has been split cleanly down the middle.
  51. A patch of thorns with various dead animals decomposing in it. A scratch results in 1d4 damage plus save for paralysis.
  52. An old wooden marionette of a small boy.
  53. Hanging from a branch, a clean set of traditional wedding garb for both bride and groom.
  54. A wide candle set atop a flat rock. Around the candle, runes have been scratched into the stone.
  55. The remains of a goblin hunting party that came to a bad end.
  56. An abandoned woodcutter’s hut. Sleeps two, but is in very poor condition.
  57. A seashell beneath some brush. When held up to the ear, it relays a muttered conversation between a man and a woman in an unrecognizable language.
  58. Three broken war axes.
  59. An old wheelbarrow filled with gravel. At the bottom of the gravel are the remains of a human foot.
  60. A tree that grows both apples and pears on the same branches.
  61. A signpost that reads “You are here.”
  62. A necklace with the same number of small vials of blood as the number of party members.
  63. A decomposing severed left wing of a small red dragon.
  64. A hunter’s bag with seven freshly killed rabbits.
  65. A small spring that offers refreshing drink, but once left, cannot be found again.
  66. A mound of small animal bones with a fresh, uneaten apple balanced atop it.
  67. Half buried in leaves and muck, a small mortar and pestle.
  68. A broken compass.
  69. The storm-wrecked shell of an old Norse longboat.
  70. A set of wind chimes made from finger bones hanging from a tree.
  71. A tree with a hidden panel covering a small storage space. Inside the space is a dagger, 20’ of rope ending in a noose, and a camp shovel.
  72. Two small wooden figurines of gnome warriors inside a small box lined with straw.
  73. A horse saddle with a broken strap.
  74. A horned helmet, the inside of which is coated with wet moss and small mushrooms.
  75. A rock that kind of looks like a dog.
  76. A porcelain doll of a young girl with the eyes scratched out.
  77. A 5×5 pit trap covered by a lattice of thin branches and leaves approximately 10 feet deep and lined with wooden spikes at the bottom.
  78. Twelve arrows thrust into the ground beside a broken longbow.
  79. An old faded map sticking out of a hollow in a tree that leads to buried treasure on an unknown island.
  80. A litter of kittens and a hungry momma cat.
  81. A circular area about 40’ across in which everything has been burned to ash.
  82. A surprised looking troll that has turned to stone.
  83. A cleared campsite complete with campfire ring, firewood, a trough of fresh water, and three loaves of fresh bread wrapped in thick paper and tied neatly with string.
  84. A tree that has been recently split down the middle by lightning.
  85. A low branch with a robin’s nest and three eggs. The eggs are just about to hatch and the mama robin wants you gone.
  86. A sunrise. No matter what time of day or night it is, the party suddenly experiences a beautiful sunrise for ten seconds before everything snaps back to normal time.
  87. An old canvas tarp, dirty and musty, but still in good condition.
  88. Three empty but unbroken wine bottles.
  89. A chunk of fool’s gold.
  90. An old wooden whistle that attracts bees.
  91. Some low brush from which a soft giggle can be heard, but the source not found.
  92. A stack of cut honeycombs wrapped in oil paper leaning against a large rock.
  93. The ruins of a small ancient farming village.
  94. A glass jar full of beach sand.
  95. A pile of old deer hide.
  96. An exposed field of granite crisscrossed with thick veins of quartz.
  97. A tent that has been ripped to shreds by something large and awful.
  98. An area of forest about 50’ wide absolutely covered in spider webs.
  99. A spruce tree decorated with ribbons and orbs of painted glass.
  100. A pile of newly carved wands, none of which have been finished or empowered.

Forests can be fun! What are some of your favorite forest finds? Reply in the comments.