Kester's Last Hunt
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Random Encounters

At the end of each 6-hour search segment, the DM makes a Random Encounter check.
Roll 1d6, on a result of 1, a random encounter occurs (see Encounter Tables).


Tension Escalation

If no encounter occurs, the danger increases as the swamp grows restless.
Each time there is no encounter, expand the range that triggers one:

Search Segment

Encounter Range on 1d6

1st

1

2nd (No encounter previous)

1–2

3rd (No encounter previous)

1–3

4th (No encounter previous)

1–4

5th (No encounter previous)

1–5

6th+ (No encounter previous)

1–6 (encounter automatic)

Once a random encounter occurs, the check resets to its base range (1 on a 1d6).


This escalation builds tension over time, the longer the party searches without incident, the greater the chance that something in the swamp takes notice.

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Encounter Tables

Use one of the Random Encounter Tables below or design your own.

Drowned Forest Random Encounters (GoS)

d20

Encounter

1–3

1d4 awakened trees

4–5

2d6 zombies

6–7

1d3 shambling mounds

8–9

2d4 myconid adults and 1 myconid sovereign

10

3d6 stirges

11

1d3 trolls

12

2d4 gnolls and 1 gnoll pack lord

13

1 water elemental

14

1 vrock

15

2d6 manes

16

2d4 dretches

17

1d8 bullywugs

18

1d4 vine blights

19

2d8 twig blights

20

2d4 needle blights

Dunwater River Random Encounters (GoS)

d20

Result

1–3

2d6 bandits

4

1d4 gray oozes

5

1d6 ogres

6–7

1d3 crocodiles

8–10

2d6 bullywugs

11–12

1 black pudding

13

1 gelatinous cube

14–15

2d4 lizardfolk

16

1 shambling mound

17–19

1d3 ochre jellies

20

1 young black dragon

Swamp Encounters (Levels 1-4) (XGtE)

d100

Encounter

01

1d4 poisonous snakes

02–05

3d6 rats

06–10

2d8 ravens

11–12

3d6 giant rats

13

1d10 + 5 tribal warriors

14–15

1d8 + 1 giant lizards

16–17

1 crocodile

18–19

1 swarm of insects

20

1 giant spider

21–22

1d4 + 1 mud huts partially sunken in murky water

23–25

2d8 + 1 kobolds

26

2d4 mud mephits

27–29

1d6 + 2 giant poisonous snakes

30

2d4 winged kobolds

31–32

1 scout

33–34

The corpse of an adventurer tangled in the weeds. Looting the body turns up an explorer’s pack and perhaps (50% chance) a random common magic item.

35–38

1 giant toad

39–41

1d6 + 2 constrictor snakes

42–44

2d4 giant frogs

45

1d8 + 1 swarms of rats or 1d6 + 2 swarms of ravens

46–48

2d10 stirges

49–52

2d6 + 3 bullywugs

53–54

1d8 + 1 orcs

55–56

1d4 yuan-ti purebloods

57

1 druid

58–59

1 yuan-ti malison

60–62

1 giant constrictor snake

63–64

A high-pitched shriek that lasts for 1d4 minutes

65–67

2d4 lizardfolk

68–69

1d4 ghouls

70–71

1 will-o'-wisp

72

1 wight

73

1 ghast

74–75

1 swarm of poisonous snakes

76–77

A foul stench bubbling up from brackish waters

78–80

1d4 + 2 ogres

81–83

1 shambling mound

84–86

1 lizardfolk shaman with 1d6 giant lizards and 2d10 lizardfolk

87

1 troll

88–89

1d4 green hags

90–91

1 revenant

92–93

1 giant crocodile

94–95

1 orc Eye of Gruumsh with 1d3 orogs and 2d6 + 3 orcs

96–97

1 young black dragon

98

1 yuan-ti abomination

99

1d4 water elementals

00

1 hydra

Swamp Encounters (Levels 5-10) (XGtE)

d100

Encounter

01

1 green hag

02–03

2d4 giant lizards or 2d4 giant poisonous snakes

04–05

2d8 winged kobolds

06–07

1d10 + 1 bullywugs with 1d8 + 1 giant frogs

08–09

1 druid

10

1d8 + 1 swarms of insects

11–13

1d12 ghouls

14–16

2d8 scouts

17–19

2d10 orcs

20–22

2d4 giant spiders

23–24

Tainted water that exposes creatures that move through it to sight rot (see “Diseases” in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide)

25–27

1d6 + 2 giant toads

28–30

3d6 lizardfolk

31–33

1d8 + 1 yuan-ti purebloods

34–36

1d4 + 1 swarms of poisonous snakes

37–38

A bloated humanoid corpse floating facedown in the water

39–41

1 shambling mound

42–44

1d4 + 1 will-o'-wisps

45–47

2d6 crocodiles

48–50

1d4 + 1 giant constrictor snakes

51–54

1 lizardfolk shaman with 1d3 swarms of poisonous snakes and 1d8 + 2 lizardfolk

55–58

1d8 + 1 ogres

59–62

2d4 ghasts

63–65

An altar partially sunk into the mud, devoted to a god that is part human and part frog

66–69

1 giant crocodile

70–73

1 shambling mound

74–77

1 orc Eye of Gruumsh with 1d3 ogres and 2d10 + 5 orcs

78–80

A torrential rain that lasts 1d6 minutes and puts out all unprotected flames within 1 mile

81–82

1 young black dragon

83–84

1d4 green hags with 1d6 + 1 ogres

85–86

1 yuan-ti abomination

87–88

1d4 + 1 wights

89–90

1d6 + 1 yuan-ti malisons

91–93

1d4 + 1 trolls

94–96

1d10 revenants

97–99

1d8 + 1 water elementals

00

1d3 hydras