“Aces High”- Out of the Box D&D Encounters
Introduction
Aerial encounters are a rare and special circumstance that require a bit more imagination than a 
standard land-based encounter. Whether by traveling on an airship of some kind, or wandering the lands of a Cloud Giant, creating encounters in the sky generally come with the assumption of a higher level foe. Dragons, griffons, wyverns, and the like always seem to come to mind. This doesn’t have to be the case. Further, attacks from above can also be applied to any environment where space is available. Consider urban rooftops, open plains, mountainous regions, and on open seas as other viable locations for an aerial attack. Massive caves and canyons could also be an unusual but perfectly allowable location for such encounters. Additionally, combining lower level foes in an interesting way can create memorable encounters.
For this encounter’s description, I will be mentioning an airship, but feel free to change the location as you need it.
For your consideration, please enjoy “Out of The Box #8 – Aces High”
Environment: Aerial/Anywhere under an open sky/where space is available
Level: 2+
A cool wind blows across the deck of the airship as it glides through broken cloud cover. The sun sets a glow upon the ship though the passing mists. Moisture glistens on the surfaces, and mists dance through the rigging.
You look up past the envelope (balloon) of the ship to examine the clouds, and strange irregular shadows appear from above. Before you can shout a warning, riders on monstrous winged creatures pass by in a flash. Crossbow bolts pepper the deck like rain, and two ceramic balls crash upon the deck, exploding into flames.
June 24, 2016
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“Auntie Knows Best”- Out of The Box D&D Encounters #7
Introduction: This entire encounter is all about any and all complications. It is intended as a set-up for other encounters or adventures, or as a way to advise a villain of the actions of the party. It is, in effect, a valid reason for a villain...
“Down on the Farm” Out of the Box D&D Encounters #6
Introduction:Often, the most basic of settings can be a great place to put an encounter. What will seem like another boring problem will turn out to be more. When missing goods, livestock and the like become a problem, players always assume that goblins, kobolds, or the usual rogues gallery of villains is to blame. Switching that up from time to time is a good idea, as it keeps the players guessing.
Additionally, players tend to forget that others operate as a team too. Players will use scouts, terrain, spells and the like to their best potential. They will seek to flank their foes or find some way to gain Advantage. Some monsters like to do this too, but the list is short. What if a monster has another monster as a pet? What if the players assume that typically solo monsters surprise them by acting like a team?
Environment: Wilderness/Forested/Farmland.
Suggested level: 3
A local village or farmer of renown has a problem with an increasing loss of farm animals. Chickens geese, small goats, and even domestic dogs or cats has gone missing of late. What started as a suspicion of a coyote problem has been made more mysterious, as no howls have been heard and no large tracks have been found. What has been really disturbing is the lack of cricket song in the evenings, giving nightfall an eerie silence.
The farm borders on a large forest that has been avoided by local hunters because of rumors of a haunting. To reinforce this foreboding sense, an increase of large webs has been noticed deep in the forest, and a prized hunting dog has gone missing in pursuit of a deer very recently while exploring this area.
In reality, a “Fengus” the Ettercap has begun a spider farm.
“Fengus” has been breeding spiders bigger and bigger, creating a new species in the process. His 
favorite spider is “Beatrice”, a giant spider and very protective companion. On the way to Beatrice, he has bred a species of dog-sized Large Spiders, as well as fostering an entire swarm of tiny spiders who have recently hatched.
favorite spider is “Beatrice”, a giant spider and very protective companion. On the way to Beatrice, he has bred a species of dog-sized Large Spiders, as well as fostering an entire swarm of tiny spiders who have recently hatched. For them, he has created a “fenced in” spiral series of webbed walls leading to a large central pen. This is where he’s been breeding spiders to be bigger and bigger. These spiders then hunt for him and are for sale to many nefarious sorts as guards and pets. The “farm” can be as big as desired, but should have webbed walls clinging to strong trees tall enough to discourage climbing. Anyone still trying to do so should be treated as if under the effect of a “Web” spell, DC:14. Within this spiral maze of webs, the walls will be crawling with Large Spiders (see below), a swarm of tiny spiders from which they were bred. In the center of the maze will be the open area where “Fengus” and Beatrice will be.
Once the players find their way inside the labyrinth of webs, they will see the “farm” in all it’s glory. The carcasses of dead animals, wrapped in gossamer, will cling to the inside walls or dangle from the trees. Fengus and Beatrice will be here and ready, having seen the trembling of the webs as the players either fought their way through, burned a hole through, or got caught in the webbing. They will fight as a pair. Beatrice will have been with Fengus since she was born, so they are very familiar with each others tactics.
The Dance Macabre- Out of the Box D&D Encounters #5
Introduction:
Many times, the hardest thing to do is getting started. Many DMs will have awesome ideas on what to 
do later in a campaign, or even later in a dungeon crawl, but struggle with a starting point. I’ll often see a campaign in reverse. I see where I want it to end, or what a final encounter will look like, then write encounters like movie scenes to guide players in the direction of that end scene.
do later in a campaign, or even later in a dungeon crawl, but struggle with a starting point. I’ll often see a campaign in reverse. I see where I want it to end, or what a final encounter will look like, then write encounters like movie scenes to guide players in the direction of that end scene. The first encounter, or start point, is often the sticking point.
That’s where “The Dance Macabre” comes in. It’s vague enough to be the entry level to a dungeon, and has non-combat skill checks that hint at something more. It could be used as a stand-alone encounter, an adventure hook, a start point for a dungeon crawl, or whatever a DM wants.
With that, I present you with “Out of The Box #5: The Dance Macabre”
“The Dance Macabre”
Environment: Wilderness/Dungeon
Suggested level: 2-3
In a clearing obviously made for a massive structure, the players encounter an old ruin. It’s ringed by barbed hedges to a height of six to eight feet, obviously from a lack of care. A series of arbors, choked with nettles and vines, lead through the hedge in a curving path, exposing the ruins beyond.
Its many walls, towers and other structures have crumbled to rubble – all save one example. The remains of the columns and buttresses that supported a massive great hall still remain, with it’s vast decorative tiled floor mostly intact. Beyond it the former grandeur of a noble’s castle lay in piles of broken walls, toppled towers, and other debris. Much of what debris should be there seems gone. (History, Investigation, or even an Intelligence check, DC:12, will reveal that this practice is not uncommon. Scavengers will often raid ruined buildings for materials to be used elsewhere.)
What will come as a surprise is that these ruins are not unoccupied. Figures in formal clothing dance 
endlessly to the eerie lack of music – like an eternal waltz in silence.
endlessly to the eerie lack of music – like an eternal waltz in silence. Even as the characters advance, the figures remain dancing, seemingly oblivious to their approach. When they close to within 50’ they can finally ascertain (Perception: 12) that the finery worn by the figures are in poor repair, and in some cases, tatters.
Should the characters wish to really test their knowledge about either the setting, location , or even this activity, you might optionally allow the characters a Difficult (DC:17) History, Religion, or Arcana skill check to know some or all of the following:
The former Lord and Lady of this castle dabbled in dark necromancy, and held great celebrations and grand balls to lure unsuspecting victims into their lair. During the height of the celebration, a victim would be lured away to a hidden chamber and sacrificed to Orcus. Over time, their machinations were discovered and the surrounding peoples allied to destroy the Lord and his holdings. Now, ages later, his victims have animated to continue the dance where they died – a tortured reminder of the vast power of the Demon Lord.
What happens next is up to the player characters. If any character steps upon the dance floor, it is subjected to “Otto’s Irresistible Dance” (p.264 Player’s Handbook. DC:14 Wisdom save. Duration 1 minute. Save ends.).
Within the finery are Skeletons, who will attack those who step upon the floor, whether they are affected by the Dance or not. The Skeletons do not discern if a character is under the affect of the Dance or not, nor do they care. If you need to determine between a number of characters whom is attacked, determine randomly.
If the players retreat beyond the hedge, the Skeletons will not pursue beyond the thorny barrier, as if held back by the curse that animates their remains. However, should a character continue to attack the undead while retreating, in effect taunting them through the hedge, then the undead that are being 
attacked will pursue as long as they are being damaged.
attacked will pursue as long as they are being damaged. Once the players are on the other side of the hedge, any remaining skeletons cannot effectively be attacked by normal ranged weapons through the hedge, and trying to lob projectiles over the hedge will prove ineffective. The hedge is green, and so does not burn readily. However, a truly committed effort to burn the hedge might work at the DMs discretion…although not really to much effect, as the thorny remains will still be difficult to pass though.
Monsters:
Skeletons (10): p. 272 of the Monster Manual, or p. 310 of the Player’s Handbook, and depending on “Complications” below, perhaps a Zombie or two (P. 316 of the Monster Manual or p. 311 of the Player’s Handbook)
Complications:
While under the influence of the Dance, a character is at Disadvantage for all of it’s attack rolls and saving throws, and can be attacked with Advantage.
If a character is knocked unconscious upon the dance floor, the skeletons will ignore it and move on another target.
If a character is killed on the dance floor and left there, it will animate as a Zombie in 24 hours, and continue to dance like the others. It may be that some of the original dancers seen on the dance floor have been here long enough to rot from Zombies to Skeletons.
“Gone But Not Forgotten”- Out of the D&D Encounters Box #4
Introduction:
Not every encounter is a stop-gap intended to act as filler or a way to make an other wise long journey more memorable. Sometimes an encounter can alter the entire plan that the players have…simply because of a choice. We’ve seen this dynamic over and over again in movies, TV, books, etc.
As DMs, we also know that the wild card of player choice will always alter any plans made when a DM over-plans. Therefore, it’s sometimes a good idea to use this factor to one’s own advantage. Player curiousity, greed, aggression, stubborness and so on can be to a DMs advantage when the set-up is right. They key is not to use this too often or your players will become so paranoid as to go nowhere and do nothing without tedious over-prep on their part.
However, used sparingly, you can fish the players into a whole series of events, all because of one tiny choice or another.
Then you have stopped having an encounter. Now you have an adventure.
“All That Remains” Out of the Box D&D Encounters #3
Introduction:
Not every encounter needs to be combat related. Many DMs struggle with those moments when the party is wounded, unarmed, or in some for of other distress where combat would not be advised. I’ve been there myself. In some of these cases, DMs will still choose to make encounter rolls in the open, or will want to break up perhaps a long (and likely boring) recovery for the players with some excitement that does not further endanger them.
The old trope of having them spot deer or other relatively harmless wildlife can get old.
However, there’s no reason that an encounter needs to be a creature at all. It could be an event or strange location that stands alone as an interesting moment. These events or locations can spawn further adventures with the right descriptions, or if they spark some imagination in your player base.
In any regard, such encounters can break the monotony of the same-same and perhaps even take a campaign in new and interesting directions.
I hope you enjoy such an offering. I present-
Out of the Box D&D Encounters #3 – “All That Remains.”
“A Friend in Need”- Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2
Out of The Box D&D Encounters #2 - "A Friend in Need" Environment: Variable** Suggested Level: 5-7 ** The environment for this encounter was originally intended as a Wilderness encounter, but there’s no reason why such a location might be found in an urban environment. It could even...
“Chickening Out”- Out of the Box D&D Encounters #1
We’ve all had those moment. Writer’s Block. You’re out of ideas. Something unexpected happens and you’re not sure how to handle it. A player takes your story down an unintended path and the urban adventure you planned on is now on the road.I’ve been there.
“Out of the Box” encounters are intended to be a resource for those who are looking for an event or encounter to either fill a gap in time or story to fill, or to provide a story hook that leads elsewhere. Most are wilderness encounters of one kind or another, by clever writing could take many and convert them into dungeon or urban encounters too.
Now all the ideas that knock around inside my head can have a home.
Some are dangerous. Some are just for colour. Some are merely descriptions of environments. Many come from small notes tucked away inside the Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or this random-thought-generator I call a brain.
Welcome to “Out of the Box”.
