Fantasy Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Mountains

A group of dwarven miners are celebrating a big find with lots of ale. They are readying to race sleds down a slope and welcome guests.

Simple encounter tables for mountains in any fantasy setting. Tables for Mountain Encounter Prompts, Mountain Hazards & Distractions and Mountain Quick NPCs.

[Photo by Massimiliano Morosinotto on Unsplash]

Fantasy Mountain Encounters

Mountain encounters might be a frightened pony with bulging packs, a blunt miner with a message or rowdy giants in a rock-throwing contest. There might be a burning beacon or the sound of drums.

A place of snow, mines, cliffs, mist and goats, home to herders, workers of stone and dwarves.

There is a fantasy mountain encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Mountain Encounters.

10 Mountain Encounter Prompts

1d10	10 Mountain Encounter Prompts
1	A group of masons, sculptors and other artisans is working on a massive statue. They are working for a muscular mage who pays well.
2	A group of dwarven miners are celebrating a big find with lots of ale. They are readying to race sleds down a slope and welcome guests.
3	A lone bloodied pony with bulging packs is frightened of everything.
4	A family of enterprising goblins have a cart (or sledge) and pony, and are looking for a new home. The trade and entertain as they travel.
5	A pair of rocks turn into roughly humanoid earth spirits. They bar the way forward, warning the party away. They can't remember why.
6	A pair of rowdy giants are having a rock-throwing contest. They are after bright or obvious targets. Neither one is very accurate.
7	A desperate merchant with a string of heavily-laden mules and several disgruntled guards. They are late in reaching their destination.
8	A few nervous hunters track a giant who stole from their village.
9	A two headed giant argues with itself between eating a treasure or giving it to an earth spirit. It asks the group to help it make a decision.
10	A group of heavily armoured warriors are mounted on giant goats. They seek a legendary temple said to be hidden in the magic valley.

Mountain Hazards and Distractions

1d10	There is (or are)...
1	a thick mist, sent by a local spirit or a fissure opens in the ground
2	something out of place here... d10 (1-2. a boat 3. a mound of sand 4. an unattended picnic 5. a stained glass window 6. a palm tree 7. a sign pointing to the sky 8. a dead camel 9. a framed painting 10. a message in the clouds)
3	an avalanche or an area of slippery ice
4	a burning beacon or a speaking statue that can bless or curse
5	there is the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2. cooking meat 3. dead bodies 4. wolves 5. a strange musk 6. unwashed humanoids 7. trolls 8. ale 9. flowers 10. an ancient evil )
6	a continuous downpour of rain or earthquake tremors
7	a pit covered in animal hides or a snow blizzard
8	sounds of ... d10 (1-2. thunder 3. crashing rocks 4. angry shouting 5. fighting 6. echoing roars 7. drums 8. screaming 9. a giant 10. wolves)
9	a thunderstorm or a bridge in bad repair, ready to collapse
10	an illusion disguising a bridge (or chasm); or flash floods

Quick Mountain NPCs

1d10	Descriptor	Profession	who...
1	dwarf or unwashed	warrior	wears a wolf mask (or fine cloak)
2	fierce or giant-kin	scout	has a pet eagle (or stolen goats)
3	birdfolk or yodeling	berserker	is divining the future (or totally lost)
4	stern or laughing	warlock	sings mining (or battle) songs
5	goblin or vain	outlaw	is with a local guide or pair of guards
6	climbing or old	herder	is playing a drum or smoking a pipe
7	gnome or animated	messenger	has a mule (or guard dog)
8	blunt or werebear	hunter	carries a message for the group
9	orc or fur-clad	miner	is riding a giant wolf (or hippogriff)
10	friendly or veteran	stonecutter	carries a pickaxe (or pair of skis)

More Encounters