Fantasy Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Mountains
Mountain Fantasy Wilds Fantasy Encounter Tables

Fantasy Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Mountains

Duncan Thomson
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.

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[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.

Fantasy Mountain Encounters on DriveThru RPG Fantasy Wilds Tables Bundle on DriveThru RPG

10 Mountain Encounter Prompts

1d1010 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

1d10There 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

1d10DescriptorProfessionwho...
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

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.

Fantasy Mountain Encounters on DriveThru RPG Fantasy Wilds Tables Bundle on DriveThru RPG

If you liked these there are Fantasy Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.