"There is a cracked crystal structure ready to shatter."
Tables for Encounter Complications, Encounter Activities or States and Encounter Sentient Activity for the Underdark. Result is from Underdark Encounter Complications.
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Underdark Encounter Complications and Activities
What makes this Underdark encounter different?
Maybe they there is a minecart and tracks or prisoners from the surface. Maybe they are telepathic or rescuing a companion from a rockfall . Or they could mining metal or lost in the tunnels.
There is a 5e Underdark random encounter generator at ChaosGen.
There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Underdark Encounters.
Underdark - encs (2024) | encs (2014) | locs | noncombat | extras | all underdark
Underdark Encounter Complications
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Encounter Complications |
|---|---|
| 2 | There is a second group of creatures nearby (roll again on the appropriate encounter table) |
| 3 | There is a crossing to the Shadowfell here or there is a planar portal / magic circle here |
| 4 | There is a hidden item or cache here. Roll on Minor Underdark Treasures |
| 5 | Something lurks nearby - 1d3 gray oozes (or roll on Fungi and Oozes) |
| 6 | There is a chute with a flimsy covering or roll on Underdark Combat Terrain |
| 7 | Nearby is a powerful creature those encountered try not to disturb. Roll or pick a result from Underdark Encounters Level 11+ |
| 8 | There is a cracked crystal structure ready to shatter or roll on Underdark Combat Terrain |
| 9 | The creatures are carrying a magic item or it is hidden nearby. Roll on Magic Items - Underdark |
| 10 | There are minecart tracks and a minecart or roll on Underdark Combat Terrain |
| 11 | There is a subterranean river (or lake) here and a raft (or other watercraft) |
| 12 | There is a secret door (or chute) here. It leads to a place safe to rest with food and water. |
| 13 | There is an area of Brown Mold or roll on Underdark Hazards and Obstacles |
| 14 | There is a prisoners (or slaves) in the encounter (or hiding nearby). Roll on Underdark Slaves |
| 15 | There is an area of sharp stones (treat as spike stones) or roll on Underdark Hazards and Obstacles |
| 16 | There is a hallucinatory terrain (or progammed illusion) spell here |
| 17 | There is a pocket of flammable gas or roll on Underdark Hazards and Obstacles |
| 18 | The area is affected by a mirage arcana (or hallow) spell |
| 19 | There are beasts as pets / guards (or nearby). Roll on Underdark Beasts |
| 20 | Area is cursed by a deity or spirit. It is Desecrated Ground (DMG pg 110). An undead may be lurking (roll on an Undead Encounter table) |
Underdark Encounter Activities or States
| 1d4+1d6 | Underdark Encounter Activities or State |
|---|---|
| 2 | They are performing a ritual or one or more are telling a story |
| 3 | They are studying inscriptions (or pictures) or creating some art |
| 4 | They are searching for secret doors (or traps) or studying a portal |
| 5 | They are having an argument or they are intoxicated on a fungal (or mushroom) brew |
| 6 | They are creating some art or they are carving on tunnels |
| 7 | They are waiting in ambush for someone or playing with a pet |
| 8 | They are following a guide or having a celebration |
| 9 | They are foraging for sustenance (or fungi) |
| 10 | They are digging (or blocking up) a tunnel or they are tending fungi |
| 11 | They are lost or they are on patrol |
| 12 | They are making (or following) a map |
| 13 | They are partway through (or starting) a journey |
| 14 | They are preparing or consuming food or they are playing a game |
| 15 | They are building (or rearming) a trap or they are searching for ore |
| 16 | They are mining or they are hunting a beast |
| 17 | They are talking with someone (roll on Quick Underdark NPCs) |
| 18 | They are searching for a person or place |
| 19 | They are searching for the party or other adventurers |
| 20 | They are making a raft (or other watercraft) |
Underdark Encounter Sentient Activity
| 1d8+1d12 | Underdark Encounter Sentient Activity |
|---|---|
| 2 | They are performing a ritual or one or more are telling a story |
| 3 | They are studying inscriptions (or pictures) or creating some art |
| 4 | They are searching for secret doors (or traps) or studying a portal |
| 5 | They are having an argument or they are intoxicated on a fungal (or mushroom) brew |
| 6 | They are creating some art or they are carving on tunnels |
| 7 | They are waiting in ambush for someone or playing with a pet |
| 8 | They are following a guide or having a celebration |
| 9 | They are foraging for sustenance (or fungi) |
| 10 | They are digging (or blocking up) a tunnel or they are tending fungi |
| 11 | They are lost or they are on patrol |
| 12 | They are making (or following) a map |
| 13 | They are partway through (or starting) a journey |
| 14 | They are preparing or consuming food or they are playing a game |
| 15 | They are building (or rearming) a trap or they are searching for ore |
| 16 | They are mining or they are hunting a beast |
| 17 | They are talking with someone (roll on Quick Underdark NPCs) |
| 18 | They are searching for a person or place |
| 19 | They are searching for the party or other adventurers |
| 20 | They are making a raft (or other watercraft) |
More Encounter Tables
There is a 5e Underdark random encounter generator at ChaosGen. And a separate tool for encounter locations including Underdark.
There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DM's Guild as Underdark Encounters.
If you liked these there are D&D Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
