Monasteries and ogres await!
Navigating through the treacherous trails of a mountain range can test the mettle of any adventurer. The crisp air, the rugged terrain, and the call of the unknown from atop the peaks. A good list of random encounters truly elevates (pun intended) any great mountain adventure. Be it a wise hermit with ancient knowledge, a precarious cliff that challenges their acrobatics, or a mysterious cave with whispers of a forgotten civilization, a good encounter can transform a mere hike into a memorable escapade.
Below is a table of mountain encounters is tailored to introduce an element of the unexpected and the enigmatic into your campaign. It’s more than just combat scenarios; it’s about creating instances that will linger with your players well beyond the session. Whether it’s the awe of discovering a hidden monastery of monks or the adrenaline of escaping an avalanche, each encounter here is a narrative waiting to unfold, a puzzle yearning for a solution, or a challenge ready to be tackled. And the best part? They all work equally well in a rules light game like Adventurous or more complicated game like DnD 5e.
D66 Mountain encounters
| D66 Roll | Encounter |
|---|---|
| 11 | A nest of harpies singing a mesmerizing tune from a high cliff |
| 12 | An old hermit living in a cave, guarding an ancient relic |
| 13 | A sudden avalanche threatening to bury a nearby village |
| 14 | A band of mountain bandits demanding a toll for safe passage |
| 15 | A frozen lake with something dark moving beneath the ice |
| 16 | A stranded expedition group in need of rescue before a storm hits |
| 21 | A hidden valley where the flowers are rumored to hold magic properties |
| 22 | An abandoned mine haunted by the spirits of miners trapped long ago |
| 23 | A majestic griffon seen flying over the highest peak at dawn |
| 24 | A treacherous path with a rockslide that separates the party |
| 25 | A mysterious shrine dedicated to a forgotten mountain deity |
| 26 | A colony of yetis who are protective of their territory |
| 31 | A gateway to a cloud kingdom, guarded by storm elementals |
| 32 | A lost city, rumored to be hidden within the mountain’s heart |
| 33 | A chilling howl echoing through the mountain pass at night |
| 34 | A perilous rope bridge swaying over a deep chasm |
| 35 | A dragon’s lair, with the dragon home and protective of its hoard |
| 36 | A mountain summit that holds a portal to another realm |
| 41 | A secluded monastery where monks train in ancient martial arts |
| 42 | An eerie fog that leads the party to a ghostly procession |
| 43 | A forgotten graveyard of an ancient battle with restless spirits |
| 44 | A camp of mountain rangers willing to share knowledge of a safe passage |
| 45 | A rare herb found on a mountain ledge, known for its healing properties |
| 46 | A group of adventurers frozen in time by a curse |
| 51 | A ferocious mountain lion guarding its cubs |
| 52 | An unstable cavern that threatens to collapse |
| 53 | A wandering merchant selling rare mountain herbs |
| 54 | A mountain peak where the stars touch the earth at midnight |
| 55 | A deranged alchemist living in seclusion, conducting bizarre experiments |
| 56 | A tribe of stone giants challenging the party to prove their worth |
| 61 | A waterfall hiding the entrance to a hidden cave |
| 62 | A narrow trail leads to the cave of a man-eating ogre, the bones of its victims are scattered near the entrance and the smell of rotting flesh lingers in the air |
| 63 | A mysterious echoing voice giving cryptic advice |
| 64 | A hidden trove of gemstones guarded by earth elementals |
| 65 | A frozen statue of a forgotten hero, holding a map to a hidden treasure |
| 66 | A secret mountain pass leading to an uncharted territory |
If you found these mountain encounters useful, check out our ultimate NPC generator and our D66 Forest encounters, they will definitely help you prep your next game!
