Go on a hike of a lifetime and try these 10+ grassland encounters for your D&D and other TTRPG game! The adventures await!
A hike of a lifetime
A sea of grass stretches out to the horizon, sparsely accentuated with shrubs and trees. A giant herd of massive herbivores moves slowly some distance away from you, grazing on the greens in their constant migration. The birds are circling above your head. From behind the hill to your right, you can hear people talking, toiling away in the hot midday sun, working their fields.
It’s a bright, beautiful day, and nothing bad is about to happen… You’d see that coming from far away, right?
1. City of Tents
You stumble upon a wide semicircle of tents splayed amidst the plains. The denizens, claiming to be a group of nomads, invite you to rest your feet at their camp and exchange news.
2. The Circle
A wide swath of grass lies on the ground, bent unnaturally by an unknown force. The resulting pattern resembles a circle filled with complex lines and geometric symbols.
3. The Gift
A sudden thunder out of clear, blue skies strikes a stone’s throw away. The grass vaporized instantly, and the sand beneath melted. Curiously, the molten sand solidified in a near-perfect shape of an arrow.
4. The Contest
A group of shepherds organized a festive contest to the enjoyment of themselves and their docile pupils observing their feats of strength and fitness. They gladly invite you to compete against them, welcoming the change of pace.
5. The Trickster
Whelps and cries resembling those of a human baby carry far through the night. Eerie laughter and high-pitched howling betray a frolicking fox—either that or condemned souls escaped the underworld.
6. Field Work
Farmers toiling under the midday sun greet you warmly and offer respite and ale in exchange for help. Time goes fast when working hard; soon the sun sets, and the feasting starts.
7. The Compass
A traveling salesperson offers to sell magical and wondrous objects, like this compass pointing towards the nearest treasure. As you approach to investigate, the compass needle turns towards you.
8. Slither
Something just slithered on your foot. There is no sign of the intruder anywhere around you, leaving you wondering if it was a snake or your imagination.
9. The Friar
A monk laments by a cart with a broken wheel. He was transporting a barrel of the monastery’s finest wine to the village, but now he’ll never make it there before the summer festivities are over.
10. White Wings
A white butterfly flutters in the air, heading towards an unassuming crack in the ground. More and more insects follow in its footsteps, crawling into the crevice, never to be seen again.
Need More Encounters?
Wayfarer’s Deck: The Sea of Grass invites you for a trip through an endless grassland, whether it’s a steppe, a prairie, a savanna, or any other shrubland. Discover the plants and animals, marvel at the effectiveness of predators’ camouflage (if you manage to spot them in time), give a helping hand to the hard-working farmers and shepherds, and get just a tiny bit lost in the tall grass.
Grab the whole deck on DriveThruRPG or Itch.
Going on a trip somewhere else? Check the whole collection of encounters in Wayfarer’s Decks.
How about some extra lore for the grasslands, to make the experience more immersive for the players?
Globetrotter’s Guide to Greenery: Grasslands
What’s growing on the grasslands? Mostly grasses, not gonna lie. But that’s not the whole story, so buckle in for a ride and discover the intriguing herbs, shrubs, and trees of the grasslands, as well as the science behind those seemingly endless seas of green. From the savanna to prairies to steppes and velds, Globetrotter’s Guide to Grasslands equips you and the player characters with all that they need to make this hike unforgettable.
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