A continuing challenge, especially for starting Game Masters, is taking the mundane and making it special. Fortunately, there are a wide array of creatures that fit the bill. Each has their specialty. Mimics can stand in as mundane items. Darkmantles are indistinguishable from cave formations like stalactites and stalagmites while motionless. Gray oozes can resemble wet stone or pools of water.
After a time though, players come to expect this. Then it’s time to bring out classic themes from horror and surprise characters when they least expect it. In a dungeon setting, they might well be ready for something.
But when travelling between towns and villages in patrolled or protected lands, characters might let their guard down. Farmlands are perfect for this setting, as they are cultivated lands typically already under the auspices of a local sheriff, regent, baron or other leader. They should be safe.
That’s when you spring the surprise. Doing this sort of thing early in a campaign can set the tone for the entire event. This is perfect for when you intend to later add a hag, evil wizard, or other supernatural foe as a central villain to a campaign. It provides the correct feel for the rest of the adventure or campaign.
Tension is an important element for some campaigns, and defines the nature of the ongoing undercurrent to all other events that follow. This specific encounter draws upon the cultural acceptance or fear of scarecrows, as well as the almost ubiquitous presence of their intended target, crows. Both set within farmlands should be a normal and expected occurrence, allowing you to spring this encounter on lower level parties with little or no set up.
Encounter Type: Combat and social
Map: Farm encounter map
Lighting: None (flat battle map.)
System: 5E
Length: One shot
Installation Type: Addon
License: Roll20 End User License Agreement
(Personal Use Only, Do Not Distribute)