An environment that goes unnoticed in many settings or campaigns is the importance of rivers. Rivers were the first highways of the ancient world and are still major thoroughfares to this day. The same can be true in a fantasy setting. Rivers should be a constant resource for encounters of all kinds, be it lizardfolk, pirates, goblins in rickety steamships, or orcs in war canoes.
In this instance we’ll draw from ancient history and base this encounter around a funeral procession. To build on the concept, this funeral procession is not just a funeral barge, but an elaborately carved vessel with a large single sail and a single cabin. Imagine, then, that this vessel is not of this world, but the next. The vessel itself is an expression of a Realm of Shadow. Now you have a river encounter you could have at night, with all the haunting dread of what happens when the dead meet the living.
The intent behind this encounter is simple — sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone. Curiosity killed the cat for a reason. In this case, the cat might end up worse than dead.
Encounter Type: Combat and social
Map: Ship 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)