I Cast...Brainstorm issue 19!

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This week — 10 Wilderness Encounters, and a New Monster

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Let’s brainstorm some fun!

In this issue...

• 10 Wilderness Encounters

• The Striped Squibbit

• Brainstorming Links

• What I’m DM-ing

• Gifts for Gamers

10 Wilderness Encounters

If you need an encounter as your players traverse the wilderness, roll a d10 on this table (or choose your favorite).

1. Buzzing flies and a fetid smell surround the picked-over carcass of a large carnivorous dinosaur.
   (A pod of bulettes are nearby, and recently sated, so less likely to attack.)

2. An ancient dragon is perched on the peak of a small mountain, about a mile away.
   (The dragon — of any type you choose — could be minding its own business, or notice the characters and become interested.)

3. Quiet sobbing leads to a elf toddler, who is dirty, starved and obviously lost.
   (The child knows few words, and only speaks elvish.)

4. A huge boulder, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide is split asunder. Sitting in the crack is a shining greataxe sized for a cloud giant…or a god.
   (The axe weighs tons, and if the characters return to this place later, it will be gone.)

5. Distant smoke leads to the smoldering remains of a roadside inn. Tracks around the ruin indicate a sizeable force of humanoids burned the inn, and then marched off.

6. A pale elf waits as the characters pass, and asks the last character in line, “Excuse me — I need help. May I can have a moment of your time?”
   (The elf is a mischievous fey prince, and every time the character says “Yes” to the prince’s question, they age 6 months. The prince will try to get the character to say “yes” to the question as many times as possible before the aging becomes apparent, and then will teleport away, laughing.)

7. A herd of elk stampede across the characters’ path, led by a shining albino elk. A ray of light shines down from the heavens and illuminates the albino as it runs.

8. A flying fortress passes overhead, hundreds of feet in the air, but close enough to hear the distinct sounds of battle coming from inside.

9. A lone knight with a sad tale starts to follow the characters at a distance.
   (The knight can either aid the characters should they encounter trouble, or just watch sadly and ride away.)

10. The heroes encounter a pod of 4d4 striped squibbits. (See below)
    (An owlbear waits and watches in the distance — if any of the characters succumb to the squibbit’s poison, it attacks!)
    
    
    

The Striped Squibbit

Some find the striped squibbit adorable, but anyone who has encountered them before would be wary. The creatures are usually docile, but their poison can cause paralyzation, so clever predators such as owlbears often prowl bear striped squibbet dens to take advantage of unfortunate souls who succumb to the effects.

Small Beast, Unaligned
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 13 (3d8)
Speed 50 ft.
STR 10 (+0) DEX 16 (+3) CON 10 (+0) INT 2 (-4) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 10 (+0)
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
Senses Darkvision 30 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages --
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

Traits
Keen Senses. The striped squibbit has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.

Actions
Tentacle Sting
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Poison Ink Spray
Range 15 ft., all creatures in a 15’ cone
Each creature in the area of the cone must make a DC 10 Constitution Saving Throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 1d12 Poison damage. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage. If the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but has the poisoned condition for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.

Brainstorming Links

You probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me, but if not, do yourself a favor and check them out.

The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com

The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/

DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social

RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/

Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/

Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple

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What I’m DM-ing

• A weekly Curse of Strahd campaign via Roll20 using 2014 5th edition rules

• A weekly Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, in-person, with 2024 5th edition rules

• A series of one-shots in a bi-weekly game at a bar in LA. If you’re interested in joining in, invites are sent via the Partiful app. Or you can sign up at Ye Rustic Inn — 1831 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, California.

• Two different campaigns with my kids, (Rime and Storm Kings Thunder) when schedules align

What I’m Playing

• A 5th ed. Dragonlance campaign as a 9th level Tinker Gnome Gadgeteer Rogue, named Professor Flondersnoot

• About to start playing Vecna: Eve of Ruin as Clybb Thistlebridge, a 9th level Halfling great-weapon Fighter

• And in all my free time, I play a LOT of Hearthstone! I’m currently stuck at mid-gold in Standard, but if you want to play, find me at BigKahuna (#1802)
  
  
  

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