Princess in a Tower

With map in hand, the adventurer need only negotiate the wilderness and the dangers that hide within. See the Random Encounters below.

I also recommend a couple of skill challenge obstacles along the way. Here are a couple of options. These are fail-forward obstacles. They won’t stop the adventure, just slow it down and cause the loss of some equipment and maybe some hit points.

• RIVER CROSSING – Thunder echos through the sky. Rain clouds hover over the mountain tops several days ride from here. When you arrive at the stream marked on the map, it is a fast-flowing river. The map shows this is the safest place to cross.
  • 3 successful dexterity checks are required to cross the river. (See DC and Skill Check on the Words! post)
  • 1st Failure – You slip on the slick, moss-covered stones. It is difficult, but you manage to regain your footing.
  • 2nd Failure – You step forward and the stones slip out from under your feet. Instead of solid ground, you plunge into a hole. The water carries away some of your gear while you struggle to keep your head above water. Finally, you find the other edge of the hole.
  • 3rd Failure – Focusing on your footing, you miss seeing the small tree being carried downstream.  The water in this section of the river is waist deep and the tree hits you in the chest, knocking the wind out of you. You cling to the tree as it spins and turns, flowing down the river.
  • 4th Failure – The water carries you very far down the river before finally getting stuck against the shore. Shivering and cold, you look up the river bank and see bits and pieces of your belongings. After a few hours of careful searching, you manage to collect most of your gear and make camp. 
• IT’S A CLIFF – Well that is what this squiggle on the map is, a cliff. the shear wall of the cliff rises up about 30 feet here. Examining the map you see the squiggle intersects with. the river a few miles in both directions. Squinting at the map you see an x marked on the line. A short hike down the cliff line, you find a very narrow path that looks like it could be a way up. Looking closely, you see there are pitons (climbing spikes), but no ropes.
  • 3 successful athletic or acrobatic or athletics checks will get the character up the narrow path.
  • 1 Failure – slick from the rain, your foot slips. You scrabble for a grip and manage to grab a root.
  • 2nd Failure – Trusting your weight to one of the pitons, you pull yourself up a little further. Before you can get a firm footing, the piton comes loose. You slide several feet before stopping. Scrapped and bruised, you start your climb again.
  • 3rd Failure – The stone you are holding onto loosens and falls away. More loose rocks fall from above. Several large stones bounce off your backpack. You barely manage. to keep your grip until the last of the sand and small rocks stop raining down.
  • 4th Failure – Finally, the top of the cliff is within reach. You see a rope hanging over the lip, just inches over your head. You gently pull, it seems secure. You give it a little harder tug and a backpack full of supplies falls over the cliff. For a moment you think you can hold onto the rope and save the supplies. You watch it fall in slow motion over your head and as it falls past you, you get a good look at the ground below. Reflex takes over and you let the rope go and reach for a solid grip on the cliff wall.