Will the singing sand dunes attract monsters?
The desert is a great place for adventure, the unforgiving desert sun and the lack of water makes just being there an adventure worth telling stories about, add some giant scorpions, a mummy and few ancient tombs and you’ve got the stuff that bards will sing about for centuries to come!
If you like the idea of the player characters struggling due to the environment, then be sure to check out our post on Heat and steam as an obstacle, it can hopefully add some new spice to your game.
Also, if you like rules light OSR games, check out our ruleset; Adventurous on DriveThruRPG!
D66 desert encounters
| D66 Roll | Encounter |
|---|---|
| 11 | A lost caravan of traders, their supplies dwindling and desperately in need of a guide. |
| 12 | An ancient, sun-bleached skeleton, clutching a treasure map. |
| 13 | A sudden sandstorm that forces the party to find shelter. |
| 14 | A traveling merchant with a collection of rare and magical artifacts. |
| 15 | A wandering mummy lord, cursed to roam the desert for eternity. |
| 16 | A scavenging group of kobolds, who have adapted to the desert environment. |
| 21 | A seemingly ordinary cactus that comes to life and attacks when approached. |
| 22 | A small desert village being tormented by a sandworm. |
| 23 | An oasis, with a hidden entrance to a forgotten underground temple. |
| 24 | A trio of nomadic orc herders on their riding beasts, willing to trade. |
| 25 | A mirage leading the party astray, guided by a mischievous desert spirit. |
| 26 | A giant scorpion's nest with egg sacs that are about to hatch. |
| 31 | A lost child from a nearby city, dehydrated and frightened. |
| 32 | An ancient obelisk, radiating a strange magical energy. |
| 33 | A whirlwind that sweeps up one of the party members and deposits them in a distant location. |
| 34 | An exiled elf, who is an expert survivalist and has adapted to life in the desert. |
| 35 | A secret hideout of desert bandits, with their loot stashed. |
| 36 | A dying dragon, offering its treasure hoard to anyone who can perform its last request. |
| 41 | A group of dune-dwelling goblins attacking from below the sand. |
| 42 | A massive desert tortoise, old and wise, who may know secrets of the desert. |
| 43 | A haunted oasis, populated by spectral figures at night. |
| 44 | A natural phenomenon of singing sand dunes, that could attract unwanted creatures. |
| 45 | A group of explorers from a far-off land, lost and out of supplies. |
| 46 | A cave, inside is a pool of water and magical, luminescent plants. |
| 51 | A lone djinni trapped in an old lamp, willing to barter its freedom for wishes. |
| 52 | A horde of undead, rising from the desert sands under a full moon. |
| 53 | An old hermit who can cast powerful divination spells. |
| 54 | A sand-sunken ruin of an ancient civilization, filled with traps and treasures. |
| 55 | A swarm of flesh-eating beetles that burrow under the sand. |
| 56 | A wandering ghost ship, crewed by the undead, roams the desert due to a curse. |
| 61 | A rare desert flower in bloom, its nectar is a powerful potion ingredient. |
| 62 | A strange meteorite crash site, radiating unknown energy. |
| 63 | A sudden flash flood caused by a distant rainstorm. |
| 64 | A group of desert elves on a hunting mission, suspicious of strangers. |
| 65 | A giant vulture's nest atop a rock outcropping, full of shiny stolen objects. |
| 66 | An ancient and rare desert drake spotted in the distance, a sight few have ever seen. |
