20 Plots Hooks: Navigators

During the A-Z challenge, which I seemed to fail at, when I hit ‘N’ really was a nice challenge for me to create a d20 Plot hook table for a different Lettered Profession.  While Normally I prefer Utility Tables (Building things) instead of Fluff Tables, it was a fun exercise.  So here’s the last one of the Fluff Tables that I had.

1d20 Navigator Plot Hooks
1 Something funky is either up with the astrolabe or with the sky
2 Barnacles on the Boat! The ship is scheduled to go through an area where this is a problem! Fix it!
3 Has heard rumors of a lost Magical Compass that can do incredible things
4 Rats have infested the ships, and the port commissioner won’t allow them to land
5 Exploration! The Navigator has been commissioned to map unmapped areas!
6 Fishing Captains are looking for navigators to take tourists out
7 A Giant Octopus has been assaulting ships as they come close to the harbor
8 A hoard of Mermaidmen have been claiming a tax of any ship coming near the shore
9 Some Sea Mage has developed an Instant Storm Spell and can bottle it! This is bad news!
10 The Navigator can’t get a job any more because of rumors of all the crashed ships he’s been on/
11 A Family of Navigators have developed a feud over new methods, they need peace.
12 Lightning has been spotted shooting from the WATER not from the SKY!
13 Massive Waves are radiating out from a central location, creating shipping hazards
14 New Current Charts have been developed a navigator who gets them will get a huge reputation boost
15 Opportunity! New land has been discovered. Navigators are in high demand!
16 Pirates are raiding ships and dragging Navigators off the ships alive, why?
17 Raiders have broken into the Navigators Guild and is trying to distribute the guilds secrets
18 Sirens have ended the journey of any ship with a half-elf aboard
19 The Kingdom is recruiting for the Treasure Fleet, it’s very prestigious
20 Vengeance must be handed out to the ship captain that left me stranded on an island
Categories: Encounters,NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Money Changers

Here it is, the end of the week and we have d20 plots/rumors/adventures that a moneychanger might have. For more about coins you might look more into our Numismatic Posts filed under the Hoard Project.  I imagine with a little thought one could use the current world economic troubles to come up with a bunch more problems that a moneychanger might have if you consider them more like banks then the American Express booth at the airport.

Of course if you really want some good stuff about money changers and medieval banking, it’s definitely a good time for you too look into stories about the Medici Bank, or even into the Knights Templar.   Enjoy.

 

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Categories: NPC,Treasure

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d20 Plot Hooks: Librarian

Well, there are plenty of plots that could be had around a library, but here are a list of d20 of those plots. There are some classics, and hopefully something a little inspiring. Books are a great place in an RPG to develop plots from. Here’s that list then:

 

1d20 Librarian Plot Hooks
1 Ancient Artifacts have been acquired, and are being displayed in the library
2 Religious Fanatics are demanding that heretical books be burned
3 The Cartographers guild is demanding that all atlases be turned over to them
4 Rumors of dragon treasure has brought many mangy adventurers tramping about the library
5 Unknown Enemies are at the gate, does the librarian have any books about them?
6 A fire elemental was summoned in the library, and burnt many books, who did this and why
7 Gargoyles have reported late night theft attempts
8 Classic Animated Objects Spell making the Library ‘Haunted’ Adventure Seed
9 An Investigation is occurring over the the bias of acquisition of the library
10 It’s been discovered that the Royal Journal Section is incomplete, the last book must be found!
11 Kids are sneaking into the Gothic Library for, ahem, immoral purposes
12 A last member of a family has bequeathed the family book collection to the library with one condition
13 Modernization! There is a new type of filing system for storing books, it’s time to re-organize
14 Its time to hire the next librarian, a search must be conducted
15 A certain person is overly interested in the obituary section of the library, it’s creepy
16 The Paper is deteriorating rapidly! Something must be done, the Librarian needs help
17 Rats have moved into the Library, their scurrying feet are a constant sound driving the librarian crazy
18 Secret codes have been discovered in the margins of a collection of Journals from a Cleric
19 Physiology of Trolls has just been published, it would be great to get a copy
20 Villains have ripped pages out of certain books, all by the same author, why?
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Kitchen Scullery

Okay, so I wouldn’t assume too many actual adventures to spawn from a simple Kitchen Scullery Maid, but she sure is a gossipy creature that likes to talk about the going ons about the house, so with that, let’s here d20 interesting or not things that she has to tell us.

1d20 Kitchen Scullery Plot Hooks
1 The Mistress is away, and the Master is at play, with the help
2 Has secretly acquired a ‘boiling’ stone to speed her morning chores
3 Cook needs ingredients not normally procurable, someone needs to get it
4 Headmistress is freaking out about the upcoming dinner party and the dishes must be cleaned later
5 Engineers are making a mess of the HOUSE! What are the building?
6 Grime build up on the marble floor, it’s a different kind of dirt, where has the master been?
7 Goblins are waiting in the parlor
8 Some sort of Brownie is haunting the Kitchen, moving things, breaking things, and causing mischief!
9 Mistress wants all of the fireplaces lit, all day. This is unusual, why would she want that?
10 Young Master has been taken to jail
11 Kittens have nested in the rafters making all sort of racket
12 Livery Maids are drinking from the masters wine collection
13 Mastiffs have taken the kitchen as their lair, and they are not happy about any Scullering being done
14 The Nurse has been acting strange, as if something is wrong and she can’t say anything
15 An Open house has been announced, allowing the public to see the art collection
16 Something has stopped the indoor piping from working, What is it?
17 A royal visit has been announced and the household is busy
18 Silence has been ordered for the household during the hours I am supposed to be working, how do I work?
19 A Trolls claw makes one of the best scullering tool
20 It’s forbidden but the Valet has a crush on me, and tries to steal some time with me
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Jailers

Well it’s only logical that we go from Insurance to Jail, right? Hahaha. Well today we visit the jails and find out what kind of interesting plot hooks they are going to have for our players. And Jail is an interesting place, with people that are good and bad, sounds like the right ingredients for a drama to take place.

1d20 Jailer Plot Hooks
1 An important noble is in the jail, trying to avoid an assassin
2 Bail Bonders are extorting the prisoners, mostly for minor infractions
3 Magical constraining handcuffs have been stolen. There are probably young lovers freaking out right now
4 A couple of Ambassadors have been detained, state secrets were claimed as the reason
5 Execution Row has been extremely violent and no-one wants to go in there to get the prisoners out
6 Framed! One of the Prisoners was obviously framed, but was still sent to jail
7 A way is needed to hold a Giant.
8 The Old Jailer is haunting the jail harassing the prisoners and jailers, telling them how to do their job
9 An impertinent prisoner is have a food strike, word has gotten out, and the public is upset
10 Jailers are going on strike, the pay is too low to have to deal with the prisoners
11 Kidnappers have been recently captured, interrogations need to occur to find the kidnapped
12 Stories that a lynch mob is going to form to free a prisoner to have a street execution are spreading
13 A new mandate that prisoners be treated with respect. Jailers are ignoring it. The council needs help
14 New cells are needed, there is a cavern below the jail. It needs to be cleared for the expansion to begin
15 An outbreak of magical sickness has spread amongst jailers
16 It’s pardon season, and the Justicar needs help with interviews at the jail
17 Riots have broken out in the jail, and the council needs someone to go in and subdue the prisoners
18 Staff is taking bribes, the council needs help finding out how persuasive it is
19 A captured Troll is in the prison
20 Vigilantes continue to bring ‘criminals’ to the jail, they need to be stopped
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Insurer

It took me quite awhile to decide on what I was going to be. I is a very difficult Letter to find a profession for, and while the first thought I had was inventor, it struck me that throughout history there have been individuals who have guarenteed that goods are secure. It became practice in Europe to insure goods. That inspired me, and made this perhaps one of the easiest tables to build during this Challenge. Enjoy this set of plot hooks.

1d20 Insurer Plot Hooks
1 Art theft. A priceless historic painting has been stolen, and now it the insurer is on the hook, find it
2 It has been discovered that a rival insurer is backing a troupe of bandits
3 Caravans keep getting waylaid, the bandits must be destroyed and goods returned
4 A Mage has questions about Demon Summoning Insurance, this needs to be reported to the authorities
5 Current Exchange Rates are negatively impacting the business
6 Fire Destroys an entire city block, incidentally insured by the same company, who did it
7 A Gold payment sent from a recently insured individual has not been received, what happened to it
8 Heist! The insurer found out about a heist going down, infiltrate and destroy the plan
9 The King has developed a great interest in the details of certain, perhaps, treasonous policy recently made
10 Joust prize insurance. If one individual wins all the events, there is a large payout, this cannot happen
11 Kobolds are discovered to be the backers of the insurer, diabolical plot?
12 Locusts are enroute to a field insured. Can they be stopped?
13 Mine Collapse. A great sum of money was lost in the cave-in, now they want the mine reopened
14 Naval Armada’s continue to confiscate merchantships that are being insured, if only the war would stop
15 Adventurers keep decimating the insured Otyugh population in the sewers
16 Pirates have enslaved noble passengers with travel insurance, they must be freed
17 Risky Policies have been issued by an agent, is he insane, or brillant?
18 A Ship has been sunk, time for a deep sea retrieval
19 Trapmakers are needed for a new project, only the best and most inventive need apply
20 Violence erupts when it’s discovered the shady business of insurance
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Herald

It’s important to note that Heralds only became the identifier of Geneological Histories and Banner Reading in their most recent history. Originally they were messengers and the precusors to Diplomats. And then they were masters of the tournament. And then they were regulated to historian geeks.

1d20 Herald Plot Hooks
1 An ancient title is trying to be resurrected by a lost heir
2 Banners are approaching the Gate, the Herald is needed
3 A family petitions to add to their coat of arms. Some of the imagery is suspicious and must be investigated
4 It’s time for new tabards. But they must have griffon feathers
5 Want to have an Extreme Joust! On Griffins. Now he needs help putting it together
6 An Investigation of the usurpation of a Coat of Arms has made having deputies nessecary
7 Rumors of lost Genealogic records have surfaced
8 The Herald College is having an event in town this week
9 Needs magical spectacles because of his job and impaired eyesight
10 Believes the city needs a Joust, and needs msgs delivered, the notes are inciteful threats from the other family
11 A ship full of nobles fleeing from their own country have arrived in town. The herald knows nothing about their coats of arms, and needs to know now
12 Heralds keep disappearing once they leave the safety of the realm, who or what is killing them?
13 The Royal family has stricken Monsters from Coat of Arms, and now there’s a fight for animals
14 News has spread of the death of the Royal Herald, and now a new one must be selected
15 Scandal! A minor noble has added supporters to her coat. Only a royal proclomation can bestow a supporter. The monarch is silent on the subject
16 It has been found the Herald is spreading false proclomations
17 Attache stolen! The Herald has been robbed of important trade agreements, they must be found
18 He has been commissioned to set up a spy ring in a neighboring country and needs help
19 Has heard rumors that there are plans to sabotage the upcoming tournament he requires help
20 A Royal Herald from another country has arrived, good news cannot be following
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Gardener

Well, the day of rest brings me even with the challenge, hopefully I can get a little ahead today or tomorrow.

1d20 Gardener Plot Hooks
1 Abberant Azaleas are consuming the flesh of rodents, leaving small skeletons everywhere
2 A Giant beehive continues to be rebuilt every night after being knocked down
3 Needs to get a permit to build a glass conservatory on the premises
4 A Family of Dryad have moved into the gardens, and they want it too themselves
5 Wants a Clipping from an extremely rare or historically significant tree
6 The fountain has stopped working, the only way to investigate it is to shrink down to size
7 Gremlins are haunting the Tea House, causing much distress
8 Something is in the Hedge Maze but no one can catch it, can the players?
9 An Insect plague is destroying the gardens, they are not native to the area
10 The young aristocrats have taken to jogging in the garden
11 A Royal Wedding, not only is it in the Gardens, but they want the garden re-arranged!
12 Lotus flowers that normally only bloom on full moons, are blooming at high noon its a portent
13 Dire dragonfly’s have taken up residence in the garden
14 A cult of necromancers are using the Gardens to gather ingredients for something nasty
15 The Gardeners Guild is descending upon the garden soon, and there are issues that need to be fixed
16 The reflecting pool has started reflecting another location, no one recognizes it, and why?
17 Why are the roses all black? A Curse? A Disease? The Gardener needs help!
18 A religious group has booked the garden for a religious festival, and now they have demands
19 Trolberries have started growing in the garden, the gardener needs help removing them
20 Vibrant Violets are causing guest to become charmed
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Fowlers

F. You’ll notice that one thing I avoided in this table is that we don’t talk about how the fowler hunts. Other than a couple of trapping or dog entries. I don’t use firearms, but I didn’t want to hamstring the usefulness of the hooks for anyone looking to use them for a firearm game. Enjoy.

1d20 Fowler Plot Hooks
1 The Fowler has developed a recipe for magical apparel, but needs certain ingredients for his crafter
2 There have been no indications of any eggs this season, why aren’t the fowl breeding?
3 A commoner sighted a Duck that was eating a rat. That is not normal, but someone needs to investigate!
4 A new breed of duck has arrived in the area, it is aggressive towards the other species
5 Eggs are appearing in nest that aren’t being fertilized, this could be bad for next year
6 The Fowl Flightways have changed this season, what is causing them to fly different?
7 A Gaggle of Geese are spending the day in town, and are violent towards any trying to chase them off
8 The Retrievers that the Fowler has used are getting sick, from the fowl, or something else?
9 His magical duck call has been stolen, upon further investigation, it is discovered it was druid, now what?
10 A tribe of lizardmen are hunting the same territory
11 The King has put in an order for a large amount of geese feathers, the fowler needs help fulfilling it
12 Due to over hunting, there is now only one lake with fowl left, the fowler needs to negotiate use of the lake
13 This years migration has changed, the fowl have not appeared, the fowler needs someone to investigate
14 Nests are being raided by other fowl species
15 The Osprey are over hunting the fowl, the fowler needs help to stop them
16 The sheriff needs help tracking down the poachers
17 Fowl hunting now is regulated, and a pass must be gotten from the government
18 A breed of smarter Swan are avoiding all of the fowlers attempts at hunting, he needs help
19 Trapping order. The fowler has been hired to trap, instead of hunt, he needs help
20 A conservation movement has started, the fowler needs help mitigating this new sentiment
Categories: NPC

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d20 Plot Hooks: Engineers

1d20 Engineer Plot Hooks
1 Arc de Triumph! The City Council wants one, but now property must be, ahem, acquired
2 The Bell in the Tower has cracked, and now it needs to come down
3 Castle Expansion time. The Royal family has outgrown its suites and now the castle must grow
4 The debt the original city builders made to the Demon Builders is now coming due
5 Last week the Earthquake revealed cracks in the city wall, a secret is hidden within
6 An outlying community needs fortifications built, the engineer needs help in transit
7 A famous goblin engineer is giving a speech at the university
8 An Iconic building, has recently become haunted by it’s builders, the engineer needs to know why
9 An empty Insectoid Hive has been discovered, the engineer wants to learn about their tunnels
10 Artifacts have been discovered while a new building is being built
11 The engineer needs to test out his newest killer traps, the players are his guinea pigs
12 A Lakeside community is starting to be washed out the engineer needs help moving the town
13 Massive blocks the size of giants have been discovered in an ancient quarry.
14 New building methodologies have been discovered allowing spires and arches to built
15 Needs Otyughs corralled and brought to the sewers for the newest expansion.
16 Political infighting has tied up the budget for repairs, without them the city is at risk
17 A Religion wants to build a cathedral in the city, the engineer has been hired, there are problems
18 Sinkholes are appearing the streets, the engineer needs to know why, so he can fix them
19 Wants to enslave some Trolls to help build the new tower, the cost of labor would be much lower
20 Vast areas of the city, destroyed by fire, the engineer has plans, now he needs approval
Categories: NPC

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