Non-Combat Travel Encounters: Stone Cairne

Non-combat Travel Encounters: Stone Cairne

Stone Cairne - a pile of stones is spotted along the side of the road. Roll for its contents and origin. Roll 1d10.
1 - Burial cairne. A corpse was buried under this pile of stones. A fresh corpse may indicate bandits are nearby, or indicate a mysterious murder. An older corpse may bear treasure, or rise an attack as an Undead creature of the appropriate level.
2 - Traveler's Shrine - The cairn is an offering, usually to a god associated with travel or protection. Stones are carried from place to place and added to cairns by wandering pilgrims. Adding a stone to the cairn if one has been carried from your previous destination may grant a blessing (Inspiration). Removing stones or destroying the cairne may incur Misfortune (disadvantage on a roll of the DM's choice, preferably in an appropriate situation) or summon the shrine's guardian. Stones may have messages or prayers carved or scratched into them, and odd or rare stones are sometimes found among the cache.
3 - Food Cache - Some large semi-intelligent creatures (ogres, hill giants, various beasts and magical beasts) will create food caches by taking recent kills and covering them in rocks, preferably in cool locations. The cairne stinks of rotting meat, and a few minutes of excavation could turn up anything from a deer carcass to a piece of a human leg. A few scavengers might be around, and disturbing the cairn may arouse a hunt for the offender once discovered.
4 - Equipment Cache - Barbarian tribes, merchant caravan companies, local rangers, explorers, and bandits all sometimes store extra survival equipment in cairns from time to time in case of emergency or accident. These are found at designated rally points or landmarks throughout their territory or else alongside well traveled roads and paths. Expect to find one or more Explorer's Packs, plus the possibility of a tent, extra rations, or even a map of the area. It is considered good manners to use such a cache only when needed and to notify its owner that it was depleted- preferably with payment in full- and the people that left it may not take kindly to encountering their emergency gear in the hands of thieves.
5  - Flint Tools - A local stone-age humanoid tribe (some orcs, goblins, and barbarians, bullywugs, lizard folk, etc.) uses this outcropping of native stone as a source for arrow heads, fish hooks, knife and axe blades, and other necessities. Players may be able to fashion equipment using tool proficiencies or Survival at the DM's option. The cairn itself is made up of discarded flakes and partially crafted tools that were discarded when flaws in the stone were discovered.
6 - Earth Shrine - Similar to a Traveler's Shrine, but dedicated either to a god with the Earth domain or to the element of Earth itself. Making an offering at the shine gives Inspiration that can be used to cast earth-related spells or to attack Air elementals. Disturbing or defacing the shrine may summon a guardian elemental or Outsider.
7 - Broken Colossus - The pile of stones is actually the remains of a gigantic stone creature- maybe a stone golem or earth elemental. Detect Magic reveals faint elemental magic or enchantment on all the stones as appropriate. They have no mechanical properties in and of themselves, but they may be prized by alchemists, golem builders, or other collectors or useful in as a reagent for magical contructs. The remains could be the result of an ancient battle, or a recent creation.
8 - Gizzard Stones - The stones are all very smooth, as though they have been sitting in water. In fact they are gizzard stones disgorged by a giant bird (like a Roc or Giant Eagle) or some other flying monster that tends to swallow its prey whole (could include Dragons and Wyverns). The stones make great sling bullets (though they do smell a little like rotting meat), and indicate that something liely keeps a hunting ground nearby.

[5e] Bronze Age D&D: Rules for low tech weapons

Metalworking was considered more akin to magic than technology for much of its history. During the early Bronze Age, you had cultures that were still chipping axes and clubs out of flint living alongside cultures that had mastered smelting, casting, and other complex techniques of metal work. Supplies of important ores were highly localized and trade was slow and dangerous.

Krynn, the setting for the Dragonlance books and game modules, is one example of a campaign world where metal scarcity was an issue. Athas, the Dark Sun setting, was another. Both games had rules to deal with metal scarcity- Krynn replaced gold with steel as the most valuable currency in the world, and 2nd edition Dark Sun had rules for stone, bone, and obsidian weapons. Telling players what metals weapons are made from can add color and detail to the game world. It can also reflect cultural differences in game- maybe a remote island has plenty of tin and copper, but no iron ore. Maybe the local tribe of hobgoblins has learned the smelting and casting of bronze, but has been denied access to more advanced metalworking technology (which they would happily kill to acquire).

Making antagonist weapons bronze or other inferior materials can also discourage players from hoarding the gear of fallen foes, if you'd rather not bother with encumbrance rules. By the same token, a player who loses their primary weapon and has to survive using an inferior one taken from a fallen foe or enemy weapon store can make for some interesting drama.

Rules for Bronze Age-style Weapons

Default weapons are bronze. On a critical failure (rolled a 1 when rolling without disadvantage), the weapon is damaged. Attack rolls are made at disadvantage, and damage becomes 1d3. This penalty persists until the weapon is repaired by a metal smith, requiring access to a forge, anvil, and metal working tools. If the weapon is damaged again before it is repaired, it is destroyed.

Masterwork weapons (double cost) are made of iron and are not subject to breakage.

+1, +2, +3 weapons are made of steel and not prone to breakage.

Iron and steel weapons must be sharpened regularly to retain any bonus to hit and damage. This is assumed to be done during short or long rests, provided you have a whetstone. Bronze weapons rely more on weight and geometry than on a fine edge, and so don't need regular maintenance.

[5e] Goblin Assassins

Here's some stats for a goblin assassin- mine are acting as spies for  well-organized Hobgoblin mercenary company that is working for the main antagonist in my game, but they could easily be slotted in as Dhakaani goblins for a Eberron campaign.

Goblin Assassin (Rogue 3)
Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil
Armor Class: 13 (leather)
Hit Points: 15 (3d8)
Speed: 30 ft.

Str 8 (-1) Dex 15 (+2)  Con 10 (0) Int 10 (0) Wis 16 (+3) Cha 7 (-2)
Saving Throws: Dex +4, Int +2

Skills: Stealth +6, Perception +5, Acrobatics +4, Investigation +3, Athletics +3, Sleight of Hand +4
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages: Common, Goblin, Thieves Cant
Challenge: 1

Sneak Attack +2d6 damage 1/round against targets the Goblin has advantage against
Cunning Action: The goblin can take the Hide, Dash, or Disengage action as a bonus action on each of its turns.
Assassinate: The goblin has advantage on any creature that has not yet taken an action in combat. In addition, hits against surprised targets are automatically critical hits.
Poison: Many goblin assassins use poison, particularly on their darts (which are often used to cover an escape). Carrion Crawler Mucus (DMG), Serpent Venom (DMG), and Basic Poison (PHB) are all common.

Actions:
Dagger: Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack, +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., range: 20/60, one target. Hit: 1d4+2 Piercing damage.

Darts (5): Ranged Weapon Attack, +4 to hit, Range 20/60, one target. Hit: 1d4+2 Piercing damage + poison (see below)

Description: While Goblins are not known for being particularly well-focused on any particular task, their natural small size, natural stealth, and basic self-centered ruthlessness can make then useful spies on assassins for a leader who has sufficient strength of will and arms to keep them in line and compel them to stay focused on their mission. Goblin assassins are much more grim and focused than the average Goblin, keen observers who prize their own survival and always have an eye out for potential targets or ambushes. Goblin assassins prefer to strike when their target is totally helpless, infiltrating towns or camps under cover of darkness and having no qualms about killing sleeping victims. Their equipment depends on their mission, but often includes poisons and caltrops that are used to cover their escape in the event that they are discovered or interrupted.