Random Sea Encounters

1d100

1. A pirate ship with all of it's crew are heavily asleep. Waking up any of the crew members
causes them to suffer a heart attack! Further inspection of the ship reveals that someone
brought aboard a cursed gem in the shape of a skull! Dispelling the magic from the gem
will safely wake all of the crew.
2. An island with a sail hung from palm tree's pulls up next to you! On it you see a man with
tattered clothes and an age old beard. It's a traveling merchant! Right now it doesn't look
like he has many goods, but he sure has a lot of money! All of his goods are laid out neatly
on a very tattered, red and white checker blanket. The trader will buy pretty much
anything; don't try to steal from him though. His island and goods are protected by
coconuts shrouded in blue flames, haunted by the souls who were lost at sea!
3. A group of Sahuagin have found an underwater “temple” and awaken a shark god in it that
has been imprisoned for millennia. They are now raiding coastal towns for live sacrifices to
feed this newfound deity.
4. A castaway is floating on a poorly made life raft. If you try to offer him a ride he says he will
only do it if you all are heading towards...
5. A seagull lands on the bow with a message tied to it's leg.
6. A brass dragon can be seen flying along to the South.
7. As the crew tries to correct their course, they find the rudder is not responding.
8. A waterfall that falls from the clouds into the ocean. Your boat can travel up it. What could
be up there?
9. A slow moving but non hostile leviathan that is just swimming along just below the surface.
A giant turtle perhaps?
10. A whirlpool appears outside of your adjustable course. If the ship is sucked in the current
propels you to the bottom of the ocean. Any crew members that are not secured will be
found later eating grapes on the beach fed to them by mermaids while the rest of the crew
struggles to escape.
11. You find flotsam drifting around your ship destroyed ships from a concluded battle.
12. A literal parted ocean, in the sea you're sailing on, that leads to an island which is
submerged when the ocean is not parted, but above the surface when it is. What kind of
strange physics leads to this?
13. A natural archway of seemingly natural stone that, if travelled through, leads to an ocean
of blood within a demonic dimension.
14. A merchant ship filled with riches that looks to just be floating about on its own. It is
completely abandoned. What kind of horrors/madness would cause the entirety of the
crew to abandon such wealth? Why is there no trace of the crew at all, or any discernible
struggle?
15. A massive Storm Giant that is just sitting atop a sand bar. He is fishing using a God Sized
fishing rod. What is he fishing for you ask? Krakens hopefully. He wishes to make a nice
Kraken dish for his girl for their anniversary. Unfortunately he seems to only be catching
Colossal Squid thus far.
16. A dead whale that is just floating around and bloating from the trapped gasses within.
Don't poke it. Oh dear, there are sharks poking it. Yup they're taking chunks out of it. Its
gonna explode if they keep biting it. Yeah- yup and there it goes. It exploded.
17. Trillions upon trillions of ants have, it seems, connected themselves together in a lattice
and have formed a successful raft. By the grace of the gods, and the laws of physics they
are floating to new lands. Take your hats off and salute these ants, friends, for their own
unfathomable goals are loftier than our own and yet they are showing the world they can
achieve anything. Respect.
18. Amidst the waves, there is a strange section of the ocean that all of a sudden features
completely still and undisturbed water. Very suspicious.
19. A meteor from space, probably a solid 100 feet in radius, lights up the sky in a blaze and
contacts the surface of the water sending a massive geyser back up into space and
showering the surrounding mile and a rainy mist. It contacted the water nearly a mile away,
will you investigate? Is it lost to the depths or did it land in a shallow enough spot to dive
to?
20. 3 lights can be seen a few miles away dancing above the ocean. Once the party's craft
gets closer the lights suddenly rush towards them. They're pixies, and they're a little worse
for wear. They plead for the party to save their island home from "the rock man".
21. Traveling brothel
22. Traveling casino
23. An island on the back of an ancient creature.
24. A dirigible taxi leading to a city in the clouds.
25. Life raft with a man lost at sea
26. Life raft with a doppelgänger/oni/some other shapeshifter posing as a man lost at sea
27. Weresharks
28. A albino albatross lands on your ship and refuses to leave. Several crewmen become
convinced that this is an ill omen and become irrational.
29. A floating hulk whose crew are all dead. A throng of aquatic ghouls (Lacedons) are aboard
and indulging in a feast.
30. Pirate ship with (enter monster here) as the captain
31. A vast algae bloom that's deprived local wildlife of oxygen so drastically that the fish and
plants have all died. Sort of like a desert on the ocean.
32. A hot air balloon is floating along the breeze. The sole occupant of the balloons basket, a
middle-aged male halfling, seems to frantically trying to land the balloon on the deck of
your ship. Do you allow it ? or do you shoot him down?
33. A giant squid/kraken - have the tentacles act as separate opponents.
34. Pirate ship with (enter monster here) as the crew
35. A group of druidic merfolk that consider your boat a threat to the natural balance.
36. A gnomish submersible captained by a Rogue smuggler currently transporting drugs but
also a member of the Gnomish Royal family in disguise on the run from their evil
betrothed.
37. The top of a fortress rising from the water. Exploration could be dangerous but rewarding.
38. A mysteriously buoyant jeweled necklace - it's a lich's phylactery.
39. A barrel bobs along the waves. Inside, wrapped in multiple layers of different material, are
several small books describing the adventures of 'forgotten heroes' (stories from previous
campaigns, the plots from famous movies, fairy tales with all the names changed etc). One
book however appears blank inside spare a picture of the moon. If read in moonlight, the
reader will learn a spell.
40. A rowboat occupied by three famished and guilt-ridden seamen together with the well-
gnawed bones of the deceased Cabin Boy, young Master Richard Parker, 17 y/o, destined
not to grow any older.
41. A long makeshift canoe manned with goblins is anchored. The goblins are slapping the
water with broad oars in unison, creating waves. When asked what they are doing, they
say they are creating a tsunami to punish another beach-dwelling tribe who insulted their
leader.
42. An awe-inspiring school of glittering flying fish burst from the ocean around you, chittering
with delight like a beautiful birdsong.
43. From far off you see storm clouds, approaching fast. As the storm comes nearer, a water
spout forms, stretching from the ocean to the sky. What are those large shapes swirling
within the spout? Surely those aren't triangular dorsal fins?!"
44. You've been stuck in the doldrums for a few days now, wishing for something, anything, to
happen. As that thought crosses your mind for the thousandth time, a smell catches your
nose. It smells like low tide in the docks. A desiccated hand, seaweed clinging to it like
funeral wrappings, claws its way onto the rail. The arm attached to it, and yes truly the
entire clawing corpse, is similarly encased in seaweed. Two more seaweed mummies
quickly join it, effortlessly clawing their way onto the deck. A scream from elsewhere on the
boat makes you realize that maybe you should have been careful what you wished for...
45. Off the stern you see men approaching the boat. Each is standing astride two harnessed
sharks and it's hard to mistake the malice in their eyes.
46. Another gout of flame lights up the night sky. Truly this must be the terrible one-winged
dragon pirate, Captain Blauvint with his magical cannon Belcher.
47. A boxy black ship that runs with no lights at night. It's a floating ninja fortress!
48. The players find a beautiful tiara or shell and gold in some lost temple, but soon after they
acquire it Sahaugin (and other terrible things from the deep) attack whenever they stop.
49. An elven lich with eyes that have some other world's night sky in them, serves as the
emissary of the mad goddess of the sea, burning those who do not pay her proper tithe.
50. The seven daggers of the Cortadormar, a crew of largely benevolent pirates famous for
starting a feud with a local lord. Perhaps they seek help? Perhaps the local lord will pay
well for information about them?
51. A small jungle island inhabited solely by dinosaurs, though crumbling structures hint at a
previous civilization.
52. Vampirates. Nuff said.
53. A woman frozen in a solid block of ice, just bobbing there in the ocean. She looks mildly
annoyed.
54. A mile wide iceberg floats nearby, inhabited by a young white dragon and his cohort of
kobold fishermen. There are several penguins​that will raise the alarm should any
Interlopers appear. The white dragon waits in a cave at the center of the burg and uses ice
shape to ensure victory if anyone is foolish enough to face him within. He is visible through
the ice. Sloped Icy staircase: DC-23.
55. At night, preferably, the sound of oars. Light reveals a black shape: a hooded man in an
old boat; he asks for food and if given, he returns to a little isle somewhere close. If
searched, the isle, the man and her wife, are infested with fungi.
56. The party comes across an unexplained abandoned ship floating on the high seas (a la
the Mary Celeste. Exploring the craft is a disturbing experience - the PC's continually see
things moving out of the corner of their eye.If they look in the captain's cabin they will find
what appears to be a large chest. Alas, it is a mimic. The party will then realize the things
they saw moving in the corner of their eyes are more of the creatures: the ship is infested
with mimics! What has happened here? Here are some possibilities:● 1: The ship was
transporting captured mimics, and they escaped and ate the crew.● 2: Mimics are squid
like creatures native to the depths of the sea. Every so often they come to the surface -
perhaps to play, breed, or hunt.● 3: The mimics are the spawn of a much larger mimic...
the ship itself.
57. A ship infested with rum gremlins -- they're contagious!
58. An uncharted island with a line mountain and lots of vegetation. It appears to move . . .
And it opened an eye? The island is a giant turtle. And there's a druid grove/tower/ruins on
its back.
59. A bottle in some flotsam. Cleaning the bottle reveals a model ship! But, a closer look
reveals its no model. Another ship was cursed and trapped in the bottle. Can you free
 them? Will you be next?
60. Some small boats are gathered in a circle. Dressed in black robes, they chant in the deep
speech.
61. A storm sorcerer in a manta cloak climbs aboard. The mage offers swift winds in exchange
for safe passage, good company, and a black pearl.
62. From out of the mist a ship appears. It's ghostly crew doesn't appear to notice anyone
else. They appear to be fleeing in panic. Suddenly they stop and as one turn and stare to
the South with mouths agape in horror. They throw up their arms as though to ward
something off, then instantly pop out of existence. Off to the South a dim light can be
briefly seen...
63. Your Mage/scientist inspects a rainbow shimmer on the surface of the water surrounding
your ship, it's liquid memory holding a message/warning.
64. A ship is sighted, called "Esoteric Order" from the city of Newburyport. The first seaman
seen, Obed Marsh, seems normal, and responds to overtures. He tells them that..."Right
naow Cap'n is abaout changed. Can't shet his eyes no more, an' is all aout o' shape. He
still wears clothes, but he'll take to the water soon."Once closer, the PCs will see that the
ship is crewed by silent, squat men with bulging eyes that never blink. When hailed, they
simply stare at the PCs with unblinking eyes and gaping mouths. A rank stench of dead
fish and rotting seaweed hangs over all. Swimming in the water beneath the "Esoteric
Order" are humanoid shapes...
65. From out of the mist a ship appears. It's ghostly crew doesn't appear to notice anyone
else. They appear to be fleeing in panic. Suddenly they stop and as one turn and stare to
the South with mouths agape in horror. They throw up their arms as though to ward
something off,then instantly pop out of existence. Off to the South a dim light can be briefly
seen...
66. There's a small, rocky island far away from any other land. On it is a very attractive woman
in a makeshift shelter. You can hear her singing long before you can see her. She is NOT a
siren; she is a bard whose performance is singing. She is here due to a miscalibration of a
teleportation circle. She's also chaotic evil, greedy and very charming.
67. Giant Piranhas surround the ship.
68. There's a small, rocky island far away from any other land. On it is a very attractive woman
in a makeshift shelter. You can hear her singing long before you can see her. She is NOT a
siren; she is a bard whose performance is singing. She is here due to a miscalibration of a
teleportation circle. She's also chaotic evil, greedy and very charming.
69. A gnomish submersible captained by a Rogue smuggler currently transporting drugs but
also a member of the Gnomish Royal family in disguise on the run from their evil
betrothed.
70. A stormcloud nursery: rain falls up from the ocean into slowly growing and darkening
clouds.
71. A long makeshift canoe manned with goblins is anchored. The goblins are slapping the
water with broad oars in unison, creating waves. When asked what they are doing, they
say they are creating a tsunami to punish another beach-dwelling tribe who insulted their
leader.
72. An awe-inspiring school of glittering flying fish burst from the ocean around you, chittering
with delight like a beautiful birdsong.
73. A rowboat occupied by three famished and guilt-ridden seamen together with the well-
gnawed bones of the deceased Cabin Boy, young Master Richard Parker, 17 y/o, destined
not to grow any older.
74. A floating hulk whose crew are all dead. A throng of aquatic ghouls (Lacedons) are aboard
and indulging in a feast.
75. A hot air balloon is floating along the breeze. The sole occupant of the balloons basket, a
middle-aged male halfling, seems to frantically trying to land the balloon on the deck of
your ship. Do you allow it ? or do you shoot him down?
76. Murder mystery on the ship.
77. Attacked by an undersea vessel. Enchanted by elemental mage.
78. Bump into (literally) undersea vessel. Invented by dwarven/gnomish plumbers for use in
underwater mining.
79. Slave ship coming back from war.
80. Druidic ship made entirely of animated plants.
81. Encounter trade ship set up for non-land based trade. Avoids taxes, trades exclusively with
other vessels.
82. A rotting corpse with a hand line in a small craft being pulled along by a sailfish. (The Old
Man and the Sea)
83. The floating corpse of an albatross with a crossbow bolt in its breast. (Rime of the Ancient
Mariner)
84. A ghostly ship with a skeleton and a deathly pale woman playing dice (unknown to the
party, for the lives of the crew of their ship). (Rime of the Ancient Mariner)
85. An old sailor in a row boat bound by a curse to tell the tale of his wicked sins. (Rime of the
Ancient Mariner)
86. A sailor who had unspeakable things done to him and was set adrift just for being drunk
when he shouldn't have been (What do You Do with a Drunken Sailor?)
87. A sailor with two cats and a dog on an island with only seals. Over the last several months,
the sailor has made quite the farm for himself, and lives in a cave he carved with his own
hands. (Robinson Crusoe)
88. A man who survived a shipwreck years ago on a deserted island hangs onto his life and
his hope by making friends with inanimate objects (Cast Away)
89. An alien race (illithids, other aberrations, homebrew, etc.) is sending giant monsters
through a portal in the deep as a way to begin colonizing the material plane (Pacific Rim)
 90. Skeletal remains on an island with both hands pointed the same direction, leading the
party to an empty treasure chest. Nearby, a crazy old man is hiding something of great
worth. Bonus points if it's a warforged. (Treasure Island / Treasure Planet)
91. An island with a group of boys who survived a shipwreck in the midst of a tribal battle for
leadership and in terror of a beast who haunts the island (Lord of the Flies).
92. The flagship of a far-off empire is on high alert after an assassin snuck aboard and took
out the emperor (Skyrim).
93. The burnt remains of a ship carry a charred skeleton, the remains of an orcish (or other
race) warlord adorned with rich armor. In the skeleton's hands, a famous sword rests.
Chunks of gold and silver, ostensibly coins that melted together in the burial, sit in the
bottom of the hull.
94. A model-sized boat sails by, crewed by talking rodents and mustelids. The ship is
captained by Cluny the Rat, the meanest-looking, most ruthless rat you've ever seen
(Redwall).
95. A miserable-looking man is fishing in a small rowboat. When asked why he looks so sad,
he indicates that he was swept out to sea by his wife, a sorcerer, when he decided to go
fishing instead of spend time at home. She said he is not welcome at home anymore.
96. When entering a port city, soldiers inform the party and crew that their ship is being
impounded by the local monarch for use in his pontoon bridge. The goal? He wants to be
able to walk across the port. (Bridge of Caligula)
97. A wooden box is found floating next to the hull. When opened, it contains notes on a
horrific dream involving eldritch beings, a scrap of parchment in an unknown (and
unintelligible) language, and a carving of a being with the body of a human, wings of a
dragon, and a face with octopus-like tentacles (Call of Cthulhu, short story not RPG).
98. A giant with the face of an illithid is sighted, and begins closing the distance. It cannot be
reasoned with. (Call of Cthulhu, short story not RPG).
99. A huge flat fish is swimming alongside your ship, and occasionally says recognizable
words at random. It is not intelligent.
100. The party approaches a derelict ship whose crew no longer work. Upon approach, the
other ship calls, asking for food. If food is offered, the party is welcomed aboard, but only
while the sun is out. After sunset, everyone originally on-board slams into an inhuman
rage, attacking everyone in sight, including each other. Nobody survives, but everyone
wakes up the next morning in their own beds, aware that something has happened. This
has repeated so many times the crew no longer tries to repair the damage. Anybody in the
approaching crew or party that dies is cursed with the same fate, waking up on that cursed
ship each morning. (Hinderstap, from The Gathering Storm, book 12 of The Wheel of
Time).