The Northern Strata: Wilderness Encounters

The Wilderness

Topography: rather than distinct regions, the ephemeral boundaries between things are held in place only through the territorialization of plants and animals. 

Snow cover typically lasts 8 months of the year, with nearly year long snow in the mountains.

Travel Methods

Travel Methods	Terrain type	Speed – Hexes/day	Load (lbs)	Cost (gp)	Crew
Foot	All non-snow	4/3/2/1	40/60/80/120	n/a	n/a
Snowshoe	Snow	2/1	40/600	10	n/a
Handcart	Road, plains, light forest	1	200	50	1 driver
Cart	Road, plains, light forest	2	400	100	1 driver, 2 draft animals
Wagon	Road, plains, light forest	2	2500	200	1 driver, 2 draft animals
Dogsled (small)	Snow, ice	4 (snow)	600	100	1–2 people, 4–6 dogs
Dogsled (racing)	Snow, ice	6 (snow)	800	400	1–2 people, 8–12 dogs
Toboggan	Snow, ice	6 (snow, downhill), 3 (flat)	3,000	50	1 person  or 1 animal
Pulk	Snow, ice	2 (snow)	2,000	25	1 person (unencumbered)

Modifiers

• Travelling an established road increases travel speed by 50%.
• Travelling on snow by foot without snowshoes occurs at ⅛ speed in mountains, ¼ speed in forest and hills, ½ speed in plains

Weather

Weather (1d6 in winter, 2d6 in fall/spring, 1d6+4 summer)
2	Anomalous (see Anomalous Weather)
3	Blizzard
4	Snow & sleet
5	Frost
6	Light snow
7	Overcast
8	Cool & cloudy
9	Crisp & sunny
10	Mild thaw
11	Bright & clear
12	Warm spell

Wind (1d6 or 1d6/1d6)
1	Strong winds	Howling, mad
2	Occasional gusts	Hungry, intense
3	Strong breeze	Cutting, anomalous
4	Light breeze	Self-contradictory
5	Currents	Shimmering, full
6	Still	Uneasy, quiet

Anomalous Weather (1d6/1d6)
1	Aurora	Phantasmal, ancient
2	Lightning	Frozen, swirling
3	Eclipse	Temporal, metallic
4	Quake	Sonic, black
5	Gale	Whispering, extreme
6	Storm	Transcendent, displaced

General time-frames for survival:

Condition	Frostbite	Death
Wet	<10 minutes	10-30 minutes
Exposed	1 hour	3-6 hours
Mild exposure	4-6 hours	1-2 days

When exposed to strong winds, these time frames are reduced by 50%. At the end of these timeframes, a player is allowed a single Save versus Cold (see Saving Throws). If not passed, they will die. If passed, roll on the following table for outcomes:

Cold Survival Outcomes (1d6)
1	Reversion
2	Extreme frostbite, spiraling patterns formed beneath dead skin
3	Lost memories, attempts to recall them are met with words of an unknown language
4	Lingering chill, the cold whispers
5	New drives, obsession with what lies below
6	Increased strength, uncomfortable around fire, skin hardened to form protective shell

Wilderness Encounters

Smooth Plains
1d100	Encounter
1	Anomalous (see Anomalous Encounters)
2	Exiled geometer-noble
3	Wyvern
4	Elves (2d12, see Elf Encounters)
5	Dwarven expedition (5d8, see Dwarf Encounters)
6-10	Moss merchants heading to/from forest
11-18	Human pilgrim cultists (1d20)
19-28	Humans (1d6, see Human Encounters)
29-34	Scholar (with 1d6 assistants, area of study 1. Geology, 2. Metaphysics, 3. Astronomy, 4. Linguistics, 5. Ethics, 6. Natural history)
35-39	Snow patrol (local guard, 1d6 soldiers with 2d4 hounds)
40-46	Wolves (2d6)
47-49	Migrating deer (2d20)
50-54	Hawks (1d3)
55-64	Hazard (see Travel Hazards)
64-100	No encounter

Every 12 hours, an encounter roll should be made. Use location, reaction, and surprise

(De) Forests
1d100	Encounter
1	Anomalous (see Anomalous Encounters)
2	Hermit logician
3	Wyvern (1d4)
4	Scholar (with 1d6 assistants, area of study 1. Herbalism, 2. Rootcraft, 3. Bestiology, 4. Anthropology, 5. Anatomy, 6. Gnosiology)
5-6	Dwarves (see Dwarf Encounters)
7-12	Elves (2d12, see Elf Encounters)
13-20	Moss Merchants harvesting letch
21-24	Humans (1d6, see Human Encounters)
25-28	Grizzly bear (1d4)
29-38	Gnolls (3d6)
39-46	Wolves (4d6)
47-51	Deer (3d10)
51-54	Moose (3d10)
55-70	Hazard (see Travel Hazards)
71-100	No encounter

Black Hills
1d100	Encounter
1	Anomalous (see Anomalous Encounters)
2	Wyvern
3-4	Necromancer (50% chance accompanied by 1 zombie troll, 3d10 skeletons, and 2d8 ghouls)
5	Scholar (with 1d6 assistants, area of study 1. Necrography, 2. Cosmology, 3. Occultism, 4. Ethnography, 5. Ruinology, 6. Lithomancy)
6	Dwarves (see Dwarf Encounters)
7	Elves (2d12, see Elf Encounters)
8-9	Humans (1d6, see Human Encounters)
10-13	Trolls (1d8)
14-16	Zombie Trolls (1d4)
17-24	Skeletons (3d10)
25-34	Ghouls (2d8)
35-38	Wights (1d6)
39-44	Hawk, Giant (1d3)
45-57	Hazard (see Travel Hazards)
58-100	No Encounter

Unholy Mountains
1d100	Encounter
1-3	Anomalous (see Anomalous Encounters)
4-5	Roc
6-7	Frost giant
8-9	Cave bears (1d2)
10-11	Scholar (with 1d6 assistants, area of study 1. Geomancy, 2. Apocalyptic theory, 3. Astronomy, 4. Demonology, 5. Mythology, 6. History)
12-14	Logician cultists (1d20)
15-22	Dwarves (see Dwarf Encounters)
23	Elves (2d12, see Elf Encounters)
24-25	Humans (1d6, see Human Encounters)
26-27	Expedition party (1d6)
28-29	Giant hawk (1d3)
30-31	Winter wolves (2d4)
32-36	Dire wolves (2d4)
37-44	Frost gnolls (3d6, 3HD each)
45-64	Hazard (see Travel Hazards)
65-100	No encounter

Travel Hazards (1d12or 1d12/1d12)
1d12	Obstacle	Danger
1	Unstable ice/surface	Injury
2	Rocky ground	Injured animals
3	Whiteout conditions	Lost direction
4	Sudden wind	Items post
5	Sudden weather	No suitable campsite
6	Sudden blizzard	Exposure
7	Pests/insects	Sickness
8	Water source	Detour required
9	Steep elevation upwards	Exhausted animals
10	Steep elevation downwards	Broken vehicle
11	Path blocked	Burial alive
12	Deep chasm	Death

Dwarf Encounters
1d12	Dwarven Profession	Dwarven Details	Dwarven Misfortunes
1	Archeologist	Desires dept	Colossal debt
2	Architect	Dishonest about past	Exiled from union
3	Assistant Minter	Eats only plants	Fails to budget
4	Risk Assessment Expert	Leads by example	Fears large open spaces
5	Dungeonographer	Micromanagers others	Holds second job
6	Gem Specialist	Obsessed with productivity	Lacks sense of project scope
7	Interior Decorator	Reads diamonds	Poor sense of direction
8	Mining Student	Reforming oven design	Poor track record of completion
9	Project Manager	Specializes in traps	Repeatedly exceeds deadlines
10	Safety Consultant	Tea enthusiast	Struggles with maps
11	Tour guide	Loves warm baths	Finds work unfulfilling
12	Surveyor	Underestimates hazards	Suffering from reversion

Elf Encounters
1d12	Elven Profession	Elven Details	Elven Misfortunes
1	Chartkeeper	Differentiates lines of inheritance	Affinity for circles
2	Differentiator	Endlessly classifies new phenomena	Draws lines that are crooked
3	Botanist	Desires completion	Accused of breaking inheritance
4	Geomancer	Fears internal division	Excessive emotional clarify
5	Keeper of Tables	Hates the concept of “nature”	Hunted by publishers
6	Keeper of Trees	“Forgives” the humans	Memories of ancient evil
7	Marriage Counselor	Maintains mental library	Poor analytical judgment
8	Root Reader	Plays with fire	Poor calculator
9	Scout	Reads treatises on nomenclature	Prone to paradox
10	Scribe of Branches	Respected by community	Struggles with recollection
11	Taxonomist	Specialist in set theory	Finds work unfulfilling
12	Illustrator	Friend of wizards	Hand tremors

Human Encounters
1d20	Human Professions	Human Details	Human Misfortunes
1	Alchemist	Abstains from psychedelics	Accursed luck
2	Bookbinder	At-home surgeon	Creeping nihilism
3	Brigand	Desires annihilation	Discredited research
4	Cleric	Experiments with rocks	Eldritch trauma
5	Cultist	Fears encyclopedias	Extremely famous
6	Deer Herder	Formerly retired	Family still alive
7	Mapper	Friend of wolves	Forsaken by nobility
8	Adventurer	Good with numbers	Injured in sledding accident
9	Explorer	Hates preachers	Lost former wealth
10	Geomancer	Jealous of adventures	Mourning death of past god
11	Ice Fisher	Looking to invest	Obsession with poetry
12	Geometer Knight	Trained in set theory	Finds work unfulfilling
13	Merchant	Friend of wizards	Hand tremors
14	Noble	Quick to make friendships	Recently demoted
15	Philosopher	Reads adventuring novels	Refuted by philosopher
16	Seafarer	Rushes to conclusions	Seasonal depression
17	Soldier	Scared of trees	Suffering from reversion
18	Tracker	Seeks financial gain	Target of blackmail
19	Trapper	Unfriendly eyes	Wanted criminal
20	Witch	Well-versed in alcohol	Witness to cosmic knowledge