d100 = 1
A weather-worn notice warns of 2d6 escaped convicts hiding in the city sewers. Exploring alleys may yield clues.
D1 City Random Encounters
D&D 5e · 100 scenarios · Roll d100 → roll D1
A complete D&D 5e random encounter table for city scenes. Roll a d100 to pick a set, then roll a D1 to pick a scenario within that set — 100 unique D&D encounter scenarios in total. Every scenario is system-neutral and runs on either the 2014 Player's Handbook or the 2024 D&D revision. Pair each scenario with a stat block from our D&D monsters catalogue and you have a session-ready encounter in under a minute.
How to roll this table
- When the party enters a city, roll a d100.
- The result (1–100) is your scenario. Read it out and run with it.
The D1 City encounter table
d100 = 2
A wealthy noble asks the players to help him win a bet by stealing an exotic animal from a nearby zoo. If they succeed, they will be rewarded with a large sum of gold.
d100 = 3
During a stroll through the bustling docks, the players notice navy officers shouting erratic orders, causing chaos among the citizens. The officers are under the thrall of a sea hag who aims to destabilize the port city's trade. Rooting out the hag requires delving into the intricate web of port authority regulations and confronting the officers and their sea beast allies, 1d4 giant crabs. Securing the docks' safety could prevent an economic downturn and earn the players commendations from the city council.
d100 = 4
In the city garden, botanical scholar Allara Greenroot spills endlessly growing beans turning flora gigantic and inconvenient for residents. Players must halt growth before the entire city's consumed.
d100 = 5
Near the city outskirts, Miranda Whisperleaf attempts to sell miracle fertilizer—actually glitter—claiming it’ll make flowers sing. She’ll hire players to create a convincing demonstration when angry customers arrive.
d100 = 6
The players come across a street vendor selling potions that will turn the drinker into various animals. However, they are just water with different colored dyes.
d100 = 7
You see a group of wizards practicing spells by the riverside. One of them accidentally creates a large water elemental that starts wreaking havoc on the city. The players can help them defeat the elemental or use it to their advantage.
d100 = 8
A street merchant offers the players a map to a hidden treasure in the sewers. But as the players follow the map, they soon realize that they are being hunted by a group of vicious wererats.
d100 = 9
Silly: A group of people are gathered around a large table in front of an inn. The people standing around the table are all playing a game that looks like chess, but with rocks instead of pieces. ~~~
d100 = 10
The local herbalist has had too many customers complaining of failing potions. A group of 1d4 disgruntled adventurers calls for heads to roll—choose to mediate or run.
d100 = 11
A street performer accidentally summons 2d6 playful imps instead of the usual illusions. The imps start reenacting famous battles with absurd twists. Help the performer rein them in, and they'll share a secret about the hidden tunnels beneath the city.
d100 = 12
A group of mages are having a heated discussion about a recent magical breakthrough. If players listen in, they may learn about a new magical item or spell being developed.
d100 = 13
A wandering bard is singing tales of faraway lands, capturing the imaginations of his audience.
d100 = 14
Clandestine Clara, a master spy, dropped her invisibility cloak in a market scuffle. Players help recover the obviously concealed garment amid much public confusion.
d100 = 15
An NPC begs the players to help them retrieve their lost magical book from a group of mischievous fey creatures.
d100 = 16
A group of old men are sitting around talking about the good old days. They mention the names of people that players know and say how the city used to be run by them. They will give the players a quest - find some old artifacts that were just recently stolen by some thieves.
d100 = 17
You see a group of children playing with a wooden puppet. If you talk to them, you learn that their father is a wood carver who is also a member of a cult.
d100 = 18
X number of people walk by, carrying a coffin. They are not sure where to bury the body.
d100 = 19
A man is walking down the street, singing loudly and drunkenly. He is dressed as a king, and carries a large scepter in his hand. If anyone tries to talk to him, he will demand a royal escort, or attempt to bribe the party with gold. He is actually a local drunk.
d100 = 20
A child is selling flowers. If players buy some, they're normal looking flowers. If they don't, they're poisonous flowers.
d100 = 21
A baker is chasing after a dog who stole a loaf of bread. If players help catch the dog, the baker will offer them a discount on baked goods as thanks.
d100 = 22
A roaring noise leads players to a blacksmith's shop, where they find the blacksmith struggling to lift a large sword onto the anvil. The players can help him and receive a discount on weapons or stand back and watch as the sword animates and attacks the blacksmith.
d100 = 23
A group of street performers put on a spectacular fire show - the players can donate to their street performance.
d100 = 24
A woman in a fancy dress is dragging a reluctant man down the street, clearly trying to get him to attend a high society event. If players intervene, the woman will reveal that the man is actually her husband and she is trying to save their failing marriage.
d100 = 25
Two women are arguing over whether or not the local lord is doing a good job ruling the city. One woman believes that he's doing a good job and that he cares about his people, while the other woman believes that he's doing a bad job and should be overthrown...
d100 = 26
A beggar approaches the players, asking for some food. If the players give him something, he reveals himself to be a powerful mage who was testing their generosity.
d100 = 27
Then aptly befitting Eadro Rumblerock—the clownishly buffoonish stonemason—is bewitched tools summoning elemental sphinx statues posing beggar-compelling riddles engrafted into civic marvel sculptures. Lesser trades' inversely.
d100 = 28
Known potion-brewer, Flintfire Mael, accidentally intoxicates power-hungry elements soliciting literal magecraft flames throughout. Aided dowsers cease inadvertent fireball-induced cacophony overt retreatment.
d100 = 29
An alley cat pounces on a fluttering piece of parchment— a lost coded message. Its discovery could lead to intrigue.
d100 = 30
Exotic bird traders caused a stir when 1d8 colorful birds escape, enchanting and infuriating onlookers.
d100 = 31
A washerwoman hangs laundry up to dry, singing a cheerful song.
d100 = 32
A group of people are talking about how a man named Sigfried was recently arrested. They say he was a member of the cult of Andros and he was trying to start a war between the churches of the city and the cult of Andros.
d100 = 33
At high noon in the bustling Plaza of Eternal Echoes, amid a throng of merchants and entertainers, a portal to an infernal plane suddenly bursts open, spewing forth 2d6 infernal knights on hellish steeds. Their presence seeks to drag a local sorcerer back to their dark realm for broken pacts. Battling these armored fiends in the heart of the city with onlookers screaming in panic creates a legendary tale, but the sorcerer holds secrets that could cost the city dearly. Will you offer them up, or protect them at all costs, risking infernal retribution?
d100 = 34
A group of men and women are chanting in front of a large temple. They are holding candles. If the players approach, they will stop and glare at them, then go back to chanting. If the players try to enter the temple, they will be stopped by the guards. The guards will refuse to talk.
d100 = 35
A group of children are playing a game called 'Attack the Fort'. They are playing in an abandoned house next to the tavern. They are playing with a group of children who are not from the city. The other children make their living as petty thieves and pickpockets. They will lure the children into an abandoned house, then steal their money and possessions.
d100 = 36
A man wearing a red robe is shouting into the street. If players talk to him, he'll say that he's a member of a wizard's rival's school of magic, and he's here to warn the city that their wizard's magic is bad and dangerous. He will keep talking until the players give him gold or go away. If they listen to him, they learn that the city's wizard is named Blorkum and he is a warlock. He is actually a pretty nice and honest guy who has never harmed anyone.
d100 = 37
As you meander through the stalls, you bump into a hoarding 2d4 townsfolk. They clamor over a new artifact; some claim it brings good fortune but others warn of danger. What will you believe?
d100 = 38
A woman is selling rare gems. The gems are actually fakes, but she doesn't know that.
d100 = 39
A group of children are trying to catch butterflies in a patch of wildflowers near the city's edge.
d100 = 40
You hear a strange sound coming from a nearby alley and when you investigate you find a group of people playing an unusual game.
d100 = 41
Xverdun, the Paladin of Tyr, who is walking down the street, stops in his tracks when he sees the party and crosses himself. "The church of Tyr is being attacked! Someone tell the magistrate!" And then he runs off.
d100 = 42
A merchant calls out for people to come see his fine silks and rare spices.
d100 = 43
The players come across a street vendor selling 'goblin teeth' that can supposedly be used as a powerful potion ingredient. They are actually just painted rocks.
d100 = 44
A group of mercenaries walk by, talking about the Dungeon of Zan.
d100 = 45
A group of children are throwing stones at a man in black robes. The man in black robes looks up and sees you, then vanishes into thin air.
d100 = 46
A man and a woman are arguing about what to name their new baby. They are standing in the middle of the street, holding a baby wrapped in blankets.
d100 = 47
A tailor is sitting outside his shop, complaining about how he can never get any work done because of all the noise coming from the tavern. He says that he thinks the bard is actually a vampire, because he hasn't seen him in sunlight for weeks.
d100 = 48
The local thieves' guild is looking for new members. They are looking for anyone willing to do their bidding, no matter how menial. They have no requirements other than being able to keep their mouth shut. They are also always seeking information about their competition. If players ask about joining, they will invite them to a meeting and offer them a chance to prove themselves by stealing something for them.
d100 = 49
At twilight, the party hears melodious singing that guides them to an alley where a siren-like figure captures their attention. She offers a prophecy in exchange for a simple charm, but warns that her visions always come with a price.
d100 = 50
A group of children are playing with a ball. They are kicking it back and forth to each other, laughing and having a good time.
d100 = 51
A group of loud, but well-dressed dwarves are arguing with a local merchant. The dwarves are demanding a full refund, but the merchant says he has a contract with them and he can't do that.
d100 = 52
A blacksmith hauls a heavy load of horseshoes to his shop, cursing under his breath about the weight.
d100 = 53
Two women are gossiping about the city's latest scandal.
d100 = 54
A group of men are walking down the street, talking about a new law that has been passed. If the players ask, they will say it's a new law that all men should be registered with the city and be forced to work on construction of a new building that is being built.
d100 = 55
X number of people walk by, carrying a coffin. They are not sure where to bury the body.
d100 = 56
The players stumble upon a group of druids performing a ritual to bring a park statue to life, but things go wrong and the statue becomes an uncontrollable giant causing chaos in the city.
d100 = 57
In a crowded market, the players see a group of street urchins stealthily pickpocketing unsuspecting victims. Later, the players find out that the urchins are actually part of a noble's twisted game of hunting the poor for sport.
d100 = 58
A beggar claims to be a retired adventurer who has fallen on hard times. Will the players believe their story and help them out or see them as a con artist?
d100 = 59
A traveling merchant is peddling exotic spices, the air around his stall filled with enticing scents.
d100 = 60
A powerful wizard is coming to the city. He is offering magical items for sale, and he is willing to consider any reasonable offer.
d100 = 61
A street vendor tries to sell you a potion that will make you invincible for a short period of time. However, the potion is actually a powerful hallucinogen that will make you believe you are invincible.
d100 = 62
A mysterious stranger approaches the players and offers them a map to a hidden treasure. The map leads them to an abandoned building, but the real treasure is actually a powerful artifact hidden inside a secret room.
d100 = 63
A crying child leads the players to an abandoned building. Inside, they find a distraught ghost trying to communicate with them. They must unravel the ghost's tragic past to help it find peace.
d100 = 64
A group of children are standing around in an open area, talking about what happened to their dogs that day. They say that their dogs went missing and then came back with strange markings on them. They say that one of the dogs has four eyes now, even though it only used to have two before it went missing. The other two dogs have developed an extra leg each, even though they had four legs each before they went missing. One has an extra tail. The children are really freaked out.
d100 = 65
In the bustling city square, 1d4 oversized weasels are wreaking havoc by stealing food from stalls. Assist the beleaguered merchants, and you’ll be rewarded with a week’s worth of rations and a handy dandy weasel-warding charm.
d100 = 66
A band of 3d5 goblins are looking for food and shelter. They will attack anyone they see.
d100 = 67
Amid the City’s opulent taverns, lively revelry muffles the whispered plans of rebellion. Players overhear clandestine conversations among 3d6 disguised rebels plotting against the oppressive regime. An informant offers a vial of truth serum, demanding the adventurers expose the traitors or join their cause. The tavern’s extravagant calm is a mere mask, ready to shatter as choices about loyalty, subterfuge, and honor rear their heads.
d100 = 68
A mysterious masked figure approaches you in an alley with information about an impending heist in the nobles’ quarter. Do you trust him or refuse his dubious offer?
d100 = 69
Crier running down the street yelling 'news of the king's death has been greatly exaggerated'.
d100 = 70
An artist sketches caricatures of people walking by, offering quick portraits for a small fee.
d100 = 71
A group of children are playing hide and seek in the streets... One of the children is a thief who will pickpocket the players if they get too close...
d100 = 72
A group of children chase after a colorful kite soaring in the wind.
d100 = 73
A group of farmers are protesting in the city square, claiming that their land is being taken over by a wealthy landowner. The players can help the farmers by exposing the landowner's corrupt ways or join forces with the landowner and receive a payment for their loyalty.
d100 = 74
New laws posted throughout the city raises 1d4 guild members to riotous anger, 2d6 town criers urgently defuse brewing conflicts.
d100 = 75
A shopkeep offers to sell the players a rare and powerful magic item for a hefty price. They claim it once belonged to a powerful wizard.
d100 = 76
A drunken nobleman staggers down the street, singing loudly about how much he loves his wife! He will stop and offer players some ale if they buy him one!
d100 = 77
A group of thieves is planning a heist in this district. They are currently scouting out the area and looking for potential threats and traps around the area they plan on robbing.
d100 = 78
A thief is running down the street. He is being chased by a guard.
d100 = 79
A group of women are gossiping about a local married couple who have been fighting a lot lately.
d100 = 80
A group of children perform a simple play for an appreciative audience.
d100 = 81
A man is standing on a street corner, shouting about the end of the world. He is dressed in rags, and is visibly delirious. If anyone tries to talk to him, he will ramble about how the gods are angry with the city, and will warn about great disasters to come. He is actually a mad prophet.
d100 = 82
A group of 1d4 guards approach the players and ask them if they have seen any suspicious people in the area recently. The guards want to know if any strangers have been in town recently. The guards will attack anyone who looks suspicious to them, even if they haven't been in town long enough to be considered a stranger.
d100 = 83
A group of children run up to players and ask them to help them escape from their cruel masters. The children are actually thieves who are trying to trick the players into giving up their possessions.
d100 = 84
As the players walk through the city, they hear a violin playing a hauntingly beautiful tune. They follow the sound to a street performer who claims to have found a magical violin that can make anyone fall in love with its music. But as the players listen to the tune, they realize that it also has the power to control minds.
d100 = 85
A group of 2d4+2 elven bards are walking down the street. They are performing a song about the city's history.
d100 = 86
In the bustling city square, 1d4 oversized weasels are wreaking havoc by stealing food from stalls. Assist the beleaguered merchants, and you’ll be rewarded with a week’s worth of rations and a handy dandy weasel-warding charm.
d100 = 87
A man is yelling at two boys who are climbing on the sides of buildings and running up and down the sides of buildings like monkeys. He's yelling for them to stop, but they refuse and keep climbing around the buildings like monkeys.
d100 = 88
In a moss-covered courtyard, 2d4 vine-covered humanoids, avatars of the Green Tribe, medicine and plants bundled around their bodies, threaten to reclaim the stone paths. A city healer weaves into reality to mediate a pact—taking root in understanding, ensuring safe harbor.
d100 = 89
A dilapidated house crumbles, revealing a nest of 3d4 giant spiders. Neighbors plead for assistance clearing the danger.
d100 = 90
The hardworking mule merchant, Rory Hoofman, puzzled by his enchanted mule waltzing, burros seek confoundedly synchronized routines as curious onlookers gather.
d100 = 91
All around you, you hear the sound of street vendors calling out to sell their goods. "Fresh fish!" "Fine silks!" "Exotic spices!" But one particular vendor sticks out - he is selling small, colorful mushrooms that he claims have magical properties. One of the mushrooms appears to be moving on its own.
d100 = 92
A man who claims to be a prophet has set up a shrine in the street. He's warning people not to go into the city because it will be destroyed. The players can help him spread his warning, or they can keep it secret.
d100 = 93
A crying child leads the players to an abandoned building. Inside, they find a distraught ghost trying to communicate with them. They must unravel the ghost's tragic past to help it find peace.
d100 = 94
A shadowy figure leaves an alley, dropping a blood-stained dagger. 2d6 local militia rush to secure the area, leaving questions unanswered.
d100 = 95
A powerful warlock appears in the city, offering to use their powers to rid the city of a dangerous monster in exchange for a large sum of gold. However, it turns out the warlock created the monster themselves and is using it to extort money from the city.
d100 = 96
A local merchant offers to sell a magic item at an extremely low price, but the players must act quickly because he's leaving town tomorrow afternoon.
d100 = 97
You come across a group of adventurers arguing about how to split the loot from their latest quest. They ask for your opinion, but it turns out they are actually all part of a secret cult trying to recruit new members.
d100 = 98
A pompous noble accidentally curses himself to speak in rhyme. He begs for your help and offers a rare book on local lore if you can find an antidote in a nearby hedge wizard’s shop.
d100 = 99
Walking down a dark alley, you hear a voice whispering for help. If players follow the voice, they will find a beggar who is actually a powerful sorcerer in disguise. He was cursed by an evil witch and seeks the players' help to break the curse.
d100 = 100
A street vendor is selling a potion that promises to grant eternal youth. The players soon discover that the potion actually turns the drinker into a mindless zombie, eternal youth being irrelevant in that state.
Use this table with the rest of Doungim's D&D 5e toolkit
A random encounter scenario is just the start of a scene. Pair it with a creature from our D&D 5e monsters catalogue (3,000+ monsters with full stat blocks), an NPC from our pre-built D&D NPC roster, a spell from the D&D 5e spell list, and a reward from the D&D magic items catalogue — and you have a full one-page session ready to drop on your D&D 5e or 2024 party.
Other dice tiers for the city: D4, D6, D8, D10.
Want a different setting? Browse all 41 D&D encounter locations — from arctic plains to elemental planes, every D&D 5e location has its own table on Doungim.