d100 - Vignettes for Faerie & Other Unseen Lands

When the Characters find themselves haplessly traipsing about in very strange places, be it Dolmenwood’s Realms of Fairy, the Gardens of Ynn, or even the odd Elfin Woodland (just beyond the fields we know so well, etc.), I often find it useful to have some ideas for little “Vignettes” or “Scenes” that I can use to help communicate that lovely “Not in Kansas Anymore” sensation. There are times when a more Mythic Overworld can benefit from a little more Whimsy and Weirdness as well, because those can really help foster Wonder.

d100 - Fairy Tale Tells for the Subtly Supernatural

Just in time for Fairy Tale Friday again! Here’s a table containing more than a few Clues or Suspicious Signs that one might be dealing with someone who isn’t quite as they seem. Some are certainly more subtle than others, and a few might require creative engineering of the situation to provide the revelation. I feel that no Fairy’s Glamours should be flawless or perfect, however.

With a little bit of cherry-picking, some of these might be inspiring or useful for subtle hints concerning other shapeshifters or deceivers that cloak their True Forms, such as those more Folkloric Hags and Witches. I have previusly trod similar ground for Lycanthropes in my Encounter Activities, but I strongly feel that a breadcrumb trail of Clues for these deceptions makes for a much more satisfying reveal than simply springing it suddenly upon unsuspecting Players.

Should you wish, you could also apply these to Elf Characters for a more Fairy Tale Feel, in a similar fashion to my Infernal Features & Tiefling Traits.

d100 - Mischievous Magic: Pixie Pranks or Elfin Ensorcellments

Previously touched on briefly in my Encounter Activities of Sprites, I thought it might be fun to produce a full d100 Table of various Minor Magics of an Inconvenient but mostly Inconsequential nature. Many of these are more Petty “Curse-style” Cantrips that could be at the disposal of various Faerie Folk or mined for inspiration for the various japes and escapades that they find so droll.

Should your approach to the Elf Class hail from a more Fairy Tale direction, these might serve as a convivial compliment for them as well, a bit like my Dwarf Dweomercraft and Convenient Cantrips for the Dwarf and Magic User Classes respectfully. Most of these shouldn’t (or at least weren’t intended to) be truly capable of producing lasting harm, but they could most certainly annoy or hinder in amusing and flustering ways. Some may be permitted Saving Throw or such for foiling at the Referee’s Discretion.

I suppose with a little squinting, this Table could also serve a bit of double duty as more ideas to graft on Magical Items to make them a little more frustrating but flavorful, potentially a bit less detrimental than my prior table on those kinds of Drawbacks.

d100 - Magic Beans

Here’s a rather unusual Table that I put together concerning Magic Beans. It’s been a little while since I’ve done something a little more whimsical, or food related (like my infamous Garlic table) and while musing on other “Single Use” Magic Items, my mind kept returning to Fairy Tales.

A Bag of Beans will usually contain multiple beans. I generally default to 3d6, with any doubles adding and rolling again, but you are welcome to season the amount to taste for your tables. Some of the effects might be pretty potent and require a little stinginess. You use a Bean once, and it’s done.

This d100 Table is rendered in categories should a specific type be required. My hope is that these should be mostly self-evident: Swallow Beans are consumed, Sling Beans are hurled at a someone/something (either by hand or with the namesake Missile Weapon), Sow Beans need to be Planted, and Store Beans placed somewhere.

The main category that might be a little unusual is the Swindle one. These are benefits that are gained if the otherwise mundane Bag of Beans is traded/bartered with another for something of great value to the other Party. The Swindler gains a wonderful Boon if successful. Usually, the Bilked is left just with a bag of Normal Beans as part of the transaction, but every so often that process could imbue them with Magic all their own (2-in-6, roll on the table to determine which properties they gain.)

d100 - Fairy Tale Weaknesses

Folk and Fairy Tales abound with foes that can’t be bested in conventional ways. Some of the standard Monsters have a few hints of this quality: Lycanthropes and their susceptibility to Silver, the traditional Vampire vulnerabilities, etc. These all help grant things a more folkloric feel and generate minor puzzles/mysteries for the players to solve.

Occasionally, it might be interesting to provide a Monster with a special Weakness or Achillies Heel, some form of flaw that might be exploited or sometimes serve as the only method of defeat. So, here’s a list of One Hundred Fairy Tale Weaknesses that might be useful. Sometimes discovering such secret things can even lead to adventure along the way. Some of these feature a little bit of ludic bleed (relying on things like Die color, or other things at the table itself), but I find that can sometimes be rather fun in moderation.