Category: DM Resources

The PCs are camping in the wild. Someone, or something, approaches in the middle of the night. In this circumstance, combat should only be considered as a last resort.

Setup

Presented below are three possible reasons for the PCs to be engaged in this skill challenge.

• The PCs are in the process of setting up a permanent base camp. The location has strategic importance and needs to be secured.
• There are few defensible locations to make camp in this area. Leaving this one means resting out in the open, exposed to all possible threats.
• The PCs have setup camp in hostile teritory. The sounds of combat may alert nearby hostile forces.

The exact nature of the threat is left up to the DM. Some of the DC may need to be altered depending on the creature threatening the camp.

A recent earthquake has uncovered a temple from a long-forgotten age. Rogues from a nearby town immediately tried to loot the temple, but were injured or killed by magical traps still active within. The head of the local church believes that if magic preserved the traps, perhaps it also preserved books, tomes, or other magical artifacts. He has been trying to put together a party to explore the temple, but the local folk are too afraid to do it.

Setup

• The party’s Cleric or Paladin is requested by his order to help his fellow worshiper and recover any books in the temple.
• The head of the church hires the PCs to recover any books that might be preserved in the temple.
• The PCs fear that powerful undead may dwell inside the ancient temple. If they don’t act quickly to destroy the evil, it will threaten the welfare of the nearby town.

The PCs travel through a particularity hazardous section of underground passages.

Setup

• The PCs are searching for a long lost treasure or artifact. Their search has led them deep underground.
• Miners from a nearby community discover a preexisting passage that leads deep underground. The PCs are hired to explore the cavern and see where it leads.
• An escaped criminal flees through a cavernous mountain passage. The PCs are hired to capture him.

This skill challenge is broken into five encounters. In order to overcome the skill challenge the PCs must complete all five encounters. The DM can present the encounters in any order he sees fit. Each encounter will indicate the maximum number of successes that can be earned during that encounter. Failures are cumulative and carry forward through the entire skill challenge.

The lord of the land is ill and dying. The man next in the line of succession is a tyrant. There are rumours that the lord has an illegitimate son who could challenge for the throne.

Setup

• The reputation of the PCs honesty and fairness has reached the ear of the lord’s loyal aide. Since the PCs are neutral and have no stake in the outcome, he hires them to find the rightful heir if he exists.
• The PCs have had run-ins with the tyrant before. His rise to power would be the beginning of huge long-term problems for the PCs. A different heir would make their lives easier.
• A letter from a close friend or family member arrives explaining the situation, pleading for the PCs to help in any way they can.

This skill challenge can be run in both urban and rural settings. They are similar, but in some circumstances make use of different skills. Both variations are presented below.

The Missing Ingredient (Urban)

This Skill Challenge can easily be adapted for any scenario where the PCs need to find an item or object that is rare, dangerous, hard to find, illegal, etc.

Setup

The PCs need to find a rare or illicit ingredient needed to complete a ritual.