Random Encounters

[brian 333]

67: Spider-tailed Horned Viper.

This guy! Or girl, I'm not sure.

1st Ed had the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Essentially a Mimic for outdoor settings. We saw one in the chamber of monsters never updated to 3rd Ed in Dorukon's Dungeon.

68: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

A saddled horse wanders toward the PCs mounts and tries to join their herd. It appears to be a normal mount, trained to accept a rider, without health issues or injuries. It is not branded.

The PCs can accept it as a riding mount, pack horse, or keep it with intent to turn it over to authorities.

Attempts to backtrack it lead to several days of meandering which end at a river or having further tracks erased by rain or other effects.

True Seeing or other magic may reveal the horse to be a shapechanger, but it will give no reason to make such checks. Attempts to perform magical divinations will cause it to try to flee, shapechanging into falcon form to fly away if it cannot run fast enough or if it is tied or restrained.

The horse will stay with the PCs for three to five days before they are confronted by a ranger and his cohorts. The ranger claims the horse as his property and demands restitution for the PCs theft. The ranger names several of the party's most treasured items as his price to avoid charges of horse thievery.

Refusal to pay up results in open threats, followed by an attack. During the attack the shapechanger will attempt to lead the mounts away along with all their gear. If this succeeds, the ranger and his party will flee.

The shapechanger is an evil half-elf who works with the bandits. She notes all that the PCs possess, and communicates the information to her gang before the confrontation. If caught and confronted during the attack by her gang she will assume the shape of a dire wolf and attack.