BRPG Encounter Table: Tribal Conflicts and Idols on the Road to Dan

The BRPG Encounter Table offers insights into tribal conflicts and idols, inspired by Judges 18.

Nuanced Encounter Table for Judges 18

This table focuses on the encounters based on the events in Judges 18, where the tribe of Dan seeks to find a new place to settle after failing to conquer the land allotted to them. The encounters reflect the societal dynamics, conflicts, and cultural aspects present during this time period, including interactions with Danites, the Micah’s idolatry, and the priests of the region.

Table

Extremely Hurtful Encounters (1-5)

  1. The party is ambushed by a band of raiders from the tribe of Ephraim. Their leader, a fierce warrior with 40 health, AC 15, and an attack strength of 6, demands payment. If not, they will attack. The party loses 1d6 health per raider if they fight.
  2. A member of the party is cursed by a local fortune-teller, who claims the curse will bring misfortune for the next week. This results in -1 on all skill checks until the curse is lifted.
  3. The party encounters a town elder who purposefully misleads them, saying they saw the Danites at a different location. They lose two days of travel and gain no new information.
  4. The party must navigate treacherous terrain full of thorns and thickets. Each member takes 1d3 damage and suffers -1 to dexterity for the next encounter.
  5. Upon stumbling into Micah’s shrine, the party inadvertently awakens the guardian spirits, who attack them. Each spirit has 10 health, AC 12, and an attack strength of 4, resulting in 1d8 damage for each successful hit.

Mild Nuisance Encounters (6-10)

  1. The party meets a merchant who tries to sell them fake idols of Yahweh, claiming they will bring good fortune. If they buy, they waste 5 shekels and gain only an illusion of safety.
  2. The party struggles to find food and water in the arid regions and faces a long day without sustenance, suffering -1 constitution for one full rest.
  3. A Micah’s follower tries to give the party misleading directions to avoid the Danites, which costs them time and energy. They lose an hour of travel.
  4. The party finds a few scraps of pottery shards that seem to be part of an ancient idol. They may roll 1d4 to discover the age of the item, but no valuable information is gained.
  5. Bulky vines obscure a path taking them longer to navigate. All party members suffer -1 to movement speed for one encounter.

Somewhat Helpful Encounters (11-15)

  1. A friendly shepherd shares tales of the Danites and points the party toward an oasis where they can rest and rejuvenate. The party regains 1d4 health.
  2. The party finds a scroll hidden in the ruins that contains ancient maps, hinting at the locations of other tribes. They gain +1 on their next navigation roll.
  3. An old priest in a nearby town offers to bless one member of the party, granting them +2 protection against the next two attacks.
  4. The party encounters a local herbalist who trades them healing herbs that restore 1d4 health. The herbs have a 1-day shelf life.
  5. The party gains a confident ally from the region, a young warrior who offers to help them scout for dangerous areas. They gain +2 on perception checks until the ally leaves.

Very Helpful Encounters (16-20)

  1. The party stumbles upon a hidden cache of weapons, including a sturdy bow (+1 attack) and ten arrows that strike true with +2 damage.
  2. A wise woman provides the party with insights into the Danite’s weaknesses, allowing them to gain +2 to strategy rolls against related foes.
  3. The party finds a scroll containing a forgotten psalm that inspires them. All party members gain +1 wisdom for the next encounter.
  4. The group discovers ancient ruins that house a wellspring, granting them 2d4 health whenever they choose to drink from it.
  5. A wandering prophet offers a prophecy that reveals the location of an enemy tribe, granting them tactical advantage in upcoming encounters. They gain +2 to attack rolls for the next battle.

Extremely Helpful Encounters (21-25)

  1. The party encounters a renowned general from the tribe of Judah who shares strategies of warfare, granting them +2 to attack and +2 to defense rolls for their next engagement.
  2. They discover a hidden temple that holds a prophetic stone, which allows one member of the party to ask a question that will reveal their next significant challenge.
  3. A local leader offers to aid them in their quest, providing soldiers (2d4 fighters with 10 health each) to assist in their next battle.
  4. The party is rewarded with ornate talismans from a grateful family in the neighborhood, each granting +1 charisma for dealings in nearby towns for the next week.
  5. A wise elder presents the party with a revered artifact, a ceremonial blade that gives +3 damage against any foe unfaithful to Yahweh.

Bible Trivia Encounter

The party may also engage in a trivia challenge to gather additional insights from the local populace. The trivia consists of five questions based on Judges 18.

  1. What was the original tribe that was seeking a new land, according to Judges 18?
  2. Who did the Danites steal from in the city of Laish?
  3. What was the name of the priest who was serving the household of Micah?
  4. How many spies did the Danites send to search the land?
  5. What did the Danites do with the carved images from Micah’s house?

Roll 1d20. Add the number of correct answers. Final result = 1–25.

Correct Answers

  • 1. Dan
  • 2. A carved idol
  • 3. Jonathan
  • 4. Five
  • 5. They took them and set them up as their own idols.

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