{
"name": "Mysterious Islands",
"page": 211,
"type": "section",
"__prop": "variantrule",
"source": "GoS",
"entries": [
"Small islands dot most oceans, distant or unexplored locales that might host all manner of adventures. The following rules can be used to generate any islands the characters might encounter.",
{
"name": "Island Size",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"These rules are used to generate islands with areas roughly {@dice 1d6} miles long and {@dice 1d6} miles wide. Most islands aren't perfect rectangles, and most coastlines aren't perfectly straight, so feel free to make areas of the island shorter, longer, thinner, or wider as you see fit."
]
},
{
"name": "Island Habitat",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"An island can have any habitat that seems appropriate for the clime it occupies. For example, islands of floating ice are found in arctic seas, while islands with jungle habitats are found in tropical waters. Not all islands are created by nature, though. A powerful spellcaster or divine being could conjure an island made of crystal, iron, or any material you choose."
]
},
{
"name": "Island Theme",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Each island encountered has a theme chosen or rolled on the Island Theme table. This theme defines the island's story in one broad stroke. Once you have a theme, consult its section after the table to determine related details and story hooks.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"Alien"
],
[
"2",
"Cursed"
],
[
"3",
"Hostile"
],
[
"4",
"Sanctum"
],
[
"5",
"Welcoming"
],
[
"6",
"Wild"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Island Theme",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Theme"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"name": "Alien",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Alien islands are inhabited by isolated creatures with ways of life beyond most beings' comprehensions. Everything about the culture of the island, from architecture to food, is unfamiliar and unsettling to outsiders. At your discretion the inhabitants of the island might speak, read, and write a language all their own.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@creature Aboleth}"
],
[
"2",
"{@creature Beholder}"
],
[
"3",
"{@creature Death slaad}"
],
[
"4",
"{@creature Kraken}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Alien Island Leader",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Leader"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Berserker||berserkers} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Tribal Warrior||tribal warriors}"
],
[
"2–3",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Cult Fanatic||cult fanatics} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Cultist||cultists}"
],
[
"4",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Lizardfolk Shaman||lizardfolk shamans} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature lizardfolk}"
],
[
"5",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Bullywug Croaker|GoS|bullywug croakers} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}) and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Bullywug||bullywugs}"
],
[
"6",
"{@dice 1d8} {@creature Locathah Hunter|GoS|locathah hunters} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}) and {@dice 3d10} {@creature locathah|GoS} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11})"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Alien Island Inhabitants",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Inhabitants"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The inhabitants try to force the characters to serve their leader."
],
[
"2",
"The inhabitants demand the characters give their leader an item worth {@dice 10d10 × 100} gp."
],
[
"3",
"The inhabitants wish to devour the characters."
],
[
"4",
"Some inhabitants are planning to rise up against their leader and ask the characters for help."
],
[
"5",
"The inhabitants see the characters as no more than insects and refuse to interact with them unless forced."
],
[
"6",
"The inhabitants see the characters as gods and can be convinced to worship them."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Alien Inhabitant Reactions",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Reaction"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The leader has a {@item spell scroll} of {@spell true resurrection} among its belongings."
],
[
"2",
"The island contains a piece of a tablet with instructions on how to open a portal to the Far Realm."
],
[
"3",
"The island's leader knows how to end a planar disease infecting a humanoid settlement."
],
[
"4",
"A {@creature mage} with information the characters need hides among the ranks of the inhabitants, learning their ways."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Alien Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
},
{
"name": "Cursed",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Cursed islands are steeped in dark magic from a ritual cast by necromancers, hag covens, evil spellcasters, foul deities, or worse. The island might still hold some hint as to why it was cursed, or all trace of those who brought down the affliction might have been scoured away.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"When a creature dies on the island, its spirit rises as a {@creature specter} {@dice 1d4} hours after death. The specter is obsessed with killing its former friends."
],
[
"2",
"Creatures that aren't inhabitants of the island must succeed on a Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour they spend on the island. If they fail, they gain one level of {@condition exhaustion}. The DC for this check equals 10 + the number of hours spent on the island."
],
[
"3",
"Each day at dawn, the island conjures {@dice 2d10} {@creature Magma Mephit||magma mephits}, which are hostile toward creatures that aren't inhabitants of the island."
],
[
"4",
"When a creature that isn't an inhabitant of the island completes a long rest there, it must succeed on a {@dc 15} Wisdom saving throw or be {@condition blinded} for 8 hours."
],
[
"5",
"Creatures must succeed on a {@dc 10} Constitution saving throw at the end of each hour they spend on the island. If they fail, they gain a 1-inch scar in a random place on their body. Only a {@spell remove curse} spell or similar magic removes the scar."
],
[
"6",
"When a creature that isn't an inhabitant of the island completes a long rest there, it must succeed on a {@dc 15} Wisdom saving throw or gain a random form of long-term madness (see \"{@book Madness|DMG|8|Madness}\" in chapter 8, \"{@book Running the Game|DMG|8|Running the Game},\" of the {@book Dungeon Master's Guide|DMG})."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Island Curses",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Curse"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 5d10} {@creature Specter||specters}"
],
[
"2",
"{@dice 10d10} {@creature Zombie||zombies}"
],
[
"3",
"A coven of 3 {@creature Sea Hag||sea hags} and {@dice 1d4} {@creature Flameskull||flameskulls}"
],
[
"4",
"1 {@creature medusa} and {@dice 3d10} {@creature Skeleton||skeletons}"
],
[
"5",
"1 {@creature vampire} and {@dice 2d6} {@creature vampire spawn}"
],
[
"6",
"1 {@creature demilich} and {@dice 2d10} {@creature Wraith||wraiths}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Cursed Island Inhabitants",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Inhabitants"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The island contains rare spell components the characters need."
],
[
"2",
"Pirates buried treasure worth {@dice 5d6 × 1,000} gp on the island."
],
[
"3",
"A keelboat carrying {@dice 1d6} {@creature Commoner||commoners} crashed on the island. The commoners are struggling to survive."
],
[
"4",
"The {@creature ghost} of a character's loved one is trapped on the island."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Cursed Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
},
{
"name": "Hostile",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Hostile islands contain creatures that want to harm the characters. These creatures fill their islands with traps and attack outsiders out of hunger, boredom, or fear.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@creature Cloud giant}"
],
[
"2",
"{@creature Hill giant}"
],
[
"3",
"{@creature Oni}"
],
[
"4",
"{@creature Spirit naga}"
],
[
"5",
"{@creature Werewolf}"
],
[
"6",
"A chromatic dragon of the DM's choice"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Hostile Island Leader",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Leader"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The leader wants to commandeer a boat to conquer other islands."
],
[
"2",
"The leader takes all treasure gained by its followers, growing rich off their brutality."
],
[
"3",
"The leader needs humanoid remains to perform a ritual with a dark purpose."
],
[
"4",
"The leader never ages because it consumes the souls of creatures its followers kill."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Hostile Island Leader Motivations",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Motivation"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 3d10} {@creature Winged Kobold||winged kobolds} and {@dice 10d10} {@creature Kobold||kobolds}"
],
[
"2",
"1 {@creature goblin boss} and {@dice 8d10} {@creature Goblin||goblins}"
],
[
"3",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Berserker||berserkers} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Tribal Warrior||tribal warriors}"
],
[
"4",
"1 {@creature Orc War Chief||orc chieftain}, {@dice 2d10} {@creature Orog||orogs}, and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Orc||orcs}"
],
[
"5",
"{@dice 4d10} {@creature Ogre||ogres}"
],
[
"6",
"{@dice 3d10} {@creature Troll||trolls}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Hostile Inhabitants",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Inhabitants"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The island's leader killed an NPC the characters admired."
],
[
"2",
"The island's leader has a {@item headband of intellect}."
],
[
"3",
"The characters are challenged by rivals to survive a night on the island."
],
[
"4",
"An eloquent invitation from the island's leader invites the characters for a hunt."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Hostile Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
},
{
"name": "Sanctum",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"The inhabitants of sanctum islands use the seas to protect themselves and their property, or they simply enjoy the isolation a remote island affords. The creatures on sanctum islands usually live in permanent structures like abbeys, fortresses, libraries, or towers.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@creature Archmage}"
],
[
"2",
"{@creature Lich}"
],
[
"3",
"{@creature Night hag}"
],
[
"4",
"{@creature Noble}"
],
[
"5",
"{@creature Rakshasa}"
],
[
"6",
"{@creature Werebear}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Sanctum Island Leader",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Leader"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 5d10} {@creature Guard||guards} and {@dice 10d10} {@creature Commoner||commoners}"
],
[
"2",
"1 {@creature pirate captain|GoS} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}), 1 {@creature pirate bosun|GoS} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}), {@dice 2d4} {@creature Pirate Deck Wizard|GoS|pirate deck wizards} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}), and {@dice 8d10} {@creature Bandit||bandits}"
],
[
"3",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Flesh Golem||flesh golems}, {@dice 1d4} {@creature Priest||priests}, and {@dice 2d10} {@creature Acolyte||acolytes}"
],
[
"4",
"{@dice 2d4} {@creature Veteran||veterans}, {@dice 2d10} {@creature Scout||scouts}, {@dice 4d10} {@creature Guard||guards}"
],
[
"5",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature Stone Golem||stone golems}, {@dice 1d4} {@creature Mage||mages}, and {@dice 3d10} {@creature Guard||guards}"
],
[
"6",
"1 {@creature shield guardian}, {@dice 2d4} {@creature Knight||knights}, {@dice 2d6} {@creature Priest||priests}, and {@dice 6d10} {@creature Commoner||commoners}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Sanctum Island Inhabitants",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Inhabitants"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The characters are allowed on the island, but the inhabitants don't allow the characters into any buildings."
],
[
"2",
"The inhabitants like the characters and give them advice to help them impress the island's leader."
],
[
"3",
"Some unhappy inhabitants believe the characters are their ticket off the island. They flirt, lie, bribe, and beg to be taken away."
],
[
"4",
"The inhabitants attempt to convince the characters to use the island as a base of operations and contribute to the community."
],
[
"5",
"The inhabitants hunger for information about the outside world and allow the characters to use news as currency."
],
[
"6",
"The inhabitants don't trust the characters. All Charisma checks made to influence the inhabitants have disadvantage."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Sanctum Island Reactions",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Reaction"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"A {@creature spy} among the inhabitants needs extraction from the island."
],
[
"2",
"The island's leader misses an item (such as a flower or a particular food) that can't be found on the island and offers a reward for the item."
],
[
"3",
"The island asks for aid against an {@creature adult green dragon} that regularly raids it."
],
[
"4",
"The island has an armory full of legendary adamantine and silvered weapons."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Sanctum Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
},
{
"name": "Welcoming",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Welcoming islands host creatures that are friendly toward the characters. These creatures provide what aid they can and might even put themselves in harm's way for the characters if a friendship is established.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@creature Bard|VGM} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11})"
],
[
"2",
"{@creature Druid}"
],
[
"3",
"{@creature Guardian naga}"
],
[
"4",
"{@creature Treant}"
],
[
"5",
"{@creature Unicorn}"
],
[
"6",
"A metallic dragon of the DM's choice"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Welcoming Island Leader",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Leader"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 5d10} {@creature aarakocra}"
],
[
"2",
"{@dice 8d8} {@creature Pixie||pixies} and {@dice 8d8} {@creature Sprite||sprites}"
],
[
"3",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Lizardfolk Shaman||lizardfolk shamans} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature lizardfolk}"
],
[
"4",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Druid||druids} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Tribal Warrior||tribal warriors}"
],
[
"5",
"{@dice 3d10} {@creature Centaur||centaurs}"
],
[
"6",
"{@dice 3d10} {@creature Scout||scouts} and {@dice 5d10} {@creature Commoner||commoners}"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Welcoming Island Inhabitants",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Inhabitants"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The island is a colony or outpost sponsored by a nation or wealthy noble the characters are associated with."
],
[
"2",
"The island's residents swear a character looks like a beloved past leader. Melancholy, they treat the characters as they would their lost hero."
],
[
"3",
"The island never gets visitors. The characters' arrival is cause for a peculiar but earnest celebration."
],
[
"4",
"The island's leader is a long-lost relative or friend of a character's family."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Welcoming Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
},
{
"name": "Wild Island",
"type": "entries",
"entries": [
"Nature reigns on wild islands. The creatures on the island respond to the ebb and flow of the natural world rather than trying to tame the environment.",
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"A waterfall flows up a mountainside."
],
[
"2",
"The island slowly rotates clockwise."
],
[
"3",
"Geysers shoot bright light into the sky at night."
],
[
"4",
"{@hazard Razorvine} (see \"{@book Wilderness Hazards|DMG|5|Wilderness Hazards}\" in chapter 5, \"{@book Adventure Environments|DMG|5|Adventure Environments},\" of the {@book Dungeon Master's Guide|DMG}) grows in 10-foot-tall hedges shaped like animals."
],
[
"5",
"Rain on the island creates a beautiful melody."
],
[
"6",
"All beasts on the island have {@sense truesight} out to a range of 120 ft."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Wild Island Features",
"colLabels": [
"d6",
"Feature"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"{@dice 2d8} {@creature Baboon||baboons}"
],
[
"2",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature Brown Bear||brown bears}"
],
[
"3",
"1 {@creature owlbear}"
],
[
"4",
"{@dice 2d6} {@creature Giant Toad||giant toads}"
],
[
"5",
"{@dice 2d10} {@creature Giant Wasp||giant wasps}"
],
[
"6",
"{@dice 2d4} {@creature Giant Spider||giant spiders}"
],
[
"7",
"{@dice 4d4} {@creature Pixie||pixies} or {@dice 4d4} {@creature Sprite||sprites}"
],
[
"8",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature Blink Dog||blink dogs}"
],
[
"9",
"1 {@creature pirate captain|GoS} (see {@adventure appendix C|GoS|11}) and {@dice 3d10} {@creature Bandit||bandits} digging up buried treasure"
],
[
"10",
"{@dice 3d6} {@creature Tribal Warrior||tribal warriors}"
],
[
"11",
"{@dice 2d4} {@creature Druid||druids}"
],
[
"12",
"{@dice 1d6} {@creature Dryad||dryads}"
],
[
"13",
"{@dice 2d4} {@creature Centaur||centaurs}"
],
[
"14",
"1 {@creature ankheg}"
],
[
"15",
"{@dice 1d10} {@creature Giant Boar||giant boars}"
],
[
"16",
"{@dice 2d6} {@creature Giant Eagle||giant eagles}"
],
[
"17",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature Giant Ape||giant apes}"
],
[
"18",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature Treant||treants}"
],
[
"19",
"1 {@creature roc}"
],
[
"20",
"{@dice 1d4} {@creature veteran} explorers"
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Wild Island Encounters",
"colLabels": [
"d20",
"Encounter"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
},
{
"rows": [
[
"1",
"The island hides a spring that restores life to anyone washed in it, as per the {@spell raise dead} spell. A creature can only benefit from the spring once."
],
[
"2",
"A {@creature djinni} recluse dwells on the island and grants favors."
],
[
"3",
"{@creature Pixie||Pixies} beg the characters to help them oust a group of {@dice 3d10} trophy hunters ({@creature Scout||scouts}) from the island."
],
[
"4",
"The island holds the tomb of an archdruid, which contains a portal to the Feywild."
]
],
"type": "table",
"caption": "Wild Island Story Hooks",
"colLabels": [
"d4",
"Story Hook"
],
"colStyles": [
"text-center col-2",
"col-10"
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
}