03/20/2023

Here is the encounter from ChatGPT:

As the party of adventurers treks through a dense forest, they come across the trail of a pack of gnolls. The trail leads them to a clearing where they discover a group of gnolls, led by a hulking brute of a gnoll named Korgoth.

Korgoth is a fierce and powerful leader, with a reputation for raiding and pillaging throughout the forest. He demands that the party surrender their belongings and leave the forest immediately.

The adventurers have several options. They could try to negotiate with Korgoth, using diplomacy and charm to convince him to let them pass unharmed. They could also try to sneak around the gnolls and continue on their journey unnoticed. Or, they could prepare for battle and use their weapons and spells to defend themselves against the gnolls’ attack.

If the party is successful in defeating Korgoth and his gnoll pack, they can loot their camp and find a collection of stolen goods, including gold and jewels, as well as some magical items. Among the loot is a cursed axe with an inscription in a forgotten language that appears to read “Soulreaver.” The axe provides incredible strength to its wielder, but at a terrible cost.

The gnoll pack is known as the Bloodfangs, and their reputation for violence and aggression has earned them fear and respect among the other creatures of the forest.

Here is how I would set up that encounter on the table if the PCs decided to either talk to Korgoth and the Bloodfang gnolls or if they decide on combat:

I would create a camp with Korgoth in the center near the campfire with two gnolls by each of the tents. I would have something over the fire cooking, maybe a deer (Rated PG game) or a humanoid from a previous attack (Rated R game).

If the party wanted to talk, I would turn it into a skill challenge. It should be Hard (6 Successes before 3 failures.

• Each skill can be used only once by a PC (Other PCs can use that skill on attempts)
• The PC has to be proficient in the skill to use it during the skill challenge.
• The DC should be based on the PC’s level. A good rule would be DC 10 + (Skill Proficiency Modifier x 2).
• I would have the player describe how they are using that skill in the challenge.
• Any attempt that beats the DC by 10 or more would count as 2 successes; Any attempt that fails by 10 or more counts as 2 failures.

Here is another encounter where the ICRPG timer dice would be a great addition to the game. It could be more gnolls that were patrolling the area arrive at the camp. It could be forest creatures drawn by the smell of the cooking meat (bears, wolves, lizardfolk, etc). If the new enemy is really powerful (dragons, giants, trolls, chimeras, manticores, etc), this might create a situation where the PCs might have to join forces with the gnolls to defeat the powerful enemy force.

I would have all of the treasure already rolled up and ready to go, including the cursed axe.

Keep on gaming!