The Mansions · Travel Tables

Travel Encounters

The forest paths between the three estates never feel empty. Ash drifts against the roots, glass-bright reflections move where there are no windows, and thorn branches tighten around anything that tries to leave the road.

Roll once on the table matching the route the party is traveling. These are scene prompts, not encounter containers. Use the listed creatures as the likely opposition, or treat the result as a clue, hazard, pursuit, or brief confrontation.

Path I — The Ash Road

Use when traveling between Mansion of Ash and the central forest. Roll 1d4.

d4	Road Event	Creature
1	A spill of living embers rolls across the path. The coals try to crawl into packs, tinderboxes, and open wounds before retreating toward the mansion.	Animated Coal (Level 2)
2	A broken stone marker still remembers its duty. It blocks the road and attacks anyone who tries to move it, but it can be calmed by restoring its missing foundation stone.	Quarry Construct (Level 2)
3	A greasy black flame clings to a dead tree and whispers the names of people who have recently passed beneath it.	Filth Fire (Level 4)
4	A winged shadow circles above the road, waiting for someone to separate from the group. Its first goal is theft, not slaughter.	Shadow Drake (Level 2)

Path II — The Glass Path

Use when traveling between the central forest and Mansion of Glass. Roll 1d4.

d4	Road Event	Creature
1	Every puddle shows the party from a different angle. One reflection is delayed by a full round and begins copying the wrong character.	Shadow (Level 4)
2	A small drake has nested inside a fallen mirror-frame. It offers a stolen key in exchange for a secret spoken into the glass.	Shadow Drake (Level 2)
3	A cluster of bones walks in formation across the road, reenacting a murder that has not happened yet.	Undead Murder (Level 3)
4	A blue flame floats between the trees and leads travelers toward a false shortcut. It becomes hostile only when the party turns back.	Fire Wisp (Level 0)

Path III — The Thorn Way

Use when traveling between the central forest and Mansion of Thorns. Roll 1d4.

d4	Road Event	Creature
1	The road narrows as roots pull thorn hedges inward. Something inside the hedge repeats the last promise each traveler made aloud.	Bramble Champion Construct (Level 3)
2	A forest giant has been driven from its usual hunting ground by the mansion’s growing roots. It demands a toll of food, iron, or a truthful account of who owns the road.	Forest Troll (Level 5)
3	A fallen waystone begins assembling itself from loose stones and refuses to let the party pass until they name where they are going.	Quarry Construct (Level 2)
4	A hot coal rolls from beneath the hedge and divides into smaller sparks. The sparks are harmless unless anyone tries to stamp them out.	Animated Coal (Level 2)