Last week we put out some security systems that you can drop into shops in your world. This week we thought we’d share some ideas on how we might use them in a 5e game. So, without (much) further ado, here are 9 shop encounters using our Certified Arcanery Labs Security Systems, ready to be dropped in the next time your PCs go shopping!
1. There’s got to be a better way
The System
The Arcanery Labs Tin Can Security System
The Hook
The party hears groaning sounds coming from behind the counter of the shop. The shopkeeper has been using the Arcanery Labs Tin Can Security System…but all of the cans were stolen! (Arcanery Labs takes no responsibility for stolen cans and are sadly unable to offer refunds on security systems at this time.) The shopkeeper has been frantically trying to eat the contents of their cupboard in order to replace the cans in their system without throwing out the food. Can the party help them?
The Line
If the party decides to assist the shopkeeper, ask for a Constitution saving throw (DC 14) in order to stuff enough food in themselves to replace all the cans. A character can also make a DC 16 Medicine check to relieve the extreme discomfort that the shopkeep is in, allowing them to get back to eating. You could even turn this into a mini quest line if the party is interested in helping to find or construct a better security system!
The Sinker
If the party assists in replacing all of the cans you can offer them a small lifetime discount on goods at the store. Additionally, if they go so far as to help find or design a better system, the shopkeeper later tells them that the new system managed to catch a thief, and gives them a reward; either in coin or in special items from the shop.
2. Now you see me…
The System
Invisible Body Guard
The Hook
The shopkeeper’s bodyguard is missing. And worse, she was wearing a ring of invisibility when she disappeared! Again. The shopkeeper hasn’t seen her since yesterday morning when she put the ring on to start work, and chat with the bodyguard’s wife will reveal she never came home.
The Line
The bodyguard is still in the shop. A detect magic or any spell or ability that allows them to see invisible creatures will reveal that she is standing in the corner near the door and if the ring is pulled off her finger the party sees that she’s been magically paralyzed. A quick lesser restoration spell will release her from paralysis.
The Sinker
Both the shop keep and the guard are incredibly grateful to the party and will reward them with the ring of invisibility. If you want to keep the adventure going they can always hire the party to find whoever paralyzed the guard, and what it is that they stole!
3. The Dead Shopkeeper
The System
The Arcanery Labs “Silent But Deadly” Security System
The Hook
The PCs head to a local shop to purchase or trade some goods. When they arrive they see a crowd has formed outside and the local law keepers are there.
The shop hadn’t opened today, and when the first customers came by they saw the owner lying dead on the ground. When the law keepers arrived they determined that the whole shop had been locked from the inside, and there were no signs of struggle. No wounds were found on the body. The law is stumped, and requests the party’s aid in solving the case.
The Line
A DC 15 Perception check will allow a player to detect a slight odor coming from a basin at the back of the store. With a DC 12 Survival check (if the PC is proficient with either alchemist’s or poisoner’s tools they may add their proficiency with those as well) will inform them that two chemicals were mixed in the basin causing a poisonous gas to fill the room. A DC 15 Investigation check will reveal a rag near the door that had been stuffed to fill the crack, and all of the windows are sealed shut.
The Sinker
The shopkeeper had been using the Arcanery Labs “Silent But Deadly” security system, but had failed to give themself enough time to exit the building before succumbing to the poisonous gas. As a reward for solving the mystery, the party may take one item each from the store.
4. Wait. Why am I here?
The System
The Arcanery Labs “Forget Me Not” Security System
The Hook
A nearby cave is said to hold an artifact of immense power, but every time someone goes looking for it they return to town having completely forgotten why they left in the first place.
The Line
The cave is easy to get to, a half day’s walk out of town. Upon arrival Perception or Investigation checks don’t reveal anything out of the ordinary about the entrance to the cave, but the moment the party walk in they are beset upon by a swarm of togrofs who immediately use their memory stealing ability.
The Sinker
If and when they succeed on their checks, you can reward the players with an appropriate magical item for their level (and perhaps scale it based on how easy or difficult it was for them to get it). If you’re looking to start a new storyline in your game this could be the home of a hermit and now that the party has passed the test this hermit has a quest for them with promises of great riches, or the oracle of a god lives in cave and has a prophecy of warning for them.
5. Don’t believe your eyes
The System
The Arcanery Labs Observation Orbs Security System
The Hook
A blacksmith has been accused of murder but swears she’s innocent. She hires the party to clear her name, and tells them the only piece of evidence against her is a recording on a seeing orb.
The Line
The murder occurred in the blacksmith’s shop, which is monitored by some Arcanery Labs All Seeing Orbs. When the Town Watch came to investigate the murder the blacksmith showed them the the stored images only to watch herself commit a murder she hadn’t done. If the party manages a DC 12 Persuasion check the Watch will allow them to view the recording. While watching the footage have the party make an Investigation check DC 15, if they succeed they notice a strange glitch in the recording, as if the blacksmith briefly looked like someone else. A detect magic spell will show that there is an Illusion spell layered over the Divination magic of the orb. A dispel magic spell will restore the true images and clear the blacksmith’s name.
The Sinker
The blacksmith is released and as thanks will upgrade the party’s weapons, whether by mundane or magical means. If you want to keep the adventure going, now there is a murderer to catch!
6. We all float on
The System
The Arcanery Labs “Floating Security Jellyfish” Security System
The Hook
The town is overrun with floating, nearly invisible jellyfish that are turning people to stone (albeit only for 8 hours). Where did they all come from? Can someone please help get rid of them?
The Line
A DC 12 Investigation check will lead the party to a local store, where the owner has been using some Arcanery Labs Security Jellies to keep thieves away from their wares. The owner did not pay enough attention to them and they got loose. A DC 12 Insight or Nature check on the jellyfish will show the party that they seem to obsess over items, and the same information can be learned from the owner with a DC 15 Persuasion check (the owner doesn’t want to give away the secret to getting past their security system). Then all the party has to do is find an object the jellies like, and lead them back to the shop.
The Sinker
The town is overjoyed to be free of the menace and will reward the party generously. If the party managed to get the jellyfish back to the shop without telling too many people about their secret, the owner will reward the party with an item and a discount. However if too many people now know the security system’s flaw, the owner will be very cranky and refuse to give them anything.
7. To Catch A Thief
The System
Antimagic Field Entrance
The Hook
As the party is shopping there is a bright flare as magic runes hidden in the doorframe activate an Anti-Magic Field. Turning to look at the commotion the party watches as a thief* grabs a rare item (perhaps something the PCs wanted!) and takes off running!
*If you are using the downtime rules from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything this might be a fun place to drop in one of the PCs Rivals, or it could even be a minor villain from your main campaign.
The Line
It’s a chase! Chapter 8 of the Dungeon Masters Guide outlines some interesting rules for running a chase sequence, but you can also homebrew your own rules using skill challenges. No matter how you run your chase, we suggest rewarding player ingenuity and encouraging them to act strategically. If the party manages to catch the thief it’s up to you whether they’ll surrender or fight!
The Sinker
As a reward for catching the thief, the party is given a significant discount on the item they were trying to buy. Alternatively, if they failed to catch the thief, you can turn this into a minor quest line as reports of thefts around the city increase. If they did catch the thief, perhaps there is a greater reason behind the theft. Are they part of a thieves guild? Is someone they love being held as ransom and they must procure specific items to free them?
8. The Wicked Lich of the West
The System
Wizard Security Guard
The Hook
A promising apprentice wizard has vanished and their teacher is concerned “they are just such a promising student!” The party is approached on their way to a gnomish town and asked to find out what has happened to the young mage.
The Line
With a DC 10 Investigation check the party will learn that the local potion shop has hired a young wizard as a security guard (if the party fails the check they can still learn the information, it just takes them a lot longer). When they arrive at the shop the party finds the apprentice casting detect magic, as the spell resolves the mage shrieks in fear at something behind the party – the teacher had followed them having cast “invisibility” on themself and reveals themself to attack the poor apprentice! Whaaaaaaat!? The teacher is evil, eeeeeeeeeeevil! A wicked necromancer who needs out to kill the young mage and swallow their soul to complete a ritual and become a litch! The mage had escaped, but is under a Geas spell and unable to tell anyone of what the necromancer had done.
The Sinker
The party are heroes! They stopped the necromancer from becoming the Wicked Lich of the West! The gnomes of the town throw a celebration and sing a song as a celestial arrives floating in a bubble to thank the party. The celestial has limited divination abilities and can help guide the party to their next destination.
9. What we really need, is a halfling with a ring
The System
The Arcanery Labs “Deal with the Dragon” Security System
The Hook
A fiend has placed a terrible curse on the hometown of one of the PCs, and the cure to it can only be found in this dastardly creature’s vault. The characters have been given the quest of a great heist to break into this vault and take the cure right out from under the nose of this wicked fiend!
The Line
A Heist! But! Once the party has infiltrated the vault it turns out it’s not just a vault – it’s a heckin’ dragon’s hoard! This wicked devil has not only locked the cure behind all the security of a bank vault, but has made a deal with a dragon to guard it all! Will the party have to fight? Can they negotiate? Are they stealthy enough to steal something out from under a DRAGON? If executed well a heist encounter in a campaign can be a lot of fun, and you can decide how detailed this heist should be before they get to the dragon. If you’re looking for inspiration on some heist mechanics we recommend checking out the game Blades in the Dark which is all about heists and is a total blast. If you’re looking for a more traditional 5e approach, the party can ask around with Persuasion and Investigation checks to learn more about the security this fiend has. Stealth, Perception, and Thieves Tools checks can all be useful during a heist – but use your imagination! If you tailor checks to your party’s strengths you can give them those exciting “gotcha!” moments that make heists so exciting, and then hit them with the curveball of NOW YOU HAVE TO FIGHT A DRAGON.
The Sinker
Should the party manage to break into the vault, defeat or circumvent the dragon, and escape they will obviously win the undying love of the town and be lauded as heroes. They also might have managed to abscond with some exciting items and gold from the hoard, possibly something that leads to a whole new quest line…
And there you have it! Some quirky encounters you can use next time your PCs decide to go shopping. We hope these have inspired some entertaining encounters for you and let us know what kind of shop encounters you’ve run in your games!