Random Table: Who is the Antagonist?

 Approaching a small roadside town? Here is a random table to use to see who the party's interests run against:

1: Tavern Owner

• Could be a cultist, hiding their shrine in the wine cellar
• Could also be sheltering cultists who live in their wine cellar - held hostage. Goes against the tropes when the Owner brings the party poisoned food, but blinks a code "do not eat the food."

2: Monsters Coming at Night

• An Oni - kidnapping those out past dusk and making camp not too far away.
• Something with wings. Having a conversation with someone on a walk home from the tavern only to have them disappear with only the loud sound of powerful wings in the darkness. What about a Chimera - created by a nearby Wizard or Sorcerer that is out of their league in controlling it.

3: Monsters Coming from Below

• Think tunnels. Rats. Lots of Rats. Then add a few more just to be sure.
• A bullet. Or a flock of bullets. Draw inspiration from tremors. [FN1]

4: Bandits

• Bog standard holding the town at ransom. Maybe they are occupying the town hall and things are tense in town.
• Robin Hood situation where the party is robbed in their tavern rooms [so they don't have their weapons, foci, etc). The party is potentially hoarding a ton of wealth - hard to be too upset when the towns they pass through have received the proceeds from the robbers.

 

 
5: Mind flayers. It has to be mind flayers.

• The whole town as intellect devourer husks?
• Maybe just a single MF — looming; or locked in a pantry ala Signs

6: Dragon

• Someone is a dragon.Doesn't matter who-just drop rumors that someone in town is a dragon and wait for the most dramatic moment to make your selection!  Check out the book "Witchhunter" for inspiration.
• Could also be a young dragon and the town is the villain, exploiting the dragon for some resource.

FN1. Is a group of bullets a flock? Feels like a flock. A swarm? A pack? A host?