The Shrouded Boughs Encounters

The environment of The Shrouded Boughs is one of extreme verticality and shifting visibility. DM should roll for encounters based on the characters' current layer (Canopy or Roots).

Canopy Encounter Table (d10)

d10	Encounter	Description
1	Giant Gull Scout	A Huge bird circles above, evaluating the party for a dive attack.
2	Beetle-Cavalry Patrol	Two Acorn Guard guardsmen on iridescent beetles demand to see the party's passage-leaf.
3	Strangle-Vine Patch	A section of the walkway is overgrown with sentient, aggressive vines.
4	Zephyr the Glidist	A freelance messenger nearly crashes into the party, sharing news of a coming gale.
5	Canopy-Leaper Ambush	A feline monstrosity drops from a higher branch, attempting to drag a character into the foliage.
6	Resin-Leak	A branch begins to spray warm, sticky sap, creating difficult terrain and potential restraint.
7	Abandoned Leaf-Kite	A damaged glider is tangled in the branches, containing a coded message.
8	Aether-Wasp Swarm	A cloud of glowing insects attracted to the party's magical equipment.
9	Singing-Moss Drift	A patch of moss vibrates violently in response to the party's conversation, potentially causing sonic damage.
10	Mist-Viper	A shimmering snake coiled around a branch, nearly invisible in the high fog.

Root-Level Encounter Table (d10)

d10	Encounter	Description
1	Mist-Stalker	A shadowy monstrosity made of solidified fog emerges from the deep labyrinth.
2	Root-Crab Nest	A massive crab defends a cluster of eggs hidden within a mangrove root.
3	Driftwood Skiff	A Mist-Whisker scavenger offers to trade shipwreck artifacts for fresh food.
4	The Root-Speaker	An enigmatic hermit provides a cryptic prophecy in exchange for lore about the Aether-Sink or a rare natural component.
5	Rising Tide	The water level suddenly rises, forcing the party to climb or swim.
6	Aether-Leech Swarm	Translucent parasites attempt to attach to characters to drain their magical energy.
7	Shipwreck Debris	A floating section of a human galleon containing a locked chest.
8	Mist-Turtle Tug	A large turtle hauling a heavy cargo-raft passes by, potentially offering a ride.
9	Ghost-Leaf Drift	A group of withered, necrotic leaves attempts to drain the party's life-force.
10	The Echoing Grotto Entrance	The party finds a hidden passage where the mist begins to sing.

Environmental Hazards

• Zero-Visibility Fog: Every 1d4 hours, the mist thickens. Perception checks relying on sight are made with disadvantage.
• Branch-Shudder: During strong winds, the canopy sways. DC 13 Dexterity save to avoid falling prone.
• Corrosive Brine: Prolonged exposure to the root-level water can degrade highly refined non-magical metals, leaving common salvaged scrap unaffected (check every 24 hours).