Deadly Swim | Free 5e and PF2 Encounter

Written by Claire Martin

Cartography by Sir Vicke

The mountains can be a dangerous place for the unprepared traveler. Some say that the main causes of death in the mountains are exhaustion, dehydration, and freezing weather conditions. The locals know better.

If you're looking for other 5e and PF2e resources, check out our entire collection of Lair Magazine issues. This particular encounter came from the March 2024 issue of Lair Magazine, Marvels & Moonlight, where you can find even more to add to your campaign!

Deadly Swim - 5e

Level. This encounter is designed for a group of four to six level-four characters.

Creatures. This encounter features the following creatures: tundra ghost.

Location. A lightly worn trail leads beyond the tree line, climbing up the base of a mountain. The air is still and chilly. The trail follows along the shoreline of a river. A natural well sits on the opposite side of the trail, suggesting an underground connection to the river. It’s eerily quiet. The life-filled sounds of the forest have ceased. No bird sings; no wind rustles through the leaves. There is only the sound of the tranquil lapping of wavelets. Two sets of clothes lay over a fallen log near the river’s edge, along with a recent set of tracks leading into the water.

Loot. The characters can find 14 sp in the pockets of the abandoned clothes.

Encounter Description

Two lovers swim in the cold water while a tundra ghost lurks nearby.

Roleplaying Notes.

• Ophelia is a young woman in her early twenties. She has dark hair, brown eyes, and a soft, round face. She is playful and kind, having come out to the mountains to enjoy a day with her lover. The cute dress she wears now lies by the river’s edge as she splashes in the water.
• Herman is a young man in his early twenties. He has curly blond hair, blue eyes, and a freckled face. While good-natured, he can get a little competitive at times. He purposefully brought his date to the outskirts of a dangerous area just to show off. Herman wears a simple gray outfit, now lying on the river’s shoreline.
• The tundra ghost can understand any language but does not speak. It appears in the shape of a snowy owl but with a face that fades back and forth between an owl and a skull. Many believe this ghost represents all of the spirits who lost their lives in the mountains. It moves silently and gracefully, stalking the mountainside in search of other travelers it might add to its collection of souls. Its presence emits a cold sadness.

Encounter Notes.

• When the characters arrive at the bottom of the mountain, they will see Ophelia and Herman splashing about in the river playfully and flirting with one another.
• If the two swimmers spot the characters, Herman will invite them to join them, claiming that the water is refreshing and invigorating. Ophelia, shivering, will teasingly contradict him and claim that the water is freezing. Herman will puff out his chest, put on an air of bravado, and exclaim that he isn’t cold in the least, to which Ophelia retorts that all the heat has risen to his “hothead” and that he wouldn’t last five seconds completely submerged underwater. Taking this as a challenge, Herman bets he can hold his breath underwater for a full minute and dives beneath the surface. Ophelia, still smiling, starts counting the seconds out loud, inviting the characters to count with her.
• When Ophelia reaches 60 seconds, Herman still hasn’t emerged. Her smile fades, replaced by a look of concern. Just as the concern is about to turn into panic, Herman breaks the surface of the small well, having swam underground to reach it, and boasts proudly of his prowess. Then, a white streak plunges from above and into Herman, pulling him underwater without a splash. Shortly after, Herman’s lifeless body bobs to the well’s surface.
• The tundra ghost, having just claimed Herman’s spirit, flies back above the water and turns towards Ophelia as its next target, as she desperately tries to swim for shore.
• The tundra ghost will target Ophelia first and then move on to one of the characters next if it claims Ophelia’s soul.
• If the characters save Ophelia, she will offer them the 14 sp in her pockets as thanks, gather Herman’s clothes, and hurry back home, vowing never to venture so near the mountain again.

Trail Tracks. The trail does not appear well-worn; however, if the characters take a closer look at some of the tracks in the mud, amidst some boot prints, there are also hoof prints, small rabbit-like prints, and some strange long streaks that look somewhat like snake tracks.

Deadly Swim - Pathfinder 2e [Trivial 4]

Level. This encounter is designed for a group of four to six level-four characters.

Creatures. This encounter features the following creatures: tundra ghost.

Location. A lightly worn trail leads beyond the tree line, climbing up the base of a mountain. The air is still and chilly. The trail follows along the shoreline of a river. A natural well sits on the opposite side of the trail, suggesting an underground connection to the river. It’s eerily quiet. The life-filled sounds of the forest have ceased. No bird sings; no wind rustles through the leaves. There is only the sound of the tranquil lapping of wavelets. Two sets of clothes lay over a fallen log near the river’s edge, along with a recent set of tracks leading into the water.

Loot. The characters can find 15 sp in the pockets of the abandoned clothes.

Encounter Description

Two lovers swim in the cold water while a tundra ghost lurks nearby.

Roleplaying Notes.

• Ophelia is a young woman in her early twenties. She has dark hair, brown eyes, and a soft, round face. She is playful and kind, having come out to the mountains to enjoy a day with her lover. The cute dress she wears now lies by the river’s edge as she splashes in the water.
• Herman is a young man in his early twenties. He has curly blond hair, blue eyes, and a freckled face. While good-natured, he can get a little competitive at times. He purposefully brought his date to the outskirts of a dangerous area just to show off. Herman wears a simple gray outfit, now lying on the river’s shoreline.
• The tundra ghost can understand any language but does not speak. It appears in the shape of a snowy owl but with a face that fades back and forth between an owl and a skull. Many believe this ghost represents all of the spirits who lost their lives in the mountains. It moves silently and gracefully, stalking the mountainside in search of other travelers it might add to its collection of souls. Its presence emits a cold sadness.

Encounter Notes.

• When the characters arrive at the bottom of the mountain, they will see Ophelia and Herman splashing about in the river playfully and flirting with one another.
• If the two swimmers spot the characters, Herman will invite them to join them, claiming that the water is refreshing and invigorating. Ophelia, shivering, will teasingly contradict him and claim that the water is freezing. Herman will puff out his chest, put on an air of bravado, and exclaim that he isn’t cold in the least, to which Ophelia retorts that all the heat has risen to his “hothead” and that he wouldn’t last five seconds completely submerged underwater. Taking this as a challenge, Herman bets he can hold his breath underwater for a full minute and dives beneath the surface. Ophelia, still smiling, starts counting the seconds out loud, inviting the characters to count with her.
• When Ophelia reaches 60 seconds, Herman still hasn’t emerged. Her smile fades, replaced by a look of concern. Just as the concern is about to turn into panic, Herman breaks the surface of the small well, having swam underground to reach it, and boasts proudly of his prowess. Then, a white streak plunges from above and into Herman, pulling him underwater without a splash. Shortly after, Herman’s lifeless body bobs to the well’s surface.
• The tundra ghost, having just claimed Herman’s spirit, flies back above the water and turns towards Ophelia as its next target, as she desperately tries to swim for shore.
• The tundra ghost will target Ophelia first and then move on to one of the characters next if it claims Ophelia’s soul.
• If the characters save Ophelia, she will offer them the 15 sp in her pockets as thanks, gather Herman’s clothes, and hurry back home, vowing never to venture so near the mountain again.

Trail Tracks. The trail does not appear well-worn; however, if the characters take a closer look at some of the tracks in the mud, amidst some boot prints, there are also hoof prints, small rabbit-like prints, and some strange long streaks that look somewhat like snake tracks.

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