A D100 Sword and Sorcery dungeon dressing and minor item table, D100 Sword & Sorcery Wilderness Encounters. D100 Alchemical Failures & Weird Encounters, D100 Side Effects of the Black Lotus , & D100 Table of Forbidden Spells for The Castles & Crusades & OSR Games

 In a Sword and Sorcery setting like those found in Castles & Crusades, the atmosphere should feel ancient, decadent, and dangerous. These items and descriptions are designed to add flavor to your dungeon crawls without necessarily providing mechanical "game-breaking" power.

To use this table, roll 1d100 when the players search a room or a fallen foe.

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D100 Dungeon Dressing & Minor Items

Roll	Item or Dressing Description
01-02	A rusted iron collar attached to a wall by a heavy, short chain.
03-04	A silver-stoppered vial containing dried lotus petals (worth 5gp).
05-06	A map on human skin showing a city that sank 1,000 years ago.
07-08	A bowl of fruit made of painted lead; surprisingly heavy.
09-10	Faded tapestries depicting a king being eaten by his own hounds.
11-12	A bronze brazier that emits green smoke when lit.
13-14	A collection of knuckle-bones used for divination (worthless but eerie).
15-16	A clay jar filled with honey-preserved scorpions (a delicacy or poison?).
17-18	A heavy wool cloak stained with dried, dark blue blood.
19-20	A small, ivory statuette of a nameless, many-limbed spider god.
21-22	A rusted stiletto with a hilt shaped like a screaming face.
23-24	A scroll of vellum containing nothing but a list of names; half are crossed out.
25-26	A torch stub that glows with a faint, cold blue light for 1 turn.
27-28	An ornate brass key that fits no lock in this dungeon.
29-30	A pouch of "Black Lotus" powder (highly addictive, hallucinogenic).
31-32	A mirror cracked in a way that your reflection looks 20 years older.
33-34	A leather-bound tome written in a language that hurts the eyes to read.
35-36	A necklace of shark teeth tipped with copper.
37-38	A stone offering bowl containing 22 copper pieces and a severed ear.
39-40	The smell of ozone and rotting lilies permeates the area.
41-42	A set of loaded bone dice (adds +1 to gambling checks).
43-44	A wine skin filled with thick, metallic-tasting pomegranate wine.
45-46	A small cage containing a blind, white cave cricket.
47-48	A heavy gold ring (15gp) bearing the seal of a dead noble house.
49-50	Wall scratchings: "The shadows here have teeth."
51-52	A mosaic floor where the eyes of the figures seem to follow you.
53-54	A perfume bottle that smells of burial incense and sandalwood.
55-56	A bundle of incense sticks that, when burned, calm non-magical animals.
57-58	A dried bat wing pinned to a piece of parchment with a silver needle.
59-60	A rusted gauntlet clutching a dead man's withered hand.
61-62	A jar of grease labeled "Manticore Marrow" (excellent for squeaky hinges).
63-64	An obsidian dagger shard; still incredibly sharp, but no hilt.
65-66	A tattered banner of a legion that vanished into the desert.
67-68	A small bellows made of dragonette-hide.
69-70	A pouch of salt mixed with powdered silver (repels minor spirits).
71-72	A stone gargoyle head that drips fresh water once per hour.
73-74	A pair of velvet slippers that grant +2 to move silently (but only once).
75-76	A copper bowl filled with "fools gold" pyrites.
77-78	A whistle made from a human femur; makes no sound to human ears.
79-80	A triptych painting of a volcano erupting over a jungle.
81-82	A belt made of interlocking bronze coins.
83-84	A jar of pickled eyeballs in brine.
85-86	A small lead box containing a single, perfectly preserved black rose.
87-88	A heavy iron shield with a massive bite mark taken out of the side.
89-90	A collection of glass marbles, each containing a tiny, dead insect.
91-92	A whetstone that sparks red when used.
93-94	A silver tooth found in a pile of ash.
95-96	A candle made of black wax that burns with a silent flame.
97-98	A bronze disk etched with the constellations of a different world.
99-00	A small, locked iron box containing a single, beating clockwork heart.

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How to use these in C&C

• CL (Challenge Level): If a player wants to identify the origin of a weird item (like the spider god statue), have them roll an Intelligence check (or Wisdom for Clerics) with a CL based on the item's obscurity (usually CL 2-5).

• Flavor over Mechanics: Most of these items are "clutter" that sells for $1d6$ silver or gold, but they provide hooks for your players to ask questions about the world's lore.
  

  In a Sword & Sorcery wilderness, the environment is often as hostile as the monsters. These encounters for Castles & Crusades focus on ancient ruins, desperate survivors, and the looming presence of forgotten sorcery.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Roll $1d100$ when the party travels through the wastes, jungles, or jagged peaks.

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  D100 Sword & Sorcery Wilderness Encounters

  Roll	Encounter Description
  01-02	A lone, scarred elephant trumpeting over the corpse of its mate.
  03-04	$1d6$ starving bandits with rusted spears; they offer to trade info for water.
  05-06	An ancient monolith that hums at a frequency that makes ears bleed.
  07-08	A merchant caravan of giant lizards carrying salt and silk.
  09-10	A sudden sandstorm/mist reveals the ruins of a city not on any map.
  11-12	A dying messenger clutching a tube with a coded scroll.
  13-14	$2d4$ hyenas trailing the party, waiting for a moment of weakness.
  15-16	A vast pit filled with the bleached bones of a prehistoric beast.
  17-18	A hermit living in a hollowed-out tree who claims to speak to the wind.
  19-20	$1d4$ Giant Vultures circling overhead; they follow the party for days.
  21-22	A pristine oasis, but the water turns to bitter gall if taken away.
  23-24	A field of statues—warriors frozen in expressions of pure terror.
  25-26	A group of $1d10$ pilgrims flagellating themselves to ward off a plague.
  27-28	A sinkhole opens; a successful DEX save avoids a 20ft fall into a grotto.
  29-30	An abandoned campsite with a half-cooked meal still on the fire.
  31-32	A thicket of "Laughing Briars" that emit human-like giggles when brushed.
  33-34	$1d6$ Ape-men wielding stone clubs, protecting a sacred boundary.
  35-36	A roadside shrine where travelers must leave blood or be cursed.
  37-38	A massive, rusted iron sword (20ft long) plunged into the earth.
  39-40	$1d3$ bounty hunters tracking a criminal who looks exactly like a PC.
  41-42	A river that flows uphill for exactly one mile.
  43-44	$2d6$ nomads on horseback; they are hospitable but demand a duel of honor.
  45-46	A tree hung with $1d12$ silver bells that ring when spirits are near.
  47-48	A scorched patch of earth where a star fell from the sky last night.
  49-50	$1d4$ Giant Spiders descending from the canopy or out of a ravine.
  51-52	A thick, purple haze that causes mild hallucinations (CL 2 Wisdom save).
  53-54	A ruined tower where a mad sorcerer's ghost still calls for his tea.
  55-56	A pack of $2d4$ wolves led by a dire wolf with glowing amber eyes.
  57-58	A wandering beggar who offers a "true prophecy" for a single gold coin.
  59-60	A bridge made of massive dragon ribs spanning a deep chasm.
  61-62	$1d6$ escaped galley slaves wearing broken chains.
  63-64	A rain of frogs or insects that lasts for $1d10$ minutes.
  65-66	A circle of standing stones that teleports the party $1d6$ miles off course.
  67-68	$1d4$ Lion-men (werelions) stalking the party from the tall grass.
  69-70	A crashed sky-chariot made of bronze and strange green glass.
  71-72	A waterfall that flows with wine for one hour every full moon.
  73-74	$1d8$ skeletons in rusted bronze armor, marching to an ancient war.
  75-76	A patch of "Yellow Mold" disguised as autumn leaves.
  77-78	A knight in black plate armor challenging all who pass the road.
  79-80	A massive stone head half-buried in the sand, weeping oil.
  81-82	$1d3$ Harpies nesting in the cliffs above the trail.
  83-84	A caravan of lepers seeking a legendary healing spring.
  85-86	$1d6$ cultists transporting a heavy, locked sarcophagus.
  87-88	A sudden forest fire or flash flood (CL 4 DEX/CON check).
  89-90	A giant, 50ft long snake skin draped over a rock formation.
  91-92	A group of $1d4$ "Lotophagoi" (Lotus-eaters) who have forgotten their names.
  93-94	A hidden valley where dinosaurs (or "Thunder Lizards") still roam.
  95-96	A portal that flickers open for 30 seconds, showing a cosmic void.
  97-98	A dying god-king on a litter, carried by his last two loyal eunuchs.
  99-00	A shimmering "Mirage City" that is actually solid for $1d4$ hours.

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  Running the Wilderness in C&C

  • Attribute Checks: Use Strength or Constitution checks for forced marches through harsh terrain, and Survival (Wisdom) checks to avoid getting lost or finding food.

  • The "Grim" Factor: In Sword & Sorcery, magic is often a sign of corruption. If the party encounters a magical phenomenon (like the purple haze or the whispering stones), consider giving characters with Prime Wisdom or Intelligence a chance to sense the "wrongness" of the area.

In a Sword & Sorcery world, alchemy isn't a clean science—it is a volatile mix of proto-chemistry, astrological timing, and blood-sacrifice. These failures and encounters are perfect for Castles & Crusades when a Wizard fumbles a spell, a character drinks an unidentified potion, or the party stumbles into a sorcerer’s laboratory.

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D100 Alchemical Failures & Weird Encounters

Roll	Result or Encounter Description
01-02	The liquid turns into a swarm of $2d10$ non-biting but distracting gnats.
03-04	A cloud of "Heavy Smoke" fills the room; it settles on the floor like lead.
05-06	The drinker’s skin turns a vibrant, metallic copper for $1d4$ days.
07-08	The potion becomes a sentient, jelly-like cube that tries to crawl away.
09-10	A burst of "False Gold" dust; looks real, but dissolves in $1d6$ hours.
11-12	The character’s hair grows 3 feet instantly and becomes brittle like straw.
13-14	An explosion of "Silent Light"—blinds everyone for $1d4$ rounds (CL 3 Dex save).
15-16	The liquid turns into a highly corrosive acid that eats through the glass vial.
17-18	The drinker can only speak in a forgotten, ancient tongue for $1 hour$.
19-20	A localized gravity shift; all loose items in the room drift to the ceiling.
21-22	The potion tastes like "Regret" and imposes a -2 penalty to the next Charisma check.
23-24	The character’s shadow detaches and stands still for $1d10$ minutes.
25-26	A vial of "Bottled Scream" that releases a deafening shriek when opened.
27-28	The drinker’s eyes turn into solid black obsidian (cannot see in bright light).
29-30	The brew becomes a potent magnet, dragging all nearby iron toward the flask.
31-32	$1d4$ "Homunculi" with the character's face sprout from the spilled liquid.
33-34	The liquid turns into a fine silk ribbon, 50 feet long.
35-36	The character smells like rotting jasmine, attracting insects from miles away.
37-38	A cloud of "Amnesia Gas" (CL 4 Int save or forget the last 10 minutes).
39-40	The potion turns into a single, perfectly cut, but worthless glass diamond.
41-42	The drinker becomes light as a feather, but can be blown away by a stiff breeze.
43-44	The mixture becomes "Living Ink" that crawls onto the nearest person as a tattoo.
45-46	A blast of cold that freezes the character's feet to the floor ($1d4$ damage).
47-48	The character's sweat becomes flammable for the next $2d6$ hours.
49-50	A "Time Pocket": everything inside a 10ft radius slows down by half.
51-52	The potion induces "Glass Bones": -4 to Con checks against physical trauma.
53-54	The liquid turns into a gas that makes everyone sound like they are underwater.
55-56	The character grows a third eye on their palm that sees into the Ethereal Plane.
57-58	The concoction becomes a "Solvent of Everything"—it eats a hole to the floor below.
59-60	The drinker’s teeth turn into pearls (worth 10gp each, but painful to lose).
61-62	A "Hungry Vapor" that leeches the color out of all clothing and tapestries.
63-64	The character’s footprints glow with blue fire for the next mile.
65-66	The potion becomes a "Liquefied Ghost"—it moans when the bottle is shaken.
67-68	The character gains the ability to breathe fire, but only once and it hurts ($1d6$ dmg).
69-70	A "Stasis Bubble": the character is paralyzed in a crystal shell for $1d4$ turns.
71-72	The liquid turns into a handful of "Sorrow-Berries" (induce weeping).
73-74	The character’s reflection in mirrors begins to act independently.
75-76	A "Rust Mist" that instantly corrodes $1d4$ non-magical metal items.
77-78	The drinker’s skin becomes translucent; muscles and bones are visible.
79-80	The potion becomes "Liquid Night"—it absorbs all light in a 20ft radius.
81-82	The character grows a pair of useless, leathery bat wings for $2d12$ hours.
83-84	A "Mental Feedback" burst; the character hears everyone's surface thoughts.
85-86	The liquid turns into a small, angry viper.
87-88	The character’s voice becomes a deep, booming bass that shakes glass.
89-90	The potion induces "Antipathy to Gold"—the character cannot touch coins.
91-92	A "Vortex of Negation" that dispels the next spell cast nearby.
93-94	The character shrinks to 6 inches tall for $1d10$ minutes.
95-96	The liquid turns into "God-Blood" (heals all HP, but causes $1d6$ permanent Insanity).
97-98	A "Spark of Life": an inanimate object in the room becomes sentient.
99-00	The mixture creates a tiny, stable wormhole to a random plane of existence.

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Integrating Failure in Castles & Crusades

• The "Taint" of Magic: In Sword & Sorcery, magic is often dangerous to the caster. If a Wizard rolls a natural 1 on a spell check or an Alchemy check, roll on this table instead of a standard "fizzle."

• Primes and Saves: If an effect requires a save, use the Challenge Level (CL) listed. Characters with Intelligence or Wisdom as a Prime attribute will have a much better chance of resisting the more "mutative" effects of these failures.

In the pulp tradition of Castles & Crusades, the Black Lotus is the ultimate double-edged sword: a source of forbidden cosmic insight, terrifying hallucinations, and physical ruin. It is rarely a simple "potion"; it is usually inhaled as smoke, ingested as a resin, or dissolved into wine.

When a character uses the Black Lotus, they must make a Constitution Save (CL 5). If they fail, they are incapacitated by visions for $1d4$ hours. Regardless of the save, roll $1d100$ for a side effect.

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D100 Side Effects of the Black Lotus

Roll	Side Effect Description
01-02	Astral Echo: You see your own body from 10 feet away for the next hour.
03-04	The Thirst: Water tastes like ash; only wine or blood can quench your thirst.
05-06	Numbness: You lose all sense of pain. You don't know your HP total until the effect ends.
07-08	Withered Limb: Your dominant arm shrivels and becomes useless for $1d6$ hours.
09-10	Cosmic Tongue: You speak in a resonant, booming voice that can be heard for a mile.
11-12	Petal Veins: Black, vine-like patterns appear under your skin.
13-14	Time Dilation: You react to everything 1 round late, but gain a +4 to AC as you "see" hits coming.
15-16	The Void Eye: One pupil grows to cover the entire iris; you can see in total darkness.
17-18	Hyperosmia: You can smell emotions (fear smells like ozone, greed like wet copper).
19-20	Weightlessness: Your feet barely touch the ground; you can walk on water or snow.
21-22	Memory Leak: You forget your own name, but gain the memories of a dead sorcerer.
23-24	Shadow Bleed: Your shadow begins to pool around your feet like spilled ink.
25-26	Unstoppable Glee: You cannot stop laughing, even in the heat of battle.
27-28	Cold Blood: Your body temperature drops; you are immune to heat but take double cold damage.
29-30	The Black Cough: You cough up charcoal-like dust; -2 to Constitution for $24$ hours.
31-32	Ghost Touch: You can touch incorporeal spirits, but they can also touch you.
33-34	Synesthesia: You "hear" colors and "see" sounds. -2 to all Dexterity checks.
35-36	Ancestral Possession: An ancestor speaks through you, demanding you avenge an old slight.
37-38	Iron Flesh: Your skin becomes as hard as plate armor, but you move at half speed.
39-40	The Doom Mark: A black lotus blossom tattoo appears on your forehead.
41-42	Floral Breath: Your breath smells so sweetly of lotus that it attracts $1d6$ giant bees/wasps.
43-44	Mental Static: You are immune to charms, but cannot cast spells for $1d4$ hours.
45-46	Rapid Aging: You physically age $1d10$ years in a matter of seconds.
47-48	Third Ear: You can hear the surface thoughts of animals within 30 feet.
49-50	Obsession: You become fixated on the first shiny object you see.
51-52	Bleeding Pores: You sweat beads of dark, viscous wine.
53-54	Phasing: You occasionally flicker out of existence. 25% chance attacks pass through you.
55-56	Magnetism: Small metal objects (coins, daggers) slowly drift toward you.
57-58	The Shakes: Permanent -1 to Dexterity until a Remove Curse is cast.
59-60	Precognition: You gain a +5 bonus to your next Initiative roll, then the vision fades.
61-62	Scale Growth: Hard, black scales grow on your neck and shoulders.
63-64	Telepathic Scream: When you take damage, everyone within 50 feet feels the pain.
65-66	Solar Allergy: Sunlight deals 1 damage per turn; you crave the darkness.
67-68	Inverse Gravity: For $1d6$ rounds, you fall "up" toward the sky/ceiling.
69-70	The Hunger: You must consume twice your weight in food over the next 24 hours.
71-72	Star-Sight: You can see the stars through the ceiling/ground, even in daylight.
73-74	Verbal Blight: Every time you speak, a small flower withers and dies nearby.
75-76	Mercury Blood: Your blood turns silver and becomes highly toxic to others.
77-78	Dream Walk: You fall asleep instantly but can travel in spirit form for $1d10$ minutes.
79-80	The Crow’s Call: Birds follow you everywhere, watching and waiting.
81-82	Glass Teeth: Your teeth turn to crystal; they are sharp (+1 bite) but fragile.
83-84	Aura of Dread: Animals and hirelings must make a Morale check to stay near you.
85-86	Translucent Skin: Your internal organs are visible through your chest.
87-88	Pyrophilia: You find fire incredibly beautiful and refuse to extinguish any flame.
89-90	Leaden Tongue: You cannot speak, only grunt or whistle.
91-92	The Maw: A second mouth opens on your palm; it demands to be fed gold.
93-94	Ethereal Scent: You smell of "Home" to everyone who meets you (+2 Charisma).
95-96	Warped Space: Distances are deceptive; you think things are closer than they are.
97-98	Great Insight: You gain $1d10 \times 100$ XP, but lose $1d4$ permanent Constitution.
99-00	Ascension: You vanish for $1d4$ days, returning with no memory and a new Prime attribute.

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Mechanics for the Castle Keeper (CK)

• Addiction: If a player uses the Black Lotus more than once in a week, the CL for the saving throw increases by +2 for each subsequent use.

• The "High": While under the influence, a character might gain a +2 to all Mental Primes (Int, Wis, Cha) but a -4 to all Physical Primes (Str, Dex, Con).

In the world of Castles & Crusades, Forbidden Spells are not merely higher-level magic; they are "wrong" spells—incantations that violate the laws of nature, sanity, or the gods. These are best used as unique scrolls, ancient wall carvings, or mental transmissions from outer-dark entities.

Using a Forbidden Spell usually requires a Constitution or Wisdom Save (CL = Spell Level + 5) to avoid gaining a point of Taint or Insanity.

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D100 Table of Forbidden Spells

Roll	Spell Name	Effect Description
01-02	Amniotic Cocoon	Encases a target in a translucent sac that regresses them to an infant.
03-04	Bile of the Sun	Caster vomits a stream of liquid light that melts stone and flesh ($3d10$ dmg).
05-06	Call the Carrion King	Summons a massive, sentient swarm of flies that answer one question.
07-08	Dance of the Flayed	Animates the skins of the dead to fight as $1d6$ Shadows.
09-10	Ego Devourer	Target loses all class abilities and becomes a mindless thrall for $1d4$ hours.
11-12	Flesh-to-Salt	Target is instantly dehydrated into a pillar of brine.
13-14	Grip of the Void	A black hand emerges from the caster’s chest to crush a foe’s heart.
15-16	Harvest of Teeth	Target's teeth fall out and grow into $1d12$ tiny, biting bone-golems.
17-18	Infectious Insanity	A madness that spreads via eye contact from the victim to others.
19-20	Jungle of the Gut	Vines and thorns erupt from the target's stomach, rooting them to the spot.
21-22	Kiss of the Succubus	Drain $1d4$ levels; caster regains all lost HP.
23-24	Lament of the Lost	A sound that causes listeners to wander toward the nearest body of water to drown.
25-26	Mirror of Malice	Captures the target’s soul in their own reflection; the body becomes a statue.
27-28	Necrotic Transfusion	Transfer $1d8$ HP from the caster to a dead body to make it speak for 1 minute.
29-30	Oracle of Entrails	Pull out your own intestines to see the future (+5 to all rolls for 1 turn).
31-32	Parasitic Puppet	Plant a seed in a sleeping target; you can control their body the next day.
33-34	Quicksilver Blood	Caster’s blood becomes toxic mercury; any weapon hitting them is corroded.
35-36	Rain of Thorns	Sky rains black glass shards in a 50ft radius ($5d6$ dmg).
37-38	Scream of the Banshee	A 30ft cone of sonic death; targets must save vs. Death or die.
39-40	Tongue of the Serpent	Caster can command any reptile or dragon with a single word.
41-42	Umbral Umbilicus	Attach your shadow to another’s; they take half of any damage you receive.
43-44	Vitreous Humors	Target’s eyes turn to liquid, causing permanent blindness.
45-46	Whirlwind of Whispers	Creates a localized storm that reveals the deepest secrets of all inside.
47-48	Xenoglossy	You speak the language of the Great Old Ones; listeners’ heads may explode.
49-50	Yellow Sign Projection	An image that causes permanent paralysis to anyone who views it.
51-52	Zygote of Chaos	Implants a chaotic egg in the earth; it hatches into a random monster in $1d6$ days.
53-54	Agony of the Earth	Causes the ground to chew and grind anyone standing on it.
55-56	Blood-to-Wine	Turns a victim’s blood into intoxicating wine; they die in a state of euphoria.
57-58	Crystalline Curse	Target slowly turns to quartz over $1d6$ turns.
59-60	Dirge of Disintegration	Softly sung melody that causes non-magical metal to turn to dust.
61-62	Eclipse of the Mind	Plunges a target into a world of total sensory deprivation for $1d10$ rounds.
63-64	Feast of the Ghoul	Caster eats a portion of a corpse to gain the memories and skills of the dead.
65-66	Gravity’s Grave	Multiplies gravity by 10x in a 10ft square; armor becomes a crushing prison.
67-68	Haze of Horror	A fog that manifests the viewer's worst fear as a physical entity.
69-70	Internal Combustion	Increases target's body heat until they burst into blue flames.
71-72	Jericho’s Wail	A shout that collapses all non-magical structures in a 100ft radius.
73-74	Knot of Flesh	Bonds two living creatures together into one screaming, multi-limbed mass.
75-76	Liquefy Bone	Target's skeleton turns to jelly; they become a heap of living meat.
77-78	Mantle of Shadows	Caster becomes invisible to everyone except those about to die.
79-80	Nightmare Nursery	Turns a target’s dreams into a physical plague that infects a city.
81-82	Ooze Morphosis	Caster turns into a Black Pudding for $1d10$ rounds.
83-84	Pillar of Salt	(Same as 11-12, but affects everyone in a 30ft line).
85-86	Quaking Earth	Opens a fissure that leads directly to "The Underworld."
87-88	Rotting Touch	Caster’s hand causes $1d4$ points of permanent Strength drain.
89-90	Star-Cold Chill	Deals $6d6$ cold damage; fire cannot be lit in the area for 24 hours.
91-92	Transubstantiation	Caster swaps bodies with the target permanently (save at -4).
93-94	Unbinding the Soul	Forces a spirit out of its body; the body remains a healthy, empty husk.
95-96	Void Bolt	A missile that removes the hit body part from existence (no save).
97-98	Wrath of the Ancestors	Summons $10d10$ spirits to ravage a battlefield; kills friend and foe.
99-00	The Ultimate Word	Kills the caster and everyone within 500 feet. No exceptions.

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Spellcasting Costs

In a Sword & Sorcery campaign, casting these shouldn't just cost a spell slot. Consider these costs:

• Blood Price: The caster must take $1d4$ damage per spell level to fuel the energy.

• Sanity Check: Roll a Wisdom save; on a failure, the caster gains a temporary "Phobia" or "Delusion."

• The Calling: Casting forbidden magic has a 10% chance to attract a Dimensional Shambler or Astral Predator.