Here are 12 different hooks that can be used to develop adventures. Some are intended to not be much more than a single encounter, whilst others will serve for a more traditional adventure. Each is described in a similar way, with suggestions as to relevant places to have the adventure or encounter, its goal and difficulties characters may face.
Beast Hunters
Location: A farming village
Goal: Livestock are being killed by some sort of beast and if it isn’t dealt with soon, the village will be in serious trouble
Obstacle: There is a beast attacking the livestock, but a group of bandits are using its attacks as cover for a bit of rustling
Duel to the Death
Location: Duelling Arena
Goal: To be victorious in a duel
Obstacle: The opposing duellist is both talented and a cheat
If You Go Down to the Woods…
Location: Old Growth Woods
Goal: To find out why people have been disappearing in the forest
Obstacle: Spirits of the woods who have been angered by excessive logging and mistreatment of their home, and will not tolerate any more
In Search of Elemental Ice
Location: Plane of Water
Goal: To recover some rare elemental ice for a wizard and return with it
Obstacle: Elemental creatures, lack of air and unusual cold
Quest for the Flame Crystal
Location: Plane of Fire
Goal: Gain rare elemental crystals
Obstacle: Ifrit who don’t like people plundering their home
River Passage
Location: A large, but unnavigable, river
Goal: To help turn the river into a usable transport route for merchants by clearing away obstructions and removing any dangerous creatures
Obstacle: Caravan owners who currently have a monopoly on trade in the area will do anything to stop the river being cleared
Seeking a Fight
Location: Tavern
Goal: Avoid getting into a duel
Obstacle: An angry noble customer is determined to provoke a duel
The Duellist’s Sword
Location: Tomb
Goal: To find the sword that belonged to the legendary duellist whose tomb this was
Obstacle: The duellist is undead and still wields their sword
The Missing
Location: Thick Jungle
Goal: To find a missing party of explorers and bring them home safely
Obstacle: Those who live in the jungle do not like outlanders
The Trade Route
Locations: Desert
Goal: To map out a new caravan route across the desert and find oases to support it
Obstacle: The hostile environment and bands of marauders
Thieves in the Night
Location: A sizeable city
Goal: To stop a group of thieves who are stealing things from supposedly secure locations
Obstacle: The thieves have the ability to fly, getting in through the upper parts of a building and escaping pursuers that way
Urban Cleaning
Location: A corrupt town
Goal: To aid in the removal of the corrupt influences on the town’s government, from thieves to wealthy merchants
Obstacle: Those behind the corruption are rich, powerful, dangerous or a combination of all three and have no interest in losing their grip