Mostly Harmless Meetings, by Dan Sumption

Mostly Harmless Meetings is a collection of 100 fantasy vignettes inspired by English folklore, wildlife, and the quiet strangeness of the countryside.

Designed for roleplaying games, but just as enjoyable to read, these encounters offer non-violent, story-rich moments featuring everything from gossiping fleas and portentous magpies to eerie hawthorn trees studded with ancient coins. There are no orcs, no treasure chests, no battle fodder – only strange creatures, curious landscapes, and encounters that invite improvisation, mystery, and wonder.

Each entry is a fragment of a tale, a puzzle, or a moment of uncanny beauty:

🦉 A lovelorn owl hunts for her feather-caped soulmate.

🐸 Frog aristocrats feud over their singing voices.

🐟 A pike buried head-first in the ground raises more questions than it answers.

🪱 A hidden trove of glow-worms flickers in the dark.

🐇 A hare bleeds more than it should.

🐦 A nightingale sings with a siren’s voice.

System-agnostic and rich in folklore, nature, and quiet oddity, this book is perfect for GMs looking to breathe life into their worlds, offering encounters that lead to stories rather than swordfights.

Key Features

• System-neutral – No stats, just storytelling prompts adaptable to any RPG.

• Inspired by folklore & nature – Talking animals, old superstitions, and landscapes full of secrets.

• Encourages curiosity over combat – More likely to gain a talking pet mouse than a +1 sword.

• Designed for improvisation – Use as written, tweak to fit your game, or roll again for something new.

For those who love the eerie, the poetic, and the peculiar, Mostly Harmless Meetings offers a countryside that never quite existed—but always felt like it might.

"Borgesian" - James Burt