What could attract the attention of hostile creatures? [closed]

Question

So in my game of D&D 4e, the PCs are going to travel through the woods and the swamps, and an idea I have for this section, is that there's a type of creature in there that is more agressive than usual at this time of the year (either it is mating season, or they got driven mad due to the magic that is currently going throughout the place, I'll see). So there are going to be more risks for the PCs.

I want to specify: the creatures are not HYPER-agressive to the point where every single step taken by a PC puts them in mortal danger. It would still be possible to go through the woods and swamps and avoiding those creatures, but it would be more difficult.

Now, something I wonder is: what could attract the creatures towards the player characters? A very classic example would be shiny objects. Another example could be overreliance on arcane magic. Maybe magic could disturb them and make them more agressive. Or maybe a specific type of sound. In all cases, it needs to be something that the players can have an influence upon.

I have also planned a side quest that the players can choose to do if they want to get a guide. A guide would then help them avoid the creatures the best he can. And basically, I wanted the adventure to be tougher for them without that guide, and easier with the guide (it would still be possible to attract the attention of the creatures even with the guide, however. It's just that the risk would be decreased).

Any ideas would be welcome.

Answer 1

Animals ususally attack due to fear, hunger, aggression or to protect their young or territory

Of course you can come up with other reasons in a magical world, but essentially these are the normal reasons animals attack:

• The first and primary reason is fear. This may be caused by being surprised, being approached too closely, due to noise, or if they are hurt or ill. Cape Buffaloes are a classic example for this. So if the party is not careful about where they move, and keep their distance, they may trigger attacks. A guide can warn against this.

• The second is for food. Bears for example are sometimes attracted to food, which may lead to a dangerous encounter. If the PCs are not careful with their camp sites, and are cooking, it could increase the chances of an attack. A guide again can warn against this.

• The third reason is aggression. Male elephants in season exhibit "musth". They become sexually hyperactive and show excessive aggression. This seems closest to what you have in mind. The best way to counter this is likely to avoid encountering them, or attracting them, which would mean moving stealthily, and avoiding their stomping grounds -- a guide could help a lot with either.

• The last is protection. Hippos for example are territorial, and will attack deliberately if you get too close. Similarly, many animals will protect their young, and will attack you to scare you off. For the game, both of these are related: if the PCs get too close to the wrong territory or the young, they may be attacked. A guide could help to avoid this, knowing where the animals are encountered; or skill checks in a survival skill could also help.