The oracle that knows a guy that actually knows the answer

Oracles always seem to know stuff, but give so vague answers, you just leave them wishing you'd punch them instead.

So instead of having the oracle give open-ended answers, make them always answer with a name of someone who knows.

And not like, "Oh you wish to know where the lost treasures of the reptilian conquerors are? You should ask a man with a hat about that", but rather, "Oh you wish to know where the lost treasures of the reptilian conquerors are? You should ask Johann van der Bajskorv the Third."

This person MUST know the answer, otherwise this whole thing falls apart. But there's nothing saying that they are willing to tell the answer, or are even alive.

And remember: these oracles always just answers with specific names, e.g. not where they are. That requires another question - which will be answered with...another name.

"But where can we find Johann van der Bajskorv the Third?"

"Oh you wish to know where to find Johann van der Bajskorv the Third? You should ask Little Unwin Binwin Simsalabim."

And so on.

Try it! I haven't!

Classic painting of Johann van der Bajskorv the Third, sporting his ermine short fur coat,
and hanging around his neck, "an ultra-magic" necklace (his own words).

Plate 28 from "A celestial atlas" as a generic die drop table

Source: Wikipedia

Print out the above on a oversized paper, and drop dice on it to create a random encounter.

E.g. drop three die and use one to determine the monster/creature, one to determine weapon, and the last to determine weakness/weak spot on body.

Or instead of dice: put it on the wall and throw dart! Or dip your dice in paint and throw those instead on the wall.

Anyway, you could put a meaning to different dice and drop those on the atlas above and interpret the results and be very happy according to this table:

1d4: Major feature of monster (e.g. drops on wing = flight)

1d6: Minor feature of monster

1d8: Weakness

1d10: Desire/motivation

1d12: Number of lines touching underneath = hit die

1d20: Last kill was this

And - AND! - the creature's reaction towards the party is based on the total number of even/odd dice; more even dice = happy creature, more odd = not happy.

Walking trumpet pitcher

 

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