The one classic D&D experience that was still missing from the story I was trying to share, was the hex crawl. That often overlooked and underutilized game within a game of overland travel, discovery, and survival.
Honestly, I think I probably have a multi part rhyme in me just about the hex crawl, but that will have to wait for another day. For the purpose of our story, I needed to get our hero out into the world, and away from the safety of the town and the tavern. The adventure is out there, across the horizon, where anything is possible.
This expedition needed at least one encounter along the way. What better encounter than the classic bridge troll.
In my world trolls are all about rhymes and riddles. …and eating humans.