Still thinking about this thread (//%22http://www.efupw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90937%22)...
And after reading this
QuoteWill-o’-wisps are evil creatures that feed on the powerful emotions associated with panic, horror, and death. They delight in luring travelers into deadly peril, then absorbing the resulting emanations.
(...)
Will-o’-wisps speak Common and Auran. They have no vocal apparatus but can vibrate to create a voice with a ghostly sound.
-- Monster Manual
... I came up with the idea of monsters actually busy into luring travelers into dangerous (and sometimes not that dangerous) perils instead of just trying to jump on them and attacking.
We got those misty images that speak messages when travelers come by already. I was thinking of using their system for this, just randomizing the place they pop out and the emotes/words used by them.
For instance...
A SCREAMING voice comes out from a nearby bush: "HELP... PLE-P-PLEASE... HELP M-ME!" When the adventurer walks towards it, he notices to
[LIST=1]
- be walking upon quicksand
- have been awakened a death mushroom
- be falling into a hole with no exit back, only forward
- be mistaken
- actually find a lost child that needs help into finding a safe place
- etc.
Another option would be a voice that actually tells them TO NOT COME (now, that would make adventurers even more interested, right?). Together with the voice one might find out
[LIST=1]
- a visage of themselves
- a will-o'wisp
- a glowing light
- a pixie
- a Hag
- a ghost
- a spot of utter darkness
- a grue
- a myconid
- etc.