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Here are 100 close to canon adventure hooks sorted by level. Each is tied directly to a published D&D adventure. These are original hooks, but every single one is anchored to a real, published module, location, NPC, monster, or event from official D&D adventures (5e, 4e, 3e, 2e).
For Levels 1 to 4
(Tied to: Lost Mine of Phandelver, Dragon of Icespire Peak, Dragon Heist, Essentials Kit, Sunless Citadel, Forge of Fury, Saltmarsh, etc.)
A Redbrand survivor from LMoP resurfaces in Waterdeep seeking revenge.
A white dragon from Dragon of Icespire Peak sends scouts toward Amphail.
A Zhent agent from Dragon Heist hires the party for a quiet retrieval.
A goblin tribe displaced by Sunless Citadel raids a trade road.
A cultist from Princes of the Apocalypse flees into Waterdeep’s sewers.
A missing shipment from Saltmarsh arrives in Waterdeep with undead aboard.
A dwarven prospector from Forge of Fury seeks help recovering a relic.
A wererat from Dragon Heist spreads a new strain of lycanthropy.
A kobold inventor from LMoP brings unstable devices into the city.
A druid from Sunless Citadel warns of blighted plants in the City of the Dead.
A cultist of Talos from Icespire Peak targets Waterdeep’s docks.
A noble’s heir is kidnapped by Xanathar agents (from Dragon Heist).
A goblin boss from Forge of Fury seeks new territory near Waterdeep.
A sahuagin scout from Ghosts of Saltmarsh infiltrates the harbor.
A cursed apple from Sunless Citadel appears in a Waterdeep market.
A Zhent splinter cell from Dragon Heist steals a magical stone.
A white dragon wyrmling (from Icespire Peak) claims a ruined tower.
A smuggler tied to Saltmarsh is found dead in the Dock Ward.
A cultist from Princes of the Apocalypse tries to recruit locals.
A goblin wolf‑rider from LMoP terrorizes a caravan route.
A mimic from Dungeon of the Mad Mage escapes into the city.
A wererat gang from Dragon Heist expands into the Trades Ward.
A dwarven relic from Forge of Fury appears in a pawn shop.
A sahuagin priest from Saltmarsh summons storms off the coast.
A blight druid from Sunless Citadel corrupts a Waterdeep garden.
For levels 5 to 10
(Tied to: Storm King’s Thunder, Out of the Abyss, Princes of the Apocalypse, Tomb of Annihilation, Curse of Strahd, Rime of the Frostmaiden, Tyranny of Dragons, etc.)
A giant envoy from Storm King’s Thunder demands tribute from a village.
A demon-tainted creature from Out of the Abyss surfaces near Waterdeep.
A cult of elemental fire from PotA infiltrates a guildhall.
A Chultan relic from Tomb of Annihilation spreads a wasting curse.
A Vistani scout from Curse of Strahd seeks help breaking a prophecy.
A frost druid from Rime of the Frostmaiden brings unnatural cold.
A dragon cultist from Tyranny of Dragons steals a noble’s treasure.
A hill giant from SKT raids a trade route.
A demon escapes from a portal tied to Out of the Abyss.
A water cultist from PotA poisons a city well.
A yuan‑ti agent from ToA infiltrates a merchant house.
A vampire spawn from CoS stalks Waterdeep’s alleys.
A frost giant scout from Rime hunts for magical artifacts.
A dragon cult cell from Hoard of the Dragon Queen resurfaces.
A stone giant from SKT seeks a stolen rune.
A myconid envoy from Out of the Abyss requests aid.
An earth cultist from PotA collapses a city street.
A Chultan undead from ToA washes ashore near Waterdeep.
A dusk elf from CoS seeks sanctuary.
A remorhaz egg from Rime is smuggled into the city.
A rogue dragonfang from Rise of Tiamat seeks a powerful gem.
A fire giant from SKT hunts for a stolen construct part.
A demon lord’s cultist from Out of the Abyss spreads madness.
A sky cultist from PotA steals a griffon from Mount Waterdeep.
A merchant from ToA brings a cursed artifact into the city.
For levels 11 to 16
(Tied to: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Descent Into Avernus, Storm King’s Thunder (upper tier), Out of the Abyss (late), Princes of the Apocalypse (late), Tomb of Annihilation (late), Rime of the Frostmaiden (late), etc.)
A lich from Dungeon of the Mad Mage sends agents to the surface.
A devil from Descent Into Avernus seeks a new contract in Waterdeep.
A storm giant oracle from SKT warns of a coming calamity.
A demon lord’s influence from Out of the Abyss spreads nightmares.
An elemental prince’s cult from PotA attempts a ritual in secret.
A soul‑bound artifact from ToA resurfaces in a noble vault.
A vampire lord from CoS sends a projection into Faerûn.
A frost maiden avatar from Rime chills an entire district.
A dragon speaker from Rise of Tiamat seeks an ancient rune.
A beholder lieutenant from Mad Mage escapes into the city.
A hell knight from Avernus hunts a fugitive soul.
A cloud giant from SKT demands a stolen heirloom.
A demon prince’s cult from OotA attempts a mass summoning.
A prophet of elemental fire from PotA seeks a mythic relic.
A Chultan undead tyrant from ToA awakens in the Mere of Dead Men.
A Strahd‑touched artifact from CoS corrupts its wielder.
A mythic frost creature from Rime freezes a caravan route.
A dracolich cult from Rise of Tiamat resurfaces.
A deep‑level monster from Mad Mage tunnels upward.
A chain devil from Avernus hunts escaped souls in Waterdeep.
A storm giant rune knight from SKT seeks mortal champions.
A demon‑tainted grove from OotA spreads corruption.
An elemental rift from PotA destabilizes near Waterdeep.
A soul‑eating curse from ToA infects a noble family.
A vampire envoy from CoS negotiates with Waterdeep’s elite.
For levels 17 to 20
(Tied to: Mad Mage (deep levels), Avernus (archdevils), Out of the Abyss (demon lords), Rise of Tiamat (Tiamat), Princes of the Apocalypse (Elemental Princes), Rime (Auril), ToA (Acererak), etc.)
A demon lord from Out of the Abyss manifests a partial avatar.
An archdevil from Avernus attempts to claim a Waterdhavian soul.
A deep Undermountain horror from Mad Mage breaches the surface.
An elemental prince from PotA sends heralds to Faerûn.
A dracolich tied to Rise of Tiamat seeks to ascend.
A frost goddess avatar from Rime freezes an entire region.
Acererak’s influence from ToA resurfaces in a new phylactery.
A mythic giant from SKT challenges the gods’ order.
A demon lord’s cult from OotA attempts a planar merger.
An archfiend from Avernus opens a gate beneath Waterdeep.
A mythic beholder from Mad Mage awakens in Skullport.
An elemental cataclysm from PotA threatens the Sword Coast.
A Chosen of Tiamat from Rise of Tiamat rallies dragonkind.
A divine winter storm from Rime engulfs the North.
A soul‑devouring construct from ToA reactivates.
A demon prince from OotA corrupts a major Waterdeep landmark.
A pit fiend general from Avernus seeks to conquer a mortal city.
A mythic Undermountain guardian from Mad Mage awakens.
An elemental titan from PotA rises from the earth.
A five‑headed omen from Rise of Tiamat appears in the sky.
A frost primordial from Rime stirs beneath the sea.
A soul‑storm from ToA sweeps across Faerûn.
A demon lord from OotA challenges a god’s avatar.
An archdevil from Avernus attempts to rewrite a contract binding Waterdeep.
Halaster Blackcloak himself (from Mad Mage) sets a new “game” in motion.
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