Events & Random Encounters
November 21, 2025
Explanation of random events and how choices affect outcomes.
Events & Random Encounters
In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, the world is alive and constantly moving. While you pursue your grand goals of conquest or trade, you will frequently face Events and Random Encounters that demand your immediate attention. These moments can be simple nuisances or pivotal opportunities to gain wealth, influence, and powerful allies.
Financial decisions often drive your choices in random encounters.
Town & Village Incidents
When you visit settlements, you may notice a blue exclamation mark indicating an active Issue or dispute. These are procedurally generated events that test your skills and decision-making.
Notable Disputes
Common disputes include Family Feuds, Grazing Rights, or Landlord Access.
The Choice: You usually have to pick a side between two notables (e.g., a Merchant vs. a Gang Leader). Siding with one improves relations with them but harms relations with the other.
The Solution: High Charm or specific skills like Roguery can sometimes allow you to negotiate a peaceful resolution, gaining rewards from both sides without making enemies.
Impact: Reputation & Relations are crucial for recruiting higher-tier troops. Ignoring these disputes can lead to lower security or prosperity for the fief.
Criminal Encounters
In towns, you might encounter Rival Gang disputes. Helping a gang leader can yield high financial rewards but lowers your standing with the town's merchants and honest authorities. This plays heavily into a Crime & Roguery Playstyle.
Map Encounters
As you travel across Calradia, the map itself will throw challenges at you.
Travel is dangerous; keep your eyes on the horizon for opportunities and threats.
Ambushes & Raids
Bandit Ambushes: While traveling through dense forests or narrow passes, you may be ambushed by Bandit Factions. Speed and scouting are your best defenses here.
Caravan Escorts: You may see a caravan under attack. Jumping in to save them can grant a massive relation boost with the caravan owner's clan and significant loot.
Wanderers in Taverns
Taverns are hubs for Wanderers—potential companions with unique backstories and skills. While not "random" in the sense of an event popping up, the pool of wanderers is randomized each game. Meeting them is a key part of building your clan.
See also: Companions & Wanderers Guide
Kingdom Decisions
If you are part of a kingdom, you will frequently be interrupted by Voting Sessions.
Policy Votes: Decide on laws that affect Diplomacy & Influence.
Fief Ownership: When a town is captured, you may have 24-48 hours to vote on the new owner.
War & Peace: The ruler may call for a vote to declare war.
These events require Influence to participate. Ignoring them defaults to the majority, which might not be in your favor.
A wanderer or warrior you might face in your travels.
Strategy for Encounters
Weigh the Costs: Is the 500 denar reward worth losing 10 relation with a powerful noble? Usually, relations are harder to earn than gold.
Check Your Skills: Don't take a "Training Troops" quest if you don't have the Leadership or patience to complete it. Failure often carries a penalty.
Stay Solvent: Early game encounters are great for Economy & Trade Basics. Late game, they are tools for political maneuvering.
Summary
Random encounters breathe life into the sandbox. Whether resolving a petty squabble in a village or voting on the fate of a city, your choices define your character's legacy.