Subplots, Quirks and etc.

Not sure if this is a line, or a sub plot, but offered up: "smuggle the chess set". Somehow, smuggling a chess set must be an integral part of a subplot, and somewhere, a character must come up with a non-incongruous way to talk about smuggling a chess set. Hope this provides something entertaining!
A pet! A starving animal shows up at your character's front door. How do they react? With kindness? With cruelty? Maybe the animal's not a cat or a dog...
Hates dogs.
Is scared of blood

Afraid of frogs.

A major flu/viral outbreak strikes the town/city. This could result in anything from half the main cast being too sick to function for a few days to an "end of the world as you know it" scenario.

Hates cats. (my inner child just died DD:)
The MC has in irrational fear of horses.