Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lanky Ogre Baggy Pants 05-31-07, 12:24 AM	I'm starting a game online and I need to provide the players with background for the city they are starting in. Here's what I have so far, but I'm not sure what else I should include. I am also giving them a list of notable NPCs who they may know already. The village of Doskog consists of approximately 225 people. Nearby is the elven town of Sethmay, of approximately 150. The mayor of Doskog is a hidebound, tradition loving, old man by the name of Trevenn Garlnun. His ancestors were once great warriors who helped settle this land and arrange peaceful relations with the elves of Sethmay. Garlnun shows none of the warrior spirit of his ancestors. He has ruthlessly saved every copper piece bequeathed by his father and has his fingers in dozens of minor trades that come through Doskog. Many of the villagers keep rothe herds or farm potatoes and a few help harves lumbar from th High Forest for shipment to the rest of the world. The village has survived for over a thousand years, nestled discretely in the eaves of the High Forest. It sits on a small trade road that is mostly unused, though a few merchants travel through every year, mostly for the unique lumbar that the elves of Sethmay allow the humans to harvest. Just as his father before him, Garlnun worships Lathander and a respectable shrine and church has grown up following the Morning Lord. Isaac Uth'Grenning is a young, but inspiring paladin of Lathander and leads the church as a whole. He is also the only one to regularly stand up to Trevenn and therefore is well liked by the general populace. He is insufferably officious, but that is more respected than Trevenn's hidebound and money-scheming ways. About two months ago strange sounds and lights were reported around the small graveyard where villagers, rich and poor alike, are buried. The few late night villagers to approach the graveyard saw something shadowy before being overcome with fear and running away. As of yet nobody has any idea what may be haunting the graveyard. Trevenn is unwilling to listen to the superstitious nonsense of the villagers, and therefore will not allow any of the guard to spend their time looking in to it. Isaac and the Lathanderites so far have not shown a great deal of interest, though there are rumors that Isaac does plan to do something.
GoriceXII 05-31-07, 02:25 PM	That sounds pretty good so far. I assume that if they asked for rumors or local legends you have some answers ready? In particular about any unusual deaths, battles etc that might relate to the graveyard? If they ask why the paladin is not investigating something that may involve evil dead or something do you have a response for that? Does he have to deal with a lot of hoaxes?
Aneutralshadeofblack 05-31-07, 02:33 PM	The village has survived for over a thousand years Bloody hell, that's a long-lasting village. It has to be pretty damn special to be in a similar condition now as it was a thousand years ago without any major catastrophe in-between. That also makes me wonder why there isn't some form of convent nearby that spend their days analysing the mayor's records that go back a millenium. Other than that, it works well. :P
Araes 05-31-07, 05:09 PM	Bloody hell, that's a long-lasting village. No kidding. It seems like there should be a story reasoning behind why its been in that state for so long. That aside, one suggestion, depending on how important spatial relations are, it might be useful to have a rough map of the village for the players, so they can see things like where the graveyard is in relation to the rest of the village. Other than that, I'd say just let the interests of the players direct what you provide them with after that point.
Lanky Ogre Baggy Pants 06-01-07, 11:56 AM	I've got this list of NPCs: Sethmay Ortik Bronzehammer Dwarf Male Craftsman Dour, serious, elf-friend Silversong Half-moon elf Female Bard Father lives here; mother lives to the waterdeep Rarecast Human Male Warrior apprentice Practiced in secret until the Elves trained him Kunin Human Male Wizard apprentice Practiced in secret until the Elves trained him Tikka Human Female Bar wench Found orphaned and adopted Starfall Wood Elf Male Elder Scout Young but knowledgeable Moondance Moon Elf Female Elder Wizard True elder Darkwind Wood Elf Male Elder Craftsman True elder Rainchaser Wood Elf Female Elder Priest True elder Moonbear Wood Elf Male Scout Boisterous Foreststrider Moon Elf Male Scout Quiet, reserved, well liked and listened to Doskog Trevenn Garlnun Illuskan Male Mayor Hidebound, traditional, born in to warrior family Arianna Garlnun Illuskan Female Mayors Wife Married in to landowners (wealth) Lathanderites Kerig Illuskan Male Monk Merig Chondathan Male Monk Dawntree Half-wood elf Male Monk Isaac Uth'Grenning Illuskan Male Paladin Vestein Illuskan Male Priest Rhorleigh Illuskan Male Priest Militia Aithel Illuskan Male Constable Enid Tethyran Female Guard Dalimyr Illuskan Male Guard Nydar Illuskan Male Militia Farmer Hassan Tethyran Male Militia Farmer Catherin Illuskan Female Militia Farmer Summersong Moon Elf Female Militia Farmer Dolya Half-moon elf Female Militia Farmer Elmek Illuskan Male Militia Farmer Eslin Illuskan Female Militia Farmer Luet Illuskan Female Militia Farmer Arrisa Illuskan Female Militia Blacksmith Apprentice Justyn Illuskan Male Militia Baker Mebbekew Tethyran Male Militia Farmer Craftsmen/Professionals Cara Illuskan Female Tavern/Innkeeper Kerowyn Chondathan Female Server Swiftwing Wood Elf Female Bouncer Elspeth Illuskan Female Trapper Gwena Illuskan Female Weaver Lyam Tethyran Male Carpenter Baru Illuskan Male Blacksmith Carline Illuskan Female Candlemaker Arutha Illuskan Male Oddities seller Skif Illuskan Male Chief Logger Selenay Illuskan Female Logger Roald Illuskan Male Logger Dawnfire Half-moon elf Male Logger Nyarra Illuskan Female Logger Kulgan Illuskan Male Logger Starblade Moon Elf Male Logger Mornelithe Illuskan Male Logger Hulda Illuskan Female Horsebreeder Ancar Illuskan Male Beekeeper Moonmist Moon Elf Female Farmer's Wife Dancer/Acrobat Chandalen Illuskan Male Blacksmith Apprentice Martin Half-wood elf Male Butcher Shota Illuskan Female Midwife Songwind Moon Elf Female Potter Abigail Chondathan Female Tailor Winterlight Moon Elf Male Bowyer/Fletcher And I've got a map of the village, I just can't upload it on here. There are reasons for the village lasting so long, mostly due to the proximity of Sethmay, and some events that are relevant to the story that I would rather not reveal. The paladin is investigating, its just that his investigations aren't really that obvious, especially since nothing has really happened. There have been a lot of lights, noises, and people scared, but nothing has actually happened.