:: Random Location—Pasture of the White Warriors ::

Pasture of the White Warriors

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Land Area: Pasture

Weather: Light Hail

Conditions: Unsettling, Charred

Color: White

Keyword: Warrior

An unsettling scene rolls out before you: all of the land from your feet to the foot of the mountains lays wasted, white with a thick blanket of ash. Underneath this covering, you know the pasture’s once-green grass is now only charred black soot. A light hail of volcanic rock still falls from the fume-black sky, thin flames trailing behind each marble-sized chunk. The sound of the fiery stones clinking against metal on all sides tells you of fallen warriors, entombed in their own armor and buried along with the pasture, the volcano having silently breathed white death into their bodies. Then, from under the ash, you see pairs of bright white lights, blown to life as if with a bellows...

:: Random Item—Abacus of Hayat ::

Abacus of Hayat

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Tools: Mathematics

Color: Bronze

Conditions: Ancient, Dull

Keyword: Blood

Among the valuables in the room, you see a square, free-standing bronze frame with thirteen horizontal rods going through it at regular intervals. Each of these bears seven dull bronze beads; five to one side, and two to the other side of a dividing sheet of bronze. A single bead on the bottom rod has been pushed to the right, where it shines with the same vibrant red as a glossy drop of fresh blood. Near the abacus, you see the remains of a corpse—evidently withered dry millennia ago—which appears to be pointing directly at the glossy red bead. On the tip of its finger, you notice a dessicated black pit the size of a small marble.

:: Random NPC—King Geoffrey ::

King Geoffrey (Gabrielle)

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Homeland: Toulouse

Age: Adult

Gender: Female

Stature: Short

Physical: Big Nose

Eyes: Amber

Hair: Brown

Outwardly: Shocked

Inwardly: Apprehensive

Profession: Ewerer

Money: Well-Off

Catchphrase: “Oh, my! Yes, well, you don’t have to… That is, erm. Speak…! I command you!”

You enter the throne room and are immediately flanked by the royal guard. They cross their spears and order you not to look upon His Majesty. As soon as you avert your gaze, they lead you to the throne and order you to kneel before the king. As you kneel, staring at the plush carpet, the king speaks: “Oh, my! Yes, well, you don’t have to… That is, erm. Speak…! I command you!”

:: Upcoming Randomness—Introducing Grimoire ::

For a while now I've been doing random NPCs, items, and locations for a system-generic roughly 11th-century European setting. Starting June 1st, I plan to transition into a new series of random content for an original campaign setting I call Grimoire!

An introduction to Grimoire:
"Welcome to Grimoire, a game set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, where magic is studied, crafted, and practiced, all in the name of progress, personal discovery, honor, respect, and devotion. Visit Athanasia and uncover its magical secrets, laying bare the five classes of spellcasters and their unique approaches to practicing the Art."

So look forward to wizard, sorcerers, shamans, druids, and priests as you've never seen them before! I'll also post regular content about Athanasia's history, unique denizens, and even some short stories about how things came to be.

If you have any special requests or questions about the world, be sure to leave them in the comments.

Looking forward to it! Thanks for reading!

:: Random Location—Slasher's Circle ::

Slasher’s Circle

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Attraction: Arena

Weather: Muggy

Conditions: Small, Simple

Color: Pastel Red

Keyword: Slash

Wiping the sweat from your brow, you come upon the rubble of a fallen building. Traversing a cleared path in the debris, you see that the center has been swept to the dirt foundation, making an ideal place for several young combatants to play-fight without interruption. As one girl lunges with a “spear” fashioned from a broom handle and a damp sponge, her opponent staggers away with a dab of pastel red paint on his clothes. Thus “wounded,” he falls to the ground, acting out a gruesome demise. Only then do you realize the true purpose for the whole performance, for the adult spectators sitting atop the rubble now stand, alternately cheer or sulk, and begin exchanging money.

:: Random Item—Merek's Armor of Encore ::

Merek’s Armor of Encore

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/23/15

Armor: Banded Suit

Color: Cotton Candy Blue

Conditions: Light, Dirty

Keyword: Skull

You step behind the curtain of the abandoned theatre and cast your gaze over what must be the dressing room. Mannequins stand single-file like soldiers along one wall, each wearing a unique costume. One costume catches your eye in particular: a suit of papier-mâché banded armor painted a whimsical cotton candy blue and stained with what you take to be a splatter of fake blood, long since dried. As a macabre touch, you notice that someone has replaced the head of this mannequin with an actual human skull. Moving on to the props, you study one of the false weapons, but turn around as you hear something move. You see nothing amiss...until you notice that the skull-headed mannequin wearing the suit of fanciful blue armor has suddenly gone missing.

:: Random NPC—Gentleman Leofrick ::

Gentleman Leofrick

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/22/15

Homeland: Armenia

Age: Middle-Aged

Gender: Male

Stature: Short

Physical: Big Nose

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Strawberry

Outwardly: Happy

Inwardly: Suspicious

Profession: Bottler

Money: Well-Off

Catchphrase: “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my humble enterprise. Do mind the bottles, won’t you? Wouldn’t want anything untoward happening, now would we?”

The tour guide leads you and the group further into the bottling warehouse, where a stout well-dressed man stands, his hands perched on the jeweled globe atop his cane. His strawberry-colored handlebar mustache—curving out from under a rather large nose—twitches twice. As if this were a sign of your coming, he turns and takes in the sight of your group. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my humble enterprise.” He bows. “Do mind the bottles, won’t you? Wouldn’t want anything untoward happening, now would we?”

:: Random Location—Hortus Mortem ::

Hortus Mortem

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/19/15

Attraction: Park/Promenade

Weather: Dusty

Conditions: Inviting, Barren

Color: Bright Blue

Keyword: Venom

Tired, your feet plod on across the barren sand. Parched, your lips crack a little more. Blinded, your eyes squint into the burning reflection of the sun glinting off...water? Your eyes focus, taking in the slightly denser haze off in the distance. A hasty shuffle brings you at last to the edge of a lush oasis. You bat a large palm leaf, shaking loose a spray of dust, proving to yourself that this place is not simply a product of the heat. Past the foliage, you quickly arrive at the blessed lake that waits, silently inviting the thirsty to drink of its bright blue liquid.

:: Random Item—The Grand Design ::

The Grand Design

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/19/15

Scroll: Diagram

Color: Tan

Conditions: Charred, Wet

Keyword: Grand

Extinguishing the fire at last, you look over what remains of the valuables in the room. Only the solid metal objects remain salvageable; everything composed of less-durable materials has been completely consumed. Everything, that is, except an ashwood scroll case. The tan case is charred from the fire, and the parchment that unrolls from inside has been completely soaked, but is nevertheless entirely intact. With astonishment, you find umber-ink diagrams on the paper that are not only clearly visible, but moving to display their subjects from many angles, and even expanding to reveal the interior workings.

:: Random NPC—Nanny Gregoria ::

Nanny Gregoria

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/17/15

Homeland: Benevento

Age: Old

Gender: Female

Stature: Short

Physical: Muscular

Eyes: Gray

Hair: Blonde

Outwardly: Livid

Inwardly: Lazy

Profession: Hairdresser

Money: Poor

Catchphrase: “Get out or I’ll rip that sorry excuse for a mane off your head one hair at a time!”

You step inside the cathedral and cast your eyes about to find your contact. “Get out you worthless no-accounts!” a woman’s voice echoes around the nave. To your right, a short old woman leans forward in her chair. Despite her age, her biceps are surprisingly well-developed. “Get out or I’ll rip that sorry excuse for a mane off your head one hair at a time!” You pause warily, certain that the woman could make good on her threat, but uncertain as to whether or not she will.

:: Random Location—Puerta del Diablo ::

Puerta del Diablo

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/16/15

Land Area: Harbor

Weather: Snowy

Conditions: Large, Pristine

Color: Dark Purple

Keyword: Devil

The ship pitches to starboard and aft, then fore and port. Ahead, the vague suggestion of an opening in the coast offers hope to all aboard that they might not perish on the rocks, or under the waves. As soon as the stern enters the mouth of the bay, the sea immediately calms, the winds cease, and the sky rains only large tufts of quietly-falling snow. The bay is spacious, and the harbor lights inviting. When the ship is docked at last, you see a fort on the nearby hill, decorated with banners of imperial purple and untouched by the ravages of war. A hush overtakes the crew. “By the Gods, who lives there?” you hear a sailor whisper. “The Devil himself,” comes the reply.

:: Random Item—Diamantaire's Rouge of Decimation ::

Diamantaire’s Rouge of Decimation

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/16/15

Tool: Gemcutting

Color: Jungle Green

Conditions: Broken, Cold

Keyword: Decimation

The gemcutter’s worktable is coated in a thin layer of red dust that smells of dried blood. To one side, you locate the slashed remains of a pouch made from tightly-woven jungle grasses, out of which has spilled a sprinkling of the crimson powder. Beside the pouch lays the rusted skeleton of a jeweled silver knife, the metallic components—blade, handle, and fittings—having completely disintegrated. The gems that had once been set in the handle, however, remain intact and brilliant as ever. A chill races up your spine as you hold your breath and clutch your own metal weapons a little tighter.

:: Random NPC—Duchess Fendrel ::

Duchess Fendrel

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/15/15

Homeland: Burgundy

Age: Middle-Aged

Gender: Male

Stature: Short

Physical: Clean-Shaven

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Auburn

Outwardly: Happy

Inwardly: Focused

Profession: Fisherman

Money: Working-Class

Catchphrase: “Good day to you, fellows! Sit with me awhile, for the air is fine and the catches are willing!”

You pause by the gangplank for no more than a moment when a fisherman hails you from the edge of the docks. His auburn hair is pulled back into a stylish tail, and his clean-shaven face makes him appear far younger than he really is. “Good day to you, fellows! Sit with me awhile, for the air is fine and the catches are willing!”

:: Random Location—Temple of Ulemu ::

 Temple of Ulemu

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/15/15

Monument: Pyramid

Weather: Rainbow

Conditions: Occupied, Wild

Color: Pastel Yellow

Keyword: Honor

The wall of dense jungle vines seems to thicken the further you proceed. At last you tumble out into the open. Picking yourself up, you behold a large squat step-pyramid of expertly carved sandstone sitting in the exact center of a perfectly square clearing. Silence pervades. The long, untidy grass does not even sway a little, and a bright rainbow arcs overhead, completing the idyllic scene. But your attention is suddenly drawn away as scores of dark-skinned warriors soundlessly present themselves on the pyramid’s steps, weapons drawn, fierce gazes levelled at you. One warrior advances a few paces—body decorated with paint the color of chick’s feathers—and speaks in an unknown tongue. When she sees that you don’t understand, she repeats herself in your language, but with a heavy accent: “Speak: whom do you honor by your actions here?”

:: Random Item—The Bull Brand Missive ::

The Bull Brand Missive

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/14/15

Scroll: Letter/Message

Color: Brown

Conditions: Small, Glistening

Keyword: Bull

Leaving town far behind you, you take in the smells of the country air. Among these, unfortunately, is the stench of nearby cattle. You turn around and notice that a free-roaming bull is trotting after you at a fair pace. You ignore the wayward animal, but after several bends in the road it appears to be fixated on you and will not relent. Giving in, you finally stop and let the thing catch up. It bawls and flicks a glistening ear in your direction, damp with sweat, where a fresh brand has been made. Looking closer, you immediately grasp the symbol’s meaning, and know that it is unmistakably meant for you...

:: Random NPC—Seaman Henry ::

Seaman Henry

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/13/15

Homeland: Roman Empire

Age: Adult

Gender: Male

Stature: Tall

Physical: Small Nose

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Blonde

Outwardly: Hurt

Inwardly: Determined

Profession: Steward

Money: Rich

Catchphrase: “Forgive me; I have just come from addressing a personal matter. Let us discuss the matter at hand.”

As you walk into the spacious mansion, the butler greets you at the door. Ushering you into the sitting room, the butler reminds you that the master is not in and the steward will be with you presently. You study your sumptuous surroundings in the butler’s absence until at last a tall, blonde man enters dressed in fine attire. He presses a work-gnarled finger under his long, small nose with marked emotion. “Forgive me; I have just come from addressing a personal matter. Let us discuss the matter at hand.”

:: Random Location—The Serene Signpost ::

The Serene Signpost

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/13/15

Prominent Feature: Signpost

Weather: Flurries

Conditions: Serene, Large

Color: Bright Blue

Keyword: Awesome

Rounding the bend in the road, a feeling grips you that makes you pause. Your muscles relax, and your mind clears. Little snow flurries begin dancing in the air, landing gently on the bright blue hyacinths growing to either side of the road. Ahead, you see a large signpost facing the road. Reaching it, you see that the post appears to have grown from a still-living tree. However, the sign itself is entirely blank. How peculiar, you think. You can’t remember ever seeing anything like it in your entire life. And then, as you stare at the sign and ponder this oddity, you find that you can’t remember anything at all...

:: Random Location—Aviary of the Éan Sídhe ::

Aviary of the Éan Sídhe

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/12/15

Attraction: Aviary

Weather: Damp

Conditions: Vacant, Wild

Color: Seafoam Green

Keyword: Awesome

As you crest the peak of the seaside cliffs you are met with the largest birdcage you have ever seen, easily matching a two-storey mansion in height. Composed of not only one, but dozens of cages of cascading sizes, the whole must be taken together as a labyrinth of barred-off spaces carpeted with patches of green-and-purple heather and bright golden-haired lichen. With a framework of cold-wrought silver and draped in a mesh of thin gold links, the expansive aviary sparkles in the foamy splash of the sea and the light of the setting sun. As the crash of the waves dies, a faint twittering reaches your ears. Yet, eerily, you see no birds anywhere...

:: Random Item—Oar of the Paragon ::

Oar of the Paragon

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/11/15

Tool: Gondolier

Color: Apricot

Conditions: Small, Light

Keyword: Paragon

This tiny oar appears to have been crafted as a perfect miniature of its full-sized counterpart. Designed after the style of an oar used by a gondolier, it has been painted the color of ripe apricots. For one who has piloted a watercraft, simply holding it conjures vivid daydreams of gliding across the water as easily as a seabird flies.

:: Random Item—Tresses of Cerulean Splendor ::

Tresses of Cerulean Splendor

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/11/15

Material: Hair

Hair Color: Blue-Black

Conditions: Long, Ancient

Keyword: Splendor

What you first take as a carefully coiled black rope instead turns out to be a lengthy braid of bluish-black hair. Even careful study does not reveal what manner of human or animal the hair might have been harvested from, or for what purpose. As the plaits shimmer splendidly in the light, you are only certain of one thing: these tresses have survived thousands of years.

:: Random NPC—Patriarch Benedict ::

Patriarch Benedict

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/11/15

Homeland: Brittany

Age: Middle-Aged

Gender: Male

Stature: Average

Physical: Small Head

Eyes: Violet

Hair: Red

Outwardly: Hopeless

Inwardly: Calm

Profession: Astrologer

Money: Poor

Catchphrase: “YOU! Walking corpses, the lot! You’re already dead! Already dead...”

A clatter of objects comes from behind when a manic robed man speeds past you, looks around frantically and then slumps to the ground, despondent. The moment he notices you, his eyes grow wide in his small head and he waggles a warning finger in your direction. “YOU! Walking corpses, the lot! You’re already dead! Already dead…”

:: Meet Some New Faces—Frederick the Leader ::

I was recently inspired by a favorite gaming company of mine, Silver Gryphon Games, who post a weekly description for an RPG setting with randomly rolled characteristics. I offered to contribute some content for them along the same lines for NPCs, items, and places of interest based on my own randomized tables. They liked the idea and said they'd try out several to see what kind of reception they got.

Then I realized: I've got my own darn blog.

With the randomized tables, I figured I could come up with any number of possible people, places, and things. It would be a great creative exercise, and who knows? Someone from one of the bigger RPG companies (Paizo, and Wizards of the Coast, I'm lookin' at you) might see my work and like it. If nothing else, it lets me spill some ink. So without further ado, let's do this:

Frederick the Leader

by Wm Jay Carter III, 5/10/15

Homeland: León

Age: Young

Gender: Female

Stature: Short

Physical: Hunchback

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Jet

Outwardly: Uncomfortable

Inwardly: Ecstatic

Money: Working Class

Profession: Blacksmith

Catchphrase: "Um, hullo. What can I… That is...do you want something?"

As you pass through the market, your attention is drawn to the blacksmith’s stall—not because an attendant is calling at you, but because there is no attendant at all. Approaching, you see the misshapen hunched figure of a small child beating away at warm metal in the corner. Realizing you’re there, the child turns around, surprising you to learn that not only is it a girl, but that she is much older than you originally thought. “Um, hullo... “ she begins uncertainly, playing with her long jet hair. “What can I… That is...do you want something?”