:: 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?”