Digressive Musings on Old-School D&D

Tag: Worldbuilding Page 1 of 2

The Family of Ecgred: Generating Random NPC Personalities Quickly

The winter storm has moved on leaving behind a ton of snow and bright, clear skies. This morning started with some routine diaper changing (daddy life), but now I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and have a little bit of time to write a quick post.

In my current Long Night Campaign, the players belong to one of several Saxon families that have traveled north from a section of the southern coast of Britain not far from the old Roman shore fort of Anderitum. The families have established a small community in the uncultivated “frontier” land situated just south of a great primeval forest known as Andredes Weald. To bring the families of the community to life, I’ve been randomly generating various aspects of each NPC, things like traits, dispositions, behavioral habits, and appearance. What follows is an example family produced using this random method, the family of Ecgred. This is the family to which the players are connected either by blood or by service at the start of the campaign.

The Long Night

During this year a most dread portent took place. For the sun gave forth its light without brightness . . . and it seemed exceedingly like the sun in eclipse, for the beams it shed were not clear.

Procupius of Caesarea, 536 AD, the Year after the Consulship of Belisarius

A failure of bread in the year 536 AD.

The Annals of Ulster
[It was] a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer without heat.

Cassiodorus, Praetorian Prefect of Italy

First of all that a winter will come called Fimbulwinter (“Mighty Winter”). Then snow will drift from all directions. There will then be great frosts and keen winds. The sun will do no good. There will be three of these winters together and no summer between.

The Younger Edda

The Fortress of Zulma Kal & the Red Hands

Well, I was hoping to get another post out earlier this week about some sword & sorcery campaign ideas; however, other life stuff took precedence. Work at the hospital this week wasn’t too bad since I was not super overwhelmed like much of the past year. Instead, the week was steady, not overwhelming, and I had a lot of meaningful visits with patients and families. Still, I’m definitely glad to have the weekend off! I threw down with some chicken wings last night, and I was even able to enjoy some cocktails and beer on the porch. Feeling good. Anyway, I want to get some of my initial ideas out for this new campaign setting. Everything is preliminary, of course. For this post, I’m just going to include some basic writeups of notable areas and a little about the Red Hands.

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