Today's #WestMarchesWednesday post is about NPCs- the people who fill out your setting. Apart from the nameless masses that populate every town- bartenders, blacksmiths, merchants and peasant farmers, you ideally want 2 or 3 named NPCs per location- memorable people who can initiate quests, start trouble, or be allies. You don't even need to have a lot of information prepared on each, just a sentenc or two, enough to work with and spur you on if they come into contact with your PCs.
Here are some of the NPCs I've worked up quickly, which might have been previous blog posts, might get used for later blog posts, or might be enough to give you some fun ideas to work with. - The Witch Hunter (pictured), a rogue Templar who roams the world, never showing his hideously scarred face. He hates all mages, but will put up with them just long enough to betray and destroy them. - Magister Acardolo, an evil archmage who perfectly fits the "evil schemer" trope. He has hordes of slaves that he misuses terribly. - Burly Jaykin, a giant of a man who runs the Burly Giant tavern with his daughters. He just wants some peace and quiet in the area, and has put together a collection to hire people to get rid of trouble. - Lady Sophia, curator of a museum holding many ancient relics. She pays adventurers to return the relics to their resting-places, warning them of the traps and guardians. - Baron Fearghas Catach, a forlorn noble who neglects his duties due to being haunted by his lover's death. - Teddyn the Cat-Minstrel, a bard who's not great at his job- but loved by all animals. - Alfonso de la Cavalliero, a master duelist and arrogant drunk. He hires himself out as a sometimes-bodyguard, but gets himself into trouble and needs help a lot. - Lady Olahna, a dangerous and bold noble who can be a patron for adventurers. She has no problem defying other nobles, but might get people in over their heads. - Thaoron, a loyal advisor who is at his wits' end and desperate for people to aid his ailing King. He is willing to go behind his liege's back to help. - Garzim, a mercenary mage with a flashy attitude and appearance, and a legendary resume. It's all a lie and he's terribly out of his depth. - Lumpen, an Earth spirit trapped in the Material plane and trying to get back home. The superstitious local villagers are trying to hunt him down. - Tarrence Hargrave, a mercenary mage who is an erudite man-about-town. He loves fine things, and might cross paths with PCs as a friend or acquaintance before he's hired by the bad guys. - Gruugor of the Blades, a hobgoblin out of his element, who buys and sells exotic swords. PCs might be directed to him to sell a rare blade, and might be given a mission to find another. - Pliedunk, a goblin junk trader with a penchant for turning up in wierd places and buying all sorts of random crap. Now, some astute readers may accuse me of just looting my last years' worth of posts, and they might be right. But there's no point in being a prolific writer if you can't use your own work now and then, right? Also posted on Game Masters Stash on 8 April 2020. Comments are closed.
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AuthorI'm Luke. He/him pronouns. Archives
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