Ethyria: Local Problems & Carousing

 

Had a nice session zero with 2 players - my first dm session with 5th ed as I find new version more readable and the index isn't in print so fine I need a magnifying glass. 

Had a thief-sailor-musician-oracle and a warlock nyxborn satyr

heat up some of the Theros harpies for some sherds then while trading treasure asked to discretely deliver goods to a witch for a suit of leather +1. Saw a cave on the way and the with lives on a barrow mound with undead inside. Killed a skeleton and a shadow. And now resting keen to look again and visit that cave.

Kástro (Fortified Polis)
As the central police of the colony with the most people and wealth it has the greatest opportunity for spending time and getting work fit for heroes. There is also the chance to be noticed by the nobility, the assembly and the king.

d12 Kástro Problems
1 There is a secretive cult lurking in the catacombs under the upper city, who are they? 

2 The king needs someone to fetch horses from the island amazons of Vasílissa

3 A great engineer needs assistants and guards marking out future chariot roads

4 The king believes the great tomb of an ancient conqueror is in the western wastes

5 The satyrs and centaurs in the east drink the most fabulous wine, fetch some

6 Harpys in the mountains stop exploration north, and a reward per harpy slain is on offer

7 Dangerous chimaera in the mountains guards a volcanic crater with ancient ruins

8 Members of the assembly seek proof another member is corrupt and informing pirates

9 Noble offers reward for slaying a monster bothering rural farms

10 Noble needs someone to consult with a witch in secret

11 Merchant wants you to delay a merchant from reaching the market for a reward

12 Family will pay for a member to be free from being a hostage to bandits

d12 Kástro Carousing
1 A wine party invitation with literary conversation

2 See a new comedy or tragedy at the theatre

3 Athletic games or sporting event gets polis excited

4 Gladiators fight to the death as a public spectacle

5 Political debate in the theatre or on a sacred hill

6 Invited to a private orgy for elites

7 Philosopher and a poet argue with a crowd

8 Famous bard gives a recital of an epic

9 Shadow puppets of famous myths

10 Drunken sailors brawl and damage property

11 Men show of a captured mermaid before an elder says to release her

12 Shangheid by pirates to be the new crew

Limáni (Port Village)
This growing port is an extension of the polis but more rough and ready with violence or debauchery

d12 Limáni Problems
1 Pirate ship needs some extra crew to raid an island of non-humans

2 Ship captain believes crew revolting needs extra loyal crew for the last voyage

3 Ship captain has a treasure map for a local island with strange inhabitants 

4 Find this pirate ship and kill or capture them and bring them and their ship back

5 A beautiful siren has been enticing sailors to jump ship, go silence her

6 A cargo has arrived and needs escorting to another village

7 A pirate informant has been active in the port recently, who is it

8 The Demarchos needs guards for the wine warehouse during a festival

9 A mysterious humanoid in the sea has been harassing fisher folk nets

10 The sea priest needs a magnificent white bull to be captured as a sacrifice

11 A sea captain needs crew to circumnavigate the island and improve maps

12 Sea captain needs crew to wipe out a sinister island cult who killed his crew

d12 Limáni Carousing
1 Invited to cruise on a pleasure barge

2 New prostitutes have arrived starting a huge party

3 Friendly pirates bring amphoras or wine and mead 

4 Hunting a ferocious sea creature from a fishing boat

5 Drunken sailors brawl and damage property

6 Gambling and drinking in a tavern

7 Spent time in a lotus wine stupour 

8 Had an affair with a prostitute

9 Shangheid by pirates to be the new crew

10 Woke up hungover in a goat pen with no memory

11 Men show of a captured mermaid before an elder says to release her

12 Tried to catch a magical fish

Voskós (Shepherds Village)
Rustic and charming. local folk are quite jolly. They do have thriving minotaurs, satyrs and centaurs around and some drunken incompetent bandits.

d12 Voskós Problems
1 Bandits stole lots of wine and goats, save the goats quickly!

2 A minotaur is attacking travellers on a road

3 A lewd satyr has been exposing himself to women washing clothes

4 Centaurs have been demanding a tribute of wine

5 A preditor has attacked sheep and a herder d4  1=wolves 2=lion 3=giant snake 4=manticore

6 Help get this wine to another village past a gang of lazy, drunken bandits

7 Satyrs stole a storehouse of wine go get some money from them and you get a cut

8 A sheepdog has fallen down a sinkhole please fetch it

9 A ruined old house has some creature or spirit inside and is scaring local children

10 Please chase my lazy drunken sons and beat them with sticks

11 A favourite goat has gone missing please find her

12 A wicked wild boar has been scaring livestock, please hunt it for a feast

d12 Voskós Carousing
1 Fok dancing and a feast with local bards

2 All-you-can-eat grilled meat, vine leaves and fish

3 Wine festival to taste a recent vintage

4 Prettiest goat in the village contest with guest judges

5 Cheese rolling contest

6 Wife carrying races

7 Sank parade with villagers dressed as a giant serpent 

8 Donkey cart racing

9 Comedy shadow puppet shows

10 Visiting bard performs a saucy song cycle

11 Dryads and satyrs visit with wine and dancing

12 Wise old centaur visits and shares old stories 

Psarás (Fishing and Farming Village)

Those earning a living by the sea are more wild and strange , the farmers are quieter and keep to themselves.

d12 Psarás Problems

1 Someone has offended the undersea folk, take them this offering and find out what

2 Sail to Vasílissa and convince the amazons to free a prisoner, they may have a request

3 An angry merman has been attacking fishing boats find out why

4 An island shrine has had a monolith knocked over in a storm go fix it

5 A nasty sea serpent has been seen in our waters please drive it away

6 Mermaids are luring fishermen to their deaths, please drive them away

7 A ship has sunk and the cargo needs recovery but a monster now uses it as a lair

8 Let these undersea folk guide you to a secret pirate island and capture them

9 Thieves robbed a medallion from the shrine of a sea god please get it back

10 An expedition to find a lost fishing boat needs a crew who can fight just in case

11 A man has been seen turning into a horrid sea creature, find out who!

12 A man stole a pirate map and a small boat, please get the treasure before he does

d12 Psarás Carousing

1 Singers attract the undersea folk to join the village in a celebration

2 Old Bard tells the tale of the western island civilisation sunk and cursed by the gods

3 Feast of delicious seafood with music and wine

4 Ceremonial ritual of the sea lord marrying the land maiden followed by cake

5 Swimming with friendly dolphins who let some people ride them

6 Contest to catch the biggest fish

7 Sailors share stories of mermaids and sea nymphs over wine

8 Boat race and a feast

9 Days of sea songs about strange voyages and the deep

10 Mysterious lover is really a disguised being from under the sea

11 Parade of fisherfolk with masks and chanting with espoteric banners on poles

12 Invited to meet the undersea people on the sacred island offshore

Kynigós (hunters village)
The hunting folk have many festive events celebrating the wild gods and nature and non humans sometimes come and join in.

d12 Kynigós Problems

1 Dangerous beast has harmed hunters

2 Mad centaur challenging all on a road

3 Someone kidnapped by a satyr or centaur

4 Giant snake protecting a mysterious tree

5 Peryton has been hunting for human hearts 

6 Lycanthrope is living among the community but who?

7 Hunters followed beast to a cave but fear to go inside

8 Mated pair of monsters moved in area to breed

9 Forest barbarian snake cult are up to trouble

10 They say hairy wild folk are hiding in the forest

11 Dryad has charmed many local hunters 

12 Remains from a cannibal cult camp has been discovered

d12 Kynigós Carousing

1 Archery of javelin contest

2 Start of a new prey hunting season 

3 Prize for who can catch a fabulous beats

4 Drinking and singing with satyrs and centaurs

5 Women running wild on a local custom

6 Masked hunters perform eerie silent dance

7 Trial by combat to find who is false

8 Lodge ceremony for hunters

9 Decorate a sacred tree festival with dancing and drinks

10 Visiting bard from a barbarian tribe from the east

11 Women weeping for the seasonal death of a nature divinity 

12 Hunters hunt a fugitive and traitor who secretly informed bandits

Dásos (Loggers camp)

A logging camp becaming a village.

d12 Dásos Problems

1 Kallikantzaros goblins have been creeping from a sinkhole into the underworld

2 Tree spirits demand tribute or service, go find out what they want

3 Barbarian snake cults have been sabotaging logging efforts

4 A great bearded tree spirit has attacked loggers

5 A stag-headed man has been seen lurking in the woods

6 Bandits in the area robbing travellers

7 Centaurs or satyr kidnappers of camp residents 

8 Strange whicker figures have been seen stalking loggers

9 Something is stealing offerings for woodland spirits

10 A hairy wild spirit keeps attacking loggers who swear

11 Giant beavers have been stealing logs and building a tiny fort

12 Something is stealing our axes and their s a shortage

d12 Dásos Carousing

1 Feast of pankakes and singing

2 Drunken brawling

3 Bard visits singing barbarian songs

4 Woodcutting contest

5 Axe throwing contest

6 Bear folk visit and everyone gets drunk

7 Forest nymph visits for song and dance

8 Wood carving competition

9 Everyone passes out from eating mushrooms

10 Satyrs and Centaurs bring silver for wine and start a party

11 Boxing matches with a prize for the winner

12 Wrestling competition (sometimes bear folk come)

Vasílissa (Amazon Village)

This Island is known as a place where drunken excess if frowned on  

d12 Vasílissa Problems

1 A giant snake is guarding a berry tree

2 Pirates trying to kidnap women

3 Harpies are trying to start a colony

4 Enraged minotaur arrived on shore clutching a log

5 A cursed priestess has become a gorgon in local ruins

6 Mermaids or a siren trying to steal local fishermen

7 Giant octopus comes ashore at night to steal pigs

8 Sea serpent has been scaring off trading vessels

9 Amazons seek a lost relic on mainland ruin

10 Amazon queen needs a request from a mainland oracle 

11 Rescue prisoners from a pirate island base

12 A fabulous magical horse has been seen running with a wild herd

d12 Vasílissa Carousing

1 Equestrian sport festrival

2 Chariot race

3 Athletics contest

4 Chess tournament

5 Bull vaulting contest

6 Archery tournament

7 Amazon initiation feast

8 Wild boar hunt

9 Bull sacrifice and feast

10 Godess festival brings many visitors

11 Dolphin riding race

12 Sculpture competition & feast

Ethyria The South & Rumours of Adventure

The names here I used google translate

Kallikantzaros are greek goblins that come from the underworld once a year, people stop them doing mischief by hurling sweetcakes and sausages on the roof. They have big pointy ass-like ears, hairy all over and have backwards bending knees like the hindlegs of goats. If I run The Lost City I will use these.

Looking over DnD24 I like most backgrounds but I think a sailor background would be better off with athletics instead of acrobatics and possibly another bonus ability rather than brawling.

Also this post is a reminder that tables and encounters are world-building.
Glorantha box set in around 1990 taught me this.

Every community has an assembly of land owners over 50 who elect a Demarchos (mayor) and the Polis a king. 

Apánemos Kólpos (sheltered bay) was dominated by colonists from the mainland. The Island was inhabited by multiple peoples in the past, many non-humans. Some of the local humans and non humans, joined the colonies but others moved further away after various conflicts. The people are confident but wary of strangers, wild people and creatures. 

Kástro - (fortified polis) the primary colony of the island pop 1245. The polis is walled and has a raised sacred precinct with many glorious temples. King Demetrios is the sixth ruler since the colony was founded and has improved the city and defences of the colonies. The outer wall of the city is crude stonework surrounding the lower city. Many of these stones came from ruins built by giants. There is a good road to road to Limáni which acts as the port for the Polis. Commoners around the acropolis grow barley, millet, grapes, olives and vegetables. Herders keep goats and sheep too. The free citizens land owners are obligated to report weekly for training with a spear, armour and shield. Other free people train with bow and sling.

d12 Kástro Happenings
1 Philosophers Argue with an audience

2 Priest performs an outdoor ceremony

3 Hermit shouting prophecies

4 Soldiers training or marching

5 Workers building walls

6 New play is being performed

7 New goods arrived at markets

8 Assembly meet to plan for the polis

9 Athletes training for games

10 Festival with feasts, drink and dance

11 Weeping and wailing for a funeral

12 King Demetrios makes a speech

Limáni - port village serving Kástro with shipyards pop 245. Many work in the fishing fleet,  and boats. Carpenters for ships make other items. Builders here are constantly improving the infrastructure and plan to build walls that will reach the nearby polis. Ships here make the risky voyage to the mainland. Some ships are mercenary warships and pirates (a legitimate enterprise just al long as done elsewhere or against enemies). Most trade is with local smaller islands. Many professional warriors are found here, most sailors can use bows and spears and are good at brawlng.

d12 Limáni Happenings
1 Merchant ship arrives with exotic goods

2 Warship departs with a ceremonial blessing

3 Prostitutes carried through streets by sailor fans

4 Fight with audience betting, boxing or wrestling

5 Mysterious person pulled from the sea

6 Captain announces a heroic sea voyage

7 Captain recruiting crew for a ship

8 Fisher folk tell of strange sea encounters

9 Ship crew returned celebrating

10 Priest of the sea makes a sacrifice

11 Rough weather keeps sailors ashore

12 Spectacular catches for fisherfolk

Voskós - Shepherds Village in rough hilly country pop pop 125. The walled village is prepared for raids of minotaurs, barbarians and other menaces from the west. Some villagers work in queries and mines but most work with cattle, sheep or goats to make milk, cheese and meat. Most herders can use slings and some use a staff, mining folk use mauls and hammers.

d12 Voskós Happenings
1 Centaurs or satyrs try and steal livestock, women or wine

2 Shepherd has gone missing and a search party departing

3 Minotaurs or barbarians were seen in the area people at ready

4 Cave discovered by shepherds or miners

5 Beast stalking livestock d4 1=lion 2=wolves 3=giant snake 4=panther

6 Lost children in the woodlands

7 Celebration feast of wilderness gods with drink and dancing

8 Solemn musicians wearing masks lead a procession with drums and horns

9 Great sacrifice of ram or bull, then a feast

10 Workers dragging huge block of stone on sled pulled by an ox 

11 Herders with livestock d4 1=goats 2=sheep 3=cattle 4=hogs

12 Hunters return victorious for a feast of deer or boar

Psarás - fishing and farming village pop 225. Safe and sleepy village near shore with fishing boats drying nets and fish drying racks. Their are scrabbly poor fields growing various legumes and green vegetables. Some travel to a large island out to sea to trade with aquatic humanoids. They perform a musical ritual and leave gifts on reed mats and return later to find coral, seaweed, shark teeth and sea-ivory. This rite was used by the original inhabitants who gave offerings to sea nymphs, fish folk and dolphins. Many use nets and tridents. They feel safe and protected by the sea gods.

d12 Psarás Happenings
1 Locals admiring friendly dolphins who help fisherfolk

2 Boatloads of fishers playing music leave then return later with marine trade goods

3 Locals come to greet returning fisherfolk and unload boats while singing

4 People gossip about a man snatched by mermaids and eaten

5 Sailors report sighting a sea monster and thank the sea gods for escape

6 Pirates survivors of shipwreck captured and afraid to go back to sea

7 Fishefolk catch a bizarre marine creature and fear angering sea gods

8 Locals have a boat or swimming race with a prize

9 People hear distant singing from over the waves and go indoors

10 Locals find the wreckage of a ship and are busy looting

11 Locals find a dead mythic sea creature and hold a funeral for it

12 Locals celebrating bounty of the sea

Kynigós - hunters village on edge of the forest pop 186. Trade in furs and meat but as they have grown and now have garden terraces and a wooden stockade wall. Hog herding is another source of food. They like the gods of nature and interact with various beings of the eastern sylvan forests. People here are rough and coarse to civilised people of the polis. Many local barbarians have joined the village and some of their food is barbaric. They have a strong desire for wine and beer which they also trade with forest folk. Some beings of the forest have attacked them or tried to kidnap attractive youths but the villagers have had success driving them back or negotiating their lost people back. Numerous woodland beings and gods have shrines here mostly wooden. Locals are skilled with bows and javelins and many carry hatchets and large hunting daggers. 

d12 Kynigós Happenings
1 Hunters caught a spectacular beast
2 Locals trading wine with centaurs or satyrs
3 Local men compete in archery to see who gets to be a consort for a dryad
4 Women chase young men into the forest for a holy day
5 Locals excited about a supernatural forest beast
6 Hunting contest held with a prize for the best kill
7 Visitors from another village looking for a hunter
8 Woodland sage selling potions from a cauldron
9 Hunters holding sacred rites in their sacred hall
10 Locals solve a dispute with a javelin contest
11 A brutal centaur challenges warriors on a local road

12 A craftsman offers a quality weapon for who marries kin

Dásos - loggers camp growing into a village pop 86. A wooden stockade where workers cut trees, make planks and carve wooden decorative poles. More barbarians have been joining them from the east. Locals also harvesting chestnuts and acorns for food and flour. Some locals are also beekeepers. Many locals use axes and javelins. 

d12 Dásos Happenings
1 Workers building and crafting wooden goods
2 Ceremony to placate the forest spirits 

3 A huge bear bothering loggers, some say it is magic

4 Feast with lashings of beer and mead and drinking contests
5 Loggers found a strange monolith in the woods
6 Axe throwing and wood chopping competition for prizes
7 Emissaries from satyrs or centaurs from the east
8 Demarchos announces a bounty on wolves
9 All amazed by artisans wood carving
10 Forest druid declares nature is displeased with the village
11 Someone is a lycanthrope in the village

12 Beekeepers performing rights to the lords of the woods

Vasílissa - settlers here merged with local amazons pop 165. The renegade amazons settled here when exiled from their homeland. Without their home parthenogenic cult their numbers had declined and they accepted new settlers. Now the men are mostly fishers and most of the women are warriors. The old care for and train children, with older youths aiding fishers. They have many fine old buildings and advanced material culture from the Amazon civilisation. They seem to be thriving but are isolationists. They trade mostly with Psarás and have many interlinked families. Women in the region flee here to get away from bad situations and mainlanders often complain. They also free female slaves who reach the island. Many are experts with bows and spears and have high-quality armour. Quite a few use double-bladed axes they say learned from the fallen civilisation of the west. 

d12 Vasílissa Happenings

1 Soldiers in armour drilling in the arts of war 
2 Women's athletics competition 

3 Young fishermen from Psarás come to woo wives 

4 Holy women perform bull sacrifices with axes
5 Pirates have landed and amazons prepare defences
6 Boatload of women fleeing home to join amazons
7 Locals preparing to catch wild horses on the island
8 Secret women rites are held but some visiting men want to spy on them
9 Horrible sea creatures bothering fishermen
10 Festival celebrating all the great goddesses
11 Traders driven away for not respecting local customs

12 Relic from the sunken civilisation of the west recovered, locals celebrate