Adventure seeds: Houses of the Blooded

I have tried to group the seeds based on their theme - social events are likely to cause problems which will require words to solve and careful diplomacy to resolve.

A natural disaster ? earthquake, tidal wave, hurricane or the like has devastated a neighbor and they have had to swallow their pride and beg for aid. They would make a fine ally ? or their lands a fine prize. Of course if the PC beggars themselves sending aid then their own people will grow angered that others profit from their efforts, and if the PC sends troops to claim the lands of the other noble in their time of weakness, then the PC leaves their own lands vulnerable.

An assassin is caught by your watchful guards. With no loyalty to their employer the assassin swiftly confesses that they were sent by the PCs liege, vassal, spouse, or friend ? are they lying or telling the truth, were they misled by their employer who wished to undermine the PCs faith in their ally? How did they get so close without inside knowledge? Or perhaps the assassin simply informs the PC of their mission from afar ? and requests a counter-offer to hold from carrying it out.

Some marriages are good, some are bad. Some bad marriages are simply political unions without passion, two people yoked together with no common interest or aims beyond the strength of their conjoined house. But what happens to an ally when their new spouse looks at the PC regent with hate and whispers poison in her lover?s ear? What happens when a jealous spouse demands that their spouse distance themselves from the ?wife-stealing? PC? Medieval human society typically sees divorce as anathema; childbirth may kill many amongst the peasantry, but not between nobles where clerical healing is affordable. So what happens when the court demands a match and the new spouse is a fool, greedy, mad or plain bad? Getting a friend out of a bad marriage is easiest before the vows are sealed, but even then it is rarely without consequence, ending a bad marriage after it is forged inevitably leads to anger between the families with accusations of mistreatment or murder often igniting a lasting feud.

A sibling, vassal, ally, etc comes to see the PC nursing a broken heart. Their secret (or not so secret) lover has left them for another and they need comfort ? and revenge. The only trouble is that their lover?s new companion is the PC, or the PCs liege, important ally, etc. If the PC fails to act then their friendship/alliance will be shattered, but how can the PC make an enemy of the lover's companion ? or hide their own involvement. Perhaps the only thing to do is find the heart-broken friend someone new, someone so wonderful that they forget their dalliance ? or find some way to see the friend quietly gone in a manner which will not dismay the PCs other allies.

When a noble reaches their majority there is inevitably a ceremony of some sort ? and again festivities. The noble is typically granted their first inheritance, becoming someone to be courted in their own right ? and there will be many seeking their favor this eve while they are both wealthy and yet innocent! While many nobles will be betrothed long before they come of age, other nobles will be viewed for the first time (particularly in a debutante?s ball) and the recipient of much attention from anxious parents and prospective partners alike.

A statue is erected in the PCs honor ? and defaced; a play is written celebrating the PCs exploits ? and the lead is brutally murdered or scarred, a shrine is opened to the PCs favored saint ? and desecrated. Who could do such a thing? What kind of villain avoids honorable confrontation to stab the PC in the back in such a manner? how does one find such a coward - and ensure they regret their actions? To do nothing proves that the PC was unworthy of the honor - some recompense much be demanded.

Dark cults abound, for every successful merchant there is a failure willing to risk their soul to recover their losses, for every noble proudly claiming their birthright there is another smarting for the loss of their own. Cults to Azrai, Belinik, Kriesha, and other dark gods still continue to be founded despite the inevitable wrath of the goodly churches. And now rumors come to you that one of your most trusted allies has such a cult within their own court ? may even be a member of it. Inaction is not a possibility, secrecy until proof is gained is vital, and whether guilty or not even the greatest ally would demand the right to make their own investigation if aware of the rumors.

Everyone fails sometimes, those few paragons who avoid failure are decried by their jealous lessers and rumors spread in place of knowledge of the failure. From time to time any PC could suffer a blow to their reputation, a stain that follows them and lingers shaming them in front of their peers.
Repairing a reputation is difficult, sometimes a great deed reminds others of the PCs greatness, sometimes a liar must be unmasked to stop their wagging tongue, sometimes the PC must change their behavior, the philandering PC must marry and prove faithful, the coward challenge rivals to duels, the wronged husband claim revenge on the man who made him cuckold and cheating spouse, those with great honor have a long way to fall, and inevitably find their return to glory more difficult than those who fell from less lofty heights.

A noble is above the social station of most, so few folk are in a position to challenge the noble and demand a duel, and those who could challenge mostly have their own matters to attend to. But sometimes honor must be satisfied with blood or the PC must prove themselves the better swordsman, archer, spell caster, etc. But what if someone approaches the PC and asks them to throw the duel once it has been announced? For the PC to let themselves be beaten in the joust, fluff their lines in announcing their latest ode? Let the PCs rival win the acclaim and glory? What could that person offer to make the PC accept? What could they pay? And why do they love the rival so much to offer such things to spare their love humiliation?

When an adventuring band defends a regent's people, clears out abandoned ruins, and settles old feuds two things occur, firstly the regent's people rejoice at their good fortune (and laugh as they rake in a fortune from gold strewn about by the PCs) and secondly they wonder why they pay taxes to a lord when the adventurers are the ones rescuing them.
In such cases the regent will seek to affiliate themselves with the adventurers so that the adventurers are seen as their agents ? and any victories ascribed to the protection of the lord. The regent will seek to discover the adventurer?s motives, ensure that the adventurer?s avoid meddling in the regents plans while foiling those of the regent?s enemies and rivals. And of course should an affiliated group start to ruin a lord?s reputation, well, one must always ensure that employees who sully one?s name are suitably chastised?

A good neighbor protects you from predation, aides you against common foes, offers you trade and support in a hundred ways. So what happens when one of their skilled servants? wishes to join another noble?s court ? what if it is the PCs court? What happens when their spouse complains of abuse or seeks an affair with the PC? When their idiot child seeks a match with the PC's own cherished heir? When the neighbor's enemy sees the PC as foe for their alliance with the neighbor?
Peasants may flee ?tyranny? ? accepting them brings the recipient regent power but at the price of being accused of wholesale kidnapping. Military units may leave a miser who fails to reward them for their victories strengthening the realm with a veteran unit ? but leaving the neighbor livid, and vulnerable. And what of the neighbor whose pride or fear makes them refuse aid but whose own soldiers are too few to patrol their lands to drive out bandits? Bandits in their strike at trade from safely and grow stronger and more daring by the season - but to assault them would be to invite accusations of invasion.

Inheritance is how wealth is passed down the generations, how great estates are split between children and wider family, how old enmities are settled from beyond the grave. Whenever someone wealthy dies there are a multitude of claimants (known and formerly unknown) that appear, bastard children come to pay their respects secretly ? or claim their place after so long scorned.
Often bequests leave bitterness, the church may welcome the grant of lands and pray that the deceased soul is cherished by their lord for the deceased's generosity, but too the family left remaining the loss is keen ? particularly when the priests re-interpret the wishes of the deceased to better manage their new lands.
The PC may receive an inheritance, be denied one rightfully theirs, see an enemy empowered, or be called upon to adjudicate competing claims ? with the losing party sure to seethe in their loss whichever way the PC decides.

When a liege has a significant festival ? coming of age for one young, perhaps a wedding if they are older ? a great present is required from their vassals. But where will the liege hold their celebrations? Why in the castle the PC guards for them? Of course it is unlikely that the PC is prepared for regal company ? and if they have kept it opulent enough to suit their leige will such profligacy be welcomed or considered wasteful? Dozens more servants will be needed for the event, hunts and balls organized ? can they be trained (and trusted) in time, invitations must be sent out and worded so as to attract those desired and shun those otherwise, and of course something special must be arranged, something to prove to the liege that their choice was wise and that the PC is loyal ? after-all why was the PC chosen if there was not some doubt?

It sounds so seductive, the peasants are raided by goblins or gnolls, so teach them to defend themselves, teach them the ways of spear, and sword, and bow. Aid them in building strong walls and staked ditches. It is so right, so proper, to aid them to defend themselves against foes surely?
But pride grows in security and the village that does not need its lord?s protection despises the payment of its feudal dues, even scorns its lord?s right to rule. And what of the goblins taught civilization that begin to make good swords of steel not better plowshares? The barbarians drawn to unity by some charismatic leader that decide their destiny lies along a path unconstrained by their neighbor?s weaknesses? Good intentions that undermine the social order lead to discord and chaos, only war and suffering follow in the wake of such things.

The power of a domain rests in the people who fill it for all but a wizard?s holdings. And from time to time the natives become restless, perhaps a poor harvest, some villain preying upon them, a rabble-rouser speaking against the court, a heretic preaching against the church, or a bard spreading mockery of the mighty and undermining the people?s loyalty. Such things are rarely amenable to correction through military might, and the regent who simply crushes every sign of dissent will reap bitter fruits of their brutality ? but from small seeds grow might oaks and no noble can ignore the undermining of their influence.

Sometimes it just happens, a farmer unable to pay their taxes in corn, beet, or cattle as usual offers instead the strange gem they unearthed while plowing their field; the spinster dies pining for her lost love and her nephew inherits her memento of her lost love ? and finds it a thing beyond their ken. If the item is of moderate value commensurate to the noble?s power, then such an occurrence is a blessing. But sometimes the item is far more. The count who receives the legendary Rampart of Haelyn born in battle by the founder of Haelyn?s Aegis and lost to the order for centuries, the heretical books of justice, outlawed by the orthodox Imperial Temple centuries before but championed by the temples of Cuiraécen, perhaps simply a crown of extra-ordinary value and worth.
The noble?s neighbors drool in envy at the noble's fortune; the noble's liege-lord scowls at so prominent a display of power from a vassal; rivals consider how to claim the item for their own and allies fear they are no longer needed. Vassals grow proud in reflected glory, courtiers demand recognition of their masters power ? the item is simply more trouble than it is worth in the face of such hunger as it evokes ? but to destroy it would invite fury at the waste, and to pass it to another risk great offense to those over-looked.

A neighboring ruler has declared a holiday ? in their own honor. But the PC needs their friendship ? or to at least avoid their enmity, so the PC must grit their teeth and go to the festivity ? gift in hand ? and smile through gritted teeth if need be. Of course some who go will hide their feelings less well ? or seek some outlet for their scorn and anger. And of course who knows how far the pompous buffoon will go to celebrate their magnificence?

Valuable resources have been found near the PCs holdings in abandoned land ? or land weakly held. Possession is nine-tenths of the law and the PC is not the only person wishing to possess such riches. Of course the question remains, how were such riches overlooked for so long? Or has someone known of them but exploited them secretly ? surely they will not give them up easily?

Every lord needs a court, and wants the most skilled people possible running it. Every vassal wants a friend in the court of their liege lord, every rival wants a spy in the court, every supplicant wants a friend who can grant them favors, every noble wants a prized and rewarding position to better themselves and their house. A PC who does not rule a domain may well be asked to take on such a position ? even by an ?enemy? regent ? for how better to neutralize a threat than to turn them on your foes, or busy them with trivia?

Whenever a domain changes hands there is tumult and confusion. Who will be named heir? Will the domain be split between rivals or remain untied and strong under one ? with the others given some token to assuage their scorned pride? Will the lord?s neighbors support the new heir, or seek the chance to improve their lot while the neophyte is unsteady in their power? And of course let us not forget the abrupt need for penance as the sinful lord recognizes their time of judgment approaches or the need of old enemies to claim revenge before the lord passes beyond their reach.

Blood, sweat, and tears - I would sooner dare a thousand beast-men in battle then face another state wedding - Anon
Few battlefields feel lust and fury as intensely as a wedding. In a medieval world a wedding is not merely between two people, but often between two families, often those who are rivals or outright enemies. Weddings may be stately affairs during their ceremony, must almost all have some sort of festivity after the ceremony, not to mention vast amounts of preparation beforehand. Weddings are notable in that they generate powerful emotions ? the ?loss? of a child/nephew/cousin to another family, the ?acceptance of a new family member?, the recognition of time?s passage by the elderly ? why but they were both children when last they looked!
Weddings are common places for betrothals to be made; elderly uncles too embarrass themselves through liquor and social ineptitude; maiden aunts to proclaim loudly on the decadence of the young ? generally right in front of the aforementioned youths; feuds to arise over the slightest social slight - that will endure for decades; fights to break out between high spirited young boys; displays of wit and beauty by singles ?on the market? and the like. Then of course there is the way the other youths look in their finery and so many inviting nooks and crannies of a strange house to be explored together?
For the couple themselves there are often pre-wedding ceremonies, for the man typically involving risqué jokes, solemn stories of marital disasters, fatherly advice to the groom and likely some passing of inheritance ? and of course the stag night in one form or another, pity the poor groom who wishes that the hue and cry could be replaced with a simple priestly blessing and quiet night to get to know their bride! For the bride endless work on the dress, the floral displays, tales of marital problems from infidelity, desertion, and foolishness to practical advice on managing the home ? enough to make any bride with a streak of independence to tear up her corsage and flee for the hills!

A good match is hard to find, and a beautiful, witty, or rich singleton or marriageable age is pursued by many. Rivals must be beaten ? or driven off, and the target wooed and won. Romance is rarely gentle or free from envy and even the greatest friends can be made lifelong enemies by the struggle to win the favor of a particular lover that the other cherishes. And of course a PCs enemy will become an enemy of the PCs intended, or whisper poison in their ear and seek to turn the intended into a spy or dupe ? or worse. And what if the lover is already married or betrothed? All is fair in love and war so some bard?s say, let the gentle be warned, a faint heart never won a fair maid say others.

The second category relates to the sort of natural disaster that is remembered for generations in bard's tales, or the supernatural events that beset a world of gods and demons and magic.

The harvest has been incredible, a mild winter allowed early planting and a warm dry summer left farmers planting second crops as soon as they had finished bringing in the first harvest to market in groaning carts. But with wealth comes envy and greed, for not all have been so fortunate and the bard?s tales of golden fields and mountains of grain will bring raiders for years to come. Meanwhile the farmers demand somewhere to store their goods, and those less fortunate are impoverished by falling prices for their produce. And of course, every minor noble is abruptly wandering what to do with their sudden wealth?

Storms frequent the regent?s court ? and follow them wherever they go. At its mildest this takes the form of ongoing rain, at its most serious a series of terrifyingly violent storms. The impact on the surrounding area is generally poor, particularly in mood of the populace. Along coastal areas where bad weather endangers the fishing fleets and trade the negative effect is even more prevalent. The storm could be caused by the wrath of Kriesha, the curse of a wizard, be the manifestation of the hate, anger or sorrow that the people feel for their regent, or be the result of some infringement of the Shadow World.

A peasant?s lot is not a happy one. When the harvest is good the churches claim additional tithe and the local lord looks eagerly at their tax-book to see how they might claim the wealth. When times are hard and it seems the gods have forsaken the peasants they have few friends or resources on which to draw through the difficult times. Sometimes the difficult times persist ? dry spells become droughts, outbreaks of fever become plague, rains beat down crops and turn good soil into a sea of mud, winters become long and the planting is delayed. What causes such hardship? Have the peasants angered to gods? Was some sacrifice stolen or ritual mis-spoken? Or is the cause more mortal in nature? Is the soil simply grown poor ? if so where shall the villagers go?

The PCs castle, or another prized structure is ravaged by fire. Was it an accident or deliberate? Who would start a fire ? does it presage an attack, or was someone simply reckless with the kitchen fires? How will he building be restored? Is it merely the start of a campaign of arson? If so how will the culprits be found ? and brought to justice?

A volcano erupted, a meteor fell from the sky ? something big and loud happened last night and the court Mage insists that it portends riches and danger. What was left after the event? Meteorite iron that can be used to create a powerful artifact? A sielshegh or mebhaighl stone? Who will be sent to investigate and be trusted to return the prize?

The gods move in mysterious ways, a sign in the clouds, a streak of god or bad luck, the wise PC learns to watch for such signs and seek interpretation from the wise. But what happens when a vision is sent by a god the PC does not revere? Why is the Pc chosen? Can the vision be ignored without angering the spirit/deity? What dire visions were foretold or riches promised? Have others been sent the vision ? could the PC afford for one of them to answer the call and be victorious?
Perhaps the vision is clearer ? a sign of something which offends the power ? say the temples and shrines of another god ? one cherished by an ally or lover?

The Shadow World is a place of darkness and fear where undead roam and lich-lords plot; a place of cold absence devoid of life and hope; a place of wild change where rivers boil and mountains dance; a place of glory and wonder where ancient echoes of greatness remain; a dreamworld where thoughts and reality intertwine and the sleeping souls of Cerilians shape the world with their hopes and fears; and sometimes the Shadow World is very close to Cerilia?
When the Shadow World comes too close something can cross over, sometimes inhabitants, sometimes simply the aura of the place. Depending on what part of the Shadow World encroaches these feelings could inflame all the worst emotions of men and beasts, driving the nervous spouse to murderous jealousy, the strutting buck to rapine and the surly laborer to murder. They could rouse lethargy and inertia, sapping the folk of the will to better themselves and serve their lords. They could drive folk to madness, or fey behavior where love is formed at first sight and all caution thrown to the wind. They could inspire art, love, and all loyalty bringing the people into near perfect unity. They could break down the walls of mental privacy leaving folk waking to the memory of another person?s dreams or walk surrounded by feelings they can touch and thoughts they can taste.

Cows, goats and even nursing mothers produce frothing milk that looks and tastes of blood for their young, the land is cursed. Corn grows black and bitter, beets as hard as stone are dug from the soil and left to rot, the land is cursed. Flowers wither while mushrooms spread and fill fields, trees droop and vile lichens and fungus adorn them from stem to crown, the land is cursed. What did the PC regent do to earn such godly displeasure ? or what wrong did someone else do? Has some wizard been offended? Some spirit enraged? And how can things be made right?
The peasants are revolting at the signs of the lord?s failings, charlatans sell lotions and sugar water by the barrel impoverishing the townsfolk, priests call of heresy and a return to righteousness, neighbors view the sign of displeasure and swiftly act to shrive their own soul ? and claim the PCs lands to restore godly favor to them. The blighted realm will be torn apart by a thousand foes within and without if the PC does not act now?

Romp 'n' Stomp seeds can be played with social interactions and the like, but they are most familiar as dungeon bashes and combat fests. It doesn't mean that diplomacy and fast words have no part, just that combat is far more readily available as a solution to issues that crop up than it is in social events.

Bandits are mainly a problem for lone travelers, small crofters who live off the beaten track or wandering souls who scorn to put down roots. As a result, to much of the nobility, a small number of bandits is an active benefit in their realm ? how better to remind the peasants of the benefits of service than the odd bandit raid that leaves them to request charity or justice? Every now and then though bandits grow in number beyond the odd handful of itinerant outlaws and can threaten even armed patrols. What happens when the tribute wagon is stolen? Will the liege simply accept the loss or scorn the noble for allowing their possessions to be stolen and demand their due amount? What happens to the merchant when their ships are targeted again and again while their rivals sail with impunity?
A noble's sheriffs can deal with the odd malcontent, but organized bands are beyond them. The army can crush any imaginable bandit camp ? if they can find it, but what to do about bandits allied to or led by powerful monsters or folk of might? And should the noble themselves ally forth who knows what they will find, foolish bandits that struck too rich a prize, or a trap that was merely primed with the theft as a lure ? and who might be hind the trap? A vassal? A liege? A bored spouse knowing that their spouse must march with the Pc or lose face ? and hoping that their Cspouse will either return a hero ambition fired or dead leaving them free to marry someone more interesting ? say the PC?
Or perhaps the bandits come to the PC, they are cursed or seek redemption ? they are skilled and would make fine servants ? if they can be trusted ? and saved. Of course they have enemies amongst their old prey and likely number many rogues amongst their number.

Wild lands surround civilization, few merchants trade with ?barbarians? like goblins, elves, or humans of other cultures ? particularly those of Aduria, Thaele or Djapar. In the absence of solid information there are only two possibilities, ignorance or rumor. Those who ignore the existence of the barbarians often suffer from predation, while rumor is rarely founded on provable fact. Are the goblins really massing an army? Do priests of Azrai yet sacrifice innocents in Aduria? Have the folk of Djapar really unified their land in a crusade ? and do they now look beyond?

Some beasts are more than mere talon and claw, mystical and wondrous they are royal game and any less noble that dare lay claim to hunt them are rightly struck down by their betters. When one of the legendary Garradalaigh, or a dragon, or unicorn, or other such magnificent beast is rumored to have been spotted nobles flock to the hunt, either to marvel in the beasts presence or slay it and claim fame and wealth in doing so.

A relative, servant, child, spouse etc is kidnapped and held for ransom. Were they taken or did they go willingly? Was it an inside job with loyal servant turned traitor, or the work of skilled foes ? or lucky fools. The ransom could be for any amount, if little the kidnappers offer insult or ignorance, if too much then the PC must scrimp and scratch to raise the funds, pawn their land, or be derided as the lord who failed to protect their people.
And will the ransom be paid? To do so offers incentive to others, but paying the ransom may be more likely to succeed than armed assault ? particularly in recovering the victim alive. Of course the victim may already be dead, or poisoned, or magically charmed ? or handed over to an enemy. And how far away are they held? If the ransom is to be paid who will carry it ? and defend it on the way against those who seek to take such a rare prize?

Whether an old elven tower, an abandoned fort from the times of the empire, a subterranean orog citadel, or a relic from times of giants and myth, many wondrous structures can be found across the land. Many are populated by dust and wild beasts alone, but some yet hold great treasure ? and danger. Some of these structures were bastions of civilization until recently when some tragedy or terror struck to leave them empty, their lands fallow and abandoned; others are ancient, hidden for centuries until revealed by some storm, earthquake, or wandering explorer. Whatever the case, cleansing such a site is not a job for the faint of heart or weak of will?

The merchants are terrified, the pilgrims praying for a savior, and the PCs sheriffs wetting their breeks at the thought of clearing the roads. Something truly awful has claimed the PCs highways and no one without the blood of the old gods could dare confront it.

A pilgrimage is more than a physical journey, the arduous trek also leads the petitioner along a spiritual journey within their own soul ? at least that is the idea. After the journey the pilgrim must commune with the saint or deity revered in the holy site ? and then of course they have to come home ? or take on holy vows and cast off their life as a noble, or be inspired to create some magnificent art, or to lead a crusade of steel and fire?

A lost child is found at the foot of a hill that turns out to be a lost keep, who will claim the lost keep ? and any treasures it might hold? It would take time to whelm a large force but what small band might be brave enough to dare its long empty halls ? and who else might seek to claim it?

Sometimes a cargo is poor, bulk grains or cloths that fill the hold and do little more than pay for their transport, sometimes it is rich, fine silks from Ariya traded to the admiring ladies of Boeruine who coo over the fine fabric and pay in gold for the merest swatch of such cloth. Sometimes it is dangerous, tribute paid that a rival wishes to claim or that the payer wishes to surreptitiously reclaim, sometimes it is more mystical ? a holy relic or mysterious wizards wonder.
The ship was hired by a veiled stranger for a sum that its desperate captain could not refuse. A single crate was loaded and bound with the chains. The captain bought a cargo to hide his strange charge and hired those skilled with blades to ensure his safe passage, but despite telling none of the crate fears it already, the crate whispers to those who walk in the hold, the pleas of a young girl, the ominous threats of a burly warrior, the entreating sighs of a temptress ? each sailor reports something different. Meanwhile the navigator has nightmares of scaled beasts swimming to the ship in response so some summons, the bosun reports the crew growing fractious and insubordinate and the wind comes and goes as though it cannot decide whether to abandon the ship or tail the sails from it, and the one time they dared make port grim men were waiting with sharp knives and brutal ambition to claim their prize.