Collaborative Worldbuilding: Creating a Starter Region through a list of questions

[Wasp]

Hi everyone

I would love to collaboratively build here in the forums a Starter Region for a typical 5e Campaign and I thought it could be fun if this was done through asking different questions about the starting village, the starting area (a small barony or mark for example) and the starting region (think the local kingdom or duchy).

Anyone here can answer one question at a time by writing a few sentences (try to avoid more than a paragraph). In addition to answering an existing question you can add an additional question if you want, thereby adding more and more details.

I think it would be a good idea to copy/quote the list of questions and and add the answers next to or below each entry to keep an overview. I have added one answer as example to one of the questions.

No back to back posts, but you can participate as much as you want, just leave room for others. Oh and try not to answer questions you have asked yourself ;-)

So this would be my starting questions:

What is the name of the village?

What terrain surrounds the village?
The village is located near a waterfall that runs down a steep slope from a forested highland to a sea. The village is built into the waterfall's ravine, above the storm spray. It's fishing fleet uses the small river's estuary to protect it from the waves, and a twisting road connects the docks and warehouses to the industrial area around the two mill-wheels, to the inns and shops, and connects to the homes, which are mostly protected from storm winds in the ravine itself.

What is a unique landmark nearby?
A twenty foot tall stone pillar halfway up an unremarkable slope near, but not in, the village. It does not appear to be part of any ruin and has no easily discernable purpose.

Why could the PCs want to travel here?
The narrow coastal plain between the wave-battered coastal cliffs and the fir and pine covered coastal mountain range is perfect for growing maize and other cereal crops, and game hunters are attracted to the area to hunt the plentiful deer, elk, and wild cattle. Some hunters come for the big game predators. Some come to hunt the carnivorous coastal monsters that prey on both.

There is also a nearly forgotten path through the coastal range into a valley once inhabited by a culture that built round stone structures, some of which remain overgrown with vines and trees which appear to be devouring the ruins at a glacial pace.

How is the village connected through trade routes, rivers etc?
What Peoples live in the village?
Does the village have a Patron, Lord, or other ruler who does not reside within the village?

What is another settlement nearby?
Selkie Rock, a small island with rocky shores and an encircling cliff, about ten miles down the coast and barely visible on the horizon from the nearest headland. A cluster of tiny, crude cottages sit at the head of the ridge atop a cliff, with a very few farther uphill. The villagers are wary of outsiders and there are no inns or accomodations for visitors. The villagers will occasionally trade fish and salt in the mainland village, but otherwise have little to do with mainlanders.

DM Info:
The villagers are almost all selkies, (a were-sea lion template on a base human.) Young adults venture out to explore and find mates, and most marry into other communities. They can subsist on fishing while in sea lion form and they are extremely cautious about revealing their secret. A very few young adults are curious about the dry lands, and become adventurers for a while. Their communities sigh and wonder where they went wrong with such characters.

What does the village mainly live from?
Is the the village known for something special?

What is a major threat to the village?
The Great Storms blow up out of cloudless summer skies and lash the coast for days, toppling trees, ripping roofs from houses and creating floods which destroy crops. And sometimes they are worse.

In the hot, calm aftermath, on a moonless night, the Gleaners come.

The abyssal fishmen take advantage of the helpless and injured, killing many, capturing as many alive as they can, and pillaging what wealth lies at hand, the invaders retreat into the sea before dawn and are not seen again on the coast for another generation. Diviners say there is a kingdom of them out on the depths of the ocean floor, but no one seeking it out has ever returned to tell the tale. Sometimes only the elderly remember such an attack -until the one storm comes that proves the myths true.

What is a major NPC here?
A woman named May who has been hollowed out by a psychic grey ooze. The ooze's goal is to divide itself, lure townsfolk into solitary ambushes, and hollow the hapless victims so its duplicates all have bodies.

How does the village regard its neighbours? Does it have any alliances or rivalries?

What is the area called?
What are some major dominant landscapes?
What is a major natural feature?
Who rules the area?

What happened here 100 years ago?
A young woman known only as the Herald led a group of shadowy inquisitors to root out a terrible demonic infestation, eventually battling an alkilith and destroying it. The inquisitors, to save time and prevent being overwhelmed, did not destroy most of the demons they fought, but rather petrified them. As such, the area is dotted with statues of terrifying demons, which the locals leave alone. For any one of these the PCs pass, there is a 1-in-6 chance there is a small offering left there by a demonic cult present in the region.

The inquisitors left a conch shell with a village leader. When blown, it makes no noise, but it alerts the inquisitors that the village needs help.

What is a current political conflict here?

What do people here eat typically for breakfast?
From the rich to the poor the typical food to break the night fast is a thin maize flatbread filled with fried beans, to which other foods are added depending on the economic situation or season, a favorite addition being definitely lots of dried or fresh chilies.

How would someone describe a stereotypical person from this area?

What is the region called?
What are some other areas in the region?
What is a major conflict in the region?


What is unusual or interesting about the sky?

If you look directly up from the bottom of the waterfall, the sky changes color to dull orange at day. The sun will appear to be directly above and bright red during day, regardless of where the sun ought to normally be. At night, the sky is pitch-black, with unfamiliar constellations. Few people have noticed, so it's mostly just a rumor for know, and locals have not figured out what this means or why it happens.


Anyone interested? If so, post away!

[Sparky McDibben]

Village: The major NPC is a woman named May who has been hollowed out by a psychic grey ooze. The ooze's goal is to divide itself, lure townsfolk into solitary ambushes, and hollow the hapless victims so its duplicates all have bodies.

[brian 333]

What terrain surrounds the village?

The village is located near a waterfall that runs down a steep slope from a forested highland to a sea. The village is built into the waterfall's ravine, above the storm spray. It's fishing fleet uses the small river's estuary to protect it from the waves, and a twisting road connects the docks and warehouses to the industrial area around the two mill-wheels, to the inns and shops, and connects to the homes, which are mostly protected from storm winds in the ravine itself.

[Wasp]

Thanks a lot! I really like the location of the village. Definitely something to explore more with questions (Hint! Hint! :smallbiggrin:)

We have so far answered the following questions:

What terrain surrounds the village?

The village is located near a waterfall that runs down a steep slope from a forested highland to a sea. The village is built into the waterfall's ravine, above the storm spray. It's fishing fleet uses the small river's estuary to protect it from the waves, and a twisting road connects the docks and warehouses to the industrial area around the two mill-wheels, to the inns and shops, and connects to the homes, which are mostly protected from storm winds in the ravine itself.

What is a major NPC in the village?

A woman named May who has been hollowed out by a psychic grey ooze. The ooze's goal is to divide itself, lure townsfolk into solitary ambushes, and hollow the hapless victims so its duplicates all have bodies.

What do people in the area eat typically for breakfast?

From the rich to the poor the typical food to break the night fast is a thin maize flatbread filled with fried beans, to which other foods are added depending on the economic situation or season, a favorite addition being definitely lots of dried or fresh chilies

Anyone who wants to answer questions and/or add new questions?

[Vahnavoi]

What is unusual or interesting about the sky?


If you look directly up from the bottom of the waterfall, the sky changes color to dull orange at day. The sun will appear to be directly above and bright red during day, regardless of where the sun ought to normally be. At night, the sky is pitch-black, with unfamiliar constellations. Few people have noticed, so it's mostly just a rumour for know, and locals have not figured out what this means or why it happens.

[Sparky McDibben]

What happened here 100 years ago?

A young woman known only as the Herald led a group of shadowy inquisitors to root out a terrible demonic infestation, eventually battling an alkilith and destroying it. The inquisitors, to save time and prevent being overwhelmed, did not destroy most of the demons they fought, but rather petrified them. As such, the area is dotted with statues of terrifying demons, which the locals leave alone. For any one of these the PCs pass, there is a 1-in-6 chance there is a small offering left there by a demonic cult present in the region.

The inquisitors left a conch shell with a village leader. When blown, it makes no noise, but it alerts the inquisitors that the village needs help.

[brian 333]

Why could the PCs want to travel here?

The narrow coastal plain between the wave-battered coastal cliffs and the fir and pine covered coastal mountain range is perfect for growing maize and other cereal crops, and game hunters are attracted to the area to hunt the plentiful deer, elk, and wild cattle. Some hunters come for the big game predators. Some come to hunt the carnivorous coastal monsters that prey on both.

There is also a nearly forgotten path through the coastal range into a valley once inhabited by a culture that built round stone structures, some of which remain overgrown with vines and trees which appear to be devouring the ruins at a glacial pace.

Unanswered Question
Does the village have a Patron, Lord, or other ruler who does not reside within the village?

[Wasp]

Oh, I love this very much! All very evocative! Thank you very much! and keep em coming!

Definitely some more questions rising from this I think!

So the answered questions are:

What terrain surrounds the village?

The village is located near a waterfall that runs down a steep slope from a forested highland to a sea. The village is built into the waterfall's ravine, above the storm spray. It's fishing fleet uses the small river's estuary to protect it from the waves, and a twisting road connects the docks and warehouses to the industrial area around the two mill-wheels, to the inns and shops, and connects to the homes, which are mostly protected from storm winds in the ravine itself.

Why could the PCs want to travel here?

The narrow coastal plain between the wave-battered coastal cliffs and the fir and pine covered coastal mountain range is perfect for growing maize and other cereal crops, and game hunters are attracted to the area to hunt the plentiful deer, elk, and wild cattle. Some hunters come for the big game predators. Some come to hunt the carnivorous coastal monsters that prey on both.

There is also a nearly forgotten path through the coastal range into a valley once inhabited by a culture that built round stone structures, some of which remain overgrown with vines and trees which appear to be devouring the ruins at a glacial pace.

What is a major NPC in the village?

A woman named May who has been hollowed out by a psychic grey ooze. The ooze's goal is to divide itself, lure townsfolk into solitary ambushes, and hollow the hapless victims so its duplicates all have bodies.

What happened here 100 years ago?

A young woman known only as the Herald led a group of shadowy inquisitors to root out a terrible demonic infestation, eventually battling an alkilith and destroying it. The inquisitors, to save time and prevent being overwhelmed, did not destroy most of the demons they fought, but rather petrified them. As such, the area is dotted with statues of terrifying demons, which the locals leave alone. For any one of these the PCs pass, there is a 1-in-6 chance there is a small offering left there by a demonic cult present in the region.

The inquisitors left a conch shell with a village leader. When blown, it makes no noise, but it alerts the inquisitors that the village needs help.

[B]What do people in the area eat typically for breakfast?

From the rich to the poor the typical food to break the night fast is a thin maize flatbread filled with fried beans, to which other foods are added depending on the economic situation or season, a favorite addition being definitely lots of dried or fresh chilies

Anyone who wants to answer questions and/or add new questions?

What is unusual or interesting about the sky?

If you look directly up from the bottom of the waterfall, the sky changes color to dull orange at day. The sun will appear to be directly above and bright red during day, regardless of where the sun ought to normally be. At night, the sky is pitch-black, with unfamiliar constellations. Few people have noticed, so it's mostly just a rumor for know, and locals have not figured out what this means or why it happens.

And a new question:
Does the village have a Patron, Lord, or other ruler who does not reside within the village?

[brian 333]

What is another settlement nearby?

On Selkie Rock, a small island about ten miles down the coast and barely visible on the horizon from the nearest headland, is a village of about thirty adults and another sixty to eighty children.

The island has rocky shores and an encircling cliff, with a steeply sloped natural ramp on the shoreward side of the islet. It is a single ragged, storm-wracked mountain which rises no more than 500 feet above the median tide, and the ridge helps to create a tiny, marginally sheltered harbor. The island is about four square miles.

The cottages of the village are tiny, crude, and constructed of native stone. They cluster at the head of the ridge atop the cliff, with a very few farther uphill.

The villagers appear friendly among themselves, but are wary of outsiders. There are no inns or public houses, and no accomodations for visitors. If any are asked why, that answer will likely be a sarcastic variation on, 'Nobody wants to live here. Why would anyone want to visit?"

The villagers fish in tiny boats that appear old and well used, but sturdily built and well tended. Drying racks for fish and salt pans appear to be their major occupation.

The villagers will occasionally trade fish and salt in the mainland village, but otherwise have little to do with mainlanders.

DM Info:

There appears to be a problem with youngsters in their late teens vanishing. Occasionally one will return with a spouse and the new couple will settle into village life. Few mainlanders know the Islanders well enough to notice this.

The villagers are almost all selkies, (a were-sea lion template on a base human.) Young adults venture out to explore and find mates, and most marry into other communities. They can subsist on fishing while in sea lion form, and do not require vegetables, even though some enjoy various vegetable dishes, garnishes, and spices. They are only concerned about other races when they impact selkie fisheries and communities, and they are extremely cautious about revealing their secret.

A very few young adults are curious about the dry lands, and become adventurers for a while. Their communities sigh and wonder where they went wrong with such characters.

[Sapphire Guard]

What is a unique landmark nearby

A twenty foot tall stone pillar halfway up an unremarkable slope near, but not in, the village. It does not appear to be part of any ruin and has no easily discernable purpose.

How does the village regard its neighbours? Does it have any alliances or rivalries?

[brian 333]

What is a major threat to the village?

As with any coastal town, ocean storms are a huge threat. Most commonly, these gales bluster and blow, and may drive a ship onto a bar or shoal. Sometimes they are far worse.

The great storms blow up out of cloudless summer skies and lash the coast for hours or days, toppling trees, ripping roofs from houses, and creating inland floods which destroy crops and engorge river channels. And sometimes they are worse.

Having wreaked havoc on fishing fleets and crops, having destroyed crops, warehouses, and silos, having destroyed the shelter of many villagers, in the hot, calm aftermath, on a moonless night, the gleaners come.

Devil-fish, fishmen, sehaugin, the abyssal abominations follow a storm ashore to take advantage of the helpless and injured, killing many, capturing as many alive as they can, and pillaging what wealth lies at hand, the invaders retreat into the sea before dawn and are not seen again on the coast for another generation.

Diviners say there is a kingdom of them out on the depths of the ocean floor, but if any adventurers are brave enough to go see if the seers tell it true, none return to tell the tale.

Sometimes only the elderly remember such an attack, and the youth are all too eager to dismiss such unlikely tales, until the one storm comes that proves the myths true.

[Wasp]

Lovely stuff!

I have updated the main post with the new info. I have edited down the longer paragraphs, so that the posting doesn't get too long.

What is the name of the village?

What terrain surrounds the village?
The village is located near a waterfall that runs down a steep slope from a forested highland to a sea. The village is built into the waterfall's ravine, above the storm spray. It's fishing fleet uses the small river's estuary to protect it from the waves, and a twisting road connects the docks and warehouses to the industrial area around the two mill-wheels, to the inns and shops, and connects to the homes, which are mostly protected from storm winds in the ravine itself.

What is a unique landmark nearby?
A twenty foot tall stone pillar halfway up an unremarkable slope near, but not in, the village. It does not appear to be part of any ruin and has no easily discernable purpose.

Why could the PCs want to travel here?
The narrow coastal plain between the wave-battered coastal cliffs and the fir and pine covered coastal mountain range is perfect for growing maize and other cereal crops, and game hunters are attracted to the area to hunt the plentiful deer, elk, and wild cattle. Some hunters come for the big game predators. Some come to hunt the carnivorous coastal monsters that prey on both.

There is also a nearly forgotten path through the coastal range into a valley once inhabited by a culture that built round stone structures, some of which remain overgrown with vines and trees which appear to be devouring the ruins at a glacial pace.

How is the village connected through trade routes, rivers etc?
What Peoples live in the village?
Does the village have a Patron, Lord, or other ruler who does not reside within the village?

What is another settlement nearby?
Selkie Rock, a small island with rocky shores and an encircling cliff, about ten miles down the coast and barely visible on the horizon from the nearest headland. A cluster of tiny, crude cottages sit at the head of the ridge atop a cliff, with a very few farther uphill. The villagers are wary of outsiders and there are no inns or accomodations for visitors. The villagers will occasionally trade fish and salt in the mainland village, but otherwise have little to do with mainlanders.

DM Info:
The villagers are almost all selkies, (a were-sea lion template on a base human.) Young adults venture out to explore and find mates, and most marry into other communities. They can subsist on fishing while in sea lion form and they are extremely cautious about revealing their secret. A very few young adults are curious about the dry lands, and become adventurers for a while. Their communities sigh and wonder where they went wrong with such characters.

What does the village mainly live from?
Is the the village known for something special?

What is a major threat to the village?
The Great Storms blow up out of cloudless summer skies and lash the coast for days, toppling trees, ripping roofs from houses and creating floods which destroy crops. And sometimes they are worse.

In the hot, calm aftermath, on a moonless night, the Gleaners come.

The abyssal fishmen take advantage of the helpless and injured, killing many, capturing as many alive as they can, and pillaging what wealth lies at hand, the invaders retreat into the sea before dawn and are not seen again on the coast for another generation. Diviners say there is a kingdom of them out on the depths of the ocean floor, but no one seeking it out has ever returned to tell the tale. Sometimes only the elderly remember such an attack -until the one storm comes that proves the myths true.

What is a major NPC here?
A woman named May who has been hollowed out by a psychic grey ooze. The ooze's goal is to divide itself, lure townsfolk into solitary ambushes, and hollow the hapless victims so its duplicates all have bodies.

How does the village regard its neighbours? Does it have any alliances or rivalries?

What is the area called?
What are some major dominant landscapes?
What is a major natural feature?
Who rules the area?

What happened here 100 years ago?
A young woman known only as the Herald led a group of shadowy inquisitors to root out a terrible demonic infestation, eventually battling an alkilith and destroying it. The inquisitors, to save time and prevent being overwhelmed, did not destroy most of the demons they fought, but rather petrified them. As such, the area is dotted with statues of terrifying demons, which the locals leave alone. For any one of these the PCs pass, there is a 1-in-6 chance there is a small offering left there by a demonic cult present in the region.

The inquisitors left a conch shell with a village leader. When blown, it makes no noise, but it alerts the inquisitors that the village needs help.

What is a current political conflict here?

What do people here eat typically for breakfast?
From the rich to the poor the typical food to break the night fast is a thin maize flatbread filled with fried beans, to which other foods are added depending on the economic situation or season, a favorite addition being definitely lots of dried or fresh chilies.

How would someone describe a stereotypical person from this area?

What is the region called?
What are some other areas in the region?
What is a major conflict in the region?


What is unusual or interesting about the sky?

If you look directly up from the bottom of the waterfall, the sky changes color to dull orange at day. The sun will appear to be directly above and bright red during day, regardless of where the sun ought to normally be. At night, the sky is pitch-black, with unfamiliar constellations. Few people have noticed, so it's mostly just a rumor for know, and locals have not figured out what this means or why it happens.


I would love to add some additional questions that connect the dofferent elements we have a little more. We'll see ;-)

[brian 333]

What are some major dominant landscapes?

The sea has an offshore current which flows Southward at about 20 mph, transporting 40 degree F (cold) arctic water Southward. Inside the barrier islands and embayments, when the summer heats up the water enough, a much slower, much less cohesive current of warmer water that can be as warm as 70 degrees F struggles Northward as it hugs the coastline. Otherwise, when there isn't enough heat on the coast, the Southward flow of the cold current forms counterclockwise gyres around islands and open bays.

This leads to fog banks forming when warm, dry air from the land blows out over the sea or when cool, humid air from the sea rolls over warm land. Navigation by locals is considered tricky at these times. Many shipwrecks attest to how dangerous it is for those not intimately familiar with the waters.

Along the coast are many islands. Some are the farthest west peaks of the coastal mountain range, while some are worn down headlands or remnants of coastal landslides. Only a very few are large enough to be inhabited, and even fewer have a local supply of fresh water.

The coastline itself is a cliff up to 150 feet tall, broken in many places by landslides, ravines, and small bays. The beaches are primarily composed of sharp, broken boulders embedded in coarse sand. In some places headlands have captured current loops that have deposited huge sandy beaches. Mud banks are more common at the mouths of ravines, and the coastlines of the bays depend upon the bays' geography. They range from mangrove swamp to rocky cliff, and everything imaginable in between. One ancient bay has been filled with sand which has overgrown with salt grass. When tides are high and winds are offshore, local tribes' folk set nets and traps on the open sand and camp in the nearby hills. When the tides receed, they tend their nets and traps, then retire to their camps to clean and preserve their catch.

From the coastal clifftops towards the East there is a plain. In places the coastal mountains reach the edge of the sea, and in others they are ten or more miles from the coast, so the plains curve and conform to the space between them the longest of these many plains runs unbroken for no more than eighty miles. The fertile soil of the plains has, in many places, been augmented by aquaducts that divert mountain streams from their natural ravines to croplands at the base of the mountains. Opinions vary on the age of the aquaducts and who first constructed them, but each generation maintains and improves them. In some cases, once lush ravines have become mud and boulder canyons, starved for water, yet unable to retain it when spring floods gouge through dragging boulders and tons of fertile soil to the sea.

The coastal range itself begins with gentle folded hills and valleys, typically forested on the heights. But there are The Sisters. These massive mountains rise out of the gentle hills as giants. Most are crowned with glaciers, and they thrust up the folded hills around them into true mountains.

The Sisters form a rough line South to North and are spaced no more than 100 miles apart. The exact number is debated, but there are at least twelve, including The Triplets in the far north each of which has its peak no more than twenty miles from the others, with their bases grown together as a single mountain. In the South, Genatrive has been known to cause earthquakes and from time to time smoke issues from her crown. Locals refer to her as "The Angry Sister."

[Sparky McDibben]

What does the village mainly live from?

The villagers are partially fishermen, but also dive for meat. About thirty feet below the surface, just out into the deep water, there's an area where you can swim down and harvest rock that, when cut off, is actually the meat from some kind of regenerating monster. It's high in protein, lasts for a long time, and while tough, is extremely nourishing. The villagers all tell merchants that they trade for the meat of exotic birds on local islands, namely because they don't want someone taking their food source away.

DM Info: This is an unconscious tarrasque, which may or may not wake up when you need it to.