Roleplaying the NPC's


Rise of the Runelords


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Hey I have been something of a longtime lurker on these boards but decided its about time I posted something.

Just got gifted the Rise of the runelords anniversary edition for my birthday and hugely anticipating running this campaign.

As part of my preparation I am focusing on how I am going to roleplaying specific NPC's. I have adopted the following formulae for the major characters in my notes:

Amikio Kaijitsu:

Proprietor of the Rusty Dragon  

APPEARANCE 
• Exotic beauty of Tian decent with a sly smile and lith frame 
• Dragon tatoo that spirals around right arm 

ROLEPLAYING 
• Smile and make fun often but avoid questions on your past or true ambitions. 
• Gently rebuke male advances with a joke. 
• Relish in tales of adventure and reward them with free ale and food.
• You are a very talented singer and samisen player, show this off when you can.

BACKGROUND 
• Strict childhood as part of aristocracy where she was taught music, academic studies and magic.
•Half elf brother Tsuto and father Loijiku -  lost mother some years ago, returned to town after running away to Magnimar to look after ageing father.
• Ex- Adventurer 

Would anyone be interested in a consolidated list like this for all the main NPC's? These notes are made to be used in conjunction with the RotrlAE as they are just bare bones info you need at a glance when the PC's meet the NPC in question.

I was also wondering to how people pronounce Amikio and Shalelu names, they don't sound right when I say them aloud, perhaps I'm pronouncing them wrong...


I pronounce it :

Ameiko : AH-MEE-KOH
Shalelu : SHA-LAY-LU

I love your Ameiko description. Keep up the good work! I might print these out on cards if there are enough of them. Maybe I'll contribute if I have the time. Newborn baby makes it difficult though. =)


Thanks for the clarification on the naming, I was saying both of them wrong haha

Here is another NPC, will post more in time as I prepare them. I want to have all Sandpoints major NPC's and any others featured in burnt offerings done by the time we start playing mid September.

Belor Hemlock:

Sheriff of Sandpoint

APPERANCE 
• Dark skinned Shoanti with piercing charcoal eyes.
• Chainmail armour buffed to a shine.

ROLEPLAYING 
• Question and probe for information, appear slightly mistrustful. Adventures have their uses but they can also be a dangerous lot. 
• Never be too relaxed and be ever vigilant for the safety of Sanpoints's townsfolk, you have a reputation as a hero to live up to.

BACKGROUND 
• Took over from previous sheriff after he was slain by Chopper, he is regarded as the man who stopped Chopper's rampage. 
• Strained relationship with brother Garridan.
• Secret romance with Kaye Tesarani. 


Oh and another for good measure :)

Brodert Quink:

Expert Sage on Thassilonian Lore 

APPEARANCE
• Aged human man with a frail frame, he wair's a pair of spectacles that look as if they've been broken on more than one occasion.
• Never too far from his ebony cat Xian.

ROLEPLAYING
• Peer across the table, despite your glasses you still struggle to see.
• Talk slowly and carefully, try and link almost any subject of discussion to ancient Thassilon. 
• You cannot understand why the people of Sandpoint don't have more interest in the areas fascinating and mysterious history. Absentmindedly tell your theories to your pet cat Xian.

BACKGROUND
• Foremost expert on ancient Thassilion in the area.
• Spent two decades of his life studying with dwarven engineers from Janderhoff and three decades as a cataloger of the Grand Library of Magnimar. 


My take on Shalelu

Shalelu Andosana:

Warden of the Sandpoint Hinterlands 

APPEARANCE 
• Attractive young elven women with sky blue eyes and a look of the wild to her. 
• Rugged and practical travel worn armour and equipment. Boots still stained with mud and the arrows in her quiver look like they have seen multiple uses slaying goblins. 

ROLEPLAYING 
• Always have your bow close at hand, you never know when danger may strike and be mindful of your surroundings, your large elven eyes and ears taking everything in. 
• Do not waste words as so many humankind are prone to do, say what you must and get to the point.
• You have a deepest love for these lands and the people within it. You see them somewhat as your innocent children, ignorant of the horrors that live in the wilds, and like a mother you will die to protect them. 
• Goblinoids are your most hated of foes, your grudge with them is deeply personal.

BACKGROUND
• Birth father slain by a bugbear when she was very young.
• Mother remarried some years later to a human man but she was killed by a green dragon. Shalelu struggled for many years to come to terms with her death until she reconciled with her stepfather and killed the green dragon who was responsible for her mothers death.
• Came to sandpoint when it was just a small struggling village and swore to protect it from goblinoids and other threats in the wilderness. 
• Close friends with Amekio, sees her as a little sister. 

Silver Crusade

This is all good stuff. Keep at it!

Silver Crusade

Actually the official pronunciation is SHA-LEE-LOO. But I pronounce it like Astralplaydoh does.


Thanks, I am going to go with the first pronunciation as well. It just sounds more organic.


Kendra Deverin:

Mayor of Sandpoint

APPEARANCE 
• Short cropped crimson hair and simple yet elegant clothing.
• She holds herself with the esteem of someone who has had a proper upbringing amongst the aristocracy.

ROLEPLAYING
•Speak with a  Posh English accent. 
• You are a kindly women who wants only the best for your citizens.
• You have had much to endure in your life with the deaths of the men you love, focus wholehearted on your role as leader of this community.

BACKGROUND
• Part of the Sandpoint aristocracy.
• Lost her father to a horse accident and brother to a snake bite. Never wanted the role of Mayor but embraced it when citizens wanted her elected. 
• Lost her friend and love to Chopper and has since given up on romance. 


Jacen wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

I was thinking to do something like this just few days ago. This post could be one of the most useful for this AP. Please continue the very good job. Thank you. It was quite a long time I didn't find something really useful for rotr in the messageboard.


Thanks :) Here is another one.

Abstalar Zantus:

High-Priest of Sandpoint 

APPEARANCE 
• Bright blue clerical vestments worn with pride, a small subtle symbol of a butterfly is sewn into the fabric across the breast of the clothing.
• A short neatly trimmed beard, he always has the slight smell of fresh pollen about his person.

ROLEPLAYING 
• Praise Desna whenever you can in conversation but do not be imposing, others are entitled to the freedom of their own beliefs.
• Teach others to be optimistic in their doings and to grab the joys of life wherever they may be. 
• Ask for tales of the wider world as you miss the days of your youth when you were free to travel and explore without the commitments you have now. 

BACKGROUND
• Spent much of his early youth traveling Varisia and bringing the word of Desna to the far reaches of the land.
• Was the most accomplished student of the previous high priest of Sandpoint, he still thinks fondly of his old master who died in the tragic Sandpoint fire. 

Grand Lodge

Jacen wrote:

My take on Shalelu

** spoiler omitted **

be carefull with the liberties you take with the last part. In chapter 3 (AP 3) of ROTRL shalelu's real personal story comes out and if played properly really helps fuel the fire and situation the "black arrows" are in at fort rannick. I do not want to spoil any thing so will say no more.


Okay I have not read that far ahead but I will keep that in mind. This is designed to be used upon initial meeting with the NPC's and is just for GM reference.


Jacen wrote:
Okay I have not read that far ahead but I will keep that in mind. This is designed to be used upon initial meeting with the NPC's and is just for GM reference.

Yeah, Jacen, I think he's referring to

Spoiler:
bullet point number two in your background for Shalelu. If you roleplayed her by that point, there would be some serious continuity errors when book three comes about!

Grand Lodge

Don't mean to Necro a thread, but this was great, and am wondering if the OP ever completed his list for the rest of the main NPCs or if there's anywhere else i could find a quick reference in Word or PDF format to just have for quick access in my binder?

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