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Hi there,
Many of you guys always know the drill, but the sake of newcomers this thread attempts to build a database of random encounters (that may or may not carry further implications). The idea is that you can use this database to spice up downtime with some randoms events that makes your world seem more alive.
This episode regards the Pcs base of operation, be it a ruin, a city house or a new build castle. For the simplicity of it I shall refer to it as a castle, but don not let that restriction on your creativity.
1. A messenger come to the castle with an invitation to a ball. A local lord has taken notice of your growing power.
2. A wall explodes in the kitchen; A bulette comes bursting through the rubble.
3. A local farmer is asking for a loan after a failed harvest
7. the cook, drunk while cooking a boar, put the kitchen on fire.
8. an earthquake destroy a part of the while, revealing a secret passage.
9. a chiken activated all the trap leading to the treasure.
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11. Scandal! Married PCs making out with the the servants!
12. Scandal! Servant under your employment found worked-to-death! Who is to blame???
13. Servants refusing to work on Friday the 13th! And you have a grand ball to setup that same day!
14. Scandal! Pregnant servant confronts PC/s, claim the child is one of theirs!
16. The toilets are blocked. Many of the servants/guards now have dysentery.
(For those who care about real life, take a close look at the ground plan of Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey (Wales). It has a toilet nearly every 10 feet of curtain wall. Was there a bit of a problem while they were building it?!?)
20. A royal parade has arrived on your doorstep. The local monarchy has seen your rising power and seeks an alliance, possibly through marriage.
21. A prominent church in the region has sent their bishop to see you regarding certain actions they do not approve of. He arrives with his retinue and all due pomp.
22. A warband of orcs comes to the castle. They're not belligerent, they're seeking sanctuary from something far worse....
23. Some of the help are starting to get sick. It started with the stableboy who took care of that tax collector's horse, now it's running through the staff.
24. Lightning strikes the roof during a freak storm (did you irritate the local druid circle?). I hope your library wasn't in that tower!
25. One morning you walk into the treasure to find it entirely gone! The only thing left is a note: "Sorry, needed this to bait a dragon. Will return leftovers." It's signed by the infamous adventuring company roaming the area (not yours, of course).
26. An additional tower is being constructed - the whole castle is flooded with labourers.
29. White fog slowly creep up on the castle. Word stops arriving from the outside world.
30. Royal decree is sent that taxes must be raised and a tenth must be send to the crown
31. Band of adventurers comes seeking work
34. Your judgement is demanded in a case of a noble vs. a commoner. (no matter who's side you will decide it will leave the other side offended)
35. Extreme rain affected the storage rooms (either food, items or both), perhaps fast action can prevent or limit damage.
36. Earthquake (all walls and buildings take damage)
37. Flooding (in the spring when rivers increase in volume a minor flood can cause some harm)
38. Extremely fertile year (bumper crop extra yield of 10% to 50%)
39. Extra trade income of the yearly market (10% to 50% extra money in taxes)
40. Wandering mercenary group wander into your territory (are they looking for work or are they plunderes?)
41. Extreme weather destroying part of the crop (10% to 50% less yield)
42. Epidemia (all work in the castle area is basically suspended and people may lose their lives)
43. Visit of a royal family members and his entourage temporily boosts business in your fiefdom (increase tax revenue by 10% to 20%)
44. A conflict occurs between rival guilds threatening production that month
45. Royal visit. As much as you think this to be a boon, it is actually a hindrance and a financial drain. All work in the castle is suspended and great feast are held and must be prepared and cleaned. A royal banquet every day surely drains the monetary recources of the castle (there are multiple examples of kings bankrupting their hosts by staying too long, sometimes even intentionally)
46. Doomsayer visits. A Doomsayer visits your neck of the woods and scares the populace. A decrease in production occurs (20% to 50%) unless you either bribe the Doomsayer or manage to defraud his scam
47. A new crafting facility is sponteanously founded and it's facilities are at your service.
48. Extremely fertile livestock delivers more tax income (5% to 15%)
As general rule I'd advice to allow player to limit or even prevent (or repair) the damage by an adventure or efforts on their side. Make sure they realise that a fiefdom is more then numbers on a piece of paper. A fiefdom requires effort and dedication (not all the time off course).
Reward players for coming up with unconventional solutions and the use of their own crafts, skills and professions.
20. A royal parade has arrived on your doorstep. The local monarchy has seen your rising power and seeks an alliance, possibly through marriage.
As an added twist, the monarch is evil and demands marriage to a party member. When rebuffed, he starts sending kidnappers.
49. Dire rats continue to stream from the drainage grates, attacking the castle staff. Something is amiss beneath the castle...
50. The castle astrologer requires assistance from party members to accurately read the signs of a very odd auspice.
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51. A local craftsman barges his way into the castle, fights off the guards and begins running rampant through the halls. When finally confronted by the party demands the release of the princess, after being talked down or defeated it is explained to him that the princess he seeks isn't there and must be in some other castle.
52. A wandering artist visits the castle, offering to create a great masterpiece for an exorbitant sum (determined by GM to be appropriate to current level/funds) if accepted roll percentile to determine quality, a high value will impress visiting dignitaries, a medium will improve local morale, a low roll is a swindle.
53. A goblin is found in the castles kitchen. Leading to the discovery of a goblin tunnel under one of the castle walls, a costly repair and several days suspension of ongoing projects while a search is conducted for any other goblins to have snuck in.