Illustration by Mondcuow
Each month, I try and pass along the generosity you show me by employing other artists to create a variety of illustrations, portraits, magical items and other works of art that can be used in your games at home, whether they be homebrew or official modules.
This week, I wanted to highlight one of those pieces -- one of my favorite starting locations for adventures and campaigns, the town of Riverton Hollow. This was one of my first town maps that included every building interior, offering a huge range of possibility for social and combat interactions, as well as a way to maintain high levels of immersion for your players. Being able to wander about the village, enter the buildings, shadow people around town, see them come and go from the tavern -- it all helps keep the players focused and immersed.
The village features several interesting buildings and lots of opportunities for fun and interesting narratives, whether you plan to have the adventure take place within the town limits, or have it serve as a quest hub, while they venture off into the neighboring wilderness.
Important locations may include:
Noble Estate - a big fish in a little pond, this small-time noble lords over the village from his estate high on the hill. Whether he has a big vision for the village's future or nefarious plans for its citizens -- you decide.
Blacksmith - adventurers need someone who can repair armor, forge weapons and potentially customize gear as they fight against the injustices of...whatever you've got planned.
Temple - whether it be prayer, guidance or a bit of holy water, this small temple serves to manage the village's spiritual needs and may even spare some time for yours, as well.
Jailhouse - serving as a crossroads for many travelers, Riverton Hollow is no stranger to the occasional scuffle or drunken mercenary. A small contingent of guards lives here, serving the needs of the local law.
Mercenary Outfit - mostly in service to the local noble, a mercenary quarters lay east of the temple and may be hiring! Clearing out goblins, protecting the roads and hunting the occasional dangerous beast may bring some excitement and coin.
Old Hermit - What village would be complete without an old hermit that lives at the edge of town. Disgruntled, self reliant and suspicious of the motivations of strangers wearing studded leather armor +1, he may have some wisdom to depart from a former life.
Random Farmhouses - Several farmhouses also exist, giving you plenty of opportunity to weave different families into your narrative, or to have several suspects in a village-oriented "We Understand Why, But Who Killed the Bard!?" mystery.
Here's the Base Map of the Town:
I had created a little write up for the village, that might be helpful as a reference guide to some of the local NPC's, and I've considered making the next crop of NPC's link to this map, creating artwork for the local innkeeper, blacksmith, miller, priest, constable and such.
I hope you enjoy the piece and seeing where some of your support goes!
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Best,
Jeff @ Morvold