Random 18th Century Villages for a Gothic Sandbox

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18th Century, Austenpunk, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, Regency, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, schauerroman

What’s a Gothic story without an isolated village filled with dark secrets? The following random tables will help you design small European communities with populations between 100 and 1000 people, of the kind that might be constitute part of an 18^th century aristocrat’s estate. In conjunction with Appendices A, B, C, and D of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”, they let you procedurally generate a complete countryside of horrors for PCs to wander at will.

If you would like your villages to be more Jane Austen and less Matthew Lewis, simply ignore Tables 16 and 17.

Table 1a: The Basic Layout of an Inland Village

d12	The buildings primarily cluster…
1	along a straight section of road
2	along a section of road that curves like a “C”
3	along a section of road that curves like an “S”
4	around an “X”-shaped crossroads
5	around an “X”-shaped crossroads enclosed by a ring.
6	around a “T”-shaped crossroads
7	around a “Y”-shaped, three-way crossroads
8	around a trident where two roads converge at angles on a third.
9	around a star-shaped, six-way crossroads.
10	around an “H” of paths, one leg of which connects to the main road.
11	around an especially large square or green, through which the main road passes.
12	in a gridiron of streets forming short blocks, like a miniature city.

There will also be 2d4 minor lanes branching off from the main paths(s) towards the surrounding fields.

Table 1b: The Basic Layout of a Maritime Village

d6	The buildings primarily cluster….
1	along a section of road that hugs the shoreline.
2	around a “T”-shaped crossroads, with the top of the “T” hugging the shoreline.
3	in a gridiron of streets forming short blocks, like a miniature city.
4	around a triangle of paths, with one side on the waterfront.
5	on a square of paths, with one side on the waterfront.
6	away from the shore, and resemble an inland village. Use Table 1a to determine Basic Layout.

d8	The waterfront has…
1	a long embankment with bollards.
2	a long embankment with bollards and a single long pier.
3	a long embankment with 2d4 short piers.
4	a single long pier.
6 – 7	2d4 piers.
7 – 8	a beach, upon which boats are pulled.

There will also be 2d4 minor lanes branching off from the main cluster of buildings, leading inland.

Table 2: The Main Source of Fresh Water

d6	Most of the water used by villagers comes from…
1	1d4 streams.
2	a canal. 50% chance a lock is located in or near the village.
3	a lake.
4	1d4 ponds.
5	a spring.
6	1d4 wells.

Table 3: Overall Impression of the Village

d20	At fist glance, the village looks:
1 – 6	perfectly ordinary.
7 – 8	very clean and tidy.
9 – 10	very dirty, with filth and garbage everywhere.
11	quite new, as if all the building had been constructed in the past decade.
12 – 13	exceptionally ancient.
14	gloomy and depressing.
15	decrepit.
16	partially deserted.
17	overcrowded.
18	like there was a recent fire (or other disaster).
19 – 20	bucolic.

Table 4: Village Population

d20	Population:	Land-owning families (besides the primary landlord):
1	100 + d100	0
2	200 + d100	0
3 – 5	300 + d100	0
6 – 10	400 + d100	1
11 – 15	500 + d100	1
16 – 17	600 + d100	1
18	700 + d100	2
19	800 + d100	2
20	900 + d100	2 or 3

Divide the population by 8 to find the total number of cottages. If the village looks partially deserted, divide by 4. If the village is overcrowded, divide by 16.

About 90% of families of most villages will be directly involved in food production of some kind – whether farming or fishing.

In Poland, Russia, Prussia, and the Kingdom of Hungary, a village may be inhabited mostly or wholly by bound serfs.

In the Kingdom of Hungary, up to 10% of the population may be impoverished (or “sandalled”) nobility – barely distinguishable from peasants in their economic circumstances, but possessing the legal rights of aristocracy.

Table 5: Building Density

d8	The building density in the village is…
1	Very high – almost every building shares a wall with those on either side.
2 – 4	High – there is perhaps a few inches between buildings in the central cluster, with only one or two outlying buildings.
5 – 6	Moderate – there is 1d4 feet between buildings in the central cluster, with a few outlying buildings.
7	Low – there is 4+1d10 feet between buildings. 50% chance that a house has a wall or fence around its lot. The walls or fences of adjacent lots connect. About 25% of the buildings will be up to a ¼ mile away from the main cluster.
8+	Very low – there is 15+d20 feet between buildings in the central cluster, most of which are in the middle of walled or fenced lots. Half or more of the building are scattered up to a ¼ mile from the central cluster.

Modifiers:

-2 for villages in Italy, Spain, Portugal, or Provence.

+4 for villages in Poland and Russia.

A village will be built in the “vernacular” style of its region. There will always be a blacksmith, a grain mill, and a church (the presence of which distinguishes a village from a hamlet). A logging village will also have a saw-mill. Mills may be wind powered (common in colder regions), water-powered, or turned by draft animals. In beer-drinking regions, there often be a malt house (a large building with an open interior, where barley is malted to make beer). In a wine-growing region, a village will have a wine-press instead. In the Italian States, Spain, and southern France, a village may also have its own olive–press. Mills, wine-presses and olive-presses will be usually be owned by the village landlord, who will charge the villagers a fee for its use. Often, there is only a single bread (and roasting) oven in the village, and villagers are likewise charged for its use.

There will be few (if any) shops in a village. Villagers make their own clothing, make most of their own food, repair their own houses, and often make their own beer (or wine). Cutlery and worked iron can be commissioned from the blacksmith. A local woman may be willing to sew (or repair) clothing for visitors. There might be a doctor and/or apothecary in a larger village. Except in those parts of Britain which are already industrializing, most finished goods a village produces (such as cloth or ceramics) are made by its inhabitants in their homes, and then collected by an agent of the landlord (or commissioning merchant). Such commodities may be available for legal purchase – with several days notice. Goods and services that villagers cannot provide themselves must usually be obtained from the market in the nearest town, or from itinerant merchants (who might pass through the village once a week or so, from spring to autumn). Such visiting merchants might work directly for the landlord, or pay him a fee (unless they are Gypsies who visit irregularly, and sell illegally).

Table 5: The Village Church

d20	The village church is…
1 – 3	too small for its congregation.
4 – 6	too large for its congregation.
7	very plainly decorated.
8	ostentatiously decorated.
7 – 9	in very bad repair.
10 – 14	neat, tidy, and in good repair.
15 – 16	filled with strange and disturbing art.
17	apparently a popular place for trysts!
18	of a different denomination than the official state Church.
19	actually two small churches that seem to compete for congregants.
20	an abandoned ruin – where do the villagers worship?

Also see “Twenty Creepy Churches in Isolated Places” in the supplement “A Ghastly Potpourri”.

Table 6a: Landmark of an Inland Village

d100	The most noteworthy location in or near the village is…
1 – 4	the local church.
5 – 8	the estate house (or castle) of the local landlord.
9 – 12	the pleasure house of an aristocrat (other than the landlord). A Villa, Lustschloss, Maison de Plaisance, etc.
13 – 16	a nearby fort where a company or regiment of soldiers is stationed. If the landlord is titled nobility, they may also be the force’s commander.
17 – 20	a local ruin. See Appendix C of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
21 – 24	a complex of subterranean tunnels. See Appendix D of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
25 – 28	a network of underground caverns. See Appendix D of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
29 – 32	an ancient tree.
33 – 36	a stone circle.
37 – 40	a lake.
41 – 44	a bridge.
45 – 48	a natural spring.
49 – 52	a marsh or swamp.
53 – 56	a roadside shrine.
57 – 60	a corpse road.
61 – 64	a hill (if lowland) or valley (if upland).
65 – 68	a small patch of woods that is supposedly haunted.
69 – 72	another whole village, apparently abandoned.
73 – 76	a monument to a local hero.
77 – 80	the village cross.
81 – 84	a large, oddly-colored rock.
85 – 88	a rock formation that resembles something else (a person, animal, monsters, etc.)
89 – 92	a former battlefield, now a mass grave.
93 – 96	the remains of a defensive wall.
97 – 98	a monastery (or school for boys, in a Protestant country).
99 – 100	a convent (or school for girls, in a Protestant country).

Table 6b: Landmark of a Maritime Village

d20	The most noteworthy location in or near the village is…
1	the local church.
2	the estate house (or castle) of the local landlord.
3	a small chapel on an island offshore.
4	a monastery or convent on an island offshore. Abandoned if a Protestant country.
5	the pleasure house of an aristocrat (other than the landlord).
6	a nearby fort where a company or regiment of soldiers is stationed. If the landlord is titled nobility, they may also be the force’s commander.
7	a local ruin. See Appendix C of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
8	a complex of subterranean tunnels. See Appendix D of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
9	a network of underground caverns. See Appendix D of “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
10 – 11	a lighthouse / beacon
12 – 13	a supposedly haunted island offshore.
14	a rocky, supposedly inaccessible island offshore.
15	a wrecked ship (just offshore, or even washed up on shore)
16	a large, oddly-colored rock.
17	a rock formation that resembles something else (a person, animal, monsters, etc.)
18	offshore reefs (or rocks) that must be navigated carefully. 25% chance there is also a beacon.
19	a sea cave.
20	several picturesque cliffs.

Villages, whether inland or maritime, are often named for their Landmark.

Table 7: Accommodations for Travelers

d12	Travelers looking for accommodations will find…
1 – 4	nothing at all – apparently everyone drinks and socializes in each other’s homes. 50% chance a family is willing to host travelers who pay in cash.
5 – 6	a tavern with a single common bed.
7	a tavern with a single private room for rent.
8	an inn with a common bed, and 1d4 rooms.
9	a rooming house, with 1d4 rooms available.
10 – 12	a Coaching Inn.
13+	An exclusive Coaching Inn for wealthy travelers. Note: only possible if Village is on a major road. There will also be a separate Tavern, where ordinary villagers go to drink and socialize.

Modifiers:

+3 to the roll if the village lies directly on a major road.

-3 if village if off a major road.

See Appendix A in “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates” for more information on travelers accommodations in the Ghastly Age.

Table 8a: Famous Produce of an Upland Village

d100	The village is best known for its…
1 – 4	butter and cheese.
5 – 9	cattle.
10 – 13	charcoal.
14 – 17	coal.
18 – 21	copper.
22 – 25	distilled liquors.
26 – 29	gemstones.
30 – 33	gunsmiths.
34 – 37	gypsum.
38 – 41	iron.
42 – 46	lead.
47 – 50	lime (mineral).
51 – 56	lumber and firewood.
57 – 61	medicinal plants.
62 – 70	mutton.
71 – 80	quarried stone.
81 – 84	salt (mined). In France especially the production of salt is heavily regulated, with ordinary people being required to purchase a minimum amount of heavily taxed salt a year.
85 – 88	tin.
89 – 92	hard cider.
93 – 96	wine and/or beer.
97 – 100	wool.

Table8b: Famous Produce of a Lowland Village

d100	The village is best known for its…
1 – 3	apiary products (wax and honey).
4 – 6	butter and cheese.
7 – 9	cattle.
10 – 12	ceramics (tiles, pots, etc.).
13 – 15	cloth.
16 – 18	cutlery.
19 – 21	distilled liquors.
22 – 23	dyestufs (indigo, etc.).
24 – 26	eggs.
27 – 29	flax.
30 – 32	flowers.
33 – 35	freshwater fish (village must be near a river or large lake)
36 – 38	grain (wheat, rye, barley, rice, oats, etc.)
39 – 40	gunpowder.
41 – 42	gunsmiths.
43 – 45	gypsum.
46 – 48	hops
49 – 53	lumber and firewood.
54 – 56	medicinal plants.
57 – 60	mutton.
61 – 65	pigs.
66 – 70	poultry.
71 – 72	quarried stone.
73 – 75	region-specific crops (almonds, olives, oranges, saffron, etc.).
76 – 80	salt (mined). In France especially the production of salt is heavily regulated, with ordinary people being required to purchase a minimum amount of heavily taxed salt a year.
81 – 83	smithing.
84 – 88	tanned leather.
89 – 90	tree fruit (apples, pears, apricots, olives, etc.).
91 – 96	wine / beer / hard cider.
97 – 100	wool.

Table8c: Most Important Produce of a Maritime Village

d100	The village is best known for its…
1 – 5	apiary products (wax and honey).
6 – 10	boats.
11 – 15	ceramics (tiles, pots, etc.).
16 – 20	cloth
21 – 25	cutlery.
22 – 30	distilled liquors.
31 – 35	flowers.
36 – 40	fresh fish.
41 – 45	glassware.
46 – 50	medicinal plants.
51 – 55	oysters (or other shellfish).
56	pebbles (used for rocaille decorations)
57 – 61	quarried stone.
62 – 66	rope.
67 – 71	sailors (half the male population will be away at sea at any one time).
72 – 75	salt. In France especially the production of salt is heavily regulated, with ordinary people being required to purchase a minimum amount of heavily taxed salt a year.
76 – 80	salted fish.
81 – 83	seashells (used for rocaille decorations)
84 – 88	shellfish.
89 – 94	smoked fish.
91 – 95	stockfish.
96 – 100	wine / beer / hard cider.

Table 9: Class Relations

d4	Overall, relations between the social classes are…
1	Good. The local landlord is charitable, rents are reasonable, and the average villager is content with their lot. The landlord does not enforce any onerous feudal obligations. There is no crime or violence to speak of. Re-roll results of 13 or above on Table 10.
2 – 3	Average. The rents are a little higher than the villagers would like (but not impossible to pay), the tradesmen usually charge fair prices, and the landlord occasionally takes an interest in the welfare of the villagers. All ancient feudal obligations are enforced, but exceptions are made in cases of extreme hardship. There is some domestic violence, and the occasional drunken fight between villagers.
4	Poor. The rents are outrageously expensive. The landlord and his family zealously enforce any feudal obligations, and are completely disinterested in the misery they cause. The tradesmen frequently price-gouge. The ordinary villagers support and aid the local bandits. There is a significant black market. Many villagers support radical political ideas. Significant crime and violence occurs. Re-roll results of 7 or below on Table 10.

Examples of ancient feudal obligations that may still be in effect include:

• Having to pay a fine to the landlord for each young woman who gets married.
• Having to labor for free in the landlord’s fields (in addition to the rent one pays for one’s own field).
• Handing over a portion of all crops grown in one’s rented field.
• Unpaid labor on the local roads.
• Unpaid labor at the landlord’s house or castle.
• Having to pay to use the landlord’s mills and presses, and not being able to use any other.
• Having to pay a toll to the landlord each time one crosses a bridge, and not being allowed to use any route that avoids that bridge.

Few (if any) feudal obligations would still be in effect in a British village, while all of the above might be suffered by a French peasant before the Revolution.

Table 10: Disposition of Villagers

d20	The general disposition of the villagers seems to be…
1	virtuous.
2	honest.
3 – 6	friendly.
7	polite.
8	amorous.
9	hot-tempered.
10	fanatically pious.
11	impious
12	crude
13	unfriendly.
14	dishonest.
15	frightened.
16	menacing.
17	gloomy.
18	envious / resentful.
19	fatalistic.
20	criminal. If Class Relations are good, the villagers simply flout needlessly repressive laws, and the village landlord tries to ignore their otherwise harmless behavior whenever possible.

Table 11: The Unofficial Village Leader

d10	The average person in the Village looks for leadership from…
1	a wealthy farmer who owns a substantial tract of land. Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
2	a tradesman involved in the village’s primary produce.
3 – 4	the priest/parson.
5	the blacksmith.
6	the owner of the local tavern or inn. Roll again if there is no such establishment.
7	a retired military officer.
8	a retired sea captain.
9	a retired professor.
10	the local highwayman (or pirate), who only targets the rich. Roll again if Class Relations are good.

Remember, this an unofficial leader – as a rule an 18^th century village does not have any formal government of its own, but is administered by the landlord who owns most of the property.

Table 12: The Wealthiest Villager

d12	Besides the local landlord, the wealthiest person in the village is…
1 – 3	a farmer who owns a substantial tract of land. Some villagers might actually be renting land and/or a cottage from this person, rather than the community’s primary landlord. Where serfdom persist, the wealthy farmer might even own their own serfs. The village’s primary landlord, however, will still be the legal authority over the village as a whole.
4 – 5	a shrewd tradesman involved in the village’s primary produce.
6	the priest/parson
7	a wealthy dowager.
8	the miller.
9	the blacksmith.
10	a retired military officer.
11	a retired sea captain.
12	a Mad Scientist whose laboratory is here.

Table 13: The Village Scapegoat

d8	The first person who will get blamed for any catastrophe is…
1	a mentally-challenged vagrant.
2	the local “freak”, who suffers from a congenital birth defect.
3	a Gypsy who who has settled on the outskirts.
4	an old spinster who lives alone.
5	the “foreigner” who recently settled in the village.
6	the local prostitute.
7	the most recently arrived stranger – and that means the PCs!.
8	the Mad Scientist whose laboratory is here.

Table 14: The Most Beloved Villager

d20	The most beloved person in the village is…
1 – 2	the priest / vicar / parson.
3	the landlord. Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
4	the landlord’s spouse. Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
5	the mistress / lover of the landlord (or their spouse).
6	the daughter of the landlord. Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
7	the son of the landlord. Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
8	the beautiful young daughter of a villager.
9	the handsome young son of a villager
10	the local midwife.
11	a generous dowager.
12	the blacksmith.
13	the blacksmith’s wife.
14 – 15	the proprietor of the local tavern/inn/rooming house. Roll again if there is no such establishment.
16	the local prostitute, known for her charity and kindheartedness.
17	a retired soldier.
18	its wealthiest inhabitant (other than the landlord). Roll again if Class Relations are poor.
19 – 20	the local highwayman (or pirate), who only targets the rich. Roll again if Class Relations are good.

Table 15: Current Events

d100	Besides events in the landlord’s Estate House, everyone is also talking about…
1 – 10	an upcoming wedding – and wedding feast!
11 – 14	a pair of young lovers whose love has been forbidden by their parents.
15 – 17	the death of a beloved villager.
18 – 20	the recent arrival of Gypsies.
21 – 23	the upcoming religious festival / procession.
24 – 26	the upcoming village fair and dance.
27 – 29	the discovery of an adulterous affair.
30 – 31	the upcoming pig slaughter. Late autumn/early winter only.
33 – 35	a puzzling and mysterious death.
36 – 38	a dog that became rabid.
39 – 41	the disease that is sweeping through the village.
42 – 44	the recent death of a whole family from spoiled food.
45 – 47	the abduction of a child.
48 – 50	the recent increase in rents.
51 – 52	a puzzling decrease in rents!
53 – 54	a recent boxing match.
55 – 56	a charlatan who recently breezed through the village.
57 – 58	the strange, localized weather event that recently occurred. See Twenty Ominous Weather Events in the supplement “A Ghastly Potpourri“.
59 – 60	the recent birth of a strangely deformed child.
61 – 62	the child who was recently discovered to be a Fairy changeling.
63 – 64	the miraculous healing that recently occurred in the church.
65 – 66	the sighting of a diabolical figure dancing atop the roof of the church.
67 – 68	the exposure and arrest of someone for “crimes against nature”.
69 – 70	the theft of a domestic animal.
71 – 72	the recent attacks on livestock by predators.
73 – 74	a haunting that has recently begun.
75 – 76	the desecration of graves in the churchyard.
77 – 78	an apparently unbeatable fighting cock (or dog).
79 – 80	the statue of a saint that has begun bleeding / exuding oil / crying holy water. Roll again in Protestant countries.
81 – 82	the villager who just experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary. Roll again in Protestant countries.
83 – 84	the “foreigner” who has decided to settle in the village. Note: a “foreigner” could be anyone from a place more than a day’s journey distant).
85 – 86	the mysterious stranger who recently came into town.
87 – 88	the group of soldiers (or Gendarmes) that recently passed through and bullied everyone.
89 – 90	someone’s recent encounter with an Immortal Wanderer.
91 – 92	a recent visit by someone whom the villagers believe to be a member of the Royal Family in disguise.
93 – 94	the recent visit by a demagogue preaching subversive politics.
95 – 96	a recent visit by an artist searching for picturesque landscapes to paint.
97 – 98	the poet that has taken up residence in a cottage.
99 – 100	a monstrous corpse that has been unearthed (or washed ashore).

Table 16: The Immediate Danger

d20	Villagers would welcome help with…
1	a pack of wolves.
2	a bear.
3	a rabid dog.
4	a gang of bandits.
5	normally non-aggressive animals that have suddenly turned vicious.
6	a Ghoulish Revenant.
7	a wandering Mindless Revenant.
8	a Vampyre.
9	a Werewolf.
10	a Ghost.
11	a family of Cannibals lurking in a nearby cave.
12	a monster lurking in the woods (or offshore).
13	a person suspected of being a witch (or warlock).
14	a Demoniac.
15	children who have gone missing.
16	the local Mad Scientist – pitchforks and torches are ready!
17	a press gang that has targeted the men of the community.
18	crimes committed by soldiers recently billeted in the village.
19	Ruffians employed by the local landlord to collect rents. Roll again if Class Relations are good.
20	a Fairy who who has abducted someone.

Table 17: The Village’s Dark Secret

d100	The villagers don’t want outsiders to know about…
1 – 4	a terrible crime committed there in the past, for which no one was ever brought to justice.
5 – 8	a recent crime committed by one or more respected members of the community.
9 – 11	all the inbreeding. Use Appendix L: Inherited Peculiarities of Inbred Noble Families from “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates” to determine the distinguishing characteristic of native villagers. Only roll once – the most inbred villagers are nowhere near as inbred as the aristocracy!
12 – 14	the Vampyre that they secretly serve.
15 – 17	the many werwolves who inhabit the place.
18 – 20	the nearby caves that shelter monsters.
21 – 23	the evil that lurks in an abandoned mine.
24 – 26	the ancient temple complex the village is built atop.
27 – 29	the Pagan worship that persists in the Village.
30 – 32	the human sacrifices they make to preserve the fertility of the fields.
33 – 35	their devotion to Satan (or another diabolical figure).
36 – 38	their highly unorthodox Christian worship.
39 – 40	their secret practice of Judaism. Openly Jewish villages exist in Poland, western Russia, and the Kingdom of Hungary. Elsewhere, the openly Jewish population tends to be urban.
41	their secret practice of Islam.
42 – 45	their reverence towards a local Fairy.
46 – 48	their hunger for human flesh!
49 – 51	their practice of swapping spouses.
52 – 54	the fate of the travelers that recently disappeared after visiting the village.
55 – 57	the purpose of the talismans hung everywhere.
58 – 60	the local gang of bandits (or wreckers).
61 – 63	the coven of witches who meets nearby.
64 – 66	the reason their church was abandoned.
67 – 69	an abandoned house, and the awful people who once dwelt there.
70 – 72	the ruined castle nearby.
73 – 75	the buried treasure that was recently unearthed.
76 – 78	the local haunting. See Appendix O in “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”.
79 – 81	the village demoniac.
82 – 84	the desecrated graves in the churchyard.
85 – 87	the revolutionary who is hiding out there.
88 – 90	the young aristocrat who is hiding there with their lower-class spouse (or lover).
91 – 93	the powerful magician who lives here.
94 – 95	the dragon that must be placated with the sacrifice of a virgin girl every 10 years.
96 – 97	their interbreeding with Fairies, or something monstrous.
98	the upcoming wedding of a young woman to Satan.
99 – 100	the landlord’s shocking practice of jus primae noctis.

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Ghastly Affair Q&A on Randomworlds Chat – March 19th

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If you’d like to know more about Ghastly Affair, the Gothic Game of Romantic Horror, join me for a Q&A at Randomworlds Chat tomorrow (Tuesday, March 19^th). starting at 7:30 PM CDT (8:30 EDT). I’ll be on until 9:30 CDT (10:30 EDT). See ya there!

A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates – Rough-Hewn Edition Now Available!

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A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates – Rough-Hewn Edition is your complete guide to gaming in the opulent Grand Houses of the Georgian, French Revolutionary, Napoleonic, and Regency eras. Although created especially for use with Ghastly Affair, “The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror”, it’s also an invaluable resource for any game set in the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. Whether your scenarios involve destroying supernatural terrors lurking in crumbling castles, climbing the rungs of the social ladder through opulent townhouses, or unraveling the horrible secrets of the country gentry, this book is an essential reference!

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• A complete guide to the servants and retainers who make aristocratic life possible.
• Tips for running an immersive Gothic “sandbox” that doesn’t force players into a pre-determined plotline.
• A discussion of 18th century coaching inns (and coaches).
• Random encounter tables for an 18th century setting.
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• Tables for creating sumptuous, historically-accurate feasts.
• Multiple tables for generating dramatic events that occur at dinner, during dances, and on the morning promenade.
• Tables for defining twisted family histories, and the peculiarities of inbred nobles.
• Information on 18th century noble titles – and tables to randomly determine the status of aristocrats.
• Tables for quickly defining the most memorable characteristics of NPCs, and the scandalous desires of your house’s inhabitants.
• Tables for randomly generating ghosts and hauntings – including Restless Houses that hunger to satisfy their own mysterious cravings.
• An extensive system for randomly generating the multitude of paintings that festoon the walls of Grand Houses – and tips on how to make them essential facets of a scenario.
• Tables to create typical names for British country houses, and evocative appellations for castle towers.
• A table of technological marvels that might be found in a late 18th century Grand House.

And all at a price an orphaned scullery maid could afford! But like a Vauxhall Gardens doxy, once it’s better-dressed, the fancy new version will cost a little more!

Contains some mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.

An Update on “A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates”

Tags

18th Century, Austenpunk, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Historical, Historical Gaming, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, Regency, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era

As you may have noticed, I have been largely absent from this blog (or any social media) in recent days. That’s because I’ve been focusing on editing together a PDF-only, “Rough-hewn Edition” of the long-promised “A Ghastly Companion to Castle, Mansions, & Estates”. This “Rough-hewn Edition” will be a pre-release “ashcan” version containing all the essential text of the final book, but without the final illustrations. It utilizes some public-domain art resources, but areas of the layout that will be eventually filled with actual illustrations are left obvious. Also, the “Rough-hewn Edition” will not be indexed (besides the Bookmarks in the PDF), it will not be as extensively hyper-linked as the final PDF version, nor will it include the example floor-plans that will feature in the full release. Since I need to create about 100 illustrations to finish the book, and the final proofing process for a print book can easily take an entire month, a realistic time-frame for the fully finished version is no sooner than early Summer 2019. Therefore, in order to get the book into the hands of people who would like to actually use it, I’ll be releasing the low-priced “Rough-hewn Edition” shortly. It won’t be perfect, but it will still give you all the tools you need to create plausible Grand Houses for any game set in the late-Georgian / Napoleonic / Regency era (not just Ghastly Affair).

HERE’S WHAT’S IN IT:

PLACES ARE CHARACTERS

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

AN OVERVIEW OF GRAND HOUSES AND ESTATES

REGARDING CASTLES
REGARDING MANSIONS
REGARDING ESTATE HOUSES
CASTLES, MANSIONS, AND ESTATES BY REGION
The British Isles (including Ireland)
France
German States
(Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Austria, and Kingdom of Prussia)
Kingdom of Hungary (including Transylvania)
Italian States
Poland-Lithuania
Russia
Spain and Portugal
THE RHYTHM OF LIFE IN A GRAND HOUSE
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

BUILDING YOUR GRAND HOUSE

Representational Maps
Schematic Maps
PART I – THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURE
Which Tables to Use:
Table 1a: Most Notable Feature of a Castle or Country Estate
Table 1b: Most Notable Feature of an Urban Mansion
Table 1c: Animals
Table 1d: Architecture
Table 1e: Art Collection
Table 1f: Attractive Residents
Table 1g: Cabinet of Curiosities
Table 1h: Cursed Family
Table 1i: Entertainment
Table 1j: Follies
Table 1k: Food
Table 1L: Games, Sports, and Contests
Table 1m: Gaming Room
Table 1n: Gardens
Table 1O: Haunting
Table 1p: Horrible History
Table 1q: Hunting
Table 1r: Library
Table 1s: Literary or Philosophical Salon
Table 1t: Notable Former Resident
Table 1u: Secret Passages/Rooms
Table 1v: Unsolved Mystery
Table 1w: Water Features
PART II – APPROACHING THE GROUNDS
Which Tables to Use
Table 2a: First Impression of the Greater Estate
Table 2b: Primary Produce of the Greater Estate
Table 3: Barrier of the Enclosed Parkland
Table 4: Parkland Barrier Height
Table 5: Urban Mansion Barrier
Table 6a: Main Gate to the Enclosed Parkland of a Castle or Estate
Table 6b: Front Gate of an Urban Mansion
Table 7: Castle and Estate House Parkland Size
Table 8 Urban Mansion Lot Shape and Size
Table 9: Setback of a Castle or Estate House Within its Parkland
Table 10: Path to a Castle or Estate House from the Parkland Gate
PART III – THE EXTERIOR
Which Tables to Use
Table 11a: The Architectural Style of a Castle
Table 11b: The Architectural Style of an Urban Mansion or Estate House
Table 12: Basic Plan of a Castle
Table 13: Castle Situation
Table 14: The Curtain Walls of a Concentric Castle
Table 15: General Plan of a Castle Keep
Table 16: Size of a Castle Keep
Table 17a: Basic Plan of an Urban Mansion
Table 17b: Basic Plan of an Estate House
Table 18: Size of an Estate House
Table 19: Building Material of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 20: The Height (in Stories) of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 21: The Height of a Story
Table 22: The Roof Style of a Castle, Tower, or Keep
Table 23: The Roof Style of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 24: Keep, Compact Castle, Courtyard Castle, & Fortified House Door
Table 25: The Servants’ Quarters
Table 26a: Castle Gatehouse
Table 26b: Gatehouse Entrance
Table 27: Distinctive Architectural Features of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 28: The Front Courtyard of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 29: The Shape and Size of Castle Towers
Table 30: The Roofing Material of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 31a: The Front Stairs of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 31b: The Portico (or Porte-Cochère) of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 32: Avant-Corps Projecting From the Facade
Table 33: The Main Door of a Mansion or Estate House
PART IV – THE RESIDENTS
Which Tables to Use
Table 34: The Family of the House
Table 35: The Family Wealth
Table 36: Servants and Retainers of the Household
Table 37: Overall Impression of the Servants
Table 38: Pets Living in the House
Table 39: Strange Customs of the Household
Table 40: The Lord and Lady’s Relation
Table 41: The Formal Livery of Male Servants
Table 42: Vermin in the House
Table 43: The Family’s Dark Secret
PART V – THE INTERIOR ROOMS
Which Tables to Use
Table 44a: The Entrance Hall of a Castle
Table 44b: The Entry Room of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 45a: The Main Staircase of a Castle (or Castle Keep)
Table 45b: Stairs in a Tower
Table 45c: The Grand Staircase of a Mansion or Estate House
Table 46: Rooms on the Ground Floor
Table 47: Rooms on the Upper Floors
Table 48: Rooms in the Basement
Table 49: Rooms in the Attic
Table 50: Rooms in the Servants’ Section
Table 51: Distinctive Features of Rooms
Table 52a: Remarkable Floors
Table 52b: Remarkable Walls
Table 52c: Remarkable Ceilings
Table 52d: Remarkable Furniture
Table 52e: Remarkable Images
Table 52f: Remarkable Sculptures
Table 52g: Remarkable Fireplaces
Table 52h: Remarkable Heating Stoves
Table 52i: Remarkable Doors
Table 52j: Remarkable Objects
Table 52k: Remarkable Windows
Table 52L: Remarkable Room Shapes
Table 52m: Remarkable Atmospheres
Table 53a: Ordinary Castle Walls
Table 53b: Ordinary Mansion and Estate House Walls
Table 54: Ordinary Paint Colors
Table 55: Ordinary Wallpapers
Table 56: Ordinary Doors
Table 57: Ordinary Windows in Castles
Table 58a: Ordinary Windows in Mansions and Estate Houses
Table 58b Ordinary Windows in Mansion and Estate House Basements
Table 58c Ordinary Windows in Mansion and Estate House Attics
Table 59: Ordinary Curtains, Drapes, and Wall Hangings
Table 60: Ordinary Ceilings
Table 61: Ordinary Floors
Table 62: Ordinary Heating Sources
Table 63: Ordinary Lighting
Table 64: Number of Doors in a Room
Table 65: Secret Passages, Concealed Doors, and Hidden Areas
Table 67: Beds
Table 68: Furnishings for Bedrooms, Boudoirs, and Cabinets
Table 69: Furnishings for Salons, Drawing Rooms, and Ballrooms
Table 70: Furnishings and Fixtures for Dining Rooms
Table 71: Furnishings and Fixtures for Libraries
Table 72: Furnishings and Fixtures for Kitchens
Table 73: Valuable Serving Ware in the Butlery or Office
Table 74: Personal Items in a Man’s Bedchamber or Cabinet
Table 75: Personal Items in a Woman’s Bedchamber or Boudoir
Table 76: Men’s Clothing (and Items in a Wardrobe)
Table 77: Women’s Clothing (and Items in a Wardrobe)
Table 78: Items in a Cabinet of Curiosities
PART VI – THE PARKLAND AND GARDENS
Which Tables to Use
Table 79: Water Supply of a Castle or Estate House
Table 80: Stables and Carriage House of a Castle or Estate House
Table 81a: Castle and Estate Parkland Areas
Table 81b: Urban Mansion Gardens
Table 82: Deerpark Features
Table 83: English Landscape Garden Features
Table 84: Farmyard or Basse-Cour Features
Table 85: Flower Garden Features
Table 86: French Formal Garden Features
Table 87: Hamlet Features
Table 88: Italian Garden Features
Table 89: Kitchen Garden Features
Table 90: Lawn / Meadow Features
Table 91: Paddock Features
Table 92: Pond and Lake Features
Table 93: Walled Garden Features
Table 94: Wooded Area Features
Table 95: Animals Living in the Parkland
Table 96: Vermin Plaguing the Estate
Table 97: Animals in a Menagerie
PART VII – CURRENT HAPPENINGS
Which Tables to Use
Table 98: Upcoming Scheduled Events
Table 99: Unexpected Events and Catastrophes
Table 100: Mysteries, Disasters, and Secret Intrigues Among the Servants
Table 101a: Castle and Estate Daily Schedule – Morning & Early Afternoon
Table 101b: Castle and Estate Daily Schedule – Later Afternoon
Table 101c: Castle and Estate Daily Schedule – Evening
Table 101d: Castle and Estate Daily Schedule – Night
Table 102a: Urban Mansion Daily Schedule – Morning & Early Afternoon
Table 102b: Urban Mansion Daily Schedule – Later Afternoon
Table 102c: Urban Mansion Daily Schedule – Evening
Table 102d: Urban Mansion Daily Schedule – Night

A GUIDE TO SERVANTS AND RETAINERS

LIFE IN SERVICE
A Servant’s Day
The Clothing of Servants and Retainers
The Wages of Servants and Retainers
A Note on Creating a Servant (or Retainer) Characters for Ghastly Affair
TYPES OF SERVANTS AND RETAINERS
Blacksmith [Grounds Servant]
Butler (Maître d’Hôtel, or Majordomo) [House Servant]
Cavalier Servente [Retainer]
Chaperone [Retainer]
Chaplain (Aumônier) [Retainer]
Coachman [Grounds Servant]
Concierge
Cook (Cuisinière or Cuisinier) [House Servant]
Dance Master [Retainer]
Drawing Master [Retainer]
Dairy Maid [Grounds and House Servant]
Estate Manager (Intendant) [Retainer]
Footman (Laquais) [House Servant]
Forester [Grounds Servant]
Gamekeeper [Grounds Servant]
Gardener [Grounds Servant]
Gardener, Assistant [Grounds Servant]
Governess (Gouvernante) [Retainer]
Groom [Grounds Servant]
Guard [House and Grounds Servants]
Hall Boy [House Servant]
Hall Maid [House Servant]
Handyman or Laborer
[House and Grounds Servant]
Hairdresser [Servant or Retainer]
Hermit [Retainer]
Housekeeper (Gouvernante)
Housemaid [House Servant]
House Steward [Retainer]
Huntsman [Grounds Servant]
Kennel Master [Grounds Servant]
Kitchen Boy (Garçon de Cuisine) [House Servant]
Kitchen Maid [House Servant]
Lady’s Companion
(Demoiselle de Compagnie) [Retainer]
Lady’s Maid (Femme de Chambre) [House Servant]
Laundry Maid [House Servant]
Librarian [Retainer]
Maid-of-all-Work (Servante) [House Servant]
Manservant [House Servant]
Maître d’Hôtel [House Servant]
Mistress [Retainer]
Music Master [Retainer]
Nurse [House Servant]
Nursery Maid [House Servant]
Occultist [Retainer]
Page [House Servant]
Physician [Retainer]
Porter (Concierge, or Suisse)
[House Servant]
Postilion [Grounds Servant]
Reader (Lectrice) [Retainer or Servant]
Scullery Maid [House Servant]
Secretary [Retainer]
Shepherd(ess) or Pastor [Grounds Servant]
Sick Nurse [House Servant]
Still Maid [House Servant]
Swineherd [Grounds Servant]
Underbutler (or Officier) [House Servant]
Under Housemaid [House Servant]
Upper Housemaid [House Servant]
Tutor [Retainer]
Valet [House Servant]
Whipper-in [Grounds Servant]
THE IDEAL (AND ACTUAL) HOUSEHOLD

THE OPEN (OR SANDBOX) SAGA

PREPARING AN OPEN SAGA
Choose a Starting Date
Determine the Starting Region
Create Characters That Have a Plausible Reason to Travel Frequently
Decide on the First Location
Prepare the First Location and Expected Challenge(s)
Ready a Side Location and Challenge(s)
RUNNING AN OPEN SAGA
Starting with the Journey
Spending a Day at the House
Introducing Challenges and Conflicts
When to Conclude an Affair
Down-time in an Open Saga
Sometimes the Journey is More Important than the Destination
Revisiting a House
Using Recurring NPCs and SPCs
Creating Locations on the Fly
Ending an Open Saga

APPENDIX A: OF COACHING INNS (AND COACHES)

HORSES, AND THEIR LIMITATIONS
ABOUT COACHING INNS AND POST HOUSES
Other Accommodations For Travelers
VISITING A COACHING INN
Arrival
Changing Horses
A Meal at the Inn
Sleeping at an Inn
Some Typical Prices at Coaching Inns
FEATURES OF COACHING INNS
Quick Random Characteristics of Inns and Taverns
Features and areas always present at a Coaching Inn:
Additional Features of a Rural Coaching Inn:
Features and Areas Possibly Present at a Coaching Inn:
Typical Staff of a Coaching Inn:
Some Suggested Encounters
for the Common Room of an Inn
Some Notable Events for the Night
NOTES ON CARRIAGES

APPENDIX B: ENCOUNTERS WHILE TRAVELING

Morning, Afternoon, & Evening – On the Road Between Villages
Morning, Afternoon, & Evening – Passing Through a Village
Night – On the Road Between Villages
Night – Passing Through a Village
Table 1: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Road Encounters
Table 2: Night Road Encounters
Table 3: Obstacles and Curiosities
Table 4: Daylight Village Encounters

APPENDIX C: RUINS AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS

Table 1: The Original Structure
Table 2: Cause of Abandonment
Table 3: Most Notable Feature
Table 4: Completeness of the Structure
Table 5: State of the Roof
Table 6: State of the Interior Walls
Table 7: State of the Doors
Table 8: State of the Furniture
Table 9a: State of the Standing Exterior Walls (Unroofed)
Table 9b: State of the Standing Exterior Walls (Roofed)
Table 10: State of the Windows
Table 11: State of the Floors
Table 12: Vegetation
Table 13: Current Inhabitant(s)

APPENDIX D: CRYPTS, CAVES, AND SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES

ARTIFICIAL TUNNELS AND VAULTS
Table 1: Original and Current Purpose of Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 2: Size of a Subterranean Tunnel Complex
Table 3a: Basic Plan of the Complex
Table 3b: The Entrance
Table 4A: Walls of Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 4B: Floors of Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 4C: Ceilings of Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 4D: Air Quality of Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 5: Notable Features of a Tunnel Section
Table 6: Subterranean Doorways
Table 7: Beyond a Subterranean Doorway
Table 8: Characteristics of Subterranean Chambers
Table 9: Contents of Subterranean Chambers
Table 10: Supports
Table 11: Hazards in Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 12: Traps in Subterranean Tunnels and Chambers
Table 13: Mysteries and Enigmas
Table 14A: Areas of an Archive or Library
Table 14B: Areas of a Mine
Table 14C: Areas of a Secret Society Chapter-house
Table 14D: Areas of a Cistern
Table 14E: Areas of a Burial Complex
Table 14F: Areas of a Wine Cellar
Table 14G: Areas in a Larder or Root Cellar
Table 14H: Areas of an Armory
Table 14I: Areas of a Treasury Vault
Table 14J: Areas of a Cheese Cave
Table 14K: Areas of an Ice Storage Vault
Table 14L: Areas of a Dungeon
Table 14M: Areas of an Ancient Temple, Now Buried
Table 14N: Areas of a Counterfeiter’s Workshop
Table 14O: Areas of a Satanic Complex
Table 14P: Areas of a Hermitage
Table 14Q: Areas of a Sanctuary for Religious Dissenters
Table 14R: Areas of a Vault for Smuggled Goods
Table 14S: Areas of a Mass Grave for Murder Victims
Table 14T: Areas of an Escape Route
Table 14U: Areas of a Creature’s Prison
Table 14V: Areas of the Hideaway of a Family Shame
Areas of the Hideaway of a Family Shame
Table 14W: Areas of a Bandit’s Hideout
Table 14X: Areas of an Alchemist’s Laboratory
Table 14Y: Areas of a Magician’s Retreat
Table 14Z: Areas of a Mad Scientist’s Laboratory
NATURAL (AND NATURAL-APPEARING) CAVES
Table 15: Plan of a Cave System
Table 16: Shape and Size of a Cave
Table 17: Air Quality Inside a Cave
Table 18: Ordinary Features of Airy Caves
Table 19: Strange and Unusual Features in Airy Caves
Table 20: Passability of a Cave
Table 21: Cave Connections
Supplementary Table: Random Compass Directions

APPENDIX E: RANDOM GENERATION OF MEALS IN GRAND HOUSES

MENUS
Breakfast (French Style)
Breakfast (English Style)
A Luncheon
A Grand Dinner
An Evening Supper
DISHES AND DECORATIONS
Breakfast Beverages
Breakfast Bread(s)
Breakfast Main Dishes
Breakfast Condiments
Soups
Meat Entrées
Fish Entrées
Poultry Entrées
Roasts and Main Dishes
Sauces
Vegetables and Salads
Entremets
Desserts
Table Decorations and Pièce Montées (Normal)
Table Decorations and Pièce Montées (Gothic and Unusual)

APPENDIX F: EVENTS AT DINNER

APPENDIX G: EVENTS AT THE DANCE

APPENDIX H: EVENTS OF THE MORNING PROMENADE

APPENDIX I: RANDOM ARISTOCRATIC TITLES

British Aristocrats
Notes About British Titles
French Aristocrats (Pre-Revolution, or Ancien Régime)
Notes about Ancien Régime titles
French Napoleonic Titles (Conferred from 1808 – 1814)
Notes About Napoleonic Titles
German Aristocrats
Notes About German Titles
Hungarian Aristocrats
Notes about Hungarian Titles
Italian Aristocrats
Notes About Italian Titles
Spanish Aristocrats
Notes about Spanish titles
OF ARISTOCRATIC BASTARDS

APPENDIX J: TWISTED FAMILY HISTORIES

Length of the Family History
Shocking Historical Facts about the Family

APPENDIX K: RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HOUSEHOLD

The Loves and Hates of Male Family Members
The Loves and Hates of Female Family Members
The Consequences of Forbidden Love
The Consequences of Hate
CONCERNING LGBT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE GHASTLY AGE

APPENDIX L: INHERITED PECULIARITIES OF INBRED NOBLE FAMILIES

APPENDIX M: THE MOST MEMORABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF NPCS

Female Aristocrats
Male Aristocrats
Female Servants
Male Servants

APPENDIX N: THE DESIRES OF RESTLESS HOUSES

What the House Wants
How the House Communicates
How the House will Lash Out
Where is the Heart of the House?
How can the House be Put to Rest?

APPENDIX O: RANDOM SPECTRAL ACTIVITY

The Usual Apparition
The Other Apparition(s)
Further Spectral Activity
The Phantom’s Release

APPENDIX P: CURSED AND HAUNTED BEDS

APPENDIX Q: PAINTINGS IN A GRAND HOUSE

Table 1a: Type of Painting
Table 1b: Dimensions of a Painting
Table 1c: Age of a Painting
Table 1d: The Frame of a Painting
Table 2: Male Portrait
Table 3: Female Portrait
Table 4: Interior Group Portrait
Table 5: Exterior Group Portrait
Table 6: Historical Scene
Table 7: Religious Scene
Table 8: Mythological, Legendary, or Literary Scene
Table 9: Genre Scene
Table 10: Landscape
Table 11: Animal Subject
Table 12: Still Life
Table 13: Allegory
Table 14: Enigmatic Emblems
Table 15: Erotic Scene
NOTES ON ART IN YOUR GAME
Regarding Portraits
Regarding Historical Paintings
Regarding Religious Paintings
Regarding Mythological, Legendary, and Literary Painting
Regarding Genre Paintings
Regarding Landscape Paintings
Regarding Animal Paintings
Regarding Still-lifes
Regarding Allegorical and Emblematic Images
Regarding Erotic Paintings

APPENDIX R: RANDOM NAMES FOR BRITISH COUNTRY HOUSES

APPENDIX S: 100 POETIC NAMES FOR TOWERS

APPENDIX T: TECHNOLOGICAL MARVELS IN GRAND HOUSES

33% Off Ghastly Affair PDFs Through Cyber Monday

Tags

18th Century, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Historical, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, OGL, Regency, role playing, role-playing game, roleplaying game, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, rpg, schauerroman

Now through Cyber Monday, all individual Ghastly Affair PDFs are 33% off at DriveThruRPG! This includes the “Ghastly Affair Player’s Manual”, the “Ghastly Affair Presenter’s Manual”, the supplement “A Ghastly Potpourri”, and the “Highdark Hall” setting. Plus, the Ghastly Affair novel “Hunter’s Song”, by William Rutter!

100 Notable Features of 18th Century Country Estates

Tags

18th Century, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Historical, Historical Gaming, History, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, Regency, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era

A typical country estate of the late 18^th century (such as that surrounding Highdark Hall) might incorporate 1.5 to 2 square miles of land, containing a mix of farmland, cultivated woods (for lumber, firewood, and tree crops), and forest (for hunting). An aristocratic family of the period would often draw most (or even all) of its income from rents and fees paid by their tenants, as well as direct sales of agricultural products and extracted minerals. There will almost always be a body of water present on the property, whether a stream, river, or lake. At the nucleus of the estate will be a Grand House of some kind, and its parkland gardens. Besides any cottages inhabited by the grounds servants, there will typically also be a village (or two) located on the greater estate. It is common everywhere during the period for the holder of an estate to also have some legal authority over their tenants, and in Russia (and many other parts of Eastern Europe) may even actually own them as serfs. Of course, almost all such privileges were abolished in France during the Revolution.

Use the following table to add color (and sow the seeds for future scenarios) when the PCs first visit an Estate House.

d100	As you travel across the greater estate, you notice…
1	the evidence of recent fires.
2	evidence of recent hail damage on plants.
3	that it seems strangely under-populated.
4	it seems to be perfectly laid out for equestrianism, with many small ditches and low walls to jump.
5	the shocking poverty of the tenants.
6	the incredible prosperity of the tenants.
7	the livestock seems to be wasting away.
8	the odd architecture of the tenants’ cottages.
9	a Megalithic stone circle (NW. Europe) / a ruined Roman temple (S. Europe) / human-sized stone idols (C. and E. Europe).
10	ancient barrows (Northwestern Europe) / Roman tombs (Southern Europe) / kurgans (Central and Eastern Europe).
11	many flattened Fairy circles in the grass and grain.
12	the numerous stone crosses that dot the area.
13	a bizarre fungal growth on many of the trees and stone walls.
14	orchards growing a fruit variety you’ve seen nowhere else.
15	the corpses of many animals that have died violently.
16	a whole abandoned village in ruins.
17	a strange species of flower that you have seen nowhere else.
18	a unique breed of cow found nowhere else.
19	a unique breed of sheep found nowhere else.
20	a strange precession for a saint (or local hero) that you can’t identify.
21	masked dancers wildly cavorting along the paths.
22	another Great House, apparently abandoned and in ruins.
23	a ruined castle.
24	a ruined windmill.
25	a ruined watchtower.
26	a ruined monastery (or convent)
27	the evidence of an ancient battlefield.
28	there are murders of crows everywhere.
29	the area seems oddly cool for the climatic region.
30	the area seems oddly warm for its climatic region.
31	the land is wrapped in mists.
32	there are numerous roadside shrines (even in a Protestant area).
33	packs of wild dogs seem to roam freely.
34	the tenants of the estate are rude and unfriendly.
35	the tenants are notably warm and friendly.
36	the tenants seem to all be foreigners.
37	the tenants are especially well-dressed, although nothing else about them indicates wealth.
38	numerous cottages that seem empty, yet are kept in good repair.
39	the tenants tend to speak and dress in an oddly archaic manner.
40	the path seems to bustle with activity.
41	there are numerous gypsy encampments.
42	numerous fallen trees.
43	that you feel as if you are always being watched.
44	that the land seems swampy, and poorly drained.
45	that the land seems drier than normal for the climate.
46	that the trees and other plant life seems overgrown.
47	every bird and wild animal seems aggressive.
48	a strange lack of men among the tenants.
49	a strange lack of women among the tenants.
50	a strange lack of children among the tenants.
51	the faint sounds of singing choirs, even when there are no apparent people in the vicinity.
52	an oddly colorful mushroom which you cannot identify, but which seems common here.
53	numerous animal skulls and skeletons left in the fields.
54	a body left to rot in a gibbet.
55	a crossroads with an apparent grave in its center, protruding from which is the top of a iron spike.
56	that parts of the estate seems have been setup to echo locations in the Odyssey.
57	statues of Greek and Roman gods standing in the fields.
58	the early stages of some massive construction project.
59	numerous caves and/or sinkholes.
60	a ubiquitous and delightful smell that eludes easy description.
61	a vile but ubiquitous smell that you hope does not extend into the House.
62	numerous colorful rocks and pebbles – evidence, perhaps of mineral wealth underground.
63	a scream in the distance, which is suddenly silenced.
64	the numerous picaresque landscapes.
65	the trees seem diseased.
66	the insect life seems especially numerous, and the air resounds with their buzzing.
67	the birdsong seems strangely harsh.
68	tenants being forcibly evicted.
69	many new tenants seem to be moving into the cottages.
70	several cottages whose construction had been abandoned.
71	the tenants seem oddly indolent.
72	the tenants seem especially industrious.
73	fish appear to have recently fallen from the sky onto one of the fields.
74	scarecrows dressed in antique armor.
75	a sudden wind that carries the smell of a charnel house.
76	the wildflowers are exceptionally profuse in the fallow fields.
77	numerous trees that seem have been blasted by lightning.
78	many inexplicable bare patches in the otherwise fertile land.
79	a profusion of snakes. (Roll again in Ireland)
80	there is an antiquarian excavation occurring.
81	the hedgerows look especially ragged and overgrown.
82	the hedgerows are kept exceptionally neat and clipped.
83	there is a noticeably high amount of children playing in the fields.
84	the image of a horse has been cut into the side of a hill.
85	the image of a man has been cut into the side of a hill.
86	the numerous wayfaring signs.
87	the numerous wayfaring signs, which seem to bear no relationship with actual landmarks and distances.
88	there are several especially dense and dark patches of woodland.
89	the local church is oddly ornate for a country parish.
90	an especially large burial ground attached to the church.
91	the local church is a ruin.
92	a striking profusion of spiderwebs, and many tree limbs wrapped in cocoons.
93	the paths are deeply rutted, with no recent attempts at repair.
94	the paths and roads are exceptionally well-maintained.
95	pilgrims evidently visiting some holy site.
96	notices posted on trees, offering a bounty for the apprehension of a local bandit.
97	the area is teeming with large, seemingly fearless rabbits.
98	there seem to be an especially high number of badger setts left undisturbed.
99	the numerous mine entrances
100	the presence of a Roman road.

Pets and Vermin in a Grand House

Tags

18th Century, chateau, country seat, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, random encounters, Random Table, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, stately home

The effect of supernatural events on household pets is a recurring motif of Gothic and horror novels that can be used to great effect in a game. Sometimes the pet is itself the locus of the supernatural events, perhaps being actually a demon in disguise. Although the general treatment of animals during the Ghastly Age (1765 – 1820) was… ghastly, many aristocrats were in fact animal lovers who kept numerous pets. Lord Byron, for example, was renowned for his love of animals, and the Villa Diodati (where Mary Shelley conceived the idea for “Frankenstein”) was crawling with tame (and semi-tame) animals. The English eccentric John Mytton famously kept thousands of pets, let his horse live in his house, and once rode a pet bear to dinner! In the fictional Highdark Hall setting, Georgina Altumber’s calico cat Artemis is often to be found sleeping on her owner’s bed.

Pets Living in the House

Roll as many times as there are family members living in the house, but stop when you roll a 69 or higher. Add repeated results together.

Remember that there will almost always be a semi-feral cat kept in the kitchens (for killing vermin), and possibly a turnspit dog (or two).

d100	The family keeps…	NOTES
1 – 4	an angora cat.
5 – 6	a barbet (hunting dog).	Barbets actually used for hunting will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
7 – 8	a beagle (lapdog)	Beagles actually used for hunting will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
9 – 10	a bichon (lapdog).
11 – 12	a bullfinch.
13 – 14	a canary.
15 – 16	a capuchin monkey.	Often dressed in a footman’s livery, or exotic costume.
17– 18	a chihuahua (lapdog).
19 – 20	a corgi (lapdog).	According to Welsh legend, corgis are the mounts of Fairies.
21 – 22	a crow or raven.
23 – 24	a fox	Tame animal kept as a pet, although foxes are also considered vermin.
25– 26	1d8 goldfish.	Fishbowl will be located in a family member’s bedchamber, boudoir, or cabinet.
27 – 28	a green (or sabaeus) monkey.	Often dressed in an outfit.
29 – 30	a hedgehog.	Tame animal kept as a pet, although hedgehogs are also considered parkland vermin.
31 – 35	a long-haired cat.	A semi-feral ratter will usually be kept in the kitchen.
36 – 37	a pair of lovebirds.
38 – 39	a macaque (or Barbary ape).
40 – 41	a mastiff (guard dog).	Guard Mastiffs will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
42 – 43	a nightingale.
44 – 45	a papillon (lapdog).
46 – 47	a parrot.
48 – 52	a Persian cat.	Original breed, without the pug face characteristic of modern examples.
53 – 54	a poodle (hunting dog).	Poodles actually used for hunting will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
55 – 56	a pug (lapdog).	The 18th century breed has a short, but noticeable muzzle.
57	a serval.
58 – 59	a short-haired cat	A semi-feral ratter will usually be kept in the kitchen.
60 – 61	a spaniel (hunting dog).	Spaniels actually used for hunting will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
62 – 63	a spitz (hunting dog).	Spitzes actually used for hunting will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
64 – 65	a terrier (hunting dog).	Terriers actually used for hunting animals other than rats will usually be kept in exterior kennels.
66– 68	a toy poodle (lapdog).
69 – 100	No more pets.

Grand Houses (such as Highdark Hall) were almost always infested with some kind of vermin, and an attempt to finally eliminate them can make a nice setup for a scenario. As with the family pets, there is always the possibility that the house vermin are not at all what they seem…

Vermin in the House

Roll 1d4 times.

d100	The house is infested with…	NOTES
1 – 2	ants.
3 – 7	barn owls.	Only seen in attic.
8 – 9	barn swallows.	Only seen in attic.
10 – 15	bats	Only seen in attic.
15 – 16	bedbugs.	An infestation creates a noticeable smell like coriander (cilantro).
17 – 18	carpet beetles.
19 – 20	centipedes.
21 – 24	clothes moths.
25 – 26	cockroaches.	Most active at night. Will flee bright lights.
27 – 28	crickets
29	dangerous spiders.
30 – 31	death’s head moths.
32 – 33	deathwatch beetles.
34 – 35	fleas.
36 – 40	flies.
41 – 42	grave beetles.
43 – 44	harmless house spiders.
45 – 46	harmless snakes.	Only seen in basement or on ground floor.
47 – 48	house moths.
49 – 50	larder beetles.
51 – 52	lizards.	Warm areas only.
53 – 63	mice.	Almost all Grand Houses have some mice and/or rats. A result here indicates a noticeably large amount.
64 – 75	millipedes.
76 – 77	paper wasps.	Only seen in attic.
78 – 90	rats.	Almost all Grand Houses have some rats and/or mice. A result here indicates a noticeably large amount.
91 – 92	silverfish.
93 – 95	termites
96	toads.	Only seen in basement or on ground floor.
97	venomous snakes.	Only seen in basement or on ground floor.
98	woodwasps
99 – 100	woodworms.

31% OFF Ghastly Affair PDFs on DriveThruRPG and RPGNow!

Tags

18th Century, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Historical, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, OGL, Regency, role playing, role-playing game, roleplaying game, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, rpg, schauerroman

Now through Halloween 2018, the PDF versions of the “Ghastly Affair Player’s Manual”, “Ghastly Affair Presenter’s Manual”, a “A Ghastly Potpourri”, and the Ghastly Affair novel “Hunter’s Song”, are all 31% off on DriveThruRPG and RPGNow!

Random Landscape Paintings in Grand Houses

Tags

18th Century, Austenpunk, blackpowder, chateau, country seat, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Historical, Historical Gaming, History, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, manor house, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, Regency, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, schauerroman, stately home, steampunk

The 18th century saw the tremendous growth of Landscape painting as a popular genre, especially in Britain. Although contemporary critics ranked it as a “lesser” type of painting (similar to the still-life), there were many more landscapes actually hanging on walls than the more prestigious historical images preferred by the intelligentsia. The early years of the 19th century also saw the emergence of great Romantic landscape artists like Caspar David Friedrich (known for his moody images that often include figures looking into the scene with the viewer) and J.M.W. Turner (whose visionary work prefigured Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism).

Besides its use to add atmosphere to a setting, a landscape painting can also be a great clue to finding a location significant to the resolution of some in-game mystery. If you are running a game set in Highdark Hall, use the following tables to define the landscape paintings found in the Governess’ Bedroom.

d100	The painting depicts a landscape scene of…
1 – 2	a gnarled forest…
3 – 4	a pine forest…
5 – 6	a ruined castle…
7 – 8	a ruined cathedral…
9 – 10	a classical ruin…
11 – 12	a circle of standing stones…
13 – 14	an overgrown churchyard…
15 – 16	a lake…
17 – 18	a field of grain…
19 – 20	an orchard…
21 – 22	a snowy field…
23 – 24	jagged mountain peaks…
25 – 26	rolling hills…
27 – 28	rocky shore…
29 – 30	Venice…
31 –32	the Bay of Naples…
33 – 34	London…
35 – 36	Paris…
37 – 38	Vienna…
39 – 40	the ruins of Pompeii…
41 – 42	the arctic…
43 – 44	a house on the moors…
45 – 46	a ship on a calm sea…
47 – 48	a ship on a stormy sea…
49 – 50	a great chasm…
51 – 52	a formal French garden…
53 – 54	an English landscape garden…
55 – 56	a castle atop a mountain…
57 – 58	Chinese pagodas…
59 – 60	Egyptian ruins…
61 – 62	a cave entrance…
63 – 64	a natural arch of rock…
65 – 66	a monumental building in India…
67 – 68	a Turkish palace…
69 – 70	a mosque…
71 – 72	a lonely tomb…
73 – 74	a grand Gothic cathedral…
75 – 76	a mighty river…
77 – 78	an island in the South Seas…
79 – 80	a forest, with hunters chasing game…
81 – 82	a gathering storm on the shoreline…
83 – 84	a storm raining down on a field…
85 – 86	a beacon on the shore…
87 – 88	a South Seas island…
89 – 90	sandy desert dunes…
91 – 92	a ruined Hindu temple…
93 – 94	Ancient American ruins (Aztec, Mayan, Inca, etc.)…
95 – 96	a volcanic eruption…
97 – 98	a river ford…
99 – 100	a partially-ruined farmhouse…

d4	in the…
1	spring,
2	summer,
3	autumn,
4	winter,

d4	during the hours of…
1	the morning.
2	the day.
3	the evening.
4	the night.

d20	The notable thing about the painting is…
1	the out of place animal(s).
2	the out of place plant(s).
3	the inclusion of an unidentifiable creature.
4	the powerfully moving depiction that fills you with a sense of sublime melancholy (or terror).
5	the strange lights depicted in the sky.
6	the heavy use of impasto techniques that add surface texture to the depictions of features like rocks and trees.
7	the strange use of perspective.
8	that no attempt has been made to follow the rules of perspective.
9	it appears to be an unknown work from a well-known master.
10	it is incompetently rendered, and must have some kind of sentimental value to its owners.
11	the places and objects depicted form a visual pun.
12	the complete lack of apparent brush-strokes.
13	the virtuoso, trompe l’oeil depiction that looks like seeing the actual landscape through a window.
14	it seems to have been painted on a black ground, rather than white.
15	it was apparently painted alla prima, in one sitting with no under-painting.
16	there seems to be another, faintly visible image underneath the current image.
17	it has a heavily crackled surface.
18	although an oil, it is completely painted in translucent glazes that make it resemble a watercolor.
19	it appears to be the work of an unknown master.
20	the semi-abstract rendering, more concerned with color and shape than an accurate depiction of reality.

Highdark Hall Now Available on DriveThruRPG and RPGNow!

Tags

18th Century, blackpowder, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Historical, Historical Gaming, Louis Seize, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, Napoleonic, OGL, Regency, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, rpg, schauerroman

Here’s a surprise Halloween treat for you all – the complete Highdark Hall is now available for download on DriveThruRPG and RPGNow!

Experience a place of hauntings and High Society, where good manners are veils for murderous intentions. Welcome to Highdark Hall! Horrors beyond belief, and romances beyond reason, have played out within its walls. Designed as a backdrop that would support the creative visions of individual Game Masters, Highdark Hall is intended as a setting where shocking stories of love, death, and the supernatural can emerge spontaneously from interacting with its colorful inhabitants and strange locations. What further catastrophes befall its occupants and their guests, are for you to decide.

This PDF collects the Highdark Hall material you may already know, and also reveals many previously hidden secrets. It includes:

• • Detailed, historically plausible floor-plans for an 18th century Stately Home on five floors.
  • An overview of the enigmatic Altumber family and their (in)famous residence.
  • Over 100 interior locations, from the opulent Lunar Ballroom, to the secret Hellfire Chapel.
  • A fully mapped parkland filled with dramatic (and potentially dangerous) locations.
  • Over 50 unique NPCs, from the vile to the virtuous, in a tangle of conflicting desires set to explode.
  • Extensive rumors and legends, ripe for investigation by the brave (and foolish).
  • Schedules of the entertainments and activities enjoyed by visitors, with descriptions of typical meals.
  • An in-depth description of the legendary (and possibly haunted) Hedge Maze of Highdark Hall.
  • A description of the annual Autumnal Masque, with tables to generate the costumes of attendees.

Plus, printable versions of all maps.

Highdark Hall was created especially for use with Ghastly Affair, the Gothic Game of Romantic Horror, but it has potential for any game set in Georgian, Napoleonic, Regency, or early Victorian times. It could even be explored by modern paranormal investigators, come to uncover its disturbing past. How will its spirits speak to you?

Note: Highdark Hall contains some mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.