Thank you for the interest on the articles discussing culture. At the end of this article I have included links to earlier articles about the city and some of its inhabitants I use.Backstory for Supporting Culture
Developing the culture does not require building a backstory, but it helps. After I decided what I wanted in my "current" city I could go back in time to figure out why the structure, rules, and culture of the current society exist.
As you develop a location you don't need to know everything. All you need to know is what is needed for what you are currently doing. I have been developing the city of Castanis for many years, most of it by writing down short, one-line, notes, names, or ideas. Those notes can either be forgotten, decided against, or developed. Development doesn't have to be in full either.
When writing the previous article on the goblin enclave I developed what was needed without going into full detail. The goblin are developed enough so they can be included in the city. They have their area of control, how they are able to sustain themselves, and few other details. There are hints at what is involved, but until I need the leadership they don't need to be developed. (I have been asked to provide some more details on the goblin enclave leadership, so they are now in the works.)
As an example of developing a backstory for a culture, here is the beginning of a history for the Castanis. The history is meant to be a guide, in this case for both a game master and a player. There is enough information to explain the basic of why some things are the way they are, along with clues to additional information someone might want to delve deeper into. There are also large gaps in the information about the intervening years, which can be expanded when additional backstory is needed.
A Brief History of Castanis
Many years ago, generations in terms of the lives of humans, men were starting to push there way out from their own minor existence. They started sailing the coast, exploring and trading. The estuary of the Long River was found as a place with good anchorage and for providing protection from the open sea. The location had been previously used by other seafaring races and conflicts occurred.
No one knows why the first battle took place, but the conflicts escalated, as grudges developed. Battles took place in the harbor, and the surrounding waters. Ships were sunk and many brave souls from different races were sent back to the heavens. It is said the battles continued for years. Until a wizened human, Pilan, did something the other captains were not expecting: instead of fighting he went to shore and planted a flag of truce.
Pilan, the Founder, called forth to the other captains present that day. Pilan negotiated with the captains to provide a safe place for all who were travelling along the coast. Instead of sailing on Pilan and his crew would stay at the mouth of the Long and build a new port. He promised he would welcome all the races who came there. This way the ships could bring their goods to a new area and the people of the area would be able to trade with the rest of the known world. The new port was named Castanis by the pact of captains, derived from one of the old languages because it means a place of protection.
Initially, times were tough on the fledging town. The only advantage the location had was the harbor. The area was muddy and swampy. Food was not easily obtained. And, they were pushing back against the wilderness.
Monsters assaulted those who took up residence in Castanis. Luckily, the new port brought adventurers who were wanting and willing to take on the struggle of taming the area. Some came to slay the monsters, while others came to convert them. Both had some success and each year the town and trade grew. Pilan grew old watching the town he settled develop.
Castanis has never stopped growing, and the principle it was founded on stayed firm—everyone, no matter what race, who came in peace, to trade or live, was accepted. This does not mean everyone lives in peace, but the law is applied to every resident, theoretically. This caused the town, and now the city, to develop in unexpected ways.
New groups arrived and set up their own camps, in the most part keeping to themselves. Over the years some have mixed with the other races over time, while others still maintain a level of separation. There are a number of racial neighborhoods where one race feels more secure, while some areas are highly mixed. There are places, like the portion living under the waves or in the dark, who live the way they do out of requirement. The city has moved up the river, along the coast, down into the earth, and, with the wizards and priests, into other dimension.
Walking down the streets of the city, day or night, you are likely to meet others gathering together in common trade; where, if they had met in the wilderness, they would be spilling blood. Adventurers have started their careers here, while others have found this the place to retire from their exploits. Still, there are those who are born, live, and die without ever travelling away from their beloved city. Those who never travel away are not just the common folk. There is potential to rise to great prominence and power within the confines of Castanis. Great adventures not only come from or to the city, many are made because of the city.
LIST
If you have any comments, questions, or critiques please leave a comment here, or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment