What is Wrong with this Terrible Town
One thing I love about Jack Vance books is that no village is ever just a village. There is no easily available inn or general store. Every bit of civilization is a web of social rules that must be carefully navigated and probably exploited. Here is a list of ten such ideas:
- Town of lycanthropes. Friendly enough, but all silver is outlawed. Weapons, coins, jewelry, etc. Most treasure local to the region is entirely in silver.
- Nocturnal society. Everything is closed during the day and open at night. Using it as a home base, the party is expected to operate entirely at night and are run out if they are too loud during the day.
- Company town. All goods and services are paid for with company scrip, not gold. If you want food, torches, or arrows, you better spend some days working in the mines.
- Friends and Family only. Business is only done with family members and direct friends of family members. If the party needs anything, one of them must marry a local.
- Drinking Culture. Everyone in town is drunk all the time, and those who refuse are highly mistrusted. PCs must spend money on booze and deal with drunkenness and hangover penalties.
- Heathens Not Welcome. One specific religion reigns supreme here, and devout adherence to religious custom is expected. Strangers must prove their loyalty by stepping or spitting on rival holy symbols.
- Wizard Hatred. For a hundred years, a dirtbag wizard ruled this town. They will never bear another magic-user in their presence. They itch for another round of witch-trials .
- Harvest Festival. This town loves their festivals, and all regular business is on hold. If the party wants anything, it must be for festival business. All are expected to pitch in greasing pigs and brewing beer.
- Sartorial Madness. There is a convoluted and deathly serious system of clothing that matches the wearer's place in society. Elves must wear green hats. Magic-Users are expected to wear gloves. Fighters are expected to spurn armor. Those who do not comply are treated with disgust.
- Promised Kings. The village treats the PCs as heroes, showering them with booze, food, and competing to put them up in the nicest house. They are declared honorary kings, but are informed after a while that they are expected to never leave the village. Should the PCs ever leave the village, they will be considered traitors and stoned to death.