Story Setting: Londinium

I have several different D&D games I run/have run from time to time. And there's no reason they can't all exist in the same world. So this is my world-building document where I'm going to drop the Story Setting from one of my games, and then I might continue building on it for other games I run, as well.

Welcome to the world of Londinium, a place of adventure.

Fantasy Attraction

I wish that I could find those attractive

who are attracted to me.

Because the ones I am attracted to

are not attracted to me,

and the ones who are attracted to me

are not those I find attractive.

Will You Have Something to Drink?

Willie's wife Wilma is the official brewmaster of the pub, and on occasion she does allow me to play the assistant for her. We've both got some history individually in brewing up something tasty, but I must admit that she's got a delicate touch I haven't yet acquired.

The menu for The Jolly Pecker generally just says 'wine' or 'ale', for simplicity's sake, but there is a variety of drinks available to order. I've tried them all from time to time; let me tell you about them.

The Local Yokels

Look, I know you want me tell you more about Willie and Wilma, but I gotta catch them at just the right time, ya know? So how about I introduce you to some of the local lads, instead? We've got a handful of regulars that appear in here pretty regularly. You know, it feels like every time those special adventurers show up, the same lads are over in the back corner, gambling. If some of them don't come in, neither do the adventurers. I want to say that every time the adventurers show up, the same people are here in the tavern... that sure seems like a clue I want to write down in my notebook, wouldn't you say?

Spell-O-Vision

DM's NOTE: This one gives away some things your characters in the game won't know, so be extra-careful about Player Knowledge versus Character Knowledge here. If you play in my games, you should probably skip this one.

Three Cheers for the Wenches

Folks that come in here for the first time often ask about the staff. They are an interesting lot, not a one of them local. Some ask about One-Eyed Willie, and about his axe and shield hanging up there over the bar. Those are the ones I expect to be the most use in a fight - or the most likely to start one. Some ask about the food, and about the ale, and about Willie's Wife Wilma. I must admit, those are the ones closest to my heart. The ones that want to know more about Pip can just sit and wait - he'll introduce himself with more curls in his speech than I could give him. Nobody really knows much about Peter - and he's not telling. 

But really, most folks - when they get to asking - want to know about the wenches. And who can blame them? There's a little something for anyone. Blonde, brunette, and redhead. Elf, half-elf, and human. Sweet, smooth, and scary. But all three of them lovely and engaging, when they want to be.

The Captain's Log

When Pip got started with One-Eyed Willie and His Upstanding Crew, he started noting down their adventures, and turned 'em into stories later. This is 'the dream' for a lot of bards, you know. Hooking up with an adventuring group that has some entertaining adventures and doesn't get eaten, though... that's the trick.

While I'm not going to read this book to you - you can go read it on your own if you like - I will give you the Cliff-Notes version. That is, the very short version, like the notes a bard might make trying to record a story while climbing up a cliff, instead of the longer version he'd write out while sitting in camp later that night.

Captain Crispin Catechew, Renowned Bard

I've already told you a bit about Pip, our halfling bard - and about Pop, his weasel familiar. But I haven't told you about his alter ego, Captain Crispin Catechew, Renowned Bard. You've gotta put that last bit on there when you say it, so people know to be impressed and act like they've heard of him, you know.

Pop Goes The Weasel

Have another drink; the evening's just beginning. You know, books showing up that weren't there before aren't the only strange thing happening around here. I think there's whole rooms showing up sometimes that weren't here before, too. And it has something to do with those adventurers I mentioned before, the ones that I feel like I know 'em, but it's their first time coming by.

There's around five or six of them, give or take. It's hard to keep track, because something in my head just goes sideways when I try to remember. It's like being completely sober and trying to remember the promises you made when you were drunk, you know? I'll see if I can't point them out if they come in, as the night goes on.

What's on the Bookshelf?

While you're back in the fireplace corner, studying the map for your journey, perhaps you'd like to peruse the bookshelf back there. We've gathered quite the collection of books back there. Some of the Upstanding Crew contributed their own books when the tavern was first opened. Here and there, a traveler has traded a book for a meal or some lodging, as well. 

I mean, don't spread it around, but no one's ever going to go hungry around here. If somebody comes by and can't afford to eat, Peter'll direct them around back to the porch off the kitchen. When Willie's wife, Wilma, finds them out there, she'll find some task or other for them to do and have a meal for them when they finish, or trade for whatever they can offer. Sometimes the back-door crowd eats better than the patrons, I think, especially if they've got children with them.

Some of the books on the shelf, nobody seems to know how they got there. Just one day, they were there, like they'd been there all along. In fact, some of the staff has argued with me that these books have been there all along, when I know these books weren't there before. So I've started keeping a list of what's on the shelf - something to consult when something new shows up, so I've got proof it's new, even if I'm only proving it to myself. Here, I'll show you.

I Know The Way!

So are you still set on heading to Juniper, to find this beast and slay it? Or maybe just to help the poor folks of Juniper gather themselves together to leave?

After listening to that sodden sap Jiggeri Ajo, I'd think you'd want to stay far away from that doomed town. But no, you're an adventurer. Surely you can survive the beast that has slain dozens of simple townspeople. Townspeople that have defended themselves and their town for many years, many of them seasoned hunters. I'm sure you'll be fine. You'll have a healer with you, right? Like all the other adventurers that come through here, once... and then we never see them again. But I'm sure we'll hear all about your heroic battle with the beast as word comes back through here.

You know, I have a strong feeling there's a group of somewhat competent adventurers will be coming through here in a day or two, and something tells me they'll be headed for Juniper themselves, going after the beast. Mayhap you can join up with them...

But What About Juniper?

You ask me about Jiggery Joe, that poor old broken-down elf in the corner? Well, might as well just ask me about Juniper and the troubles they've had. I don't know much, but Jiggery Joe, he knows all about it, I believe, being he's from that poor doomed town. He's spent the last few evenings hunkered down over that table, doing more crying than anything else, but if you want to ask about Juniper, how about we buy him a drink or two and see if he's got anything to tell us. I've got most of a pitcher of ale here, let's head over his way...

How's the Weather Down There?

Hey, look over there. That dwarf coming down the stairs for breakfast, he's one of those adventurers I mentioned - the ones that just feel... special. Like I've seen them before, but I don't actually know them. That guy came in last night, and I almost ended up in a fight with him. Which is strange. I feel like, given other circumstances, we could have been friendly, maybe even adventured together. But last night, well, let's blame the ale he'd already had too much of...

How About a Tour?

How About a Tour?

Oh, don’t get up. I just meant I’d point things out to you from here. I mean, you pretty much came in the doors and straight over to the bar here, right? Have you even taken the time to appreciate what a beautiful tavern this is? It wants to be appreciated, and it’s just polite, you know. 

A Gnome Walks Into a Bar...

Welcome to D&D Dabblers, a monthly drop-in game I run of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons. These stories, with the label of Dabblers, are told in the universe of the game I'm running, and will tell some side-stories and backstories of my world. They are intended to help me with world-building, but also to entertain.

I Want

Content Labels: Kink & BDSM, Explicit Sexual Content

I want to sass you, taunt you,

So you're motivated to win me over.

I want you to grab me by the throat

And tell me how to behave.