SC 24 prompt plans
I was planning on Valley of Plenty primary, Lance Breaker secondary. Whelp, already got stumped on the first prompts. I already covered several things for the Valley, so there's less space. But I managed to figure it out, thanks to pulling in Stormfarers again. Hey, that's what that setting is for: Random scifi bits!
Historical: Valley of Plenty article, talk about the previous residents of the valley and other rumours of the past.
Modern: Valley of Plenty article, the new inhabitants and current situation
Lance Breaker: Lance Breaker article, random societal scifi situation bits
Stormfarers: Stormfarers article, random space travel scifi situation bits
Prompt 2: Natural Law, an environmental or other large-scale natural disaster. Stormfarers. Black hole pulses. Bursting out and disrupting hyperspace as the pulse resonates with dark matter and dark energy.
Prompt 3: A character who goes through a great change or metamorphosis. Lance Breaker. So this would normally shout main character. But the Valley has players, and the biggest NPCs I already have articles on. Lance Breaker I already have Valya. But if I recall correctly, I haven't written up her secret girlfriend yet. As a Homesteader who became a Battle Spear a few years before Valya, her new powers and responsibilities greatly impacted her and her relationship with Valya. But they made it through, and now Valya will have her as inspiration and shoulder to lean on as she deals with her own new powers, as well as the ticking voice in the back of her head.
Prompt 4: Condition, a sickness that caused societal upheaval. Modern. This one stomped me for a bit, but I came up with the idea of a sickness for fish that then infected people. Enter folks depending on fish who suddenly need help for food. And when that aid didn't come, it led to a revolt. Bam, origin story for the kingdom and an explanation why they're currently drawn into a war where the other side would go as far as destroying a dam to try to kill thousands: Entitlement to what was once their lands and people.
Prompt 5: A document that changed the course of history. Modern. I already wrote a few documents for the Valley, but what about the spy report that warned about the enemy plans to destroy the dam? If there hadn't been a mass evacuation, thousands could have died and thousands more would have lost all their possessions. Instead, these thousands of refugees now have their stuff but need a place to live and survive. Enter the Valley.
Prompt 6: Ethnicity, a displaced people. Modern. Oh hi, Valley Dwellers! Let's face it, most of you are here to stay forever! Even part of the knights and nobles are building new homes here. Gotta wrap your head around having lost all you had, except your family that is eagerly waiting for you to prepare a home for them. Good luck!
Prompt 7: A conflict that involved a changing environment. Modern. Honestly I'm not making this one military. Far more interesting to explicitly pay attention to the nobility fighting with each other politically about how the valley must be run. Limited resources, limited manpower, do you prioritise the nobles, the merchants, the people? Several articles already explained the groups and their sides in the conflict, time to explicitly mention the conflict. Who knows, maybe it will be updated over time as the players impact the fate of the entire valley.
Prompt 8: A vehicle that, when introduced, caused social upheaval. Modern. I already got my spaceships, so this one stomped me. But I came up with a ridiculously silly easy idea (thanks to Clarkson's (spits) Farm tv series): A plow! Have a special plow that works well to prepare lands, allowing more and better farmland to be produced. Suddenly you got an influx of food stability and trading options. Now the valley will need a few of those, but it's a long road there, so what to do when they get damaged or need new blades? Bam, plot hook, players might be hired to help explore the mines to find proper ore veins and secure the roads and mining areas.
Prompt 32: A material that is resistant to decay. Modern. Since decay will be a problem, I could find some materials that will be able to last. Jade is actually a material involved in producing Ancient Runes, so I can use that here.
Prompt 33: A profession that is considered dirty. Modern. I could probably write up the farmers here, as they play a big role in the valley. Their use of fertilizer, as well as harvesting animals, face contempt. Maybe I'll write up hunters instead? Since they disembowel animals they catch, and some also process the hides themselves.
Prompt 34: An organization fighting corruption. Lance Breaker. Lance Breaker has the Military Court, where Defenders are prosecuted. The organization behind this would involve a military police, so I can write something up about that.
Prompt 35: A tradition that represents moral decay. Lance Breaker. While the drinking age is 20, and underage drinking is actively prevented, the Homesteaders are a bit looser there. Especially at the harvest festival, the youth gets drunk and pro-active with other activities. While this is generally frowned upon, in this case the locals look the other way, as much as that clashes with what others and even the law think.
Prompt 36: A species that feeds on decay. Lance Breaker. The Corvus are raven-like scavenger birds on Ymir, which team up with wolflike species. Homesteaders and even Battle Spears also have gotten used to the creatures and may work with them from time to time.
Prompt 37: A degenerative disease (condition). Modern. In the Valley, eventually corruption is going to infect people, like it did the Dryads. This will slowly wear them down and require a permanent solution, which is where the hunt for more info on ancient runes comes in. This problem will actually be related to the sudden find of info that many find suspicious.
Prompt 38: A piece of technology that prevents decay. Historical/Modern. The spread of negative energy needed the old valley residents to protect places. This included cemeteries. To prevent the dead from being corrupted and turned undead, protective wards were needed. Ancient runes were poured and carved, to create permanent wards. Nowadays, the valley scholars try to figure these out, so they can recreate them and keep more places safe.
Prompt 12: A technology used for defense or protection. Modern. Ballistae! Already mentioned in the Dragon Skeleton, these are a must in case any heavy enemies attack.
Prompt 13: Road Grove. Geography, a naturally sheltered place. Modern. The new village needs a location, and that location needs a motive. And hey, there's these Terror Birds in the sky, that people need to take shelter against. So a nice natural grove, with tall trees that block the birds their attack pattern, would work nicely. Build tree huts and you can even have safety against wolves and other ground-based predators. Gives a nice unique flair to the settlement of refuge.
Prompt 14: Tree huts. A building considered a refuge against the world. Modern. Oh hi tree huts.
Prompt 15: A military unit dedicated to guarding someone or something. Modern. I already have some knight and mercenary orders, but a group of folks will work nicely for this. Could be a subgroup of soldiers, or a civilian militia. Would provide some nice plothooks when they need a hand. And hey, I already have an article on the civilians being trained to defend themselves. So for example the Grove Guard would be a nice group to tag along with and help every now and then.
Prompt 16: A personal item that keeps you safe. Modern. Hm... I'm thinking some form of talisman. Honestly, this might even be a compass.
Prompt 17: A tradition that gives comfort. Modern. I say, some form of house blessing ritual. Extra important now that folks are building new homes, and a nice way for the group to have some roleplaying.
Prompt 18: A species with protective anatomy. Modern. Pangolins. Would be nice to have a possible quest where you need to harvest scales without harming them.
Prompt 22: A myth / urban legend / conspiracy theory believed by many to be true. Either Lance Breaker or Modern. I am a bit torn here. For the Valley, I could have a conspiracy theory about the nobles. With Lance Breaker, the claims about Black Lung Disease would fit: Those claiming the army is exaggerating / increasing the threat of the disease so that they can keep military control. I'll decide later, I feel like the Valley might be a better idea as it starts building up the political tension.
Prompt 23: Person, an evil spirit or divine antagonist. Modern. This one will be a spoiler for later in the Valley campaign, but there are forces at hand that cause undead to rise. Having some bad noble taken down then turn into an evil spirit will be a nice way to drive home the dangers of the valley to the players.
Prompt 24: A document of spurious or controversial attribution. Modern (with a flair of history). All documents about Ancient Runes and the enemies have been carefully kept in check, so it is hard to find info. So what about if a document is found with more info? Some would wonder if this is true, or a false flag. Maybe someone modern actually planted the document, either to mislead, or to make classified info available... If so, how did they get that? What can be trusted? The plot thickens...
Prompt 25: Item, a relic or symbol of belief. Modern. Morning glories, a hardy weed that is impossible to wipe out. The symbol used by many scouts to express their belief that like the morning glory, they will not be wiped out. Starting to be co-opted by the farmers as a symbol for the valley residents, which can become a nice symbol of a plot change when people fall into despair yet rise back out of it.
Prompt 26: Slang or a language associated with a religion or or belief. Stormfarers. The hint relevant here is euphemisms and such, like 'The Scottish Play'. Why do we say break a leg? The belief that wishing someone good luck brings bad luck. Meanwhile, so many idioms and expressions originate from events regarding sailing. So what happens when people sailing the Hypersea start developing their own superstitions and other beliefs? They will create their own idioms, a form of slang, related to those superstitions. So that will be the way to go.
Prompt 27: Rank, a leader or high-ranking person in an organization. Stormfarers. Honestly, the Valley is too low-scale for this. And it would be boring for the Battle Spears. But hey, spaceships! A crew is basically an organization. And what is an incredibly important position on a ship? The boatswain. So there we go. What falls under the authority of a Hypersea boatswain? What doesn't? Wherein lies the rub?
Prompt 28: Ritual, the practices and ceremonies of worship. Lance Breaker. The Homesteaders have a way of life that might not seem that important, but Valya's intricate knowledge of it plays a role in the plot as it highlights not only that she knows more than others realize, but also her mental allegiances. Some homesteaders hunt together, have harvest festivals together, even 'raise barns' (read: repair damaged homesteads) together. That is a culture, practices dedicated to their way of life, where one makes their own path but does so with a helping hand.
Prompt 9: Myth, a myth about food. Modern.
Pathfinder's Kingmaker introduced various meal recipes which provide buffs, and I already wrote one up. Having a myth about a special food ingredient that works miracles, means I can then have players actually run into that ingredient at some point.
Prompt 10: Jolly Shanty. A building associated with joy and fun. Modern. Well I already was planning on using my tavern-creation book (The Seeker's Guide to Twisted Taverns?) plus my Remarkable Inns book, and build a tavern in the valley for the players to have as semi-base. Guess I might already write it up, even though at the start of the campaign it won't exist yet!
Prompt 19: Ethnicity. A sub-culture considered larger-than-life by some. Lance Breaker. Honestly, I don't see this one fit well in the Valley, so Lance Breaker it is. Homesteaders already have a profession article, but what about their lifestyle? Valya will encounter a bunch during the story, and has encountered plenty in the past. As such, their lifestyle is a fun thing to address and plays an actual role in the story.
Prompt 20: A charity or other organization focused on doing good. Lance Breaker. All the main factions are already there for the Valley. But with Lance Breaker, I already came up with a group of homesteaders that help out other homesteaders in need. You know, like a certain tv series in real life. So yeah, a group that helps rescue other homesteads. Just gotta think of a good name.
Prompt 29: A settlement that's known as a party town or pleasure city. Lance Breaker / Stormfarers.
In the valley, there simply aren't enough settlements yet. In Lance Breaker, I already have the Night District inside the First City. However, how about the Homesteaders? The Fairview Hunting Camp is a place where folks come together, but it's not where they go for celebrations.
So in that context, it makes sense that the young set up their own new base, to party in a safe environment. Which might be a nice place for a harvest festival or hunting party, related to prompt #28. And when such a place is attacked by an Ursa Major stampede, what happens next?
Prompt 30: A hybrid species intentionally bred. Modern. Nobles often use animals to serve as hunting animals for them. Falconeers are a part of that. So then you add the need to make them bigger, better, harder, stronger. Enter a crossbreeding program with some other species that results in Dire Falcons. Way tougher, but also harder to control. It can fit either the confident skilled noble, or an arrogant one that is growing out of control.
Prompt 39: A storyteller, author, or bard in your world (character). Shadowland. Moenen is my narrative person for Shadowland, explaining things and people. He is an infobroker, but also shares info on the Helix and spins a nice story about things. Having someone tell about him in return, will make for a fun article.
Prompt 40: A geographical region that is expanding. Stormfarers. The Hypersea has rivers and lakes. Having a lake expand, which is causing dark matter to slowly float into it. This would make it an interesting mining site, as you can send in bigger ships.
Change
Prompt 1: Geography, a tumultuous region prone to natural disasters. Stormfarers. This one immediately stumped me, because well, I can't really go and write the Valley now can I? And in Lance Breaker, they made sure not to start up civilization in a dangerous area. So thanks to the next prompt, I got the perfect idea! Hyperspace in Stormfarers is risky, but mostly predictable in danger-level. Now what if that changed? Imagine an area where often (somewhat predictable but not entirely) there's trouble, meaning the normal ships can't make it through. Suddenly you need the space cowboys that dare risk the trip. You also need to prepare for frequently being unable to get goods in or out, and also prepare defenses since you can't always can get backup in materials that will be able to last.time. Bam, lots of plot options. So, this will be an area of Hyperspace that faces frequent black hole pulses, which really messes with the Tranquility and Relativity.Prompt 2: Natural Law, an environmental or other large-scale natural disaster. Stormfarers. Black hole pulses. Bursting out and disrupting hyperspace as the pulse resonates with dark matter and dark energy.
Prompt 3: A character who goes through a great change or metamorphosis. Lance Breaker. So this would normally shout main character. But the Valley has players, and the biggest NPCs I already have articles on. Lance Breaker I already have Valya. But if I recall correctly, I haven't written up her secret girlfriend yet. As a Homesteader who became a Battle Spear a few years before Valya, her new powers and responsibilities greatly impacted her and her relationship with Valya. But they made it through, and now Valya will have her as inspiration and shoulder to lean on as she deals with her own new powers, as well as the ticking voice in the back of her head.
Prompt 4: Condition, a sickness that caused societal upheaval. Modern. This one stomped me for a bit, but I came up with the idea of a sickness for fish that then infected people. Enter folks depending on fish who suddenly need help for food. And when that aid didn't come, it led to a revolt. Bam, origin story for the kingdom and an explanation why they're currently drawn into a war where the other side would go as far as destroying a dam to try to kill thousands: Entitlement to what was once their lands and people.
Prompt 5: A document that changed the course of history. Modern. I already wrote a few documents for the Valley, but what about the spy report that warned about the enemy plans to destroy the dam? If there hadn't been a mass evacuation, thousands could have died and thousands more would have lost all their possessions. Instead, these thousands of refugees now have their stuff but need a place to live and survive. Enter the Valley.
Prompt 6: Ethnicity, a displaced people. Modern. Oh hi, Valley Dwellers! Let's face it, most of you are here to stay forever! Even part of the knights and nobles are building new homes here. Gotta wrap your head around having lost all you had, except your family that is eagerly waiting for you to prepare a home for them. Good luck!
Prompt 7: A conflict that involved a changing environment. Modern. Honestly I'm not making this one military. Far more interesting to explicitly pay attention to the nobility fighting with each other politically about how the valley must be run. Limited resources, limited manpower, do you prioritise the nobles, the merchants, the people? Several articles already explained the groups and their sides in the conflict, time to explicitly mention the conflict. Who knows, maybe it will be updated over time as the players impact the fate of the entire valley.
Prompt 8: A vehicle that, when introduced, caused social upheaval. Modern. I already got my spaceships, so this one stomped me. But I came up with a ridiculously silly easy idea (thanks to Clarkson's (spits) Farm tv series): A plow! Have a special plow that works well to prepare lands, allowing more and better farmland to be produced. Suddenly you got an influx of food stability and trading options. Now the valley will need a few of those, but it's a long road there, so what to do when they get damaged or need new blades? Bam, plot hook, players might be hired to help explore the mines to find proper ore veins and secure the roads and mining areas.
Decay
Prompt 31: A myth about the end of the world. Dwellers on the Thresholds. This one is tricky, out of 9 settings, I could only place it in one. Dwellers is about chasing echoes. Those that were powerful have disappeared, so it makes sense that some believe the world is just growing weaker. The end of the world would not be the end of the worlds, but the end of the ability to travel between them.Prompt 32: A material that is resistant to decay. Modern. Since decay will be a problem, I could find some materials that will be able to last. Jade is actually a material involved in producing Ancient Runes, so I can use that here.
Prompt 33: A profession that is considered dirty. Modern. I could probably write up the farmers here, as they play a big role in the valley. Their use of fertilizer, as well as harvesting animals, face contempt. Maybe I'll write up hunters instead? Since they disembowel animals they catch, and some also process the hides themselves.
Prompt 34: An organization fighting corruption. Lance Breaker. Lance Breaker has the Military Court, where Defenders are prosecuted. The organization behind this would involve a military police, so I can write something up about that.
Prompt 35: A tradition that represents moral decay. Lance Breaker. While the drinking age is 20, and underage drinking is actively prevented, the Homesteaders are a bit looser there. Especially at the harvest festival, the youth gets drunk and pro-active with other activities. While this is generally frowned upon, in this case the locals look the other way, as much as that clashes with what others and even the law think.
Prompt 36: A species that feeds on decay. Lance Breaker. The Corvus are raven-like scavenger birds on Ymir, which team up with wolflike species. Homesteaders and even Battle Spears also have gotten used to the creatures and may work with them from time to time.
Prompt 37: A degenerative disease (condition). Modern. In the Valley, eventually corruption is going to infect people, like it did the Dryads. This will slowly wear them down and require a permanent solution, which is where the hunt for more info on ancient runes comes in. This problem will actually be related to the sudden find of info that many find suspicious.
Prompt 38: A piece of technology that prevents decay. Historical/Modern. The spread of negative energy needed the old valley residents to protect places. This included cemeteries. To prevent the dead from being corrupted and turned undead, protective wards were needed. Ancient runes were poured and carved, to create permanent wards. Nowadays, the valley scholars try to figure these out, so they can recreate them and keep more places safe.
Refuge
Prompt 11: Sequcester. A settlement considered a refuge. Modern. For the building of joy, I was planning on a tavern in the about-to-be-founded new village that will grow bigger over time. Said village will then be a perfect refuge, as it starts as a forward base and slowly grows into a local stronghold. So, ka-ching!Prompt 12: A technology used for defense or protection. Modern. Ballistae! Already mentioned in the Dragon Skeleton, these are a must in case any heavy enemies attack.
Prompt 13: Road Grove. Geography, a naturally sheltered place. Modern. The new village needs a location, and that location needs a motive. And hey, there's these Terror Birds in the sky, that people need to take shelter against. So a nice natural grove, with tall trees that block the birds their attack pattern, would work nicely. Build tree huts and you can even have safety against wolves and other ground-based predators. Gives a nice unique flair to the settlement of refuge.
Prompt 14: Tree huts. A building considered a refuge against the world. Modern. Oh hi tree huts.
Prompt 15: A military unit dedicated to guarding someone or something. Modern. I already have some knight and mercenary orders, but a group of folks will work nicely for this. Could be a subgroup of soldiers, or a civilian militia. Would provide some nice plothooks when they need a hand. And hey, I already have an article on the civilians being trained to defend themselves. So for example the Grove Guard would be a nice group to tag along with and help every now and then.
Prompt 16: A personal item that keeps you safe. Modern. Hm... I'm thinking some form of talisman. Honestly, this might even be a compass.
Prompt 17: A tradition that gives comfort. Modern. I say, some form of house blessing ritual. Extra important now that folks are building new homes, and a nice way for the group to have some roleplaying.
Prompt 18: A species with protective anatomy. Modern. Pangolins. Would be nice to have a possible quest where you need to harvest scales without harming them.
Belief
Prompt 21: A faction of an organization built around belief. Lance Breaker. I already have enough organizations for the Valley, I'd rather not add even more factions to that. So instead, we look at Lance Breaker. Here I figured the Battle Spears would be useful, but I already wrote those. However, even under the Battle Spears, there's disagreements on how to remain neutral. Some, and that is the faction I'd like to write as Valya would instantly side with them, think that helping the Homesteaders with predators is still remaining neutrality and will help with scientific research. Or at least not harm it, so it is okay to act out a little. In other words, hunt Ursa Majors nearby Homesteader territory when given the chance.Prompt 22: A myth / urban legend / conspiracy theory believed by many to be true. Either Lance Breaker or Modern. I am a bit torn here. For the Valley, I could have a conspiracy theory about the nobles. With Lance Breaker, the claims about Black Lung Disease would fit: Those claiming the army is exaggerating / increasing the threat of the disease so that they can keep military control. I'll decide later, I feel like the Valley might be a better idea as it starts building up the political tension.
Prompt 23: Person, an evil spirit or divine antagonist. Modern. This one will be a spoiler for later in the Valley campaign, but there are forces at hand that cause undead to rise. Having some bad noble taken down then turn into an evil spirit will be a nice way to drive home the dangers of the valley to the players.
Prompt 24: A document of spurious or controversial attribution. Modern (with a flair of history). All documents about Ancient Runes and the enemies have been carefully kept in check, so it is hard to find info. So what about if a document is found with more info? Some would wonder if this is true, or a false flag. Maybe someone modern actually planted the document, either to mislead, or to make classified info available... If so, how did they get that? What can be trusted? The plot thickens...
Prompt 25: Item, a relic or symbol of belief. Modern. Morning glories, a hardy weed that is impossible to wipe out. The symbol used by many scouts to express their belief that like the morning glory, they will not be wiped out. Starting to be co-opted by the farmers as a symbol for the valley residents, which can become a nice symbol of a plot change when people fall into despair yet rise back out of it.
Prompt 26: Slang or a language associated with a religion or or belief. Stormfarers. The hint relevant here is euphemisms and such, like 'The Scottish Play'. Why do we say break a leg? The belief that wishing someone good luck brings bad luck. Meanwhile, so many idioms and expressions originate from events regarding sailing. So what happens when people sailing the Hypersea start developing their own superstitions and other beliefs? They will create their own idioms, a form of slang, related to those superstitions. So that will be the way to go.
Prompt 27: Rank, a leader or high-ranking person in an organization. Stormfarers. Honestly, the Valley is too low-scale for this. And it would be boring for the Battle Spears. But hey, spaceships! A crew is basically an organization. And what is an incredibly important position on a ship? The boatswain. So there we go. What falls under the authority of a Hypersea boatswain? What doesn't? Wherein lies the rub?
Prompt 28: Ritual, the practices and ceremonies of worship. Lance Breaker. The Homesteaders have a way of life that might not seem that important, but Valya's intricate knowledge of it plays a role in the plot as it highlights not only that she knows more than others realize, but also her mental allegiances. Some homesteaders hunt together, have harvest festivals together, even 'raise barns' (read: repair damaged homesteads) together. That is a culture, practices dedicated to their way of life, where one makes their own path but does so with a helping hand.
Wild Cards
Prompt 9: Myth, a myth about food. Modern.
Pathfinder's Kingmaker introduced various meal recipes which provide buffs, and I already wrote one up. Having a myth about a special food ingredient that works miracles, means I can then have players actually run into that ingredient at some point.
Prompt 10: Jolly Shanty. A building associated with joy and fun. Modern. Well I already was planning on using my tavern-creation book (The Seeker's Guide to Twisted Taverns?) plus my Remarkable Inns book, and build a tavern in the valley for the players to have as semi-base. Guess I might already write it up, even though at the start of the campaign it won't exist yet!
Prompt 19: Ethnicity. A sub-culture considered larger-than-life by some. Lance Breaker. Honestly, I don't see this one fit well in the Valley, so Lance Breaker it is. Homesteaders already have a profession article, but what about their lifestyle? Valya will encounter a bunch during the story, and has encountered plenty in the past. As such, their lifestyle is a fun thing to address and plays an actual role in the story.
Prompt 20: A charity or other organization focused on doing good. Lance Breaker. All the main factions are already there for the Valley. But with Lance Breaker, I already came up with a group of homesteaders that help out other homesteaders in need. You know, like a certain tv series in real life. So yeah, a group that helps rescue other homesteads. Just gotta think of a good name.
Wild Cards
Prompt 29: A settlement that's known as a party town or pleasure city. Lance Breaker / Stormfarers.
In the valley, there simply aren't enough settlements yet. In Lance Breaker, I already have the Night District inside the First City. However, how about the Homesteaders? The Fairview Hunting Camp is a place where folks come together, but it's not where they go for celebrations.
So in that context, it makes sense that the young set up their own new base, to party in a safe environment. Which might be a nice place for a harvest festival or hunting party, related to prompt #28. And when such a place is attacked by an Ursa Major stampede, what happens next?
Prompt 30: A hybrid species intentionally bred. Modern. Nobles often use animals to serve as hunting animals for them. Falconeers are a part of that. So then you add the need to make them bigger, better, harder, stronger. Enter a crossbreeding program with some other species that results in Dire Falcons. Way tougher, but also harder to control. It can fit either the confident skilled noble, or an arrogant one that is growing out of control.
Prompt 39: A storyteller, author, or bard in your world (character). Shadowland. Moenen is my narrative person for Shadowland, explaining things and people. He is an infobroker, but also shares info on the Helix and spins a nice story about things. Having someone tell about him in return, will make for a fun article.
Prompt 40: A geographical region that is expanding. Stormfarers. The Hypersea has rivers and lakes. Having a lake expand, which is causing dark matter to slowly float into it. This would make it an interesting mining site, as you can send in bigger ships.
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