#npcbuilding

[katjapetersart]

NPCtember begins with a merchant's apprentice taking a break from her work as the sun sets. It's hard work in the harbour when the fresh loads of pipeweed come in from the high north. But at least the boss gives them a bonus in product when the day's done. Tastes like granddam's longhouse. Been a while since she's been back.

NPCtember features various faces from my D&D setting, the city of Ninestar!

[katjapetersart]

NPCtember 14: A meeting at the state office goes wrong.

Nia has worked so hard for this. Made really tough decisions, took a strong bet. First few weeks were tough. Then work at the sawmill. But fuck, does she need to get her shit straight. It's been too long, money's tight, and it's just one slop after the other. Go chat with a counsellor, she was told. They'll help. Yeah, don't worry about only having done lower education. It'll be fine. Well, she put her shame aside.

Now what.

Ninestar, and the City-State of Ninestar, are an oligarchy that focuses itself on expertise, edcucation and skill. Ninestar being a merchant and now student city, there are a lot of people who come there to escape other situations. One way these people are controlled is through citizenship. To purchase property, access certain areas and support systems, or even use a specific bridge, citizenship is required. Citizenship can be achieved by completing a certain level of education. In rare instances, community icons can be given citizenship. Either as a sign of goodwill from a Council member- or as a form of control.

Non-citizens have few legal protections, are easily exploited in their search for social supports and new communities, and often rent crowded 'woodhouses'. They are sometimes called 'woodlice'. The role of social, legal and monetary support can be filled with gangs, often protecting a community at a high cost.

Most people in Ninestar are not citizens. There has been a push to make a second type of citizenship for the merchants and workers with the growing industry, but this has recieved strict pushback from certain council members and guilds. It has recently been possibile to extend hereditary citizenship to all citizens, and not just select noble houses.

[katjapetersart]

Npctember 13: a human and a frelth student interact at the opening day of the engineering academy.

Frelth are a rarely seen, misunderstood people only just recognized as a sophont. Auritail knows this. His ma warned him, they'll don't know what you are. They'll call you animal and vampire. Remember. You're a good boy, a representative of all of us. And remember your sunscreen and sunglasses. Did you pack your bandana?

Frelth are a isolated dhampyric lineage, crossed with various other species to produce a new entity. They are to vampires what tieflings are to demons - a stable Novime species with an otherworldly lineage. They retain some damphyric traits, but are rather different from the direct mortal descendants of vampires.

They Arose in the tropical forests of the equatorial continents and have slowly spread.

Frelth are social, but often live alone or with a parent. They are generally small and give a lemur or simian appearance with their fur, long prehensile tails, stiff ears, fluffy emotive sideburns and large eyes.

Frelth have a history of being suspected of being vampires. While carnivorous, their nutritional requirements are entirely manageable without vampiric elements. Frelth do not pass on vampirism or create vampires. They do retain some dhampyric traits like an affinity for blood related magic, and a severe sun sensitivity on their bare skin.

In Ninestar, there are something around ten frelth. Eleven, now.