Choose a Size for Your TownCreate a snapshot of where you came from and how it shaped the person you became. Pick details to inspire you and use them to answer the prompts.
Choose a Size for Your Town
Metropolis
A sprawling city with thousands, perhaps millions of inhabitants. People and goods from many different places around the globe make their way through a place like this. Despite being surrounded by people, it is easy to feel alone and lost here. Wealth and poverty live beside each other in stark juxtaposition. Infrastructure is vast and almost impossible for a single person to comprehend.
Town
Home to hundreds or perhaps even a thousand inhabitants. Although there is a sharp social division between the ruling and serving classes, no one is separated by more than two or three degrees. Even the people not known to you by name are familiar in appearance. There are many organized institutions that make life in this place possible.
Village
Home to at most a few hundred. It is easily possible to know everyone by name and profession. There can be no real anonymity because anyone trying to conceal her or his business quickly becomes known for being mysterious. Settlement is permanent, if disorganized. Many structures are grouped together out of convenience rather than careful planning.
Tribe
Home to at most a few dozen. Civic and familial bonds are blurred. Community obligations are approached with grave seriousness. A tribe can be tied to a permanent location or an idea carried by nomadic people.
A small group. Even if not related by blood, members treat one another as family, with all the emotion, obligation, and loyalty that come with it. A pack can weave in and out of larger communities or shun civilization altogether.
For some characters this is a permanent room or residence. For others it is an abstract feeling about certain periods of safety and stability. Finding those truths for your character will help you understand how he or she approaches the concept of home on the road.
Where did you most often sleep? ________________________
What did you need to do to maintain it? ________________________
Did it protect you and what you cared for? ________________________
Do you long for it now? ________________________
There are places of merriment and relaxation everywhere. This exercise will examine one of particular importance to your character.
Choose two:
The hearth was always warm when the wind was cold.
The music moves your heart even in memory.
The owner was wise or at least gave advice as though he were.
The food was cooked with quiet pride.
It always seemed to hold a dazzling glow.
Being there faded the weight of obligation just enough.
You watched more than you took part.
But . . . (choose one)
You rarely left with a full belly.
Everything was watered down.
It drew the most dangerous thugs and criminals.
You were often present but never welcome.
The spell it cast wore off all too quickly.
You risked everything to be there.
You could never ignore where the money went.
What was it officially titled? ________________________
What did people call it? ________________________
Where people assign their respect shows us what they value. To get an idea of the values held by the people of your hometown, select everything you believe is true.
People respected . . .
Power
Authority
Cunning
Nature
Wealth
Ambition
The divine
One another
The law
Life
Love
Strength
Wisdom
Knowledge
Skill
Discovery
Justice
Are these values you hold today? ________________________
How do your personal values differ?
Any collective is under the rule of some other force. Even those who reject rule by other creatures are subject to the will of law or nature. This exercise explores the relationship between your character and authority.
The force in charge of your hometown: (choose two)
Was a thing of power and majesty
Never spoke but was always heard
Ruled with wisdom
Demanded loyalty
Understood kindness
Worked diligently
Was controlled by another
Earned your hatred
Was the product of divine right
But . . . (choose one)
It was worthy of respect.
It killed without thought.
It made many mistakes.
It aged and died.
It was eventually overthrown.
It expected much from me.
What was the ruler’s name?
Based on this experience, when you picture a ruler, what does he, she, or they look like?
If given the chance to lead, whom would you emulate?
Perhaps the single thing that most dramatically colors your character’s perception of place of origin is her or his place in it. It is useless to know your character was a student, noble, or blacksmith if you do not understand how he or she feels about it. Finding this will solidify what your character is running away from and toward.
I was: (choose one)
Safe
Respected
Worshipped
Ignored
Hated
Feared
Mistreated
My duty was to: (choose one)
Learn
Grow
Protect
Provide
Serve
Die
Which I: (choose one)
Humbly accepted
Regretfully fulfilled
Actively resisted
Desperately ran from
Painfully failed
Continue to carry out
If you could return to this role, would you?
Not if the chains of hell dragged me back.
No, I am now unworthy.
No, I am too important.
I don’t know.
Yes, with great sorrow.
Yes, but this time would be different.
Yes, with great pride.