Britannian Homelands Keywords
A selection of Homelands Keywords for playing in Pseudobritannia with HeroQuest; more to be added as they are worked out. These keywords contain guidelines for the abilities and some example personality traits and relationships; characters may have some or all of these.
Avalon
Abilities
Personality Traits
Relationships
Magic
Moonglow
The city of Moonglow is the main settlement on the Isle of Verity. It is often called "the City of Wizards" by outsiders and many of the Isle's practitioners of the magical arts maintain homes, schools, laboratories, and clubhouses there. It is a large, old, city although, thanks to its many magicians, it continues to remain splendid. The folk of Moonglow are fairly inward-looking, they are confident that their city is the equal, or the better, of any in the land and they can be overly preoccupied with local events.
Abilities: Customs of Moonglow, Geography of Verity Isle, Read and Write Common Script, Speak Britannian, Traditions of Britannia, Urban Survival, Wizard-spotting, [one urban or family craft or skill; e.g. Glassblowing, Calligraphy, Bargain].
Personality Traits: Curious, Honest, Overly Complex, Unfazed by the Unusual.
Relationships: To Club, To Family, To Trade or Craft Guild, To Wizardly Patron.
Magic: Inhabitants of Moonglow often learn simple, useful, spells but tend to eschew other forms of common magic. Wizardly schools tend to predominate, although some spiritual orders provide important support functions to the community and the schools.
Skara Brae
Skara Brae is situated on the Misty Isle, an island very close to the coast of western Britannia. It is home to many who continue to venerate the old ways of ancestor worship, but these same folk are also supporters of the Virtuous Philosophy and seek to reconcile old and new beliefs. Skara Brae is the principle town of the region, and many live it in, or in the farming and fishing settlements that lie about it. The people of Skara Brae are often thought of as introverted or quiet. This is not completely true, although the folk there are a lot more restrained than some of their countrymen. They prefer a relative simple life of work, worship, and family.
Abilities Customs of Skarae Brae, Geography of Skarae Brae, Speak Britannian, Read and Write Common Script, Traditions of Britannia, Rural Survival or Urban Survival, Family History, [one urban or family craft or skill; e.g. Carve Image, Fishing, Illuminate Book].
Personality Traits Spiritual, Traditional, Polite, Restrained.
Relationships To Family, To Ancestors (in Skara Brae, this is a relationship, not a personality trait), To Local Speaker, To Lord.
Magic Skara Brae is known for its continued veneration of the ancestors, and this is a very popular source of ancestral charms. Wizardry is not popular in Skara Brae, as the Speakers discourage it outside of specific uses, although there are some common magic spells that are used by some.
Spiritwood
The Spiritwood is a densely wooded rugged area that spreads on either side of a small mountain range. It is home to self-reliant and tough settlers from Trinsic and Skara Brae whose ancestors moved to this region in days long gone. The area is ruled by minor lords, who tend to either look to Trinsic or Skara Brae, but who all also tend to be quite independent in practice. The Spiritwood, although apparently green and tranquil, can be a violent place. Goblins, ogres, and other less common creatures can lair in the peaks and the lords often feud over boundaries and, although less violent than they once were, these raids and minor skirmishes take place regularly.
Abilities Archery or Spear Combat, Customs of Spiritwood, Geography of Spiritwood, Read and Write Common Script, Speak Britannian, Traditions of Britannia, Wilderness Survival, [one rural or family craft or skill; e.g. Hunt, Leatherworking, Forestry].
Personality Traits Dislikes Urban Sophisticates, Hard-working, Honourable, Spiritual, Traditional.
Relationships To Family, To Lord.
Magic The magic used by the inhabitants of the Spiritwood tends to practically oriented. They preserve a number of older charms and feats, as well as the more common spells used all over Britannia. Specialised magic is rare, outside of the Spiritual orders, although some few concentrate on common magic, becoming experts in the myriad folk magics of the countryside.
"Welcome to Spiritwood. Enjoy your stay."
Trinsic
Abilities Archery or Polearm Fighting, Customs of Trinsic, Geography of Trinsic, Paladin Handling, Read and Write Common Script, Speak Britannian, Traditions of Britannia, Urban Survival, [one family or urban craft or skill; e.g. bureaucracy, metalworking].
Personality Traits Civil, Honourable, Proud.
Relationships To Family, To Guild, To Society of Honour.
Magic Trinsic is traditionally associated with the Society of Honour and its many sub-groups although there are wizards, members of the spiritual orders, and even a few who follow the ancient animist traditions of sky and sea worship.