Brina Cross Character Development
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 11:43 pm
BACKGROUND
Brina Cross is a sleepy, rural township in the middle of the wide Gold Coast plains. The town is built on the crossroad between the Gold Road and the northern road to Sutch. It subsides on the caravan trade and local agriculture, mostly rice, apple orchards and the Aliyew industry (cider houses, basically). The local upper class consists of one part merchants, one part local landowners, and one part retired Legionnaires. Most commoners work for the merchant caravans or as farmers. The name "Brina Cross" is thought to refer to the crossroads and the nearby Brena River, though it may be a bastardized version of an earlier Colovian name with a different meaning. The town has existed at least since the Second Era, but was almost completely destroyed by the Camoran Usurper in the previous century. It has since been rebuilt, and is one of the few thriving towns in this part of the world.
Brina Cross is governed by Thelius Halgern, Lord Protector of the Crossroads. The Halgerns are a minor noble family who inherited the land after the Usurper debacle. Despite falling under the jurisdiction of Countess Umbranox, Halgern is known to collude with the Goldwines of Kvatch. He is a stout supporter of old Colo-Nordic law, and his village features no Curia interference. The town has a smith, general trader, pawnbroker, and an inn. There is also a small temple dedicated to Mara, and a saintly circle.
EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS PEOPLE
Currently, the town has 30-odd people, consisting of 15 Imperials, 7 Redguards, and various others.
Outside
Aisal Sen: Redguard, f, caravaner. Transport on a merchant caravan to Anvil, Sutch, and Kvatch.
Passus: Redguard, f, commoner
Merilla Varsius: Imperial, f, commoner
Gold Coast Guards #...
1: North Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard
2: Kimoi Manor
Kimoi: Redguard, m, merchant, dead. Quest-relevant.
3: The Crossing Inn
Christophe Marane: Breton, m, publican (Oblivion character)
Kiara: Redguard, f, commoner, maid (Oblivion character)
Legion Soldier #1-2: passing through on patrol. Not to be confused with local town guards
Alsia Juvanus: Imperial, f, priest. Pilgrim-priest of Kynareth, maybe trainer/spell merchant.
Ramus: Redguard, m, commoner
4: Medericus Manor
Antonius Medericus: Imperial, m, wealthy landowner and Aliyew brewer. Owns one or two of the nearby farms.
Prilla: Bosmer, f, commoner. Servant.
5: Halgern Manor
Thelius Halgern: Colo-Nord, m, noble, Lord Protector of the Crossroads. Governor of the town.
Larius Voro: Colo-Nord, m, noble. Intendant to Thelius, a kind of knight protector in Colo-Nordic traditions.
Gold Coast Guard
6: Empty Warehouse
empty, locked. Might be used in a quest.
7: West Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard
8: Colovian Traders Warehouse
Bareis White-Eye: Nord, m, commoner. Warehouse worker
Obbru gro-Shara: Orc, m, commoner. Warehouse worker
9: Temple of Mara
Melia Simerius: Imperial, f, priest service. Priestess to Mara.
10: Mandilaron Sundries
Mandilaron: Bosmer, m, pawnbroker
11: Maricius' House
Larenis Maricius: Imperial, m, drillmaster. Retired legion officer.
Juliana Maricius: Imperial, f, commoner. Wife of the above.
12: Petri's House
Petri: Redguard, f, warrior. Retired Legion soldier with a mysterious past.
13: Karlorume's House
Karlorume: Altmer, f, agent. Local scribe.
14: Mikol's Shack
Mikol: Colo-Redguard, m, commoner
Jopath: Colo-Redguard, m, commoner
15: South Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard #...
Vargus: Nord, m, guard captain
16: Bareis' Shack
Nais White-Eye: Nord, f, commoner
17: Passus' Shack
empty, locked
18: Varsius' Shack
Elis Varsius: Imperial, m, commoner
19: Sirolius Manor
Medina Sirolius: Colo-Nord, f, noble. Local landowner. Owns some of the nearby farms
Fenna: Bosmer, f, servant
20: Medericus Aliyew Distillery
Stendinus Menila: Colovian, m, scribe. Overseer for the brewery
Conidis Pullia: Colovian, m, commoner. Common laborer
Yemath: Bosmer, m, commoner. Common laborer
21: The Standard Issue Smithy
Brescis Telettian: Imperial, m, smith
Ris gra-Kerrar: Orc, f, smith's apprentice
22: North Wind Merchants
Irsu: Redguard, m, general merchant
QUESTS
Brina Cross should have two, maximum three misc. quests (besides quests originating elsewhere that send you here temporarily). The quests should make use of the surrounding environment, dungeons, and maybe send the player to Anvil or other nearby places. Proposals:
Dead Man's Hand
The basic idea is a murder-and-intrigue quest in which the player discovers the murdered body of a local merchant (Kimoi) who, as it turns out, was involved in some kind of spying or subterfuge plot. The player's interaction draws the ire of outside factions, whose motives are unclear. The player has to avoid being killed, whilst trying to find out why someone wants to kill them in the first place. While this is not my proposal, I would suggest putting the focus on the Kali Mes or on a trade dispute between various trans-Gold Road merchant factions.
Petri
Larenis Maricius, a retired Legion officer, asks you to investigate his neighbor, Petri. She claims to be a retired soldier, but Maricius has reason to believe she is lying about this. The player must investigate her by going to the nearby Fort Strand, asking around, etc.
...
Brina Cross is a sleepy, rural township in the middle of the wide Gold Coast plains. The town is built on the crossroad between the Gold Road and the northern road to Sutch. It subsides on the caravan trade and local agriculture, mostly rice, apple orchards and the Aliyew industry (cider houses, basically). The local upper class consists of one part merchants, one part local landowners, and one part retired Legionnaires. Most commoners work for the merchant caravans or as farmers. The name "Brina Cross" is thought to refer to the crossroads and the nearby Brena River, though it may be a bastardized version of an earlier Colovian name with a different meaning. The town has existed at least since the Second Era, but was almost completely destroyed by the Camoran Usurper in the previous century. It has since been rebuilt, and is one of the few thriving towns in this part of the world.
Brina Cross is governed by Thelius Halgern, Lord Protector of the Crossroads. The Halgerns are a minor noble family who inherited the land after the Usurper debacle. Despite falling under the jurisdiction of Countess Umbranox, Halgern is known to collude with the Goldwines of Kvatch. He is a stout supporter of old Colo-Nordic law, and his village features no Curia interference. The town has a smith, general trader, pawnbroker, and an inn. There is also a small temple dedicated to Mara, and a saintly circle.
EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS PEOPLE
Currently, the town has 30-odd people, consisting of 15 Imperials, 7 Redguards, and various others.
Outside
Aisal Sen: Redguard, f, caravaner. Transport on a merchant caravan to Anvil, Sutch, and Kvatch.
Passus: Redguard, f, commoner
Merilla Varsius: Imperial, f, commoner
Gold Coast Guards #...
1: North Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard
2: Kimoi Manor
Kimoi: Redguard, m, merchant, dead. Quest-relevant.
3: The Crossing Inn
Christophe Marane: Breton, m, publican (Oblivion character)
Kiara: Redguard, f, commoner, maid (Oblivion character)
Legion Soldier #1-2: passing through on patrol. Not to be confused with local town guards
Alsia Juvanus: Imperial, f, priest. Pilgrim-priest of Kynareth, maybe trainer/spell merchant.
Ramus: Redguard, m, commoner
4: Medericus Manor
Antonius Medericus: Imperial, m, wealthy landowner and Aliyew brewer. Owns one or two of the nearby farms.
Prilla: Bosmer, f, commoner. Servant.
5: Halgern Manor
Thelius Halgern: Colo-Nord, m, noble, Lord Protector of the Crossroads. Governor of the town.
Larius Voro: Colo-Nord, m, noble. Intendant to Thelius, a kind of knight protector in Colo-Nordic traditions.
Gold Coast Guard
6: Empty Warehouse
empty, locked. Might be used in a quest.
7: West Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard
8: Colovian Traders Warehouse
Bareis White-Eye: Nord, m, commoner. Warehouse worker
Obbru gro-Shara: Orc, m, commoner. Warehouse worker
9: Temple of Mara
Melia Simerius: Imperial, f, priest service. Priestess to Mara.
10: Mandilaron Sundries
Mandilaron: Bosmer, m, pawnbroker
11: Maricius' House
Larenis Maricius: Imperial, m, drillmaster. Retired legion officer.
Juliana Maricius: Imperial, f, commoner. Wife of the above.
12: Petri's House
Petri: Redguard, f, warrior. Retired Legion soldier with a mysterious past.
13: Karlorume's House
Karlorume: Altmer, f, agent. Local scribe.
14: Mikol's Shack
Mikol: Colo-Redguard, m, commoner
Jopath: Colo-Redguard, m, commoner
15: South Guard Towers
Gold Coast Guard #...
Vargus: Nord, m, guard captain
16: Bareis' Shack
Nais White-Eye: Nord, f, commoner
17: Passus' Shack
empty, locked
18: Varsius' Shack
Elis Varsius: Imperial, m, commoner
19: Sirolius Manor
Medina Sirolius: Colo-Nord, f, noble. Local landowner. Owns some of the nearby farms
Fenna: Bosmer, f, servant
20: Medericus Aliyew Distillery
Stendinus Menila: Colovian, m, scribe. Overseer for the brewery
Conidis Pullia: Colovian, m, commoner. Common laborer
Yemath: Bosmer, m, commoner. Common laborer
21: The Standard Issue Smithy
Brescis Telettian: Imperial, m, smith
Ris gra-Kerrar: Orc, f, smith's apprentice
22: North Wind Merchants
Irsu: Redguard, m, general merchant
QUESTS
Brina Cross should have two, maximum three misc. quests (besides quests originating elsewhere that send you here temporarily). The quests should make use of the surrounding environment, dungeons, and maybe send the player to Anvil or other nearby places. Proposals:
Dead Man's Hand
The basic idea is a murder-and-intrigue quest in which the player discovers the murdered body of a local merchant (Kimoi) who, as it turns out, was involved in some kind of spying or subterfuge plot. The player's interaction draws the ire of outside factions, whose motives are unclear. The player has to avoid being killed, whilst trying to find out why someone wants to kill them in the first place. While this is not my proposal, I would suggest putting the focus on the Kali Mes or on a trade dispute between various trans-Gold Road merchant factions.
Petri
Larenis Maricius, a retired Legion officer, asks you to investigate his neighbor, Petri. She claims to be a retired soldier, but Maricius has reason to believe she is lying about this. The player must investigate her by going to the nearby Fort Strand, asking around, etc.
...