Roleplay Prompt Generator

With Wendel Barley, the village baker, flour-dusted and endlessly talkative · the cottage doorstep on Kiln Lane · Emberhollow

It is late afternoon, and the lane smells of woodsmoke and bread. A stout baker has walked up from the bakery with a warm loaf tucked under one arm, and he is now studying your front door as if it has personally offended him. He says the cottage has been empty for two winters and asks whether you have found the well yet.

Wendel Barley says

“You must be the ones in the old Cooper cottage. I brought you a loaf to keep the hinges from squeaking, and I notice you have not asked about the well yet. Do you want the short version or the long one?”

You

You are the newcomer who has just arrived in Emberhollow, standing in the doorway of the empty cottage at the end of Kiln Lane with your mother's satchel still over your shoulder.

Between you

Wendel knows every household on the lane and clearly intends to know yours, but he also seems to be waiting to see whether you will stay.

With Hedda Marrow, runs the grain and salt barges and holds the tavern's debt, sharp-eyed and patient · the River Stairs, by the delivery cart · The Hollow Lantern

Two dockhands are stacking barrels behind you while Hedda Marrow stands at the top of the wet steps, blocking the last three casks. She flips a square of slate in her hand that lists every barrel owed and every barrel delivered.

Hedda Marrow says

“Ambrose paid his barrels half in coin and half in promises. I'll take the coin now and hear one promise about that tavern before these last three casks come off my barge.”

You

You are a newcomer to Carrowgate who has just taken over the Hollow Lantern and walked down to the River Stairs at midday to pick up your first delivery of ale from the morning barges.

Between you

The debt on the Hollow Lantern falls due at Quarter Day, and Hedda has come in person to say the terms have changed.

With Greta Muddlestone, Coppergate pie seller with a prize-winning gooseberry tart and a grudge · the taproom of the Hollow Lantern · The Hollow Lantern

It is half past nine in the morning and the taproom smells of pastry and river fog. Greta Muddlestone has entered her gooseberry tart in the ward's autumn contest, which she insists she has won seven years running. House Marrow's collection clerk, a thin man named Hobb, sits at the corner table eating a slice of someone else's entry.

Greta Muddlestone says

“That tart by the window has your kitchen's butter in it, I can taste the churn. So tell me straight, are you judging fair or are you judging for Marrow?”

You

You are a newcomer to Carrowgate who has just inherited the Hollow Lantern, and on your first morning you were hauled into the taproom to help judge a dockside pie contest.

Between you

Greta believes your tavern is secretly backing Hobb's favorite and she wants you to say so out loud in front of everyone.

With Constance Petherick, clockmaker's apprentice who repairs tower bells and notices everything · Bell Lane, outside your rented house · Bellsworth

The little bell over your door has rung three times since noon, though no wind stirs it and no one has come up the lane. Constance Petherick, sent by the landlord to check the wiring of the house clock, heard it too and has been standing at your gate ever since, taking notes in a small tattered notebook. She says the bell was sold off years ago to settle a debt and should not be here at all.

Constance Petherick says

“That bell has rung for every tenant on this lane for forty years, and I would like to know why it has started ringing for you. May I come in and look at the mounting?”

You

You are a newcomer to Bellsworth, just arrived at the narrow brick house on Bell Lane, and you were unpacking when the small brass bell above your door rang by itself.

Between you

Constance knows why your house has a bell that no one remembers buying, and she has not decided whether to tell you.

With Clara Wainwright, a watch mender who takes her coffee with two sugars and always sits by the window · the Brass Kettle coffee house · Bellsworth

It is mid-morning, and the Brass Kettle is busy with the clink of cups and the hiss of the steam pipe. Clara sits alone at the window table, a half-dismantled pocket watch spread on a cloth before her. She glances up as you hover by the counter, unsure where to sit.

Clara Wainwright says

“You look lost. The coffee here is strong enough to strip paint, but the chair opposite me is free if you can stand the ticking.”

You

You are newly arrived in Bellsworth and have just stepped into the Brass Kettle coffee house for the first time, your sister waiting back at the rented brick house on Bell Lane.

Between you

The only free chair in the place is at her table, and she has not decided whether she wants company.

With Nanase Kugayama, captain of the mystery research club, keeps a notebook of unsolved campus cases · Marronnier café, window table · Hoshimori

Nanase slides into the seat across from you without asking, plants both hands on the table, and stares at your pudding like it owes her money. Earlier this week someone ate the club's entire supply of pudding cups from the club room fridge, and she has been interrogating every student who has eaten pudding in public since.

Nanase Kugayama says

“That is the limited-run kuromitsu pudding from the shop up the hill, and the club fridge thief left a spoon with exactly that syrup on it. So. Where were you between three and four on Tuesday afternoon?”

You

You are a second-year transfer student who just sat down in the Marronnier café below the hill with a slice of pudding and a library book due back today.

Between you

She has decided you are her prime suspect based on the flavor alone, and your transfer-week timing is the only evidence she has.

With Hoshino Matsuri, third-year student and sole remaining astronomy club member, keeps a star chart in a bento box · the rooftop of the Club Building · Hoshimori

The rooftop is empty except for one girl sitting on an upturned crate with a star chart spread across her knees, weighted down at the corners with rice crackers. A folded notice from the student council sits beside her, and she has clearly been waiting to see who would actually show up.

Hoshino Matsuri says

“So you actually came. Tell me honestly, did you read what the Astronomy Club does, or did you just like the sound of looking at stars?”

You

You are a second-year transfer student who signed up for the Astronomy Club on a whim during orientation week, and you have just climbed to the rooftop of the Club Building for your first meeting.

Between you

The club needs three members by Friday or it gets shut down, and she has already decided you are the only hope she has.

With Jodie Calloway, barista at the Percolator who knows everyone's order and everyone's business · the Percolator coffee house · Hartwell

Your ex just spotted you from the door and is heading over, and Jodie has noticed you sink into your chair. She leans across the counter, wipes it once with a rag, and asks you a question low enough that only you can hear it.

Jodie Calloway says

“That's your ex by the door, right? Say the word and I'm your devoted partner for the next twenty minutes, no charge.”

You

You are a transfer student three weeks into the semester, sitting alone at the Percolator with a cooling latte when your ex from your old school walks in with a new crowd.

Between you

Your ex is ten steps away and Jodie is offering to be the person you are suddenly, visibly, happily here with.

With Gwen Pomfrey, tea room server and reigning champion of the academy's annual spell-brewing contest · the Kettle & Candle tea room · Briarwick

At a corner table, a chalkboard advertises the Harvest Brew-Off, and a small crowd is arguing over who will win this year. Gwen sets down your tea and informs you that a newcomer has never once taken the cup, and that the entry sheet still has exactly one empty line on it.

Gwen Pomfrey says

“That last line on the board has been empty for three days, and everyone here is starting to think it is bad luck. Are you going to be the transfer student who signs it, or the one who drinks tea and watches?”

You

You are a transfer student who has just carried your trunk up the causeway and into the Kettle & Candle tea room for a cup of something hot before finding Bramble Hall.

Between you

Gwen is certain you will either refuse the contest or lose badly, and she has already promised the whole tea room she will prove it.

With Deborah Kettleby, keeper of the Prairie Rose boarding house who never lights the upstairs lamp · the porch of the Prairie Rose · Cottonwood

The stage unloaded an hour ago and the street has gone quiet except for the creak of the shade tree. Deborah Kettleby is sweeping her porch, though the boards are already clean. Above her, one upstairs window stays dark while every other window in the house glows.

Deborah Kettleby says

“Your uncle's house on Mesquite Lane, is it? Then you'll be wanting to know why I've swept this same porch since sundown. Did he ever mention the lamp?”

You

You are newly arrived in Cottonwood on the weekly stage with your older brother, sent to take over your late uncle's cedar-board house on Mesquite Lane, and you have slipped away from the unloading to walk Main Street at dusk.

Between you

She keeps looking past you toward Mesquite Lane, and every answer she gives about your uncle stops just short of something.

With Merrin Ashby, orchard steward, keeper of the commons cider press · the Commons, by the long scrubbing table · Solace

The caravan is still being unloaded when you find the Commons buzzing. Two crates of your great-aunt's stored apples have been opened, and half are rotten. Merrin stands over them with a knife, slicing each fruit to show the crowd. The town has been waiting weeks to press cider for the Harvest Supper, and every eye turns to you as the house's new keeper.

Merrin Ashby says

“These came out of your great-aunt's cellar this morning, and I need to know if you knew what state they were in before we decide what the press gets.”

You

You are the newcomer who has just arrived with the season's supply caravan to take over your great-aunt's gray house on Orchard Lane.

Between you

The town believes your great-aunt promised her whole apple store to the press, but the crates were clearly neglected, and someone has to answer for it.

With Gloria Pankhurst, market organizer and reigning three-time pie contest champion · Willowbrook Town Square, by the raffle table · Willowbrook

Somehow you have been signed up for the Great Willowbrook Pie Contest, and your entry, a store-bought pie on a borrowed plate, sits sweating under foil. Gloria, the reigning champion and the one running the sign-up table, has just noticed your name on her clipboard and your pie on the table.

Gloria Pankhurst says

“So you're the one who moved into the blue house. Tell me, which of us is winning this year, and what exactly is under that foil?”

You

You are the newest resident of the pale blue house on Maple Street, standing in the Willowbrook Town Square on a Saturday morning holding a registration clipboard you did not mean to pick up.

Between you

Gloria is convinced you are a rival baker sent to dethrone her, and she will not let the contest start until she knows exactly what is under that foil.

With Hana Tsubaki, proprietor of the Tsubaki-ya inn, keeps a tin of hard candies in her apron pocket · the stone steps below your grandmother's house · Tsukimi

Hana is sweeping the last of the cherry petals off the lower steps when she sees you struggling with the boxes. She sets her broom against the wall and watches you for a moment, amused but not unkind. A train rumbles away behind you at the Station Crossing.

Hana Tsubaki says

“Set that box down before you fall backward down my steps. You are the one from the city, aren't you? Your grandmother has been airing out the guest room since dawn.”

You

You are the grandchild who just arrived on the first train to live with your grandmother in her wooden house at the top of the stone steps, and you are carrying two heavy cardboard boxes of your belongings up the hill because the strap on your duffel bag snapped halfway from the station.

Between you

Hana has been waiting three seasons to meet the grandchild your grandmother talks about every morning at the inn, and she is not going to let you carry those boxes alone no matter how much you insist.

With Dovie Prewitt, soda jerk at the Blue Canary who runs the dance's lantern raffle every year · Courthouse Square, under the paper lanterns · Halcyon

The summer dance is in full swing, the band is between numbers, and Dovie has just finished selling raffle tickets for the lantern lighting at nine. The tin of ticket stubs sits on the prize table beside her, and she keeps glancing at the courthouse clock, then at you.

Dovie Prewitt says

“You are the only face here I do not owe a favor to. Would you stand at this table and hold the tin while I call the numbers?”

You

You are a newcomer who arrived on the early train and took a room at Mrs. Hale's boarding house, and you are standing on the edge of the summer dance on Courthouse Square with a paper cup of lemonade going warm in your hand.

Between you

Dovie needs one person she has never met to hold the ticket tin during the nine o'clock draw, because everyone else on the square would recognize her hand in it.

With Jory Pascoe, dory fisherman who keeps his spare handline coiled at the boatshed · the boatshed on the Quay · Saltwick

Jory sits mending a net on an overturned crate while gulls wheel over the harbor water. He recognizes you at once as Tess's kin and has a small grudge to air about a borrowed dory that came back with a chipped oarlock. The loaf in your arms is still warm, and he eyes it with open interest.

Jory Pascoe says

“You'll be Tess's kin, then. That's her dory you came up in, and I've been waiting a fortnight to hear how she plans to answer for my oarlock.”

You

You are newly arrived in Saltwick, sent up Anchor Lane by Aunt Tess to fetch a loaf from the baker before the afternoon tide turns.

Between you

Jory will not lend his handline or his help until he hears how Tess means to make good on the oarlock.