Outside of the sometimes omnipresent street urchins (whether NPCs or player characters) and the occasional sprog in need of rescue, maybe a creepy zombie or glowing-eyed waif, there’s not always that much reference to children of any stripe in rpgs.
To be honest, I’m quite happy with that fact and maaaaybe there’s some selection bias going on because of that.
But hey, sometimes you need to at least acknowledge that youngsters exist, so here’s a few pre-adventuring professions, almost-organizations, unusual origins and similar such sundries that do exactly that acknowledging. Not for playing as children, but acknowledging nonetheless. Not just human youngsters either, because where’s the fun in that?
| d8 | Childish connections? | Belongings |
|---|---|---|
| 01. Spore Collector | You gather up the clinging dust from tiny mushrooms and towering ferns, distributing it to new growth-beds and nurturing it to life. | hard-sided, partitioned leather satchel; dozen or more stoppered bottles; dusting brush; wooden funnel |
| 02. Keeper Of The Rolls | You took up the census for your community, recording births and milestones in life. Use your knowledge wisely, now. | ink-kit; bundle of quills or pens; illicit copy of the Rolls; personal genealogy project |
| 03. Former Youth-Cursed | You were, for some reason — fae “gift”? cursed enchantment? an act of or descent from the divine? — a child for an unnaturally long time, perhaps decades or centuries. Now you’re finally aging. Now what? | several antiquated toys or games; clothing you’ve grown out of but are attached to; many helpful “aunts” and “uncles” |
| 04. Birthwitch | There’s midwives, and then there’s you. You’ll see a birth through to its conclusion safely, right enough, but they have to trust you, not the healer nor the gods. | protection-woad; wooden charms; white sheepskin; curved flint knife |
| 05. Creche Singer | Raising children together builds bonds and keeps them safe in one place. You were dedicated to teaching the creche’s inhabitants, using catchy songs and memorable rhyming rhythms to impress wisdom on your young charges. | memory aids, drawn or written or patterned; musical instrument; small shoulderbag of odds and ends, carvings and props |
| 06. Guardian of the Light | They came to you in the darkness, luminescent saviours. They promised you salvation and healed you. They pressed a gleaming precious thing into your hands. You must keep it safe until its gestation ends. | fur-lined carrying pouch or grass basket; dream-journal; smooth, glassy, luminous “egg” the size of two fists together |
| 07. Devoted Shepherd | You spent most of your life protecting the lambs from the wolves. When the reavers came, you did the same for the village nearby. The children trusted you. You will value that always. | reinforced crook; heavy fur mantle; broad sickle or knife; wolfsteeth necklace; toy gifted from village child |
| 08. Gravecradle | Someone has to soothe the little ones who no longer see the light of day; that someone is you. | blessed milk, several children’s shawls, oil lamp, brazier, effigies of toys and treats |
Another Hamsterish Hoard 
One thought on “Dicember 2021 – child”