I’ve done a few of these already to help people build a campaign quickly. You just need to answer a few questions…. or at least roll some d6s. Some of the answers could be used together, but some are mutually exclusive. Revalde is inspired by 16th-century Caribbean and Canary and Azores islands and the Kingdom of Spain.

Based on a very old post by Jeff Rients.

What is this realm and where do we start?

This is the Kingdom of Revalde [ray-VAHL-day], where tall ships sail the Vadum Sea [VAH-dum] among the Colavian Islands and between them and the mainland. Sorcery is less developed (spells are +1 level higher, and cantrips are mere tricks), but black powder cannons are common on ships.

Cannons are needed to fight the Oransianos–navy and privateers of rival Oranse [or-AHN-say], sometimes with the help of the Birannianos against the Elandianos or with the Elandianos and against the Birannianos, depending on the current treaty. The common folk of Revalde speak Valdeniol [VAHL-den-yohl], but the learned across realms of the known world also speak archaic Ladiniol [LAHD-in-yohl].

Since the discovery of the uninhabited tropical islands 200 years ago, dwarves have taken to the mountains to mine for gold and silver, and elves have taken to the forests and seas, but some goblinoids–brought by pirates and foolish merchants as laborers–have established footholds in the hills, where they ravage the strange native wildlife (or, sometimes, get eaten by it).

There is evidence of a lost culture called the Zafiches [zah-FEESH-ez] in the form of primitive Zafic ruins here and there on the islands. It was apparently they who domesticated the potato, sweet potato, maize, tomato, sweet and hot peppers, and chocolate.

Most of you grew up in and around the city of Port San-Sair, on the island of Pelicos [PEL-ih-kohss]. You always dreamed of one day crossing the Cerulic Ocean [sair-ROO-lik] to the mainland and visiting the capital, Coronia [cor-OHN-yah]… or crossing the Vadum to the neutral island of Sabueso, lair of corsairs and sea scum.

Where Do we buy equipment? And with what?

The coins of the realm are silver piasters [pee-AHSS-ter] and gold escudos [es-SKOO-doh]. Piasters are often hacked into quarters called cuartos (fourths) to make small change.

1. The public plaza of any market town on market day.
2. The public plaza of the city of Port San-Sair on all but holidays.
3. The Plaza Grande of Port San-Eleppo on any day but holidays.
4. The wild Carnivala festival in any city on the equinoxes (Carnivala Diurno and Carnivala Nocturno).
5. The Flotilla Comercio every fortnight as it travels back and forth to the mainland.
6. The witches of Obeyance Island, for certain things.

Where can we get custom armor?

1. San-Eleppo on the mainland has expert armorers. The experience will take time, so order before one from the Flotilla Comercio and pick it up after one adventure.
2. San-Sair on Pelicos has capable smiths.
3. Porto Kiara on the island of Kiara specializes in leather armor.
4. Tincua, on the island of Lapax [la-PAKS], has great elven armorers.
5. Yapito, hidden in the mountains of Concarico, has the best dwarven smiths.
6. Valdriana, pastoral town on the island of San-Inado.

Whom are we going to meet and get to know?

Note: Names are personal and familial, such as Perro Rusticar, son of Aleppo Rusticar. Don/Donna is used of any of at least knight or gentry class, and mestro/mestra is used of any master wizard.

1. Don Manues Pincetez, the corregidor of San-Sair, who juggles his duties to the city council and to the king with aplomb.
2. Mestra Ania Festibales, the young and lovely sage, who knows all about mainland Revalde and the Colavian Islands as well as magic and history.
3. Don Jarco Pezenia [HAR-coh pay-ZAYN-yah], who trains warriors.
4. Don Jual Cabalenas [HWAHL ka-bahl-AY-nahs], the alchemist, who makes potions, if you bring him the ingredients.
5. Entiana Cabelenas (daughter of Jual), who runs the Golden Galleon.
6. Padre Guiardo Mentez [ghee-AR-doh men-TEZ], a pleasant healer who runs the temple in San-Sair.

What is the nearest tavern like?

1. The wreck of the Cormindar, a galleon sunk in battle that is now used as a tavern and inn called the Golden Galleon, is known for its raucous adventurers.
2. The Barril de Vino is known for its wines.
3. The San-Trovador is known for its bards.
4. The Buceadora Desnuda is known for its foreign (pirate) clientele.
5. The San-Ania is known for its foreign (merchant) clientele.
6. The Silent Siren is known for its discretion.

What is there to eat around here?

1. A bowl of slow-cooked stew of fava beans and chickpeas with beef or mutton.
2. Fried fish with brown bread and hard cheese.
3. Cabbage soup with giant tortoise (from the islands) and soft cheese.
4. Cou-cou–maize cornmeal and okra (from the islands) and eggplant–with flying fish (from the islands).
5. Roasted sweet potatoes (from the islands) and goat meat.
6. On holy days, eel, mackerel, or cod fish with bread and eggs.

What is my cleric’s religion?

Religion is divided between the saint-worshipping Holy Temple of Saints and practitioners of witchcraft, both black and white, which mix demon and saint worship with sorcery. The Holy Inquisition suppresses witchcraft by penance or imprisonment (for white witchcraft) and banishment or burning (for black witchcraft). Temple priests are called padre/madre. Witches are called brujo/bruja [BROO-ho/ha].

1. A saint cleric who travels the land to protect others from harm.
2. A saint cleric dedicated to the destruction of evil temples.
3. A saint cleric dedicated to seeking out undead and witches to destroy.
4. A saint cleric dedicated to seeking out monstrosities to destroy.
5. A witch (druid/wizard) who seeks the secrets of nature and sorcery.
6. A druid, dedicated to the destruction of unnatural monstrosities.

Where can we get disease cured, curses lifted, and the occasional resurrection?

Any city will have a church where healing and other services of mercy can be had for a donation to the church.

1. Madre Elinabetta, who has a soft spot for common folk and always some small task that needs doing and never just one.
2. Padre Juaro [HWAR-oh], whose assistant Padre Fal has an endless list of needs for those who can’t pay their exorbitant prices.
3. Padre Victar, who is often away on adventures.
4. Madre Floresa, who is troubled by many pirates.
5. Cinesta the druid, if you can find her in the wilderness and are willing to embark on a quest.
6. Bruja Haxicar, the witch of the water, who lives on a remote island and demands a great price for powerful aid.

Where did all these dungeons come from?

1. This region is rich with natural caverns, and vile creatures lurk in them.
2. Goblins and hobgoblins love digging tunnels, and this region is soft rock and stable to dig in. When the creators abandon them, others move in.
3. Remnants of an ancient, unknown kingdom remain on many islands.
4. Some structures built by witches who fled the mainland have been cleared and are often inhabited by beasts, monsters, or pirates.
5. Hurricanes wiped out a small number of towns over the decades, and their wrecked and empty husks remain eerie reminders of nature’s fury.
6. The rotting hulks of ships wrecked upon the reef or rocky shores of the shallow Verdun Sea are enticing places for looters. Some explore the surface hulks, but the best are pearl divers who reclaim the treasures of sunken wrecks.

Who is the most powerful person in the land?

Towns and cities are run by a corregidor appointed directly by the king, usually from the town council. Above them are caballeros/caballeras (knights), then seneors/seneoras (gentry and lords), and the nobles (counts, dukes). Above them sits the king/queen. Many seneors and counts do not posses much land but rather serve as courtiers in the royal court or church court.

1. King Caiardo [kai-YAR-doh] and his wife and co-ruler, Idrisella.
2. King Caiardo the Dissolute, who delegates nearly all his power.
3. Queen Idrisella and her husband, King Caiardo, who suffers from a weak mind.
4. Queen Idrisella and her husband, Prince Caiardo, the prince consort.
5. The Virgin Queen Idrisella.
6. Grand Inquisitor Ojinio Gorcuarda [oh-HEE-nee-oh gor-KWAR-dah], high priest and ruthless hunter of witches, both real and imagined.

Who is the greatest warrior in the realm?

1. Don Amico Tribular, paladin champion of Grand Inquisitor Gorcuarda.
2. Donna Marita Salavez, champion of Princess Emeralda, heir to the throne
3. Prince Xavelaro [ha-vel-AHR-oh], second child of the sovereign.
4. Don Erdo Greataxe, dwarven hero.
5. Don Quinove [kee-NOHV-ay], foreign paladin and famed hero.
6. Aresta Luciva de Carato, elven privateer.

Who is the mightiest wizard in the realm?

1. Cusinio the Magnificent on the mainland.
2. Libiara the Wondrous on the mainland.
3. Vexario [vay-HAR-ee-oh] the Mysterious, who lives in a floating castle.
4. Igrid Candar, the foreign sorceress who sails on the mighty Sea Treasure galleon.
5. The lich Dragonis Alkazan, who created an elaborate dungeon under Castle Alkazan and shut himself away–but, some say, not completely.
6. The foreign witch Aquivarre of Oranse, who uses Isla Magia as his base.

Is there a magic guild? Where can I find an alchemist, sage, or other expert?

A sage is a wizard who does more study of arcane lore than practice of it and can be found in any city. An alchemist is a wizard who concentrates more on potions and magic items than spellcasting.

1. The college Facultad de Magio in the capital, Coronia.
2. The school Escuela de Magio in Port San-Sair.
3. The guild Association of Wonders in Port San-Eleppo.
4. The secretive Mirror Chamber guild of Obeyance.
5. The secretive Brotherhood of Mystery on the island of Sabueso.

Where can I hire mercenaries?

1. Over in Birannia or Elande, whichever Revalde currently has a treaty with.
2. The mainland, wherever the Company of the Horse rides.
3. Port San-Eleppo, for the right money.
4. Port San-Sair, if you’re discreet.
5. The Island of Sabueso, if you aren’t picky about loyalty.
6. Most pirate ships, if you’re a daredevil.

Is there any place in the realm where magic is outlawed or any other notable Legal hassles?

Revalde is a disciplined state, but the Colavian islands are a free-for-all. The law is upheld by men-at-arms as well as the King’s Navy, and secretive wizards working for the royal court have brought powers at their discretion in the Colavian.

1. The gates of towns and cities are closed locked soon after sundown. And any about after the linkboys have gone to bed are arrested and held until morning.
2. You cannot carry weapons on the grounds of any church or court.
3. Sorcery is frowned upon, and use of it that injures innocents is grounds for excommunication or, if deliberate, outlawry.
4. Black witchcraft is outlawed, but other forms are tolerated as long as they are in the interests of the crown.
5. Injurious sorcery is outlawed in villages, towns, and cities.
6. All arcane magic not practiced by a member of a guild or school of magic is assumed to be black witchcraft.

What monsters are terrorizing the countryside?

1. Sea hags
2. Sea serpents
3. Dragons
4. Undead under the control of black witches
5. Goblins and hobgoblins
6. Native troglodytes and sahuagin

What are some points of interest?

1. The college of magic (Facultad de Magio) is a fantastical location that overlooks the city of Coronia.
2. The Guild House in Port San-Sair is a magnificent structure that celebrates all the major crafts of the islands and is said to hide secrets.
3. Isla de Huesos (Bone Island) is said to hold horrors that frighten even pirates.
4. Port San-Eleppo, once home to famous sculptor Indigo San-Gual, is known for its dramatic statuary depicting maidens, sea captains, wizards, and clerics, some of which are rumored to hint at San-Gual’s secrets.
5. The Piedras Altas (High Stone mountains) are riddled with unexplored caves and crevices.
6. The Sunken Cemetery is a mysterious watery graveyard.

Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?

1. The heroes could fight for Revalde against enemy Oranse, sometimes with the help of Birannia or Elande, depending on the current treaty.
2. The heroes could turn traitor and fight for Oranse against Revalde, sometimes with the help of Birannia or Elande, depending on the current treaty.
3. The heroes could turn mercenary and fight for Birannia against Elande or vice versa.
4. The heroes could turn pirate and fight all comers and seize merchant ships.
5. The heroes could earn a letter of mark and reprisal as privateers for Revalde and battle pirates and seize enemy merchants.
6. The heroes could become mercenaries for the crown and wage war against goblins and hobgoblins who have migrated to the Colavian.

How about gladiatorial arenas?

1. In the islands, trial by combat is still an option, and disputes are settled in the judicial lists between litigants or their champions.
2. At nearly every festival, some real or imagined slight is contested with a duel.
3. The pirates of Sabueso often organize 1-on-1 fights to settle old scores.
4. In far-off Spezara, champions fight to the death for the pleasure of the sultans in their ancient palaces.
5. On the desert isle of Isla Gorna, Spezaran merchants, pirates, and others sometimes gather to battle for trade rights.
6. One of the heroes could always challenge a pirate captain to a duel to the death.

Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could fight (or join)?

1. The Handmaidens of San-Tamera [tam-AIR-ah] are a strange lot of female clerics.
2. The Brothers of Edrig are Biranniano merchants and pirates said to be searching for something in the islands.
3. The Royal Mounted Flying Corps is an order of paladins loyal to the king and skeptical of the island governors.
4. The Water Rats are a band of thieves in San-Sair and San-Eleppo.
5. The Ink-stained Wretches are a mysterious group of white witches and druids.
6. The Valedictory are a mysterious group of wizards.

Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?

1. The mummified head of Sebastio Cordevo, the executed pirate king, who was said to be immortal–rumored to remain conscious and able to speak with difficulty.
2. The Rings of Adrinis de Pesato, a merchant’s wife said to be a sorceress of unusual power. The three are said to bestow beauty, youth, and charm.
3. The Treasure of Captain Garr, a sea captain and merchant who commanded four ships and amassed great wealth, but whose treasure was never found after his death. It is said to be protected by undying guardians.
4. Strange little idols of the extinct Zafiches that are said to imbue the finder with great boons of enchantment… at a price.