A manor is a very large farm of around 1450 acres. Every manor has a manor house and a village of 50-150 commoners with a church. In most cases, the manor is run by a bailiff on behalf of a lord or noble who lives elsewhere. In the event of an attack, the commoners will run from the village, fields, and pastures to the manor house to take refuge and defend it. The manor house typically has a handful of men-at-arms at any given time, but these are usually commoners from the village taking turns doing garrison service for the lord. Able-bodied villagers train as footmen and archers in case of attack or a march to war elsewhere.

Manors are typically inherited by the eldest child of the lord or noble, altho some may sometimes be gifted to other of the children; a powerful noble might gift a minor title and manors to a favored younger child while the bulk of the estate goes to the eldest. But in most cases, the younger children would be encouraged to become clerics, monks, paladins, knights errant, or even mages in order to avoid breaking up the estate.

Adventurers might be gifted a manor as reward for a service to a great noble or monarch. Those of common blood can only be yeomen and knights unless raised to the gentility for other service. Those of gentle or noble blood automatically become a lord of the manor with even one manor.

Fighters who become knights and are rewarded with lands and the title “lord of the manor” typically have companions they retain in their household who are usually of a similar class level. However, some adventurers may be of much lower level because they were added to the household later.

Typical Knight’s Household

The smallest type of manor is that of a knight, which is typically just the knight himself or herself and his or her household. Aside from the family and a few servants, the relevant members might be….

• The knight is a fighter (level 1d4+4) with manors equal to the 1d4 roll for his/her level and with a… (1d6: 1-3=hall house; 4-5=unfortified manor house; 6=fortified manor house) on the principal manor. If the knight possesses 4 manors, 1 is elsewhere.
• A wizard in the household is a mage (level 1d4+2).
• The priest in the principal manor’s village is a… (1d6: 1-4=cleric level 1d4+2; 5-6=paladin level 1d4+2). The priests in the other manors are not adventurers.
• If the priest is a paladin, the warden of the manor’s woodland is a druid (level 1d4+2).
• If there’s no druid, the wood warden is a ranger (level 1d4+2).
• The knight’s chief advisor and/or spy is a rogue (level 1d4+2).

Typical Lordly Household

Aside from the family and several servants, the relevant members might be….

• The lord or lady is a fighter (level 2d4+6) with 2d4+2 manors with a fortified manor house. This is situated on a cluster of 1d3+2 manors; the others are elsewhere.
• A wizard in the manor house or a cottage nearby is a mage (level 1d8+4).
• The bailiff is a… (1d6: 1-4=fighter level 1d4+2; 5-6=paladin level 1d8+4).
• The priest in the principal manor’s village is a cleric (level 1d8+4) or a paladin (level 2d4+4). The priests in the other manors are not adventurers.
• If the priest is 2nd to 3rd level, there’s a druid in the manor’s woodland (level 1d8+4).
• If there’s no druid, the warden of the lord’s woodland is a ranger (level 1d8+4).
• His lordship’s chief advisor and/or spy is a rogue (level 1d8+4).

Typical Noble Court

Aside from the family and numerous servants, the relevant members might be….

• His lordship is a fighter (level 2d4+7) with a castle and numerous manors:
  • Baron: 4d6 manors
  • Earl: 8d8 manors
• A wizard in one tower of the castle is a mage (level 1d10+4).
• His lordship’s steward and/or captain of the garrison may be a paladin (level 1d10+4).
• The priest in the castle’s chapel is a cleric (level 1d10+4) or a paladin (level 1d10+4).
• If the priest is 4th to 6th level, there’s a druid in the lord’s woodland (level 1d10+4).
• If there’s no druid, the warden of the lord’s woodland is a ranger (level 1d10+4).
• His lordship’s chief advisor and/or spy is a rogue (level 1d10+4).