Hello, fellow storytellers! When preparing for your next TTRPG session, I know one of the greatest challenges can be coming up with NPCs that feel as believable and intricate as the world around them. While players typically only have to animate one (or maybe two, but I wouldn’t recommend this) characters, as the Dungeon/Game Master, you’re in charge of everyone and everything the Player Characters encounter. As the first entry in this new DM Toolbox series, let’s take a look at five NPCs ready for you to use in your one-shots or campaigns.

If you’re curious to know how the sausage is made, I’m using the NPC generator on Kassoon.com (for more information about the wonderful features on Kassoon, click here!) and using the Heroic option (2d6+6) for Ability Scores. For Game Masters using non-Dungeons&Dragons or Pathfinder rules, tailor any stats or classes to meet your needs. As an added bonus, I’m going to also include a real-world or fictional reference for each NPC. I find this mental exercise helps me lock down particular accents or mannerisms to make each NPC memorable.

Without further ado:

Rinn Arnuanna

Gender: Female (or gender-fluid)

Description: A 5’3″ Elf with a warm, jovial air about them, they wear dark clothing in an attempt to keep many of their physical features obscured. Their golden hair is drawn into a tight pony tail with a rose scrunchie. Judging by the bloodshot nature of their eyes and the massive bags underneath them, one would imagine they have not slept for days.

Personality: Rinn is depressed about a lot of things. They tend to be a nihilist. They have a cruel streak; something they gained from their previous mentor. They harbor resentment against their former mentor.

Occupation: Mason

Motivation: To find a greater purpose for her life.

• Armor Class: 11
• Hit Points: 6 (1d4+2)
• Speed: 30 ft
• STR: 12 (+1) DEX: 13 (+1) CON: 14 (+2) INT: 9 (-1) WIS: 11 (0) CHA: 13 (+1)
• Passive Perception: 10
• Languages: Common, Elven
• Possessions: Robes

Reference: Razmi, from Indivisible

Henry Woods

Gender: Male

Description: This 5’11” Human is a portly man with a large white mantle and cape intricately interwoven into his tan robe. He has done his best to style his auburn hair to look like a famous performer. He has hazel eyes.

Personality: Henry tries to be helpful by prescribing proper advice to his clients. He is used to getting what he wants, in part because he is a meticulous planner.

Occupation: Merchant

Motivation: Further expansion of business and a strong, unusual sense of loyalty to Halfling people

• Armor Class: 9
• Hit Points: 6 (1d4+2)
• Speed: 30 ft
• STR: 8 (-1) DEX: 8 (-1) CON: 11 (0) INT: 9 (-1) WIS: 11 (0) CHA: 13 (+1)
• Passive Perception: 10
• Languages: Common, Halfling
• Possessions: 800 silver, 1 Light Crossbow & 20 bolts

Reference: Walter Brimely

Pirithin Stonebridge

Gender: Male

Description: This 3’4″ Halfling wears custom-built plate armor adorned with black lining and desert motifs. He carries with him a set of crossbows, each one with an emerald on the handle. He wears one on his belt and the other on his back. Upon closer inspection (Investigation DC 10), the armor and weapons are stage props. He keeps his long red hair kept up in a rat tail and wears round, tiny glasses practically rammed into his face.

Personality: A deeply religious man, Pirithin believes everything happens for a reason. His temper goes off on the smallest of things and he tends to lash out at those around him.

Occupation: Actor

Motivation: To unite with his brother; he is also compelled to act according to his religious beliefs

• Armor Class: 11
• Hit Points: 5 (1d4+1)
• Speed: 20 ft
• STR: 10 (0) DEX: 12 (+1) CON: 13 (+1) INT: 13 (+1) WIS: 14 (+2) CHA: 13 (+1)
• Passive Perception: 12
• Languages: Common, Halfling
• Possessions: 44 platinum, 1 peridot worth 60 gold

Reference: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Buffy and Angel)

Ovak Yeardley

Gender: Female

Description: A 6′ Half-Orc, Ovak has a missing right arm. She typically wears a sleeveless long coat of deep tan leather and dull violet iron scale mail. She sports blonde long hair, and her eyes are likewise green. Her teeth are yellowed and unaligned.

Personality: Aside from being a little slow due to sleep deprivation, she is generally quite perceptive. She notices little details and can draw good conclusions from them. She has a habit of throwing herself into exceedingly dangerous situations.

Occupation: Miner

Motivation: Regain custody of her son.

• Armor Class: 10
• Hit Points: 5 (1d4+1)
• Speed: 30 ft
• STR: 15 (+2) DEX: 10 (0) CON: 12 (+1) INT: 12 (+1) WIS: 12 (+1) CHA: 15 (+2)
• Passive Perception: 11
• Languages: Common, Orcish
• Possessions: 130 gold, a note from her son

Reference: Trinity (from The Matrix)

Dariff Strakeln

Gender: Female

Description: This 4’1″ Dwarf wears cheap red linens at almost all times. Her skin is fair and her fingers are delicate and long. Her silver hair is unkempt and raggedy. She wears crescent spectacles with a black brim.

Personality: Smitten with the younger sibling of the noble who has hired her part-time, she leaves anonymous gifts for him to find. Her home and work are filled with various knick-knacks she has acquired through the years, and she has a habit of creating elaborate histories for each one. She cares a great deal for her adopted teenage daughter.

Occupation: Painter

Motivation: Regain custody of her daughter and create masterpiece worthy of the her Dwarven culture.

• Armor Class: 13
• Hit Points: 10 (1d8+2)
• Speed: 20 ft
• STR: 14 (+2) DEX: 17 (+3) CON: 15 (+2) INT: 16 (+3) WIS: 11 (+1) CHA: 16 (+2)
• Passive Perception: 10
• Languages: Common, Dwarvish
• Possessions: 10 gold and a set of used paint brushes

Reference: Merida (Brave)

Final Thoughts

What do you think of these NPCs? Do the references help or hinder your ability to incorporate these characters? What other attributes would you want to see in future installments of this series?

As you look over these characters and find answers to the questions above, leave your responses in the comments below!

Blessed be,

Matthew Wulf

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