Creative Exercise - Describe these Buildings

[dreaded_beast]

Here is another creative exercise to get your brain juices flowing. Describe the following buildings in the "boxed text" format that you would read aloud to your PCs. Keep the descriptions to a few sentences at most, enough to get the feel of the place, but no specifics unless they are interesting. The buildings are in or around a "village", population around 700 people of various races.

1. Large Trading Post
2. Large Village Stables
3. Baron's Manor
4. Small Wizard's Academy
5. Metalsmith
6. Tavern/Inn
7. Druid's Hut
8. Ranger's Stone Tower
9. Large Barracks
10. Temple of Grummsh

 

[domino]

I'll assume you want these to be a fairly coherent collection. So, we need a bit more info. Any architectural styles? Tech level? Location of the villages?

 

[dreaded_beast]

I'll assume you want these to be a fairly coherent collection. So, we need a bit more info. Any architectural styles? Tech level? Location of the villages?

Nothing beyond what was already stated.

I leave it up to you and your imagination.

Unless you feel that having more information would be helpful.

 

[FreeXenon]

Five Hammers Smithy

5. Metalsmith

I take a stab at this one:

Thick, oily, black smoke rolls out of this sturdy squat building's wide chimmeny. A reddish-gold light from flaming forges can be seen through the windows creating a wealth of shadows within its confines. The acrid scent of melting ore, sweat, and the sound of a lone clanging hammer greet you as you approach the Five Hammers Smithy.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Large Trading Post
From a distance during the day –The building itself is big enough to house three families, long and wide, stoutly built of log and stone, with a covered porch, singled roof of red clay, and well with water out for animals. There is a lot of activity outside of the building, people with goods and pack animals.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Tavern/Inn
The sign slowly rocks in the wind, much like every other sign in much every other town, the mug of something the only recognizable thing on it. Music, laughter and loud vices escape from its walls, like heat escaping from a fireplace, light and shadows play along the windows.

Oh, the smell, piss mostly, but some vomit too, but also the sweet smell of ale is in the air.

 

[FreeXenon]

Ranger's Stone Tower

Jutting out from the grassy hill is a small, well fortified stone tower annoucing itself like a finger in nature's eye. It would not at all seem to belong were it not for the plethora of plants and animals found around it. Green vines and colorful flowers adorn the exterior while still allowing you to see the fine peppered granite walls. Several birds of prey are perched atop the slightly peaked roof watching you carefully and several wolves loll around the gound panting and watching you idly.

 

[domino]

Wizard's Academy.

A grouping of four buildings stands at one end of the main street. All buildings are made of dark timber frames, filled with light masonry between them, with covered walkways running from one building to the next. They are all arranged around a cobbled courtyard, with a small fountain in the middle.

One building is long and low, with regular windows, and is closest to the town proper, running lengthwise along the courtyard, with a small garden filled with various plants and herbs between the wall and the cobblestones. The main building, next the the dormitory stands two stories tall, with a balcony running around the upper story, and large, brass and glass doors centered on the bottom story, at the top of three stone steps. Along the other side of the courtyard is another, wide, single story building, with obvious signs of repair, and heavy structural reinforcements. As you survey the scene, you hear a loud cracking boom, as lightning, and a dark black smoke rolls from the chimney, and from the back of the building, followed immediately by a loud, angry voice. The final building seems to be a workshop, with large, open double wooden doors, allowing you to see into the dark interior, where several tables sit, covered with various tools and materials.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Druid's Hut – If it was not for the items (bucket, tanning rack, fetishes, and dream catchers) around it the small building would fade into the wilderness around it. The small mount of clay, wood, and thatch is the colors of the forest, a round tunnel of a door leads into darkness, a grey smoke like morning mist hides the interior, more burrow looking than the work of intelligent hands.

 

[Ibram]

Large Barracks:

This structure stands on the very edge of town, part of the very wall that surrounds it. It is one of the largest structures, and the most imposing. Made from smooth stone the structure looks like it could stand forever. Three stories tall, with a tower standing another two stories it can be seen from everywhere in town. The narrow steps leading up to the entrance are made from simple wood planks that can be removed incase of an attack. Narrow windows circle the building, giving those inside a 360 degree view. A large cleared space surrounds the barracks, used as a training ground on most occasion it gives defenders a wide field of fire... should trouble come.

The ground floor:
Dark and dusty, this floor is below the main entrance. narrow halls stacked with food and other supplies give way to a small cluster of rarely used cells.

The second floor is the main floor:
A large hall dominates the center of the second floor, here the soldiers gather to eat and prepare for battle. it is a long chamber with an ancient oken table down the center (soldiers like to guess how such a large table was brought inside), a great fireplace dominates the far wall where the officers sit and the walls are covered with flags an awards from the regiments glory days. Off of the main hall are many smaller rooms, some with bunk beds for the lower ranks while NCO's often have a private room.

The third floor:
This is officer territory, rarely seen by the lower ranks. Here the barrack commander and his second have their appartments, and while the lower ranking offercers share a room. There is a large library here, where the history of the regement is recorded. This room also serves as a war room when trouble strikes.

The Tower:

Standing high above the villiage this small tower grants an exelent view of the surrounding terrain, though it is not a popular post among most of the soldiers.

Clustered around the barracks are several smaller huts that serve as workshops.