Notable NPC: Shaina, the Mayor’s Daughter.

The group was weary as evening approached, riding toward town in three wagons. Much to their disbelief, a young girl could be seen hanging above the trail ahead, suspended by her ankles. She appeared to be bound and gagged. To even the most unseasoned adventurer this was a trap.

By the time it occurred that an ambush was eminent, it was too late. The group found themselves surrounded by goblins. Being my players, they fought through the ambush and somehow managed to rescue the girl.

The group’s Ranger, an Elf named Kataryn, said he wished they had never cut her down. See, Shaina was young, innocent, and incredibly naïve. Originally she wanted to be a Bard, complete with music lessons and an education her father the mayor paid for. She was vibrant, bouncy, and had no idea when stealth was necessary.

Shaina had been kidnapped more times than she could easily count. Her father usually just paid the ransom, and she was returned the next day. This time was goblins. The time before that was humans. They never hurt her, at least not as much as she hurt their ears. Shaina was cute, but ultimately lacking in the old bardic musical talent. She could dance, write poetry, even played the flute fairly well.

When the group rescued her, Shaina was young and impressionable. No one had ever used her as bait before. She had never been rescued before. Shaina was absolutely amazed at the adventurers who saved her that evening. In fact, she decided to stow away in the group’s wagons to learn how to better be a “hero of justice.”

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“It followed me home. I must be a Druid.”

Shaina tried her hand at many different careers, from being a distraction for the rogue to trying to ward off the undead as a priest. She was a bit clumsy when it came to spellcasting and everything else. By the time the group finally returned her to her father for further education she had decided to go back to being a bard. The next time the group saw her, she had taken up “Druidry” after playing her flute and reading poems to a squirrel in her backyard.

To some of the group, she was like a pet. For others she was a nuisance. (As I low-key intended.) Somehow she managed to grow on a couple of my players to the point where I was doing impressions of her outside the game session. Shaina was truly the kind of NPC I strive for in every campaign.