NPCs to Put in Your DnD Banquet
By Riley Rath
This is part 3 of a blog post series on medieval feasts and banquets, created so DnD players can have better "feast encounters." Once the other blog posts are up, you can read part 1 here (medieval banquets), part 2 here (medieval festivals), and part 3 here (food and activities)!
So far we have covered the medieval historical context behind feasts and festivals. And we talked about the activities and foods at these functions, which leaves only one thing left: THE PEOPLE!
Now I know this is jumping back and forth a bit, but we are mostly going to focus on the types of NPCs that would be at the social gatherings of nobility: specifically the DnD banquets. And the reason why is simple: the town/village festivals would have EVERYONE participating, so ANYONE you you would put in a town is also someone you should put in your DnD holiday or festival celebration!
But banquets are a bit trickier. While festivals focus more on the masses and crowds, banquets tend to focus on individuals and small group dynamics. And because of that, it is fitting to give a list of important DnD NPCs for banquets.
Jump back to blog post 1 for a more thorough explanation, but long story short a medieval banquet would have A) lords and ladies of nobility and their family, 2) foreign ambassadors, 3) monks and clergy, 4) knights, 5) servants, 6) performers, and 7) maybe some upstanding members of the lower classes invited out of charity. If they were close to a major city or town, the leaders of guilds, university professors, and government bureaucrats would also be invited (see this Enworld post for more details).
If that is all the structure you need, then by all means, stop reading and start imagining! But if you are looking for more guidance, below are some archetypes that fill out the personalities that would participate in a medieval banquet. I separate the two because certain NPCs might fill multiple archetypes. For example, a family member might be both an advisor and a champion, and a local priest might be both the clergy and traitor.
They are also guaranteed to provide distinct and interesting NPCs for your players to interact with, who can offer them a variety of plot hooks or alliances.
© Michael Nietzer, Oliver Wolf, Britta Wolf, & Fantasy Flight Games. Art by Simon Eckert
The Lord or Lady: This person holds the banquet, and their reputation depends on it going well. It follows that they would have chosen the entire guest list, decorations, and approved of the menu... or assigned these tasks to someone they trust. The banquet would be taking place in their field, manor, or castle, on their dime, through their servants. In other words, they would immediately know if something was strange or out of place. But regardless of what they observe, the Lord or Lady would keep up appearance as a gracious, joyful, self-possessed individual and be on their absolute best behavior in order to impress the guests as much as possible.
The Priest: There would almost certainly be some sort of clergy present. Most of the time, it would be a family member of the Lord or Lady, perhaps an uncle who is a local bishop or (unlike in the medieval world, where they were confined to the cloister) a sister who joined a monastic order. Depending on the era and order, these clergy may be noticeably humble and pious, down to earth, or hopelessly corrupt. Regardless, they would bless the banquet and the Lord and Lady for holding it. In your fantasy setting, they may dress in rags and also experience visions or prophecy, but that would make them closer to a "holy fool," which blends them with the next archetype...
The Fool: There would be someone present that would be considered "not normal." Sometimes it would be a holy man or woman who was so focused on the eternal that they failed to adhere to social norms. Other times it might be a beggar from the streets whose crude mannerisms the nobility found amusing. But the majority of the time this archetype would be filled by a designated fool, commonly known as a court jester. They intentionally acted silly, coarse, and ridiculous for the amusement of the guests.
The Lover: This archetype is here for one reason and one reason only: to allow players to pursue the ideal of "courtly love." It could be a maiden, a beautiful young noble woman who is unmarried and whose heart has yet to be claimed. Or it could be a young knight who has yet to find his perfect beloved, the one that is worth all sacrifice and devotion. But once their eyes lock across the room, their romantic fates are sealed.
The Ambassador: As previous stated, many of these banquets were held specifically because a representative of a nearby fiefdom or emissary from a far away land was visiting: this alone was an event worthy of a banquet. The familiarity of the ambassador with the local customs depends on the exoticness of their homeland. Regardless, the greater the distance they have traveled, the more distinct their worldview and perspective... and the more unique their insights and information.
© Pengzhen Zhang
The Counselor: This person is an advisor to the Lord or Lady. Sometimes they are permanent fixtures to the household and have advised the family for generations. Other times they are close friends that fought alongside the Lord in battle. And other times they may be an architect there to design a new castle, or some other expert temporarily residing with the Lord until a particular task is completed.
The Youth: Usually the Lord or Lady's child, this would be someone who is too young to be wise, famous, strong, or powerful. And yet their noble birth and education has filled them with endless ambition. Or perhaps there are someone who has been spoiled and pampered since birth and is unbearably selfish and gluttonous. Of they have been confined their entire life and wants to break out and experience the REAL world.
The Traitor: This can be a family member, close "friend," foreign spy, disgruntled servant... just about anyone can fill this role. This would be an NPC that is angry with the Lord or Lady and seeking their downfall. The nature of that downfall can be immediate and deadly, like an assassination. Or they may have recently become disgruntled and are beginning to hatch their plan for revenge. They may have layers of intentional or unintentional accomplices.
The Champion: Whether they are a victorious crusader returning from battle or a flamboyant favorite in tournaments, this was the person whose honor and reputation is based on their exploits alone. And while they are often of high birth, they are impressive not necessarily because of their name or lands, but because of their skills and accomplishments. And having such an accomplished person present reflects well on the host of the banquet. In a fantasy setting, this would apply to a skilled wizard or sorcerer, as well as any knight that has slayed a great beast. Obviously, your players' adventuring party will often fill this role, though there may be a rival champion also present at the banquet...
But finally... the crowd!
You can have these NPCs milling about the banquet hall, but you will also want to give the crowd a personality of its own! Are these particular sets of guests dignified and proper for a formal event? Or are they more relaxed and casual, ready to enjoy a social affair? Is their revelry in response to a season of reflection and repentance? Or are they high with visions of glory after a military victory? Are they close friends and family who have dined together more times than they can count? Or is this a large event filled with nobles from miles all around, many who are forming and making first impressions?
Is it summer or winter? Is the land experiencing a famine or drought? Are the nobles wealthy or struggling? All these questions will determine the nature of the banquet your players are talking into!
One more post to go! Time to pair all this information on medieval banquets, feasts, and festivals with practical mechanics and guidelines for integrating them into your dnd campaigns!
Have a winter or a summer banquet planned? Check out our Everwinter and Fireheart sets!
