Are you a busy GM? Does session prep take too long? Do you never have time to work on the cool little details that can bring your adventures to life? These focused lists give you, the time-crunched GM, the tools to effortlessly add verisimilitude and detail to your urban adventures.

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1: The Apothecary

Root and Branch: Allyshe Cyelrae (NG female half-elf) plays on her elven heritage to impress the local peasants. In truth, she possesses only average skills.
Poultices and Potions: Aake Kallas (NE old male human) is a respected member of the community, but he has a secret. As well as an apothecary, he is also a serial murderer. Sometimes, he wilfully poisons customers—he can’t help himself. Only his terrified apprentice, Ilta Otra (N young female human), suspects the truth.
Crystal Healing: Jegor Vaito (N old male human) believes in the healing power of crystals. Every treatment ends with him trying to sell a crystal to his patient, and he is an excellent salesman. He wears many necklaces replete with various crystals.
Tornio & Son: Eljas Tornio (NG male human) fought in a war and has seen much killing and suffering. He has a careworn, weary look about him. His son, Arvi (CG male human), is young and idealistic; he can’t wait to follow in his father’s heroic footsteps.

2: Major Locale Features

The apothecary’s workshop stands in the centre of a large and well-tended garden replete with an incredible array of herbs and plants.
The apothecary has built a small hospice by their main workshop. Therein, they can treat those in need of long-term or complicated care.
A warm, fresh spring bubbles up from the ground behind the apothecary’s workshop. The locals believe bathing in the spring aids healing, and the apothecary is happy to charge them a small fee to do so.
A shrine to the god of healing fills a small outbuilding connected to the apothecary’s place of business. It is festooned with minor offerings.

3: Minor Locale Features

A fire is always burning in the hearth, and the apothecary is usually brewing or simmering something in a small cauldron hanging over it.
Shelves hold innumerable small boxes, tiny kegs and other storage containers. Herbs hang from the rafters.
Outside, small wooden grow boxes hold a plethora of plants—herbs and the like.
The apothecary performs private examinations in a small curtained-off alcove.

4: What’s Going On?

A peasant—wrapped in a cloak and shivering—shuffles toward the apothecary’s workshop. A character getting close to the peasant sees vivid red pustules on their face.
The apothecary sits outside, taking their ease. They could be watching people going by, taking in the view of their garden and so on. In any event, the visitors must wait while the apothecary finishes their drink.
A local artificer is delivering a new cauldron—or some other large item—to the apothecary. The apothecary inspects the item as the characters arrive.
The apothecary has just taken on a new apprentice; every treatment takes twice as long as they explain everything to the keen but confused youngster.

5: Other Folk

Kuura Toiva (NG male human) suffers from gout brought on by excessive drinking. He is in extreme pain and can barely walk. He wants a quick fix and won’t hear of giving up his beloved booze.
Maija Valtari (N female human) vomits wildly as the characters arrive. She suffers from what looks like severe food poisoning. The apothecary suspects she has been deliberately poisoned.
Ilja Ukko (N male human) is here with his son (N young male human), who has a deep wound in his left leg. Ilja was letting his son chop wood when the axe slipped. He knows he is in big trouble when he gets home. His son is being brave but is in considerable pain.
Kössi Tammi (NE male human) wants to sell the apothecary some “magic herbs”. He is a charlatan, and the apothecary is suspicious. When the characters arrive, he turns his attention to them—adventurers will believe almost anything if it’s magic.

Credit

This is a short system-neutral extract from Urban Locale #07: Apothecary by Robert Manson. The book is available from DriveThruRPG and Raging Swan Press’s own web store.

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Urban Locales: Apothecary