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Charles Drew shooting his own father Wellcome L0040858

Use the following tables to quickly create suitably shocking historical facts for families inhabiting Grand Houses.

Length of the Family History

d12

 The family’s history goes back…

1

 1000 years.

2

 900 years.

3

 800 years.

4

 700 years.

5

 600 years.

6 – 7

 500 years.

8

 400 years.

9

 300 years.

10

 200 years.

11

 only 100 years.

12

 less than 100 years – the family is nouveau riche, or recently ennobled.

Determine 1d4 Shocking Historical Facts for each century of family history. Determine only 1 if the family history goes back less than a century.

Shocking Historical Facts about the Family

d20

 The family history records that…

1

 the master of the household

2

 the mistress of the household

3

 the eldest daughter of the family

4

 a middle daughter of the family

5

 the youngest daughter of the family

6

 the eldest son of the family

7

 a middle son of the family

8

 the youngest son of the family

9

 the master’s brother

10

 the master’s sister

11

 the mistress’ brother

12

 the mistress’ sister

13

 the master’s mother

14

 the mistress’s father

15

 the mistress’ mother

16

 one of the master’s male cousins

17

 one of the master’s female cousins

18

 one of the mistress’ male cousins

19

 one of the mistress’ female cousins

20

 a trusted retainer of the household

d100

 ..actually….

1 – 2

 disappeared without explanation. [Ignore the next table.]

3

 went on an voyage of exploration, and was never seen again. [Ignore the next table.]

4

 claimed to have Second Sight. [Ignore the next table.]

5

 insisted that they were being persecuted by invisible Fairy Folk. [Ignore the next table.]

6 – 7

 went mad from syphilis. [Ignore the next table. Roll again if before 1500.]

8 – 9

 died of syphilis. [Ignore the next table. Roll again if before 1500.]

10 – 11

 became a hopeless drug addict. [Ignore the next table.]

12 – 13

 gambled away their money. [Ignore the next table.]

14

 went mad, and was kept from public view. [Ignore the next table.]

15

 ended their days in a madhouse. [Ignore the next table.]

16

 produced a illegitimate child with servant. [Ignore the next table.]

17

 had many children out of wedlock. [Ignore the next table.]

18

 married a religiously unorthodox spouse. [Ignore the next table.]

19

 eloped with a servant. [Ignore the next table.]

20

 eloped with an entertainer (or artist). [Ignore the next table.]

21

 eloped with a Gypsy. [Ignore the next table. Roll Again if before 1300.]

22

 believed theirself to be a werewolf. [Ignore the next table.]

23 – 24

 committed suicide. [Ignore the next table.]

25 – 26

 eventually entered the religious life, where they became infamous for their lechery. [Ignore the next table.]

27 – 28

 died in a duel. [Ignore the next table.]

29 – 30

 was murdered by a jealous rival. [Ignore the next table.]

31 – 32

 was murdered by a jealous spouse. [Ignore the next table.]

33

 was abducted by bandits and never seen again. [Ignore the next table.]

34

 was abducted by bandits and released, but died shortly thereafter from the abuse they suffered in captivity. [Ignore the next table.]

35

 was violated by a family member. [Ignore the next table.]

36 – 37

 was forced into an unwanted marriage, but ran away. [Ignore the next table.]

38

 was seen traveling the countryside after their death. [Ignore the next table.]

39 – 40

 committed treason,

41 – 42

 deserted the military, (if male) / publicly took a lover while her husband was at war, (if female),

43 – 44

 committed voluntary incest with a sibling,

45 – 46

 committed voluntary incest with an aunt or uncle,

47 – 48

 murdered a servant,

49 – 50

 murdered a family member,

51

 murdered a tenant of the estate,

52 – 54

 murdered a member of another prominent family

55 – 56

 stole the family jewels,

57

 violated a house servant,

58

 violated a member of another prominent family,

59 – 60

 practiced witchcraft (or sorcery),

61 – 62

 embezzled government funds,

63 – 64

 participated in a brazen swindle,

65 – 68

 became a famous (or infamous) bandit,

69

 committed cannibalism,

70

 had carnal relations with an animal,

71 – 72

 exhumed their deceased lover,

73 – 74

 abducted a young woman, forced her to marry into the family,

75 – 76

 abducted a young man, forced him to marry into the family,

77

 abducted and murdered a girl,

78

 abducted and murdered a boy,

79 – 80

 was a poisoner,

81 – 84

 participated in obscene Black Masses,

85 – 86

 abjured the established Church in public,

87 – 88

 committed bigamy,

89 – 90

 wrote obscene literature,

91 – 92

 vivisected human victims,

93 – 94

 worshiped Pagan gods,

95 – 96

 played a cruel prank upon another prominent family,

97

 impersonated a member of the royal family,

98 – 100

 seduced the spouses of many prominent people,

d12

 and was…

1

 never caught (or publicly exposed).

2

 made to pay the legal price for their transgression.

3

 treated with barbarous severity.

4

 assassinated by an unknown assailant.

5

 caught (or exposed), but then exonerated.

6

 found out, but fled before they could be arrested.

7

 nonetheless considered a local hero (or heroine).

8

 nonetheless considered a national hero (or heroine).

9

 forced to enter a religious institution.

10

 committed to a madhouse.

11

 forced into exile (to another country, to America, etc.).

12

 granted a royal pardon.