Tags
18th Century, Austenpunk, blackpowder, chateau, country seat, dreadpunk, Eighteenth Century, First Empire, French Directory, French Revolution, Georgian, Ghastly Affair, gothic game, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, Gothick, Gothique, Historical, Historical Gaming, History, Louis Seize, Louis XV, Louis XVI, mannerpunk, manor house, Napoleonic, nineteenth century, Regency, Romance, Romantic Age, Romantic Horror, Romantic-era, Romanticism, schauerroman, stately home, steampunk
Often unfairly maligned as the most boring kind of art, still-life (or nature morte) paintings are actually a great way for the Presenter (or Game Master) to give in-game clues to the Player Characters. The items depicted might be the components for a Magical Ritual, the objects that must be buried to pacify a ghost, or even be a visual pun that helps solve a longstanding family mystery. Painters often used the still-life as an opportunity to display unbridled virtuosity through trompe l’oeil (“fool-the-eye”) depictions that seem almost real. In a world of real magic, perhaps one could actually take objects out of such a painting! And of course, a “Vanitas” (still-life that includes one or more skulls) will help add a properly Gothic atmosphere to any room.
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d100, 2d4 times |
The image depicts…. |
|
1 – 2 |
1d4 skull(s), |
|
3 – 4 |
1d6 apple(s), |
|
5 – 6 |
1d6 pear(s), |
|
7 – 8 |
1d6 peach(es), |
|
9 – 10 |
a lobster, |
|
11 – 12 |
a ham, |
|
13 – 14 |
1d2 sausage(s), |
|
15 – 16 |
a coffee pot, |
|
17 – 18 |
a crystal goblet, |
|
19 – 20 |
a silver goblet, |
|
21 – 22 |
a dead game bird, |
|
23 – 24 |
a pitcher, |
|
25 – 26 |
a bottle, |
|
27 – 28 |
1d4 orange(s), |
|
29 – 30 |
a bunch of grapes, |
|
31 –32 |
a dagger, |
|
33 – 34 |
1d6 oyster(s), |
|
35 – 36 |
a Chinoiserie-patterned cloth, |
|
37 – 38 |
an Indienne-patterned cloth, |
|
39 – 40 |
an Arabesque-patterned cloth, |
|
41 – 42 |
1d20 flower(s), |
|
43 – 44 |
1d4 pine cone(s), |
|
45 – 46 |
1d4 artichoke(s), |
|
47 – 48 |
1d4 fish, |
|
49 – 50 |
1d20 coin(s), |
|
51 – 52 |
a melon, |
|
53 – 54 |
a cabbage, |
|
55 – 56 |
a violin, |
|
57 – 58 |
a silver platter, |
|
59 – 60 |
a porcelain platter, |
|
61 – 62 |
a book, |
|
63 – 64 |
a candlestick and candle, |
|
65 – 66 |
an hourglass, |
|
67 – 68 |
a globe, |
|
69 – 70 |
a loaf of bread, |
|
71 – 72 |
1d12 fig(s), |
|
73 – 74 |
1d6 sea shell(s), |
|
75 – 76 |
1d6 pastries, |
|
77 – 78 |
1d8 chestnut(s), |
|
79 – 80 |
1d10 walnut(s), |
|
81 – 82 |
a pistol, |
|
83 – 84 |
a crock of butter, |
|
85 – 86 |
a gauntlet, |
|
87 – 88 |
a helmet, |
|
89 – 90 |
a sculptural bust, |
|
91 – 92 |
a silver soup tureen, |
|
93 – 94 |
a cheese, |
|
95 – 96 |
a fly, |
|
97 – 98 |
1d4 lemon(s), |
|
99 – 100 |
a ring, |
|
d10 |
gathered on / in… |
|
1 |
a basket, |
|
2 |
a table, |
|
3 |
a chair, |
|
4 |
a stump, |
|
5 |
a stone, |
|
6 |
a pillar, |
|
7 |
a pedestal, |
|
8 |
a stand, |
|
9 |
the floor (or ground), |
|
10 |
an oriental rug, |
|
d12 |
in front of… |
|
1 |
a field of shadow. |
|
2 |
a closed curtain. |
|
3 |
an opened curtain with a rolling landscape beyond. |
|
4 |
a formal (or French) garden landscape. |
|
5 |
a landscape (or English) garden. |
|
6 |
a painted boiserie (paneled wood) wall. |
|
7 |
an oiled boiserie wall. |
|
8 |
a stone wall. |
|
9 |
a plastered wall. |
|
10 |
a brick wall. |
|
11 |
an unfinished wooden board. |
|
12 |
servants going about their work. |
The items depicted might be the components for a Magical Ritual, the objects that must be buried to pacify a ghost, or even be a visual pun that helps solve a longstanding family mystery.
And this is why I think the random painting tables should be in with the Houses book rather than separate. 🙂 This one’s even a plot hook generator if you start with the premise that the objects are significant.
A cheese, a cabbage, a ring, a helmet, a pile of nine coins and five sea shells – all gathered on a stone, against the background of an English garden.
The first two are farming produce – the ring could symbolise marriage or officialdom – the coins payment for something, perhaps something that is about to come due – the helmet suggests military service.
The family were once common farmers – they were ennobled nine generations ago, though the exact circumstances of it remain a mystery. In fact, it was through an otherworldly power, who demanded that a later scion of the family would have to serve as its knight. This debt is about to be called. The shells? Perhaps the otherworldly power is born of the sea, or at least (and more metaphorically) deep places.
A silver platter, an Indienne-patterned cloth, a globe, a gauntlet, and three peaches – all gathered into a basket, against the background of working servants.
The first three suggest far-reaching and profitable trade, but the basket suggests something much humbler, even if the servants go back to suggesting wealth. The gauntlet could be military again, or a challenge. Peaches represent transitory sweetness.
Maybe the family made their money in trade, but in the process cast out a branch of their line (maybe some of them are still there as servants?). But one from that branch has been biding his time, and now seeks to contest somehow for control of the business, and bring down the family that did so to him.
I like these tables.
I love how you’ve worked the tables! I’m thoroughly convinced – they’re going in the Castles, Mansions, & Estates book.
😀