Reference The Hexton Witch Trials Reference Thread.

hey guys and welcome to my first RPG, I hope it will be a successful one for my first go at it.

This is the place to share thoughts, have questions, or just looking for more information or inspiration.

If the game seems interesting to you but you know nothing about the historical context of Witch Trials, either from a sociological or theological or even legal point of view, never fear, the web has a lot of information (and yes I will only choose legitimate sources) at hand.

The most famous trial involving the subject matter was without doubt the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
And the most obvious place to start researching is The Wiki page for an overview. Here you will be introduced to many amazing and unfortunately mostly forgotten people from four-year-old Dorothy Good to eighty-one-year-old Giles Corey.

I will of course update this thread with more interesting links from witch trials from around this period in western countries, for people to ponder for their characters, so please...ask away

The Hexton Witch Trials

 

GM Approved.

Name: Ellis/Evelyn "Eli" Williams

Age: 14

Occupation: Blacksmith Apprentice

Description (or a picture):

(without the small braid, just somewhat longer hair?)

Character Traits: A good heart, fast footed, and a good sense of humor.

Strengths: Ellis has a brave heart, and will do anything to protect her family.

Weaknesses: Not very strong yet, and a little on the short side.

Misc Notes (If Any): Ellis is not a boy, but simply likes to be one to help her father. He has no children, biologically; and took in Eli and her mother when she was a wee toddler. Her parents discussed it among themselves and decided to disguise Ellis or Evelyn as it says on her birth certificate as a boy to help her father and become his apprentice. Her father and mother tried for many years to have another child but it was not to be. They moved to the new world for hope of a better life.






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Name: Jeremiah Williams

Age: 40

Occupation: Blacksmith

Description (or a picture):

Character Traits: A good heart, very patient.

Strengths: Has very good physical strength and a good, kind heart.

Weaknesses: Can sometimes be overprotective or too cautious.

Misc Notes (If Any): He does not know how to read.

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Name: Margaret "Maggie" Williams

Age: 35

Occupation: Housewife

Description (or a picture):

Character Traits: Maggie is not one to be trifled with. She is as fierce as a lioness when protecting her child, and her husband. Maggie is also very good to those who are good to her family, and dismissive of those who aren't.

Strengths: Has a quick wit.

Weaknesses: Can be impatient.

Misc Notes (If Any): Married Jeremiah after her daughter Evelyn was a toddler. He was quick to marry her and take them in as he had no family of his own and cherishes every moment. She understands that one day Ellis/Evelyn will have to be a girl again, and plans to move them to a new part of the country when that is due.

 

Name: Alice Danica Turner

Age: 8

Occupation: N/A

Image:


Character Traits: Vindictive, Sarcastic, Caustic, Deceitful, Spoilt, Precocious

Strengths: incredibly smart for her age, can manipulate others to get what she wants

Weaknesses: her tantrums can often get the better of her, she also has an impatient streak, and has difficulty hiding her prejudices.

Misc Notes:
Alice is the cousin to Priscilla Bell, and loathes her presence often making her life miserable either with malicious 'pranks' or cutting words. She is Spoilt by her father and mother.
Alice is also incredibly two-faced, putting on all airs and graces to the 'well-to-do' members of society, most of whom find her 'an adorable child'. She also insists on being called Danica, her middle name as she is rather proud of her Danish roots. She regards most settlers as 'subjects of the king of Charles' something she does not believe she shares.


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Name: Margerie Baxter

Age: 72

Occupation: Widow, (gets by selling chicken eggs she sells to market from her chicken coop)

Description (or picture)


Character Traits: A jovial woman, often drunk, and known as the town gossip.

Strengths: knows a lot of people, and thus a lot of secrets, respected for her knowledge of herbs, and the sick often seek her advice

Weaknesses: her drunken ways are sometimes not tolerated, and can sometimes have a temper when feeling slighted, many find her suspicious.

Misc notes:
Mrs. Baxter walks with a cane and has lived in Hexton her whole life, many folk tales of the area are told by her.


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Name: Thomas Ferguson

Age: 50

Occupation: Mayor

Description: (or picture)



Character traits: A staunch man of principles, and a firm believer in law and order.

Strengths: has friends in high places, has a stronghold not only over the town, but the entire State of Maine.

Weaknesses: his political ambitions have made him a few enemies, and he also has difficulty accepting new ways of thinking.

Misc Notes:
This is the second term of Mayor Ferguson, winning over three-quarters of the town votes, however public opinion is starting to turn.

 

A List Of Common Locations in Hexton

Obsidian Woods
Located half a mile East to the town of Hexton, not many ventured into these woods due to local tales and legends.
One legend describes that half the town's earliest settlers disappeared never to be seen again whilst exploring, though no historical documentation has been found to confirm these events, it is believed to have happened in the year 1539.

The Town Hall:
The oldest building in Hexton, hosts the town's many meetings and disputes, it is adjacent to the luxurious mayor's house

The Peddlar Inn
Hexton's popular drinking establishment, many come here to socialise and enjoy a drink and dance. The main drink of choice is Gin, which even to those who really dislike the taste is better than the dirty drinking water.

Little Cold Stream
The nearest location to the town's drinking water. Many take daily trips here for supplies.

Market Square
a daily market for basic needs, it has stalls for vegetables, meat, fruit and other local produce.

Pebble Gate
A street lined with shops for the more affluent people in town. Pebble Gate has a more refined butcher shop, cobblers, a chandler and even an Apothecary.