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Location

1. Location Name:​

(Give it a memorable and fitting name)

A place may be known by many names e.g. exonyms, endonyms, alias, euphemism etc

2. Type of Location:​

(City, town, village, forest, mountain, space station, supermarket, bedroom etc.)

3. Setting/Environment:​

  • Physical Description:
    • What does it look like? (Architecture, landscape, natural features, etc.)
    • Size and scale? (Vast, cramped, sprawling, etc.)
    • Climate and weather? (Typical conditions, extreme variations, etc.)
    • Dominant colors, textures, and smells?
    • Any unique or unusual features?
  • Atmosphere/Mood:
    • What feeling does the location evoke? (e.g., serene, ominous, bustling, desolate, etc.)
    • What factors contribute to this atmosphere? (Lighting, sounds, population, etc.)
    • Is it a place of safety or danger?
  • Time Period/Era:
    • When does the story take place in relation to this location?
    • How has the location changed over time?
    • Are there any remnants of the past visible?

4. Inhabitants/Population:​

  • Who lives here? (Demographics, social classes, unique groups, etc.)
  • What are their customs and traditions?
  • What is their relationship to the location? (Do they love it, fear it, exploit it, etc.)
  • Are there any notable individuals or groups?

5. History/Background:​

  • How was the location founded or created?
  • What significant events have occurred here?
  • Are there any legends or myths associated with the location?
  • Are there any secrets or hidden truths?

6. Purpose/Function in the Story:​

  • Why is this location important to the plot?
  • What role does it play in the characters' journeys?
  • What conflicts or challenges arise from this location?
  • Does it represent a theme or symbol in the story?
  • Is it a place where information is gathered, a battle is fought, a safe haven, or a place of great danger?

7. Sensory Details:​

  • Sight: (What do characters see?)
  • Sound: (What do characters hear?)
  • Smell: (What do characters smell?)
  • Taste: (What do characters taste?)
  • Touch: (What do characters feel?)

8. Key Locations Within the Location:​

  • Are there any important buildings, landmarks, or areas within the main location?
  • Describe those important smaller locations using the above template.

Example using a fantasy tavern:

  1. Location Name: The Rusty Flagon

  2. Type of Location: Tavern

  3. Setting/Environment:

  • Physical Description: A dimly lit, two-story wooden building with a thatched roof. The main room is filled with mismatched tables and chairs, a large stone fireplace, and a long, scarred bar. The air is thick with smoke and the smell of ale and roasted meat.
  • Atmosphere/Mood: Rowdy and boisterous, but also warm and inviting. A place where travelers and locals mingle.
  • Time Period/Era: Medieval fantasy.
  1. Inhabitants/Population:
  • Dwarves, humans, and the occasional elf. Travelers, mercenaries, and local townsfolk.
  • They enjoy drinking, storytelling, and gambling.
  • The barkeep, a large, gruff dwarf named Borin, is a notable figure.
  1. History/Background:
  • Built long ago, it’s a popular stop for adventurers.
  • Rumors of a secret passage in the cellar.
  1. Purpose/Function in the Story:
  • A place where the characters gather information, meet allies, and potentially encounter enemies.
  • A place of relative safety, but where dangers still lurk.
  1. Sensory Details:
  • Sight: Flickering candlelight, tankards of ale, faces illuminated by the fire.
  • Sound: Boisterous laughter, clinking glasses, the crackling of the fire, and the strumming of a lute.
  • Smell: Ale, roasted meat, pipe smoke, and damp wood.
  • Touch: Rough wooden tables, warm tankards, the scratchy wool of a traveler's cloak.
  1. Key Locations Within the Location:
  • The cellar, the upstairs rooms, the bar itself.

By using this template, you can create vivid and memorable locations that enhance your story and bring it to life.