Greetings!

Yes, do you introduce mad scientists, evil mages, and terrifying laboratories in your campaigns?

Yoggnev Tower

I have several that are currently active in the campaign area. Wicked mages working in dark, magical towers, while conducting experiments on imprisoned peasants. Vladimir Yoggnev is a local nobleman and a Wizard. He is involved with maintaining his secret dungeons underneath his ancient tower, where he breeds the imprisoned peasants with several Demons that he has managed to summon and make pacts with. Vladimir Yoggnev also regularly makes the rounds to local orphanages, where he buys up young, abandoned children. The children are then brought to his fortified tower, and taken down into the dungeons to experience a whole new kind of life. His mistress, Yessenya Valkhova, is a Sorcerer. Yessenya has a group of sorcerers that serve her with fanatical loyalty, and which operate several profitable brothels and bathhouses in the local area. The children born to the many whores are also taken into the dungeons, while some of the more rugged--or adventurous--whores, are enthusiastic in breeding with the demons, and have given birth to several Tieflings.

Vladimir Yoggnev and his mistress, Yessenya Valkhova, rule their estate with a strict hand. While in many ways the estate is strict, and well-supervised, there are times where the estate is chaotic, as fits of celebration, wild, bonfire orgies break out, and other festivities are promoted. Vladimir and Yessenya have a mercenary band in their service, which is often hired out to the local Boyar and surrounding communities to patrol nearby roads, and prosecute operations against bands of outlaws and rebels. Any rebels or outlaws captured during these operations are often brought back to Vladimir's Tower, where they are dragged down into the dungeons for breeding, ritual sacrifices, or other festivities. While arrogant and eccentric, Vladimir and Yessenya are known for their hospitality and generosity, specially towards guards and warriors serving the ruling Boyar, as well as traveling merchants. Maintaining profitability and open trade are important ideals for Vladimir and Yessenya. 

Sevanya Farms

Out in the rural countryside, closer to the edge of the dark forest, is a large farm, known as Sevanya Farms. Mistress Sevanya Darova is the owner, and a likeable farm girl that is welcoming and pleasant to visitors and travelers. Sevanya is a Pagan Witch, and has been tutored by Olga Chorneva. Olga Chorneva is a dark and wicked Mavka, a supernatural forest-creature from the depths of the nearby forest. Sevanya has embraced her Pagan witchcraft, and has gradually built up a formidable coven of 12 witches that eagerly serve her. The 12 young women have all been thoroughly trained in witchcraft, and have devoted themselves to the Dark Gods. The Pagan Witch Coven supervises a bizarre rural farm, featuring mutated peasants, grotesque hunchbacks, and a variety of strange animals and creatures. The Wicked Farm features a large, fortified laboratory, several subterranean levels, and a large greenhouse. Sevanya and her witches conduct all kinds of experiments on humans, various mutated creatures, plants, animals, and food.

They create all manner of horrifying monstrosities, as well as all kinds of insidious foods and fruit pies, and alluring toys to enchant children and women alike. The Witches of the Coven also have various secondary agents and students--typically young, idealistic girls, or older, bitter middle-aged women, that themselves promote the study of dark witchcraft, promote heresies and social rebellion, and disciple new believers into worshipping the Dark Gods. Sevanya Farms has organized the Women's Community Farm Co-Op, a community-based organization that creates various home-groups of women, and teaches them about cooking, baking, farm survival, herb lore, as well as brewing and weaving. These groups of women form their own social networks, teaching and cultivating their own sub-communities that promote independent living skills, as well as education and spiritual enlightenment.

Happy Valley Asylum

Then, there is the Happy Valley Asylum. The Happy Valley Asylum is owned and operated by Doctor Bruno Haeden, and is assisted by his beautiful wife, Nadyusha Dranyeva Haeden. Doctor Bruno Haeden is a member of the Town Council, and also the Chief Speaker of the town's Community Health Board. The CHB works closely with the Town Council, as well as agents and ministers that serve the local ruling Boyar. Doctor Bruno Haeden is a major donor to the town's library, and is a major supporter of the ruling Boyar. Doctor Haeden's wife, Nadyusha, is an experienced sorcerer of considerable skill and talent. Nadyusha is also very wealthy, and a popular socialite and community influencer. Doctor Haeden and his wife Nadyusha supervise a large asylum that serves the community, as well as neighboring communities. The Happy Valley Asylum is a place where many mentally-ill people are sent, as well as various social misfits, rebels, and people wrestling with all kinds of emotional and mental problems, as well as identity issues.

They are all sent to Happy Valley Asylum, where they are safely housed and strictly supervised and disciplined. A variety of treatment programs are administered at the Happy Valley Asylum, as well as experimental medical treatments and programs. Those patients that are simply too insane or too violent, are often sent to Sevanya Farms, where they are vigorously put to work on projects around the farm. Many of these disturbed individuals rebel one too many times, and are eaten. Some are stretched out on dark stone altars, and sacrificed on moonlit nights to the Dark Gods. Doctor Bruno Haeden is working on different kinds of skin-grafts and organ-transplant experiments, searching for efficient and interesting solutions to various crippling physical conditions and challenging mental diseases. People that are confined to wheelchairs have their legs hacked off, and they are infused with Giant Frog legs, or combined with Giant Insect body organs, evaluating different kinds of body and limb-replacement therapies and surgeries. Various communities regularly send their ugly, fat, depressed virgin daughters to the Happy Valley Asylum to be treated for depression or other mental problems and illnesses. The ugly, fat girls that are promiscuous are also sent to the Happy Valley Asylum for social adjustment problems, and social rebellion.

So, a few brief examples of strange locations and characters in the local communities of one of my campaigns. Laboratories are a prominent aspect, as well as Mages and such. How have you developed similar ideas, locations, and NPC's in your own campaigns?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

One word: PUBLISH.

You have great ideas that drift and get stolen across the internet.

Why not make money on them?

Quote from: Theory of Games on October 28, 2021, 10:30:16 PM
One word: PUBLISH.

You have great ideas that drift and get stolen across the internet.

Why not make money on them?

I would assume it's because some people don't care for or simply don't have the energy to do that, or want to share the love of their hobby with others on the internet that would love it.

As for magical experiments and research, I'd imagine a wizard having a garden somewhere to grow magical herbs that require highly specialized soil, probably one treated with magic or tons and tons of fertilizer. I'd also imagine that in turns of alchemical study, a wizard's lab would look akin to a real world meth lab. Maybe mixing potions in your world is dangerous; a wrong mixture could create a fireball, like in ADOM. Also like in ADOM, you might be able to weaponize it if the wizard has proper protection.

Rubbing two poisonous herbs together to create a fireball never gets old.

Imagine if each had a crystal ball.  They could show the others their work, in an attempt to not only outdo one another, but also attempt to recruit the others into their service.  A twisted competition. The victor not only wants dominion, but also more prestige!

Quote from: Theory of Games on October 28, 2021, 10:30:16 PM
One word: PUBLISH.

You have great ideas that drift and get stolen across the internet.

Why not make money on them?

Greetings!

Theory of Games, thank you for your encouragement, my friend!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK