Port cities are centers of culture and trade, and they tend to act as a mixing pot for an entire region. From merchants and diplomats to travelers, pirates and military ships, you can find a bit of everything if you sit in one place and take the time to watch.

If your game involves a port city of any real size, then making it feel like an organic part of the world can be a huge burden on you as a Game Master. However, the following NPCs can be used to really flesh out the kinds of people the party is likely to encounter when they spend time in the docks district. Some of them provide valuable services, and they could act as allies to the party. Others might be antagonists whose goals are counter to what the PCs are trying to achieve. And some will just be there for fun and flavor. Which NPCs are which, however, is entirely up to you to decide!

To use the list, either roll d100 for a random result or select appropriate ones manually.

Here are some sample results:

57. Shawshank Malorean: A dapperly-dressed gnome who prefers a tall hat and a tailcoat, his voice is a clipped, no-nonsense nasal tone that somehow manages to cut through even the loudest of crowds. A clothier and haberdasher by trade, it’s said Shawshank has clients coming from uptown on one end, and that he stitches and swathes the bloodiest rogues in all of the black trades on the other. For his part, though, the small-sized tailor seems indifferent to where his clients got their money… all he cares about is a down payment on the order, and that the balance for his services in his hand once the last stitch is complete.

58. Constance Kerrigan: A tall, broad-shouldered woman with thick hair and full lips, Constance’s white garb tends to stand out among the drab dirtiness of the district. A Sister of The Gentle Hand, or so she says to those who ask, she’s always bringing food to the hungry and aid to the broken. A truly gentle soul, there are some who wonder aloud if she’s always been this kind and caring, or if she had to learn how to take her armor off… metaphorically, if not literally, though it could be both according to those who’ve felt the strength in her grip and noted the callouses on her hands.

59. Mason Locke: An old man with flyaway gray hair clinging to his balding head, Mason can always be found on street corners nearest to the water. Though he’s grown bent and stooped with the weight of the years, he must have been a giant of a man in his youth. Those who knew him then claim he could haul massive crates on his own, and raise sails like they weighed nothing. There are also whispers that he served under more than one black flag, and that he has his share of blood under his nails. These days, though, Mason preaches a gospel of love, togetherness and the sermons of the Testament of The Good Neighbor. There’s a sheen in his eyes as he speaks that some claim came out of a bottle, and others believe is a mark of his faith. There have been a few, however, who name it a hunted look… the expression of a man who knows his time is running out, and that a terrible fate awaits him on the other side of the grave if he can’t do something to save his soul.

Released: 15th November 2025 Pages: 22

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