Art from Adobe Stock

A special thanks to my wife for all the love, support, and kindness I never deserved.
Thanks to my son and daughter for encouraging me to create worlds to adventure in.
Thanks to Mike for letting us stomp around his homebrew world and ruin so many things.

This product was created under license. Sword Chronicle, The Chronicle System, and their logos, and the Chronicle System Guild and
its logo are trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing, LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. This work contains material that is copyright
Green Ronin Publishing, LLC and/or other authors. Such material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement
for Chronicle System Guild. All other original material in this work is copyright 2022 by Seth Williams and published under the
Community Content Agreement for Chronicle System Guild.
 Whether by right, might, or decree, a noble’s word is the law
of their land – the authority which dictates justice and guides
morality for those within their borders. The weight of this word
is represented in the Chronicle System by the resources Land,
Law, and Population. Whereas other House resources largely
measure how the house interacts with the world beyond the
domain, Land, Law, and Population regard how a domain
interacts with itself. The rules that follow are intended to breathe
new life into these three House resources, as well as slightly
modify the game’s scope. Pointedly, the modifications that follow
should ensure that a Home House has several domains to explore
(and place Wealth investments in), more population centers to
interact with, and a more defined setting in which to tell the story
of their homes. The intent is to enrich the Home House’s domain
and is likely to see the most use in a Chronicle that keeps the
Player Characters close to home. That said, Narrators may find
the content useful to enhance the setting of other domains
beyond the Home House’s borders.
On House Fortunes…
The rules in this work are intended to change the way that
Population and Power influence House Fortunes, reducing the
amplitude of their independent weight and instead making them
dependent on each other. Population no longer applies a direct
benefit or penalty to the House Fortunes test, but instead confers
a modifier calculated based on the relationship between Law and
Population. If the House’s Population is higher than its Law, the
House receives a -1 Penalty to House Fortunes (as the liege lacks
the resources to properly control their subjects). Just as with
Degrees of Success on any test, for every 5 points of difference,
an additional -1 Penalty is applied. This calculation represents
the control a house can exert over its population, and it works in
reverse as well: If the House’s Law resource outpaces the
Population resource, the House receives a +1 Bonus on House
Fortunes; and for every 5 points of difference, this bonus increases
by an additional +1. Thus, a lady who commands a large
population of commonfolk but exercises little authority over them
has less control over their destiny and must work harder to
maintain her position, whereas a lord of a smaller, more loyal
population can enjoy the benefits of this relationship and rest
easier knowing that his House is provided for and position secure.
Law’s benefits do not stop there – this work also introduces
Taxation and Conscription, two new House Actions that allow a
House to draw Wealth and soldiers from its Communities.
Additionally, excess Law can also be invested into Decrees –
commands from the House to direct their subjects’ daily lives as
the ruler sees fit.
Complications
An additional (and, of course, optional) component to this
work comes in the form of Complications. Complications are
elements of narrative friction that the players can elect to accept
while they create the Home House to add to their starting
resources in exchange for some trouble or conflict the Narrator
may utilize to complicate (hence the name) the Player Characters’
lives. Complications are largely similar to features and other
investments in that they are attached to a domain, but each one
rewards a certain amount of resources rather than exacting a cost
and imposes some penalty rather than a benefit.
What to Expect
This book is divided into five sections: Land, Law, Population,
Complications, and Investments & Qualities. The first three
sections are dedicated to explaining the nuances of the
modification to each of the three Resources for which they are
named. Complications are given their own section and explained
in detail, while new Investments for the House resources are
included in the final section, along with a few Qualities for
characters to better take advantage of the new mechanics
introduced herein.
While several features of this work are dependent on each
other, it should be noted that it is not expected to be taken
wholesale if parts of it do not align with the stories your group
wishes to tell. Take this work, make it your own, and enjoy the
narratives your group creates!
1 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION

The most concrete of the three resources discussed in this work
is, obviously, Land. As explained in Chapter 5: Houses & Lands
of the Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook, Land is used to purchase
Domains, which are themselves divided into two parts: Terrain
and Features. Previously, Features included Communities –
however, in the modified rules presented here, Communities have
been reconfigured as a Population investment (explained in the
Population section later in this work), providing more resources
to be spent on Features for Terrain. That leaves more Land to be
invested in the interesting geographic locales where your
characters make their homes. Land is otherwise unchanged, but
players should take this opportunity to examine the Features that
can be added to Terrain aside from the normal features in the
Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook.
Complications are (usually) attached to a specific Terrain or
Feature, enhancing their role in the story and providing
characters with potentially exciting places to explore and unique
problems to solve. Examples include Faeries Groves or Haunted
locales. These places can be exceedingly dangerous! By electing
to take a Complication rather than a normal Feature, players
should realize that they are presenting the Narrator with an
opportunity to impede character goals and introduce conflict
beyond the initial scope of the Chronicle. However,
Complications provide extra resources for the players to use to
build their ideal Home House. They are explained in detail later
in this work in the section of the same name.
Previously, Law was not an investable and served only as a
modifier to House Fortunes independent of all other Resources.
The rules herein seek to breathe life into Law and ensure that it
carries the weight deserved by a resource as important as one that
denotes control over one’s territory.
With these rules, Law modifies House Fortunes as a function
of its difference with Population: If Law is less than Population,
the smallfolk are rowdy and difficult to please. The greater the
difference, the greater the penalty: A Law resource 5 points lower
than a House’s Population imposes a -2 Penalty. 10 points lower
results in a -3, and so on as with Degrees of Success (explained in
the Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook, Chapter 1: Game Rules ).
The reverse is also true – a House with Law higher than its
Population gains a bonus to House Fortunes tests. There is no
limit on the amount of bonus or penalty that can be accumulated
in this way, save for those imposed by the range of attributes
possible in the system.
Law has additional responsibilities as well: if ever a House’s
Law rating drops below the total amount of their Population
invested into Community holdings, Corruption starts to take
hold in the land. If it seeps further, Corruption can grow into
Rebellion. These features are further detailed in the Population
section of this work, but for now, it is simply important that you
understand that Law should exceed Population whenever
possible.
Finally, Houses may invest Law more than the amount used to
control Communities into Law Holdings called Decrees,
described below. These Decrees are used to provide benefits to
Houses that have extensive control over their populations,
permitting them to impose their will upon their subjects. They
are yet another way high Law Households can benefit from their
sway over their populace.
DECREES
While it’s rare to find a Lord or Lady that does not issue official
proclamations to their subjects, many Houses have difficulty
enforcing these words as law. For Houses that command
exceptional loyalty (or fear) from their subjects, they may issue
Decrees that carry more weight with their populace and thus are
more likely to be obeyed.
As with Wealth investments, Houses with excess Law may
invest it into commandments called Decrees. These Decrees
modify the Home House’s territory, changing the people that call
it home or granting them some boon. These modifiers remain in
effect so long as a House has enough Law to cover the cost of the
Decree beyond what Population it has invested into
Communities. Should a House ever lose so much Law that its
attribute falls below the sum of its invested Population and issued
Decrees, the House must select Decrees that it ceases to enforce
until the balance is covered once more. The House loses any
benefits offered by the disregarded Decree, and ongoing character
effects (such as the conveying of a Benefit) cease to function. If a
noble house cannot control its subjects, they have little hope of
their word carrying much weight.
As with other investments, the time requirement for Decrees
apply to newly issued Decrees rather than those purchased during
House Creation, but they also apply when a House prepares to
re-engage a Decree after its suspension following a drop in Law.
At the Narrator’s discretion, the resources used to fund Decrees
may be withdrawn at an appropriate time.
ARRANGED MARRIAGES
REQUIREMENT: Influence 30+
INVESTMENT: 10 Law TIME: 2d6+6 Months
When Arranged Marriages are instituted, members of families that
hold some level of status within the House’s territory are strategically
married to one another to cement the House’s influence over their
subjects. This melds families together, presumably bringing families
loyal to the house in control of the resources of families that may not
otherwise be so respectful of the House’s mandate.
So long as this Decree remains active, Status 3+ characters who are
married or engaged receive the Connections benefit for the local
region, representing in-laws and extended family that they may call
on for favors when appropriate. Narrators should note that marriage
between powerful families is taken very seriously, and characters who
treat their spouses or betrothed poorly may quickly find themselves
with a new Nemesis. The spouse does not follow the player character
blindly but should be present in the narrative with a relationship that
require some level of maintenance. The exact details of the marriage
should be decided upon by the Narrator and Player together.
House Benefit: Law losses due to House Fortunes are mitigated
by 1. The House may exchange Law for Influence at a 1:1 ratio (2:1
if rushed) when it takes the Manage Resources action.
LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 2
 BURGHER COUNCILS
REQUIREMENT: Guilds
INVESTMENT: 5 Law TIME: 1d6+3 Months
The House empowers influential artisans and wealthy merchants
within their borders to make some decisions on the House’s behalf,
ceding some of their power in exchange for heavy taxes from
empowered parties. For many Communities, this is a boon – after all,
a neighbor often understands the troubles that plague a community
far better than a distant lord. However, some burghers use this power
to their advantage, seeking only to increase their fortunes and
personal influence.
While Burgher Councils is in effect, Status 3 characters gain +1B
on tests made to utilize the Trade or Wealthy benefit (if they possess
them) and on all tests utilizing the Bargain specialty.
House Benefit: The House may exchange Influence for Wealth at a
1:1 ratio (2:1 if rushed) when it takes the Manage Resources action.
CITIZEN MILITIA
REQUIREMENT: Militia Training Grounds
INVESTMENT: 10 Law TIME: 2d6+3 Months
Common folk of the realm are expected to participate in seasonal
training so that they may aid in the defense of their communities.
Commoners from these communities (even Player Characters) are
often expected to report home at least once per year to participate in
this training – often in the autumn once the harvest is complete.
Characters who fail to do so lose the benefit conferred below and may
be declared an outlaw if the noble that oversees the village considers
their absence criminal.
Status 1 and 2 characters from the region gain 1 rank in Stamina
or Spears, having spent many hours training at the thrusting and
parrying techniques for this common weapon. If another weapon is
more prevalent and suitable for cultural reasons, it may be substituted
for Spears instead (with Narrator permission).
Status 3 characters gain +1B in Tactics or Coordination, as they
are typically trained as officers in such militias. They may be thought
of as Commanders or Militia Sergeants, but in larger settlements,
they might be expected to have a more clerical or logistical role.
House Benefit: When the House raises Peasant Levies, either
normally or through Conscription (see Population below), their
Levies begin with +20XP. Their Veterancy is otherwise unaffected.
DIVINE MANDATE
REQUIREMENT: State Religion
INVESTMENT: 10 Law TIME: 2d6+6 Months
The House’s rule has been declared divinely inspired by an agent
of the local religion – a declaration that is no small matter to a
commoner hoping for a pleasant afterlife following a dreary mortal
existence. Among the many benefits of such a declaration are that the
House can receive a tithe from its people, and its subjects are less
likely to balk at such a demand.
Additionally, subordinates of the House who believe in the
Family’s divine favor gain +1B Courage while in their presence. This
bonus does not apply to Family members themselves, however – they
are either a source of inspiration or may benefit from it, but not both.
House Benefit: Whenever the House performs the Collect Taxes
House Action, they may exchange 1 additional Law for 1 Wealth.
IRON GRIP
REQUIREMENT: Power 30+
INVESTMENT: 15 Law TIME: 2d6 Months
The House maintains a cold, hard grip on its populace. Unlike
other decrees, this decree does not become inactive when Law falls
below its required levels.
While Law exceeds invested Population, House-affiliated
characters receive the effects of the Authority benefit while
participating in intrigues within the Home House’s domain. If
available Law falls below invested Population, House-affiliated
characters instead receive the effects of the Menacing Drawback
under the same circumstances as above.
House Benefit: It is much easier for a House with an Iron Grip to
ensure that its orders are followed. Decrees that cost 10 or more Law
have their costs reduced by 5.
Additionally, when the House’s available Law dips below its invested
Population, it ignores the effects of Corruption (described in the
Population section later in this work). However, Rebellion (also
described later) becomes much more of a threat: Whenever the House
makes Status tests as per the rules for Rebellion, the difficulties of said
tests are increased by 3.
LANDED GENTRY
REQUIREMENT: Burgher Councils
INVESTMENT: 20 Law TIME: 3d6 Months
The House has made a habit of securing its subjects’ loyalty with
gifts of Land. These tracts of land can be quite lucrative, sometimes
even to the point of being an enticing target for the family’s own
schemes and plans. Many a noble has seethed over the success
experienced by a family granted their rewards by a previous Lord or
Lady of their house. Regardless, should the House ever experience
Corruption or Rebellion, it is the Landed Gentry who are most
susceptible to treachery.
Player Characters of appropriate Status may acquire the Landed
without obtaining the Sponsor benefit, but the House is generated as
a Vassal House of the Home House, and Resources are generated
with 4d6 instead of 5d6 as per the rules for Vassal Houses in Chapter
5: Houses & Lands of the. This special Vassal House may not acquire
3 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION
 Vassals of their own but does not require investment from the Home
House so long as the House remains headed by Player Character.
House Benefit: The House may exchange Land for Law or Influence
at a 1:1 ratio (2:1 if rushed) when it takes the Manage Resources
action.
MIGRATION INCENTIVES
REQUIREMENT: Land 20+
INVESTMENT: 5 Law TIME: 1d6 Months
An empire requires subjects to rule, and some nobles find
themselves far too impatient to wait for populations to grow by the
normal means. Instead, they offer incentives of land and coin to
wanderers and free peoples to come and settle their lands and raise a
family.
Characters of Status 2 and 3 who take advantage of this offer gain
+1D to their Status test to determine Starting Possessions.
House Benefit: The House may exchange Land for Population at a
1:1 ratio (2:1 if rushed) when it takes the Manage Resources action.
STATE RELIGION
REQUIREMENT: Temple
INVESTMENT: 10 Law TIME: 1d6+3 Months
When a religion receives acknowledgment or sponsorship from a
noble house, its influence and reach permeate through every aspect of
society. Its teachings become society’s morals, and its tenets become
the ethics of everyday commonfolk. This affords the clergy some level
of power, but all but the most established of religions know that their
power relies heavily on the happiness of their sponsoring House.
Any character who keeps the tenets of this faith and sets aside 5%
of their earnings as a tithe for the church gain +1B Dedication.
House Benefit: When the House takes the Collect Taxes (see the
Population section) action, Law Expenditures after the first are
reduced by 1.
People are a vital part of a region’s culture and identity, and
their communities can make for a compelling source of
entertainment and adventure. While not every House oversees a
bustling metropolis, most can at least boast of a castle town or a
small port worth protecting. After all, castles promise safety, and
many people consider the costs of living in the shadow of a noble
family worth the benefits of having a castle to hide in when
trouble comes.
Under these rules, a House’s Population resource is used to
purchase Community Features instead of its Land resource. The
benefits provided by Communities are still as detailed in the
Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook, but a few minor additions have
been presented here. However, the relationship between a
House’s Law and Population is important: if a House’s Law
resource ever falls below the amount of Population that they have
invested into their Communities some of its Communities will
stop providing the benefits associated with their loyalty until a
firm hand is applied and they are brought back into the fold.
Should a House’s Law resource dip low enough, Communities
may even muster troops to assert their independence. Regardless,
a House’s Law dictates just how many Communities it can
control (as well as how many it can’t).
COMMUNITIES
The benefits of communities are as detailed in the Sword
Chronicle Core Rulebook in both Chapter 5: Houses & Lands
and Chapter 10: Warfare . With this work, a few additional
components of functionality have been added.
To start, some Communities now provide support for
investments beyond that of normal domains. Large Towns and
Small Cities provide the infrastructure to support an additional
Holding beyond the two offered by the Domain itself (for a total
of three). Large Cities can support up to two extra Holdings,
bringing the total supported by the Domain they are in to four.
Some Communities also allow for Houses to use Manage
Resources to convert Law to Wealth: if a House has a Small City
or a Large City, they may exchange Law for Wealth at a 2:1 ratio,
but the cost rises to 3:1 when rushed.
NEW COMMUNITY FEATURES
COMMUNITY HOLDINGS LAW: WEALTH (RUSHED)
Large Town 3 N/A
Small City 3 2:1 (3:1)
Large City 4 2:1 (3:1)
NEW HOUSE ACTION: COLLECT TAXES
In addition to using Manage Resources to obtain Wealth, a
new House Action allows a House to focus its efforts on
squeezing Wealth from their subjects more efficiently. As a
House Action, a noble family can send forth their official tax
collectors to squeeze coin from the populace under their care.
First, the House begins by sacrificing a single point of Law for
each community that they wish to tax. This represents the
organization of resources and the unrest that naturally
accompanies such actions. Next, the House Steward makes a
Status (Stewardship) test for every community larger than a
Hamlet. The result is compared to Taxation difficulty for each
Community the House elected to tax. These difficulties may be
found in the Community descriptions that follow. Success
indicates that a Wealth is collected from the Community. Large
Towns and larger communities may produce additional Wealth
depending on the degrees of success achieved by this test. The
maximum amount of additional wealth that may be collected is
detailed in the Community descriptions below.
After the acquired wealth is calculated, the House may
consider expending extra Law to squeeze additional Wealth out
of the Community depending on its size, just as if the House had
elected to use a Manage Resources action. The limits on how
much Law can be exchanged in this way vary depending on the
size of the Community, as well as how much Wealth is gathered
for each Law expended. These limits are explained in the
Community descriptions as well.
Once the process is complete, the House tallies the Wealth
earned and Law expended, adjusting their Resources
appropriately. Technically, the Wealth will arrive (and discontent
will rise) over the course of the month of the House Turn, but
typically the House can make assurances of payment to artisans
LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 4
and merchants so that they need not necessarily wait for this coin
to arrive.
This action may be taken multiple times per year, but each
successive action within that year incurs a cumulative -1D penalty
on the Status (Stewardship) test. Houses who tax their subjects
too strenuously may quickly find their subjects growing resentful
(or even treacherous), and local economies need time to recover
from aggressive collection activities.
Community Descriptions
Hamlets are poor communities that typically host few (if any)
people with enough resources to provide any meaningful coin for
their Lord’s coffers. Whenever the House performs the Collect
Taxes House Action, no Stewardship test need be made – no
amount of accounting will produce any Wealth from the village.
However, the House may elect to reduce Law by 1 to obtain a
single Wealth. This reduction is in addition to the initial
expenditure, essentially allowing the House to exchange 2 Law
for a single wealth.
Unlike other Communities, Hamlets may only be Taxed once
per year – they simply do not have the economy to provide
resources to the House’s coffers more often than that.
Small Towns are like Hamlets in that they are not overly
wealthy, but they typically have enough items of value in them to
offer at least a single Wealth for the House when properly
squeezed. The difficulty of the Stewardship test for the Collect
Taxes action is Hard (15) . No more than a single Wealth may be
earned with this test, but regardless of success the House may
exchange 1 additional Law for 1 additional Wealth (bringing the
total expenditure of Law up to 2 Law and potentially gaining 2
Wealth for the trouble).
Large Towns , thankfully, hold enough coins and goods that
they can provide a steady flow of taxes into the House’s coffers
with the right application of persuasive force. Whenever the
House performs the Collect Taxes action, the difficulty of the
Stewardship test is Formidable (12) . If the Steward scores an
additional degree of success, an additional Wealth is produced –
but no more than 2 Wealth may be produced in this way. Pass or
fail, the House may exchange 1 additional Law for an additional
Wealth (Bringing the potential final tally to 2 Law for 3 Wealth).
Small Cities contain enough established individuals to
guarantee the flow of income for their Liege Lord. The
Stewardship test for the Collect Taxes action is Challenging (9) ,
additional degrees of may grant up to 2 additional Wealth (for a
total of 3). Additionally, the House can exchange up to 2 Law for
Wealth on a 1:1 basis.
Large Cities typically host powerful economies, and the ruler
of such domains can count on them to bolster their coffers with
some regularity. Whenever a House performs Collect Taxes, the
Stewardship test is Routine (6), and up to 3 additional degrees of
success may be converted to Wealth (for a total of 4). The House
can easily squeeze more out of the merchants and burghers,
exchanging up to 2 Law for Wealth at a 1:2 ratio, and up to 2
additional Law for Wealth at a 1:1 ratio. While this can quickly
produce a vast sum of coin, some among the populace are sure to
be displeased by the ruthless exchequer and his greedy master.
HOUSE ACTION: COLLECT TAXES
COMMUNITY DIFFICULTY DOS LAW: WEALTH
Hamlet - - 1:1 for 1
Small Town 15 1 1:1 for 1
Large Town 12 2 1:1 for 1
Small City 9 3 1:1 for 2
Large City 6 4 1:2 for 2, 1:1 for 2
NEW HOUSE ACTION: CONSCRIPTION
In times of war, communities can also rouse their inhabitants
to defend their town or join their lord on the field of battle. While
these Peasant Levies are not very effective combatants, they can
5 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION
greatly reduce losses to a Lord’s professional troops and increase
allied units' effectiveness on the battlefield. The rules and
statistics for units of Peasant Levies are given in Chapter 5:
Houses & Lands of the Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook.
A House with a Small Town or larger community may use a
House Action to conscript Green Peasant Levies at an exchange
of 1 Law per levy. No population cost need be paid for this unit
so long as it is returned to the Community at the end of the
month that the House Action was used. Levies destroyed as the
result of a battle should immediately reduce the House’s
Population resource by 2 in keeping with the normal Population
cost of Peasant Levies. The Conscription House Action cannot
reduce a House’s Law resource below its invested Population- if
a Lord lacks the resources to control their population, they can’t
compel their service in this way.
Units in Communities
As per Chapter 10: Warfare of the Sword Chronicle Core
Rulebook, Communities (except Hamlets) provide a Defense
bonus to units that occupy them. Generally, a Community can
support as many units as it offers as a Cover bonus to defense.
Thus, a Large Town can support 2 Units, while a Large City can
provide Cover to 5.
Corruption and Rebellion
As a House’s control over its populace decreases, problems
arise. Most realms have individuals willing to ignore their liege’s
laws or decrees, but it becomes rampant when a House’s Law
resource ceases to cover the House’s Population investments. So
long as Law remains below whatever Population has been
invested into Communities, the Stewardship tests made to
Collect Taxes are increased in difficulty by one step. This penalty
further increases by an additional step (i.e., increased by 3) for
every 5 points of difference between the House’s Law and
Population (as with Degrees of Success). While there is an
interesting opportunity for the characters to conduct an
investigation to locate the missing coin, it presents a real problem
if dissension grows in the territory and the populace slips into
Rebellion.
When Law reaches half the total invested Population, there is
a risk that Communities will revolt. Each time the House rolls
House Fortunes, the Steward must also make a Stewardship test
for each Community in the House’s territory. The difficulty is the
same as if taxes were being collected, but no Wealth is generated.
Rather, success indicates that the town remains loyal to the
House, but a failure indicates that the Population rises up to resist
the rule of the House.
Communities that become rebellious raise a Peasant Levy for
every 10 Population invested into the Community as per the
Conscription action. For each degree of failure beyond the first
on the Stewardship test, an additional Levy is raised from
outlying communities or outlaws. At the Narrator’s discretion,
the Community may use any unrecovered wealth lost to
Corruption to purchase Mercenaries as well (Adding 2 Wealth to
the cost for the Power requirement). Typically, such armies are
led by a Status 3 or higher Secondary NC, but the narrative may
justify a Primary NC if the story has developed in that direction.
It is unlikely that a House will have much trouble putting down
a Rebellion if it happens in isolation, but quite a bit of damage
can be done to a House’s Reputation from the resulting war.
More troubling, however, is the likelihood that the House’s
enemies may take advantage of the situation to support the rebels
or strike at the House directly.
LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 6

immediately begins to contribute its negative effects to the
narrative.
Complications are a way for players to voluntarily accept some
narrative friction so that they may gain access to more resources
during House Creation. While Complications can be acquired
after play begins, they only seldomly contribute to House
resources when obtained that way – rather, it is typically the result
of some hostile project or magical working (or even a dramatically
failed friendly task). They are mechanical manifestations of
narrative devices that players can take on to help shape the story
that their group will tell, or to impose a tangible cost on the
House should things not go in their favor. Complications should
not be a way for players to usurp the Narrator’s role, but merely
allow them to provide the Narrator with a source of conflict of
their choosing.
Most Complications exacerbate negative outcomes from
House Fortunes rolls. Some also apply special effects to
characters, units, or holdings in their vicinity. Others simply
apply a penalty to House Fortunes. In this final case, the penalty
is rolled separately and applied to the result of the House
Fortunes test after the House Fortunes test is made and is not a
reduction in dice applied to the die pool of whoever makes the
Stewardship test.
When a Complication is selected, it is noted on the House
Sheet as a Feature of the Terrain to which it is attached. If the
Complication is added during House Creation, it awards the
House resources as noted in the Complication description. If it
occurs after House Creation, it awards no additional resources but
BANDIT CAMP
REQUIREMENT: None
BONUS RESOURCES: 3 Population, 3 Wealth
The commonfolk are sometimes difficult to control, and many flee
into the wild places of a territory to avoid its master. Occasionally,
these outlaws find themselves beholden to a new leader who organizes
them to make raids on the House’s holdings.
Complication: Losses to Power or Wealth due to House Fortunes
are increased by 1, and the difficulty of the Collect Taxes action is
increased by one step.
BLACK MARKET
REQUIREMENT: Large Town or larger Community
BONUS RESOURCES: 2 Influence, 2 Wealth
The House’s territory plays host to several disreputable merchants
that are willing to subvert their liege’s decrees to make easy coin.
Complication: Whenever the House tests House Fortunes, the
illegal markets amplify any loss of Law by 1 and reduce gains to
Wealth by 1.
Special: Any character in the territory attempting to locate illicit
goods or services has the difficulty of the Streetwise test to complete
such tasks reduced by one step.
7 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION

BOG
REQUIREMENT: Wetlands
BONUS RESOURCES: 1 / 3 / 5 Population, 2 Land
Bogs are Wetlands marked by decaying biological matter – the
perfect site for diseases to fester and the insects that carry them to
thrive. Unwary travelers who venture into a strange bog
unprepared are likely to not find their way out again, and even
if they do, they can carry ailments that quickly spread to others.
What’s more, these places are often a refuge for trolls, hags, and
other creatures shunned by civilized folk. Such creatures are as
likely to hunt those that enter the bog as they are to strike out
against those who simply live in its proximity.
Complication: This complication may be selected in Tiers:
Tier 1: Population losses due to House Fortunes are increased by 1.
Tier 2: Population losses due to House Fortunes are increased by 1d3,
and gains are reduced by 1.
Tier 3: Population losses due to House Fortunes are increased by 1d6,
and gains are reduced by 2.
CAVES
REQUIREMENT: Hills or Mountains
BONUS RESOURCES: 3 Defense (Hills)
or 5 Defense (Mountains)
A system of caves can be a place for suspenseful exploration and
exciting outings, but these natural wonders can play host to a wealth
of mortal dangers as well. Cave Systems provide excellent refuge for
groups of bandits, tribes of goblins, or worse. In fact, their mere
presence in a region seems to attract such things.
Complication: Losses to Law and Power due to House Fortunes are
increased by 1.
Special: Whenever a House Fortunes roll results in a Curse, Decline,
or Disaster, roll 1d6 – On a 1, an enemy force takes up residence in
the mountains (be it scouts from an invading kingdom or denizens of
the dark below). How powerful that enemy is and what the enemy
does after taking up residence (raiding, banding together with other
troublemakers, hiding, etc.) is up to the Narrator.
Caves attached to Hills can house as many units as a Hall according
to Fortifications in Chapter 10: Warfare of the Sword Chronicle
Core Rulebook. Caves attached to Mountains are considered as Small
Castle for this purpose. While these units are obviously well protected
in this environment, attacking with siege or marksmanship weapons
directly from the cave system itself is unlikely to be possible (unlike
with a typical Fortification). Moreover, unless properly prepared with
provisions, they are poor places from which to hold out a siege.
CONTESTED BORDER
REQUIREMENT: Barren Terrain
BONUS RESOURCES: 5 Power
A neighboring noble or bandit-king has claimed a stretch of land
that is owned by the Home House, backing their claim with the clout
of some other power in the area. The reassertion of the Home House’s
sovereignty is a matter that must be handled both politically as well
as militarily, lest the offender’s chosen sovereign take offense and the
Home House finds themselves facing a greater foe.
Complication: Influence gains due to House Fortunes are decreased
by 1. Land losses are increased by 1.
Special: When a House takes this Complication, the Narrator should
generate a Vassal House according to the rules in the Sword
Chronicle Core Rulebook. This House occupies the Barren Terrain
required for this complication (as well as additional Domains not
owned by the House according to their Land resource).
CULT
REQUIREMENT: Influence 30-
BONUS RESOURCES: 3 Law, 1 Wealth
A particularly fanatical congregation is active in the House’s
territory, and their teachings state that the House is unfit to rule.
They do not hold much sway over the people, but they are a vocal
minority that works hard to extend its teachings to other realms,
hurting the House’s reputation.
Complication: Influence gains due to House Fortunes are reduced by
1, and Influence losses due to House Fortunes are increased by 1.
FAERIE GROVE
REQUIREMENT: Any Woods
BONUS RESOURCES: 3 Land
Faerie groves are inhabited by denizens of the sylvan realms –
satyrs, dryads, brownies, and other such creatures. In such places, the
barriers between this dimension and that one grows thin, and
creatures sometimes pass through by either accident or machination.
The strange beings of the sylvan realms do not often intentionally
harm those that cross their paths, but their alien ways often lead to
conflict between unfamiliar species.
Complication: Due to the nature of the threats that could inhabit a
Faerie Grove, any Law or Population resources loss due to House
Fortunes increase by 1. Additionally, House Fortunes tests made in
territories that host a Faerie Grove take add 1d6-4 to their result.
HAG’S COVEN
REQUIREMENT: Law 30-
BONUS RESOURCES: 5 Power
A small, organized group of hostile spellcasters inhabits the land-
it could be Hags, Warlocks, or other malevolent magic-users that
have secretly taken up residence within the House’s territory. This
group will work against the House with their magics, likely hoping to
eventually topple them through usurpation or infiltration.
Complication: The House receives a -1D6 penalty to House
Fortunes tests so long as this Complication remains active. This is in
addition to the other trouble that such groups could cause – the
Narrator is encouraged to look closely at the art of Malediction in the
Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook, Chapter 6: Sorcery.
HAUNTED
REQUIREMENT: None
BONUS RESOURCES: 5 Land (6 with Ruin)
Haunted Terrain are places that warp the senses and muddle the
mind, visiting strange horrors on those unfortunate enough to find
themselves lost or trapped within their confines.
Complication: Haunted Terrain increases losses of Law and Wealth
due to House Fortunes by 1. Additionally, House Fortunes tests are
reduced by 2.
Special: When this complication is taken, select one of your
Domains. Units within a Haunted Domain increase their Discipline
LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 8
by 3, making them more difficult to control in combat. When a
Haunted Terrain contains another feature (such as a Ruin, Cave, or
Village), the effect is even more pronounced – Units directly
connected to the feature (such as when occupying a Ruin during

ROAMING MONSTERS
REQUIREMENT: None
BONUS RESOURCES: 3 Law, 3 Power
The House’s territory is full of bloodthirsty creatures that regularly
attack and otherwise torment the locals. These are not mere brownies
or wolves- no, something darker plagues this land, and there are too
many of them to easily route out with force alone. The result is a
populace that is both well-armed and vigilant. However, much of the
resources that would be used for other purposes are instead consumed
in dealing with this constant threat.
Complication: Power gains due to House Fortunes are decreased by
1. Population losses due to House Fortunes, the losses are increased
by 1.

UNSTABLE GEOLOGY
REQUIREMENT: None
BONUS RESOURCES: 5 Land
Unstable Geology marks a Domain as being uniquely prone to
certain natural disasters. Mountains may experience small tremors or
be riddled with lava vents, plains may be pocked by geysers, wetlands
may produce foul gasses, or whatever else is appropriate to the
narrative’s setting. While the instability is dormant (or at least
markedly less pronounced) most of the time, it may prove to be an
interesting sight to take in. Once disaster strikes, however, it is
terrible to behold.
Complication: Defense gains from House Fortunes are reduced by
1. Losses to Land due to House Fortunes are doubled.

WIZARD’S TOWER
REQUIREMENT: Barren Terrain
BONUS RESOURCES: 2 Influence, 2 Wealth
A powerful mage has taken up residence on some unattended or
under-developed tract of land that the House has left largely
neglected, magically constructing a Tower, and occupying it with a
Veteran Garrison of magical soldiers. The mage pays the Home
House little heed, but are not necessarily hostile, desiring mostly to
be left alone to pursue their studies. Unfortunately, their works and
rituals are sometimes problematic for the House.
Complication: The Wizard’s Tower applies 6-2d6 to House
Fortunes tests. Additionally, Population losses due to House
Fortunes are increased by 1.

9 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION

 similarly defended, but it takes 1d6+12 months to complete their
fortifications.
Small Cities and Large Cities are ringed by expansive battlements
complete with fortified gatehouses. Often such walls are even wide
enough to be fitted with siege weapons. Such fortifications cost 5
BORDER GUARDS Defense and 2 Power, and a Small City can be so fortified in 3d6+12
REQUIREMENT: Scouts Months, while a Large City requires 4d6+12 Months.

INVESTMENT: 4 Wealth, 1 Power TIME: 2d6 Months

Specially trained units of scouts patrol the territory, watching for CITY WALLS
hostile armies and giving the House’s armies ample time to prepare COMMUNITY COST TIME
in the case of an invasion.
Hamlet 1 Defense, 1 Power 1d6+1 Months
Benefit: Whenever the Home House is acting as the defender in
Small Town 3 Defense, 1 Power 1d6+6 Months
Warfare while within their own borders, their Scouts may act as
engineers for the purpose of building Temporary Fortifications before Large Town 3 Defense, 1 Power 1d6+12 Months
a battle. See Temporary Fortifications in Chapter 10: Warfare of the Small City 5 Defense, 2 Power 3d6+12 Months
Sword Chronicle Core Rulebook for more details. Large City 5 Defense, 2 Power 4d6+12 Months

CITY WALLS
REQUIREMENT: Any Community
INVESTMENT: Varies TIME: Varies
Whether a simple stockade or a grand wall, enhancing a
Community with a City Wall can greatly improve the chances of units
garrisoned within to withstand assault.
For Hamlets , City Walls cost 1 Defense and 1 Power, and take
1d6+1 Months to build. Most such defenses amount to little more
than a simple wooden stockade or palisade.
A Small Town ’s City Walls cost 3 Defense and 1 Power, taking
1d6+6 Months to build. Such fortifications are typically wooden walls
between stone towers that allow defenders to rain missiles down on
assailants. Reinforced gates are common as well, but gatehouses are
hardly ever seen in a Community of this size. Large Towns are
Benefit: A community enhanced with this investment increases the
Defense of all units garrisoned within by 2. Note that this bonus only
applies against attackers outside the walls – not enemy units that have
breached the walls and are fighting street-to-street.
CITY GUARD
REQUIREMENT: Small City or Larger Community
INVESTMENT: 8 Wealth, 2 Power TIME: 2d6 +3 Months
All communities of the appropriate size within the House’s
territory are considered to have organized their own city guards to
ensure that the city’s operations run smoothly per the wishes of their
liege lord. These guardsmen are not only capable in the defense of the
city, but they also serve as protectors on its streets.

LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 10

Benefit: Law gains due to House Fortunes are increased by 1.
TOWN WATCH
Special: Newly Conscripted Peasant Levies receive upgrades to their
Marksmanship damage and Fighting damage free of cost. City Guard REQUIREMENT: Small Town or Larger Community
Narrator Characters in the affected Communities should receive INVESTMENT: 4 Wealth, 1 Power TIME: 1d6+3 Months
suitable upgrades to their equipment as well.
Towns and larger Communities in the House’s territory have
organized their citizens into Watches that patrol their streets and
MILITIA TRAINING GROUNDS protect the Community in times of trouble.
REQUIREMENT: Small Town or Larger Community Benefit: Law losses due to House Fortunes are decreased by 2.
Special: Newly Conscripted Peasant Levies receive the Armor
INVESTMENT: 4 Wealth, 1 Power TIME: 2d6 Months
upgrade free of cost. Appropriate Narrator Characters in the affected
A large, empty field or parade ground has been converted into Communities should receive suitable upgrades as well- typically in the
training grounds for the local militia. The commonfolk train here form of higher quality armor.
infrequently, but it occurs frequently enough to make a difference in
the case that they are called upon to defend their Community.
Benefit: Power gains due to House Fortunes are increased by 1.
Special: Peasant Levies acquired via the Conscription House Action
have their training level increased by one step.

OFFICE OF THE EXCHEQUER

REQUIREMENT: Steward
INVESTMENT: 15 Wealth TIME: 3d6 Months
The House has formed an office whose primary purpose is the
collection of taxes and the management of its wealth. Once properly
staffed, this office greatly enhances the ability of the House to draw
on the wealth of its Communities.
Benefit: Wealth gains due to House Fortunes are increased by 1.
Special: When taking the Collect Taxes House Action, the House’s
Steward gains +1D to their Status test. If the House has Road
Wardens, they gain an additional +1B as well.

PEAT FARMERS
REQUIREMENT: Bog
INVESTMENT: 5 Wealth TIME: 1d6+6 Months
A cottage industry has emerged to take advantage of the presence
of a Bog in the domain. Peat Farmers will take their carts into the
wetlands and return with heaping loads of long-burning logs that are
useful for warmth and a variety of other purposes.
Benefit: Population loss due to House Fortunes is reduced by 1.

STEWARD (ALTERNATE)
REQUIREMENT: Inf 30+
INVESTMENT: 10 Wealth TIME: 2d6 Months
The House obtains the service of a talented Steward to aid them in
the management of their holdings, handle the day-to-day accounting,
and advise the House’s Head on matters of import.
Benefit: Wealth Losses due to House Fortunes are decreased by 1.
Special: The House gains a loyal Narrator Character to act as Steward
as per the rules for Secondary Characters in the Sword Chronicle
Core Rulebook, Chapter 11: The Narrator . The character’s most
important ability is likely Status or Knowledge, but ultimately this is
up to the Players and Narrator to define.
At the players’ option, the Steward may conduct House Fortunes rolls
for the Home House. They may also serve as a source of information
for the House.

11 | LAND, LAW, & POPULATION

 DRAWBACKS

The Benefits and Drawbacks below are intended to take
advantage of the new rules presented in this work. Be sure to
check with your Narrator before taking these qualities to ensure
that the rules they intend to take advantage of are in use for your
Chronicle.
BENEFITS
DESERTER
You have absconded from your official duties in a levy, and
your liege has branded you an outlaw. A bounty equal to your
Status in gold pieces has been placed upon your head- no small
sum, and many may try to collect. Even if they do not, you take
-1D to Status tests if your background is known.

CLERGY SOCIAL
Requires Will 3 (Dedication 2B), Sponsor
You are an official member of an organized religion, likely
holding some office or pursuing some assignment on behalf of
your head of faith. You receive a bonus to Status tests equal to
your Sponsor’s Status rank, which should be created as a
Primary or Secondary character, per the Narrator’s discretion
(if the character doesn’t warrant such attention, their Status is
considered a 4). When attached to Crusader units that share
your faith, you may issue orders as though they were Personal
Guard, but only to Crusader units that share your faith.
Additionally, your Dedication dice are considered Test dice
so long as you adhere to the tenets of your faith.

COUNCILMAN SOCIAL
Requires Persuasion (Bargain 1B)
You hold a seat on the Burgher Council for the settlement
in which you live or hail from and possess extensive experience
in negotiation and compromise. You may substitute your
Bargain rank for Breeding during Intrigues. When you use the
Bargain technique, you may keep your Bargain or Bluff
specialty dice as test dice.
Furthermore, when you test Cunning for Trade, you may
use your Bargain specialty on the attempt.

PEASANT HERO SOCIAL

Requires 3 Status or less, Reputation 1B
Your exploits are legendary among the common people, who
consider you a great hero and can recognize you with ease. You
add your Reputation rank to Influence against Intrigue
opponents of your Status or lower.
Additionally, when you attach to a Peasant Levy during
Warfare, you may issue Orders to that unit (and only that unit)
as if they were a Personal Guard.

MILITIA SERGEANT SOCIAL

Requires Status 3 or less, Warfare 3 (Tactics 1B)
You are well-versed in training with the commonfolk on the
practice of defending their homes. When acting as a sub-
commander during Warfare, you may issue multiple orders to
Peasant Levies as if you were a Commander – provided you
only issue commands to Peasant Levies that Warfare turn.

LAND, LAW, & POPULATION | 12