I created my own homebrew town and our group will be celebrating winter holidays there. The leaders of the town are fairly generous, and it is tradition that every household recieves a small gift from the leaders of the town. This year there was a delay in the set up for the celebrations and I need ideas for gifts that are small, and easily aquirable for the party to get for a town. I was thinking food stuffs but I want to use that as a last resort, however I cannot come up with any other ideas of small useful items that a generic npc household would appreciate. Hit me with your ideas, the party has 1 to 2 days to aquire or put together the gifts.
Off the top of my head: spices—even the more common ones today lIke salt and pepper were rare, expensive luxuries up until quite recently. That might be too food-like for your criteria, though. For other, better ideas, you could google or ask ChatGPT what household sundries were especially valued in Victorian or medieval times. I’m sure there’s all kinds of mostly forgotten tools and useful things that were highly prized in the past but are obsolete in our modern age.
Depends on the level of the group but you can always have them perform services
A wizard can cast continual flame on a bunch of small gems and hand them out as ornaments or lights
Any class that has access to the Mending cantrip can setup shop and repair items for the towns people for free you can even get creative with this and have them "mend" knives for the towns people that never go dull
Anyone that can heal can make a bunch of l1 healing word scrolls or potions
Martial classes can go kill a few large deer and bring them in for use at the feast and pelts for the towns folks
Easy fun little things that you can rp out as I am assuming that is the intent.
Simple Charm or Good Luck Tokens: The party could craft small, symbolic charms made from materials like wood, twine, or carved stone, each one imbued with a small blessing or warding symbol. They could be shaped like animals, stars, or other local symbols that represent good fortune.
Miniature Candles with Herbal Scents: If your town has access to beeswax, the party could make small candles with herbal scents. Even a single candle for each household can be a cherished gift, especially during the dark winter months. They might add local dried herbs for fragrance or symbolism (like lavender for peace or sage for protection).
Carved Wooden Trinkets: If there’s time and access to wood, the party could make small, carved trinkets like tiny animals, symbols, or even a small "winter spirit" figure. These could be pocket-sized tokens of warmth or guardianship, easily personalized and appreciated by each household.
Herbal Healing Sacks: The party could gather herbs like mint, lavender, or rosemary, pack them in small cloth pouches, and give them as "healing sacks" to be hung in the home. These might be symbolic gifts, representing good health and healing for the new year.
Miniature Bottles of Seasonal Tinctures or Remedies: If there’s an herbalist or healer in town, the party could make a simple cold remedy or comforting tea blend, bottled in tiny vials. This would be both practical and thoughtful, especially during winter.
Decorative Winter Wreaths or Garland Sprigs: If there's access to evergreens, holly, or other winter foliage, the party could create small wreaths or sprigs to be hung over doorways or on mantels, representing warmth and hope for the colder season.
Hand-Painted Stones with Messages of Good Fortune: Simple stones with painted messages or symbols of good fortune could be done quickly, especially if each one is adorned with a word of blessing or goodwill. These could be spread around a communal area or left on each doorstep.
Small Leather Pouches for Everyday Use: If the town has a tanner or leatherworker, the party could make small leather pouches that households can use for carrying coin, herbs, or keepsakes. Even a simple, hand-stitched pouch could be a useful and meaningful gift.
Handwritten Winter Tales or Poems: The party could create a short, festive tale or seasonal poem, written or illustrated on a piece of parchment and rolled up as a scroll for each household. A small story could inspire warmth and provide entertainment for all ages.
Tiny Potpourri Sacks: Using fragrant items like dried citrus peels, cinnamon, cloves, and small fabric scraps, the party could assemble potpourri sacks that could be kept in drawers or hung to keep rooms smelling festive and fresh.
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I created my own homebrew town and our group will be celebrating winter holidays there. The leaders of the town are fairly generous, and it is tradition that every household recieves a small gift from the leaders of the town. This year there was a delay in the set up for the celebrations and I need ideas for gifts that are small, and easily aquirable for the party to get for a town. I was thinking food stuffs but I want to use that as a last resort, however I cannot come up with any other ideas of small useful items that a generic npc household would appreciate. Hit me with your ideas, the party has 1 to 2 days to aquire or put together the gifts.
Off the top of my head: spices—even the more common ones today lIke salt and pepper were rare, expensive luxuries up until quite recently. That might be too food-like for your criteria, though. For other, better ideas, you could google or ask ChatGPT what household sundries were especially valued in Victorian or medieval times. I’m sure there’s all kinds of mostly forgotten tools and useful things that were highly prized in the past but are obsolete in our modern age.
Depends on the level of the group but you can always have them perform services
A wizard can cast continual flame on a bunch of small gems and hand them out as ornaments or lights
Any class that has access to the Mending cantrip can setup shop and repair items for the towns people for free you can even get creative with this and have them "mend" knives for the towns people that never go dull
Anyone that can heal can make a bunch of l1 healing word scrolls or potions
Martial classes can go kill a few large deer and bring them in for use at the feast and pelts for the towns folks
Easy fun little things that you can rp out as I am assuming that is the intent.
These have been super helpful ideas! Thank you!
Simple Charm or Good Luck Tokens: The party could craft small, symbolic charms made from materials like wood, twine, or carved stone, each one imbued with a small blessing or warding symbol. They could be shaped like animals, stars, or other local symbols that represent good fortune.
Miniature Candles with Herbal Scents: If your town has access to beeswax, the party could make small candles with herbal scents. Even a single candle for each household can be a cherished gift, especially during the dark winter months. They might add local dried herbs for fragrance or symbolism (like lavender for peace or sage for protection).
Carved Wooden Trinkets: If there’s time and access to wood, the party could make small, carved trinkets like tiny animals, symbols, or even a small "winter spirit" figure. These could be pocket-sized tokens of warmth or guardianship, easily personalized and appreciated by each household.
Herbal Healing Sacks: The party could gather herbs like mint, lavender, or rosemary, pack them in small cloth pouches, and give them as "healing sacks" to be hung in the home. These might be symbolic gifts, representing good health and healing for the new year.
Miniature Bottles of Seasonal Tinctures or Remedies: If there’s an herbalist or healer in town, the party could make a simple cold remedy or comforting tea blend, bottled in tiny vials. This would be both practical and thoughtful, especially during winter.
Decorative Winter Wreaths or Garland Sprigs: If there's access to evergreens, holly, or other winter foliage, the party could create small wreaths or sprigs to be hung over doorways or on mantels, representing warmth and hope for the colder season.
Hand-Painted Stones with Messages of Good Fortune: Simple stones with painted messages or symbols of good fortune could be done quickly, especially if each one is adorned with a word of blessing or goodwill. These could be spread around a communal area or left on each doorstep.
Small Leather Pouches for Everyday Use: If the town has a tanner or leatherworker, the party could make small leather pouches that households can use for carrying coin, herbs, or keepsakes. Even a simple, hand-stitched pouch could be a useful and meaningful gift.
Handwritten Winter Tales or Poems: The party could create a short, festive tale or seasonal poem, written or illustrated on a piece of parchment and rolled up as a scroll for each household. A small story could inspire warmth and provide entertainment for all ages.
Tiny Potpourri Sacks: Using fragrant items like dried citrus peels, cinnamon, cloves, and small fabric scraps, the party could assemble potpourri sacks that could be kept in drawers or hung to keep rooms smelling festive and fresh.