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How to play a peasant
 
  • Peasants don’t speak in West Country Accents unless they are in fact from the West Country

 

  • Peasants have other topics of conversation other than the turnip harvest. They’re generally just like normal people, and have an interest in religion, politics and how the war (take your pick) is progressing

 

  • Law and order is for the most part at the judgement of the local nobility, or a magistrate. There is no trial by jury, and punishments are generally quick and severe

 

  • Peasants seriously do consider murder to be a cardinal sin. If they murder someone then they will go to Hell

 

  • Peasants do believe Hell to be a very real place. Very real, where they will suffer for an eternity in a lake of fire whilst being tortured by Satan and his demons

 

  • Peasants believe in the Christian God, and will follow the teachings of the Bible. Whilst some may have other beliefs as well, none would ever publicly profess them. Whilst the Inquisition is not prevalent in Britain, blasphemy and heresy are still punishable. Proclaiming a belief in any God other than the Christian one is likely to lead to derision at best or prison sentences or death at worst

 

  • Priests and other members of the clergy are considered to be the first port of call in regards to spiritual or moral advice.

 

  • Peasants believe that illnesses and ailments are primarily the work of the devil, witchcraft or a punishment from God

 

  • Mental illnesses are the work of the devil. Those who are mentally ill are possessed by demons

 

  • Peasants for the most part can’t read or write much. Some more educated characters can.

 

  • Peasants have basic numeracy skills. Whilst they might struggle to calculate the national GWP, they know what coins are and how much they’re worth

 

  • A sword is a prized possession. A full suit of armour is worth more than most peasants would earn in a lifetime

 

  • Peasants are generally not well travelled. Most people are born, grow up and die in the same village. They will generally not have travelled further than outside of England unless they were part of the Kings armies, or a missionary

 

  • No Peasant would ever claim to be a pirate, or ninja or necromancer

 

  • The last Crusade was in 1271 and the Templars were disbanded in 1312. Dark Times is set in 1359. Peasants won’t have been crusaders or members of the Templars

 

  • Drunkenness can result in imprisonment. As a general rule they consider drunkenness to be un-Godly behaviour and to be discouraged

 

  • Whilst food is scarce, most have enough to survive on. They’re not used to elaborate feasts however. A simple peasant meal would consist of breads, root vegetables, milk and cheese and a watered down beer