Creating Encounters
Encounters add depth and excitement to your storyline. They come in two basic types -- benign encounters or bane encounters. Benign encounters will consist of people who aren't out to hurt, kill, or take advantage of the players, such as friendly shopkeepers, peers, acquaintances, or friends. Bane encounters consist of those who want something from the player and don't intend to pay, such as monsters, thieves, cheats, or manipulators.
Remember, one type can turn into the other based on the actions of the character -- a monster might be befriended with food or a magical spell, a thief made into a co-conspirator, or an old friend angered. It is the play and shifting of relationships -- just like in the real world -- that lends reality to the people and creatures your players will encounter.
Also remember that all people and all creatures care about their own existence -- there is no such thing as mindless creatures that will throw themselves onto the blades of your players just for the sake of your players' bloodlust. Everyone, in general, has a sense of self-preservation, and will tend to balance carefully the riskiness of their actions. That is not to say that there are not insanities or diseases that might make this different . . .
Benign Encounters -- These don't have to be boring. They can lead to great conversation, romance, or long-lasting friendship. Either create the basic appearance of each such encounter in your head, or role it up using the Person Generator Chart. Then, if you think the players are going to be interested in the person, flesh out their personality on your own, or role up some of their interests on the Interests and Fondnesses Chart.
Hint: Because it can be hard to make up an encounter only to have the person ignored by your players, you can create some basic sketches (a pretty young girl with long brown braids and a peasant's skirt, for instance), down one side of a piece of paper, a listing of names down the middle, and a random listing of interests down the far side. When a player first sees someone, use one of your descriptions to tell them who they see -- then cross it off. If names are exchanged, you can quickly grab a girl's name off your list (say, Isabelle), and cross that off. If the player keeps developing interest in Isabelle, you can look over and take the first three or four interests off your interest list, cross them off, and apply them to Isabelle -- now she has more personality to work with!
Bane Encounters -- There are plenty of people and creatures that will want to take advantage of your players. Adding in these sorts of encounters adds action and intrigue. Remember that those who are trying to take advantage of your players will weigh the risk -- only a brave thief will try to rob a sharp-witted huntswoman or a potent-looking mage. And remember that baneful encounters can be much more than monsters -- include everything from people trying to sell fake, glass gemstones to demons intent on luring the victim to his or her death.
Remember, too, that even monsters have minds and personalities -- they can, at times, be bargained with or intimidated. One-sided encounters quickly grow dull.