Villages feel more alive. Child NPCs now appear in villages across every biome, rendered at a smaller scale and with their own sprite sets. They’re not decoration — they have behavior.
Children roam naturally through the village instead of standing in place. They wander between buildings, explore the village edge, and gravitate toward animals. If a cow or sheep is nearby, a child will walk over and interact with it — petting, following, or just standing close. It’s a small touch that makes villages feel lived-in rather than populated.
Bedtime matters. When night falls, children head indoors and sleep. You won’t find them wandering the streets during monster raids or lurking near the village edge at 2 AM. Their schedules are distinct from adult NPCs.
Orphan adoption is now possible. Some villages have orphaned children — kids without a parent NPC in the village. You can talk to them, build a relationship through conversation, and eventually adopt them. Adoption is tracked through conversation progress, not a single dialogue choice. If an orphan declines, the rejection is gentle — no reputation loss, warm tone, and the door stays open for future attempts.
Dialogue is age-appropriate. All child NPC conversations run on a dedicated lightweight model tuned for the context. Children talk like children — curious, direct, sometimes silly. They won’t discuss village politics or offer crafting tips.
See NPC roles for where children fit in the village hierarchy.