The Newest Adventure Starter

People these days think they're too good for sitting in an inn and then an adventure starts. They're wrong insofar as they're not good enough, but either way, we need something that works for everything. The answer is the census takers who get in a mess. Whether somebody's inflating regiment headcounts to skim from the pay, people have been disappearing unreported, or there are more aliens congregating that allowed by the treaty, there's trouble everywhere, every time, for characters of every legal/moral/ethical bent. Don't go thinking the adventure has to do with the census, either. That can just be an excuse to go somewhere and hear about the crashed meteorite.

An Unconventional Form of Direct Subsidy

When every other method failed, the lonely subject of Huthany had recourse to the professional matchmaker. One suffering heart had a recommendation from no less a personage than Commodore Frangest. "Uncle Teddy's the one you want to see. New in the field, but has resources beyond most."
This person was not to stubborn to accept advice and therefore took himself to Uncle Teddy's store; the fact that such existed already impressed. A secretary, another surprise, took his name and entered the depths soon to be replaced by Uncle Teddy himself holding a sheaf of papers, a sight which astonished for several reasons.
"I see you completed militia service and are adequately tall. Excellent. I'll put you with someone nice and tall forthwith."
"May I ask a question?"
"Certainly."
"Aren't you, I hope this doesn't sound absurd, the king?"
"We are Theodoric IV, correct. Now I expect a pregnancy reported within eight months or else there will be additional fee for wasting our time."
"Your Majesty, why, I beg upon your mercy leave to ask a second question, why are you working as a matchmaker?"
"You noticed everyone's height in the militia of course. Nothing is more strategically important. Two inches taller at the minimum, three inches at the average, and no army on the continent will match ours," the king explained. "We are not unreasonable however. No penalty fee applies should your children fail to measure up. If, on the contrary, you produce acceptable army candidates, you will receive a bounty per head. It's amazing we can stay in business, but you'd be a fool not to take advantage."
"I do see that, Your Majesty."
Finis

Supply Problems

Sphinxes probably didn't reproduce but rather emerged from the footsteps of hero-kings, which is why we don't see any today. Once there are planet kings, the situation will likely reverse.

Alternative Explanation

Elves are usually described as long-lived, but what if they just all look the same so nobody can tell? And they have a small pool of names. You could get away with a bunch before regular censuses.

The City Majestic in Flight

The astrologers issued their report. In consequence, the gates closed, the citizens took their positions in reinforced halls, and the city rose as thaumaturgical engineers oversaw the abstruse processes which enabled the migration.
The people of Invarn thrived to such a degree that they no longer accepted seasons as something merely to be endured bur rather as a problem which must admit a solution provided they bent themselves to finding it. They had not misjudged their capacity. The city floated with practiced ease and had already accomplished three landings. What could prevent a fourth?
The dastards of Rellen-Bollat! Their agents had stolen the knowledge, nor did the king blush to imitate his rival in every particular. The two cities spotted each other and raced to the ideal position, above which they bumped against each other over and over till both were forced to land in order to effect repairs. The nomads of Tutsuna arrived in the meantime to claim the spot, though the Kauneggi tribe, displaced from its homeland, arrived to contest that pretension.
Seeing that, Invarn rose again, but nowhere was there unclaimed land. The population had grown too great. The city's sages started to plan.
Finis

Profound Christmas Question

Could the reason for falling fertility around the world be Santa? He's afraid he can't keep up. If so, has he been sabotaging efforts to leave our little world? The second doesn't necessarily follow from the first, of course. He may intend a franchise once space colonization is accomplished.

History Corner

Historically, many people had children. However, they gave them bad names, by and large, not to mention the children generally did not merit any lines. They were more like extras.

Q&A Corner

Q. How many children does the average adult have?
A. None.
Q. Population growth is rough these days. What about in vaguely medieval times?
A. Still none, unless you want to come up with names and descriptions for all of them.

Addendum

The percentage of people in the population capable of fighting should be 100, and every one should be issued a magic weapon at birth.

Fantasy Demographics

To get a good idea of how many people might live in your fantasy kingdom, simply find an estimate of the population of France in A.D. 1200 and multiply it by one thousand at least, because nobody cares what happens in tiny little underpopulated A.D. 1200 France. Go read the Mahabharata or something. Yeesh.

History Corner

Did you know that most wars in history were fought for control over fewer people than live in several major cities today?