ratzofftoya
Explorer
Hi folks!
My group is about to start up a campaign (which I'm very excited to post diaries of here!). Based on the players' backstories below, I'd love for any of you luminaries to help me think of interesting tie-ins, suggested embellishments/changes, plot points, and most of all, a sort of EPIC PERSONAL JOURNEY for each to have within the context of the broader campaign! Any critical backgrounds we are missing? I really love the epic destinies concept of the Odyssey of the Dragonlords setting and would love to do something similar--individual story beats and progression woven into the main adventures
Ekthos, Tiefling Artificer (Engineer, Technologist)
Ekthos comes from Danor and was essentially recruited as part of a cultural exchange program, one of the upstart peacekeeping initiatives following the fourth Yearasol War. He is a trained engineer and lifelong tinkerer, now employed in the breezy Bosun Strand warehouse that houses the Risur Ministry of Learning & Arcana's more...humble Bureau of Modern Contraptions and Utilities. The Bureau doesn't have nearly the clout of the technology-focused divisions of the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Resources (now focused mostly on industry), but he's perfectly happy where he is, messing with clocks and toasters. In the meantime, he's working on building a sort of clockwork buddy (simulacrum, homunculus), and messing with some powerful gems he's been finding. Tentative idea for him to take a few sorcerer levels at some point, using the gems as a power source.
In terms of a BIG STORY for technologists, I was thinking that perhaps they have some sort of role in contributing to/building, and subsequently using/scuttling/whatever some sort of superweapon or bomb?
Phelan, Human Druid (Natualist, Skyseer)
Phelan is also in the employ of the Bureau, but he is charged with a sort of evangelizing/diplomatic position, trying to get some of the more recalcitrant communities of Risur to adopt technology. Phelan himself is very concerned with making sure he is also doing the opposite--tempering the rush of new technologies with a bit of the old world religion that has served Risur well throughout the years.
Ume, Kobold Rogue (Soldier, ...Not sure on theme yet. Yerasol Veteran but also maybe Spirit Medium?)
Ume was born a mountain village formally within Ber's territory, but their family soon moved into Risur proper to serve as much-needed cheap labor for the burgeoning lumber industry. Ume saw military service as the most direct way for a kobold to gain some respect and a foothold in Risur--the military was, at least, formally egalitarian. Ume had always been into cooking as a youth and found their calling quickly within the galleys of the Risuri navy during the Fourth Yerasol War. During one reconnaissance mission, Ume's ship was nearly destroyed, but with an act of heroism (in which, upon subsequent retellings, Ume's role was greatly reduced), Ume saved several crew members, including Egberticus (see below). Since then, the two have stuck together within the military, with Egberticus rising through the ranks and pulling Ume along with him. Ume still serves as a (peacetime) military cook today.
Egberticus, Barri (think walrus-folk) Paladin (Veteran, Yerasol Veteran)
Egberticus comes from a relatively small community of Barri which serve as merchants and fishermen on the outskirts of Flint. The Clergy has always been rather successful at preaching to these marginalized communities, somewhat muting their human-centric message to broaden the appeal. Egberticus is an absolute zealot in this regard, and sees advancement of the Clergy's cause as his greatest mission. While serving as a cook on a military ship, Egberticus and Ume performed a heroic rescue that saved many lives. This not only allowed Egberticus to rise to the rank of Rear Admiral, Lower Half, in charge of all Navy Culinary Operations, but in that moment also gave him an important vision--he knew that Risur would somehow be instrumental to the second coming of Triegines.
In terms of a BIG STORY for Egberticus, I'm thinking some sort of reckoning with the teaching of the Clergy, and perhaps even the founding of a new religion or belief system that empowers the Barri and other similarly marginalized communities.
Brakkus of Natarax, Minotaur Barbarian (Noble, Military Scientist)
The Natarax clan is a minotaur tribe living within the Ber/Risur borderlands. Early in the conflicts between Risur and Ber, the tribe was essentially bribed to fight on the Risuri side by offering them noble title and, of course, money. This has earned Natarax some status within Risur (though, of course, they're still minotaurs) but scorn within Ber. Brakkus is the second son of the Natarax nobility. He was given the finest military education befitting his status, but was subsequently tossed out of the military for insubordination. He landed in a relatively cushy role with the RHC, where he is basically phoning it in, quite uninterested in investigating missing pig iron shipments and alleged currency manipulation.
Dipnip Requloc, Deva Psionicist (Put-upon Immortal, Eschatologist)
Dipnip was just minding his own business, sweeping up at home and trying to stay away from the fracas when he suddenly witnessed a bright flash of light. From then on, he has been constantly reborn whenever he dies. So far, he feels mostly inconvenienced by this quirk of nature/the divine. Having had no natural proclivities or talents before he became a deva, he has largely been unable to find exactly what to do with his immortality. Upon exposure to the teaching of Heid Eschatol, it immediately spoke to him--for a person with no end and a seemingly pointless parade of lifetimes, the idea of a proper ending was very appealing. Throughout the years, the experience of death and rebirth awakened in him some latent psionic abilities, which he promptly put to use...moving boxes around the Flint docks. He then discovered that his Eschatology studies and limitless experience also gave him excellent skills with bookkeeping and actuarial tasks, and moved to a desk job at one of the Bosun Strand warehouses. One day, after being wrapped up in an investigation of his warehouse led by Brakkus, Dipnip was recruited by the RHC, where he serves today.
My group is about to start up a campaign (which I'm very excited to post diaries of here!). Based on the players' backstories below, I'd love for any of you luminaries to help me think of interesting tie-ins, suggested embellishments/changes, plot points, and most of all, a sort of EPIC PERSONAL JOURNEY for each to have within the context of the broader campaign! Any critical backgrounds we are missing? I really love the epic destinies concept of the Odyssey of the Dragonlords setting and would love to do something similar--individual story beats and progression woven into the main adventures
Ekthos, Tiefling Artificer (Engineer, Technologist)
Ekthos comes from Danor and was essentially recruited as part of a cultural exchange program, one of the upstart peacekeeping initiatives following the fourth Yearasol War. He is a trained engineer and lifelong tinkerer, now employed in the breezy Bosun Strand warehouse that houses the Risur Ministry of Learning & Arcana's more...humble Bureau of Modern Contraptions and Utilities. The Bureau doesn't have nearly the clout of the technology-focused divisions of the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Resources (now focused mostly on industry), but he's perfectly happy where he is, messing with clocks and toasters. In the meantime, he's working on building a sort of clockwork buddy (simulacrum, homunculus), and messing with some powerful gems he's been finding. Tentative idea for him to take a few sorcerer levels at some point, using the gems as a power source.
In terms of a BIG STORY for technologists, I was thinking that perhaps they have some sort of role in contributing to/building, and subsequently using/scuttling/whatever some sort of superweapon or bomb?
Phelan, Human Druid (Natualist, Skyseer)
Phelan is also in the employ of the Bureau, but he is charged with a sort of evangelizing/diplomatic position, trying to get some of the more recalcitrant communities of Risur to adopt technology. Phelan himself is very concerned with making sure he is also doing the opposite--tempering the rush of new technologies with a bit of the old world religion that has served Risur well throughout the years.
Ume, Kobold Rogue (Soldier, ...Not sure on theme yet. Yerasol Veteran but also maybe Spirit Medium?)
Ume was born a mountain village formally within Ber's territory, but their family soon moved into Risur proper to serve as much-needed cheap labor for the burgeoning lumber industry. Ume saw military service as the most direct way for a kobold to gain some respect and a foothold in Risur--the military was, at least, formally egalitarian. Ume had always been into cooking as a youth and found their calling quickly within the galleys of the Risuri navy during the Fourth Yerasol War. During one reconnaissance mission, Ume's ship was nearly destroyed, but with an act of heroism (in which, upon subsequent retellings, Ume's role was greatly reduced), Ume saved several crew members, including Egberticus (see below). Since then, the two have stuck together within the military, with Egberticus rising through the ranks and pulling Ume along with him. Ume still serves as a (peacetime) military cook today.
Egberticus, Barri (think walrus-folk) Paladin (Veteran, Yerasol Veteran)
Egberticus comes from a relatively small community of Barri which serve as merchants and fishermen on the outskirts of Flint. The Clergy has always been rather successful at preaching to these marginalized communities, somewhat muting their human-centric message to broaden the appeal. Egberticus is an absolute zealot in this regard, and sees advancement of the Clergy's cause as his greatest mission. While serving as a cook on a military ship, Egberticus and Ume performed a heroic rescue that saved many lives. This not only allowed Egberticus to rise to the rank of Rear Admiral, Lower Half, in charge of all Navy Culinary Operations, but in that moment also gave him an important vision--he knew that Risur would somehow be instrumental to the second coming of Triegines.
In terms of a BIG STORY for Egberticus, I'm thinking some sort of reckoning with the teaching of the Clergy, and perhaps even the founding of a new religion or belief system that empowers the Barri and other similarly marginalized communities.
Brakkus of Natarax, Minotaur Barbarian (Noble, Military Scientist)
The Natarax clan is a minotaur tribe living within the Ber/Risur borderlands. Early in the conflicts between Risur and Ber, the tribe was essentially bribed to fight on the Risuri side by offering them noble title and, of course, money. This has earned Natarax some status within Risur (though, of course, they're still minotaurs) but scorn within Ber. Brakkus is the second son of the Natarax nobility. He was given the finest military education befitting his status, but was subsequently tossed out of the military for insubordination. He landed in a relatively cushy role with the RHC, where he is basically phoning it in, quite uninterested in investigating missing pig iron shipments and alleged currency manipulation.
Dipnip Requloc, Deva Psionicist (Put-upon Immortal, Eschatologist)
Dipnip was just minding his own business, sweeping up at home and trying to stay away from the fracas when he suddenly witnessed a bright flash of light. From then on, he has been constantly reborn whenever he dies. So far, he feels mostly inconvenienced by this quirk of nature/the divine. Having had no natural proclivities or talents before he became a deva, he has largely been unable to find exactly what to do with his immortality. Upon exposure to the teaching of Heid Eschatol, it immediately spoke to him--for a person with no end and a seemingly pointless parade of lifetimes, the idea of a proper ending was very appealing. Throughout the years, the experience of death and rebirth awakened in him some latent psionic abilities, which he promptly put to use...moving boxes around the Flint docks. He then discovered that his Eschatology studies and limitless experience also gave him excellent skills with bookkeeping and actuarial tasks, and moved to a desk job at one of the Bosun Strand warehouses. One day, after being wrapped up in an investigation of his warehouse led by Brakkus, Dipnip was recruited by the RHC, where he serves today.