V.A.L.U.E. the AGE OF WORMS

Darthbinks · May 7, 2022, 11:31am

How to tie your character’s Background to Diamond Lake:

ERLW

House Agent The dwarvish House Kundarak (manages banking) has a presence in Diamond Lake, who share an office with a few members of the gnomish House Sivis (manages post service). Those two would be the obvious best choices. note: take a look at the Dwarf (Mark of Warding) and Gnome (Mark of Scribing) races, if you want to take this backgound

PHB

Acolyte The priest(s) of one of the faiths in the town would aid you. You could be a member of the growing Church of the Silver Flame. You could worship the Sovereign Host, especially Dol Dorn the Sovereign of Strength & Steel. You could be one of the few faithful of the Temple of the Blood of Vol, who also manage the graveyard. Especially if your character is a refugee from Droaam or a changeling, you could also make offerings to the Traveler of the Dark Six, but this would be more a faith of warding yourself against evil divine influence.
Charlatan What is your cover identity in Diamond Lake, and why are you hiding in this small town?
Criminal This is especially good for Halflings, “monstrous races”, Changelings, and characters with the Aberrant Dragonmark Feat. You did some crime in Diamond Lake, but most miners are poor and the few rich mine owners were far beyond your reach so far.
Criminal (Spy) You can be an informant for the Brelish secret service, or a spy from Aundeir or Karrnath. So far you have failed to find anything of significant value in Diamond Lake. That is why you have failed to earn any money yet.
Entertainer You are regularly playing in most of the local establishments, except Lazare’s House, because they like it quiet there.
Entertainer (Gladiator) You regularlywork in the Feral Dog tavern in staged pit fights. You are dreaming that one time you could do a fight in a big arena in Sharn.
Folk Hero You are probably a local miner, who saved fellow miners or children when they were trapped during a cave-in. So you are a local legend among the common people.
Guild Artisan You probably either a member of the metal-forger guild and a pupil of Vulgan Durtch, or an apprentice blacksmith to Manlin Osgood from the smith’s guild. A bowyer apprentice to Venelle would also work well.
Guild Artisan (Guild Merchant) You are working for Lanch Faraday, who manages the Lakeside Stables.
Hermit You are plagued by nightmares of worms, who will come forth devouring the world. Somehow those visions have drawn you to Diamond Lake. note: if you are not into personal horror be advised to take another background.
Noble You still have a title, but your family is actually quite poor. Most of your lands were lost to Droaam in the war and the rest was bought of by mine owners.
Noble (Retainers) Your family was so devasted in the Last War, that many nobles don’t even recognize your noble heritage anymore. You have a few retainers left.
Outlander You know the surrounding areas of Diamond Lake very well, especially the locations of the Cairns. Although that does not help you much since they had been looted generations ago.
Sage You are a pupil of the local mage Allustan Neff. You still can ask him for advice.
Sailor You help manage ore shipments from Diamond Lake to Sharn and back. The Dagger river is big and tough and additionally it’s a very monotonous work. Although those ships would take you and your group a free ride.
Sailor (Pirate) You were a member of a fearsome band of privateers, who had letters of marque to plunder enemy ships. After the Last War has ended, those have expired and also everyone kinda knows what you were doing for a living up to 4 years ago.
Soldier You were a member of the Brelish army and stationed at Diamond Lake’s fort. Thanks to austarity and the Last War being over, they didn’t renew your contract. Many of the soldiers at the Keep think that this was a bit unfair, because you have been a good soldier and would be inclinded to help a buddy out.
Urchin You were probably orphaned during the wara dn are trying to get by, dreaming of a better life somewhere else.

SCAG

City Watch You were a member of Sharn’s City Watch. After loosing your job in a corruption scandal (which might have been not your fault), you are stranded in Diamond Lake and lack the founds to leave. Because of the scandal the Army refused to hire you.
Cloistered Scholar You were working in the library of Sharn’s Morgrave University. You followed the mage Allustan Neff to Diamond Lake, hoping it would work out for you and your career. It didn’t.
Courtier You were working for Lanod Neff the governor-mayor of Diamond Lake. Something you did - or didn’t - annoyed Balabar Smenk and after some lobbying the governor-mayor was forced to let you go.
Far Traveler You are from a foreign land far away somehow stranded in Diamond Lake and laking the funds to leave. Be it a a Drow from Xen’drik or a spooky Elf from Aerenal, or somewhere else. The local mage Allustan Neff is really interested in you, and you could trade stories from your culture for information.
Inheritor Your father/mother gave you a strange magic metal piece on their deathbed, and told you that this is the secret family trinket given to them by their parents and should give you luck & grant protection. With all your family being killed in the Last War, what are you gonna do now?
Knight of the Order You were a member of the knights of Shadowlock Keep, who keep watch at the Droaam border. The Keep is located a couple of days to the west. Also hit by austarity and the end of the Last War, you were let go … with distinction but no money … and are now looking to get by in Diamond Lake.
Mercenary Veteran You were a mercenary during the Last War. Your old company suffered so many losses that it disbanded afterwards.
Urban Bounty Hunter You are working for Balabar Smenk, who wants you to spy on miners should they try to form a union of some sorts, so that his goons can take care of the “problem” before it would get too big. Pay is bad and you are still not sure how comfty you feel about this work.

VRGR

Haunted One You survived the fall of Cyre. Something … maybe a weird spell … hit you there. Since then you are plagued by pains. Drinking a lot of alcohol seems to work. You returned to your hometown Diamond Lake after the Last War. note: if you are not into personal horror be advised to take another background.
Investigator You are working for Balabar Smenk, who wants you to find dirt on other mine owners, so he can take over yet another mine. Pay is bad and you are still not sure how comfty you feel about this work.

AI

Celebrity Adventurer’s Scion Your parents were heroes in the Last War. Sadly they perished in one of the last battles. Somehow you look strinking similar to one of your parents when they were young. The few old people of Diamond Lake constantly remind you of this fact.
Failed Merchant You tried to start a business in Diamond Lake and faled to do so. What to do now?
Gambler You are a regular in Lazare’s House, where they play Dragonchess, a game with over 40 pieces and a multilevel board. Where you made your money by beting on the winner. Last week you lost almost all your money. What to do now?
Plaintiff You are working for Balabar Smenk, who wants you to find legal loopholes, so that so he can take over yet another mine. Pay is bad and you are still not sure how comfty you feel about this work.
Rival Intern You are a frustrated intern working as a secretary for Balabar Smenk. Pay is bad, his demeanoor is worse.

GoS

Fisher You lack the abilities to be good miner, so you try to fish in the Daggerfall river. Good news you are not starving, but the lack of perspective started grinding on your soul recently.
Marine You were a junior member of a Brelish secret elite unit during the Last War. Losses were so great, that after the war had ended your unit was dispanded. Afterwards you returned to your hometown Diamond Lake. What to do now?
Shipwright You are repairing ore ships that sail on the Daggerfall river.
Smuggler You started smuggling for a shady organisation in the past. You don’t know much about them … maybe that’s for the best. Considered the risks the pay is suprisingly bad, because they also charge you for the warehouse. note: choose if you want to work for Halflings or “monstrous races”

ToA

Archaeologist You came to Diamond Lake to study the Cairns, but were brutally disappointed, when you had to found out all have been plundered a long time ago. Now you are stuck in this mining town lacking the funds to leave.

ALCoS

Dragon Casualty You met a dragon once and it scarred you for life. The local mage Allustan Neff is really interested in dragons and thus you, and you could trade dragon stories for information.

ALEE

Diamond Lake (Earthspur) Miner You are an experienced miner from Diamond Lake and know the mines well. You probably have worked for all six mine owners in the past and know from experience, that working for Balabar Smenk is a bad idea.
Harborfolk You grew up in Sharn’s harbor in the cliffside docks. One day you were taking a ride on an ore ship on its way back to Diamond Lake to find fame and fortune there. This was a bad idea and you are still stranded there, lacking the funds to leave.
Droaam (Phlan) Refugee When Droaam was conquered by monsters 10 years ago you had to flee to Breland. You had hoped to make it to Sharn but are stuck in Diamond Lake.