just thought I would post the contents of an e-mail I sent to my players. Itis meant as a bit of background and is something that I tend to do between sessions as a way of making the campaign seem more alive. Certain players wmay get different e-mails depending on whats happening with their pc. Anyway what follows is a way of introducing a bit of the lore and background of Varisia. I intend to make this npc pathfinder a reccuring character who occasionally pops up in cities, towns etc.
This follows the pc's meeting with the Mayor, the Sheriff and the elven ranger after they have been told about the activities if the goblin tribes in Burnt Offerings:-
The evening after your meeting with Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Hemlock and the ranger, Shalelu, you are partaking in a few mugs at the Rusty Dragon when a weather worn man casualy enters the place and walks to the bar, orders a drink and takes a vacant seat near a window. He sups slowly, staring around the inn before he finaly rests his gaze on the lights of the street outside.
Several murmurs travel round the Dragon, proclaiming :- "That's a damn Pathfinder, I tell you" (and) "I never thought I'd see one of their sort here!"
The man seems aware of the murmmurs and for a second you are sure you see a hint of a smile cross his face
Then a shout goes up from Ameiko at her regular position at the end of the bar. As she hitches herself up to sit on the stained wooden surface she gestures to the stranger.
"Long time abscent Jylan. As I recall, you were bald and didn't wear that scar when last we met..."
The stranger nods at her and raises his drink.
"Greetings Miss Kaijitsu. Yes it has been too long since last we partook in one anothers company. As for my hair; well I thought I would take a leaf from your book."
Ameiko breaks into raucous laughter and gestures for everyone to gather around the newcomer.
"Everyone; this is a one time companion of mine, Jylan Chantequi. Correct me if i am wrong but by the wayfinder at your belt am I to assume that you have joined the illustrious Society of the Pathfinders?"
The man known as Jylan puts his feet up, whilst quickly covering the compass at his waist with his cloak.
"You are wise beyond your years, young one. Perhaps you do have the third eye as the wise woman from Bloodsworn Vale predicted."
Ameiko laughs and kicks his feet off the table.
"Dont give me that mystic crap. Just tell us some stories of your travels and the rest of the nights drinks are free for you!"
Smiling broadly, Jylan places his hands on the table, looks deep into Ameiko's eyes and nods.
"Throw in a warm bed for the night and I might be able to remember a few tales..."
More to follow...
"I will start with what I first set eyes on when i travelled to this land from far off Osirion. At first I thoght that the very Gods were playing tricks on
me, but as I came to know this land so I came to appreciate the wonders that i would encounter. Leaning precariously at the end of a rocky
spit, the Lady’s Light is a southern sailor’s first glimpse of Varisia. Nearly two hundred feet high, the enormous stone lighthouse is
shaped like a sensuous woman in a flowing dress that leaves one breast bare, her right hand pointing a staff that shines a brilliant
beam of light out to sea at regular intervals. At the statue’s base, I spied a gigantic, strangely hinged stone door that presumably leads into the
lighthouse’s interior. Wether any have ventured inside was not for me to know I would wager good coins that none have unlocked it in modern times."
Jylan finishes his drink with a far off look to his eyes. He waits until a refill is brought to the table by a young serving girl before continuing. All
those gathered round lean forward eagerly...
"We made land fall in Varisia’s most northernmost port, the infamous city of Riddleport. I was amazed by a wonderous site as we sailed into the
harbour, but more on that in a minute or two. To those not in the know, Riddleport is a renowned haven for scoundrels, outcasts, and worse. God's
know how many Cutthroats fill its harbor and dockside brothels. I was aware of my vulnerability and so made enquiries as to the local watch. I was
swiftly made aware that Riddleport’s officers of the law are just another gang of thieves (and hardly the most powerful ones at that). Yet even in
such a den of inequity and vice, scholars and historians abound, attempting to decipher the runes of the great arch known as the Cyphergate, which
spans the mouth of the harbor and looms over each vessel that passes into the city. Although any progress on the inscription has been kept quiet, i
did find out from one of my contacts that recent excavations hint that the massive arch might actually be just one segment of a ring that extends
into the cliffs surrounding the port."
Jylan stands and leans against the window, briefly looking out into the night, as if searching for someone before turning back to the growing
crowd.
" I left Riddleports seedy streets behind and headed South following the coast road. There i found Roderics Cove. Besieged by the goblins and
bandits of Churlwood on one side and pirates on the other, this port-town submitted to Riddleport 10 years ago. To everyone’s surprise, mine
included when I learnt of this, the pirates spared the community, employing it as a shipping and trading port for merchants without the stomach to
enter Riddleport; (something I wish I had learnt earlier). Captain Jess Gildersleeve serves as the port-governor,guaranteeing that the gangs of
Riddleport get their cut of the local trade while assuring her own sizable take. In the wake of a recent rash of mysteriously scuttled ships in the
harbor. According to local tavern talk, many citizens who remember life before the pirates’ rule have chalked the sabotage up to the ghost of Sir
Roderic, the town’s founder and a notorious privateer, while those in power blame rebellion and insurgents. With tensions rising, many believe it’s
only a matter of time before the battle lines are drawn and Roderic’s Cove erupts in flames of revolution...A shame realy because it has the makings
of quite a nice little retirement home."
Ameiko sits on the table next to Jylan and ushers him to continue saying,
" A lot of us have visited or heard of these places my old friend. Tell us of something wonderous and exotic!"
Jylan smiles and replies,
"Well I could always tell that story about the time you and I found ourselves trapped in the bed chamber of the Lord Mayor of Magnimar..."
"NO! Just get on with your tale!"
Jylan smiles at the red faced tavern owner as she goes back behind the bar.
"Very well. Unfortunately the hour grows late now and I have a long journey ahead of me . I depart in the morning for Magnimar. in the company of a
young noble Lord who has generously asked me to acompany him to his home city." (Jylan nods to Aldern Foxglove who is seated at the rear of the
Rusty Dragon). "You have my thanks Aldern. But before I retire for the night let me tell you of two places I intend to visit on my travels. The first is a
lake Filling the entire valley between the Iron Peaks and the Wyvern Mountains. Known as the Storval Deep this massive lake is held back by an ancient
dam, called Skull’s Crossing, at its southern tip. What’s more, the banks of the lake themselves are said to seem curiously worked, as if carved from
the surrounding stone by something more than water. Although rumors abound of sunken cities, flooded mineshafts, and relics so powerful the
ancients created the lake just to hide them, few have ever ventured into the dark water’s unfathomed depths. Perhaps I may be one of the first. Now
before I leave you all I will regail you with one final tale that after hearing it may well prevent you from having as restful sleep as you normally
find.; for this I make no apologies.
What know any of you of the Mobhad Leigh? I can tell by the blank expressions that it means little. Well it is a Shoanti name meaning “steps into
hell,” the Mobhad Leigh has captivated imaginations for ages, mine included. It is A perfectly round pit in an otherwise nondescript field at the foot
of the Kodar Mountains. The Leigh has so far never been conclusively proved to have a bottom. Steps spiraling along the pit’s sheer walls
extend down for several hundred feet before collapsing, and those who have ventured farther have never returned to say whether or
not they begin again lower down. I am told that The local Shoanti generally avoid the Leigh, particularly after several of their magic-users
dropped dead while attempting to scout the pit with scrying magic. Yet on certain nights of the year, flickering orange lights can be seen
dancing deep within its depths. Depths which I intend to plumb!"
Jylan rises wearily from his seat.
"Thankyou for your hospitality Ameiko. I will go upstairs now. The usual room?"
The crowd in the Rusty Dragon are left to their own devices as the Pathfinder ascends the stairs. Ameiko looks to the door of the inn wistfully, as
several local farmers head home, perhaps a little world wiser than they were a few hours ago.
This was made a lot easier with the aid of the fantastic background material on Varisia by the Paizo staff.
Well it seems to have done the trick as my players are now clammering for more history and background on Varisia, Pathfinders,and Ameiko's past amongst other things. Hmmmm, maybe I've shot myself in the foot with this one as it means more work for an already pushed for time ref.
Any help on histories, backstories etc would realy be apreciated.
By the way, if anyones intrested, the name of the pathfinder, Jylan Chantequi, is based on the amalgemation of two of my first ever PC's:- the wizard Cartequil Chantequi, who spent his life looking for his stolen spell books and the fighter Jylan Kynslayer. Jylan started off as the fighter Ironhard but had his good and evil side split into two seperate beings. The bad half became the vicious drill wielding marauder Jylan, whilst the good half became the Paladin Garomere (I think.) Never the less the name Jylan has cropped up on several occasions in my campaigns, almost as a sign post to the players that 'this NPC must be important'.