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Hey all. I'm relatively new to these boards, so I don't know if there's a 'proper procedure' for this type of thing. I'll get right to it then.
I'm playing an Elven Investigator in an incarnation of this very adventure path. Our GM wanted us to write up back-stories for our characters, seeing as we're all supposed to know each other prior to the adventure and all. I set up my character, Ren (Short for Renaldlon, an in-universe alias inspired by an in-universe version of Casablanca), as growing up in a small, mostly human village nestled in the Pillars of the Sun. Growing up, his mother told him stories about her adventuring days, and how she met and traded riddles with a Sphinx [Sphinx Riddler] from dawn till dusk. This inspired Ren to pursue knowledge wherever he could, especially if it was kept under wraps. And he was very good at it.
Now, Act 2 is where everything falls apart. The basic gist is that Ren tried going toe-to-toe with a criminal mastermind and severely underestimated him, falling to his "death" (in plain view of his human fiancee). Think "The Final Problem," only Moriarty skips the whole "falling" bit. Ren is then saved from actual death by his mother (thank god for feather fall), and he reluctantly decided that "staying dead" is the best option. He spent the next quarter-century roaming the desert, tagging along with trade caravans and learning the science of alchemy, occasionally stopping for a while to make some coin as a Private Eye, eventually meeting the party.
My question is: who should play Moriarty in this instance? My first thought was a Szcarni mastermind, but they're mostly in Varisia or Absalom. I been trying to talk with my GM about tying it into the narrative of the path (similar to Dennek's RotRL campaign), but he's running three other games, and it's been roughly a month since I started asking. I'm curious: does the collective have any thoughts?
EDIT: Yes, I know how dangerous it is for a player to be on these boards, especially since I think I found a thread by my GM when I scrolled down (Hi!)
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How about instead of a criminal mastermind, your for was a member fo the esoteric order of the palantine eye. They're very active all over osirion, are a secret society that easily fills an illuminati role, and ar LN so a bit of evil amongst members is fine.
A quick Google search reveals that they're based out of Ustalav. However, your badge of subscriber status holds merit. I will ask my GM.
I like the background, however its a lot of stuff for a 1st level character. I would stay simpler...or if you want check out the Ultimate Campaign backgrounds.
The Idea of the Palantine Eye is cool, especially for an Investigator and an Osirien based Adventure. In CarrionCrown - The Trial of the Beast is a whole section about the order, you may can get that off your GM...or some of it that concerns you.
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They have an article also in Occult Mysteries. Basically, their founder, a ridiculously rich Ustalav count went down to Osirion 630 odd years ago and supposedly found the author of the Book of the Damned (Tabris the exiled angel). In the three years he spent with the angel, he learned the secrets of pre-historic creation. When he returned to Ustalav, he founded a sect dedicated to these mysteries he learned. The Palantine Eye is obsessed with ancient Osirioni lore and secret histories, and much of their traditions and mysticism is Osirion flavored. They have a large secret sect that meets in Sothis, and according to Occult Mysteries often sponsor forays into Osirion to recover stuffs.
Here's a snippet from Occult Mysteries that really sums up the Illuminati feel they give off:
These strange teachings and
secret rites, along with the powerful
influence of the order’s members,
spark innumerable conspiracy theories and accusations
that the fraternal society is at best a deceptive pyramid
scheme, or at worst, a diabolical cult. The Order’s
hierarchy includes markers of divine stations both
celestial and diabolical, suggesting that the accusations
are not without merit, and the Order’s refusal to
answer or even silence conspiracy theorists only drives
speculation further.
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I like the background, however its a lot of stuff for a 1st level character. I would stay simpler...or if you want check out the Ultimate Campaign backgrounds.
The Idea of the Palantine Eye is cool, especially for an Investigator and an Osirien based Adventure. In CarrionCrown - The Trial of the Beast is a whole section about the order, you may can get that off your GM...or some of it that concerns you.
Yeah, it's a weird habit of mine. I try making the story of how he went from 0th-Level Investigator to 1st-Level (if that makes any sense). Simpler would definitely be better. All I imagined him during his stint in the desert was solving your bog-standard Film Noir-type adultery cases, anyway. Any Dick (Detective) can sit outside a motel and take pictures; doesn't earn you xp. (Maybe I'll invent film around level ten or so. Silver halite crystals count as Alchemy, right?)
As far as the Palentine Eye is concerned. I like it, but I have discovered another good candidate... a follower of the Whispering Way. There have been... quite a few undead in the campaign so far, having an undead-loving foil might be a good move.
Maybe Ren stumbled into can altercation between the two groups and was thrown off the cliff to ensure his silence? Perhaps he ran across a defector from the Order? Would any of that even make sense?
I like the background, however its a lot of stuff for a 1st level character. I would stay simpler...or if you want check out the Ultimate Campaign backgrounds.
Yeah, it's a weird habit of mine. I try making the story of how he went from 0th-Level Investigator to 1st-Level
As far as the Palentine Eye is concerned. I like it, but I have discovered another good candidate... a follower of the Whispering Way
Yeah I get that makes perfect sense.
Whispering Way....interesting that could be very funny. "please give me MommyRot" ;) But would then an Necromancer or Cleric be much more fun?There is a long Article about them in CarrionCrown - Broken Moon.
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As far as the Palentine Eye is concerned. I like it, but I have discovered another good candidate... a follower of the Whispering Way. There have been... quite a few undead in the campaign so far, having an undead-loving foil might be a good move.
Maybe Ren stumbled into can altercation between the two groups and was thrown off the cliff to ensure his silence? Perhaps he ran across a defector from the Order? Would any of that even make sense?
Totally. The Whispering Way wants to bring undeath to everything... and whose got more undeath than Osiron?
I can easily see a Whispering Way cultist becoming fascinated with the Osiriani traditions and culture and abandoning the Avistani prediliction for lichdom and vampireism in favor of the mummification rituals of Orsiron.