Character Background help

[Jwallace]

Hey all, I'm starting up a new campaign for the Shackled City. I've not read the entire book yet (yes, I know, bad move, but excited about this module and wanting to get started), but I'm going ahead and letting the players create their characters and backgrounds. I've given them a great deal of information from the book as I know it so far and from other sources on the web.

I have two characters working on backgrounds that I need some suggestions on. #1: I have the characters roll up social class in order to get an idea of where they fit into the city and get an idea of their backgrounds. One of the characters rolled well enough that his parents are probably well off. He wants them to own an inn and run it in town. I know some inns would be bad for them to run, but am curious what inns would be ok for them to run? Just by looking at the names, he liked the Drunken Morkoth. Would that one be ok? Or should I just create a new inn and say they own that one?

#2: I have another character that is playing a Coutier (from swashbuckling adventures book). His character is from a well to do family and needs to pick a patron as per his class, a noble who has taken a special interest in him and is sponsering his development and advancement in the courts. He picked Lord Vhalantru as his patron. Should I discourage him from this, or should I just let him go with it and have Lord Vhalantru use the character to influence the group in future actions?

And suggestions on how to deal with this would be much appreciated.

[Cold Steel]

1.Just have the character related to the Asklain(?) family, owners of the Coy Nixie and have a sibling rivalry with Zachary.
2. Let Vhalntru pull his strings for now. this character will have a rude awakening soon enough.

[Sean Mahoney]

There really isn't any problem with the Drunken Morkoth, but it doesn't add a whole lot either. However, I would allow him to take that one then move Artus Shemwick to that inn instead of the Tipped Tankard Tavern as cook. Make sure you work him in just a little bit here and there. The other nice thing about Tipped Tankard Tavern is that the innkeeper was one of the kidnap victims... make it the father and you have a nice hook.

Sean Mahoney

[Locke1520]

Jwallace wrote:

#2: I have another character that is playing a Coutier (from swashbuckling adventures book). His character is from a well to do family and needs to pick a patron as per his class, a noble who has taken a special interest in him and is sponsering his development and advancement in the courts. He picked Lord Vhalantru as his patron. Should I discourage him from this, or should I just let him go with it and have Lord Vhalantru use the character to influence the group in future actions?

Vhalantru the mentor could be a great deal of fun but be carefull not to drift too far into Star Wars territory with Ep.III or Batman Begins. Those films are so recent the players might find what might otherwise be a cool evil mentor twist to be rather predictable and cliche. Good luck, it should be fun.

[Jwallace]

thanks for the suggestions guys!

[Jwallace]

One more question, is there any more information on either the Drunken Morkoth or Tipped Tankard in the module other than what is in the Cauldron overview? If so, what chapters are they in?

The one flaw I see with this module is a lack of an index..

[Sean Mahoney]

The only other reference I can think of is when they visit the cook at the tipped tankard during flood season. Easy enough to move around if you feel so... er... moved.

Sean Mahoney

[Chef's Slaad]

Minuta's board (another seedier inn in Cauldron) is also mentioned. It catches fire at the beginning of Demonscar Legacy.

[Oliver von Spreckelsen]

Minuta's Board was also the hideout of the Alleybashers.

My group hangs out in the "Rolling Barrel" (not on the map), run by Hadamar Skellerang, brother of the Captain of the Guard, Terseon Skellerang. Lots of town guards are frequenting this inn. It is a good place to introduce Skylar Krewis and his fellows Helge and Gunnar.

Cusp of Sunrise will be introduced in "Zenith Trajectory" as a place for nobility.

The Stormblades are to be found in the "Drunken Morkoth", I had my group watch the formation of the group, with some rancid remarks about "longears" from Todd to spice up the rivalry from the start.