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On Tuesday I ran my first session of Burnt Offerings. It went without a hitch...whew!
I did have to provide some background for one character, a rogue from Riddleport. After some discussions about what his character was going to be he indicated he wanted to be a rogue/illusionist eventually. Since this was a new campaign I did have all the players make up a 1st level character. My concern is how am I going to get him introduced to an illusionist to be trained?
I came up with the following fluff story and handout.
The chill in the Rova night has come much sooner than anticpated. Good for you as more fog rolls in on these evenings. You've been working for the Stentalia Family since you were young enough to reach and cut the purse strings from a "merchant"*. The Stentalia's were never destined for greatness but they were as stable as possible in Riddleport. That was, until Darkyl came. He always wore his hood low and spoke in hushed tones. He bent the ear of the family patron Jubrayl like none you had ever seen. The families business become much more violent since Darkyl's arrival. While bloodshed was not unknown and inter-family squabbles might result in a death or two there had never been anything like what had been happening recently. It was time for you to find out what was going on and what Darkyl's influence was doing.
One quiet night when the fog muffled both sight and sound you crept up the side of the household and peered into Darkyl's room. He would not be present at this time of night because this is when he held council with Jubrayl. As you crept around his room the hair's on the back of your neck started to rise. You held your dagger, given to you by Jubrayl himself, tightly. A smallish tome lay out on a dresser. It was obviously of no small value and had a cover of leather and it was inscribed with a symbol you had not seen before.
As you reached for the tome a searing pain burned your hand. The dagger pulsed and your vision blurred and was replaced with an image of the council room where Jubrayl held his evening meetings. Darkyl held his glowing hands on either side of Jubrayl's head. Ghostly tendrils leaked from Jubrayl's eyes and mouth into Darkyl's face.
* merchant is just another word for pirate but for some it makes them feel better.
Later and good gaming,
Greg Volz
Natural Twenty Gaming