Hi all,
I've put together a background for my new PC for our home game, and the last bit I need to decide on is where in the Inner Sea region he is from.
I'm leaving out character class as it is not relevant and I'd like the recommendations to center around geographical and political factors pertaining to his family, without being influenced by who he is becoming as an adventurer. However, his alignment is true neutral and that matches the alignment of his family.
Knox Tarnbridge
Knox is from a noble house (think 2 out of 5 stars noble; truly respected but not inherently very powerful). It is at least 400 years old (anything up to 1200 years old would work). House Tarnbridge is known for its skill with diplomacy. They have a reputation as fair and talented mediators who can be called in to help settle disagreements, broker peace treaties, serve as ambassadors where others might fear to go, etc. They have carved out a niche and they work extremely hard and carefully to maintain their reputation and to hone their craft. Without their excellence, they would reduced to irrelevancy and serfdom.
Their own landholdings are rather modest, not so much in size as in significance. Their one strategic asset is a mountain pass that is occasionally relied upon by the odd caravan or other traveling party. This also makes them the de facto protectors of the pass, although there has never been much armed conflict in the area. House Tarnbridge takes its name from the long stone "bridge" that crosses the high cold moor that makes up the pass and its surroundings. The entire area is stony, and is dotted with a vast network of tarns (pools formed when snowmelt collects in glacially-carved basins) that make it virtually unpassable without the use of the Tarn Bridge.
House Tarnbridge is entirely half-elven. They scrupulously maintain their lineage, as they believe that their reputation for excellence in diplomacy owes in large part to their race's ability to navigate other cultures more nimbly than can others. All marriages are carefully arranged, with only other half-elves deemed suitable partners.
His mother is from Cassomir, Taldor. I would like House Tarnbridge to be seated in a different nation. The first nation in the Inner Sea World Guide that caught my eye was Brevoy, but I'd really rather not choose a frozen northern nation. I'm also not thrilled with most of the nations in Garund, but let's not rule them out just yet.
Any recommendations?
I'd consider the River Kingdoms or, with a name change, Osirion or Thuvia.
Absalom could work as well, although I get the impression their nobles are less interested in land than others.
If you'd be willing to up the martial nature of the family, Lastwall and Mendev would both fit nicely.
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I would support your first notion. Be a bannerhouse under the great House Medvyed in eastern Brevoy. That is southern enough to not be "frozen", but northern enough to be good tarnland, and the pass can be through the Icerime Peaks into Iobarria. Kyonin isn't too far away, and the Gronzi Forest nearby could house a big enough population of elves to keep the bloodline strong.
Thanks for the suggestions thus far. I am at work now but will delve into those suggestions later.
I'm still open to more suggestions as well.
Thanks again!
OK, just following up on these suggestions.
Lastwall already has a place in my character's background story that requires that I not hail from there. Mendev is too close to the Worldwound for my background.
I am considering the River Kingdoms and Brevoy. Either could work well.
After reading more about Brevoy, I realize that Rostland is indeed quite different from Issia climatically, and the geography works very well with what I already had in mind. The fey connection and superstitious ways of House Medvyed do not really fit, but it's no big deal to be the exception to the rule. This is my frontrunner right now. I need to research the River Kingdoms before I make my final call, but I am confident that I have a good fit regardless of my ultimate choice.
Thanks for the help!