Need help tying character back stories into RotRL


Advice


My group just started RotRL, and I had them all do a nice character background before we started so that I could create individual character side stories to tie into it. The problem is that I can't seem to get started, and I'm hoping I can get some help here (once I've started, I normally get on a roll, but I'm just drawing a blank for the starting point). My plan was to basically give each character a 6-part tale with one part taking place per chapter (although the first chapter part won't probably be much more than them gathering some intel that leads to part 2). I've reduced the back stories to the salient bullet points and would appreciate any feedback I can get to help me get these moving along - my best guess is that part one of their adventures will probably come up the next time we meet in 2 weeks. So here are their details:

45 year old half-elf Cleric
-Was sold into slavery as a child, then brought to Sandpoint (from Gruankus) where he was bought by a cleric who set him free
-He stayed in Sandpoint afterwards, working with and helping the cleric until that cleric disappeared a couple years ago while on a pilgrimage to a temple in the east.
-During their travels, they made several stops to buy herbs, at which time he met the herb sellers daughter (our Sorceress)
-He wants to see if he can find out what happened to the cleric and help, if possible.

36 year old half-elf Sorceress (may well be combined or substantially overlapped with the Cleric one)
-Grew up following her mother and learning the herb trade, father is unknown to her.
-Met the cleric a few times when he came to visit her mother
-powers have just started to manifest, causing her to seek out her father to learn more
-left home for the first time and headed to Sandpoint (nearest town) in hopes of learning who he was.
-Mother thinks that father might be from Mordant Spire, but wasn't sure and recommended that she not go there
-Mother suggested first step would be to find the priest that used to visit (referring to the one who went missing in the clerics tale)

20-something human monk
-Left at a monastery as a baby, taken in and eventually became a monk himself.
-Became a master brewer (every party needs one)
-After learning that his family was from Varisia, he decided to see if he could find out about them and perhaps meet them.

18 year old human rogue
-comes from a noble family outside of Goka which was wiped out when he was about 10
-after the family's death, he set sail for a better place, got stuck in a storm which destroyed the boat, and washed up on the shores near sandpoint.
-was taken in by a thief and taught the trade to survive until now.
-his mentor decided it was time for him to go off on his own, providing him with a looked book and the word "Revenge"
-His bio states that the book is full of a detailed family history, status of lands, etc, everything needed to avenge - but since it hasn't been opened I have no problem with making the contents entirely different. It could be interesting (to me, at least) if the family wasn't so good and the overthrow was for the best as he is a chaotic good character, and my strongest role player.

Thanks again for any help you can render, I'm still pretty new at this, and it may have been a bit too ambitious, but its too late now, lol.


OK, I've managed to pull together a bunch of tried and true gimmicks and came up with something that should work for the rogue, but would really appreciate help with the others (particularly the sorceress/cleric as their stories should be somewhat intertwined). Thanks again.


See if you can get the Cleric's backstory to change slightly such that his mentor was Ezakien Tobyn, the cleric who died in the fire which destroyed the previous temple.

You could drop hints that the Sorceresses father and might also be the father of Tsuto Kaijitsu.

Rogue character's mentor should be a member of the Sczarni.


Hmm, I like the cleric bit, that could be crazy when I spring Nualia on him, although the cleric spent most of his time with his mentor wandering the woods and such, so it might not make sense with Tobyn. Nonetheless, I'm going to spend some effort figuring out how to make it work, cause it would be awesome.

As for the sorceress one, you mean Tsuto's real father or Lonjiko? If its the real father, that guy got around, lol. I think I like it though.


OK, I've now worked out 3 of the 4 (thanks again Muzzy), but still can't find anything for the Monk that wouldn't be ridiculously boring. Could really use some suggestions...


Read the Jade Regent to get some ideas of why a Monk might be in Sandpoint. Not to spoil it, but he might be on a mission to protect someone.


thanks, somewhere to look is always helpful. looking to see though if I can tie into his main reason for coming to Varisia, which is to find the family that abandoned him to the monks


Got it, finally. At least, got the start of each. Thanks Muzzy for the help.

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