Background Suggestions for a Dwarven Party

[Firstbourne]

I am getting a group together to start a campaign set in the world of Midgard (Kobold Press). I plan to use Zobeck and Tales of the Old Margreve to get the party started, and then introduce Halls of the Mountain King as a sort of "going back home" for the Dwarves.

As I begin to plan, I am wondering what kind of interesting background I can use for the party. Dwarves tend to be loyal to their clans, so what would make them leave home?

I considered having them be outcasts or exiles, sent away for something their father did. Then they could return later to restore the family name, etc.

I am looking for suggestions...
Thank you.

[Oceanshieldwolf]

Kobold Press has an old supplement Dwarves of the Ironcrags that might help with background on life in the Cantons. Just looking at the product description was inspiration for a few stories.

Sadly, I hate dwarves with a passion, so apart from that, I'm no good to you.

[nate lange]

i love a good all-dwarf party.

the banished family looking to restore their name would totally work. other options off the top of my head would include:
- the remnant from a destroyed colony trying to get back to their ancestral home
- a family who followed their father (or oldest brother) on some quest/mission/thing and gets swept up in an adventure (possibly after being separated from their leader?)
- dwarves also tend to be religious... you could have them all sent off by the church (works especially well if everyone plays pallies/clerics/inquisitors/warpriests, or archetypes like the divine tracker that make other classes overtly religious)
- dwarven societies tend to be fairly militaristic... you could have them all be part of one military unit sent off on a mission
- they could all be part of the same import/export business and they have to venture out of the their homeland for work (then get swept up in adventure and long to return)

[Drogos]

To add to that, there's the fact that great wealth could be there, which can tempt anyone.

There's always the long lost family relic deep in the earth.

[Dafydd]

Banished Family

These dwarves are members, perhaps the last of the clan, that was banished for a certain amount of time. Now, that time is up and these children are finally returning to their home lands.

Lost Team (military or something like Mining Team)

A scout patrol or maybe even the remnants of some legion that was "lost" in the last great war. Finally, they think that have found a way home.

Alternatly, they could be a team or merchants/craftsmen/etc that were sent out to create some cultural ties and set up new trade routes. Successful (or not), it is time to go home for the dwarves.

Why they were "lost" is up to you. I kinda like wild magic that has tossed them through time/space away from home.