A while back I ran Black Fang's Dungeon (The BB adventure) for 4 new players using the Iconic pregens. We're all back together and ready to make a go at Rise of the Runelords, however, they all rather liked playing as the iconics from the BB so want to continue using them in RotR rather than making new characters.
So now I want to come up with some compelling backstories and sidequests to tie them into the town and the NPCs, but am mostly drawing a blank on what to actually do.
Kyra is the easiest backstory as she's simply traveled to Sandpoint in preparation for the Temple Dedication to see the new shrine to Sarenrae
Ezren, he arrived in Sandpoint a few months earlier, striking up a deal with Ilsoari Grandethus to teach him wizardry in exchange for Ezren serving as a teacher and scholar at Turondarok Academy.
Valeros and Merisiel I have no idea what to do with.
So, yeah, any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Another possibility is for Ezren to be in Sandpoint researching Thasillonian ruins in the region. He is teaching at Turondarok Academy to support himself. This would still give access to Ilsoari's spell book.
Take a look at the pregen backstories that Paizo did for their blog back in 2007:
http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5la5z?Meet-the-Iconics-Merisiel
(Do a search for the iconics and go to the "Blogs" tab on top)
Another possibility is for Ezren to be in Sandpoint researching Thasillonian ruins in the region. He is teaching at Turondarok Academy to support himself. This would still give access to Ilsoari's spell book.
That's a good idea, I'll probably do both as I want to tie Ezren being at the school to his advanced age as an adventurer.
Take a look at the pregen backstories that Paizo did for their blog back in 2007:
http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5la5z?Meet-the-Iconics-Merisiel
(Do a search for the iconics and go to the "Blogs" tab on top)
Yeah, I've read those, I'm trying to figure a way to tie their Backstories a bit more specifically to Sandpoint or to them showing up in this AP and using that to figure out some connections to make between them and various NPCs. Thanks!
Cheap alcoholic beverages in high quantity should be enough of a reason for Valeros to visit the Swallowtail Festival in Sandpoint, judging by his chacterization in the Pathfinder comic books. If you want some extra reasons, let's see...
.) He's a friend of Banny Harker, who invited him to the festival to meet his new girlfriend Katerine.
.) He was hired by a nobleman named Foxglove to ensure a safe voyage from Magnimar to Sandpoint, an easy job that paid well.
.) Kaye Teserani of the Pixies Kitten called for help against the Scarnettis who cause trouble with the brothel that legally Sheriff Hemlock is unable to solve
.) He was ambushed by a nasty group of Sczarni some weeks ago, trying to find out who was behind that attack, all signs point to the leader of this particular sczarni organization living in Sandpoint
.) A close friend was resently transported to Habe's after an adventure that featured unspeakable things. Valeros wants to visit him to see if he got better, but on his way to the sanatorium he found out about the festival and decided to delay his visit for a couple of days
Merisiel propably has some ties to the criminal underworld of Sandpoint or just visits the Swallowtail Festival, because a large, mostly drunk crowd is where thieves usually find enough opportunities to do their thievy stuff. But she could also be there because:
.) She recently found out, that she has a half-sibling that possibly grew up in Sandpoint. Pick any of the Half-Elves that live in the town, from Rynsinn Povalli to Lonjiku Kaijitsu (heh, why not?) or maybe one of Chopper's victims as the person Merisiel believes is her half-sister/brother
.) The jewler of the town, Mever Kesk, infamously has the habit of leaving doors and vaults open. While Jubrayl Vhiski came up with a cunning plan to knock out the security guards, he still needed an expert rogue to get him the jewlery, in case the vaults might uncharacteristicly be locked, so he sent for Merisiel
.) Volioker Briskalbeard, the locksmith who grew up an orphan in Magnimar has a long history with Merisiel and while he usually won't side with thieves and scoundrels, he still owes her a favour from that time she saved his live from a prostitute he doesn't really want to talk about.
.) On her way to Magnimar, she saved a woman named Hannah Velerin from a wild boar. Ensuring that Hannah returned safely to Sanpoint, she now ended up in the small town just as a big festival is about to to start.
seriously, Appendix Two of RotRL is a treasure chest full of possible background hooks for all PCs, just pick one entry for every iconic and warp that until it fits your players needs
Thanks Hythlodeus, good ideas to get my creative powers going!