At the heart of Sharn’s Morgrave University is a sharp dichotomy: On the one hand, it is known as a nexus for scholars wishing to study Xen’drik, thanks in large part to Sharn’s proximity to the secret continent. Its collections of artifacts and scholarly works about ancient Xen’drik and the Dhakaan Empire are unparalleled. In many ways, it lives up to the shining vision of its founder, Lord Lareth ir’Morgrave, to be “a beacon of knowledge shining from the tallest towers of the city.”
On the other hand, the university’s reputation is tainted by allegations of smuggling, treasure hunting, and profiteering. Many priceless relics recovered from Xen’drik or Dhakaani ruins have disappeared from the university vaults and found their way to the black market or into the hands of the Aurum. It’s an open secret that some scholars, professors, and even students at the university have ties to smugglers and thieves. All these allegations, too, have ties to the university’s founding: Lord Morgrave himself is said to have made his fortune selling Dhakaani artefacts on the black market, and some have claimed that the true purpose of the university was to help him build his fortune through such questionable means.
As an archaeologist for the university, you learn about the long-lost and fallen cultures of the past by studying their remains — their bones, their ruins, their surviving masterworks, and their tombs.
Those who practice archaeology travel to the far corners of the world to root through crumbled cities and lost dungeons, digging in search of artefacts that might tell the stories of monarchs and high priests, wars, cataclysms and perhaps some easy profits.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose one: History, Investigation
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of Cartographer's Tools, Navigator's Tools
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A wooden map case, a bullseye lantern, a Miner’s pick, a set of traveler’s clothes, a shovel, a two-person tent, a trinket recovered from a dig site, and a pouch containing 25 gp
Prior to becoming an adventurer, you spent most of your student years crawling around in the dust, pilfering relics of questionable value from crypts and ruins. Though you managed to get paid for a few of your discoveries and earn enough coin to buy proper adventuring gear, you're at the start of your career. You've decided to dedicate yourself to a mission. Roll on the Scholarly Mission table to see what you have, or choose a mission from the table.
| d6 | Scholarly Mission |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adventurous Archeology. Your focus is on finding ancient artifacts and bringing back what you can. |
| 2 | Arcane Research. Your team focuses on acquiring magical knowledge that can only be found outside the university walls. |
| 3 | Investigative Ecology. None can say how many amazing creatures make their homes in the world’s wildest reaches, but you’re dedicated to finding out. |
| 4 | Historical Research. Your team’s work involves learning more about Eberron’s long history. |
| 5 | Radical Engineering. The birth of a new race wasn’t the peak of magical and mechanical engineering, it was just the beginning of new scientific fields you now explore. |
| 6 | Exploration. Khorvaire is a vast continent, and areas beyond the heartland of the Five Nations are poorly charted. Your focus is on understanding the wilder places of the world, as well as distant cultures. |
Archeology Graduate
When you enter a ruin or dungeon, you can correctly ascertain its original purpose and determine its builders, whether those were dwarves, elves, humans, yuan-ti, or some other known race. In addition, you can determine the monetary value of art objects more than a century old.
Safe Haven
As a member of the University, you have access to a small network of supporters and operatives who can provide assistance on your adventures. You know a set of signs you can use to identify such operatives, who are willing to provide you with access to safe housing, free room and board, or assistance in finding information. These agents never risk their lives for you and are far too busy to aid with adventuring parties.
Suggested Characteristics
Few archaeologists can resist the lure of an unexplored ruin or dungeon, particularly if such a site is the source of legends or is rumored to contain the treasures and relics of wizards, warlords, or royalty. Some archaeologists plunder for wealth or fame, while others consider it their calling to illuminate the past or keep the world’s greatest treasures from falling into the wrong hands. Whatever their motivations, archaeologists combine the qualities of a scrappy historian with the self-made heroism of a treasure-hunting scoundrel.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I love a good puzzle or mystery. |
| 2 | I’m a pack rat who never throws anything away. |
| 3 | Fame is more important to me than money. |
| 4 | I have no qualms about stealing from the dead. |
| 5 | I’m happier in a dusty old tomb than I am in the centers of civilisation. |
| 6 | Traps don’t make me nervous. Idiots who trigger traps make me nervous. |
| 7 | I might fail, but I will never give up. |
| 8 | You might think I’m a scholar, but I love a good brawl. These fists were made for punching. |
| d8 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Preservation. That artifact belongs in a museum. (Good) |
| 2 | Greed. I won’t risk my life for nothing. I expect some kind of payment. (Any) |
| 3 | Death Wish. Nothing is more exhilarating than a narrow escape from the jaws of death. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Dignity. The dead and their belongings deserve to be treated with respect. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Immortality. All my exploring is part of a plan to find the secret of everlasting life. (Any) |
| 6 | Danger. With every great discovery comes grave danger. The two walk hand in hand. (Any) |
| 7 | Knowledge. I want to know everything, what does it mean? how does it work? (Any) |
| 8 | Arise. You feel Morgrave's morals are questionable and want to work for a more prestigious university. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ever since I was a child, I’ve heard stories about a lost city. I aim to find it, learn its secrets, and earn my place in the history books. |
| 2 | I want to find my mentor, who disappeared on an expedition some time ago. |
| 3 | I have a friendly rival. Only one of us can be the best, and I aim to prove it’s me. |
| 4 | I won’t sell an art object or other treasure that has historical significance or is one of a kind. |
| 5 | I’m secretly in love with the wealthy patron who sponsors my archaeological exploits. |
| 6 | I hope to bring prestige to Morgrave University. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a secret fear of some common wild animal—and in my work, I see them everywhere. |
| 2 | I can’t leave a room without searching it for secret doors. |
| 3 | When I’m not exploring dungeons or ruins, I get jittery and impatient. |
| 4 | I have no time for friends or family. I spend every waking moment thinking about and preparing for my next expedition. |
| 5 | When given the choice of going left or right, I always go left. |
| 6 | I am a hoarder, i see value in anything. |
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