Although the shadowed agency has operated in Faerun for hundreds of years, The Inverted Tower is scarcely recognized by the general populace. Located far to the north, nestled in the mountains of The Spine of the World, The Inverted Tower's base of operation is a meager, ancient, wizard's tower. However, the specific location was carefully chosen: lying at a permanent shadow crossing into the Shadowfell. The tower extends from Faerun into the Shadowfell through the crossing point; within the Shadowfell, the tower appears as a massive stalactite-like structure extending downward to the floor of a sprawling and expansive cave system - an inverted tower suspended from the cave ceiling, stretching hundreds of feet towards the depths. Tiers and tiers of ramparts and battlements extend from the tower, many times larger than its mortal-plane counterpart. This is where The Inverted Tower's mantle of power and true organization reside.

The original mission of The Inverted Tower was to close dormant shadow crossings, map the shadowmist that clings to the Shadowfell, and protect Faerun from the Raven Queen's designs. Most members were born somewhere along the Sword Coast, but they've spent most of their lives in the bleak mirror-realm of the Shadowfell where time moves according to different laws. Veteran members may look middle-aged but hundreds of years have passed in Faerun during their lifetimes. Given the multitude of eras their associates hail from, The Inverted Tower holds a vast array of wisdom and experience. Some wizened veterans still hold knowledge of events that took place a thousand years ago, not because they researched it, but because they were there.

Skill Proficiencies: Two of your choice from the following: Athletics, Insight, Survival, Investigation

Tool Proficiencies: One of your choice from the following: cartographer's tools, thieves' tools, herbalism kit, navigator's tools

Languages: One of your choice from the following: undercommon, infernal, abyssal

Equipment: A leather uniform dyed black and gray, with insignia indicative of your rank, a grappling hook and rope, hempen (50 feet) to scale the ever-changing landscape of the Shadowfell, a lantern, hooded, and a pouch containing 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the soldier background below as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a member of The Inverted Tower.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I’m always polite and respectful.
2	I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind.
3	I’ve lost too many friends, and I’m slow to make new ones.
4	I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation.
5	I can stare down a hell hound without flinching.
6	I enjoy being strong and like breaking things.
7	I have a crude sense of humor.
8	I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success.

d6	Ideal
1	Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good)
2	Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful)
3	Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic)
4	Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil)
5	Live and Let Live. Ideals aren’t worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral)
6	Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I would still lay down my life for the people I served with.
2	Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind.
3	My honor is my life.
4	I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it.
5	Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for.
6	I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

d6	Flaw
1	The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear.
2	I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior.
3	I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives, and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret.
4	My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning.
5	I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
6	I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.