“Tradition is the democracy of the dead - it refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”

Those are the words that first aroused suspicion among the congregation of the Raven Queen in town. Their priestess - Talindra Gourael - had been a long favoured leader of the underground church. She was a Shadar-kai - the ghostly white elves who usually resided in the shadow of the Raven Queen’s own dread fortress. Sho Zuan’s parents were perhaps what you would call ‘nominal’ worshippers at the church of the Raven Queen. It was only natural, then, that their son should be invited to serve at the altar.

However, all was not as it seemed. Talindra was, in fact, no Shadar-kai at all, but a Dusk Elf survivor of Strahd’s purge in the realm of Barovia. Being the only known surviving female Dusk Elf had driven Talindra into a fatalistic madness.

This wisdom she had found not in the teachings of the Raven Queen, but of Vecna: the Raven Queen’s sworn enemy. Vecna was not at all about balance, but about the superiority of death - being eternal - and the frivolity of life, being a gift wasted on mortals and therefore soiled and worthless.

One day, in a sermon, Talindra spoke those words which betrayed her true beliefs. Many of the church members walked out with a mixture of disdain and concern. But young Sho Zuan was transfixed. He’d never heard anyone speak so boldly. He realised that too much power lay in the hands of those who possessed life, and that it should be the duty of enlightened to re-enfranchise those from whom it had passed.

The next day, the city guard were banging on the door of the church. For so many years, they had turned a blind eye, but these rumours of necromantic inclinations could not be ignored. Knowing that death or imprisonment was certain, Talindra made to escape through a secret tunnel in the church. Just as she was about to close the door, she saw Sho Zuan watching her and felt a bond to the boy. She told him that, if he so wished, she would take him with her and teach him all there was to learn about Vecna and righting the imbalance between the enabled volition of the living and the dead. They fled and the city guard never found them. By the time the search was called off, the two were long gone.

Talindra introduced Sho Zuan to their new home, and proceeded to raise the boy herself. She never claimed to be any kind of ‘step-mother’ to him, instead very quickly training him to look after and provide for himself. What she did provide him in copious amounts, however, was knowledge and belief in the teachings of Vecna.

He spent time and learned much about necromancy, the practice of which Talindra no longer had to keep a secret. After many years, when Sho Zuan was a grown man, Talindra unveiled her plan to destroy a Vistani village and turn them into an army of the dead, who would spread her influence across the land. Despite his devotion, something about this sat uneasy with Sho Zuan. He had come to believe that the volition of the dead ought to be restored by giving unlife to those who passed naturally, not by murdering wantonly.

So, for the first time in his life, he defied Talindra and warned the Vistani of her intentions. The Vistani, being a proud people, were outraged. Against Sho Zuan’s expectations, they stormed the barrow and put Talindra to death.

After that, Sho Zuan was left alone to find his own way. It became clear to him that there was nothing more for him to learn at Talindra’s barrow, so he assembled a travelling pack and moved on, never turning back.

The Courier.  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dFYsw3FfxA8XBqqTTj0sUJrwDgRAUu0spON07KXAQy0/edit?usp=sharing

Violet Aria didn’t have any special abilities, grew up in a boring family. But, Violet loved stories, she loved watching people.  She wanted to see more of the world.   So, she set out to do so.  Heading to the big city to try and figure out their life goal.    First up, find work.  The kind of work where they get to know things, and people watch.  A courier sounded good.

.   They spent a year as a courier, going just fine and normal.   However, the city was having a dispute over land ownership.  The landowner was an elderly wizard who claimed the land due to Her  family ancestry being the adventuring group who originally cleared out the mountain and settled it.  The city created a formal writ to be delivered to their home as a form of summons.  Originally a senior courier was meant to deliver the letter, however they really didn’t want to bother and thus “gifted” the assignment to a random apprentice. and just their luck, The Courier was the apprentice who happen to be taking lunch.   Not knowing the area, and given rough directions, they set off!

Only to come to… what couldn’t be considered a hill, nor a mountain, but simply a spire of earth reaching towards the heavens like the tower. Standing tall with a trail upwards.  This was a crock, this assignment was way beyond their skill set, but they accepted this job, made a vow to deliver mail.   Plus. how dangerous could it be?

Thus, up they went, climbing ever higher, rapidly finding out that it was in fact hazardous.  Dangerous cliff faces, packs of creatures, high winds, landslides. but for some reason they couldn’t bring themselves to stop. They had to make it up the mountain, they had to deliver it.

After a tumultuous 12 hours of climbing, resting, hiding, and climbing they made it to the top to greet the wizard.  Giving them a long hard look without speaking.   The courier explained the letter, its purpose, and asked for a signature. Which was promptly answered by the wizard cutting the paper in half and letting it fly off the side of the mountain before going back.

Heartbroken, and incredulous, after going through all of this, for them to not even read it. Much less sign it. All she needed to finish Her  job was the signature. Proof of receipt! No. No they won’t’ accept this.

The next morning, the wizard stepped out Her  door to find The Courier laying down in their garden, covered in mud, wounds, blood, and patchwork of bandages.  With the torn parchment, sewed together using parts of their clothing.  Waking they immediately spring into a rant.

“Like I care if you think you own the land, or if you think the city government is insulting you by asking for proof of residence or family lineage.  But its my job, my only job in this world, to d-deliver this letter. even if I die in the process.  (in a smaller voice) also I need a signature, seal or blood print as proof of delivery.”

Slapping the paper against the wizard’s chest, “This may just be a scarp of parchment to you, but this is the work of so many people.  The Shepard who raised the sheep, the parchment crafter, the official who designed it, the notary who wrote it, the sealer, the mail collector, the sorter, the idiot courier or shoved this on me, and myself.  I won’t let you ignore the amount of work behind this “scrap of paper”.”  Taking a deep breath, they held out the letter.

The wizard cackles, never in Her  long life, nor Her  father’s long life, has something so absurd happened.  “Fine,” waving Her  hand, Her  seal appears on the courier copy.  “In return, I have a job for you, I want you to deliver the letter I will write to my friend.  I never bothered to learn city-statesmanship or legal crap.  But they know it, they’ll help me get this stupid thing sorted. “Mulling over a moment, “I haven’t any gold, but as payment I’ll give you some guidebooks or teaching, and a few gems. That should be worth the fee.”

With a bright smile, click of their heels and a salute, “Yessir! Thank you for doing business with us.”  And thus began the long quest of multi-chain delivery job.

Upon finishing the work and returning to the office eventually, The Courier found that the Wizard and Her  cohorts and apparently took an interest in The Courier and did some minor research on Violet.  One night she had a vivid dream about the  book, as well as creatures chasing her. It wasn’t a happy dream.  The next day she found that she had been given another delivery by name.  Must be a weird one again.   On the way back from the delivery, which was strangely boring and normal, and unintereesting.  She heard a growl coming from behind her.  A strange demonic hound was suddenly standing next to her, growling.  By instinct she smacked it with her book and started running.  It felt like it was right behind her and she couldn’t get away.  So close it was breathing behind her neck.  Suddenly she heard a shout and saw somoene on a horse waving-with many of the creatures behind him.  He seemed to be coming towards her-with his arm outreached.  Violet figured things can’t get worse, so she leapt out taking the hand cresting atop the mount behind the rider.    The ride didn’t last long however, as soon they crashed on a bridge.  Groggy from the impact she realized there was now a third person there, injured but clearly had been fighting a creature as well.    The rider told them to run as he grabbed a bit of metal and charged the creatures.     Suddenly she heard a noise behind her- thinking it was another creature she quickly dodged.  It was not a creature, instead she found herself looking at a dapper middle aged man with a cane and bowler hat.  He slammed the cane down releasing a bright light. The creatures around the area withered and turned to dust. They were saved.

The dapper gentlemen informed them that they were cursed from birth.   These creatures are part of an old bond from the past.  Simply put, they are a fact of their lives now, feeding on their fears.   Red’s scent was the strongest, his fear was delicious.  The young adult had only seen them for a week-but had promptly tried to fight it with a sword, thinkin the bridge would limit how it could fight..  THe girl, it was the first time she’d seen them, she was a courier and hand been coming to deliver correspondence.  The dapper gentleman offered them a choice.  He went on to take all 3 under his wing, teaching them what those creatures are, and how to be rid of them or combat them. 

Violet was not one to turn away interesting secrets, or the potential abilities to help her learn them.  She accepted.  She desired to maintain her job, so her training was as not extensive as the other two. However, the Dapper Gentleman as it turns out was  an associate of the Mountain Hermit.  The Mountain Hermit ordered the courier delivery to the town, intending them to meet.  Perhaps under less stressful circumstances however.   Through her training in magic-something she thought she had no affinity with, she found that the book she was gifted a year ago, awoke. It was her guide, as well as her helpful secret keeper.  It informed her she was chosen as an adjunct recorder for the Akashic Library.  she simply would have to observe, occasionally write things down, and basically continue what she was doing-but on a grander scale.   These new abilities, paired with their new reputation as “That Courier who can do the weird jobs for us” Violet enjoyed her current life.

She still keeps in touch with the others, as well as the mountain hermit.  Something however that says in her mind is the parting words of the Gentleman when they ‘graduated’ something she’s’ asked him and the hermit about, something they refuse to ever speak of again. “The world should have protected you. But you have been asked to protect it. What an Honor. What an Injustice” 

From that job onward, they continued to get the strange jobs, the odd jobs, the dangerous jobs.  Ultimately ending up as a designated odd job courier. With some self training, and piling odd things learned from various strange jobs they were quite good at their job.   She trained her powers to suit. She would learn secrets, observe, but she would also help, or defend.  She would do what she wanted, how she wanted.  After all, the greatest secret to life is to enjoy it. 

Violet is most likely a Tomelock, using it to gain secrets and the like. As well as utility tools. Chain familiar is also potentially neat, but abit more annoying to manage and can be GM annoying with invsibvilibty and such.

Could this be the resurrection of Roll Ashtear?  :)

Ah! I didn't even realize the name until I saw that haha! I haven't had much 5E luck since that PBP crumbled a bit.

Eh while i'm spoilered. Might as well link long form backstories. Would need tweaking for games though.  but this way other folks don't read em (probably).  Though they all suffer from the "its awkward at level 1 due to class splits" but backstoreis are backstories, can just not use "powers they'd have" until level 2 when they could dip. For the ones who frequent that. Also hard to judge stuff.  That other game's level 6 was one of the highest levels I've gotten to.

Ashtear could be pretty neat but I've been toying with redesigning her lately.  Armourer + Theif or Mastermind Rogue would fit her best I think. though pure alchemist isn't bad either. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WpQdzLgkHNQt-GQswWlg6cmoTTZ0e_N80CN6K6z34-Q/edit?usp=sharing

Red the Chemist, uses sword and alchemy, Sometimes thinking about with a 1 dip in Genie warlock for his own "Mobile Alchemical Lab"  https://docs.google.com/document/d/14T-KDrEIUy20urRMkRv5a0xq0edZo66dFJ_tTNPhA0o/edit?usp=sharing

Violet is the Warlock. Tome or Familiar, utility and ranged. She enjoys secrets.  Fathomless, or Undead UA. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dFYsw3FfxA8XBqqTTj0sUJrwDgRAUu0spON07KXAQy0/edit?usp=sharing

Fuse is the mixed Alchemist 5/Undead warlock 6 mix. This guy is just heavy on the damage, while still healing, but takes a while to get going kind of.  Alchemy to keep the Undeath down, reanimator style. Former doctor alchemist as well. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N9kwJOjx4C9xdh0fKwT2278q32waYz1cQ474mn7iDgI/edit?usp=sharing

Onyx never knew his parents - though he doesn't blame them. He was born under an ill omen, arms and legs covered with dark, snakelike scales. Instead he was raised among the clergy of Lathander, who believed that the best way to subvert an evil destiny was to drench it in love and acceptance. Onyx dutifully tended to his chores and earned his keep in the Temple, even if his grasp of scripture was sometimes lacking.

He grew up strong and handsome, and fully understanding of those who feared his ophidian traits. He endeavored to prove them wrong, to win their trust through piousness and generosity.

His chance came in his late teens, when bandits raided his temple. The old and gentle clergy put up little resistance. Only Onyx stood tall against the ruffians, cutting down their leader in a moment of blind fury. Inspired by his resistance, the handful of townfolk rallied behind him and drove off the bandits.

Things had changed, though. Though the petitioners of Lathander applauded his heroism, he had shed blood on holy ground. He had killed a man. He had betrayed the teachings of the holy men who had raised him . . . and a small part of him liked it.

Ashamed of himself, he took his savings and the bandit's sword and hit the road. He has been wandering the Realms for ten years now, doing what small good one man can - escorting vulnerable pilgrims, feeding beggars, and lending his sword arm to rural hamlets.

This life has not been kind to Onyx, and he appears much older than he actually is - he fears it is related to the same curse that afflicts his limbs. More concerning, though, is the recent, malevolent whisper in his dreams, promising the inevitability of some cursed fate.

Ricardo is the son of a slave. His mother, Isabel, was owned by a respected wizard, Xaltotum. She was responsible for cooking his meals and cleaning his house. A rival of Xaltotum's seduced her, hoping to gain access to the wizard's library. But, Xaltotum figured out what was going on before that happened. The rival did however impregnate Isabel with Ricardo. As Isabel was a slave, Ricardo was born a slave. When he was old enough to help around the house, Xaltotum put him to work. The child was very clever, leading Xaltotum to give him ever more complex tasks, including transcribing maps and magic texts. When he realized that Ricardo had an aptitude for magic, Xaltotum began to train him as a wizard. Although Ricardo was raised in Xaltotum's home on the outskirts of Baldur's Gate, the young man had seen little of that city and absolutely nothing else of the Sword Coast. This all changed recently, when Xaltotum gambled Isabel in a game of wizard's chess, a game he lost. Following a heated argument with Xaltotum, Ricardo decided to run away and earn enough money to buy Isabel's freedom and his own freedom. Knowing that he would be instantly recaptured if he hung around Baldur's Gate, the young man he fled north to Waterdeep hoping to find opportunities to earn money.

I'm not sure of where Strahd takes place (is it even in the same world as the Sword Coast?). I can adjust the places of origin to better fit the campaign.

Elisia's father was an ex-soldier who spent most of his days drinking. Not a very rare thing and neither is the next part. Returning home drunk almost every evening, he'd often beat Elisia and her mother. Her mother endured it, but Elisia could not. She'd often run away and play in the forest during the day and hide in her room when she came back after sundown.
In the forest, she'd play alone most of the time, but would also chase bugs, find bird-nests and run away from a wild boar. While observing the animals, she learned how to survive in the forest alone, and at the age of ten, she spent her first sleeping alone in the forest. She was scared but waking up in the morning, to the rising sun and not to a beating father, was the best experience she had ever had. When she came back, her father was very angry and beat her very harshly, but that only encouraged her to sleep more nights in the forest. She found a small alcove under a large rock, just large enough to sleep under to remain dry even when it's raining.

When she was about twelve, it was the first time she did something unnatural. Well, it's not very unnatural, but making a flower bloom is not something everyone can do, and that was only the beginning. As her discovered powers increased in power, finding various ways to use them, she began to affect nature in a way that attracted the attention of a druid who lived in the forest. When the druid found Elisia, she offered to teach her how to use nature's powers which Elisia discovered how to use by her own. Elisia agreed and went with her. She was only fifteen back then, and she didn't visit her parents since. Search parties were dispatched a few times but, since Elisia had spent so much time in the forest for a few years prior, everyone just assumed a wild beast claimed her life and gave up on her eventually.