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Returning 35 results for 'backstory family some city'.
Monsters
Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
evidence or sign of vulgarity. Yet, in mysterious letters and rumors, Saidra receives evidence that her own simple, spiteful family dwells somewhere beyond her city. Their confessions could bring all her
Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
patriarch Fzoul Chembryl, House Chembryl and its descendants were scattered across Faerûn. Some members have dutifully continued the family’s dedication to Bane, while others have sought to
, Bhaal, and Myrkul has earned her the title Auspice of the Dead Three.Karas Chembryl’s Lair
Karas operates from a hideout deep beneath the city of Baldur’s Gate. The hideout contains
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
youth as a homeless orphan, eking out a meager and dreary existence on the fog-shrouded streets of Gloomwrought, a city in the Shadowfell. He earned a few coppers selling broadsheets as a young boy, then
that the work gave him a sliver of joy. When the old keeper died years later, Naeryx replaced him.
The wealthy family that owned the clock tower didn’t pay Naeryx a lot of money for his work
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
Head Office, the mage known as Flabbergast. It's said that he hails from Neverwinter, and that his wealthy family helped erect and carve the famous Dolphin Bridge in that city. Although he detests
Monsters
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
City Guard. In that position, she watches over traffic that passes through the gate — and ensures that her associates in the Black Network can come and go freely.
Born to a well-off family in Calimshan
Monsters
Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
boxes with simple fittings to elaborate, gilded sarcophagi and reverent, fabric-lined caskets.
Beyond the City of Doors, animated coffins serve similar—albeit less industrial—roles
. Natural ambushers and tireless sentries, animated coffins guard ancient necropolises, family crypts, and the lairs of powerful Undead. A cautious vampire might sleep in an animated coffin to evade hunters
Species
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
customs of the others. The distinct clans that united to form the house remain important, and heirs of the family usually retain their family names rather than adopting “d’Tharashk” as
tradition dictates. Each of the three major clans—the Aashta, the Torrn, and the Velderan—has a representative on the Triumvirate that governs the house, and the city of Zarash’ak
Species
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
customs of the others. The distinct clans that united to form the house remain important, and heirs of the family usually retain their family names rather than adopting “d’Tharashk” as
tradition dictates. Each of the three major clans—the Aashta, the Torrn, and the Velderan—has a representative on the Triumvirate that governs the house, and the city of Zarash’ak in
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
family, based in the town of Longsaddle. Cold and dispassionate, she took to magic only a decade ago in her late forties and is skilled in the arcane tradition of necromancy. She has a lifelong struggle
would not have been admitted into the Arcane Brotherhood without her family connections—a fact that sticks in her craw.
Vellynne brought a family heirloom with her to Icewind Dale: a professor orb
Elf
Legacy
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Species
Basic Rules (2014)
high cliff over the fabled city of Qualinost.
Four slender spires rose from the city’s corners like glistening spindles, their brilliant white stone marbled with shining silver. Graceful
lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Qualinost. The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness
Centaur
Legacy
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Species
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
In the sprawling city of Ravnica, where “open road” seems like a contradiction and “open plain” is sheer nonsense, centaurs nevertheless retain a love of wide spaces and the
, they celebrate family and community as microcosms of that greater connection. Among the Gruul, they have a strong clan identity, and Selesnya centaurs are fiercely loyal to their individual communities
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
You understand wealth, power, and privilege. You carry a noble title, and your family owns land, collects taxes, and wields significant political influence. You might be a pampered aristocrat
authority that title carries. A noble title doesn’t stand on its own—it’s connected to an entire family, and whatever title you hold, you will pass it down to your own children. Not only do
backgrounds
) 2 Dagger;Daggers, Thieves' Tools, Bedroll, 2 Pouch;Pouches, Shiftweave clothing, 10 GP; or (B) 50 GP
You’re an urban nomad wandering from city to city. You spent your childhood traveling
with your family, using your abilities to evade your enemies. Do you strive to be a force for positive change in the world, or are you an opportunist looking out for yourself? Most Changeling Travelers
classes
Basic Rules (2014)
combatants on battlefields and in dungeons alike.
Trained for Danger
Not every member of the city watch, the village militia, or the queen’s army is a fighter. Most of these troops are relatively
left behind. There are greater risks, perhaps, but also much greater rewards—few fighters in the city watch have the opportunity to discover a magic flame tongue sword, for example.
Creating a
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
the path to Baldur’s Gate fully understanding the complex social morass that awaits. You enter the city an outsider, and it’s likely that—no matter how long you spend in the city&mdash
, survived weather more extreme than any city-dweller could comprehend, and enjoyed the solitude of being the only thinking creature for miles in any direction. The wilds are in your blood, whether you were a
backgrounds
Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
Kit, Fine Clothes, Net, 29 GP; or (B) 50 GP
You have grown up with respect for both family and nature. You understand the culture of the Five Nations, but you don’t get drawn into the games
allow you to see through the lies and deception of city folk—and never let on how much of their subterfuge you recognize.
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
You are a scion of one of the great noble families of Waterdeep. Human families who jealously guard their privilege and place in the City of Splendors, Waterdhavian nobles have a reputation across
expect things of you when they know your surname and what it means. Your reasons for taking up adventuring likely involve your family in some way: Are you the family rebel, who prefers delving in
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
service to a deity, such as Kelemvor’s Eternal Order or Mystra’s Knights of the Mystic Fire. Other knightly orders serve a government, royal family, or are the elite military of a feudal state
family, similar to an order of monks. Although there are organizations, such as the Knights of the Shield, that use the trappings of knighthood without necessarily being warriors, most folk of Faer
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
cluster of allied city-states. Conquered neighbors were allowed to keep their leaders and culture so long as they paid tribute, swore allegiance to the victors, and incorporated their conquerors
one city-state were killed and eaten to create the first yuan-ti, and once the news of how to perform these rituals spread to other leaders, the call for slaves to fuel the process increased. As the
Tortle
Legacy
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Species
The Tortle Package
fortifications. They marvel at the works of other civilized creatures, humans in particular, and can lose themselves for years in a city, studying its architectural wonders and learning skills they can
times in its life.
Tortles don’t have surnames or family names.
Male and Female Names: Baka, Damu, Gar, Gura, Ini, Jappa, Kinlek, Krull, Lim, Lop, Nortle, Nulka, Olo, Ploqwat, Quee, Queg, Quott, Sunny, Tibor, Ubo, Uhok, Wabu, Xelbuk, Xopa, Yog
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
While some might think it strange to find hermits in a bustling city, others know that sometimes the most profound solitude exists in the midst of a crowd. Baldur’s Gate holds a handful of
contradictions, fills your hours.
4
You tend to some part of the city’s forgotten history: the unmarked graves in Cliffside Cemetery, the crumbling remains of dead patriar families’ manors, or
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
Baldur’s Gate is a city badly in need of heroes, and every so often, one rises from among its own. Ordinary people who rise to greatness are beloved in local history, but the popular
find a way to salvation.
2
You helped break a Guild protection racket afflicting a community of immigrants in the Outer City. Now, you can’t travel through that part of the city without your
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
, rot, and rebirth. You have spent your life in the slow churn of that ecosystem, in the dark places of the city where the messy parts of existence are on display. There is little squeamishness among the
coins
Feature: Undercity Paths
You know hidden, underground pathways that you can use to bypass crowds, obstacles, and observation as you move through the city. When you aren’t in combat, you
Folk Hero
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any)
d6
Bond
1
I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.
2
I worked the land
failure.
3
The people who knew me when I was young know my shameful secret, so I can never go home again.
4
I have a weakness for the vices of the city, especially hard drink.
5
Charlatan
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
city that just happens to be for sale. These marvels sound implausible, but you make them sound like the real deal.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of HandTool Proficiencies
there, I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her.
4
I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my lands and title from those who
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
’s Gate Feature: Professional Courtesy
You’re familiar with the city’s crews, their territories, and inter-crew politics. Choose one of the three districts of Baldur’s Gate
: the Upper City, the Lower City, or the Outer City. This is the district where you conduct most of your business. Whenever you need information about something in one of that district’s
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
more than a bit of fat with a sprinkle of silver dust — can restore youth and vigor, and there’s a bridge in the city that just happens to be for sale. These marvels sound implausible, but
idiosyncrasies of Baldurian patriars and other nobles, imitating them smoothly enough to convince even the snootiest family heads of your authenticity. You’re skilled at posing as the long-lost heir
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
you can work your way into a more prominent position.
Regardless of your past and the wealth of your family, your initial status with the guild is near the bottom, until you have proven your value
finest pleasures money can buy.
4
No one could doubt that I am a cut above the masses of pitiful peasants that infest the city.
5
I can’t stand to spend a zib more than necessary to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
when creating your Darklord’s backstory: What was the first depraved act the Darklord chose to commit, and how did their ideal encourage them down this path? Was the Darklord rewarded or celebrated for
friends and family rejected them? Did the Darklord think this was warranted or an unreasonable judgment? How did they react? When and how did these acts attract the attention of the Dark Powers? How did the Dark Powers use these acts to craft the perfect prison domain for the Darklord?
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
experience before deciding to become an adventurer? What were the circumstances of your birth? How large is your family, and what sorts of relationships do you have with your relatives? Which people
backstory for your character — an autobiography of sorts — that you can use to inform how you roleplay the character. Your DM can draw from this material as the campaign proceeds, creating situations and scenarios that build off your previous life experiences.
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
Guild took over your family business, ran it into the ground, and burned the building for insurance money. You were driven into crime yourself, but you’ll never work for the Guild. You take
; but what you learn you pass on to the Guild.
4
The inequality of Baldur’s Gate has driven you to take matters into your own hands. You steal from patriars and rich Lower City residents
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
amount of backstory, suggesting the character’s family and what the character did before becoming an adventurer. Take note of specific background characters—friends, foes, family members, and others—who
from a character’s backstory. As characters continue to adventure, they’ll find different goals to pursue, such as finding a lost relic, honoring an ancestor, avenging a fallen mentor, or defeating a
classes
Basic Rules (2014)
avoiding danger, and a few learn magical tricks to supplement their other abilities.
A Shady Living
Every town and city has its share of rogues. Most of them live up to the worst stereotypes of the
coin you needed to escape the squalor of your life. Did wanderlust finally call you away from your home? Perhaps you suddenly found yourself cut off from your family or your mentor, and you had to find
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
areas to help you succeed.
You might be a cunning thief-catcher, prowling the rooftops to catch one of the myriad burglars of the city. Perhaps you are someone who has your ear to the street, aware of
comes in the form of a contact in any city you visit, a person who provides information about the people and places of the local area.
Suggested Characteristics
Use the tables for the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
will miss some words and subtlety of meaning. As you create a Khoravar character, you have a wide range of options to describe your backstory. The Khoravar Origin table can provide inspiration for it
. Khoravar Origin d10 Origin 1 You’re the linchpin of a Khoravar community in a major city, hosting unity meals and maintaining connections with every half-elf in the city. 2 You grew up in a small