Backstory Requirements
You are completely free to create your character’s backstory as you like. We recommend looking up the backstory guide in the player’s handbook and others online like this one: https://blackcitadelrpg.com/writing-backstory-5e/
But, we do have one single element that must be present in everyone’s backstory:
Your character has died.
Upon your character’s death, our antagonist “Grand Mother” has resurrected you, sort of… It was a really messed up resurrection that made you lose your free will. You have been under her control ever since. Until now….
At the start of session 1 of our campaign, you suddenly regain your own free will. You still remember everything that happened, but you are now able to control your own actions again.
From here you venture out into the world of Kildar, set 80 years after the events of last year’s campaign. During the campaign you get to unravel the mystery of Grand Mother and try to find a way to make sure that Grand Mother can never regain control over you again.
To help you along with your characters backstory we have a few questions to help you and us along the way:
- What was your life like before your death? (See appendix 1 for a few suggestions)
- Which other characters (two or more) from your fellow players did you know before your death?
- How did you die? (Your death occurred between 0 to 10 years before the start of our campaign)
- What are you good at? In other words: Why would Grand Mother have resurrected you? What use would you have been to her?
- What did you do while under Grand Mothers control, for the past 0 to 10 years?
To answer this, choose- or roll for, one of the options in the appendix 2 on what work you did for “Grand Mother” while under her control.
Appendix 1, backstory ideas
Guild Expert
Before death, you were a specialized member of one of the guilds of Kildar. This can be any of the guilds:Farmers, Bakers, Merchants, Scribes, Magicians, Bounty Hunters, or in collaboration with a DM you can create a new guild. You will have good relations with your chosen guild.
Eldritch Inquisitor
Before death, you served as a member of the Eldritch Inquisition. Hunting for foul and evil magic. You will have good relations with other members of the eldritch inquisition. Citizens will seek your help in fighting evil.
Owlbear Protector
Before death, you were a wildlife protector working for the Owlbear Protection Society. You will have good relations with the OPS and druid conclaves.
Lady Elaine’s Crusader
Before death, you were a noble crusader. You spread the goodness of Lady Elaine by helping the innocent and fighting evil and injustice across the land. You have good relations with her followers like temples and the goblins in the south of kildar
Appendix 2. What did you do while under Grand Mothers control?
If you choose anything besides option 1. You get to create óne recurring non-playable character with whom you have a positive or negative relationship. Or you can talk to the story writers (Joachim and Michael) and the dungeon masters to collaborate on one.
If you’ve thought of something really cool not mentioned below, that you would have done during your time with Grand Mother. Talk to the DM’s and storywriters to see if this would fit
The time period spent under Grand Mothers control is between 0 and 10 years.
Innocent
You died and were either resurrected too recently or turned out to not be useful enough or to have had an active role in Grand Mother’s schemes. You will have no negative relations with people in the world because of you spent time under Grand Mothers control
Infiltrator
You gathered information through various means, and sent it back to the Grand Mother. Occasionally you used that information to blackmail people into doing what Grand Mother needed them to do. If you want, you can have some negative relations with people in the world as you’ve blackmailed them, their friends or family..
Smuggler
Whether the goods were information or physical, you were charged with getting it to and from its location. Perhaps you posed as a trader, adventurer, a simple farmer or even a tax collector. You may have contacts or a rival law enforcer that knows you from your time under Grand Mothers control.
Collector
You scavenged, hunted, bought or collected rare items and oddities that were useful to Grand Mother’s schemes, perhaps under the guise of an archeologist, shopkeeper or a fence. You may have contacts or a rival that knows you from your time under Grand Mothers control..
Enforcer
If people in the world went against Grand Mother’s will or needed motivation, you were called in to set them straight, whether physical or emotional. If you want, you can have some negative relations with people in the world as you’ve intimidated them, their friends or family.
Assassin
Some people just needed to die. You were a ruthless killer, taking out key targets to advance the Grand Mother’s schemes. If you want, you can have some negative relations with people in the world as you’ve killed their friends or family.