Backgrounds

You all grew up in the city and know each other from various inner-city adventures. Tell me (and everyone else) your childhood background. This would be things that would be common knowledge to all characters in the group.

I am a half-elf named Desplorn Slate. My human father rose in the ranks to ship captain for a shipping company. My mother is an elven cleric. My youth was spent alternating between apprenticing on voyages and helping my mother's church do good deeds around town. For fun I liked to climb buildings and jump from roof to roof.

I became a private detective to help those who the law has abandoned or those have no other options.

Poppy Shortwick's reason for detective work arrived when his mother was murdered by a thief, he was just a child coming home from music lessons. The local authorities were unable to catch the criminal, so the Shortwick family turned to a detective for justice. Not only did the thief face justice, Poppy was impressed to the point where he knew it was something worth pursuing.

Despite his loss Poppy keeps his spirits high, an aspiring musician with a penchant for over the top theatrics and joy for the wonders of the universe. Being in his early 20's, he found decent success with the tavern crowds as well as hunting criminals. His father wasn't as enthusiastic about what he considered risky business, but knew his son seemed happy, plus he wouldn't turn down some extra coin.

Poppy leaves Cityville for a trip deep in the wilds every month, where he secretly is taught Fey music by a Dryad; a practice which originated when his Father took him on a camping trip a few years ago. One night Poppy heard strange music, after following the sound he stumbled upon a fantastical creature, and the two became friends.

Added more details

Your building is a small, worn down district that’s technically considered the government district though, one might argue it’s on the docks.

[quote="rpgventurer"]

Several years ago Ranor's mother was murdered, and the crime remains unsolved. Ranor has been the provider for his family since then, his father being an alcoholic wreck. Saul Ravenhead, a local alchemist, kindly took Ranor on an apprentice. Ranor proved an indifferent alchemist, remaining obsessed with solving the case. He devoted as much time as possible to developing his investigative skills, pursuing leads, and building credibility with members of the community. Unable to make any real progress, Ranor has become increasingly desperate and willing to bend rules to get results. When his friends floated the idea of forming a detective agency, it was a no-brainer.

Talthros Kazrian is 46 year old human inquisitor grave domain cleric of the Temple of Kelemvor. He has dedicated his life to maintaining the balance between life and death and leads a life of investigating the occult and hunting demons, hellspawn and the undead in an attempt to return balance to the world. Talthros' father was a sage researcher in the city's academy and his mother volunteered at the temple, introducing him to the faith at an early age.

Following entering the clergy and advancing beyond acolyte status, Talthros spent many years in the service of the city's military as a healer and stalwart defender of the faith. He proved particularly adept at the investigation and elimination with impunity of the occult and all it entails, often rooting out the foul presence from the harder to reach areas of the city as well as the unexpected areas. Apprenticed to Inquisitor Malthereus following his departure of the city military, Talthros was taken under the wing of a man he admired with as much devotion as his deity.

Talthros' heart was broken, and his faith was almost lost when his investigation of a particularly deep rooted occult presence revealed that he discovered his beloved master had kept his wife in a crypt, risen from the dead, such was the Master Inquisitor waning for his beloved. It remains unclear what occurred when this discovery was made, except that the cloister was damaged almost beyond repair and a wounded and mentally strained Talthros was discovered in its catacombs. No sign of Malthereus has ever been found.

Talthros, on regaining his physical strength was promoted to the position of inquisitor, joining the ranks of few in the clergy that serviced the city. Talthros' faith appears to remain unshakable, but his methods have become more...questionable, and he has been known to indulge in liquor and the flesh which has earnt the ire of many in the clergy. He is something of an outside to them now, many at once admiring his strict adherence to the law of their god in his dealings with the heretical Malthereus and yet hating him for destroying their beloved master. Yet his unwavering ability to identify and eliminate the dark threats to the city separate him from his inquisitor colleagues and earn him a level of tolerance despite his misgivings.

Whilst Talthros is an inquisitor for the faith, his keen eye for detail and investigative work as well as seasoned martial and clerical abilities with warhammer and crossbow often see him sought out by other members of the city in need of assistance in areas other than the occult. Having known many of his fellow adventurers for many, many years, he has taken up office with their detective agency in a bid to obtain mutual benefit. He possesses a serious, almost morbid demeanour and smiling is a thing of the past.

I don't have a character sheet for you, Jabber

So, I want everyone to have a connection to at least 2 other people, so everyone is connected somehow. It doesn't have to be super-detailed at this point, just a generic connection. We Can work out specifics in game.

My character Desplorn was in the youth group band with Poppy. He did it to support his friend more than fulfill any desire to perform.

Desplorn's attempt to focus Ranor's energies away from his murder obsession to something more positive resulted in them helping stray animals for a while and becoming friends too.

Desplorn is a young adult whose mother is a cleric of Selune. He knows Talthros from various joint temple activities that both participated in.

Poppy relied on Desplorn in his younger years for moral support after the death of his mother. While not interested in religion, Poppy respects Desplorn's decision to become a paladin, and the two as friends.

Poppy feels empathetic to Ranor, the tragedy reminding him of his own loss. However Poppy is also concerned because of the slippery slope Ranor is on, and wishes there was some way to help.

When Poppy has a gig at his usual Tavern, Talthros is usually there, and the two will collaborate their knowledge on criminals or leads. Talthros has earned Poppy's respect and admiration because of his drive and apathy for religous sorts who criticize his use of free will.

Ranor is grateful for Desplorn's friendship. The time they spend caring for stray animals is a source of stress-release and fulfilment for Ranor, ordinarily so focussed on his fruitless morbid quest.

Ranor bonded with Poppy over their loss of their mothers. Ranor looks up to the slightly older Poppy; he was able to achieve justice for his mother, whilst Ranor has failed so far to do so. He has built up an exaggerated idea of Poppy's abilities as a result, and often tries to involve Poppy in the search for his mother's killer.

Ranor has met Talthros through Desplorn and Poppy. Ranor made a few subtle overtures to Talthros about sharing some of his temple's lore but Talthros gently shut him down, insisting the secrets belong to members of Kelemvor's faithful alone. Ranor admires Talthros' dedication to his goal, recognising a kindred spirit. He has been keen to help Talthros with his work whenever possible, hoping to glean some useful knowledge from the experience.

Looks like we lost Talthros as a character. I'll find a new person.

No still here. Post coming shortly. Sorry kids bday party has left little time.

OK, character sheet uploaded.

In terms of connections:

Talthros' connection to Desplorn has been stated and is through both our mothers being heavily involved in temple duties.

Talthro's other connection is to Ranor, although it is an often strained one. Talthros has nothing personal against Ranor and certainly does see him as a kindred spirit. However, Ranor being a warlock rubs against the grain of Talthros' devotion to Kelemvor in his desire to protect the line between life and death, a line warlocks often diminish in their ministrations.

Talthros' devotion to his deity means he is often impartial to who lives or dies, instead it is about ensuring that either side doesn't cross the line unless through natural means (that is through the process of birth and death). He has an inbred hatred of all undead including demons, zombies and anything else that has broken the natural order. His remit is to restore and maintain the balance between the two worlds of the living and the dead. Whilst this may seem as though he is uncaring of the living, ultimately his actions are a result of a deeply held compassion for life as a whole....its just often misinterpreted.

Let me know if there is anything else you need.