For my Hive folks: Today's "blog" is, honestly, not much of a blog! I am starting out a new D&D5e campaign, and the previous hosting I had for player resources like my welcome page wasn't super useful anymore.
So, when thinking of what I could do about that, I realized that I could probably just put this into HIVE. I've been meaning to publish more of my worldbuilding anyhow, and moving things here will very likely make that a much easier process.
This will not replace the on-hold WorldbuildingWednesdays series, but will run along-side it as a practical application of the worldbuilding.
So, with that said, for my players - the rest is for you!
Welcome to the world of Mazenus, and the continent of Trothguard.
Trothguard is a continent that is both peaceful and dangerous. Bustling cities and lively towns can be found across the width and breadth of the Empire, though there are also vast tracts of wilderness that are not actively patrolled and maintained - where adventure and danger stride hand-in-hand.
Seven human Kingdoms comprise the Empire in it's current form, each of which is ruled independently. These Kingdoms are predominantly populated by humans - though some kingdoms recognize the sovereign rights of Elvish and Dwarven kingdoms within their territories. Even so, much of the general population has never seen an elf or a dwarf (though nearly all have heard stories of these races). Other races are the stuff of legend, rarely venturing from their secluded homes (though nearly every race has at least one home on Trothguard, whether humans are aware of it or not). As such, a person will be largely un-noticed as a human, will garner only passing attention as an elf or dwarf, and will bring normal life to a near stand-still as any other race.
The general population of Trothguard views the following races in these ways:
- Half-elf: Largely will pass as either a human (depending on skin tone and ear cover), or seen as an Elf (in the case of half-moon elves, half-drow, etc).
- Halfling: Often seen as curiously short & fat elves, or curiously tall & thin dwarves. Rarely can pass as disproportioned humans.
- Gnome: Often seen as very tiny dwarves. Sometimes mistakenly seen as dwarf children.
- Aasimar: Unless actively using their divine/demonic powers, this race is indistinguishable from everyday humans.
The following races are often very notable, draw plenty of attention, and are regularly mistaken for monsters and demons [Racism isn't a large part of my games, so this is more for background inspiration than anything - adventurers are all seen as weirdos out to get themselves killed and heroes in equal measure]:
- Aarakocra & Kenku: Avian humanoids, these races are often more of a curiosity than they are a source of fear. Much local folklore ties crows and ravens to trickster spirits, causing common folk to view these races with an edge of mistrust.
- Goliath & Half-Orc: These beings are often viewed as savages, and thus are generally looked down upon or outright feared. Sometimes treated with hostility.
- Firbolg: Though not a cause of fear, these beings look strange enough to garner a lot of attention.
- Genasi: Elementals are woven into many ancient tales and stories of rogue spellcasters. Myth claims that some elementals trade in souls, and Genasi are the direct result of a human who's sold their soul (or the souls of their entire family line).
- Lizardfolk & Dragonborn: Often seen more as monsters than they are seen as sentient beings. These races are very often treated with outright hostility / fear.
- Tabaxi & Triton: Tabaxi are often a cause of fear, because of their catlike appearance which is vaguely reminiscent of gnolls or were-tigers. Tritons are also a cause of much fear, because of their alien and aquatic features. Tritons are often confused for Merfolk and Sahuagin.
- Tiefling: Along with several other races, Tieflings are often treated with skepticism. Seen as the offspring of beings who sold their souls to devils and demons, their diabolic nature of this pact leaves little room for anything but fear and mistrust. Often confused as actual devils or demons.
As with all things, these are a guideline and you are encouraged to play any race you would like. Any race can be any profession or class. Which brings us to the real reason for writing this...
Who Are You?
You have recently been hired on by a mercenary company called 'The Amused Kings' (Often abbreviated TAK, and sometimes referred to as 'tacks'). You've been with the company for the past month, learning the ropes with your squad. It's been rough, but the rigors of the training have laid the groundwork of trust and friendship between you and the rest of your squad.
Beyond this... Every other choice is yours. Following are some prompts to help you in deciding who you are, and how you got here. Attempt to answer as many or as few of them as you'd like in building your backstory.
What race are you? How has this influenced your personality, goals, or opinions?
What class are you? How did you get started on this path? Do you have someone in the same class that you look up to as a hero? Why, and who are they?
What is your greatest success (so far)?
What is your greatest fear (so far)?
How do you view the Gods? Who (if anyone) do you pray to? (Please note that this can be ANY god in ANY pantheon. You can take from the Player's Handbook, the pantheon I created, H.P. Lovecraft, Ancient Greece/Rome, etc).
- Most people in Trothguard favor a particular deity, but might evoke the blessing of several others in a normal working day. For example, a simple farmer who worships the god of light might also perform a ritual to the goddess of life at the start of a growing season, or a smuggler who typically worships the god of the seas might offer a tribute to the trickster to help him pass unseen over patrolled seas.
What is your deepest secret?
Do you have any living family?
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