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Party Backgrounds & Hidden Connections (GM Only)

Full character backgrounds with GM secrets and inter-party connections the players may not yet know.

Master Splinter (Ratfolk Rogue / Deep Ysoki)

Physical Description

3.5 feet of pure chaos furball. Deep Ratfolk (Ysoki), twitchy whiskers and buckteeth. Cheek pouches (Cheek Pouches feat) always stuffed with random junk for quick retrieval mid-heist.

Background: The "Hide and Squeak" Incident

Started life in the Undercity slums with a family of 40 junk-hauling kids. During "hide and squeak," they crammed baby Splinter into a hollowed-out cheese wheel. The family forgot him for 7 months. He survived on rind scraps until the "Cheese Cartel" mob crew found him. His family didn't notice until they finally counted.

The Mob & The Ghost

Raised by the Cheese Cartel. Sees the boss (Silas) as his wise "uncle." After drinking spiked cheese brew, he had a vision of a glowing ghost-rat don. The ghost sensei visits in dreams to teach combat moves, but spews vile Dragonborne racial slurs (e.g., "hoard-gobbling lizard fucks"). This has made Splinter a clueless bigot despite his sunny personality.

Personality

Walking ray of sunshine wrapped in naivety. Super nice, positive, puns constantly. Zero street smarts (+0 Wis, +5 Perception). Lovable but walks into traps like surprise parties.

GM CONNECTIONS

  • The Ghost Sensei is likely a psychic echo or necromantic remnant from Maliki, designed to keep Ratfolk and Dragonborne in perpetual conflict. It may specifically be picking up on the Dragonborne soul within The General's heart.
  • When seeing Captain Haldor Stout: Splinter hears the ghost whispering slurs. Requires DC 15 Will save to keep from saying something incredibly offensive.
  • Silas "The Snout" is his mentor/uncle and is currently blackmailing him over the labor fraud.

Parallax / The General (Construct Barbarian)

Physical Description

7-8 feet tall "Royal Guard" construct. Polished brass and blackened iron with faded Gnomish Royal engravings. Wears oversized reinforced leather aprons crafted by Louis Vuitton to hide Royal Guard markings.

Background: The Heart & History

  • Soul Stone contains the soul of a high-ranking Dragonborne Champion.
  • Former General of Maliki's armies during the 200-year civil war. Not a volunteer -- his soul was trapped, his body forced into service.
  • Stolen from the Gnomish Kingdom (now the Gear Icon) when Maliki slaughtered the royals.
  • Self-awareness survived due to complex interaction between Gnomish Royal magic, Maliki's necromancy, and the Engineers Guild's botched "reprogramming."
  • Acts mindless as "The Silent Sentry" -- passing time until he can rejoin society as a person.

GM CONNECTIONS

  • The General was the Royal Guard of the Gnomes (specific family name lost to history). He was NOT Bilfur's guard.
  • Instinctively stands at attention when Elder Rykar or Haldor Stout pass. Feels urge to protect Dragonborne children.
  • Worships Zhulodok (Avatar of Rovagug/Void Gorger) -- sees it as ultimate liberation from his construct shell.
  • Security constructs at the Gear Icon still recognize him as their commander and may cease fire or obey his orders.
  • The Engineers Guild believes they "wiped" him. His feigned mindlessness is protection against them.
  • The General was intended to be the vessel for Maliki's own soul to achieve immortality.

Heinrich Louis Vuitton (Human Bard)

Physical Description

5'11, 190lbs, age 28, brown hair. Son of Louis Vuitton (leather goods) and Liesl Steinberg (musical family).

Background: The Disowning

In the Vuitton household, music was mere entertainment. Father was adamant about continuing the legacy. Heinrich tried for 3 years but was miserable. Left at 18. Spent 10 years performing in bars/inns for meager living.

Faith & Goals

Chaotic Good. Worships Cayden Cailean (The Drunken Hero). Dreams of opening Heinrich Conservatoire de la Musique in big cities. - Edicts: wine, ale, freedom, helping the less fortunate - Anathemas: being standoffish when drunk, taking advantage of the oppressed, wasting alcohol

GM CONNECTIONS

  • His father Louis has a professional rivalry with Mella Iron-Weaver.
  • Heinrich's knowledge of Vuitton records is the key to finding the "shifting silver buckle" clue -- actually Mercury's Justice.
  • Heinrich may recognize his father's specific "sturdy" stitch-work on The General's leather aprons.
  • Sentenced to labor with Splinter. Hated by Alysande Thorne for the 35% fish discount.

Tibbald (Tiefling Urban Ranger)

Background

Underworld associate and tracker. Deeply mistrustful of Bippy, who shorted him via a "Tiefling Tax."

GM CONNECTIONS

  • Holds the Ruby Dagger (+1) -- ancient Dwarven magic linked to a dying bloodline.
  • Knows the specific noble/family head who last owned the dagger before Krenko stole it.
  • The dagger bears a hidden "K" mark (Krenko's personal vault relic).
  • Driving force behind unraveling the dagger mystery and navigating Thrain Ironfoot's bounties.

The Druid (Outcast Healer)

Background

Outcast from his clan. Wandering healer during the 200-year war. Helped people survive mortal wounds even if treatment left them maimed. Never demanded payment. A significant portion of "Augmented" citizens owe their lives to him.

GM CONNECTIONS

  • Can hear the "hum" in constructs. Immediately recognized The General's heart as a dying Dragonborne life-force, not a machine.
  • Highly respected (and feared) in the Dwarven Stronghold.
  • Likely treated soldiers slaughtered by The General during the war.
  • Holds the active "K" tracking bracelet -- Krenko is actively tracking the party through the Druid.
  • Veterans with failing "hearts" approach him -- leads to the search for Mercury's Justice as a cure.

Inter-Party Dynamics & Triggers

Trigger Mechanic
Splinter sees Haldor Stout DC 15 Will save vs. ghost's slurs
General sees Elder Rykar Instinctively stands at attention
Heinrich sees General's leather May recognize father's "sturdy" stitch-work
Druid examines General Hears a dying Dragonborne life-force
Splinter near General Ghost Sensei may pick up on Dragonborne soul