Here's an example of one PC and how they connect to the world/story:
The Theme
The core theme of the entire campaign is 'Power'. More specifically, the exploitation of resources (environmental, human, economic, etc.) and what that does to individuals and society.
The Plot
Our 'Big Bads' are The Five Founders. Once, they were five prospectors who came upon the Unknown. Sensing its incredible potential, they used its magics in secret for decades. They founded the city of Roaring Reach and for the last century have hoarded power in secret, losing their minds and humanity in the constant pursuit of perfection, immortality, and control.
The Player Character
Milo (Wizard - Order of the Scribe) is motivated by his deep love of the incarnate and drive to understand them.
The Location
Milo is a bumbling and burnt out PhD student in the small and underfunded Unknown within the massive conglomerate of the Unknown. He lives in the low rent neighborhood Unknown in a studio apartment above Unknown where he can access the necessary 24/7 hour supply of coffee.
The Clues
- At the start of the campaign, Milo has stolen a mistreated incarnate creature from his school to try to nurse it back to health and return it to its place of origin.
- Milo and fellow PC Talos recall a shared memory of the latter being used in an experiment at the school, unbeknownst to Milo at the time.
- There are rumors that I.I.R. has several corrupt factions within that are not practicing their research "above-board".
- The Five Founders statue stands in the center of the campus. The PCs recognize at least one name on the plaque.
- Secret entrances to the underground lab of one of the founders, Unknown, are strewn throughout the area.
- Back at home over Greg's Cornermart: if Milo ever chats with Greg's daughter Maria, he'll find out she's a research assistant at I.I.R. She just works part-time to help her dad out. She might even have access to restricted areas of the institute.
The Villains
- Milo connects to Unknown, strangely replacing him as the new Champion of the Unknown. He also connects to the still living Dr. Femurton, both through the jealousy Femurton still harbors for not being chosen by the Scholar's Tome himself and by the Institute of Incarnate research, under which he resides.For more on the design of the game, check out specific character, location, quest, and item entries or take a look at the player's homepage.