I've been looking through my copy of 13th Age and I'm intrigued by how their factions and backgrounds impact PCs at character creation.
Since I'm using NotebookLM to help manage my stack of world notes, I asked it to apply that premise to a character in Telrhin. It definitely created a rich backstory with a lot of actionable world connections.
Example of how Icon Relationships and Faction Backgrounds come together on a character sheet for a Telrhin campaign using the 13th Age framework:
Character Concept: Vaelen Kor
- Class / Archetype: Arcane Spellblade / Planar Investigator
- Race: Morden (Human – Lowlander)
- Home Port: Larakan
1. Icon Relationships (3 Points Total)
Icons represent the cosmic forces and titanic mythic dreams shaping Telrhin.
- Positive (2): The Ignis Hearth (The Dream of Kibil-Haal / Genesis Core)
- Backstory: Vaelen carries a relic blade forged around a sliver of an ancient Ignis Stone. The buried artificers of Kithra and the deep Boradun smiths recognize the spark within his weapon.
- In Play: When rolling Icon dice, a 5 or 6 might grant an audience with a reclusive dwarven guildmaster, emergency access to magical forge-fires, or structural insight into an ancient ruin.
- Conflicted (1): Talon the Severed Queen (The Dream of the Shattered Blade / Wake)
- Backstory: Vaelen’s family was saved from a plague by Talon’s cultists during the Siege of Lark-Han. He respects her war against the parasitic gods of Atavis, but fears her willingness to unmake reality to win.
- In Play: Rolling a 5 or 6 grants access to radical anti-god cult safehouses or knowledge of dark Chimerum rituals, but comes with a complication—such as drawing the attention of divine inquisitors.
2. Faction Backgrounds (+8 Points Total)
Backgrounds replace traditional skill lists. Whenever Vaelen makes a d20 skill check where his past membership applies, he adds the background bonus to his roll.
- Field Guardian of the Nomsari (+4)
- Applies to: Identifying planar anomalies, sensing the Ehtre (Edge of Waking), deciphering ancient Chimerum runes, negotiating with cosmic sages, and arcane lore.
- Former Courier for the Triumvirate Guild (+3)
- Applies to: Navigating Larakan’s canals, evaluating cargo and magical trade goods, knowing maritime routes, and utilizing guildhouse credit lines.
- Lowland Pit Fighter (+1)
- Applies to: Feats of physical endurance, underworld brawl tactics, streetwise intimidation, and recognizing black-market poisons.
Blog Type: