Chronos
2015-06-08, 04:35 PM
or, The Value of Backstory
NOTE: If you currently want to kick the butt of a guy named Glass-staff, this post may contain spoilers. You're on the honor system here.
OK, so first of all, some background on my character: He's a rogue with the sage background. Personality-wise, if he were alive in our world, he'd be an ideological copyright pirate: He believes that information wants to be free, and should be shared with all. He came from the House of Knowledge in Neverwinter, and became a rogue to sneak into the library after hours. He has a ritual book that he stole from there (Ritual Caster feat).
Well, our party encountered a creature who was willing to negotiate with us instead of fighting. It said that it would let us all past, for a fee: It wanted a secret from each of us. At the time, none of us knew (in character or out) what it was, but getting past this thing without fighting sounded like a good idea to us.
So, I figure, if he likes secrets, how about a secret that leads to other secrets? So I pipe up, "Does he know about the back entrance to the library at the House of Knowledge? It comes out right next to the Restricted Section.". No, the creature did not in fact know about that, and considered that a very good secret indeed: It let the rest of the party past without payment, and was actually quite helpful to us for the remainder of the session.
After the encounter, the DM asked if I knew what it was. I might, I said, if it's a creature associated with History or Arcana. One good Arcana roll later, and the DM starts reading us the Monster Manual entry. Apparently, it's a thing called a nothic, a wizard under the effects of a terrible curse, and obsessed with seeking knowledge and... sneaking into magical libraries. Huh, who knew?
NOTE: If you currently want to kick the butt of a guy named Glass-staff, this post may contain spoilers. You're on the honor system here.
OK, so first of all, some background on my character: He's a rogue with the sage background. Personality-wise, if he were alive in our world, he'd be an ideological copyright pirate: He believes that information wants to be free, and should be shared with all. He came from the House of Knowledge in Neverwinter, and became a rogue to sneak into the library after hours. He has a ritual book that he stole from there (Ritual Caster feat).
Well, our party encountered a creature who was willing to negotiate with us instead of fighting. It said that it would let us all past, for a fee: It wanted a secret from each of us. At the time, none of us knew (in character or out) what it was, but getting past this thing without fighting sounded like a good idea to us.
So, I figure, if he likes secrets, how about a secret that leads to other secrets? So I pipe up, "Does he know about the back entrance to the library at the House of Knowledge? It comes out right next to the Restricted Section.". No, the creature did not in fact know about that, and considered that a very good secret indeed: It let the rest of the party past without payment, and was actually quite helpful to us for the remainder of the session.
After the encounter, the DM asked if I knew what it was. I might, I said, if it's a creature associated with History or Arcana. One good Arcana roll later, and the DM starts reading us the Monster Manual entry. Apparently, it's a thing called a nothic, a wizard under the effects of a terrible curse, and obsessed with seeking knowledge and... sneaking into magical libraries. Huh, who knew?