Name: Kellan Durand
Race: Human
Class: Merchant
Age: 22
Appearance: Kellan stands at an average height with a lean build. He has tousled brown hair that falls just above his bright green eyes. His skin is lightly tanned from days spent outdoors in bustling marketplaces. He typically dresses in simple but well-kept clothing—a short, dark vest over a white linen shirt, and sturdy breeches. A leather satchel hangs at his side, filled with various trinkets and goods he trades.
Background: Kellan hails from a modest family of merchants in a small town. Growing up, he learned the trade from his parents, who instilled in him the values of honesty and fair dealing. With his charm and quick thinking, Kellan has made a name for himself, especially among travelers passing through his town. He dreams of expanding his trade beyond local markets and dreams of discovering rare artifacts that tell the stories of distant lands.
Personality: Kellan is friendly and approachable, always welcoming a conversation with clients and customers. He possesses a natural curiosity about the world and relishes the stories told by travelers. While he is generally optimistic, his desire to succeed can lead him to act impulsively at times. He values trade not just as a way to earn a living but as a means of connecting with diverse cultures.
Motivation: Kellan is driven by the ambition to one day establish a renowned trading company that deals in exotic goods from across the realms. He seeks opportunities that may lead him to rare items or knowledge about the world beyond his hometown. Kellan has a strong belief in building relationships rather than mere transactions and hopes to create a network of traders who share his values.
Quirks: Kellan has a habit of doodling sketches of items he encounters in his travels on scraps of parchment. He often finds himself lost in thought, contemplating trade routes or the stories behind items in his satchel. When nervous, he fiddles with a small wooden carving of a bird, a keepsake from his late grandfather.
Role in Campaign: Kellan can serve as a helpful ally or a source of quests for players looking to acquire unique items. He may provide intel on market trends or direct players to hidden locations where rare goods can be obtained. Should the players assist him in a trade negotiation or help him recover a stolen artifact, he could offer rewards such as discounts on future trades or valuable connections in other towns.
NPC: Jaron Merryspring
Race: Human
Class: Merchant (Rogue background)
Age: 22
Appearance:
Jaron is a wiry young man standing at about 5'8". He has tousled chestnut hair, bright green eyes, and a smattering of freckles across his nose. He dresses in practical yet slightly worn clothing, favoring a deep blue vest over a light linen shirt and leather trousers. A leather satchel hangs from his shoulder, filled with assorted goods and trinkets.
Personality:
Jaron is resourceful, charming, and a bit overly optimistic. He has a knack for making connections and can talk his way into or out of many situations. However, his eagerness to please can sometimes lead to naive decisions. Jaron has a genuine passion for trade and a desire to learn about the world, making him curious about adventurers he meets.
Background:
Growing up in a bustling trade town, Jaron began working in his family’s shop at a young age. He learned the intricacies of negotiation and the value of a well-timed sale. After his parents retired, he took it upon himself to expand the business, often traveling to fairs and markets to acquire unique items and make a profit.
Motivations:
Jaron's primary goal is to establish a prosperous trading business and gain recognition among merchants in his region. He dreams of one day being a renowned merchant and traveling to distant lands for rare treasures. He is also motivated by a desire to help the less fortunate, often giving discounts to those in need or donating a portion of his profits to local charities.
Quirks:
Jaron often hums tunes while he works, his light-hearted spirit making him a pleasant presence.
He has a fascination with oddities and often collects peculiar objects to display in his shop.
He tends to fidget with a small wooden carving of a dragon that he carries for luck.
Role in the Campaign:
Jaron can serve as a valuable NPC for players looking to purchase equipment or hear rumors about local events or quest opportunities. His optimism can lead the party toward various misadventures, and his knowledge of trade routes may provide insights into upcoming dangers or treasures that the players could pursue.
Dragon Campaign Storyline: "The Shards of Aetherion"
Campaign Overview
In the realm of Eldoria, a long-dormant dragon, Aetherion, has awakened from centuries of slumber. This ancient creature, thought to be a guardian of balance, has been split into several elemental shards that now lie scattered across the kingdom. Each shard possesses immense power and is sought after by various factions, leading to conflict and chaos. The players must embark on a quest to reclaim the shards and restore Aetherion before the balance of magic is irrevocably shifted, plunging Eldoria into darkness.
Act 1: The Awakening
Hook: The campaign begins in the coastal town of Windmere, where a series of unnatural storms disrupt trade and threaten livelihoods. Townsfolk report sightings of strange creatures that seem to be linked to the disturbances.
Objective: Investigate the source of the storms, leading to the discovery of an ancient shrine where Aetherion lies. Upon awakening, the dragon shatters into elemental shards representing different aspects: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air.
Act 2: The Factions
Conflict Introduction: As news of the shards spreads, various factions emerge, each with their own motives.
The Elemental Cult seeks to harness the shards’ power to create a new world order.
The Dragon Hunters Guild aims to eliminate the dragon and its remnants.
The Order of the Crystal Keepers desires to restore Aetherion and maintain the balance of magic.
Quests: Players must navigate alliances and rivalries while completing quests to recover the shards:
Fire Shard: Retrieve from the Fire Cult's fortress, guarded by elemental creatures and traps.
Water Shard: Dive into the depths of the Sunken City, confronting sea serpents and the cultists that reside there.
Earth Shard: Explore the Whispering Forest, where ancient guardians and nature spirits protect the shard.
Air Shard: Scale the Cloudspire Mountain, facing fierce winds and aerial foes before confronting a rogue dragon.
Act 3: The Conflict Peaks
Final Confrontation: After collecting all the shards, the players discover that the Elemental Cult has successfully summoned Aetherion in a twisted form, corrupted by their dark magic.
Objective: Players must confront the corrupted Aetherion in a climactic battle, using the power of the shards to weaken it. As they fight, they have the opportunity to harness the fragments’ power for special abilities during the battle.
Act 4: Restoration or Ruin
Resolution: Upon defeating the corrupted dragon, players must decide:
Restore Aetherion: If they can perform a ritual to return the dragon to its former self, Aetherion can bring balance back to Eldoria.
Suppress the Shards: Alternatively, they may choose to destroy the shards, ensuring that such power cannot corrupt again, but at the cost of depriving the realm of Aetherion’s protection.
Epilogue: Depending on the players' choices, Eldoria may enter an age of prosperity, or struggle in chaos without its guardian.
Additional Elements
NPCs: Include allies and enemies, such as a wise sage who knows the dragon's history, a rival adventuring party, and powerful elemental beings influenced by the shards.
Side Quests: Incorporate personal stories for each player character, intertwining their backgrounds with the overarching theme of balance, power, and responsibility.
This storyline provides ample opportunities for exploration, combat, and moral decision-making, allowing players to engage deeply with the lore of Eldoria and the nature of power itself.