Background Based Character Hooks
Here are a few character hook suggestions based on background if you’re looking for inspiration
| Background | Character Hook |
|---|---|
| Acolyte | Auril the Frostmaiden, the god of winter’s fury, has cast an evil spell over Icewind Dale. You can bring hope and faith to the people of Ten-Towns or, even better, free them from winter’s cold embrace in the name of your god. |
| Charlatan | Your cons and deceptions nearly got the better of you. You needed to disappear for a while, and Icewind Dale was the perfect place to do so. Nothing could prepare you for the cold and the dark desolation, but at least there’s money to be made. |
| Criminal | You are wanted for crimes in the cities of Luskan and Mirabar, but no one will think to look for you in Ten-Towns, the cold heart of Icewind Dale. Thankfully, nobody in Ten-Towns cares who you are—or what you’ve done. |
| Entertainer | You came to Icewind Dale three years ago seeking inspiration for a new song or poem, drawn by tales of the land’s harsh beauty and the legendary exploits of Drizzt Do’Urden. Since then, Auril the Frostmaiden has cast an evil spell over the dale, preventing you from returning home. |
| Folk Hero | Your name is synonymous with heroism throughout Ten-Towns. Did you save a fisher who fell into the ice, scare away a yeti armed with only a fishing pole and a basket, or beat a drunk goliath at arm wrestling? |
| Guild Artisan | You came to Icewind Dale to start a business. Your shop was doing well until Auril the Frostmaiden cast her evil spell to banish the sun. Now, businesses throughout Ten-Towns are suffering, yours included. To avoid hardship, you might need to supplement your income. |
| Hermit | You’ve never felt at ease in civilized society, and there’s no place farther from the trappings of civilization than Icewind Dale. This is a land without pretense, and the people of Ten-Towns pay you little mind. To them, you’re just another silly old fool. |
| Noble | Your wealthy grandfather or grandmother sent you to Icewind Dale to learn a hard lesson. Perhaps the cruel indifference of this frozen land will prepare you for the cruel indifference of Waterdeep’s politics. |
| Outlander | You’re a child of the icy wilderness, born and raised in one of the Reghed tribes. Imagine, after following herds of migrating reindeer your whole life, getting a taste of what life in Ten-Towns has to offer. |
| Sage | You came to Icewind Dale in search of ruins and artifacts left behind by the giants who ruled the ancient empire of Ostoria. To find even one Ostorian relic would fulfill a lifelong dream and make your rivals back home green with envy. |
| Sailor | You’ve sailed ships up and down the Sword Coast, but a shipwreck made you reevaluate your life choices. Two years ago, you headed north, bought a house and a fishing boat in Ten-Towns, and became a fisher. You were told that the summers here are beautiful, but you have yet to see one. |
| Soldier | You are a soldier of Ten-Towns, trained to fight orcs and other threats lurking in the Spine of the World mountains. Auril the Frostmaiden has cast an evil spell over Icewind Dale, and you struggle to see how your soldier’s training can save this land from so terrible a doom. Still, you are not about to give up on the people of Ten-Towns. |
| Urchin | Because you grew up in Ten-Towns, your familiarity with the residents makes you useful to Harper spies and Zhentarim bounty hunters who are looking for criminals and other ne’er-do-wells hiding in your midst. Ratting out these newcomers keeps coin in your pockets. |
Equipment
Everyone starts off with a set of “Cold Weather Clothing”
| Clothing, cold weather | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventuring gear | |||||
| 10 gp, 5 lb. | |||||
| This outfit consists of a heavy fur coat or cloak over layers of wool clothing, as well as a fur-lined hat or hood, goggles, and fur-lined leather boots and gloves.As long as cold weather clothing remains dry, its wearer automatically succeeds on saving throws against the effects of extreme cold. |
Additionally if your character starts with a trinket or if you just WANT a trinket. Here are some frosty Icewind Dale trinkets.
| d100 | Trinket |
|---|---|
| 01-04 | A small wooden figurine of a yawning walrus, painted in red and black |
| 05-08 | A pair of scrimshaw cufflinks with an image of a fisherman on a boat engraved on them |
| 09-12 | A small iron key with a frayed blue and gold cord tied to it |
| 13-16 | A small illustrated book of Northlander myths that has pages missing |
| 17-20 | A damaged scrimshaw cameo depicting a merfolk |
| 21-24 | A stone from a burial cairn with a tiny Dwarvish rune carved into it |
| 25-28 | A ripped cloth sail with a symbol you don’t recognize |
| 29-32 | An Ulu knife with a scrimshaw handle |
| 33-36 | A jar containing an unidentifiable, sweet, sticky substance |
| 37-40 | A delicate glass ball painted with snowflakes, capped by a metal loop with a tiny hook attached to it |
| 41-44 | An expedition log with missing pages and a pressed flower used as a bookmark |
| 45-48 | An owl figurine carved from whalebone |
| 49-52 | A sewing box that smells of old wood and has three spools of blue thread inside |
| 53-56 | A scrimshaw-handled ink pen with black runic designs along its length |
| 57-60 | A brooch made from a small insect encased in amber |
| 61-64 | A scrimshaw pepper shaker etched with the letter W |
| 65-68 | An old, wooden-handled ice pick stained with blood that won’t wash off |
| 69-72 | A fabric doll bearing an angry expression |
| 73-76 | A set of wind chimes made from seashells |
| 77-80 | A beautiful silver tin that, when opened, emits the smell of rotting fish |
| 81-84 | A bloodstained dreamcatcher made from fishing line, gold wire, and snowy owlbear feathers |
| 85-88 | A figurine of a polar bear made of ice that never melts |
| 89-92 | A snow globe that doesn’t need to be shaken |
| 93-96 | A piece of sea glass shaped like a unicorn’s horn |
| 97-00 | A dark blue scarf that gets lighter in shade the higher the altitude of the wearer |
Secrets?
There’s also an option to distribute pre-assigned secrets if you guys are interested in adding an extra layer to your characters. I’m open to it, but a lot of the secrets rely on Forgotten Realms lore, my knowledge of which is limited. Weigh in, in the comments if you’re interested in that.
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