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Ars Oratoria. Ars Epistolandi. Ars Memorativa, Jacobus Publicius (1482)
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For my
Into the Odd campaign in the lands of Immertag where the
sun never sets I really wanted to
use failed careers in the style of
Bastionland but give them my own spin. Fortunately, I had a moment of clarity and did not attempt to write 100 backgrounds but settled for 25 to begin with. These are of course rough sketches that I will continue to work on. Coming up with 300 answers for the questions will take some time though...
To determine which background someone receives I use this table:
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lowest attribute
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highest attribute
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3-4
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5-6
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7-8
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9-10
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11-12
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9-10
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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11-12
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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13-14
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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15-16
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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17-18
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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Who were you?
1 Lucid Wakeghoul
On the brink of wake madness, you
returned. Lucid and clear-minded you will continue to walk this terrain.
What brought you back?
How do you cope with your new being?
2 Excommunicated Voider
Everyone says the voiders are a reality denying idealist
sect. And they are right. You were one of them.
Now, you find yourself clinging to
the substance of being again.
What made you turn back from the void?
What do you like most about existence?
3 Recalled Mercanto-Legislator
They say you can’t please no one in
Liüeg and they were right. There were many things you wanted to achieve in the council.
Now you must look elsewhere to make your mark.
What was your agenda for the future
of trade?
Why were you recalled?
4 Failed Apparatusian
“Who could have known my last contraption
would get me kicked out of the union? Less regulations, more possibilities I
say!”
What is in your toolbox?
What got you thrown out of the union?
5 Surviving Day-Settler
It seemed easy,
building a settlement in the wilds and there were riches to be made. Now
everyone is dead, and you need to venture forth again if you do not want to
perish.
What
was your settlement’s ambition?
How
was it destroyed?
6 Faded Lullaby Luminary
Your music was angelic, almost hypnotizingly
good. But now you have become irrelevant.
What was your instrument of choice?
Why did your star dwindle?
7 Unfortunate Caravanomad
Life on the road transporting and
chauffeuring was good. Too good, apparently.
What happened to your caravan?
What did you move?
8 Burned Listening Guard
Opening gates was
only one part of your profession, listening in on those who passed, that was
your thing. Now you have been considered burned.
On
whose behalf did you listen?
How
did you open gates?
9 Rogue Royal Rationalist
Researching in some king’s name
never interested you. What truly matters is going beyond.
What is your alma mater?
What academic resources did you
misappropriate?
10 Hurried Newling
Fresh off the boat, you need to start anew. Soon
because your past still haunts you.
What did you bring from home?
Why are you in a hurry?
11 Reformed Bathrac
You used to ambush travelers on lonely
roads with your delightfully savage frog faced gang. These days are in the past.
Which Bathrac crew were you running
with?
How did you atone for your crimes?
12 Reinventive Thievocrat
Organized crime
needs to be organized. You were part of the machinery organizing ledgers and
files, cataloguing loot. Stable but unrewarding work.
What
was the last score you administratively assisted in?
Why
is crime boring?
13 Conscientious Weirdbutcher
Be it insectile
carcass or wooly monstrosity, gutting and preparing the strange meats of Immertag
for the market never used to bother you. Now you question your old thinking.
What
was your preferred specialty meat?
Why
do you want to become a fruitarian?
14 Spore Fiend
The fungi’s effects are manifold.
You have sampled them all and do not intend to stop.
What is your fungi of choice?
Where did you usually get your supplies?
15 Fallen Gloom-Prince
Your family belonged to Liüeg’s
elite. Now it is all lost and you are no longer part of high society.
What remains of your former life?
What brought about the downfall?
16 Last Local
Your ancestors lived here before the day never ended.
You will unearth your home again.
Who were your ancestors?
How will your ways be rebirthed?
17 Far Pilgrim
There is extra-worldly terroir out there. You need to
find it and claim it.
Where is it?
How do you find it?
18 Disgraced Night Porter
You were tasked with making night
for the mighty, but you messed up and will never again work the shade pulleys.
Who did you serve?
What did you steal from among the
rich?
19 Expatriated Transformation Scribe
Your oeuvre has always been about the metamorphosis of
the real, never about its interpretation. At home this was not received too
well.
What is changed by your text?
What inspires your writing?
20 Fatigue Tea Farmer
Of course, growing herbals that help
people sleep is good and honest work. But for you it is no longer right.
What happened to your farm?
Who also worked on your farm?
21 Heterodox Numeralist
The order may not like the
contradictions, but the numeric must remain infallible. Once you counted the
hours, now you determine them.
Why did the order pronounce you a
heretic?
How do you control time?
22 Eminence Assassin
Someone needs to keep the famous in check. You were doing
your part until you wronged the wrong.
What did you use to defame?
Who was your last employer?
23 Crooked Docker
Some things need to move fast at the
docks of Liüeg. You only helped a little from time to time.
What was the last shipment you
helped with?
What made you such a bristly fellow?
24 Discontent Ghoulremover
You once were certain those gone
made because of the daylight must be relieved of their misery. Now you are no
longer sure.
How did you dispatch of ghouls?
What happened to your conviction?
25 Veteran Relichunter
You were out and retired. Now that you
have no choice but to return you will show them that you’ve still got it.
What was your big score?
Why have you returned to the game?
