Creating a Character for Abomination Vaults in Durin | World Anvil
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Creating a Character for Abomination Vaults

Nearly five hundred years ago, a band of heroes called the Roseguard battled the foul witch Belcorra at the Gauntlight Ruins. The Roseguard succeeded in slaying the witch, but at great cost - one of their band, Ovidio Iannelli, died as well. The remaining heroes honored Ovidio’s memory by founding the small town of Ovidio nearby.   Today, Ovidio is a small town with a steady income from farming and fishing. However, increased taxes on rural areas to rebuild Acqua Draconis have put a strain on the local economy and many small farmers in the region are struggling. Several struggling farmers have received offers to sell their land, but almost none have accepted so far.   There is a ominous sense of growing danger in the town. Lasda Vaebrek went missing last year. The Thirsty Goat, a local tavern, mysteriously collapsed a few months ago, killing multiple people inside. There are persistent stories of strange sightings and weird disturbances outside of town. A call for help was issued, and a Holy Paladin of Absyun, Signora Teresa Avallone, and her squire answered. They began an investigation, but they too went missing a few weeks ago.   The annual Founder's Festival approaches - a chance to raise the morale of the town in these dark times. But trouble lurks in the shadows in the days leading into the Festival.   The town once again has a need for heroes.  
Abomination Vaults is the story of a group of heroes who explore the Gauntlight Ruins, fight the evil within, and protect the town of Ovidio. The adventure primarily takes place in the Gauntlight Ruins, Ovidio, and the surrounding countryside.   Players will begin the story tasked with initially investigating missing supplies for the town festival. Player characters are assumed to live in Ovidio or to have personal ties to the town. It is possible for a character to be a recent arrival or traveler, but they must have a strong motivation to both protect the town and explore dangerous ruins. Work with the DM to determine your motivation and ties to Ovidio.   Players are highly encouraged to outline existing relationships between their characters and NPCs, as well as other PCs. The Ovidio page lists notable characters in the town - players can select these characters as friends, mentors, rivals, business partners, family members, etc. The DM can provide more information for each character if there is interest. Players can also create their own NPCs for relationships. Assuming that the player character has lived in the town for some time, they likely also have a residence and not just an inn room - work with the DM on details.   Ovidio is primarily populated by Humans, Dwarves, and Halflings, with some Half-Elven, Half-Orc, and Tiefling residents. Languages that may be encountered in the campaign are Lurian (Common), Orcish, Abyssal, Dwarven, Elven, Marru, Ancient Marru, and Goblin.   Key themes of the adventure include ghosts, undead, will-o-wisps, local heroes and legends, fiends, swamps, missing people, smuggling, and rural life. Characters tied to one of these elements may have a richer connection to the story.   Abomination Vaults has strong horror themes, including suicide, ableism, body horror, blood and gore, cannibalism, and human experimentation, in addition to the aforementioned themes of undead and ghosts.   Abomination Vaults is primarily structured as a megadungeon, supplemented with short adventures on the surface and in the town. There are multiple opportunities for diplomacy, stealth, and cunning within the dungeon, but combat is a core element. Many of the combats take place within the narrow confines of the dungeon - some character builds may be less effective as a result (i.e. long-range snipers, mounted combat, etc.).   Sample Characters:   Please use these character ideas in full or as inspiration.  
  • The Doctor: You're trained to treat wounds of many kinds. But more than a practitioner, you're a scholar. You've heard tales of certain magical rituals called fleshwarping designed to change and improve the flesh. You have recently arrived to continue your studies in an isolated small town and sate your morbid curiosity.
  • The Exorcist: You are a servant of Absyun, dedicated to defeating demons and undead. You’ve heard stories of strange and troubling occurrences in Ovidio, including the recent disappearance of Signora Teresa Avallone. You have recently arrived in town to investigate the troubles plaguing the town and find the missing paladin.
  • The Hunter: Someone important to you was killed by the werewolf Jacobo Mirena. Since then, you've trained to hunt werewolves and other monsters - perhaps for vengeance, perhaps to protect others. You have a trust and bond with Cirillo De Luca from your joint tragedy.
  • The Smuggler: You smuggle goods (usually nothing too dangerous or illicit) across the border with Vatalli as a member of the Great Wolf Lodge. Yasmin Messaoudi is worried about the town's troubles and the impact on business.
  • The Heir: You are the last surviving member of House Bergalieri and the true heir to the Duchy of Acqua Draconis. Your family were all killed by the Throat Crushers over a decade ago, and you fled the city as a child. You grew up in hiding in Ovidio under the care of the Iadanza family. Your true identity is a secret - it is both an opportunity and a threat.
  • The Youth: You come from a long line of farmers here in Ovidio. You are expected to follow in their footsteps, but you cannot imagine anything more boring. You were waiting for an opportunity to prove yourself as hero, just like the Roseguard of old, but perhaps you should have been careful what you wished for. You worry about the troubles facing the town, including the recent tragedy the looms over your friends Lavinia Scaletta and Romeo Scaletta.

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