Background ideas for a Dwarf Transmuter, with Zhentarim affiliation

[Magean]

Hi,

The title says it all. I'm going to play in the Out of the Abyss adventure, so I need a character with a Forgotten Realms background. I mean background in terms of character history, not special feature or mechanics. In this campaign, PCs start as members of a Zhentarim squad escorting dangerous trade operations, which explains why they were in the Underdark in the first place.

Besides, I plan to play a Dwarf transmuter, so I have the following questions:

-why, where and how would a Dwarf have learned magic in the Realms? I'm not a expert on the setting. Transmutation seems like the most natural school for a Dwarf, of course.

-where, geographically, would a Zhent Dwarf come from? From Dwarven communities in the mountains surrounding Darkhold? Or from the Dwarven population in human realms? I don't know how likely you are to find Dwarves outside of Dwarven settlements in the area.

I don't need too many details either since we won't leave the Underdark; still, I like characters that are at least somewhat fleshed-out.

Thanks for any suggestion you may have!

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The Faction Agent (SCAG) is the obvious Background. A dwarf does not need to have learned magic in their native community. They may well have travelled to/been sold to/been forcibly recruited by Darkhold, and trained in magic there. The Zents have there own magical schools.

 

[Magean]

Thanks for your answer! Here's what I'm going with: my Dwarf was born in the mountains in the vicinity of Darkhold, as a second-class clan member. The Zhent abducted him at a young age among other hostages, to keep the clan into submission. The Dwarf then was relatively well-treated, and proved a bright student with a gift for magic. Years later, when the hostages were freed, our Dwarf realized he felt no loyalty any more to the clan that let him down, and where he would have no career prospect anyway, and in particular no hope to advance his study of arcane magic.

Instead, he asked a high-ranked Zhent mage to accept him as an apprentice. The mage, surmising potential for a useful tool, accepted to sponsor the young Dwarf, teaching him and otherwise funding his education, sustenance, etc. In exchange, the Dwarf pledged to serve his sponsor long enough for the latter to turn a hefty profit from the investment: he would help in mercenary work, advance his master's ambition in Zhent politics, and so on. Over time, the Dwarf came to feel the same kind of attachment to the Zhentarim that Dwarves normally feel for their clan. He had become loyal to the "family", even though he felt the Black Network would be better served with him more involved in higher-order decision making, so he thought.

One day, the Dwarf was contacted by his master: should he help in a particularly dangerous (and, in all likelihood, of the utmost importance) mission in the Underdark, his debt would be considered repayed. The Dwarf, eager to rise in the ranks of the Zhentarim, accepted the offer. Unfortunately for him, the expedition didn't go well...