Welcome to Curious Quill, an original content resource for d20 roleplaying.
Here at the Chronicles of the Curious Quill, we have introduced you to the setting of Taluma, its people and monsters, and also looked at ways to enhance role-playing in 5e (2014 & 2024). Now we will bring it all together to explore two characters from Taluma: a duo of heroes called Jorgmur Bestbeard and Ghil Grimeye. Maybe we will even share some of their tales.
Custom Species: Revisting Urchins
In 5e, you have the ability to create your own species. You can do this on paper, and even make a playable species in DDB. You can express your creativity by coming up with anything you want. But there actually is a simple way to make your own species without a lot of work.
Read More about how you can do so.
Urchin Pigeoneering
Urchins are know to have a connection with small animals, especially those that live and gather in groups like packs, swarms, and flocks. This includes birds, such as the pigeons that flock in cities as well as the homing pigeons used to send messages.
Read More about the character creation options as a pigeoneer.
New Feat: Bewilderer
Urchins who become known as vexers may become so good at flustering other people that they can bewilder spellcasters. Urchin vexers are so clever they are able to jeer and fluster spellcasters while performing other actions, using only a bonus action to attempt to interrupt their concentration.
Read More about how urchins can interrupt concentration.
Background: Urchin Vexer
Urchins are known for being fast-talkers and annoyances to the big folk with their chittering, bird-like speech. While this is a natural effect of both their physique and culture, some urchins train and hone their vocal abilities to be consistently and overtly frustrating to others, being able to influence others’ ability to resist and complete actions through skill. Through taunting or just sheer speed and volume of sound an urchin can break down people’s composure and cause them to give in or give up.
Read More about the Vexer Background.
Urchin Beekeeping
One of the few trades urchins are known to practice is beekeeping, along with making products from the honey and wax harvested from the hives. Even in cities with limited space, urchins are able to build apiaries or just single hives on the roofs of buildings.
Read More about urchin beekeeping and products made from honey and beeswax.
Urchins & Dogs
Almost all the civilized people welcome dogs into their society and communities, even being considered part of the family in many cases. But dogs are especially important to the urchins. with their various sizes, temperaments, and instincts, dogs serve many roles within urchin society.
Read More about how important dogs are to urchins.
New Feat: Agitator
Urchins are known for their quick talking style, often called chittering (like a bird or rodent), which can be very annoying. They become even more so when they insult and taunt the target of their chittering. They have a knack for throwing barbs at people.
Read More about how urchins take advantage of this talent in battle.
Urchin Offering Altars
Down alleys and in the hidden spots of cities, you can find small altars or shrines with sacks, pots, and boxes of food, clothing, toys, and other goods. These are urchin offering altars, where goods are left not for the gods or exemplars or even tutelary spirits, but for their kin..
Read More about the urchin offering altars.
Urchin Attire
Urchins wear simple, practical clothing. They prefer subtle, earthen colors such as browns, tans, and grays, and use nearly no leather. Their belts, gloves, and shoes (when they wear them) are made of hemp or canvas. The style of their clothes is in fashion with the culture of men or dwarves they live among, as they often purchase children’s clothes of the big folk.
Read More about urchin fashion.