You and your friends begin your adventures in the Valley of Obelisks, a rugged land on the frontier of civilization. As you generate a new 1st-level character, consider the following points.

The Valley of Obelisks is a big place. Even a fast rider would take days to travel its length by road. Thus, nearly any character you can imagine can be from here. Don't be shy about trying an unusual combination or class and race, or a type of character new to you.

I have all sorts of adventure materials, but I require a reasonably cohesive cast of characters to spring to life. Discuss with me what kind of character you're making. That way, I can make sure we've got the basics covered - someone who can heal, someone who can fight, someone who is skilled with arcane magic, and someone who can deal with traps. You don't have to play a character who's best friends with everyone else, of course, but D&D is a cooperative game, so you shouldn't play a complete misanthrope either.

Root your character in the world - or at least plant some seeds that can grow roots in time. You should be able to pick a community in the Valley of Obelisks that your character calls home, and you should know the basics of how your character grew up, whether living relatives exist, and so on.

You don't have to have a detailed history unless you want to. In fact, it's often convenient to leave some parts of the story blank initially, so you can fill them in later with details that connect to the ongoing campaign. In any case, you should be able talk about your character in a way that doesn't rely on race, class, and level.

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Most communities in the Valley of Obelisks are welcoming to residents of all races, but some naturally attract more of one race than another. Others are the historical home of a specific race.

When you choose a race, you don't necessaril y have to be from one of the communities described in that race's section. You can pick a different settlement, declare that you're from a small hamlet or thorp that isn't shown on the map, or even decide that you want to play a visitor from a far-off land.