I was thinking that the explorer guild and the story concept work well
together, and maybe one could gain small unlockables by completing stories.
Examples might be new peaceful skills "Your time among the traders of
Dortlewall has left you with insight into bargain/minging/whatever" or
unlocking quests to find items that you can add as a daily consubable to the
shovel. "You slide the lockpick into the haft of your trusty shovel. Force
isn't the only way to gain entry to places! "/"You unscrew the cap of your
shovel and add the black swirling potion. No true explorer is unprepared to
deal with poison!"