A Seafaring Dervish [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Seafaring Dervish [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
countbubba
10-29-06, 07:05 PM How does this backstory and character info sound?

Sciabola, CN human fighter 5/dervish 1

Sciabola grew up in the port city of Rosslare, the first of two children. His family owned and operated an inn/tavern, so Sciabola's youth was filled with tales of the seafaring life and the adventures to be had on the high seas, and he wished to one day become an adventuring pirate, too. His father, a fairly pious and very down-to-earth man sternly condemned Sciabola's dreams of adventure, calling them, among other things, foolish and immoral. One day, when the subject arose, and Sciabola mentioned that he wished to spend his life at sea, his father proclaimed, "The gods will soon grant your wish, and in a way you won't like, either!"

As fate would have it, a ruthless army of pirates attacked Rosslare a few days later, sacking the city and taking Sciabola prisoner on a ship called the Kraken. On the ship, Sciabola was subjected to abuse and violence from the pirate crew. On one particular day, one drunk pirate proposed killing Sciabola on the grounds that he was of no use to the crew. To prove his worth, Sciabola did a dance in front of the entire crew, which the captain found very entertaining, and so his life was spared. Sciabola honed his dancing skills to continue preserving his life, and over time, he earned the respect of the captain and a few crew members. But Sciabola was determined not to spend the rest of his days as a dancing slave. During battles and raids, Sciabola carefully watched the pirates fight, and trained himself to fight in secret, and waited for the moment to arise when he could win his freedom.

Since pirates are inclined to bacchanalia, Sciabola waited for a night of drunken revelry, when he killed one of the (inebriated) guards, and escaped on a lifeboat with a few supplies, arriving in a seaport two days later. From this seaport, he was finally able to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an adventurer, and has been roving the seas ever since.

Sciabola is very free-spirited, although he has a healthy respect for the gods, keeping in mind his father's dictum so many years ago.
JulesCARV
10-30-06, 02:34 AM Sounds good to me for the most part, but the pirates being about to kill him when he suddenly starts dancing seems a touch on the absurd side, with no mention of dancing previously. This is not to say that a pirate captain wouldn't spare a good dancer (There are examples Jews who survived Auschwitz by being excellent classical violinists, and having a kapo who appreciated that kind of music, and that sort of thing.), but where did he learn to dance? Did he take lessons as a child?
countbubba
10-30-06, 08:40 AM He learned to dance while growing up in his family's inn, where, as a boy, he would occasionally dance for the patrons to get a little extra gold for the family. He never took lessons, but he picked up tips here and there from sailors.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
countbubba 10-29-06, 07:05 PM	How does this backstory and character info sound? Sciabola, CN human fighter 5/dervish 1 Sciabola grew up in the port city of Rosslare, the first of two children. His family owned and operated an inn/tavern, so Sciabola's youth was filled with tales of the seafaring life and the adventures to be had on the high seas, and he wished to one day become an adventuring pirate, too. His father, a fairly pious and very down-to-earth man sternly condemned Sciabola's dreams of adventure, calling them, among other things, foolish and immoral. One day, when the subject arose, and Sciabola mentioned that he wished to spend his life at sea, his father proclaimed, "The gods will soon grant your wish, and in a way you won't like, either!" As fate would have it, a ruthless army of pirates attacked Rosslare a few days later, sacking the city and taking Sciabola prisoner on a ship called the Kraken. On the ship, Sciabola was subjected to abuse and violence from the pirate crew. On one particular day, one drunk pirate proposed killing Sciabola on the grounds that he was of no use to the crew. To prove his worth, Sciabola did a dance in front of the entire crew, which the captain found very entertaining, and so his life was spared. Sciabola honed his dancing skills to continue preserving his life, and over time, he earned the respect of the captain and a few crew members. But Sciabola was determined not to spend the rest of his days as a dancing slave. During battles and raids, Sciabola carefully watched the pirates fight, and trained himself to fight in secret, and waited for the moment to arise when he could win his freedom. Since pirates are inclined to bacchanalia, Sciabola waited for a night of drunken revelry, when he killed one of the (inebriated) guards, and escaped on a lifeboat with a few supplies, arriving in a seaport two days later. From this seaport, he was finally able to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an adventurer, and has been roving the seas ever since. Sciabola is very free-spirited, although he has a healthy respect for the gods, keeping in mind his father's dictum so many years ago.
JulesCARV 10-30-06, 02:34 AM	Sounds good to me for the most part, but the pirates being about to kill him when he suddenly starts dancing seems a touch on the absurd side, with no mention of dancing previously. This is not to say that a pirate captain wouldn't spare a good dancer (There are examples Jews who survived Auschwitz by being excellent classical violinists, and having a kapo who appreciated that kind of music, and that sort of thing.), but where did he learn to dance? Did he take lessons as a child?
countbubba 10-30-06, 08:40 AM	He learned to dance while growing up in his family's inn, where, as a boy, he would occasionally dance for the patrons to get a little extra gold for the family. He never took lessons, but he picked up tips here and there from sailors.