A Warblade's backstory [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Warblade's backstory [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
the_narrator
08-05-07, 04:29 PM Not too often that I poke my head in this forum, but I figured it'd be nice to get some input on the backstory of my next character. He's a Human Warblade, and the story is set to revolve around a group of plucky mercenaries and their part in a war (or something like that). Here goes...

Pallidar Fletcher, "Fletcher Quinn"

Human Warblade, specializing in Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, and Stone Dragon forms.

Pallidar Fletcher was born to a long tradition of soldiers. Every male in his family as far back as can be remembered has been involved in the military in some way or another. His father, Hiram Fletcher, was a high-ranking officer in the army before leaving to join a burgeoning mercenary company. His grandfather was a general of some legend who had played a large part in protecting the region from a massed invasion of Orcs and Goblins. So it was that Pallidar was exposed to the rigors of the military life from an early age, learning the intricacies of horsemanship, sword play, and overall discipline. When he came of age, he joined the army with the glowing approval of his family. When he graduated from training, he was gifted with a masterfully crafted glaive, his favored weapon, by his Father.

Over his short career with the army, Pallidar distinguished himself for his quick thinking and tactical mind. His head for small-unit tactics brought his small border garrison several noteable victories over the larger forces of marauding Orcs and bandit tribes. His quiet and subserviant manner belie his cunning and inteligence, a trait that caused him to be passed over by his superiors until he was called upon in emergency to formulate a rescue plan when his unit, on a routine patrol, discovered several farmers from the nearby community had been kidnapped by a large force of Orcs. Word of his tactical brilliance spread quickly, and his commanders found him to be a valuable asset from then on.

Pallidar's career showed promise until it was cut short. Upon returning from a patrol one day, he found a missive waiting for him, detailing that his Father had been ambushed and killed by bandits not far from his home. Beset by grief and anger, the normally cool and level-headed young man set off immediately for home without notifying his superiors or asking leave. Upon arriving home, he learned that his Father had been ambushed in the deep woods near the small family estate. Using some of his Father's stashed money, he hired a Ranger by the name of Quinn to find the bandits for him so that he could bring them to justice. After only two days of searching, the two men found the camp of the bandits. Upon reconoitering the place, it quickly became obvious that they were not mere brigands, but a detachment from a mercenary company which was a rival of his Father's. Upon realizing that his Father was murdered for such a base reason as a rivalry, Pallidar once more abandoned his cool and level thinking and attacked the mercenaries, who numbered five strong. Though skilled in fighting and planning, Pallidar stood little chance when against the numbers and experience of the grizzled mercenaries. Were in not for the timely intervention of Quinn he would not have escaped alive, rather than less his left eye.

After recouperating from the confrontation, Pallidar came to the realization that he had abandoned his post, an unforgiveable sin in the eyes of his family and a capitol crime in the military. Upon realizing this, he knew that he could not go back to face justice for his actions, and decided instead to take up his Father's mantle of mercenary, adopting the name Fletcher Quinn in homage to his Father and the Ranger who had saved his life even as he would throw it away.

----
Any thoughts? The concept strays from the published fluff of the Warblade, but I honestly dislike the thought that every Warblade has to be a brash braggart. Where possible, I always separate flavor from mechanics as it suits my needs. I feel that his quiet nature reflects his low Charisma score (8), while his tactical aptitude reflects his high Inteligence (16) and ranks in Knowledge: Tactics. Also, I may end up opting for a different polearm than the Glaive, as I think something less exotic might be in order.
JulesCARV
08-06-07, 12:21 AM I think it looks good.

One thing that I might change just a bit is to give him another dimension -- does he have any interests besides military tactics, vengeance for his father, and money? Does he care about music? Religion? Does he have a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Does he write amateur short stories? Basically, as is, you haven't described him as thinking about anything outside of his military career and his dad. That's fine if you want him to be a very single-minded, focused character, but if you want him to be more "human" you might give him something outside that.
the_narrator
08-06-07, 03:53 AM Thanks for the insight. Another dimension is something I hadn't thought of, to be honest. As is, the character is fairly young and hasn't been exposed to much aside from the military so his interests are more or less all in line with that, but as the character matures I can see him adopting something like that if only to break from the rigors of war.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
the_narrator 08-05-07, 04:29 PM	Not too often that I poke my head in this forum, but I figured it'd be nice to get some input on the backstory of my next character. He's a Human Warblade, and the story is set to revolve around a group of plucky mercenaries and their part in a war (or something like that). Here goes... Pallidar Fletcher, "Fletcher Quinn" Human Warblade, specializing in Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, and Stone Dragon forms. Pallidar Fletcher was born to a long tradition of soldiers. Every male in his family as far back as can be remembered has been involved in the military in some way or another. His father, Hiram Fletcher, was a high-ranking officer in the army before leaving to join a burgeoning mercenary company. His grandfather was a general of some legend who had played a large part in protecting the region from a massed invasion of Orcs and Goblins. So it was that Pallidar was exposed to the rigors of the military life from an early age, learning the intricacies of horsemanship, sword play, and overall discipline. When he came of age, he joined the army with the glowing approval of his family. When he graduated from training, he was gifted with a masterfully crafted glaive, his favored weapon, by his Father. Over his short career with the army, Pallidar distinguished himself for his quick thinking and tactical mind. His head for small-unit tactics brought his small border garrison several noteable victories over the larger forces of marauding Orcs and bandit tribes. His quiet and subserviant manner belie his cunning and inteligence, a trait that caused him to be passed over by his superiors until he was called upon in emergency to formulate a rescue plan when his unit, on a routine patrol, discovered several farmers from the nearby community had been kidnapped by a large force of Orcs. Word of his tactical brilliance spread quickly, and his commanders found him to be a valuable asset from then on. Pallidar's career showed promise until it was cut short. Upon returning from a patrol one day, he found a missive waiting for him, detailing that his Father had been ambushed and killed by bandits not far from his home. Beset by grief and anger, the normally cool and level-headed young man set off immediately for home without notifying his superiors or asking leave. Upon arriving home, he learned that his Father had been ambushed in the deep woods near the small family estate. Using some of his Father's stashed money, he hired a Ranger by the name of Quinn to find the bandits for him so that he could bring them to justice. After only two days of searching, the two men found the camp of the bandits. Upon reconoitering the place, it quickly became obvious that they were not mere brigands, but a detachment from a mercenary company which was a rival of his Father's. Upon realizing that his Father was murdered for such a base reason as a rivalry, Pallidar once more abandoned his cool and level thinking and attacked the mercenaries, who numbered five strong. Though skilled in fighting and planning, Pallidar stood little chance when against the numbers and experience of the grizzled mercenaries. Were in not for the timely intervention of Quinn he would not have escaped alive, rather than less his left eye. After recouperating from the confrontation, Pallidar came to the realization that he had abandoned his post, an unforgiveable sin in the eyes of his family and a capitol crime in the military. Upon realizing this, he knew that he could not go back to face justice for his actions, and decided instead to take up his Father's mantle of mercenary, adopting the name Fletcher Quinn in homage to his Father and the Ranger who had saved his life even as he would throw it away. ---- Any thoughts? The concept strays from the published fluff of the Warblade, but I honestly dislike the thought that every Warblade has to be a brash braggart. Where possible, I always separate flavor from mechanics as it suits my needs. I feel that his quiet nature reflects his low Charisma score (8), while his tactical aptitude reflects his high Inteligence (16) and ranks in Knowledge: Tactics. Also, I may end up opting for a different polearm than the Glaive, as I think something less exotic might be in order.
JulesCARV 08-06-07, 12:21 AM	I think it looks good. One thing that I might change just a bit is to give him another dimension -- does he have any interests besides military tactics, vengeance for his father, and money? Does he care about music? Religion? Does he have a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Does he write amateur short stories? Basically, as is, you haven't described him as thinking about anything outside of his military career and his dad. That's fine if you want him to be a very single-minded, focused character, but if you want him to be more "human" you might give him something outside that.
the_narrator 08-06-07, 03:53 AM	Thanks for the insight. Another dimension is something I hadn't thought of, to be honest. As is, the character is fairly young and hasn't been exposed to much aside from the military so his interests are more or less all in line with that, but as the character matures I can see him adopting something like that if only to break from the rigors of war.