Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MrKelvin 10-21-07, 10:50 PM	What is the best back ground story you've ever come up with for a character? I've always loved a good back story, but I suck at comming up with my own. Let me know about your favorite one.
jonasdrieghe 10-22-07, 05:10 PM	http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=942285
albinomonkeyking 10-22-07, 11:13 PM	Well, I guess it depends on what you define 'best' as. Is it best as in most original? Imaginative? Offers the most roleplaying oppurtunities or story hooks? Either way, I guess I'll throw up my favorite. I'll try to keep it short, I don't really wanna write several pages. I only got to play him twice before the campaign fell apart, a huge disappointment really. He was a knight of a small kingdom, but he had earned the title knight (playing the class as well) and would demand people treat him with the respect he had earned. Thus, he was called Sir Arden. He was one of the best knights, although not yet good enough material for the elite knights, and he was well liked by everyone. He was known for his almost unnatural strength and kindness, both he took great pride in. He noticed a girl watching him from the castle one day, and after he made note the first time he noticed her there again, day after day. They eventually met and he begin to fall for her. He found out that her parents were wealthy nobles in the kings employ and he could easily see her everyday after training and work. They were always together, yadda yadda, they fell in love. One day the king was asked to procure an escort for a nobleman on business to another kingdom. He opted Arden's service in that he was an excellent knight. Arden took the assignment and was gone for a week. He had headed back only to see smoke arising from the kingdom. He made due haste and found his small city in ruins. Almost everyone was dead, the civilians, the guards, everyone. He rushed to see the king and found him missing. He searched for any sign of him, and finding none, realized that he had forgotten all about his love. He ran to her room in the castle to find her badly wounded. He roused her but, to his surprise, she had no recollection of him whatsoever. He was heartbroken, and he told her who she was, although she remembered that, vaguely. He told her that the castle had been attacked and he had found her like that, making no mention of their relationship. She pleaded for him to help her regain her memories and he agreed. He then systematically searched the castle and city for any survivors, vowing to carry on any legacy of his kingdom and bring honor back to his people. He found few allies, a dwarf he saved from death by lifting the better part of a house from - this would be his right hand man. A cook with a taste for drinking and 'recreational' drugs. A bard who was more than happy to sing the tales of the last remaining knight who would surely honor them all. And finally a holy man, who would say the final peace for any and all that Sir Arden would have to slay in his duties. With his troop ready, Arden set to leave, but not before saying goodbye to the king. He entered the kings room and noticed the kings sword. When he picked it up, it spoke to him. The king had somehow been put inside the sword and whether through his own unwillingness or a geas he would not answer how, or why he had been put into the sword. He urged Arden to use him to revenge the kingdom, but Arden had been dishonored too greatly by failing his lord. He vowed then and there to never use a sword until he regained his honor and name, relying on only his hands and his raw strength. So he set out with the remnants of his kingdom, his king in his sword, and his love with no memory of him. To make matters worse he had been planning on proposing and still held the ring. He was afraid to tell her how he felt because if he told her the truth it might put pressure on her to be who she was, and it could ruin the relationship completely. He was similarly afraid that she simply wouldn't believe him. So he did nothing, and this time he had a shyness of admitting his love that he had never had before. So that was him. I really liked the numerious roleplaying oppurtunities his past allowed him and the concept of using his hands and not his sword which he was trained in. Gods that was long, sorry bout that.
Orchomenos 10-23-07, 03:18 PM	Biella "The Hyena" Aveeray Biella's father was a wealthy and high-ranking municipal officer. When she was young, Biella and her sister Mildred were like many young girls, enjoying beautiful dresses and hoping to wed a young and handsome noble. At this time, that idea sounded very realistic, since they both had long blond hairs, angelic faces with wondrous blue eyes, and thin waist. But unlike most young girls, she also enjoyed to take swordmanship lessons with her brother, to her mother great displeasure. Her life changed when her father died of some disease, leaving the whole family without income. She still hoped to marry an handsome young noble, but the young men who were flirting her sister and her forgot about them when they lost their wealth. Mildred finally married a former military officer, an old, ugly but wealthy man. Bielle turned angered against all the nobility class. She shaved her long blond hair, leaving only a lock. She joined the Black Hands, an anarchist group who delighted in attacking noble houses and city guards. Her ferocity earned her the nickname of "The Hyena". She was saved when she met Bersithag, a crusader of Kelanen who infiltrated the group. His goal was to fight the leaders of the group, but he felt in love with Biella's independant mind. He thought her everything about his faith. Although his love was not mutual, Bielle shared his love of swordmanship. She joinned him, and together they put an end to the Black Hands by fighting and catching the main leaders. After that, she remained friend with Bersithag, but they took separate ways, to avoid the man to suffer sorrow.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-25-07, 12:18 AM	Thurt D'Deneith (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=913906)
cog_n_taz 10-26-07, 11:17 AM	Bill (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=891691) the paladin. Both the backstory in the first post, and what happened since (in the rest of the thread). Definitely my best character, not to mention favorite.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-26-07, 10:50 PM	Dang. :banghead: Bill made it into the thread. I guess I lose this round.:P
cog_n_taz 10-28-07, 06:26 AM	Naw, you've got too much Terjon-ness to lose to Captain Rustic.:D
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-28-07, 06:47 AM	Actually I never wrote a background for Terjon.:P :angelhide :P
Uberwoot 10-28-07, 01:05 PM	I never considered the possibility that Terjon might be the name of a character you once played... Is this truth? I must know! /woot
cog_n_taz 10-28-07, 06:24 PM	Am I the only one that always thought it was?
Vitarri_Whitemane 10-31-07, 01:21 PM	Vitarri and Shalim These two are by far my favorites. They were meant to be played by my fiancee and I in a cityscape campaign that crashed in two sessions. I've continued to refine them in the hopes that someday I'll find a DM that will use them properly. Vittari is an Assimar Shadowbane Inquisitor and Shalim is a Tiefling Shadowbane Stalker both dedicated to Hieronious. They both grew up in the same capital city of (DM decide setting of campaign here.) They each had their own problems. Vitarri lost his father Cyrus, the brave high-priest of the order of illumination, to the crusades against the barbarian hordes of Erythnul. His mother raised him without ever telling him of his fathers heroics in hopes that it wouldn't give him ideas but at around age seven she was approached by the high-inquisitor Aselan that worked along side Cyrus. He pleaded with her to allow him to take Vitarri under his wing and make him a noble soldier of Hieronious as his ancestors were to which she refused. Vitarri never knew of this meeting. Soon after his mother became terribly ill and had to rely on the stipend she was given for her loss she could barley keep the taxes payed and food on the table forget medicine. Vitarri did what he had to and turned to a life of stealing from the rich nobles in the nearby market every time he'd get close to scraping together enough the local constable would catch him and he'd loose all the money he earned trying to get himself out. Last thing he wants is for his mother to find out what he's been doing for her. Two years of scrounging and finally he gets the money and brings home the medicine only to find the same constable at his door. "Son, I'm sorry but she's with the angels now come with me lad we need to find you a new home". Unfortunately His mother was the only family he had so he was sent to one of the local orphanages in the slum district. As for Shalim she was a victim of circumstance from birth she was cursed with the devil's blood and it was obvious. Horns, tail, red-eyes, and raven black hair she scared her mother to death. She was abandoned at the orphanage in the slums another life ruined by the red-light district. The head-master of the establishment found her on the front steps crying in the rain and despite her appearance he couldn't just leave her so he took her in and had her tail removed and quickly put a cap over those black nubs sprouting from her forehead. As soon as Shalim could understand him the head-master engraved it in her mind to never remove the cap around anybody for any reason to which the child agreed with some confusion. Shalim was quick to find acceptance in the orphanage and found herself in the company of some of more popular crowds and in the direct company of the play-yard alpha Trent a monster of a half-orc child and exceptionally violent to those he deems lowly enough to attract his scorn. Vitarri upon arrival was one such target. His long silver hair and piercing gold eyes made him look very different and he was very small for his age not to mention he was crying when they brought him in making him look weak, easy prey for Trent. Shalim took great pleasure cheering Trent on with the rest of the mob as he would terrorize little Vitarri Trent's favorite whipping post. This went on for the entire span of his stay at that hellish place. Until that one fateful day. It was a windy Autumn morning the Head-master was busy filling out paperwork in his office and it was time for Vitarri's daily thrashing. Vitarri again was minding his own business simply drawing in the sand when that boarish child's shadow loomed over his earthen canvas. Trent went straight to work kicking sand in his eyes destroying his morning's work and blinding him for a moment wasting no time Vitarri was lifted off the ground by his silver locks as the crowd roared in anticipation. "You gonna cry shrimp" the bully jeered. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction" Vitarri said as he finished wiping the sand out of his eyes and stared through him with those piercing gold eyes. Trent infuriated by Vitarri's unbreakable arrogance beat him mercilessly until his knuckles bled. Vitarri was left battered bruised and bleeding on the ground as Trent went to address his adoring public. Just then a strong gust blew through the yard and Shalim who was cheering wildly in the crowd lost her precious cap and quickly discovered why it was so important. Neither Shalim or Vitarri could tell you who screamed first but the cry of "demon!" could be heard through out the orphanage. Shalim was quickly thrown in the ring of children falling face first in the gritty sand. Shalim looked up to see Vitarri broken and covered in blood and suddenly realized how cruel she had been and how terrified he must have felt as tears of horror and fear ran down her face. The whispering crowd deafened Shalim as she looked upon their cruel faces for compassion. Her eyes met with her half-orc champion Trent as he screamed "KILL THE DEMON!" and picked up a stone to throw. Just then Vitarri heard it "Vitarri... Rise Vitarri... Rise and do your righteous duty... Protect the girl Vitarri!". Trent whipped the stone and Shalim winced with anticipation but didn't feel the impact. She slowly turned back to see the back of Vitarri's fist gripping the rock bound for her face. Without a word he looked up at his oppressor his eyes glimmering with holy light. Trent stepped back suddenly realizing his situation but it was to late Vitarri leapt out at him impacting his chest. Trent's head slammed against the cold earth as Vitarri raised the stone above his head. Trent took a beating the likes of which none of the children had seen. Vitarri slammed his head into the ground only to pull it back up to meet the stone in his other hand. Trent finally got enough breath to beg for mercy and Vitarri rose up and dropped the stone and let him run into the orphanage broken and defeated. Shalim confused and horrified at what she just saw began to back away from her unlikely hero still struggling to get up. Vittari turned to her with a serene smile across his bruised face "Are you hurt Shalim?" Vitarri aproached her and offered his hand to her. Shalim took a second to look at the bloody palm of the runt she tormented for the past four years questioning his motive. "Well?" Vitarri asked. "No, No I'm fine thank you Vitarri..." She took his hand and he pulled her up and waved his other hand across the crowd "Anyone wants to hurt her again gets to answer to me!" The children stared blankly at the two of them for a moment when the head-master stormed out of the orphanage furious at what had just happened. Both Vitarri and Shalim were taken inside to be reprimanded. Shalim was quickly sent to another orphanage while Vitarri seemed to just disappear. As for Shalim her problems were just begining. Over the next four years she was jumped from orphanage to orphanage simply trying to gain some acceptance. It wasn't long before she discovered that her beauty was far beyond that of the other girls her age and soon she found herself accosted by many of the boys who would otherwise have tormented her. She spent the few remaining years in the beds of these young men in a desprate cry for attention. She did discover one thing about herself she loved it the rush of lust through her body her blood boiled with preverse joy with every experience. It also became appearent that she was cursed or in this case blessed with infertility and with no consequences she embraced her new impulses. By the time she was sixteen she left the orphanage to strike out on her own. She quickly found her way to the red-light district and found herself in the employ of a Olidammaran Priest who ran a house of ill-repute sanctioned by the district of course. She was a special treat for rich nobles and foriegn dignitaries the upper echelons of society. For a few years she was one of the priest's best escorts and Shalim was great at what she did. So much so that she attracted a very special customer. He was tall, dark, handsome, and well-spoken while he was clearly quite wealthy he displayed it much more tastefuly than the other nobles. Out of all the girls who could have kept him company he chose Shalim above all others. The man treated her respectfully and was quite kind to her throughout the night until they arrived at his loft. The man led her inside and as Shalim entered the room went cold. She heard the door shut behind her as the room grew dark and the illusion faded. The room seemed more cavernous hewn stone covered with moss. The smell of mildew and mold overpowered her senses and turned her stomach. She looked on the floor to see a blood seal writen in infernal etched into the ground and she suddenly realized the danger she was in. She turned to face the sociopath that had led her to this place only to discover what the man truly was. Just as the illusion of the loft faded so to had his guise and so it stood a nine foot tall monstrousity a pit fiend born of the nine hells.Shalim let out a blood-curdling scream as it echoed through the cavern. "What's wrong we were having such a good time..." The devil cackled and charged the defensless Shalim. She slammed against the wall the devil pinning her neck with one massive claw. "Please don't do this" Shalim begged the devil "Mercy...". "No mercy for you little cursed girl... I've been watching you and I think you'd make a excelent addition to my harem but lets have a little taste first." The devil ran his forked tongue across Shalim's face as she wept "Someone help..." she faintly squeaked. "No one's here but us your alone little one!" the devil cackled again only to be interupted. "You're never alone Hieronious is with you always..." A voice came from the shadows calm and soothing. Just then the tip of a holy rapier errupted from the creatures throat and a bright light from above struck him. The devil burst into white fire and collapsed to the ground revealing Shalim's savior. He was a broad tall man with short brown hair not peticularly strong looking but he had wisdom in his eyes beyond his years he donned black heavy platemail and carried a shield of darkwood carved into the symbol of the Order of Illumination. "are you alright child?" the priest looked upon Shalim sobbing on the ground slumpped on the wall. "No I 'm not alright... I don't want this..." Shalim gibbered between sobs. "You don't want what?" the priest asked confused. "This life... No one cares if I live or die... I'm just a doll somthing for men to play with... I don't want it anymore...". The priest paused for a moment then gave Shalim his hand "Then we shall start a new one. Heironious offers his hand to all will you accept it?". Shalim paused a moment and wiped the tears from her eyes "Thank you Father...". "Alistair, and I should know the name of my new pupil." "Shalim". "So sister Shalim rise and let us begin there is much work to be done" Two years of training passed as Shalim learned the sacred texts and was trained in the ways of a priestess of the order. High-Priest Alistair had taught her everything she needed to know her training was almost complete and her trials would soon begin. She was making preparations when she over heard an argument between Alistair and the High-Inquisitor Aselan. "A tiefling Alistair are you daft!" the knight bellowed. "Last I checked I'm the head of this chruch and if you serve her you serve me." Alistair replied. "Cyrus would never condone such a reckless course." "No disrespect but I knew my master as well as you Aselan. If you are so cocerned with her purity then bring your student here she needs a partner and I think he shall make a fine guardian." "You have some nerve Alistair... Very well but don't say I didn't warn you." Aselan grumbled to himself as he stormed out of the sanctuary. After a moment Alistair spoke " You can come out now Sister Shalim he's gone..." "I'm sorry Father Alistair I didn't mean to..." "No need child as you heard I arranged for you to meet your knight you should prepare for his arrival." "Yes Father." Shalim bowed and quickly rushed to her quarters to clean up and change into her robes. She was just finishing combing through her hair when an acolyte came to her door. "Lady Shalim your knight has arrived shall I tell him you will need a moment?" "No, I'm ready." Shalim responded. "Very well sister than follow me." the acolyte led her back to the sanctuary to meet her knight. Shalim couldn't believe her eyes the young knight was kneeling before the statue of hironeous in a black inquisitor robe he prayed softly his voice like a gentle wind and his long silver locks rolled over his broad shoulders. "Vitarri?" Shalim softly inquired. The knights head lifted and he began to rise. Shalim wasted no time and ran to her old hero. As Vitarri turned to look upon his partner he found Shalim wraped around his waist. "Shalim? Is that you? It's been ages!" Vitarri exclaimed as he pulled Shalim away to get a better look. "You remember me?" Shalim asked flatered. "How could I forget. If it wasn't for you Aselan wouldn't have found me and I wouldn't be here. It's because of you I became a knight." Vitarri started to blush as he spoke "My you've grown..." Shalim chuckles and gives him a playful little shove. "I've grown? look at you shrimpy little Vitarri. Your built like an Ox now." The acolyte slowly stepped foward nervous to interupt their reunion. "Lady Shalim I apologize but the trials are about to begin are you two ready?" Both nod and follow the acolyte in the chambers prepared for the tasks that await them together. And the GM would pick us up there. Throughout the game their relationship would slowly form and they would have the moral conflict of how to deal with Shalim's infernal compulsion towards lust and discover if their love will cause her to fall. The twists I'd like to see are that Aselan is actually a blackguard who is trying to commandeer the order to bring totaliatarian law to the city. Aselan cast a contagion spell on Vitarri's mother so he might take Vitarri under his wing later. Aslean will kill Alistair and frame our heroes after Vitarri refuses to join him. Aselan is Shalim's real father he never knew his wife was pregnant and lost her to suicide (possibly the reason he continues to serve his evil master as her soul would go to the burning hells for taking her own life) and he will later blame Shalim for that when he figures it out via some unique birthmark. The pale rider Aselan uses to kill his victims (Skeleton companion riding a fiendish warhorse servant) is actually the remains of Cyrus. The desired end game is they defeat Aselan free Cyrus from his undead prison reform the order and with Heironious' blessing marry and have the curse of infertility lifted to have a daughter who will be the favored soul of Heironius to be played in the game's second generation that I would probably run if the GM doesn't continue it himself.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 11-01-07, 12:03 AM	Terjon is definetly a character... definetly. I never played him though. I was just inspired by the feat spell thematics from one of the FR books and after coming up with the idea for a sorcerer who used blue roses as his theme he turned into a mix of joke and character building exercise between me and a friend. He has come fairly close to being played, though, with the sheer number of scenes my friend has come up with just to see his reactions to. Terjon quickly came to define the term arrogance (oddly Terjon was one of my only characters never to have an actual background). Terjon, a barbarian, and a cleric sit at a bar recounting their many triumphs. The barbarian proudly exlaims "I once single-handedly slew an ancient red wyrm who had destroyed 3 nations and now was threatening another." The cleric replies "I searched for weeks through ancient ruins and found the demon who had inhabited them and was resurrecting the legions it had once used in the past to conquer the whole of the world. I sent it back to hell and seeled the portal behind it; forever ending its threat." Terjon replies "Those are mighty impressive but I once routed out and conquered a cult of Sharess. I'm rather proud of that, though I must admit it seemed fairly easy the second and third time that day that I conquered them... those women were just too willing to be conquered after the first time through."
Vitarri_Whitemane 11-04-07, 09:47 AM	I think I killed it... *pokes thread with a stick* :(
Dipteran_Legacy 11-05-07, 08:18 PM	lol, I've just come back to these boards recently, but I dug back and managed to find my old characters story. the campaign ended very abruptly and in a very anticlimactic way, so I just sorta stopped writing, but it's still probably a good read, though the tiny forum print may make it too much of a pain for some.... anyways, here's Greiz Kirstall (http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-601080.html)
carl_brisgamer 11-05-07, 08:39 PM	It may be a little obsessive/compulsive, but I will not play a character in any RPG until I have developed a detailed background. My current favourite is my Living Greyhawk bard Artanis Knarf. Only second level level but a bunch of fun to play. LG character backgrounds: Artanis Knarf (Brd2) http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=865 Goran Foehammer (Clr1) http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=700 Julius Roodenheid (Msl2) http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=746 Tedesca of the Wegwiur (Bbn2/Ftr9/Rgr2) http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=389 Torgrimm Wmg5 http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=591 Uther van Oostmeer (Ftr12/Mnk2/Rgr1) http://perrenland.rpga-apac.com/charlist/character.php?CharId=422 Haralda Ragnarsson (Bbn2) http://ratik.rpga-apac.com/index.php?option=com_heroes&task=view&id=937&Itemid=69 Todger Rockfondler (Wiz7) http://ratik.rpga-apac.com/index.php?option=com_heroes&task=view&id=798&Itemid=69
Shiftkitty 11-06-07, 04:02 PM	Kinda backstory related, I've been trying to find bio info on Gromph Baenre. All I've got is the Menzoberranzan box set to go on. I'm reading novels that involve him so I can get him figured out, but for anything prior to "Homeland", where he gets mentioned only in passing as "Gomph", I've got nothing. I have a sick and twisted backstory for the boy that, if the drow bothered with the male side of the family, would make him Drizzt's cousin, (purely by accident on my part). If I can't find an official bio, I'm going with mine, which I'm still working on.