Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Junkyard Dog 09-14-07, 11:06 PM	For the first time, I'm having difficulty coming up with an interesting background for a character. I'll be creating a 1st-level character and I'd like to do a human swordsage/master of nine build (from Book of Nine Swords), possibly splashing a level each of fighter and barbarian. (That combination of classes almost necessitates a human or half-elf to avoid multiclassing penalties; the prerequisites for master of nine swords are so feat-intensive that I'd much prefer a human for the bonus feat.) The campaign will be set in Eberron, primarily in Q'barra. The party will not be a goody-two shoes group, either. As it is, the Book of Nine Swords material is not very well integrated with Eberron. I've read everything on Q'barra and it's quite a nice area in which to set a campaign. I'm just having trouble getting into any of the ideas I've come up with for the character. It doesn't really matter to me that he be from Q'barra. I just envision him as someone dedicated to the mastery of his fighting techniques, probably Neutral in alignment. I don't see him as being one of the New Galifaran idealists; he'd be too cynical for that. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
JulesCARV 10-05-07, 12:41 PM	Hmm... maybe he originally came from the Lazaar Principalities. He left seeking knowledge of the martial disciplines. Since then, he's been a footloose mercenary, and he's been everywhere. He's been to Adaran monasteries, sweeping floors while begging Kalashtar monks to teach him their wisdom. He's fought as a mercenary in the Last War. Perhaps he's even been into Shavarath, as a mercenary for archons, demons, and devils, trying to glean what knowledge of combat he would from them. And now... he's in Q'barra. He gets everywhere eventually, and now he's in Q'barra. Maybe he heard there was money to be made fighting the lizardfolk as a mercenary, or maybe he heard that there was some master of some lost discipline here. From his broad experiences, he has a certain amount of mystical knowledge, and might even have a sort of spiritual, ascetic aspect. That doesn't fundamentally change his nature, though: he's still a mercenary warrior seeking to perfect his craft.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-05-07, 11:26 PM	OK. I admit it. I'm twisted. I love a good twist. And here's the twist I want to see on this character. He was the real strength behind a Thunder Guide. It doesn't really work at first though so here is how I see things. As a young man you spent every spare copper reading the tales of Sir Redblade. He was a dashing swashbuckler who's crimson rapier would repel the giants and drow of Xendrik, the undead monstrosities of Karnath, the beast of Droam, and the demons of The Wastes. He could do anything and be anywhere. When you were old enough you bought a ticket to Sharn, where his stories were written. You took a job as a delivery boy at the paper where his stories were sold and waited for the day you would meet him. It proved a wonderous meeting and he even allowed you to travel with him for a time. Unfortunately you quickly learned that while Redblade was happy to take the spotlight, it was an old hobgoblin servant traveling with him who did the real fighting. You learned a great deal from Old Hob. You learned the truth of the blade. When Old Hob died in Q'Barra, Redblade was not far behind. You barely escaped. You understand why Old Hob let Redblade take the glory. It's not about glory. Now you, too, have found companions to travel with through this strange new land. Now you, too, will protect them.