Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MaxDog 09-02-04, 11:52 PM	After leafing through the Eberron CSB I remembered all the reasons I played AD&D some 30 years ago. I got hooked up with a local campaign which will be starting soon and have been amusing myself with learning a whole new set of rules and trying to create some characters. Here's my first attempt at an excommunicated Shifter Monk (formerly of the Church of the Silver Flame) Being alone was nothing new to Jorien; in fact, he preferred it to the suspicious staring and occasional insult he’d come to expect here on the frontier. Since the Reaches had proclaimed its independence, shifters were suspect in Aundair. At least his monk’s habit, loose and flowing as it was, hid his shaggy mane and too-long arms from casual observers. But when he spoke with passers-by, as he had to inevitably do, he could see their smiles disappear, their faces shadow with doubt: this is no holy brother, but a terrorist from Eldeen, an unclean were-spawn infiltrator. Even as his hackles rose at a lifetime of remembered slights, Jorien remembered the words of Brother Herbalist: “It is natural to fear the unfamiliar, the unknown. The blacksmith, you do not know him or how he will respond to you. So, you fear. Fear darkens your mind. He senses that shadow of fear in you and reflects it. You see his fear and reflect it in turn. Everyone fears what they do not know. And so the shadow grows. You must step from the shadow; let people know you as I know you and the light that burns within you will dispel the shadows in them…and within yourself.” Jorien saw the wisdom in the old brother’s lesson, but knew that sometimes people feared what they knew, or at least remembered. And there was no doubt that Jorien was a walking reminder of the troubles between his birth land in the Reaches and his adopted homeland of Aundair. Jorien only wished he remembered more of the land of his birth. All he recalled were brief glimpses: snatches of a tune sung by a female voice as the light danced through the leaves of a great oak tree, and a child gurgling in delight. But the happy memory always disappeared into a fury of fire and flight, a blinding white flame and a tumult of noise more felt then remembered. Who is this woman? In his memory, he cannot see her face, only two hands reaching for him, one bearing a crescent moon tattoo. He, too, bore this mark, his only connection to the time half remembered. Jorien had more concrete memories of the next years: a childhood spent in the orphanage for children of the War. Run by the brothers of Silver Flame, they taught him letters for his mind and the religion for his soul. His teachers were not unkind, but with so many in need, they could spare him little affection. Being the only shifter, he did not fit in well with his peers – there were the inevitable taunting because of overabundant hair and fearsome visage. On one occasion, four older boys pushed Jorien too far and he lashed out in fear and anger, shifting for the first time. With his new found strength and razor fangs, he nearly killed his tormentors and terrified himself. Avoiding both his own shifting ability and the fearful glances of his fellows, Jorien found himself alone. He searched anywhere he could for a place to belong – his natural abilities and curiosity drove him up the walls and over the roofs, until one day he scampered over the orphanage walls and into the cloister itself, to spend hours hiding in the gardens there. It was while reveling in the fresh scent of green growing herbs and dappled sunlight that Brother Herbalist had first found him. The old brother took the boy under his wing and taught him of herbs and plants and the healing concoctions made from them. Jorien found peace among the quiet contemplatives. The daily observances calmed his troubled spirit; service to community fed his need to belong. The martial training and discipline practiced by the brothers promised both an outlet and mastery of the wild nature he harbored and feared. He spent hours in silence, helping Brother Herbalist in the garden, trying to emulate the quiet wisdom of this old monk, so powerful that he no longer needed combat. He trained hard in the practice ring, his natural abilities leading him to excel at the acrobatic feats. But, he feared the beast within and the changes that it brought. One day a powerful lord came from Thrane to visit the monastic outpost, Lord Benedix the Stern. Lord Benedix had climbed high the Church hierarchy primarily because of his ruthless prowess has a hunter of lycanthropes. It was rumored that he, along with other more reactionary elements in the Church, continued a secret campaign against shifters. Benedix, curious about the monk’s combat training and disbelieving an unarmed man could best a battle trained paladin, requested a demonstration. His finest student, armed with his holy vestments, would face a student of the Abbot’s choosing in a mock battle. The Abbot chose Jorien – partly to teach the haughty Lord humility, but mainly because Jorien was their finest student. Jorien, eschewing weapons, faced the young paladin unarmed. At first, Jorien avoided his opponent, hoping he would tire under the heavy armor. Eventually, the warrior knight drew blood as Jorien tumbled past; “Cursed were-blood! My blade has not tasted the vile fluid since my Lord Benedix gave it me. Now I’ll need to have my blade blessed to remove the contamination!” cried the paladin, trying to anger Jorien into a mistake. It worked too well. Jorien shifted, taking up his most fearsome aspect and lunged at the stunned knight. In a moment he had dropped the young paladin, shattering both the heirloom blade and the arm that held it. Although the Abbot shielded Jorien from Benedix’s immediate wrath, he could do little about the machinations within the Church – within a month, Jorien was expelled from the order. Jorien was saddened to leave his monastery home and mentor, but he was never particularly devoted the Silver Flame – his dedication was to the service of the community and the perfection of his skill. While the Flame may serve the cause of good, the corruption evident in the Church showed its path was false. Still highly spiritual, he has set off to find his own path, honing the skills he learned and seeking other communities to serve. He has heard of holy men who follow no gods and savage barbarians who worship trees and wonders if they have a surer path to enlightenment. And from the land of his birth, he hears snatches of a song, half remembered and wonders about a crescent moon tattoo. I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on 1) improving the backstory; 2) role playing this character; 3) the exceptabiltiy of this character to my GM
jnrhayz 09-03-04, 11:19 AM	3)I for one think that is a great background. I know little of the ECS I am sorry to say, but it seems to fit well with what I have heard. 1a)You might want to throw in a vow of revenge from the student you defeated. Adds some fun for the DM. 1b)Also more explanation of his acceptance into the order to train and not being put back into the orphanage. 2) He would probably be very cautious around new people. He is trying to overcome his internal fears by helping the communties. Won't be the "face" of the group, but will definetely help anyone in need. Also, easily angered when taunted.
TheMightyMcClaw 09-05-04, 09:48 AM	Cool backstory. As for roleplaying.... this is more general than specific roleyplaying advice, but adopt a distinctive mode of speech for the character seperate from your own. Either an accent, a style of vocabulary, a different voice, etc. I've found that it helps greatly for getting into character and making the character stand out. Since this character has a sort of forced solitude, there are two ways he can treat it: He could either try and work against it, and thus be highly extroverted and gregarious, or it could make him naturally introverted and quiet. The second path is more natural, especially for a contemplative character like a monk, but the former could be more of a change of pace. jnrhayz has a good point about being easy to anger.... you could even take it a bit further and make Jorien extremely pugnacious and eager to fight. However, that disposition might conflict with his pursuit of enlightenment. While this might make the character seem contrary, it could also be fun.... his pursuit of enlightenment is hindered only by his love of fightin'. :P
MaxDog 09-05-04, 11:48 AM	Thank you both for your comments -- I'm working on a "Vow of Vengence" and name for the broken paladin enemy. I love the idea of a peer-level character out for vengence against my character. Hope the DM does too. After writeing the backstory I too saw the "quick to anger" theme in the character and had decided to incorporate it. (Meta-game use -- I'm starting with a new group and now I don't have to be the face of the party) I see Jorien as the classic "hard to get to know, but loyal to the death once ya know him kind of character". I had sort of settled on a "peace-loving" character -- a monk who avoids violence except when necessary and sees his animal nature and quick anger as something which must be controlled tightly. His inclination would be to use weapons rather than unarmed combat as weapons are "tools" and allow him greater distance from his animal side. Mechanically I had thought to arm him with a reach weapon (longspear) and follow the new Eberron Serpent Strike feat path, which uses the longspear as a monk weapon. But your "brawler" comment gave me a new concept -- a grappling monk who, in the heat of battle charges in. Of course afterwards he's ashamed of himself. Have to think about it. Thanks again for taking the time to read my backstory and comment. Haven't done this in quite sometime and it's a whole lot more fun with such a big community.