Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Archamorden 12-02-03, 04:53 PM	I know this is kinda long but I would really appreciate the good roleplayers that I know are out there to read this...and tell me what you think. This is the first wizard I have ever played and don't want him to feel like another min/maxed magical cannon. I would like to discuss him with you guys if you see fit to mention something. I find the story very interesting...(I know I wrote it but still) Tell me what you think. Thanks Veonynn Adrinoc From the writings of Gallinor Beninnall, close personal friend to Veonynn Adrinoc. Veonynn… For me it was and is a relationship of love and of hate, of pride and loathing. I don’t remember not knowing the man. We grew up together in one of the more upscale districts of the The City of a Thousand Kings. His father was a merchant and head of the merchant guild. His father, Fenossin, was a dealer; first and foremost, of only the finest things money could buy. Fabrics and silks from far off lands, magical items whose nature had only been spoken of in legend, drink and spirits of the Elves and Dwarves. If it was rare, and the rich would buy it, Fenossin would go to great lengths to get it. He also dealt in exotic pipe weeds and narcotic powders and liquids. It is said that, that is where Veonynn’s father made his real money. And with that money, was able to buy the more exotic and expensive items that were so popular with the upper class of the City. Veonynn grew up with he and his mother spending a great deal of time alone. His father would be away on the road for months at a time and it lead to Veonynn and his mother, Vilatia, building a strong and fond relationship. Veonynn was strong willed and quick witted. He grew bored as he grew older and drove his mother to wits end with an unending barrage of questions. There was nothing he was not interested in. Vilatia decided to take 13 year old Veonynn to the Connathar District. The Connathar District was by all accounts the center of merchant activity for the City, but it was also very active with music, art and the “magical culture”. Veonynn’s first experience with magic would be the single most significant event in his life. For years after he begged to study magic but his father refused to let him study the “corrupted” art. Veonynn’s attitude suffered and he was quite a bore to be around. All of the mates we ran with agreed. His mother could take it no longer. At the height of it all, Veonynn refused to leave his house and his mother knew that her strong willed son would have it no other way. When his father left for his next trip, Vilatia sought council with a regular customer of her husband’s, Menolin, the High Mage of the Arcane Arm and Councilor to the King. Fenossin had sought out many valuable items for Menolin, and always at a “relatively” reasonable price, Menolin hastily agreed to take her son under his wing. It did not take long for the accomplished High Mage to realize his decision was a wise one. Never had he seen a human “child” take to the arcane energies and mystical arts the ways Veonynn did. That is when things changed between Veonynn and I. He became very wrapped up in his studies. He really could not get enough. He pushed himself to limits that normally could not be attained. He would go without sleep or food for days until his inevitable collapse. For one of those collapses, he was with me and some mates, in the middle of one of the busiest streets in the City of a Thousand Kings. He grew more distant every week. I did learn that his father gave him reluctant approval to study under Menolin, but it is rumored then, that Menolin “begged” Fenossin to allow the boy to study under him. The time we did get to spend together was awkward and, to me, it was saddening. The story of what I know about Veonynn’s time within the Arcane Arm becomes somewhat limited at that point, until 3 short years later, Veonynn came to me late one fall evening saying that his time at Arcane Arm had come to an abrupt and unexplained end. Veonynn was devastated. I had never seen the man display any form of weakness, it was not his way, but that night he was an utter mess. He had broken into his father’s stash of pipe weeds and powders and tried to numb himself to the pain. I could not understand what he was feeling, I had assumed that he had failed in some respect, and deep down, I was glad. Veonynn had never known failure or hardship. He was a pillar and perfect in everyway. In the first moments of the encounter that night, I hastily assumed that Veonynn’s era of perfection had come to a crashing end. But alas, he muttered things about learning to fast, learning too much, and learning to well, spoke about an inevitable course of surpassing his master. He gasped and smiled. I know not what wicked revelation came to him. In a moment of drug induced clarity he looked me in the eye and told be he had become his own enemy, that he had cut his own throat. He cried out, damning himself. As a friend, I calmed him. In silence we sat. I held him and he whispered that if he was not careful, he would become tainted and his knowledge would become corrupt, much like his mentor. All I heard was blasphemy. Menolin was the High Mage and High Councilor. In the eyes of all he was a benevolent and true advisor to the kingdom. The night ended, and the next chapter in Veonynn’s life began. He bade me to help him find lodging in one of the poorer districts so that he could remain hidden while continuing his studies. I did so and over the next few months made sure he was well and took word to his mother. In Veonynn’s time at the Arcane Arm, he had grown above us, his mother and I. We helped him accomplish menial tasks, but never did we know his true intent. He stayed in his room…rarely leaving, only if he needed supplies for his endeavors. He purchased every rotten book and tome he could get his hands on, passively stating that knowledge is power. Every week it was a new study, evocation, necromancy, elves (both surface and Drow), then the elements…many things I had not the capacity to know. He finally settled for a couple months on dragons. Inquiring to every merchant in the City to get procure him anything and everything pertaining to dragons. It did not come cheap, but his father’s coffers were deep and his mothers hand giving…and he learned about the wretched and mythical beasts until it made me sick. His reliance on the pipe weeds and powders became increasingly more difficult to sate. He used them to stay up hours on end, studying…learning. I finally talked him into going on an outing one night. I intended to show him the beauty of women and how a good drink could help him relax. We went to a tavern and everything went well until he saw a couple of larger blokes arm wrestling. He moved in for a closer look, being always the curious one. The two men looked him up and down. Veonynn was tall but more on the lanky side. One of the men challenged him to an arm competition. He gladly accepted, thinking the crowd in this particular tavern the fun loving sporty type perhaps. He lost miserably, yet he did not seem to care until the man said something like, “Must be one a’ them mages…a lot a’ brain an’ no brawn”. Veonynn’s grin crumbled into grimace. He immediately finished off his drink and went to his flat. A week later he begged me to take him back to the tavern. We walked the city streets, making our way to the, at least to me, familiar tavern. Before entering, Veonynn stopped and whispered to himself, looked up and smiled and held his hand out for me to lead the way. We ordered our drinks and he quickly found the bloke who had bested him the week before. The man laughed when Veonynn challenged him to another arm wrestle, but he gladly accepted. I could not believe my eyes, Veonynn made short work of the man that outweighed him by at least one hundred pounds. As was customary, the loser handed over his money to the winner, but Veonynn handed it right back. All onlookers were taken back by the notion. I didn’t understand it then myself. I passed it off that Veonynn really had no need for money and was being gracious, but later I learned the truth behind Veonynn’s newfound strength. I was an idiot not to see it then…he had cast a spell of strength on himself outside the tavern. He wanted to win…but he didn’t want to gain from it. Not that way. Soon after that, Veonynn decided that he must not disregard his physical attributes, or lack thereof. He began hiking high into the mountains, early in the mornings, to study. Often he would carry a pack filled with whatever it was he would need for that day’s “session”. I chose to accompany him one day and could not believe he would go through so much to assure that his strength and dexterity would not be a cause for embarrassment again. He told me that he would need to be fit and in shape for what he had planned for his life. When asked, he said, “ First, I must hunt a dragon…and test my mettle against a creature both strong and wise. Only then, will I know if I need bother going on.” I understood him less with each passing moment. It was ludicrous to go searching for a dragon…I truly thought my friend had gone insane. I saw less and less of him after that until he inquired if I knew any hearty adventurers that were up for hire. I was a bit of a swordsman myself by this point, and I reluctantly offered to accompany him. He told me that I did not have what it would take to hunt a dragon. I was thoroughly and utterly offended. I hadn’t wanted to go in the first place, I was placating an insane pseudo-wizard. I could not believe his forwardness…however right he was. He left sometime the next morning; I have not seen him since. I maintain his flat, his books and alchemy ware. I suppose it is a vain hope that he will return. After all, hunting dragons is not the safest of endeavors. As I stated in my opening, for me it was, and is, a relationship of love and of hate, of pride and loathing. I find myself wishing that I were out on his adventure with him. I long to tell people of his charismatic yet blunt personality…I long to make them see. Everyday, I feel myself drowning in the irony of his memory. How I valued our friendship so greatly, yet knew so little about him. Veonynn, I hope you are alive and well.
Archamorden 12-02-03, 05:21 PM	Too long isn't it? Noone is gonna read it.....
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 12-02-03, 06:55 PM	I read it, and I have to say it is interesting and not just the bland background of going to an arcane school and leaving for studies, you have both his personality and goals described in a 3rd person, I don't really know what you want from the people on the board, but I do belive you don't have many holes to fill in, all you need to do is go to your DnD group and start playing. ;)
H. Goodfellow 12-03-03, 06:28 AM	I thoroughly enjoyed reading your backstory and I think that you've certainly made a creative and solid start for character. The Yellow Dart Swinger is right - go role play! Having said that, I am now intrigued to know more about how Veonynn's future will unfold in regards to his mysterious past..... Will you be giving us an update?:D Goodfellow
Archamorden 12-03-03, 11:01 AM	If you would like an update...I could probably manage. Has anyone ever written thier backstory in 3rd person befoer. I thought it was fitting for his personality. It keeps enough hidden and gives you only what his closest friend would have known. It is amazing what sitting down and writing about them can do for a character. I feel like I know him... Thanks for reading.
FireHeart 12-03-03, 11:36 AM	Originally posted by Archamorden Has anyone ever written thier backstory in 3rd person befoer. Thanks for reading. Good story. I too am now wanting more...I really want to know what happened between him and his master...great set up for a DM! My backstory for an evil character is written in the 3rd person. Because she is evil, it's unlikely she'd keep a journal and our DM gives good xp for journals! So far it's been a series of stories told by one of her advasaries to group of children...he's using her as an example of what not to do. Hope that helps. -Fireheart
Trydan 12-03-03, 12:59 PM	Originally posted by Archamorden Too long isn't it? Noone is gonna read it..... :eek: Read item 6 of the FAQ (link is in my signature). ;)
Archamorden 12-11-03, 06:48 PM	I like the journal idea...I think I will have Veonynn keep one. In game, he scribbles all the tim ein his journal...but never writes anything at length...maybe I will do that. Cool..... Thanks again to whoever reads this.
Lokahn Mandrake 12-12-03, 12:34 PM	Kudos, I really enjoyed your character's background story from the point of view of his friend. It does a good job of illustrating your character's attributes, how he came to choose his profession, and how and why he is beginning the life of an adventurer. I especially like the fact that he is (was) struggling with substance abuse, it creates an interesting weakness for your character to overcome as well as something for the DM to use for plot hooks, etc. In my opinion substance abuse makes excellent sense with a character of low wisdom (didn't have the common sense or the willpower to resist the addivtive qualities of the substance). And the fact that he was using it to stay up and study for days on end like a mad scientist or a procrastinating college student is actually very believable. Enjoy playing this character, and I too would encourage you to keep a journal for the character as it will help facilitate roleplaying. Cheers
Lady_Firehawk 12-12-03, 06:24 PM	I like your approach here- my only suggestion is to break up the paragraphs a bit more... those big ole chunks of text are kinda daunting. :)
Archamorden 12-13-03, 01:28 PM	Thanks for reading. You are right....I should have broken it up a bit. I don't know if My DM has really gotten off on the story. He read it and we have played like 4 or 5 times since then and he really hasn't played off of it much. Maybe time will tell. I read it again to today and it makes me want to play him right away. Veonynn is currently traveling with an Elven archer, (the only person he directly hired to hunt his dragon), a Thri-Kreen Monk, a Centaur Warrior, (who doesn't trust his magical ways), an Avariel Cleric, and a Psuedo-Dragon Druid. (The Dm wanted to run an oddball campaign...I played a human wizard as I was the last to roll up my character...) They are close to the dragons lair, travelling through an elven tomb as a back entrance to thier final goal. Last session, one of Veonynn's associates from the past paid him a visit. A necromancer from the Arcane Arm cmae upon them and told Veonynn that they (the Arcane Arm) had been watching him and that this was his "test". The associate told Veo that after defeating the dragon he was to bring in the rest of his companions to the Arm. When he asked what interest they had in his companions...he was told that it didn't concern him. That is was the final step in his accendance to high wizardry. Veonynn openly agreed and accepted the gifts that the necromancer had brought him, (A ring and a collection of scrolls). In his mind he quickly decided that his companions need not be involved in any business the corrupted Arcane Arm had with him. The group knows nothing of the conversation and the press on. Veonynn is bitter toward his former school, test or no test. He does not plan to return...and is probably why he will not turn his "friends" over to the wizards of the Arcane Arm. Not out of loyalty really seeing that he is CN. He just doesn't want to be bothered going back to a place that he feels would not benefit him and most certainly could seal his doom. There is somewhat of an update. If you have any questions, let me know.