Conceptualizing a LE knight - comments and help appreciated [Archive] - Wizards Community

Conceptualizing a LE knight - comments and help appreciated [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
inthesto
07-18-06, 08:25 AM Before, I present my character, I probably have to briefly explain the campaign setting. Last semester, my DM ran a fairly light-hearted campaign in a home-brew setting where two nations were at war for religious reasons, the players being on the side of the old, polytheistic nation and fighting against a newly risen religious empire that served an omnipotent "Aroi." This next campaign, much more RP-based than the last one, will take place centuries later, where the armies of Aroi have taken over most of the continent, and all the players are important prisoners, transported to a new prison, combining magic and technology to become inescapable.

The very basic concept behind my character is a ruthless lord who fought against the empire out of respect for the old ways and a burning desire for glory. However, he suffered defeat due to a much smaller army and weak leadership. After his defeat, he was captured and locked into the highest security prison available (the reason for this is pretty shaky as my backstory is currently conceptualized, so I'd like some help on this part), where he awaits his fate, most likely execution.

Now that the cliffnotes version is over, let's take a look at the extended version, huh? I'm writing it in the first person on purpose, since what the the character decides to include and leave out can offer more insight into the character than an outside perspective.

For reference, he is a human Lawful Evil knight, possibly with levels of fighter to start off. I have not rolled stats for him yet, but intend on high STR, med INT/CHA/CON, and low DEX/WIS.

"I earned my cut in life with blood. I can earn it back the same way."

You want to know where it all started, right? I think it all started when I killed my father. No, no, it was no cold-blooded murder like those criminal low-borns you hear about. Slow down, will you? This is a complicated story, so let me explain.

You see, my father was a small-time knight in the service of this fat, greedy lord. Fyrhen Stoll was his name, but people rather preferred to call him "The Leech Lord." The man was bloody insane, and I mean that literally. Though highborn like any other noble, he had this vicious craving to watch people kill. He would hold regular public events just to watch criminals murder each other in an arena, and he'd bellow like a fool drunk on wine every time a man's guts spilled out. Blood was his liquor, so I decided to give him lots of that. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

So yes, the Leech Lord loved his blood. Every year on his birthday, he held a grand tournament - well, it was more of a chaotic bloodbath than a tournament - in his name, and crowned the winner a knight. I hear that's how one of my ancestors rose to nobility, but that's not the concern here. The year I was seventeen, my father pushed me to enter. I can't say I know why he told me to...maybe he wanted a son to boast, or maybe he just wanted me dead. Whatever it was, it didn't work out, I wager. In one of the thousands of rounds I had to fight, I ended up pitted against him. He bore all the armor and fine weapons, where I had barely a leather coat to protect me. Guess it didn't matter in the end, as I killed him all the same.

Do I regret it? Feh, absolutely not. It was him or me, and I chose me. I know he would have done the same to me, so no grudges held, even in the afterlife. If anything, he should be proud to have such a strong son.

Anyways, I went on to become the champion that day. With my father dead, I was to inheret all his holdings, so the Leech Lord could hardly offer me knighthood. When he asked me what I wanted instead, I request a match against one of his finest champions. I got it in due time, and I don't think I need to say who won. Of course, the Leech Lord loved every bit of it, and granted me another fight against another one of his best. One by one, I tore through his hand-picked guards, opening up the path to my target.

You see, all along I had this plan. The Leech Lord was a weakling who feasted on the sight of blood, caring nothing for his duties. The lands he held were constantly terrorized by bandits and monsters, and he cared nothing for it, being the fool that he was. Somebody with the might of a ruler needed to take his place, and that somebody was me.

After several years, I won over the lord's trust. Anything I wanted, it was mine. So I asked him for the greatest fight of my life: my lone self against the lord and his five best combatants. It took quite a bit of wine and bloodsport to get him to agree, but he did, and it was his folly. By now, all the real fighters the Leech Lord had were long dead, and all his personal bodyguards either favored me over him or soiled their breeches thinking about holding a sword against me. Naturally, when the day of the fight came, it was over in second. One charge, and the guards yielded to me and let me run my blade right through the stupid fathead who once fancied himself a lord. Right there, I declared myself the new lord, and nobody was stupid enough to argue.

The next few years after that were hell. All the old ministers and advisors were just as stupid as the old lord himself, so I had to tear out my hair finding anybody with the competence to help me run my lands. I also had two brothers and two sisters to see properly grown up, and some kind of marriage to another noble to work out. It didn't help that the peasants thought of me as some kind of bloody murdering usurper and not their damn savior like I was supposed to be. I nearly missed the swinging of my sword, but I had more important things to do.

Just when I thought I had most of the problems in my realm under control, those damned Aroi fools attacked. My lands were far, far away from the fighting, but I guess the tide of war fell out of our favor while I was busy keeping my lands together. The other nobles around me begged me for assistance, and how could I ever say no? Cutting somebody down was exactly what I needed. I gathered what military force I had - not enough, let me tell you - and I rode into battle.

Now, I'm a man who loves fighting difficult odds, but even I cannot handle twenty against one. My host was torn asunder that day, but they left me alive for a hostage. Bloodied and battered, they told me to surrender my lands, but I told them to go to hell. Of course, it wasn't them who went to hell, but instead they decided to send every person I lorded over instead. The day they slaughtered my four siblings in front of my eyes stung the most.

Since then, it's all been games. They threw me into a dank, dark prison. Every day - at least I think it's every day, it's so damn hard to keep track of time in here - they send some brute with a mask to try and tear my nerves down. Obviously, these Aroi fools want me on their side, knowing what a wonderful fighter I am. But like hell am I turning coat. They took everything I had, so I'm taking it back. They keep me in chains because they know they will never stop me once I cast them off. Believe me, one day I will.

I have a blood debt to pay, and I will pay it well.

EDIT: Okay, I'm off of work now. I'll clean up the backstory later, but for now I want to write up a new section of stuff the character (who remains nameless at the moment) left out.

*He is haunted by memories of his family. He saw his father murder his mother, which is the real justification he uses for killing him, despite the alternate explanation given in his backstory. Furthermore, he feels extremely guilty about letting his siblings get killed, although he does not admit it, for fear of sounding weak.

*Other nobles barely any regard for him. Although they did not like his predecessor much, they at least viewed the Leech Lord as a legitimate lord, whereas the character is little more than a bloody title-stealer. Every conversation he has with a noble is an uphill battle, as the only respect they give him is out of fear of his sword-arm.

*Similarly, the commoners do not think highly of the character. He believes in ruling through fear, and publically executes criminals with his own hand, giving him the nickname of "Lord Gallows." He also lops off the hands of thieves, castrates rapists, etc. It doesn't help that he has difficulty keeping discipline within his own ranks, so his soldiers and guards take on his cruel and wicked traits without the just reasons, furthering his image as a bully.

*While an excellent combatant, the character has absolutely no mind for warfare, which is probably the main reason for his downfall. He hates to admit loss on his own account, however, and would much rather blame it on incompetent subordinates and allies.

*Finally, the real reason the character charged into combat was hardly to protect anybody's way of life, but instead for reputation. He fancies himself able to lead the takedown of the new empire, which would fashion himself into a hero. Of course, he doesn't have much interest in heroic deeds for the purpose of saving people, but has few qualms with anything that will help him get into a position of higher power more easily. By now, his interest of climbing the social ladder is also mixed with thirst for revenge, but that much should be obvious.
Wyrmul
07-18-06, 02:00 PM Be honorable in your combat, but ruthless. Stick to the code, but beyond that do a much damage as possible. The easiest reason for you to be in a high security prison is your jailers fear that you will forment rebellion against them, but you are to well known to just outright kill you and make a martyr. Look to religious extremists in the modern world for inpiration. Be dedicated, unwavering, even if what tyou do will bring great deastruction as long as it hurts the Aroi regeme it is justified.

Sounds like it could be a facinating character, I tend to keep characters like this as NPCs but good luck. Also Aroi=Ori? :D
inthesto
07-18-06, 07:56 PM Be honorable in your combat, but ruthless. Stick to the code, but beyond that do a much damage as possible.

I think this much is given for just about any LE knight. :P

The easiest reason for you to be in a high security prison is your jailers fear that you will forment rebellion against them, but you are to well known to just outright kill you and make a martyr. Look to religious extremists in the modern world for inpiration. Be dedicated, unwavering, even if what tyou do will bring great deastruction as long as it hurts the Aroi regeme it is justified.

Not a bad idea, but not quite jiving with what I had thought up but didn't have the chance to type up. I could easily fashion him to appear overzealous while hiding his ulterior motives, but there remains the fact that nobody takes him terribly seriously unless he has a weapon in hand. It's common knowledge that he won his title with blood, so he'd hardly be a martyr in anyone's eyes.

Sounds like it could be a facinating character, I tend to keep characters like this as NPCs but good luck. Also Aroi=Ori? :D

If anything, I think Aroi is actually fashioned after Ass'hai from Martin's Song Of Fire & Ice series. It's speculation, but the clue to tip me off is that the other dieties in the campaign are the Seven Human Gods and the Old Gods.

Thanks, for the ideas, though.
Ensjak
07-19-06, 06:31 PM Do the Aroians know your character's history? Maybe as one final punishment for being brazen enough to stand against them, they plan to kill him and take away the one thing he was ever proud of all at once. They are going to let him waste away in prison until the strength of his sword arm is no more. Then they will have some little welp kill him in front of the warden during a duel for entertainment.

Concept and backstory sound awesome by the way.
inthesto
07-19-06, 07:43 PM Do the Aroians know your character's history? Maybe as one final punishment for being brazen enough to stand against them, they plan to kill him and take away the one thing he was ever proud of all at once. They are going to let him waste away in prison until the strength of his sword arm is no more. Then they will have some little welp kill him in front of the warden during a duel for entertainment.

Oh snap. That's absolutely perfect.

Concept and backstory sound awesome by the way.

Thanks. :D
fefnir
07-19-06, 09:58 PM dont knights have to be lawfull good
Factol Rhys
07-19-06, 11:36 PM *don't knights have to be Lawful Good?*
Nope, that's Paladins. Knights (a new base class from the Player's Handbook II) just have to be lawful.

The backstory sounds awesome. I would say maybe take a page from The Great Escape (that's a rather famous movie, for all you clueless who may not know of it), and say that your character, while a prisoner, was duty-bound to attempt to inflict as much damage on his captors as he could manage, so he was kept in isolation, under heavy security.
Tormsskull
07-20-06, 10:34 AM I really like the story, but I am not too sure how you are going to be able to make this character fit into a party. It sounds like this character doesn't have any real interest in joining up with others for mutual fame/money/etc.

Do you plan on having this character turn Neutral one day? As in all this bad crap that happened to him gave him a black heart, but once he starts to see the real world, see how good and honest many folk are, he starts to change his ways? If so, I'd say it could be done, but it will be a real uphill struggle.

If you plan on keeping him evil for the entire campaign, I'd suggest talking to the others PCs and see if you can get them to be evil or neutral so that your actions won't drive a spike between players.

If you can talk to your DM, I'd see if you cannot arrange a forced agreement with the party. For example, make one of the other PCs a noble or good friend of your captors. Once the captors discern that you aren't going to join them, they decide to shame you by chopping off both of your hands. This will strip you of your ability to fight, and leave you wallowing in misery. One of the PCs who really hates the practice of cutting off hands is nearby when this punishment is to take place, and requests that your captors release you to her. In exchange for the PC saving your hands, you swear an oath to protect this PC and do as he/she commands.

As long as the player of the PC is going to be mature about it, you could have a lot of great RP sessions and a good reason for why you are with the party.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
inthesto 07-18-06, 08:25 AM	Before, I present my character, I probably have to briefly explain the campaign setting. Last semester, my DM ran a fairly light-hearted campaign in a home-brew setting where two nations were at war for religious reasons, the players being on the side of the old, polytheistic nation and fighting against a newly risen religious empire that served an omnipotent "Aroi." This next campaign, much more RP-based than the last one, will take place centuries later, where the armies of Aroi have taken over most of the continent, and all the players are important prisoners, transported to a new prison, combining magic and technology to become inescapable. The very basic concept behind my character is a ruthless lord who fought against the empire out of respect for the old ways and a burning desire for glory. However, he suffered defeat due to a much smaller army and weak leadership. After his defeat, he was captured and locked into the highest security prison available (the reason for this is pretty shaky as my backstory is currently conceptualized, so I'd like some help on this part), where he awaits his fate, most likely execution. Now that the cliffnotes version is over, let's take a look at the extended version, huh? I'm writing it in the first person on purpose, since what the the character decides to include and leave out can offer more insight into the character than an outside perspective. For reference, he is a human Lawful Evil knight, possibly with levels of fighter to start off. I have not rolled stats for him yet, but intend on high STR, med INT/CHA/CON, and low DEX/WIS. "I earned my cut in life with blood. I can earn it back the same way." You want to know where it all started, right? I think it all started when I killed my father. No, no, it was no cold-blooded murder like those criminal low-borns you hear about. Slow down, will you? This is a complicated story, so let me explain. You see, my father was a small-time knight in the service of this fat, greedy lord. Fyrhen Stoll was his name, but people rather preferred to call him "The Leech Lord." The man was bloody insane, and I mean that literally. Though highborn like any other noble, he had this vicious craving to watch people kill. He would hold regular public events just to watch criminals murder each other in an arena, and he'd bellow like a fool drunk on wine every time a man's guts spilled out. Blood was his liquor, so I decided to give him lots of that. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. So yes, the Leech Lord loved his blood. Every year on his birthday, he held a grand tournament - well, it was more of a chaotic bloodbath than a tournament - in his name, and crowned the winner a knight. I hear that's how one of my ancestors rose to nobility, but that's not the concern here. The year I was seventeen, my father pushed me to enter. I can't say I know why he told me to...maybe he wanted a son to boast, or maybe he just wanted me dead. Whatever it was, it didn't work out, I wager. In one of the thousands of rounds I had to fight, I ended up pitted against him. He bore all the armor and fine weapons, where I had barely a leather coat to protect me. Guess it didn't matter in the end, as I killed him all the same. Do I regret it? Feh, absolutely not. It was him or me, and I chose me. I know he would have done the same to me, so no grudges held, even in the afterlife. If anything, he should be proud to have such a strong son. Anyways, I went on to become the champion that day. With my father dead, I was to inheret all his holdings, so the Leech Lord could hardly offer me knighthood. When he asked me what I wanted instead, I request a match against one of his finest champions. I got it in due time, and I don't think I need to say who won. Of course, the Leech Lord loved every bit of it, and granted me another fight against another one of his best. One by one, I tore through his hand-picked guards, opening up the path to my target. You see, all along I had this plan. The Leech Lord was a weakling who feasted on the sight of blood, caring nothing for his duties. The lands he held were constantly terrorized by bandits and monsters, and he cared nothing for it, being the fool that he was. Somebody with the might of a ruler needed to take his place, and that somebody was me. After several years, I won over the lord's trust. Anything I wanted, it was mine. So I asked him for the greatest fight of my life: my lone self against the lord and his five best combatants. It took quite a bit of wine and bloodsport to get him to agree, but he did, and it was his folly. By now, all the real fighters the Leech Lord had were long dead, and all his personal bodyguards either favored me over him or soiled their breeches thinking about holding a sword against me. Naturally, when the day of the fight came, it was over in second. One charge, and the guards yielded to me and let me run my blade right through the stupid fathead who once fancied himself a lord. Right there, I declared myself the new lord, and nobody was stupid enough to argue. The next few years after that were hell. All the old ministers and advisors were just as stupid as the old lord himself, so I had to tear out my hair finding anybody with the competence to help me run my lands. I also had two brothers and two sisters to see properly grown up, and some kind of marriage to another noble to work out. It didn't help that the peasants thought of me as some kind of bloody murdering usurper and not their damn savior like I was supposed to be. I nearly missed the swinging of my sword, but I had more important things to do. Just when I thought I had most of the problems in my realm under control, those damned Aroi fools attacked. My lands were far, far away from the fighting, but I guess the tide of war fell out of our favor while I was busy keeping my lands together. The other nobles around me begged me for assistance, and how could I ever say no? Cutting somebody down was exactly what I needed. I gathered what military force I had - not enough, let me tell you - and I rode into battle. Now, I'm a man who loves fighting difficult odds, but even I cannot handle twenty against one. My host was torn asunder that day, but they left me alive for a hostage. Bloodied and battered, they told me to surrender my lands, but I told them to go to hell. Of course, it wasn't them who went to hell, but instead they decided to send every person I lorded over instead. The day they slaughtered my four siblings in front of my eyes stung the most. Since then, it's all been games. They threw me into a dank, dark prison. Every day - at least I think it's every day, it's so damn hard to keep track of time in here - they send some brute with a mask to try and tear my nerves down. Obviously, these Aroi fools want me on their side, knowing what a wonderful fighter I am. But like hell am I turning coat. They took everything I had, so I'm taking it back. They keep me in chains because they know they will never stop me once I cast them off. Believe me, one day I will. I have a blood debt to pay, and I will pay it well. EDIT: Okay, I'm off of work now. I'll clean up the backstory later, but for now I want to write up a new section of stuff the character (who remains nameless at the moment) left out. He is haunted by memories of his family. He saw his father murder his mother, which is the real justification he uses for killing him, despite the alternate explanation given in his backstory. Furthermore, he feels extremely guilty about letting his siblings get killed, although he does not admit it, for fear of sounding weak. Other nobles barely any regard for him. Although they did not like his predecessor much, they at least viewed the Leech Lord as a legitimate lord, whereas the character is little more than a bloody title-stealer. Every conversation he has with a noble is an uphill battle, as the only respect they give him is out of fear of his sword-arm. Similarly, the commoners do not think highly of the character. He believes in ruling through fear, and publically executes criminals with his own hand, giving him the nickname of "Lord Gallows." He also lops off the hands of thieves, castrates rapists, etc. It doesn't help that he has difficulty keeping discipline within his own ranks, so his soldiers and guards take on his cruel and wicked traits without the just reasons, furthering his image as a bully. While an excellent combatant, the character has absolutely no mind for warfare, which is probably the main reason for his downfall. He hates to admit loss on his own account, however, and would much rather blame it on incompetent subordinates and allies. *Finally, the real reason the character charged into combat was hardly to protect anybody's way of life, but instead for reputation. He fancies himself able to lead the takedown of the new empire, which would fashion himself into a hero. Of course, he doesn't have much interest in heroic deeds for the purpose of saving people, but has few qualms with anything that will help him get into a position of higher power more easily. By now, his interest of climbing the social ladder is also mixed with thirst for revenge, but that much should be obvious.
Wyrmul 07-18-06, 02:00 PM	Be honorable in your combat, but ruthless. Stick to the code, but beyond that do a much damage as possible. The easiest reason for you to be in a high security prison is your jailers fear that you will forment rebellion against them, but you are to well known to just outright kill you and make a martyr. Look to religious extremists in the modern world for inpiration. Be dedicated, unwavering, even if what tyou do will bring great deastruction as long as it hurts the Aroi regeme it is justified. Sounds like it could be a facinating character, I tend to keep characters like this as NPCs but good luck. Also Aroi=Ori? :D
inthesto 07-18-06, 07:56 PM	Be honorable in your combat, but ruthless. Stick to the code, but beyond that do a much damage as possible. I think this much is given for just about any LE knight. :P The easiest reason for you to be in a high security prison is your jailers fear that you will forment rebellion against them, but you are to well known to just outright kill you and make a martyr. Look to religious extremists in the modern world for inpiration. Be dedicated, unwavering, even if what tyou do will bring great deastruction as long as it hurts the Aroi regeme it is justified. Not a bad idea, but not quite jiving with what I had thought up but didn't have the chance to type up. I could easily fashion him to appear overzealous while hiding his ulterior motives, but there remains the fact that nobody takes him terribly seriously unless he has a weapon in hand. It's common knowledge that he won his title with blood, so he'd hardly be a martyr in anyone's eyes. Sounds like it could be a facinating character, I tend to keep characters like this as NPCs but good luck. Also Aroi=Ori? :D If anything, I think Aroi is actually fashioned after Ass'hai from Martin's Song Of Fire & Ice series. It's speculation, but the clue to tip me off is that the other dieties in the campaign are the Seven Human Gods and the Old Gods. Thanks, for the ideas, though.
Ensjak 07-19-06, 06:31 PM	Do the Aroians know your character's history? Maybe as one final punishment for being brazen enough to stand against them, they plan to kill him and take away the one thing he was ever proud of all at once. They are going to let him waste away in prison until the strength of his sword arm is no more. Then they will have some little welp kill him in front of the warden during a duel for entertainment. Concept and backstory sound awesome by the way.
inthesto 07-19-06, 07:43 PM	Do the Aroians know your character's history? Maybe as one final punishment for being brazen enough to stand against them, they plan to kill him and take away the one thing he was ever proud of all at once. They are going to let him waste away in prison until the strength of his sword arm is no more. Then they will have some little welp kill him in front of the warden during a duel for entertainment. Oh snap. That's absolutely perfect. Concept and backstory sound awesome by the way. Thanks. :D
fefnir 07-19-06, 09:58 PM	dont knights have to be lawfull good
Factol Rhys 07-19-06, 11:36 PM	don't knights have to be Lawful Good? Nope, that's Paladins. Knights (a new base class from the Player's Handbook II) just have to be lawful. The backstory sounds awesome. I would say maybe take a page from The Great Escape (that's a rather famous movie, for all you clueless who may not know of it), and say that your character, while a prisoner, was duty-bound to attempt to inflict as much damage on his captors as he could manage, so he was kept in isolation, under heavy security.
Tormsskull 07-20-06, 10:34 AM	I really like the story, but I am not too sure how you are going to be able to make this character fit into a party. It sounds like this character doesn't have any real interest in joining up with others for mutual fame/money/etc. Do you plan on having this character turn Neutral one day? As in all this bad crap that happened to him gave him a black heart, but once he starts to see the real world, see how good and honest many folk are, he starts to change his ways? If so, I'd say it could be done, but it will be a real uphill struggle. If you plan on keeping him evil for the entire campaign, I'd suggest talking to the others PCs and see if you can get them to be evil or neutral so that your actions won't drive a spike between players. If you can talk to your DM, I'd see if you cannot arrange a forced agreement with the party. For example, make one of the other PCs a noble or good friend of your captors. Once the captors discern that you aren't going to join them, they decide to shame you by chopping off both of your hands. This will strip you of your ability to fight, and leave you wallowing in misery. One of the PCs who really hates the practice of cutting off hands is nearby when this punishment is to take place, and requests that your captors release you to her. In exchange for the PC saving your hands, you swear an oath to protect this PC and do as he/she commands. As long as the player of the PC is going to be mature about it, you could have a lot of great RP sessions and a good reason for why you are with the party.