Dwarven wizard with a lot to live up to [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dwarven wizard with a lot to live up to [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Eightbitmage
10-19-07, 09:35 AM Hi, I have a good idea about the outline of my PC's background, but I want to come here with the intent of making it fleshing it out and making the writing better.

The PC's name is Canvol Stonehart, he is a 175 year old dwarf, level 7 wizard conjuration specialist. He will probably be played as a calm old man mentor type (Obiwan Kenobish) but I'll try not to lose the dwarven joviality despite that. One sentence description is probably along the lines of: Friendly old dwarven wizard with many stories, who approaches all things as rationally as possible.

4'1" 169 lbs, grey hair, blue eyes, often seen in drab traveling clothes. He has scarred in tattoos of dwarven runes running from his shoulders to his hands, and then ink tattoos from his palms to his fingertips to help focus his magic. His ring and middle finger on his right hand are both partially paralyzed, and due to his age he normally walks with a hobbling gait causing him to use a cane.

He is very ordered and logical, but does not let logic overcome his compassion. He is a realist and extremely conservative in his views. He will not kill unless it must be done to save a life or protect himself, nor will he allow anyone to kill for reasons other than these. He will never kill those at his mercy, nor will he harm sapient creatures simply because it benefits him.

His grandfather Trievol Cl'Barrouth student of the human wizard Tressa Difalla became famous for killing the powerful Rakshasa wizard Malguffix. He married into a rich mercantile clan in the dwarven capital Highguard and had a son named Gronvol.

Canvol's father Gronvol became a wizard in the military, Brieas, his mother, operated her own forge within Highguard. Canvol's father was the stereotypical strict absentee military father, and his mother would often allow him to get away with more than the average parent.

At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts?

His father was eventually diagnosed with an incurable mentally and physically degenerative disease, and was forced from the military. Two years after he left, a war with the bugbear tribes to the north came far too close to the city. He told Canvol that he didn't want to be remembered as an invalid and chose to fight even if they did not want him. He also imparted much of what he believes about live, death, and what it means to be a dwarf. He died in the field that day, and is still remembered as one of the cities great heroes.

Its only when his father finally opens up to him about his own death and how he wants his son to live that he starts getting that his dad does care for him. Until here he didn’t really have a clear definition of what it means to be a dwarf or be a man due to his absentee father, so this moment combined with his father’s death really drills it home to him. He still has some left over resentment which is why it still takes him two years before he cleans up his act.

Canvol eventually abandoned the his old ways and apprenticed himself to his grandfather. When his training was complete he set out to the field and joined a group of adventurers, and started the task of making a name for himself.

His work was cut short when he was informed that his mother was ill with the same disease his father had.

Since then he has lived in Highguard. His grandfather died during that time and he was married, but separated amicably within a few decades. He has been using his time to research a cure for his mother, and crafting magical items for funding.

Recently demons have attacked Highguard in the campaign and I am coming in new to the group with this PC.

He is leaving his mother in the hands of his former wife, as he believes that he needs to discover the source of and stop the demon invasion. He will likely approach the current PCs looking for allies to accomplish this.

He has greatly matured over the 100 some odd years since his father's death and rarely finds himself going to his old ways.

Any help I could get would be great. Thank you in advance.
Orchomenos
10-23-07, 03:38 PM At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts?
What if he has been living in a nearby human city? Have her mother establish her forge in this city, a city where few dwarves are living. Now in addition to an absent father, you have a total lack of male dwarven models. When his father retires from the military, his mother sells her shop and she and your PC returns to the dwarven city, where he quickly learn what it is to be a dwarf.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
10-25-07, 12:28 AM If you plan on staying in the dwarven city another option is to make him a bully. Have him use his status as a noble and other dwarves sense of propriety and duty to clan as a means of taking from others and forcing them to do his bidding. He becomes a generally surly dwarf that others avoid wherever possible and, at best, tolerate when they can't.
Uberwoot
10-25-07, 02:09 PM Instead of making him part of a band of ruffians that steal and vandalize, how about giving him a handful of cronies that, in general, walked all over people and treated "lessers" like dirt (more or less a plural version of Terjon's bully)? He had influence over them- after all, they came to him due to his nobility- but they, in turn, controlled him through peer pressure. One of his past triumphs could be separating himself from them and rising above their petty cruelties to learn wizardry. And, as an added bonus, it leaves a few loose ends your DM can throw in your path.

I like Orchomenos's idea slightly better... perhaps you could combine the two. He and his cronies frequented the nearby human city, where their misdeeds worsen slightly due to the lack of dwarven oversight.

/woot
Outsider Subtype
10-29-07, 02:25 PM I think you should think about how to reconcile this:

He is very ordered and logical, but does not let logic overcome his compassion. He is a realist and extremely conservative in his views. He will not kill unless it must be done to save a life or protect himself, nor will he allow anyone to kill for reasons other than these. He will never kill those at his mercy, nor will he harm sapient creatures simply because it benefits him.

With this:

At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts?

Because those two quotes seem to contradict one another at first glance. Here are some possibilities:

1) He is privileged and spoiled, but he doesn't realize it. He is arrogant and patronizing to the "lower sorts", but genuinely thinks he is being charitable and obliging.

2) He's a bad seed who doesn't mind intimidation to keep inferiors in their place, but there are some things even he won't do - like personal violence.

3) He's more Anakin than Obi-Wan - a bit of a mystic and scholar but apt to choose violence when things get rough.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Eightbitmage 10-19-07, 09:35 AM	Hi, I have a good idea about the outline of my PC's background, but I want to come here with the intent of making it fleshing it out and making the writing better. The PC's name is Canvol Stonehart, he is a 175 year old dwarf, level 7 wizard conjuration specialist. He will probably be played as a calm old man mentor type (Obiwan Kenobish) but I'll try not to lose the dwarven joviality despite that. One sentence description is probably along the lines of: Friendly old dwarven wizard with many stories, who approaches all things as rationally as possible. 4'1" 169 lbs, grey hair, blue eyes, often seen in drab traveling clothes. He has scarred in tattoos of dwarven runes running from his shoulders to his hands, and then ink tattoos from his palms to his fingertips to help focus his magic. His ring and middle finger on his right hand are both partially paralyzed, and due to his age he normally walks with a hobbling gait causing him to use a cane. He is very ordered and logical, but does not let logic overcome his compassion. He is a realist and extremely conservative in his views. He will not kill unless it must be done to save a life or protect himself, nor will he allow anyone to kill for reasons other than these. He will never kill those at his mercy, nor will he harm sapient creatures simply because it benefits him. His grandfather Trievol Cl'Barrouth student of the human wizard Tressa Difalla became famous for killing the powerful Rakshasa wizard Malguffix. He married into a rich mercantile clan in the dwarven capital Highguard and had a son named Gronvol. Canvol's father Gronvol became a wizard in the military, Brieas, his mother, operated her own forge within Highguard. Canvol's father was the stereotypical strict absentee military father, and his mother would often allow him to get away with more than the average parent. At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts? His father was eventually diagnosed with an incurable mentally and physically degenerative disease, and was forced from the military. Two years after he left, a war with the bugbear tribes to the north came far too close to the city. He told Canvol that he didn't want to be remembered as an invalid and chose to fight even if they did not want him. He also imparted much of what he believes about live, death, and what it means to be a dwarf. He died in the field that day, and is still remembered as one of the cities great heroes. Its only when his father finally opens up to him about his own death and how he wants his son to live that he starts getting that his dad does care for him. Until here he didn’t really have a clear definition of what it means to be a dwarf or be a man due to his absentee father, so this moment combined with his father’s death really drills it home to him. He still has some left over resentment which is why it still takes him two years before he cleans up his act. Canvol eventually abandoned the his old ways and apprenticed himself to his grandfather. When his training was complete he set out to the field and joined a group of adventurers, and started the task of making a name for himself. His work was cut short when he was informed that his mother was ill with the same disease his father had. Since then he has lived in Highguard. His grandfather died during that time and he was married, but separated amicably within a few decades. He has been using his time to research a cure for his mother, and crafting magical items for funding. Recently demons have attacked Highguard in the campaign and I am coming in new to the group with this PC. He is leaving his mother in the hands of his former wife, as he believes that he needs to discover the source of and stop the demon invasion. He will likely approach the current PCs looking for allies to accomplish this. He has greatly matured over the 100 some odd years since his father's death and rarely finds himself going to his old ways. Any help I could get would be great. Thank you in advance.
Orchomenos 10-23-07, 03:38 PM	At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts? What if he has been living in a nearby human city? Have her mother establish her forge in this city, a city where few dwarves are living. Now in addition to an absent father, you have a total lack of male dwarven models. When his father retires from the military, his mother sells her shop and she and your PC returns to the dwarven city, where he quickly learn what it is to be a dwarf.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-25-07, 12:28 AM	If you plan on staying in the dwarven city another option is to make him a bully. Have him use his status as a noble and other dwarves sense of propriety and duty to clan as a means of taking from others and forcing them to do his bidding. He becomes a generally surly dwarf that others avoid wherever possible and, at best, tolerate when they can't.
Uberwoot 10-25-07, 02:09 PM	Instead of making him part of a band of ruffians that steal and vandalize, how about giving him a handful of cronies that, in general, walked all over people and treated "lessers" like dirt (more or less a plural version of Terjon's bully)? He had influence over them- after all, they came to him due to his nobility- but they, in turn, controlled him through peer pressure. One of his past triumphs could be separating himself from them and rising above their petty cruelties to learn wizardry. And, as an added bonus, it leaves a few loose ends your DM can throw in your path. I like Orchomenos's idea slightly better... perhaps you could combine the two. He and his cronies frequented the nearby human city, where their misdeeds worsen slightly due to the lack of dwarven oversight. /woot
Outsider Subtype 10-29-07, 02:25 PM	I think you should think about how to reconcile this: He is very ordered and logical, but does not let logic overcome his compassion. He is a realist and extremely conservative in his views. He will not kill unless it must be done to save a life or protect himself, nor will he allow anyone to kill for reasons other than these. He will never kill those at his mercy, nor will he harm sapient creatures simply because it benefits him. With this: At this point I want to indicate that Canvol is becoming rather spoiled, and is well on his way to one day becoming one of those evil stereotypical nobles that exist in every game/book ever. Oringally I had him running around with a bunch of ruffians destroying property and stealing things, but the DM doesn't have those kinds of things in the Dwarvan cities. Any thoughts? Because those two quotes seem to contradict one another at first glance. Here are some possibilities: 1) He is privileged and spoiled, but he doesn't realize it. He is arrogant and patronizing to the "lower sorts", but genuinely thinks he is being charitable and obliging. 2) He's a bad seed who doesn't mind intimidation to keep inferiors in their place, but there are some things even he won't do - like personal violence. 3) He's more Anakin than Obi-Wan - a bit of a mystic and scholar but apt to choose violence when things get rough.