Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Korasukage 01-19-07, 03:43 PM	Hi I was hoping to get some feedback on my character's background. In a nut shell he is in self exile from his family. He could no longer cope with his father's constant abuse. When the Last War ended he found himself finally freed from the control his father imposed upon him. After serving (for only 1 year) in the Last War he had managed to gain enough confidence to realize that he could determine his own path without having another do it for him. Please read my character's background below and let me know if its decent. One last point ... due to his training he has specialized in the use of intimidation. He believes that with the right application of fear/terror he can tip the scales of any encounter in his favour. Thus, when he is able to he is going to find Maia-Zak (see below) so that he to can learn from her. Here is my PC's background: Riaan Caldamus existed only as a movable pawn in his father's militant existence (which constituted a long and rich history of valuable service to the throne of Aundair). He along with his older brother Breyton, father Erben and mother Margana, lived in a grey and spartan family estate located outside of Fairhaven. The estate, like everything else, was representative of their militant upbringing. It operated and appeared like a small military outpost. A day did not pass where Riaan and Breyton did not practise their martial, and magical, skills. Leisure time of any kind was disallowed. Even holidays were not celebrated as the time was better spent, in the words of Erben, "... drilling and perfecting warfare, for those that are not ready cannot hope to protect that which they cherish the most. Instead they will have to sit idly by as all that they love is taken from them in an orgy of death, tears and bloodshed." This near obsession with martial training, and preparedness, resulted in Erben obtaining a private tutor for Riaan (Brey, on the other hand, received training from a number of master blademasters, it is reputed that one such master was from the Rekkenmark Academy!). For a period of one year Dagro d'Deneith completed Riaan's rudimentary martial training. During this time they became fast friends. As part of the curriculum Dagro also taught Riaan how to play Conqueror. This would allow Dagro to test Riaan's intellect and comprehension while also improving Riaan's problem solving skills. After the war, when Riaan attended Morgrave University to complete his arcane studies (his father only taught him the rudimentaries of the art), he oftentimes stayed with Dagro and his wife in the Dragon Towers Ward in Sharn. No matter the success Riaan accomplished Erben would dismiss it as luck or would attribute it to the tutor trying to curry favour with the Caldamus family. Meanwhile, rewards and accolades were heaped upon his brother, Breyton (or Brey as he was commonly called). In all endeavors Brey would prove he was the perfect son. No matter how trivial his successes were Erben would heap praise upon him. This extended to all things including education. Brey was allowed to attend the extremely prestigious Arcanix meanwhile Riaan was tutored by his father, Erben, in the rudiments of arcanology. This was a calculated maneuver, and one that was all to apparent, so that when Riaan failed it could neither harm nor tarnish the Caldamus name. It was during his training with Dagro that Riaan learned the geshkaash'kor (otherwise known as the baleful visage). Dagro preached often that the best means to end a confrontation was to bring your enemy to heel. This was accomplished by using the one weakness that all people shared; fear. Riaan's training involved using fear against enemies but also how to control the fear within oneself. He believed this to be an integral lesson as he didn't want a new recruit soiling himself during their first military engagement. It seems that Dagro had spent some time in the Shadow Marches during his stint in the Defenders Guild. It was during this period that he learned how to control, focus and utilize this powerful, and often times, debilitating emotion. Like the entirety of the Caldamus family, when training was completed, Riaan was expected to join the Aundairian Military Corps. He wasted no time in joining the army as it would allow him to escape his fathers control. It was during his initial placement as a border guard, between Aundair and the Reaches, that he proved himself not only capable but able to cripple enemies with a mere glance. Soon he came to the attention of a Knight Phantom Captain by the name of Daen Haldron which had heard of Riaans strategic uses of intimidation. Not long after that he joined the 23rd Special Regiment: The Dread Corps. The corps were a special trategic force which would utilized guerrilla tactics in conjunction with "terror tactics". The later would be used to disperse enemy battalions/formations. It was then up to the guerrilla warriors to take down the enemy as they dispersed into the surrounding area. Riaan's father, after learning of his reassignment, was shocked by the fact that his own son would be a part of a military branch which involved tactics which he deemed, "... beneath a true soldier, to think that a warrior could use such methods tarnishes the reputation of all those involved." Riaan focused all of his energy into making sure that he proved to be an invaluable member of the Dread Corps. Then the war ended. Riaan had only just joined the terror squad when word spread that the war was over. Shock washed through him as he realized he would be expected to return home. Yet he just discovered a new home, one in which he was a valued member. It was then that he realized that he did not have to endure the constant abuse and control of his father. The last two years had taught him that. With a new sense of direction and purpose he returned to his barracks and packed his belongings. After saying good-bye to his companions in his unit he made his way to Sharn. No more would he be a pawn in his father's endless games. Instead he would be his own master. It would be his dreams that he aspired to fulfill not those of another. Footnotes (1) During Dagro's time as a Defender he witnessed how, with a simple flick of her hand and a muttered word, the witch (her name was Maia-Zak) launched a sphere of flame and ... terror at a group of the Dragon Below cultists. Dagro would always say with awe, "...it was one of the most terrifying experiences I had ever seen. One moment the group rushed us from our blind side the next moment most of them were bathed in a torrent of eldritch flame. Those that did not die immediately cowered as if they were infants while soiling themselves. Immediately the witch followed this with another incantation, targeted at what looked like the leader of the assualt group, which caused the man to begin screaming. The next moment he was dead. His face frozen in a rictus of fear." (2) The real problem is that Riaan is not his father's son. He is in fact the result of an affair his mother had while Erben was away on military business. Erben made a deal with Margana, he would allow her to carry the baby to term and even care for the child. However, Margana could not divulge this information to anyone not even Riaan. Lastly, Erben would treat Riaan like any good servant. (3) My character is going to begin play as a rgr1/wiz1 with the Dreadful Wrath feat from Forgotten Realms. All comments and suggestions are welcome!:) Cheers Kor
trickydevl666 01-19-07, 09:52 PM	I think it sounds good, but I'm a new player, actually creating my first character in an Eberron setting. From what I have read about Eberron (and I have read quite a bit), your back story seems pretty well done. The only problems I really see with this are just some minor literary things. But, that set aside, I think you have a really decent backstory. One more point is that I see how you mention Maia-Zak in that little introductory paragraph, but I do not see any other mention of her in the story though you say see below. ^^;; good job though
Korasukage 01-19-07, 10:05 PM	I think it sounds good, but I'm a new player, actually creating my first character in an Eberron setting. From what I have read about Eberron (and I have read quite a bit), your back story seems pretty well done. The only problems I really see with this are just some minor literary things. But, that set aside, I think you have a really decent backstory. One more point is that I see how you mention Maia-Zak in that little introductory paragraph, but I do not see any other mention of her in the story though you say see below. ^^;; good job though Thanks! Sorry about the reference to Maia-Zak ... it was cut out of the footnotes when I pasted the text into my OP.:embarrass I have now corrected the error. Thanks for pointing it out. So, you are just starting out in Eberron as well good luck!:) Its a pretty kick arse setting. Cheers Kor
trickydevl666 01-19-07, 10:17 PM	Thanks! Sorry about the reference to Maia-Zak ... it was cut out of the footnotes when I pasted the text into my OP.:embarrass I have now corrected the error. Thanks for pointing it out. So, you are just starting out in Eberron as well good luck!:) Its a pretty kick arse setting. Cheers Kor Yeah! I know! it's the only setting my DM likes to use, and I can understand why! besides it makes it easier for him because he doesn't have to create a world and that makes it easier on him. And I think your character is very well thought out, if I hadn't said that already. I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to go back and look ^^;; Well I don't really see any kinks in the backstory, but I'm not too familiar with Aundair... I'm creating a Karrn.
Korasukage 01-20-07, 02:50 AM	Yeah! I know! it's the only setting my DM likes to use, and I can understand why! besides it makes it easier for him because he doesn't have to create a world and that makes it easier on him. And I think your character is very well thought out, if I hadn't said that already. I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to go back and look ^^;; Well I don't really see any kinks in the backstory, but I'm not too familiar with Aundair... I'm creating a Karrn. We will be starting our campaign shortly ... none of us have played an Eberron game yet. When we finally got around to checking it out we realised just how awesome the setting is!! Again thanks for the input and I am glad that ya like my character. Cheers Kor
ratslinky 01-20-07, 09:16 PM	I'd just like to make one point and this is more of a continuity thing than anything else. As Riaan is an Aundairian if he went to morgrave he would be bullied by the other kids and thats if he wasn't arrested as a spy or something other than that great back story.
Korasukage 01-20-07, 09:25 PM	I'd just like to make one point and this is more of a continuity thing than anything else. As Riaan is an Aundairian if he went to morgrave he would be bullied by the other kids and thats if he wasn't arrested as a spy or something other than that great back story. Hahahahah, damn ... that is the stupidest mistake I have ever made! Thanks for pointing that out. Hmm now how do I fix that? OK I guess I will simply say that he was tutored in the magical arts by my father. Actually that makes the continuity even better! OK I have corrected my OP. I have italized the changes. Please let me know what you think of it now. Thanks! Kor