Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Red Dragon 06-09-06, 05:15 PM	Okay, so I've got a character going in an online game (2e, though I prefer 3e). His name is Forde Lerkhan, one of the last scions of a rather minor noble house, famed for footloose habits, defeciet spending, and a rather bad dose of Quixote honor. Here's a written backstory, IC of course (I love doing it that way. :cloud9: ). Anyway: From the personal journal of Forde Lerkhan: Where to begin, where to begin. My life began innocently enough, third of four children in House Lerkhan.My father spent most of his time was spent managing the dwindling fortunes of our ancient, but minor house. Most of that dwindling had to do with honor. Pah. Honor and its interpretations are what got Father and Linn killed. Perhaps I should expound upon that: My father was a member of a direct male-line ancestry back to before this region was settled. He had a large frame, bushy red hair, and sky-blue eyes. He was an outdoors type, always ready to help with his children's education. Why he married my mother I never have been able to figure out; they're so incredibly different. My mother is calm, small, and with blonde hair and green eyes. Unlike my father, the continual hothead, she never did seem to be angered by anything, always settling arguments calmly and rationally. My oldest brother, Linn, was a boistrous sort, over seven years older than I. He was kind, always willign to help the younger siblings out. However, he was also a strict taskmaster when it came to chores- woe betide the boy who slacked at his chores!! Concerned over our family's ever-emptier coffers and the cold shoulder the rest of the nobility offered us, he went out to becoem a mercenary. He was pleased with his new lot in life, but about six months after he left, some idiot disputed his manlinessand courage. My brother, equally idiotic in this instance, accepted, and was slain in an accident during that very same duel. My father and mother were devastated. He was but twenty, with no girlfriend, mistress, wife, or child. Idiot. The least he could've done was continue the line. My next older brother, Eirik, was a quiet type. He's about three years older than me. He has my father's blonde hair, an my mother's mild temper. We were never close; neither of us were very social sorts. Soon after Linn died, he decided to join the clergy, and went to a remote monastary of Odin. We've never heard from him since. Then there's me. I wanted nothing to do with the ties of nobility, always hoping that my status as a noble would gift me with a life better than that of the more wealthy class of merchant. I never did see that wish granted. I was a loner most of the time, spending much of my time with my mother and baby sister, Rhianna. Now SHE is a woman to be feared. Rhianna, my dearest sister. Fond memories and not so fond memories. You inherited some of the less desirable traits of the entire line. Red hair, green eyes, a willowy body, and an anger I still can't rid from my memories. In your eyes, things were a certain way, usually with you at the center, and nothing anyone coul do would dissuade you from that veiwpoint. You never argued, as such, just stated the way you wanted things and did your very best to bring them about. You were successful, more often than not. I still remember that tiem you insisted on Linn letting you practice with that broadsword; you nearly killed me with that accidental swing. However, you were good company, certainly never dull. Then the day came. Father encountered that one mercenary who had killed Linn, matching descritpions from eyewinesses at the accident. My fool of a father challenged the man to a blood duel on the spot, and was quickly slain. I was fifteen at the time, and since Eirik was sufficiently far away that he never heard of the incident, it fell to me and Mother to attempt to hold the rmnants of the House together. We succeeded for three years, at which point the gods had mercy on this benighted house and sent a sensible man, one who thought with brain instead of his balls. He courted and eventually married Mother. Seeing no further need of myself at home, I departed. I still don't think Rhianna has forgiven me for that, but mother understands. For another year I drifted, learning the finer points of sworplay and mounte combat. Though I still feel that "honor" is well-suited for a curseword, it is the imperative in this society. I've become quite proficient in what these people call "The Weapons of Honor", now. Blockheads, all of 'em. My life is obviously doomed to nver be peaceful, so why should I not attempt to help others find peace? I'm twenty, now, and I've met with an interesting band. First, a well-meaning bard girl called Lilly. She means well enough, but she can't seem to keep her mouth shut; must be a bard thing. Next is another woman, Nithila the wizard. I don't have much of a bead on her yet, though there certainy is a kinship between her and Lily. Finally, there's a pointy-ears called Corellion, too. He's pretty withdrawn, and reminds of most of the monks I've met: constantly communicating with his diety, to the expense of more mundane matters. It makes me wonder how Eirik and the rest of my surviving family are doing; After all, since Eirik's off the market and I'm the only other male of the line left, sooner or later I've gotta head home and father a few kids, to continue this benighted line. It's a duty of the nobility. So... Whadaya think?
WhrenKehrsyn 06-14-06, 02:00 AM	Not bad at all. Two things, Eirik inherited his fathers blond hair you say, but prior to that you mention your fathers bushy red hair. Seondly the paragraph about Rhiannon is a little awkward. It feels a bit off because you change who youre talking to. In the rest of the text youre talking to us, the reader. But in that paragraph you switch to speaking to an absent relative, since you dont do this with the other relations you discuss it sort of throws off the flow of the text for me. Great story and well written though =0)