Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vaelon 01-05-06, 07:19 PM	I need a good backstory for a level 1 Bard. The things I have so far about the character are as follows: NAME: Skye Longrunner RACE: Elven (Wood) [elves in this campaign are rare as they ALL (95%) are retreating to Evermeet] CLASS: BARD INSTRUMENT: Flute (which he advidly plays.) GOALS: I have one goal for the character. He wants to be the first person to create a complete Monster Manual or Fearun. From there I really don't know what to do. I would like any ideas for character concepts, backgrounds or quirks that would be great for a bard to have. I gotta use this character by tomorrow, so a quick reply is greatly appreciated. THANKS GUYS
Shaggy_Shaggs 01-05-06, 07:26 PM	Perhaps as a twist, Skye wants to complete the manual, but is also a bit reluctant, as it is not truly his wish. Could it be possible that his first choice was to retreat to Evermeet with his kinsmen, but a respected venerable relative (too old to go adventuring anymore) passed down a monster manual he'd been working on, knowing that he could not complete it, and asked Skye to complete it for him as a personal favor before coming home? Maybe he finds himself homesick for that place he's never been, and pushes himself to complete the manual quickly, so that he can return to <insert venerable relative here> triumphant with the finished tome and take his place among his brethren.
WhrenKehrsyn 01-05-06, 08:06 PM	Hmm, Shaggys idea is a good one. Also perhaps as a sort of handing off of the baton to the humans or dwarves or whatever hes compiling this volume to help them. The elves last gift to the world as it were. Or a lost love who is not elven. Perhaps hes staying for him/her. They could be missing or maybe he just never told them how he felt and feels like he must find them and tell them before he leaves. As a quirk he could compose love poems or letters, or even just always be adjusting the speech hes going to give his loved one. I dont know if you want this monsterous compendium to be a main focus thing of his or more like a hobby, but maybe when he was in bard school he had a mentor or teacher who went out of his/her way to make sure he made it. Maybe he was a poor student who only pulled through because of this teacher/mentor. They were compiling a guide to the various creatures in the world but it wasnt completed. He could take up completing this work as a thank you or nod to this person.
Sluagh 01-05-06, 11:39 PM	Have you thought about alignment and deity?
Vaelon 01-05-06, 11:47 PM	ugh... No. I haven't put too much into those but I thought about LN being the closest he would get towards the dark side. And the only Deity I even thought about with this character would be Mask. But if you got any ideas that would differ than this, by all means, HAVE AT IT!
Nani? 01-05-06, 11:53 PM	Perhaps something is seems wrong with him, for example, 95%of elves are retreating to Evermeet, does he not hear he call, too wrapped up in his personal project or perhaps is cursed in some way that he cannot go. Maybe he has a strain of non-elf blood for example. All the best, Nani?
Sluagh 01-06-06, 02:01 AM	My current bard is a follower of Mask... but he's also a member of a theif's guild :) Keep in mind Bards can't be Lawful when choosing your Alignment. I might suggest Neutral for an alignment. Given his goals, Chaos doesn't quite seem his thing. Working with ideas already presented (they're pretty decent), you could also be under the effect of a Geas/Lesser Geas, which is compelling you to complete the manual. That could have been cast by someone who wishes you not make it to Evermeet, someone who was previously working on the manual, a curious lord, an enemy who simply wants you out of the way, but not outright killed, who knows. As for who he is... think of hobbies or interests outside of your quest... or which may peripherally include it; such as birdwatching, collecting insects, an interest in geography, geology or ecology. For flavour reasons you may want to pick feats that are mechanically suboptimal, such as Track and put ranks into the appropriate knowledges, survival, spot and the like, but fit with the idea of someone seeking to find all creatures it can. Chances are, he might be a tad obsessive and or obsessive-compulsive in some way... I mean he's trying to catalogue all the monsters in Faerun, there's gotta be something going on there :) Without knowing much about the intentions of the campaign, ie why are the Elves fleeing to Evermeet?, I can't really provide solid suggestions, but there are a couple anyway. Let us know what you develop :)
Vaelon 01-06-06, 01:52 PM	My current bard is a follower of Mask... but he's also a member of a theif's guild :) Keep in mind Bards can't be Lawful when choosing your Alignment. I might suggest Neutral for an alignment. Given his goals, Chaos doesn't quite seem his thing. Oh.. yeah I forgot about that..... I was thinking something on the along the lines of NG. Working with ideas already presented (they're pretty decent), you could also be under the effect of a Geas/Lesser Geas, which is compelling you to complete the manual. That could have been cast by someone who wishes you not make it to Evermeet, someone who was previously working on the manual, a curious lord, an enemy who simply wants you out of the way, but not outright killed, who knows. I was thinking maybe it could be cursed by a priest/wizard that compels him to finish it.... i'm not sure but I like this Idea