Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Frylord 04-10-07, 02:26 PM	Like the title says, I have a backstory, and the general idea seems good, but I need help to refine it so it seems plausible. Okay, here goes.. Arcavaur Bonejeer, or Vaur, was born to an unnamed half-elf half-dragon mother who died in childbirth, and Terminus of the clan of Bonejeer, a completly insane (and recently deceased) kobold adventurer. Vaur had an unsettling genius at making seemly unnocucious (sp?) objects extremely lethal, for example, he enjoyed using two ball-with-chains looted from a nearby human prison in mock battles. Otherwise from his strange hobby, Vaur was a veritable prodigy at strategy, outwitting his clan's foes countless times as a commander of a small portion of his clan's warriors. However, a conniving kobold from the days of Term named Vondrak manipulated his way into becoming Clan Bonejeer's shaman, and tricked the chieftain into ordering the execution of Vaur. Vaur fled, taking the clan's holy writings to taunt Vondrak, and also in an effort to find a powerful enough artifact (magic item really, but an artifact would work) to lead his own clan. (or cult) Vaur then traveled to his clans holy place, Mt. Morthoros, where they annointed their shamans. In Morthoros, he tricked the inhabitiants into setting off Clan Bonejeer's sacred traps, and then he found his destiny. Within the heavily trapped treasure room, Vaur found only a dusty book, which was curious, as Clan Bonejeer was a rather rich clan. The book was ebon black, and along it's spine, glowing emerald veins pulsated. It's title was in Infernal, reading: "The Knower of the Key" Vaur, who had learned Infernal as a hobby, read the book, which was blank, but as he read it, it filled up with blood-red words before his very eyes. Then, just pain. What!? A mortal dares disturb my sleep? Hmmm... perhaps it could help me escape this wretched tome? Wait.. mortal, can you read this? Astonished even if still in pain, Vaur answered, "Yes, yes I can read this. Who are you?" I am Igriel, The Knower of the Key. "The key? The key to what?" The key to dietyhood, of course. "D-dietyhood? O-oh, sorry I forgot to i-introduce myself. I am Arcavaur of the kobold clan of Bonejeer. Y-you speak Infernal, so am I correct in assuming you are a demon?" You are one of THOSE kobolds? The clan that locked me away within this holy tome? I still have enough power to devour your soul. Also, yes, I am a demon. "U-umm, Igriel, I am barely out of childhood... I've never heard of your imprisonment. P-perhaps I could help you out of the tome? Destroy it maybe?" Hmm... Alright, I have an idea. I have enough power to grant you the powers of a priest, so spread the word that you are the high priest of a new diety, the Lord of Outcasts. But, I will need more then mere worship. I need an artifact of great power, such as... The Orbs of Dragonkind or an artifact of equal power will do. But if these things have not been done within two years, your soul is forfeit. "My soul will be f-forfeit? O-of c-course master! I-I will do whatever you command!" Good, my rebirth will be soon. And no creature shall miss it. Currently, Vaur adventures to spread the Cult of Igriel and to gather for his dread master an artifact. He has a year and a half left until his master devours his soul. Personality: Vaur is weak, sniveling, seemly stupid, and (rarely) kind in public, but in private he is arrogant, intelligent, cruel, and manipulative. He considers everything in existence to be a tool to be used and manipulated to other's ends. His "friends" are those who are likeminded like him, and they share an unspoken promise not to manipulate each other. Much. Vaur is constantly trying to figure how to usurp Igriel's power. Appearence: Vaur has rusty-black scales, and is thin even for a kobold, with ribs sticking out. From his mothers side, Vaur inherited pointed elven ears, to his disgust. His large emerald eyes have a haunted look to them, and his hands constantly shake. Vaur wears a well-made hooded grey cloak with a ruby brooch, stolen from a spoiled elvish prince after the prince wouldn't give him the location of an artifact Vaur was seeking. Under the cloak, Vaur has his favorite weapons, his two trusty ball-and-chains. He has the chains wrapped around his entire body, and he also wears simple brown wool trousers. When not in combat, Vaur holds the tome that holds Igriel. Quotes: "Everyone has a use. Your use has just ran out." "N-no hurt me! H-hurt is b-bad!" "You are all tools, and I am the craftsman." "Igriel! Me need power!" "What, you thought I was stupid? I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover, eh?" *holds up Igriel's tome* "I use these odd weapons because subtletly doesn't work on everyone. For those that don't, a caving in of the skull seems to work." "And thus, Igriel smote down the pagan gnomes, and smited them, and thus sent them to eternal suffering!" *Igriel also speaking* We are the end of mercy. Does it look good? Please review and help me refine it.
David Argall 04-10-07, 09:20 PM	This is to be a PC, right? If so, your deadline is a problem. Unless the DM is on board with your idea, all you have is another way for your PC to be eliminated. Better would be to give Vaur a less firm deadline. Say the fiend says 2 years, but in centuries in the book, it has lost all sense of time and so doesn't realize how long Vaur has had the book. Vaur knows this and has to work keeping the demon confused because once it figures things out, Vaur is toast, maybe literally. This gives the PC a useful motivation that does not have to get in the way of the game. If the DM wants to do something that will take years, you do not have to get a new PC. As to the backstory itself, we have a story of one crucial event, and not much else. You could edit the story of the book to a paragraph and make room for explaining his other character traits.