Help with a backround [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with a backround [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
WhrenKehrsyn
12-19-05, 10:27 AM Hi there!

Im just posting to see if I can get some help for ideas on a backround for a new character Im creating. The game is set in the Forgotten Realms in the current FR year, 1374. The character herself is from Maztica and is just coming to Faerun for the first time.

Ryah is pretty young yet, only in her early 20s. In her hometown she would have acted as a midwife or apprentice midwife. She will have maxed ranks in the heal skill. She would have spent alot of time in the areas surrounding her hometown gathering herbs and the like and she would use a short bow as a weapon so likely the ranger class. All the spells she uses from the ranger class will focus on restorative magic, cures, slow poison and the like. Shes a follower of Kiltzi.

She will begin play as a 2nd level character just arriving in Waterdeep.
Sang-Drax
12-19-05, 10:50 AM Refer to the Character Background Bank and Character Concept Compilation under my sig for some inspiration :)
WhrenKehrsyn
12-31-05, 03:43 AM Hi!

I looked over the link you suggested, thanks a bunch! =o)

I have some basic backround Ive been drawing on for the game so far. The major thing I cant work out and what Id like imput from others on is why she would leave Maztica. I figured maybe just to see the world (its all a new world from her perspective). A friend also suggested possibly a family member getting a western illness previously unknown to her people which requires a western cure which she could be going to study.

The thing is this is sort of a backup character. Weve played a game for a little over 3 years now but we all have a backup character which we use on the occasion that theres not enough players for the main campaign and so on. Its now the break from university and everyone but the DM and I are out of town and this is basically Ryahs first screen time. Ill be playing it solo, the DM is running a sort of 'Once around the Realms' sort of campaign so its fairly light. The sickness thing strikes me as too strong and grim for the style of game.

Anyway, I would certainly appreciate any other suggestions.
Fithero
12-31-05, 06:55 AM Her origional home land is pretty damn alien to the rest of toril so there would be some pretty big differeances in her appearance and practices.

I hear that yuan-ti are rampant in that land, so perhaps she has a fear or dislike of snakes.

She may just have odd habbits, such as whistling when she greets somebody or some such bizzare thing, really these little quirks are up to you. But they really add alot of character to.... the character.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Later
Pandaemoni
12-31-05, 09:45 AM Ryah is pretty young yet, only in her early 20s.

Perhaps you should ask your DM, but early-20s might not be all that young. From ancient times into the middle ages, women who were unmarried in their twenties were an anomaly. The typical age at which a girl would be married was likely 12-14, perhaps a little younger or older depending on the exact society.

Not that that needs to change your characterization at all, just noting it.
Morka
01-01-06, 03:00 PM I don't know many things about Maztica, beside it brings a "Native American" feel to Forgotten Realms. Perhaps when the first Faerunian boats reached Maztica did the explorers brought back some locals to show to the authorities. Depending on those explorers, she could be a slave, a merchant, or a diplomat. She could also have felt in love with a sailor, but the sailor either betray her (he's already wedded and just wanted some exotic girl for the trip back home) or die when they reach Faerun. Either way, this girl is a little savage and must now survive in a world with very strange rules...
WhrenKehrsyn
01-02-06, 02:43 AM Thanks for the replies and all the suggestions! =o)

She certainly does have her quirks which the people of Faerun will find interesting or strange! Im from New Mexico and my own backround is both spanish and native american (admittedly the native blood is sort of thin in my family) and thats one of the reasons a character from this region appeals to me. Im trying to incorporate alot of what I know about it all into the character as well. Ryah is just as much in awe/terror of the quirkyness/strangeness of the people in Faerun as they are of her!

When I said she was pretty young yet I meant in terms of lifespan, she may be older than marrying age but shes certainly not old enough to be all that world wise.

Morka, I like the falling in love with a sailor and losing him when she gets to Faerun idea! Thanks =0)

Keep the ideas coming, I dont have another session until the weekend rolls around again.
Harrow Blade
01-02-06, 03:27 AM I don't know If you have sorted out the motivation for leaving maztica but perhaps it is to find a younger brother who has run off to see the strange world of the people who came by ship. he has gone back with them and now you have taken it upon yourself as the only other capable family member to find him. Your Dm can use to keep you motivated or moving. Perhaps I am reading it wrong but your initial descrition led me to think that she would be more of a druid than a ranger, but that is just my opinion.

Something you might like to do is carry a small pouch of earth from home so that you will always be close to your homeland, perhaps beliving that it will guide you home once you are finished with your quest.

Thats all I have now but there is a questionaire in my sig that may help you flesh out your character alittle more.

Harrow Blade
WhrenKehrsyn
01-02-06, 02:10 PM Thanks for the link Harrow Blade! I hope you dont mind but I copied the questionaire and printed it out for use in the creation of future characters =0)

I did consider druid, but I didnt want much in the way of magic. I chose ranger because even though she goes out to gather herbs and the like shes more a city dweller than a nature dweller. If youre familiar with southwestern folklores I was aiming for a curandera type but with only a small emphasis on the magical aspect of it. Sort of a town doctor in training, relying on natural remedys more than magical ones.

I really do like the bag of earth from her homeland idea. I think Im going to use that for sure. The younger brother idea is also a good one and would be an easy hook to keep me on the move. I like it!
Harrow Blade
01-02-06, 10:54 PM you are more than welcome. I enjoy being able to help in any way I can.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WhrenKehrsyn 12-19-05, 10:27 AM	Hi there! Im just posting to see if I can get some help for ideas on a backround for a new character Im creating. The game is set in the Forgotten Realms in the current FR year, 1374. The character herself is from Maztica and is just coming to Faerun for the first time. Ryah is pretty young yet, only in her early 20s. In her hometown she would have acted as a midwife or apprentice midwife. She will have maxed ranks in the heal skill. She would have spent alot of time in the areas surrounding her hometown gathering herbs and the like and she would use a short bow as a weapon so likely the ranger class. All the spells she uses from the ranger class will focus on restorative magic, cures, slow poison and the like. Shes a follower of Kiltzi. She will begin play as a 2nd level character just arriving in Waterdeep.
Sang-Drax 12-19-05, 10:50 AM	Refer to the Character Background Bank and Character Concept Compilation under my sig for some inspiration :)
WhrenKehrsyn 12-31-05, 03:43 AM	Hi! I looked over the link you suggested, thanks a bunch! =o) I have some basic backround Ive been drawing on for the game so far. The major thing I cant work out and what Id like imput from others on is why she would leave Maztica. I figured maybe just to see the world (its all a new world from her perspective). A friend also suggested possibly a family member getting a western illness previously unknown to her people which requires a western cure which she could be going to study. The thing is this is sort of a backup character. Weve played a game for a little over 3 years now but we all have a backup character which we use on the occasion that theres not enough players for the main campaign and so on. Its now the break from university and everyone but the DM and I are out of town and this is basically Ryahs first screen time. Ill be playing it solo, the DM is running a sort of 'Once around the Realms' sort of campaign so its fairly light. The sickness thing strikes me as too strong and grim for the style of game. Anyway, I would certainly appreciate any other suggestions.
Fithero 12-31-05, 06:55 AM	Her origional home land is pretty damn alien to the rest of toril so there would be some pretty big differeances in her appearance and practices. I hear that yuan-ti are rampant in that land, so perhaps she has a fear or dislike of snakes. She may just have odd habbits, such as whistling when she greets somebody or some such bizzare thing, really these little quirks are up to you. But they really add alot of character to.... the character. Hope this helps somewhat. Later
Pandaemoni 12-31-05, 09:45 AM	Ryah is pretty young yet, only in her early 20s. Perhaps you should ask your DM, but early-20s might not be all that young. From ancient times into the middle ages, women who were unmarried in their twenties were an anomaly. The typical age at which a girl would be married was likely 12-14, perhaps a little younger or older depending on the exact society. Not that that needs to change your characterization at all, just noting it.
Morka 01-01-06, 03:00 PM	I don't know many things about Maztica, beside it brings a "Native American" feel to Forgotten Realms. Perhaps when the first Faerunian boats reached Maztica did the explorers brought back some locals to show to the authorities. Depending on those explorers, she could be a slave, a merchant, or a diplomat. She could also have felt in love with a sailor, but the sailor either betray her (he's already wedded and just wanted some exotic girl for the trip back home) or die when they reach Faerun. Either way, this girl is a little savage and must now survive in a world with very strange rules...
WhrenKehrsyn 01-02-06, 02:43 AM	Thanks for the replies and all the suggestions! =o) She certainly does have her quirks which the people of Faerun will find interesting or strange! Im from New Mexico and my own backround is both spanish and native american (admittedly the native blood is sort of thin in my family) and thats one of the reasons a character from this region appeals to me. Im trying to incorporate alot of what I know about it all into the character as well. Ryah is just as much in awe/terror of the quirkyness/strangeness of the people in Faerun as they are of her! When I said she was pretty young yet I meant in terms of lifespan, she may be older than marrying age but shes certainly not old enough to be all that world wise. Morka, I like the falling in love with a sailor and losing him when she gets to Faerun idea! Thanks =0) Keep the ideas coming, I dont have another session until the weekend rolls around again.
Harrow Blade 01-02-06, 03:27 AM	I don't know If you have sorted out the motivation for leaving maztica but perhaps it is to find a younger brother who has run off to see the strange world of the people who came by ship. he has gone back with them and now you have taken it upon yourself as the only other capable family member to find him. Your Dm can use to keep you motivated or moving. Perhaps I am reading it wrong but your initial descrition led me to think that she would be more of a druid than a ranger, but that is just my opinion. Something you might like to do is carry a small pouch of earth from home so that you will always be close to your homeland, perhaps beliving that it will guide you home once you are finished with your quest. Thats all I have now but there is a questionaire in my sig that may help you flesh out your character alittle more. Harrow Blade
WhrenKehrsyn 01-02-06, 02:10 PM	Thanks for the link Harrow Blade! I hope you dont mind but I copied the questionaire and printed it out for use in the creation of future characters =0) I did consider druid, but I didnt want much in the way of magic. I chose ranger because even though she goes out to gather herbs and the like shes more a city dweller than a nature dweller. If youre familiar with southwestern folklores I was aiming for a curandera type but with only a small emphasis on the magical aspect of it. Sort of a town doctor in training, relying on natural remedys more than magical ones. I really do like the bag of earth from her homeland idea. I think Im going to use that for sure. The younger brother idea is also a good one and would be an easy hook to keep me on the move. I like it!
Harrow Blade 01-02-06, 10:54 PM	you are more than welcome. I enjoy being able to help in any way I can.