Post/Author/DateTime	Post
succumbus 01-17-07, 10:03 PM	I'm currently roleplaying a male wood elf Ranger 6/Justice Of Weald and Woe 8 (from Champions Of Ruin) His stats are: Str 14 Dex 27 ( gloves of dex +6) Con 12 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 8 96 y.old Favored enemies: Humans(+4),Orcs(+2) Appearance: bald with an eye-patch and a strange-shaped hat(fan of a specific drow I suppose :D ) Traits: Help...Anything will do. Name:Currently Nameless.He doesn't really talk about his past and he becomes really nervous when it comes to that.The truth is that I couldn't think of a good enough name for him:) ... I consider calling him N'atardil Farasechil(orphan male elf hunting humans...) with the nickname of Dramgur(blow of death) or Dinengur(silent death) or Maedgu(Skilled bow). Campaign Setting: Forgotten Realms/Faerun (Waterdeep,Athkatla,Calimport and a handful of other areas) I'm in sore need of a background for him since my dm threatens to kill my character if I don't give him one until next session:weep: The problem is that I can't come up with any specific ideas about my ranger's past. Background: I am thinking of him as an initially calm child until his 15th year when a group of creatures (preferrably humans to justify favored enemy) invaded into the forest where his parents lived and killed both of them. After that he was kept captive by these humans who took him to their house at a town-village near Waterdeep as a slave for more than ,say, 20 horrible years of abuse and discrimination, until 2 elves(any sub-race) came to save him out of pity and take him with them. He then lived a life of revenge hating all humans for what they'd done to his life.It was not until he became 80y and an expert at the bow that he left his foster parents to venture (maybe after a maturity test as well???) so as to take revenge for his true parents' murder against all odds and his foster parents' wise advice.He then went to Waterdeep where he learned about the Shadowthieves guild.He tracked them down to Amn where he joined them, believing this would be the best way to take his revenge. Having taken his revenge by accusing his tormentor for a murder he had not done, the 'hero' began to question the morality of his actions wondering whether moral code was a joke or not.Considering that he had to think more about it he decided to withdraw from his current position at the Guild.The opportunity to leave the Shadowthieves came when he met the rest of the party-a human ninja, an elven bard and an Elan (psion)- back at Waterdeep during a mission of major importance for him since it was the last. This party would change his aspect of the world once again.He became more cruel, and just enjoyed spreading horror and accusing others for his own crimes as he had done before. That's all I have thought about him.What I'm asking for is additional-alternative storylines as to how and why my character has become the one he is or even tracing and covering the gaps in his story.I am mostly looking for a way to justify his selection of JOWW as a multiclass.Suggestions for a suitable name for him would also be great.Maybe sth that has to do with "orphan" and "adventurer" in elven... Now I suppose I can only hope dm or co-adventurers won't notice this thread...If you have any questions or don't understand sth feel free to post. ________________________ "Do keep ever present in your thoughts, my friend, that an illusion can kill you if you believe in it." — Jarlaxle Baenre Entreri: "You are lucky you did not strike him blind." Jarlaxle: "Wouldn't have been the first time." Entreri: "Stunning." (In reference to a halfling's shocked reaction after casting a detect magic spell and scanning Jarlaxle.) Elminster this, Elminster that. Give ME 2000 years and a pointy hat and I'll kick his arse! (Edwin Odesseiron) Life... is strength. That is not to be contested; it seems logical enough. You live; you affect your world. (Joneleth Irenicus) With each kill I grow wiser, and with added wisdom I grow stronger. (Artemis Entreri) Wait! I think I just failed a Spot check. Wait! I think I just failed a Listen check! Run, my chunks of XP! Belkar Bitterleaf www.giantitp.com
Blackened_Blade 01-17-07, 10:45 PM	Instead of the rather paltry “kidnapped by humans, now I hate them” cliché, how about this: Your character was abducted at the age of 15 by orcs in the employ of the Zhentarim stationed at Darkhold, in the Western Heartlands. These orcs had been instructed to slaughter nine out of every ten elves they met during the purge mission. The rest were to be returned to Darkhold. Your character was then held in a dungeon for an extended length of time (anywhere from six months to two years) until finally, he was brought out into the light. Given nothing but a days worth of rations and a three hour start, he was hunted by one of the base commanders at Darkhold (who can now act as a recurring villain, should you choose to pursue him. You managed to outwit the hunting party and met up with a wandering band of ---what ever wanders in bands… Your character later manages to reunite with the remnants of your original tribe. Yeah, maybe not that great an improvement, but I like the Zhents.
Infantryman 01-18-07, 11:58 AM	Hi Succumbus I don't know much about Forgotten Realms and I've never heard of a Justice of Weald and Woe before. With that in mind, here are my ideas. Like Blackened Blade said, try to stay away from the “kidnapped by humans, now I hate them” cliché. What about a war veteran? Still not very original but I think it might fit your character nicely. He fought in a war against humans for a couple of decades in his youth, his people suffered, - maybe they lost the war? That would account for him being reticent about his past. You could play him as world weary, shell shocked, perhaps with a softer side. He's a wood elf ranger so his companions might find him sitting under a tree admiring the flowers at times. Nothing like having different sides to a charcter! Start telling war stories to your companions, so that they get an insight into his background. (What about a story about how he lost an eye?) "Look at that those guards, don't know which end of the spear to hold! Hah, I remember fighting the Redhanded Reavers! Now they were warriors, tough sons of mothers. We lost a lot of good elves to them.........." As for a name, why not give him an ordinary elven name? Just something you like the sound of. Another idea might be to give him a nickname in common. Quick Blade, Night Breeze, Hawk, or something. After all, why would he tell people his proper name? By the way elves measure time they're probably little more than passing acquaintances. ;) Hope that helps! Infantryman
succumbus 01-20-07, 04:35 AM	Although wars are not really something frequent at this part of FR, I liked this one, and it turns out I liked the Zhents as well... Thank you both, guys! So... N'atardil was caught by these orcs at the age of 15 and for 3 horrible years he was left to rot into a dungeon.After he had outrun the commander, he started thinking of ways to eliminate as many of them as possible. Since infiltrating into the castle was virtually impossible, he looked for alternative ways to express his anger, such as uniting the various local elven tribes to survive the battles against humans and orcs who frequently invaded their territory.At the same time learning more and more about his tribe's culture, N'atardil fought the humans and was finally acknowledged by local elves as their hero (no im not as self-assured and arrogant as that irl ;PPP). Some years later, the enemy lost their interest and the attacks ceased.N'atardil had to find sth else to satisfy his need for human blood.Soon, he was mad to hear that the man who chased him 4 years ago was killed by his son who took his place and wished he could be the one to have done so.Eventually, instead of doing that he decided that it would be a good idea to kill the new commander with his wife and kids, just to feel the joy of killing.He did not care about what was wrong and what was right anymore...He killed all of them without being identified as the one responsible for the action and left to continue his journey. What do you think about that? I still need to tell my dm how N'atardil chose to be a JoWW though ( he was with the rest of the party at that time)...If you could spare any ideas as to how to fill the remaining years before he joined the Shadowthieves, I would be grateful. Not that I desperately need this last one...I could just reduce his actual age=D.
Infantryman 01-20-07, 04:33 PM	Glad to be of help! I still don't know what a JOWW is, so I can't help you with that. I'd like to know how he lost an eye though - there must be a story behind that! Also I think you should add something to give him a touch of humanity. A revenge oriented killing machine is kind of one dimensional - since he has ranger levels I think nature is an obvious possibility, but maybe he has a few true friends, cousins or a beloved who he's devoted to as well. Just my two cps. Infantryman
succumbus 01-21-07, 09:13 AM	Glad to be of help! I still don't know what a JOWW is, so I can't help you with that. I'd like to know how he lost an eye though - there must be a story behind that! http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=1087 http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20050505news The justice of weald and woe is the go-to person when something unsavory -- usually involving the removal of humans -- needs doing. Wizards Of The Coast :) The truth is that I would prefer him to be a little evil :devil: since the JOWW is more of a hired assassin than sb who fights for the defenceless. As for the eye, have you ever heard of Jarlaxle Baenre? If not, take a look at this article... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarlaxle Unfortunately, my eye-patch doesn't have such powers. Hmm...:plotting: :evillaugh I wonder...No, he probably would not accept.:( maybe he has a few true friends, cousins or a beloved who he's devoted to as well. I don't know about the "real friends" thing.It's more like a means to an end, but an evil, Sabine-like, girlfriend would be an excellent addition. Buahahah!!! Thanks again...
Infantryman 01-22-07, 11:35 AM	Aha, now I understand. Have fun playing him! Infantryman