Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aluroon 01-03-05, 05:56 PM	The following is a character I'm thinking about bringing into my groups next campaign. The campaign is still fairly far off, but I like to get a jump starts. Basically I'm looking for some criteques of this character and ideas for improving the base storyline. Anyone wana step up? The questionier is something I've used with all my characters ever since I first saw it. Ignore it if you want, although it does give you some insight into the characters personally. Information: Name: Alana (her last name changes for time to time) Age: 26 Race: Human Half-Vampire Gender: Female Background: Her mother was a ***** in Waterdeep. She often hosted a particularly cold man, who most of the others thought was a noble. It turns out he was a vampire named Razagal. When her mother became pregnant he insisted that she continue the pregnancy. She did, abet only with much reluctance and quite a bit of bribery. The birth was very difficult for her mother, and she was near death when Razagal finally arrived, finally feed from his daylight prison by the arrival of the night. Razagal saved her mother from death by granting her vampirism, however it was more then she could handle and within a ten-day she had committed suicide by walking out into the sun. Razagal raised Alana, however he was savage and consumed by madness. He believed she was the embodiment of a prophecy that would lead her to become the ruler of the world with him as a controlling force from the shadows of course. She suffered his madness until she was 12 when she ran away. She made her life on the streets, picking pockets to survive on the dangerous streets of Waterdeep. Her first kills, made to quench her vampric thirst were hard on her, and cut at her till this day, but eventually she decided that if she must rid the world of life each day so she might live, it might as well be evil life. What little time she did not spend picking pockets, stalking her next victim, or sleeping she spent learning bardic lore, music, and swordsmanship from a local bard. She was a natural with music, her voice a high, strong sweet soprano, and her memory was as sharp as they come. She was less skilled with a, but practiced long nights with her rapier. What little her practice did not account for her vampric strength did. At the age of 21 her father finally caught up to her, confronting her in a dark ally as she feed. They fought for more then a minute before she finally struck a killing blow, taking him under his left arm, driving her rapier through his arm pit, his ribs, and his lungs into his unnatural heart. He disappeared in a cloud of gas, a strange smile on his face. In truth Razagal is biding his time before striking again, nursing plans of his own. Fleeing the scene, blood pouring for grievous wounds she sought out her mentor for help. While he attempted to help her she told him of her true nature. Appalled he attempted to slay her. She was able to defeat him, even in her worn down condition and she limped out the taverns backdoor into the street where she spent the next few days nursing her wounds and rebuilding her strength, with her inborn abilities and her own magic. She has spent the last few years doing what she has for the 10 before hand, surviving. Unfortunately she has recently noticed someone following her in all of her shows, someone who always wears his hood down so she cannot see his face. She has not told anyone of her heritage ever since she was forced to kill her mentor. 1: You are on a dark street in a city late at night, and find a sackful of silver. There is nobody at all in sight. (If you're truely paranoid, magical or physical scoping of the area also reveals no-one.) What do you do? A sackul of silver? I pocket it and distribute it to the familys of my first victims (without them knowing of course) as I have done for several years now. 2: You have returned to your hometown/base of operations/city from a long and arduous trek. Your feet hurt, you're probably beaten up some, and you have a purse full of recovered loot. What is the first thing you do? Get a room in my favorite inn. Take a hot bath and scrub the grim from my skin. Eat a good meal before quenching my thirst, first with blood, then later in the tavern with some ale, learning of all that has happened since I have been gone. Perform some if there’s no one else. 3: Your mentor is ill and has bade you come to her/his side before she/he dies. You are far away, and in the middle of a very important trip, but you can make it to her/his side if you drop everything and go immediately. What do you do? I killed my mentor, and my father. My mother killed herself. 4: The party bard is whistling a tune you hate. What do you do? I am the party bard. If there’s another ask him to play something I like. If that fails try to charm him into playing something else (not with magic). If all else fails we’ll see if his voice is a match for mine. 5: Another adventurer in your party has laid claim to an object you covet. What do you do? Try to get it from him. Point out why it would be better served with me. Otherwise try to charm it out of him (not magically) or buy it off of him. If I want it that bad I’m going to have it. 6: Your Familiar/Animal Companion/Trusty steed/faithful old dog has been killed by one of your party members who, while under the influence of a blind spell, accidentally filled it full of arrows thinking it was a monster. What do you do? (Once you get up off the ground, if it was a familiar.) Get up off the ground and deck him. If that hasn’t gotten rid of the rest of my anger kick him a few times before I get in control of myself. That hurt… 7: While in a city, a comely bar wench/waiter has caught your eye. What do you do? Try to seduce him. 8: The princess of a kingdom that owes you favor looks up to you as a mentor, and wishes to run away from home to follow in your footsteps. She makes this known to you. What do you do? Wow, odd role model. I try not to get involved; affairs with nobles don’t end well for those like me. If I have true feeling for her I ask her father to allow her to travel with me. After all there both better served if she is more experienced in the ways of the world. If he goes as some others have put it “Lawful Oppressive” try to help her. 9: While in a tavern, a drunken dwarf insults your mother's honor. What do you do? Tell him he’s right to insult her, she was a *****. If that doesn’t stop him try to calm him down or knock him out, with or without magic as needed. He’s drunk. 10: The party wizard wants to take downtime in a city so he can hit the stacks at the library. The other two in the party disagree, and want to hit the trail again. What do you do? More time in a city? Sure. I try to persuade the rest of the party to stay behind, explaining to them how much fun a city can be. If all else fails stay behind with the wizard. Fighters and thieves are a dime a dozen, but wizards are rare and powerful allies. 11: A noble wants you to marry his son/daughter. Said son/daughter is ugly as a bulldog mated with a troll, who's offspring mated with an ogre. What do you do? Tell him I can bare no children. If that doesn’t work I have no trouble packing up and leaving. 12: You stand over a vampress who's castle your party snuck into and ambushed. She is begging for mercy, as the Cleric raises the stake. What do you do? Vampire are the case of so many of my problems. Help him if he faulters. 13: War has broken out between your kingdom and the kingdom of another party member. He intends to answer the rallying call from his Liege, and you know full well the danger this person, who is a skilled warrior, could pose to your kingdom. What do you do? Try to convince him to sit the fight out, or if that fails help me stop the fighting by playing a diplomat. Finally if that doesn’t work subdue him. Its for his own good. Good luck attacking Waterdeep however. 14: A lonely red dragoness has you cornered, with the rest of your companions fled. She offers you your life, if you will indulge her in the bed. What do you do? I value my life, although sometimes I don’t know why. Sure I’ll indulge her. Its also a new experance. Imagon all the stories she has to tell? How long she has lived? I will be sure however to take care of my companions once I get free. I don’t like getting shafted. 15: You are unable to read a book, but have been told it's contents contain a listing of your family's ancient burial sites, possibly which hold great treasure. The party wizard tells you it contains no such information. What do you do? Magic is a wonderful thing. Comprehend languages. If that doesn’t work seek another opinion. I have no desire to raid the tombs of vampires, but I want to know if I can trust the wizard in the future. 16: The party barbarian drank all of his ale, and then drank yours without asking. What do you do? Order another ale for both of us. My large friend here will pick up the tab. 17: Your magic/warrior/monk academy/monastery/place of learning has heard of your exploits and requested you return there for a year to teach. What do you do? I never had a formal place of learning. If I had I’ll decline anyway, although I will give lectures from time to time. 18: You've been framed for a murder you had reason, opportunity and ability to commit. But you didn't do it. What did you do? And I didn’t commit the murder? Huh. Well in any case try to prove my innocence (spells are a wonderful thing). Failing that I skip town and change names. 19: Your God/dess has been destroyed, and you know of this fact. What do you do? Moron for a time, just another central figure in my life gone, but get over it and pick up a new god. I have no desire to join the wall of the faithless. 20: You have the potential for wealth beyond measure at your fingertips. the catch is you have to kill the rest of your party in their sleep. What do you do? Depends on my party. If they know my true nature and accept it then no. There friendship and understanding is worth more then all the gold in the world. If not…well that’s very tempting. It would depend on my current situation. 21:Your skill at fencing/magic has become legend. Then someone challenges you to a duel to the death. What do you do? Fight the duel in a place of my choosing (so as not to embarrass them in the open). Beat them but spare them. If they continue to attack after they have been spared beat them unconscious. Someone who owes you there life is valuable, and a rival can be even more valuable at times. 22: Years ago, your King allowed your hometown to be overrun by an invading horde of orcs, because he needed soldiers to secure his family's trade routes, leading to the serial rape and murder of your mother, which you were forced to watch from a hiding spot. Now, you have learned of an attempt on his life. What do you do? Now which king has ever ruled Waterdeep again? And when was Waterdeep sacked? And my mother died when I was less then a week old. If such a thing were to happen I would offer my services to help them, his actions were evil. 23: An orcish horde has gathered under the leader of one powerful chieftain, and your party has been captured and taken before him. He expresses a desire to have your party take her to the King of your nation, with whom he wishes to negotiate safe passage through his lands for the purposes of leaving this continent by sea to wage war on an orc kingdom across said sea. Orcs have no history of making peaceful contacts with other races. What do you do? I’ll see what I can do to work out peace. If not I’m confident that the Masked Lords, or the two chosen that reside in Waterdeep are easily a match for him. 24. You're tired and weary, on the last leg of a long trip to get to a city. The food ran out about two days ago, and you're hungry. Then you come across a farmer on the road, shaking his head and working to try an put his crop of hay back on his cart, which it fell off of. What do you do? Shack my head and move on. When I’m hungry I’m dangerous to everyone, its best I not trouble him. 25. When you go to hunt down an adult red dragon that attacked a town, for reasons unknown, she flees her horde room. When you corner her, she's standing protectively over a clutch of quivering eggs, about to hatch any second. She and you both know that your group is outfitted with magic that will make her breath ineffective, the and you're well-armed to defeat her, especially in this room that's too small for flight. What do you do? Try to negotiate with her not to attack the surrounding lands. If that doesn’t work slay her, but spare her young and protect them until they are strong enough to defend themselves. If it works out I’ve raised a number of good/neutral red dragons. 26. Along the road, you encounter a kobold that looks injured - he's unconscious, bleeding slowly from an arrow wound. What do you do? Try to save him, find out what happened to him, and get a feel for what kind of a kobold he is. If he lies I will probably pick up on it (A number of ranks in sense motive). If not I have made myself a small friend, and learned more information. 27. When you divide the treasure, you correctly identify what everyone else thinks are silver coins as platinum. What do you do? Tell them. If they don’t believe me I think I’ll take the “Silver” coins instead of my share of the gold. I did tell them. 28. When you divide the treasure, you correctly identify what everyone else thinks are platinum coins as silver. What do you do? Same as above, but, no you all take the platinum, I’m content with the gold. 29. Inside a dungeon, you come across what appears to be an adolescent Erinyes devil, chained to a dungeon wall and apparently having been used as a sex toy. She glares at you with hatred as you enter. What do you do? Leave it there. If something has bond it there, and denied the use of its powers to it I don’t want to mess with it. Besides I don’t want to get involved with the outer plains. It may be a victim, but it’s also a being born of evil, feed on souls, and created because of its past lives evil. 30. When you're in a position to do off a demon king who's been responsible for countless death and suffering, he swears he'll make you all princes and princesses, Lords and Ladies among mere mortals, with an immortal lifespan and wealthy beyond the dreams of kings, if you spare his life. What do you do? Trust a demon? Lol…no… 31.A king who owes you a favor for recovering his lineage’s crown asks you another small favor. His princess daughter becomes hostile whenever anyone mentions her betrothal to a prince. After a few minutes of talking to her as simply a friend, it's obvious to you (though not to her) that she is deeply Shojo-ai. (Lesbian.) What do you do? Try to guide her towards the understanding of what she is. If she finds out and her father turns “Lawful Oppressive” try to save her. Try to get her a marriage to another princess. Alignment: Currently unsure, I could use some feedback Class: Bard5 Personality: Free willed and manipulative Alana is used to getting what she wants. Her vampric hunger has haunted her since she ran away from her father, yet she has no choice but to continue feeding to live. She is rather self-centered and trusts no one, having never really had anyone who truly cared for her. She is unlikely to open up to anyone, or tell anyone of her heritage after her past experiences. If she were to come across someone who truly cared for her she would likely be very loyal to them, although it is likely it would take her some time to open up. She enjoys making cynical remarks. Alana always tries to stay up to date on local events, and is constantly on the lookout after her ambush several years ago. Aluroon
RainWolf 01-04-05, 09:17 PM	First of all, great job. I like the story line and the questionare. You seem to have a good grasp on how your character thinks. Moving on, by your answers, I'd say you were neutral, borderline neutral/evil. I don't see exactly why your character thinks her mother is a *****, she only knew her for ten days as a newborn, and your character seems to think ahead enough not to put too much faith in what people tell her. I don't know much about bards, so I won't say much on that, but after so many years of stalking, killing, stealing, and hiding, I can't seem to grasp the idea of many songs in her life. As for the background, having to kill her father and mentor in one night definately makes for a good (and origional) tradegy, but I think it would make for a better storyline if she had a stronger relationship with her father. That's just how I would do it, though. It's great how it is. I'd like to help you more, but I don't know exactly what your looking for. -hope that helps
Aluroon 01-05-05, 03:25 PM	First of all, Thank you Rainwolf for taking the time to answer. With the number of views I had hoped for more support, but I suppose not. Most of what she knows of her mother her father told her, the rest she extrapolated from her experienced on the street (being a ***** is a bad thing, the publics views on undead, ect). In regards to your comments regarding the her bardic skills, well I can see a bard being the first person to ever be truly nice to her, leading her to find out more about the bard, ect, until she decided its what she would like to do. Her thieving was more working the crowd kind of think, and she didn’t to that much hiding (she usually stayed in inns). When looking for her victims she usually just goes to a bad neighborhood and one of the worst taverns. Find out who is regarded as a murder, rapist, ect, then lures them into a dark ally where the overcomes them with her strength and sucks them dry. I can see her having problems with killing, prophase crying after each death, however I haven’t had time to add my latest notes to this lately (midterms) In regards to her father, I probably will do something to shore up that part of her history, right now I'm waiting for the dms reply to what he thinks and wither or not he plans on doing something with Razagal before I do to much there. Basically I'm just looking for people to do exactly what you just did, give me there thoughts on the character, and point out anything they see is amiss (either doesn’t make sense or is confusing). I've got quite a few empty years of her life, and am also looking for fillers in that regard. I cant imagine 10-15 years in Waterdeep without at least a few eventful things happening to her, yet I am afraid to add more without some advice, for fear of it sounding to contrived. Furthermore I have found that it always helps to have a fresh eye look at things for you. Thanks for the complements, help, and support. Aluroon
god the giant 01-05-05, 06:57 PM	Great story, fun character.