Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stormbrand 04-26-08, 12:59 PM	He was a changeling. Not a face-shifter changeling but a ye olde folkloric changeling - a troll switched with a human baby. The Mound Dwellers (a group of malevolent fey) stole the original child and left this half-troll in it's place. Many families would simply drown the poor creature left with them, or torture it in an effort to force the faeries to return their own child. This family did neither and raised the creature. While they were kind and gentle to him, and explained that what happened to their own child was not his fault, the troll-child could not ignore how the parents cried themselves to sleep at night over their lost son. Seeking to ease their pain, the troll-child went to the mound and searched for the child. The fae lurking there were completely taken aback by this - a human they would have killed but a half-troll coming here and saving one of the stolen children took them by surprise. The child was rescued. What followed for Blargensblarg were the loneliest years of his life. With their son back, the family no longer needed the troll changeling as a substitute for their lost son. Yes, they were still good to him and let him stay, but he was no longer part of the family. Grew up as a labourer and was part of the village militia early (because a young half-troll is near the size of an adult human). His signature ability is the Healing Devotion feat from Complete Champion - the idea is that he is able to share his regeneration with people. I picture him as very generous, helpful, eager to please. Easy to manipulate due to his loneliness. Strangely polite, which he probably enjoys contrasting with his hideous appearance. However, what I am not sure of is what he would be like to speak to. I am trying to imagine having a conversation with him and I'm drawing a blank. He's not stupid (INT & WIS 10-12), so I don't want standard 'dumb troll speak' but I have no idea how to play him in conversation. Any advice? Thank you in advance for your help.
runestar 04-27-08, 12:07 AM	I am wondering if his overly politeness could be due to him wanting to please people so as to gain acceptance. As he feels somewhat of an outsider due to his looks, he might think that he needs to work harder to fit in. One way might be to get himself into the people's good books by showcasing his worth and talents, and generally trying to make himself as indispensable and useful as possible. His loneliness could be due to him not being sure if he is truly accepted for who and what he is, or if the people just tolerate him because of his contributions. So my first impression is some over-eager salesperson. For instance, he might be overly observant, and keep insisting on helping the PCs every chance he gets. For example, if they just stepped into the inn from the rain, he might fuss over them, using a cloth to help dry them where appropriate, ordering food, trying to strike up small talk with them... The kind of people I would like to shout "Just shut up and let me shop in peace...:mad: " :P
Stormbrand 04-30-08, 10:06 PM	My internet hates me. Anyhow... Mostly he is polite because I want him to immediately seem like a kind person. He probably isn't insecure due to his appearance - he has no strong concept of attractiveness. However, he does recognise that people see him as a frightening creature and he enjoys the WTF reaction when he's nice to them. :D His loneliness is because he grew up as an unwanted child. Yes his family were good to him, but he spent the first 6 years of his life seeing 'his' parents cry themselves to sleep over the child he was switched with, and roughly 8 years after that being unfavoured. I think he'll start to feel better and less lonely once he forms steady friendships (which will happen fast with the 'banner' unit he is joining), but his behaviour would still be similar because he needs to learn how to act when he's not lonely. Observant seems nice, thoughtful gestures seem good. I'm just struggling to picture what he'd say to someone who talked to him.
runestar 05-01-08, 07:41 AM	I am thinking something like a refined and educated english gentleman would say...:P Not that he always talks like that, but he likes to begin conversation with newcomers that way, just for the priceless look of astonishment on their faces when the response is not what is expected of a dumb-looking uncultured brute...:D
Jacob_Crowe 05-01-08, 02:17 PM	when i read this the first thing that came to mind is the race in RoD, they look like fiendish orcs, but are actually a cursed ancient tribe of humans... brb, grabbing book... * 5 m i n u t e s l a t e r * Sharakim. that's the name. book sets them up as pointedly polite, obsessively clean, and studying varied and multitudinous subjects to disprove the initial reaction their monstrous appearance gives. make him a LG cleric of a knowledge deity, going for loremaster. have him very carefully enunciate his words, using bland common greetings. *man walks into his shop* "Good afternoon kind sir. Is there anything i can help you with today?" *man blinks* etc. i'm thinking almost an educated Fezzig style from what you've said. and if you don't know who Fezzig is, go watch The Princess Bride. best movie ever.
Stormbrand 05-07-08, 02:38 PM	Thank you, that is more helpful. He's actually going to be a multiclass Warrior/Paladin (Holy Warrior varient) - reducing his LA by taking levels in an NPC class (think of the half-troll template replacing class features). Extra Turning feat to provide more use of Healing Devotion. Still, I can fit his personality with that well enough. :) Thanks for pointing me to Sharakim.