Lawful Nuetral Cleric of St Cuthbert needs backround [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lawful Nuetral Cleric of St Cuthbert needs backround [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MikEye
01-22-07, 06:42 PM Hello guys, I've always played Dungeons and Dragons a but but have always been more of a power gamer than anything else when I did play it, which is not frequent. I want to try and break away from that and get good at RPing, because my Dungeon Master happens to promote it. Sometimes he will throw in a little XP just for roleplaying particularly well.

I've done all my research as far as how a cleric of saint cuthbert normaly behaves, clerical training, how they speak etc...

But I lack a backround. I know nothing of how to make a good or interesting one, and in this land the worship of St. Cuthbert is not widespread, but not completely alienated like Wee Jas or something. I play a cleric with the domains Destruction and Protection, and obviously positively aligned.

Help would be much appreciated because my DM really don't tell me about the lands. He has offered to make a backround for me, but if I want to include anything for him to build around, he will do it for me. Nothing is final. Thank you :)
Radijs
01-22-07, 07:00 PM Read this: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=105563
Its pretty useful.

You may want to ask yourself how he became a follower of St Cuthbert and what later called him to become a part of the clergy.
MikEye
01-22-07, 09:07 PM thanks for the help, man. I brain stormed a little. If my cleric devotes himself to a God of retribution, there must be a reason why.

I sketched in my mind a little bit, a little cliche

But maybe he has a strong father figure that taught him about law, town raid, father killed, st cuthbert's way seemed the most prevelent?
Adrian_Crane
01-22-07, 10:40 PM There's always the obvious--someone killed a friend/family member of yours, so you go swearing vengeance and decide the faith of St. Cuthbert is the way to do it.

Or for a slight twist, since Cuthbert is also the god of justice...

A friend/family member was put to death, through a system of law, and you believe it was unjust or perhaps manipulated. Now, to get revenge, you must PROVE something was screwy with the system for administering justice. That in itself can be a character goal--and once it's accomplished, then you're finally able to execute your judgement as an emissary of the very deity who promotes both retribution and law.

This also has RP ramifications; in towns, your character might spend a great deal of time amongst the local magistrates or at the libraries, researching all forms of law and attempting to decide what is "just" and what is not.
MikEye
01-22-07, 11:29 PM I was thinking that too but I thought it may have been a little cliche. I brainstormed a little and tried this out for size. Tell me what you think. Just a rough draft, so suggestions are nice

Setting: A city dominated by worshippers of Heironeous. The guards walk around a pleasant city with the insignia of Heironeous on their shields. The mayor is corrupt and uses the diety as a vehicle to get people to think that his guards and his army are heroic, and chivalric.

-Lazaren (furture cleric of St. Cuthbert) is age 13 at this time. Lives in a not so nice area of the city. Almost slum like, some prostitutes, panderers and druggies
-Dane, father of two, is roughly 50 years old. He is a laid off mason that worked for the city. The Mayor laid off his guild when he decided they were no longer needed. He scrounds around and tries to get money every day for his two sons. His wife died of disease related to food poisoning.
-Brielyn, Lazaren's older brother. age 17 at this time. Very mischeivous, but Lazaren still looks up to him.

Lazaren and Brielyn got along well, though Lazaren was always lawful (tought by his father to be) and Brielyn was Chaotic. Brielyn would always get in to trouble, stealing food and getting into fights all the time. One day, the town guard seized him, and they never knew what happened to him again, inspite of efforts of Lazaren and Dane to get answers. Two peasants would not be able to get words out of the Mayor.

2 years pass, and the taxes got even higher. They are too much for Lazaren and Dane to pay. After being warned several times of punishment, the guards came to confront them, donning heronious' insignia on their shields.

One of the guards says "Hey Dane, looks like you can't pay taxes again. Maybe we should take this one like we did your last!" the guard turns and faces, laughing with his comrades.

Lazaren, in defiance, spits in the face of the guard. The guard punches Lazaren in the face with his steel gauntlet. His father, now age 52, tries to help him, but the guard strikes him down too. The guards take out some anger on the two for about 10 minutes, then they walk away.

They linger back inside of their house, and try to dress their wounds, eaiting their last loaf of bread.

Later that night, Dane and Lazaren awake to the sounds of horses in the night. Outside the small window are 4 guards holding torches. Lazaren and Dane walk outside, as the guards throw their torches at the house, lighting it on fire.

Dane gets prepared to fight them. Lazaren wants to help, but Dane tells him to run. Reluctantly, he listens and hides in a bale of hay.

Lazaren watches as Dane raises his fists at the guards and swings. He hits one of the guards. One of the other two guards stabs Dane in the gut with is sword. As he falls to his knees, one of the other guards holds Dane's head in an upright position, as the guard he punched kick's Dane's face in. Lazaren cries himself to sleep.

Lazaren now walks the streets as an orphan, along with the panderers and hookers.

Though he was homeless, he still stayed lawful, doing odd jobs for a gold piece a day to buy a meal.

One day around 10:00 pm, he sees a man roughing up a woman. The man draws a blade, and Lazaren springs up into action. He grabs a piece of wood and begins to bludgeon the man in the face. The man falls, and Lazaren continues to beat him until he is unconscious. The woman just stares as Lazaren runs to his old home.

Lazaren gazes upon the ashes, age 16 now, reflecting upon what has happened to him. He hears a call coming from the shed next door. He rushes over to see a man, with a face like stone, whispering to him. He dons platemail and a red hood. A cross goes across the chest of his armor. This man's name is Leviticus. He calls out to Lazaren. "I have watched you for many months. You follow true to the ways of the law. You seek retribution for what has happened to your family, and perhaps the Saint may have answers for you." Lazaren follows the cleric.

The next few months, Leviticus teaches Lazaren all the ways of Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel. He teaches him how to fight, cast some minor spells, and to recite scriptures of Saint Cuthbert by memeory. He and the Cleric carry out acts of Retribution, and eventualy clean up this area of the city of most of its crime.

One day, Leviticus told Lazaren that he has reached his final test. now age 20, he must slay the man who ordered his house burned. Leviticus told Lazaren where he will be, and at what time.

Around 6:00pm, Lazaren heads to the city barracks, to see what looks like his brother at the head of the table. "...Brielyn?" Lazaren says in surprise. "Yes brother, it is I." Lazaren says "Where have you been?" Brielyn says to Lazaren, "I have been fighting the Count's crusade in the name of Heironeous for quite some time. The town of Brewnall said some bad things about the Count." Lazaren in defiance yells, "Brewnall is nothing but a bunch of beggars! They cannot defend themselves!" Brielyn replies, "They have broken the law, and they had to pay with their blood, in the name of Heironeous."

Lazaren, shocked, comes to the realization that this is not the same person he knew. He has changed greatly. "Why did you have our house burned?" Brielyn says, "Because you didn't pay your taxes."

Lazaren, after a long silence, says, "...Father is dead."

Brielyn, taking a bite out of his pork, says, "That is a shame."

"Do you have no dignity? I challenge you to a duel to the death! Dawn! Tommorow!"

Lazaren storms out in rage.

That night, at the camp fire, Lazaren asks how he is supposed to defeat his brother in armed combat. Brielyn is a better fighter than he is all around, in all aspects. He carries war experience, and is better equipped.

Leviticus only says, "Believe in the Saint, and all of his principles. Only through faith shall you succeed."

Now comes time for the duel. Donning scalemail with a red cross across the center, great mace, and wooden shield, the battle begins.

The fight lasts for a good long time. Brielyn clearly has the upper hand. Lazaren tires. As Brielyn goes to land the killing blow, Lazaren's mace glows an odd blue color. Lazaren quickly and swiftly lands a critical blow to the head of Brielyn. He collapses to the ground. Brielyn has not yet died. He lingers on the ground in pain.

Leviticus yells, "Finish this!"

Lazaren lands the killing blow. His father's death has been avenged through divine retribution. Lazaren then went to the sky citadel of Saint Cuthbert to become a true cleric. He travels the land today, spreading the holy word of the cudgel.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MikEye 01-22-07, 06:42 PM	Hello guys, I've always played Dungeons and Dragons a but but have always been more of a power gamer than anything else when I did play it, which is not frequent. I want to try and break away from that and get good at RPing, because my Dungeon Master happens to promote it. Sometimes he will throw in a little XP just for roleplaying particularly well. I've done all my research as far as how a cleric of saint cuthbert normaly behaves, clerical training, how they speak etc... But I lack a backround. I know nothing of how to make a good or interesting one, and in this land the worship of St. Cuthbert is not widespread, but not completely alienated like Wee Jas or something. I play a cleric with the domains Destruction and Protection, and obviously positively aligned. Help would be much appreciated because my DM really don't tell me about the lands. He has offered to make a backround for me, but if I want to include anything for him to build around, he will do it for me. Nothing is final. Thank you :)
Radijs 01-22-07, 07:00 PM	Read this: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=105563 Its pretty useful. You may want to ask yourself how he became a follower of St Cuthbert and what later called him to become a part of the clergy.
MikEye 01-22-07, 09:07 PM	thanks for the help, man. I brain stormed a little. If my cleric devotes himself to a God of retribution, there must be a reason why. I sketched in my mind a little bit, a little cliche But maybe he has a strong father figure that taught him about law, town raid, father killed, st cuthbert's way seemed the most prevelent?
Adrian_Crane 01-22-07, 10:40 PM	There's always the obvious--someone killed a friend/family member of yours, so you go swearing vengeance and decide the faith of St. Cuthbert is the way to do it. Or for a slight twist, since Cuthbert is also the god of justice... A friend/family member was put to death, through a system of law, and you believe it was unjust or perhaps manipulated. Now, to get revenge, you must PROVE something was screwy with the system for administering justice. That in itself can be a character goal--and once it's accomplished, then you're finally able to execute your judgement as an emissary of the very deity who promotes both retribution and law. This also has RP ramifications; in towns, your character might spend a great deal of time amongst the local magistrates or at the libraries, researching all forms of law and attempting to decide what is "just" and what is not.
MikEye 01-22-07, 11:29 PM	I was thinking that too but I thought it may have been a little cliche. I brainstormed a little and tried this out for size. Tell me what you think. Just a rough draft, so suggestions are nice Setting: A city dominated by worshippers of Heironeous. The guards walk around a pleasant city with the insignia of Heironeous on their shields. The mayor is corrupt and uses the diety as a vehicle to get people to think that his guards and his army are heroic, and chivalric. -Lazaren (furture cleric of St. Cuthbert) is age 13 at this time. Lives in a not so nice area of the city. Almost slum like, some prostitutes, panderers and druggies -Dane, father of two, is roughly 50 years old. He is a laid off mason that worked for the city. The Mayor laid off his guild when he decided they were no longer needed. He scrounds around and tries to get money every day for his two sons. His wife died of disease related to food poisoning. -Brielyn, Lazaren's older brother. age 17 at this time. Very mischeivous, but Lazaren still looks up to him. Lazaren and Brielyn got along well, though Lazaren was always lawful (tought by his father to be) and Brielyn was Chaotic. Brielyn would always get in to trouble, stealing food and getting into fights all the time. One day, the town guard seized him, and they never knew what happened to him again, inspite of efforts of Lazaren and Dane to get answers. Two peasants would not be able to get words out of the Mayor. 2 years pass, and the taxes got even higher. They are too much for Lazaren and Dane to pay. After being warned several times of punishment, the guards came to confront them, donning heronious' insignia on their shields. One of the guards says "Hey Dane, looks like you can't pay taxes again. Maybe we should take this one like we did your last!" the guard turns and faces, laughing with his comrades. Lazaren, in defiance, spits in the face of the guard. The guard punches Lazaren in the face with his steel gauntlet. His father, now age 52, tries to help him, but the guard strikes him down too. The guards take out some anger on the two for about 10 minutes, then they walk away. They linger back inside of their house, and try to dress their wounds, eaiting their last loaf of bread. Later that night, Dane and Lazaren awake to the sounds of horses in the night. Outside the small window are 4 guards holding torches. Lazaren and Dane walk outside, as the guards throw their torches at the house, lighting it on fire. Dane gets prepared to fight them. Lazaren wants to help, but Dane tells him to run. Reluctantly, he listens and hides in a bale of hay. Lazaren watches as Dane raises his fists at the guards and swings. He hits one of the guards. One of the other two guards stabs Dane in the gut with is sword. As he falls to his knees, one of the other guards holds Dane's head in an upright position, as the guard he punched kick's Dane's face in. Lazaren cries himself to sleep. Lazaren now walks the streets as an orphan, along with the panderers and hookers. Though he was homeless, he still stayed lawful, doing odd jobs for a gold piece a day to buy a meal. One day around 10:00 pm, he sees a man roughing up a woman. The man draws a blade, and Lazaren springs up into action. He grabs a piece of wood and begins to bludgeon the man in the face. The man falls, and Lazaren continues to beat him until he is unconscious. The woman just stares as Lazaren runs to his old home. Lazaren gazes upon the ashes, age 16 now, reflecting upon what has happened to him. He hears a call coming from the shed next door. He rushes over to see a man, with a face like stone, whispering to him. He dons platemail and a red hood. A cross goes across the chest of his armor. This man's name is Leviticus. He calls out to Lazaren. "I have watched you for many months. You follow true to the ways of the law. You seek retribution for what has happened to your family, and perhaps the Saint may have answers for you." Lazaren follows the cleric. The next few months, Leviticus teaches Lazaren all the ways of Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel. He teaches him how to fight, cast some minor spells, and to recite scriptures of Saint Cuthbert by memeory. He and the Cleric carry out acts of Retribution, and eventualy clean up this area of the city of most of its crime. One day, Leviticus told Lazaren that he has reached his final test. now age 20, he must slay the man who ordered his house burned. Leviticus told Lazaren where he will be, and at what time. Around 6:00pm, Lazaren heads to the city barracks, to see what looks like his brother at the head of the table. "...Brielyn?" Lazaren says in surprise. "Yes brother, it is I." Lazaren says "Where have you been?" Brielyn says to Lazaren, "I have been fighting the Count's crusade in the name of Heironeous for quite some time. The town of Brewnall said some bad things about the Count." Lazaren in defiance yells, "Brewnall is nothing but a bunch of beggars! They cannot defend themselves!" Brielyn replies, "They have broken the law, and they had to pay with their blood, in the name of Heironeous." Lazaren, shocked, comes to the realization that this is not the same person he knew. He has changed greatly. "Why did you have our house burned?" Brielyn says, "Because you didn't pay your taxes." Lazaren, after a long silence, says, "...Father is dead." Brielyn, taking a bite out of his pork, says, "That is a shame." "Do you have no dignity? I challenge you to a duel to the death! Dawn! Tommorow!" Lazaren storms out in rage. That night, at the camp fire, Lazaren asks how he is supposed to defeat his brother in armed combat. Brielyn is a better fighter than he is all around, in all aspects. He carries war experience, and is better equipped. Leviticus only says, "Believe in the Saint, and all of his principles. Only through faith shall you succeed." Now comes time for the duel. Donning scalemail with a red cross across the center, great mace, and wooden shield, the battle begins. The fight lasts for a good long time. Brielyn clearly has the upper hand. Lazaren tires. As Brielyn goes to land the killing blow, Lazaren's mace glows an odd blue color. Lazaren quickly and swiftly lands a critical blow to the head of Brielyn. He collapses to the ground. Brielyn has not yet died. He lingers on the ground in pain. Leviticus yells, "Finish this!" Lazaren lands the killing blow. His father's death has been avenged through divine retribution. Lazaren then went to the sky citadel of Saint Cuthbert to become a true cleric. He travels the land today, spreading the holy word of the cudgel.