Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tokogaru 03-27-05, 05:30 PM	I wouldnt be asking this if the search option wasnt down, but could someone help me out with some general backround ideas for a sorc? From what I remember, a few ideas ive heard were: Dragonblooded sorcerer who thinsk the dragons blood waters down his power, fey-touched, just not knowing why you have powers, and demonic pact. Please any other backroudn ideas would be greatly apreciated.
mybrainhurts 03-27-05, 07:05 PM	Just remember, the character not knowing where his powers come from and the background not detailing whre his powers come from are rather different things, and allows for some interesting plot hooks if you decide to go the way of dark pact/ritual.
Ouranos Harpy 03-27-05, 08:36 PM	I could help you more, if you could be just a wee bit more specific. Like, what type of ancetsry do you want your Sorcerer to have? A celestial, fiendish, fey or elemental? If you can be just a wee bit more specific i can draft a good story for you. A great way to start off would be to theme your sorcerer. Do you want your character to be more offensive, defensive, charm etc...
Tokogaru 03-27-05, 09:15 PM	Well i was mulling it over and im pretty sure i want to go with a fiendish ancestor or have him make a demonic pact (whether he knew it was that or not). I would rather have him not be evil, because my Dm just doesnt aprrove after one of our players tried. *shakes head*
Ouranos Harpy 03-27-05, 10:11 PM	Fiendish ancestry eh, I see, have you decided upon a name? If your Character Human or something else? I'm gonna make these assumptions ok? I'm assuming the character is Human, that his parents are are like 3-4th generation tieflings, so the demonic traits aren't that strong. I'm basing this off the Forgotten Realms, but feel free to sub in anything you don't like with your home campaign, this includes the names of the demons, families, gods etc ok? ***************** Long ago in the lofty moutains of the Sword Coast stood a mighty and powerfull house. Etched in antiquity House Karlanthur, using its brutal might had quickly risen to power in the area. The rapid growth in matters of politics, economics, military and magic had attracted the attention of the dark lords of the Zhentarim. Fanatical followers of depraved and dark gods, these connving men came to the doorstep of Bloodless Raven manor, in an atempt to strike an alliance with House Karlanthur. Thier offer was readily accepted, the ruling head of the house; Lady Arachnaziya (Human CE Sorceror/Arcane Devotee to Moander). And so began the dark legacy of the damned house of the sword coast. Lady Arachnaziya had twins; Lord Cylandro and Lady Piyular. Both were raised in the depraved house and were deeply respected and feared by thier peers in the Zhentarim organization. Lord Cylandro grew to become a very influencial wizard and his sister became the finest assassin on the west coast. The two however shared a deep and abhorent secret, they were despite being kin to each other, were madly in love with each other. They were truly touched by the god of decay and disgust, Moander himself. Only thier mother Arachnaziya knew, and she didn't object. Drunk on the power and corruption her god had given her, lady Arachnaziya celebrated the unholy union of her two children. And so, they were secretly married to one another. Under the watchful eyes of her mother, lady Piyular gave birth to a healthy baby girl; Jahanum. All was going well, until her mother Lady Arachnaziya took the child away from her to be raised by herself and under the dedication to her God Moander. Lady Piyular hell bent on revenge attacked her own Mother. the battle was long and in the end both mother and daughter were brutally killed in the fight. It with was up to Cylandro to raise his daughter, and he did. Teaching her the arcane and hidden arts of wizardly, jahanum like her family was destined to rose to power. A ravishingly beautiful woman, her position in the Organization quickly rose. But, she too was touched with bouts of insanity, the same which plauged her Grandmother and mother alike. Almost as peverse as her parents Jahanum enterd another unholy union. She made a pact with the demon prince Grazzat that her family would forever be in his service if he could help her achieve domination over the Zentharim. And so she entered his pact, it was sealed by the marriage of lady Jahanum with one of Grazzat's own sons. A handsome and equally charming Incubi known as Count Vlarack. the two of them had many children together the last of which being Hyrandur. Hyrandur was different from the rest, she was not so interested in the petty politics of the Zentharim and quickly became over-shoadowed by her btetherin. This was a blessing it gave her the chance to slowly slip away into the shadows and run away. A few years later, Grazzat's favour fell from House Karlanthur and seeing that they were no longer blessed by teh demon prince, the entire organization descended upon the house and destroyed all the living memebers. All but lady Hyrandur. She had moved away from home, changed her name and married a good wizard in waterdeep. Ages later, your character was born. Unknowing of his ancestry, he posessed the most minor of demonic traits two bloodshot eyes. He excelled at the art of sorcery, vastly different from his ancestors (from daddy's side) who were all wizards. Regardless, he set out on his own adventure fighting the Zhentarim. Until one day, when the depraved lord Grazat finally called in on Lady Jahanum's favour. It was time to face his past and come out still on the side of good. *********************************** I suppose some parts are like PG 13, but I think they add to the flavour. His ancestry is damned for his ancestry is evil. Obviously you can change the whole incest scene by taking lord Cylandro out and adding someone else. But meh, this is what I think would give an excellent history. So... enjoy~ ^-^V
HypnoticMonk 03-28-05, 12:43 AM	I am about to start a barbarian/sorceror character that has no idea he has these powers... and won't for a while. At 1st level, he is your standard barbarian. At 2nd level, he mutters to himself, and tada he can run faster ( Exp. Retreat), can jump further ( Jump), and so on. I plan on having him deny any magical abilities to himself for a while, until he blasts something at some higher level. He has a tattoo on the back of his shoulder that his "sword-father" gave him... but as he goes up in levels, the birthmark underneath it start to eat away at ( even burn away at ) that tattoo to show the magic glyph underneath.
Tokogaru 03-28-05, 02:36 AM	Only one word can describe this backround, inspired. I really liked the whole idea of his grandmother entering into a pact with the demon prince and now the PC would be payed a little visit from Grazat. Now i have to learn to write backrounds as awe inspring as this one........
Ouranos Harpy 03-28-05, 12:28 PM	awe, thank you~ Tokogaru, You can use this past history, I kinda wrote it for you.
Tokogaru 03-28-05, 12:44 PM	I'm planning on making a few changes, such as fitting the wizard backround into a larger role. Making that ancestry like an organization bent on overthrowing the Zhentarim organization, and that Hyrandur had left her family and was offered protection by this wizards organization in exchange for information. (she eventually married the good wizard.) I'm also having a bit of trouble deciding on spells that would fit in for just a fiendish backround. In addition i am trying to incorporate a feel that the wizards side of the family's magical powers co-mingled with the fiendish ancestors natural magical abilites. (We dont play FR but changes are easily made with names such as sword caost and waterdeep)
Ouranos Harpy 03-28-05, 03:41 PM	As for what spells he should pay more attention to that give him a demonic feel. Wee first of all remember that your chracter is ravishly handsome, something he owes to his demonic ancestor Count Vlarack. The Count is an Incubi so probably enchantment spells would perfectly fit your character. here's a few that are stated in the Monster Manual (pertaning to succubi and incubi) Charm monster, clairaudience/clairvoyance, darkness, desecrate, detect good-evil-law-chaos, detect thoughts, doom, suggestion. Also, just to give your character some offensive spells make him have an affinity towards acid/poision based spells. Why? well, the way I see it the fire blasting tiefling has been over done and really is very cliche. But something like a seductive and sensual tiefling, who would much rather watch his enemies die slowly and painfully, just makes your character makes all the more worth while. Also note, he can still be good and carry the thing mentioned above. He just uses his powers against stupid evil doers. He's chaotic (something you should include as his alignment he is after all a sorcerer AND one of demonic blood) and so prolly doesn't care so much about the rigid rules of behaviour.
Tokogaru 03-28-05, 04:06 PM	I'm just wondering what are some ways of becoming better at writing character backrounds and creating personalities to go with those. I'm used to playing hack and slash and my DM said that he's growing tierd of those kind of campains and is leaning towards a more role-play orientated experience. (This backround is so good, thanks again :D )
Ouranos Harpy 03-28-05, 04:58 PM	To be frank, i don't think I can pinpoint to particular things and say that they will make you a better writer. But one thing that really has helped me is reading. I think if you wish to become a good writer, you have to be an amazing reader. Just voraciously read any book you can get your hands on. More importantly never limit yourself to one genre, somthing i learned recently, read anything and everything. From Historic fiction to suspense and horror. Also place yourself in the character's shoes. Act like them, think like them, really become them. Never shy away from characters that are different from yours. If you are a male, play a female character and understand her. If you usually write about caucasians, try an aboriginal mindset for once. If you only think like a straight person, perhaps you should view life from a homosexual perspective. Broaden your horizons. But also remember to not make a sterotypical view, but get to the core and heart of the person. And write. I can't stress that enough, just write. It doens't even have to make sense. Sit down in front of your Computer, open up Word and just type away. Your feelings, your thoughts, what happened to you. Soon, everything will fall into place and before you know it, you will begin weaving your own fantasy with colourful and vibrant characters each a unique gem in its own right.