New Character background (Long winded) [Archive] - Wizards Community

New Character background (Long winded) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
M3
01-31-04, 07:43 PM In my gaming group when a new character is created we are asked to write up a background story to aid the GM in designing adventures. Please give me any feedback you would care too and any new ideas are welcome. Thank you =)

Story of Saumer
This tale like many other beginnings starts with a tragedy. Amongst the wild plains of Shaar it is not a unique site to see a woman astride a horse riding to battle amongst her tribesmen. Although the motivations for that woman to ride were unlike the other women that had ridden in the past, for she rode to avenge the father of her unborn child.
This warrioress, unnamed as she is, rode whilst carrying an unborn child into battle a battle that would be her end and the beginning of another story. The battle and history behind it are just that, history. Unfortunately for this woman a history that no one survived to tell.
So the story starts with a mortally wounded woman who fled a lost battle against some foe to strong to wreck her vengeance upon. As injured as she was, her horse was wounded as well. Yet this mount sacrificed its last moments of comfort before it too past, to carry his mistress to a place of safety. This place happened to be in the depths of the Shaarwood. Where she bore a child that was much too early for this world. Yet this child survived suckling at its mothers breast when his mother past form this world, proud that she had died from battle and gladdened that she had bore a son.
The wail of this child had brought forth a Dryad named Oakmoss. Oakmoss had looked upon the child and thought briefly perhaps it would be more merciful to let this child die along with its mother. The thought flitted through its mind like a wayward summer’s breeze and was gone. Oakmoss gathered up the child and walked away to her home.
The child grew quickly under the magical care of Oakmoss, nature’s blessing allowed it to survive where any other child in like circumstances would have died. Oakmoss along with many of her Fey sisters enjoyed this child for his spirit was unblemished by that of Man’s teachings. So it was that the child was named Child of Summer.
Child of Summer stayed happily unaware of his heritage until he was of the age of seven seasons. On the year of his seventh season a pilgrim had come and spoke in great lengths with his surrogate mother Oakmoss. This did not trouble Child of Summer for it was Oakmoss’s way to speak at length with men that wonder so deep in the woods although most of these men would leave after a few months. This man Child of Summer was to learn was very different. For he was a devote follower of Ilmater.
Through tears that Child of Summer had never witnessed before in Oakmoss’s eyes. He was told that he must travel with this man and learn the ways of his own kind. It was explained to him, that it was cruel to keep a child of man amongst those that were not of his own kind and to never learn of his heritage. Oakmoss reluctantly agreed and sent Child of Summer away with this man of Ilmater. This of course was beyond the ability of a child of seven to understand. Child of Summer in his mind had been cast out of his home into a strange and very cruel world.
The first thing this stranger had done was to rename the Child of Summer to that of Saumer a name that would be used comfortably by men. Saumer traveled long with this man learning of the ways of man and was saddened by what he saw. Saumer witnessed men hurting other men and taking advantage of the weak. Although Saumer saw cruelty in the ways of the animals it was never done without the reason for survival. Animals did not exploit each other or kill what they could not eat.
Saumer also learned that there were men like this stranger that traveled and tried to alleviate suffering. Saumer came to believe that there was much goodness in the world as well. Saumer witnessed great acts of charity and sacrifice and the smiles and dried tears of those who benefited from such kindness.
On his nineteenth year of life Saumer dedicated himself to the ways of Ilmater, forsaking all else. At times when the challenge of this choice weighs heavy on Saumer, he dreams of treetops blowing in the wind, the smell of blossoming flowers and the sweet call of the woods as it once was for him long ago.
Morka
02-01-04, 12:59 PM Awesome. What a wonderful background! Your DM will love you, since there is a hook with his natural parents, another hook with the dryads, and a third one with the priest of Ilmater who took your character with him.

I especially like his mother, since about anybody could remember her and find some ressemblance between your character and a woman who lived 20 years ago; he could remember a crazy girl, a tenacious warrioress, an almost forgotten lover, or anything else.

Once again, awesome!
:bow:
TheMightyMcClaw
02-01-04, 06:13 PM I like the background.... I just don't like Ilmater. ;) Too much of a plastic-jesus. The background seems like it would lend itself better to a nature cleric or druid... especially if tragedy befell the fey who raised him, as it befell the mother who birthed him. He would then be cast into the World of Men alone, yet with an extensive knowledge of the ways of the Forest and Spirits.... an almost ideal set-up to become an adventurer.
SoulLord
02-02-04, 01:30 PM just to add something...
prhaps the only posession you have of your mother is a (medallion,ring, etc..) wich holds the key about
who were your parents

+plenty of material for a dm here+

SoulLord
Mr. VanderMeer
02-03-04, 05:53 AM I think your background is fantastic. It makes for a great character.

I just don't get the statement (one that I see often) saying that the world of man is so cruel compared to that of animals. Animals can also be cruel and also kill for other reasons than food or survival. I have some cats and I often see them play with half-dead mice or birds, killing them after a half hour of torturous play, only to leave them to rot.

Or pack animals hurting those lower in rank, just because they have been picked upon by those higher than them. The world of animals can be mindlessly cruel at times.
M3
02-03-04, 07:15 PM Interesting point...But remember Saumer would have interacted with the animals under the thoughful gaze of his surrogate mother a Dryad. Possibly she like many moms did not expose her "son" to the harsh realities of life.
Mr. VanderMeer
02-05-04, 09:32 AM That would be a good explanation.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
M3 01-31-04, 07:43 PM	In my gaming group when a new character is created we are asked to write up a background story to aid the GM in designing adventures. Please give me any feedback you would care too and any new ideas are welcome. Thank you =) Story of Saumer This tale like many other beginnings starts with a tragedy. Amongst the wild plains of Shaar it is not a unique site to see a woman astride a horse riding to battle amongst her tribesmen. Although the motivations for that woman to ride were unlike the other women that had ridden in the past, for she rode to avenge the father of her unborn child. This warrioress, unnamed as she is, rode whilst carrying an unborn child into battle a battle that would be her end and the beginning of another story. The battle and history behind it are just that, history. Unfortunately for this woman a history that no one survived to tell. So the story starts with a mortally wounded woman who fled a lost battle against some foe to strong to wreck her vengeance upon. As injured as she was, her horse was wounded as well. Yet this mount sacrificed its last moments of comfort before it too past, to carry his mistress to a place of safety. This place happened to be in the depths of the Shaarwood. Where she bore a child that was much too early for this world. Yet this child survived suckling at its mothers breast when his mother past form this world, proud that she had died from battle and gladdened that she had bore a son. The wail of this child had brought forth a Dryad named Oakmoss. Oakmoss had looked upon the child and thought briefly perhaps it would be more merciful to let this child die along with its mother. The thought flitted through its mind like a wayward summer’s breeze and was gone. Oakmoss gathered up the child and walked away to her home. The child grew quickly under the magical care of Oakmoss, nature’s blessing allowed it to survive where any other child in like circumstances would have died. Oakmoss along with many of her Fey sisters enjoyed this child for his spirit was unblemished by that of Man’s teachings. So it was that the child was named Child of Summer. Child of Summer stayed happily unaware of his heritage until he was of the age of seven seasons. On the year of his seventh season a pilgrim had come and spoke in great lengths with his surrogate mother Oakmoss. This did not trouble Child of Summer for it was Oakmoss’s way to speak at length with men that wonder so deep in the woods although most of these men would leave after a few months. This man Child of Summer was to learn was very different. For he was a devote follower of Ilmater. Through tears that Child of Summer had never witnessed before in Oakmoss’s eyes. He was told that he must travel with this man and learn the ways of his own kind. It was explained to him, that it was cruel to keep a child of man amongst those that were not of his own kind and to never learn of his heritage. Oakmoss reluctantly agreed and sent Child of Summer away with this man of Ilmater. This of course was beyond the ability of a child of seven to understand. Child of Summer in his mind had been cast out of his home into a strange and very cruel world. The first thing this stranger had done was to rename the Child of Summer to that of Saumer a name that would be used comfortably by men. Saumer traveled long with this man learning of the ways of man and was saddened by what he saw. Saumer witnessed men hurting other men and taking advantage of the weak. Although Saumer saw cruelty in the ways of the animals it was never done without the reason for survival. Animals did not exploit each other or kill what they could not eat. Saumer also learned that there were men like this stranger that traveled and tried to alleviate suffering. Saumer came to believe that there was much goodness in the world as well. Saumer witnessed great acts of charity and sacrifice and the smiles and dried tears of those who benefited from such kindness. On his nineteenth year of life Saumer dedicated himself to the ways of Ilmater, forsaking all else. At times when the challenge of this choice weighs heavy on Saumer, he dreams of treetops blowing in the wind, the smell of blossoming flowers and the sweet call of the woods as it once was for him long ago.
Morka 02-01-04, 12:59 PM	Awesome. What a wonderful background! Your DM will love you, since there is a hook with his natural parents, another hook with the dryads, and a third one with the priest of Ilmater who took your character with him. I especially like his mother, since about anybody could remember her and find some ressemblance between your character and a woman who lived 20 years ago; he could remember a crazy girl, a tenacious warrioress, an almost forgotten lover, or anything else. Once again, awesome! :bow:
TheMightyMcClaw 02-01-04, 06:13 PM	I like the background.... I just don't like Ilmater. ;) Too much of a plastic-jesus. The background seems like it would lend itself better to a nature cleric or druid... especially if tragedy befell the fey who raised him, as it befell the mother who birthed him. He would then be cast into the World of Men alone, yet with an extensive knowledge of the ways of the Forest and Spirits.... an almost ideal set-up to become an adventurer.
SoulLord 02-02-04, 01:30 PM	just to add something... prhaps the only posession you have of your mother is a (medallion,ring, etc..) wich holds the key about who were your parents +plenty of material for a dm here+ SoulLord
Mr. VanderMeer 02-03-04, 05:53 AM	I think your background is fantastic. It makes for a great character. I just don't get the statement (one that I see often) saying that the world of man is so cruel compared to that of animals. Animals can also be cruel and also kill for other reasons than food or survival. I have some cats and I often see them play with half-dead mice or birds, killing them after a half hour of torturous play, only to leave them to rot. Or pack animals hurting those lower in rank, just because they have been picked upon by those higher than them. The world of animals can be mindlessly cruel at times.
M3 02-03-04, 07:15 PM	Interesting point...But remember Saumer would have interacted with the animals under the thoughful gaze of his surrogate mother a Dryad. Possibly she like many moms did not expose her "son" to the harsh realities of life.
Mr. VanderMeer 02-05-04, 09:32 AM	That would be a good explanation.