Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harrow Blade 03-14-05, 09:31 AM	The following is a character backstory for a Half-Drow Warlock. Please feel free to comment, leave constructive criticism or any ideas you think will improve the story. Named the colour of her skin Char Soulburn never knew a loving family, never even knew who her father was, nor did she enjoy a carefree childhood. Born into slavery she was an unwanted burden to her mother, a constant reminder of the shame, fear and soul numbing despair that came with being a slave to the Drow of Menzoberanzan. Char was not a child of passion, or of even casual interest. The frightful experience that brought about her conception was brought about by a group of young Drow nobility intoxicated on a powerful narcotic prowling the streets in a state of chemical lust looking for something to state their hunger. A lone slave of a minor house seemed the opportune victim. Her mother survived the gang rape, barely, to crawl back to her master’s compound only to be beaten within a sight of the death gods realm. Whether the god of death had pity on her or sought to punish her further he sent her back to her body to survive years more of torment. Char grew under the regime of her Drow owners, her days filled with chores from the age she was able to carry a small basket till the day she was sold to a passing merchant as the onset of adolescence began to round her thin figure. This new master was no less cruel yet he never caused her harm that would mark her body to reduce her value. Char had been sold to a pleasure merchant who specialised in providing exotic liaisons for those who could pay. However unpleasant this turn Char’s life may have taken it was a blessing in one small way. Rowellana, a human slave also in the harem, took the small frightened girl that was Char under her wing and offered what protection she could. For three months Char ate well and lived in relative comfort as her master prepared her to earn her way. Under the tutelage of Rowellana she learned how to move, pose and speak in a manner that was sure to entice nearly any male. Yet more than that she learned how to please a male and sate his lusts. Rowellana prepared her as best she could for the day when a seemingly paltry sum of gold would be the price paid to tear Char from her childhood. At first Char was disgusted by the touch of each male that bought her services, the sweat of their bodies pressed against her own as they grunted and thrust their way to satisfaction. With time came a sort of emotional armour that protected her ravaged heart as she refined her body into a weapon. Not a weapon that would break bones under a powerful blow rather one that would break a will under an assault of soft words, gentle touches and artfully cut gowns. Char began to carve out something resembling a life in her servitude to her master. A regular foray into his bed kept her in comfort and her subtle manipulations kept him malleable to a degree. A handful of hours on a single day were all it took to change everything about Char’s life forever. On a visit to a regular client, a mage of no small power, she was witness to a summoning of a demon and the subsequent binding. Through all the roared threats, bellows of pain and curses spouted by the demon Char watched, ready to flee should the mystical chains binding the demon be sundered, yet the most terrifying moment was when their eyes met and for an instant and it felt as if her soul was bared. The mage finished his incantation finalising the binding. Secure in his power he called Char to his side as he casually taunted the demon as it stained against the spells holding it. With a sudden surge the demon drove its will against the spells forcing them almost to breaking point. For a fraction of an instant the demon was free, enough to reach Char with the tip of a claw grazing her forearm leaving little more than a small bloody scratch. Furious that his power had been challenged the Mage lashed out forcing the demon to the floor, stretched flat on the stone the fiend howled in agony as the mystical chains slowly contracted. The wet ripping sound of tearing flesh and the hideous popping of bone jerking free of the sockets even reached Char who cowered in the corner holding her arm. Standing near, gloating as the demon suffered, the mage watched for what seemed to Char like hours as the fiendish flesh sought to repair only to be torn once more. Finally satisfied he turn and beckoned Char to follow him to his bed chamber where he prepared to satisfy a different desire. Neither the mage nor Char had seen that hers was not the only blood on the claw or the small puncture wounds in the demons palm that had closed quickly as it struggled against the chains. Char performed her duty with remarkable composure and skill despite what had happened prior. As the mage drifted off to sleep and she slowly followed him into unconsciousness the traces of demon blood in her wound began to infuse her body, tainting her soul and forever changing her. Dreams invaded her sleep rapidly, a nightmare in which she raised from sleep to take a dagger from the nearby table and drove it through the eye socket of the mage even as she felt a sudden burst of energy leave her body and rip into the mages skull. The dream seemed to repeat over and over in her mind until she almost believed it to be real. As sleep relinquished its hold on her Char rolled to look for the mage who had died countless times in her dreams only to see he was truly dead. From his still smoking eye socket sprouted a scorched dagger. Still naked she fled the room running without a thought for direction and not stopping until she came to the room where the bound demon lay still. Joints twisted and deformed from the constant tension of the chains and the creatures own body’s attempts to heal. “You have served your purpose mortal.” It rasped as Char peered at the broken form. “The fool who sought to bind me to his will is dead though it cost me dearly. I am not without gratitude and so I will let you live a few minutes longer. Run, before I change my mind.” And she did, it’s rasping laugh chasing her down the corridors. Laying on the floor the demon flexed its will against the power of the spells that held it, feeling a slight amount of give in them. It would only be a matter of time before they collapsed entirely and the demon would be free on the material plane to act as it pleased. The smell of terror lit a savage pleasure in the Demon as it began to plan the coming carnage. Gone from it’s mind was the pleasure slave it had used to exact the mage’s death, it had been a risk allowing the girl to be infused with a portion of it’s power but it had been a necessary one. The killing blow and burst of accompanying burst of energy had burned all traces of the blood and power from her body, or so it thought. Cobble stones bruised her feet as Char ran, gasping air into straining lungs as she pushed through the streets to her only refuge. Jeers, cursing and open stares followed her progress as struggled towards her Master’s compound, each staggering step accompanied by the beating of her heart as it threatened to burst in her chest. Reaching the gates of the compound she collapsed into the arms of a stunned guard who carried inside to their Master. She was laid still quivering on a couch in the Master’s office where he leant close to question his top earner. With an effort she reached out and pulled him to within inches, her eyes boring into his mind. “Get me out of here!” she hissed “As far away as you can!” The words settling into his subconscious as Char fell back into an exhausted sleep. When she woke something strange had happened. She was clothed and wrapped in a blanket in the back of a small wagon, strange noises reaching her ears. When she pulled the blanket back from her face her eyes went wide with fright, there was no roof and no walls, strange plants were all around and the air was filled with winking lights. From deep within her childhood memories came a tale her mother had told her, of a place called the surface where everyone was free, where there were no cavern walls and the sky was filled with stars like diamonds in candle light. Stars… Char was on the surface. For long moments Char did nothing by gaze at the sky, daunted and amazed, stunned by its beauty. She saw a circle in the sky, bright to her eyes and silver, the sun she surmised, but is it not supposed to be yellow? Perhaps the years below had twisted her mother’s recollections. This thought made her realise that she was alone; there was no sign of the lizard that should have been pulling the wagon or any sign of anyone but herself. A quick search of the wagon revealed a small pack which contained some rations, a cloak, a pouch of silver and a single dagger. Shouldering her pack and all her worldly possessions Char set out down what appeared to be a sort of path through the trees. Two hours into her walk the sky began to brighten as if a great fire was raging on the horizon and Char stopped to watch in fascination as the sky took on shades of pink and orange. This was short lived as the real sun crested the horizon and nearly blinded Char who had been looking at straight at it. Tears streaming from her eyes she staggered away in search of a dark place Char collapsed beneath a tree covering her head with the hood of her cloak and there she lay for the length of the day until the fierce ball of flame settled once more beyond her sight. Char continued her trek in the cool of night through the forest until she was set upon by a small pack of three wolves. They slipped out of the Shadows to surround her and Char backed her against a tree. Fear and anger gripped her heart; she had not gotten to the surface and freedom only to die so soon. With this welled a power that leapt from her outstretched finger to strike the lead wolf in the side. Its yelp of pain brought the other two up short as they reassessed their prey. Not wanting to give up her slim chance of survival Char pressed her advantage. A second and then third blast leapt form her hand to blaze into the beasts driving them off into a scrambling retreat. For days Char survived in the forest slowly growing used to the sun until she was found by a hunter setting snares. The human was cautious at first but as Char swallowed her fear she realised that if she wasn’t already skewered on the arrow in his bow then she had a chance to persuade him to help. Using the few words in common she had learned from her mother and Rowellana she begged for help, reinforcing her plea with some not so subtle body language. As the hunters eyes slid down her form devouring her curves she knew she had him in the palm of her hands. For two months Char stayed with the hunter in his cabin in the forest learning the common language and more of the surrounding lands. In return for the teaching and keeping her safe and fed Char did what she did best and kept her host awake on many a night experiencing pleasures he had only dreamed of. Char learned that the Drow were unheard of in the region except in tales from long ago yet it was still a good idea to keep her heritage a secret. As well as this she learned of a large town a few days walk away. She certainly did not want to spend her life in the wilderness and resolved that she would try her luck in the town. Once there she spent a few days studying the people and decided to set her sights on the town’s most successful merchant. It was only a matter of hours after their first meeting that Char was sliding out of his bed having concluded the first step in her plan to make the most of her freedom. Char is a woman at war with her self. To all appearances she is confident and driven yet she holds herself in mild contempt. She saw her mothers inability to change her circumstance as a fatal weakness while all the drow she knew were cruel and arrogant. On top of all of that she despises the demon tainted blood that now infests her body despite the fact it is what gave her a chance at freedom.
Maniacal_Cackle 03-14-05, 05:49 PM	I guess I'll sum it up with: Wow. Don't know what else to say, nicely done!
Aluroon 03-14-05, 05:57 PM	Well other then the R rating it should probubly have this is an amazing backstory for a character. My hat is off to you, as you have finally shown me that there be some intellegent life left in this forum. The stupid drow ninja had me reeling. Once more, great job. Aluroon
Harrow Blade 03-16-05, 11:34 PM	Thank you for your kind words. I find that a character with a deep background is so much easier and more fun to play than those with a 'I grew up, parents died and now I am a Half-munchkin uber smasher 20' background. I appologise for some of the content, the players in my group are all mature and it makes it easy to forget that not every one who visits this site is 18+.
Purpledragonfire 03-22-05, 04:40 AM	A well thought out and innovative character background enjoy that mature roleplaying ;) honestly well written and a good read congratulations
Harrow Blade 09-02-05, 05:58 AM	:bump: Just a random bump for the sake of story much loved