The Beast (Need help with backstory) [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Beast (Need help with backstory) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 12:08 AM Alright, I decided to go for two things this character. Optimized, and Flavorful. I know I got the optimazation down, and the flavor is awesome, but I'm looking to flesh out his story some.

Here's the concept.

The character is a human in appearence, but the mechanics behind him are shifter. I'm playing him as having multiple personalities, a human side, that is aware of the beast side, and trusts it to protect him, and then the shifter side, which is more like the characters instincts, to react and protect him.
The beast can come out instantly to react to danger, and when it does, the body changes form, growing claws, horns, wings, fur, fangs, and muscles, pretty much buffin up instantly to protect the human side.

I would love some of the moments I'm hoping to get, where my character is taken for helpless, then when threatened the beast comes out to protect him.

But anyways, I'm having trouble coming with a history behind this... Any sugestions would be awesome, and if you guys have comments on ways to RP it, or about him, ask away.

Thanks in advance

Some notes to add

He knows about the beast, and doesn't like it coming out, as he has no control over it.
He trusts the Beasts judgement
The beast generally won't act unless the human side is threatened
When Beast has control, human side can't communicate, when human side has control, the beast can.
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 10:38 AM after realizing how broad my question was, let me narrow it down a bit.

I'm mainly looking for how the multilpe personalities and abilities in the same body could have happened.

Example 1 could be that a ressurection went wrong, or a ritual, or something, and the Beast was trapped in someones body, but that's a little farfetched.

ANY comments would be nice, and suggestions would be nicer.
Lyinginbedmon
10-09-06, 01:28 PM One of the best ways to work in a little demonic side dish is the old line "I only enhanced what was already there"

Perhaps this creature was already inside of them, maybe anger issues or something passed down the family line. Or maybe it's a part of their personality that after a few bad experiences they spent years splintering off of their normal side, which inevitably meant that they became more civilised and therefore more human (Not that humans are usually civilised :P), but when the other side takes over then everything goes back.

I think that last one is best, kind of a 'Jekyll and Hyde' idea. The civilised man with the bestial side that wants out.

Naturally they won't be very open, they'll want to stay away from large numbers of people and won't try to make friends or associates, too big a risk if the Beast comes out at the wrong time. On that note, there should probably be something that sets him off regardless of circumstance, maybe a piece from a really bad memory that started the splinter process. Maybe the catalyst event was when the Beast killed someone they liked, like a childhood friend. If so, then perhaps mentioning that child's name would send them into a fury, the human side overcome by guilt and the Beast side overcome by sadistic glee.
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 01:34 PM One of the best ways to work in a little demonic side dish is the old line "I only enhanced what was already there"

Perhaps this creature was already inside of them, maybe anger issues or something passed down the family line. Or maybe it's a part of their personality that after a few bad experiences they spent years splintering off of their normal side, which inevitably meant that they became more civilised and therefore more human (Not that humans are usually civilised ), but when the other side takes over then everything goes back.

I think that last one is best, kind of a 'Jekyll and Hyde' idea. The civilised man with the bestial side that wants out.

Naturally they won't be very open, they'll want to stay away from large numbers of people and won't try to make friends or associates, too big a risk if the Beast comes out at the wrong time. On that note, there should probably be something that sets him off regardless of circumstance, maybe a piece from a really bad memory that started the splinter process. Maybe the catalyst event was when the Beast killed someone they liked, like a childhood friend. If so, then perhaps mentioning that child's name would send them into a fury, the human side overcome by guilt and the Beast side overcome by sadistic glee.

That is exactly something I was looking for, I love that last idea. Something I totally forgot to add, but probably should have...

They are playing with an intelligence of 8 (Not dumb I know), and are travelling with a single close friend, a swordsage, that is the Beasts *Keeper* (Termed loosely)
I'm going to start typing up a story, Should take me a while. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll probably use them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 12:08 AM	Alright, I decided to go for two things this character. Optimized, and Flavorful. I know I got the optimazation down, and the flavor is awesome, but I'm looking to flesh out his story some. Here's the concept. The character is a human in appearence, but the mechanics behind him are shifter. I'm playing him as having multiple personalities, a human side, that is aware of the beast side, and trusts it to protect him, and then the shifter side, which is more like the characters instincts, to react and protect him. The beast can come out instantly to react to danger, and when it does, the body changes form, growing claws, horns, wings, fur, fangs, and muscles, pretty much buffin up instantly to protect the human side. I would love some of the moments I'm hoping to get, where my character is taken for helpless, then when threatened the beast comes out to protect him. But anyways, I'm having trouble coming with a history behind this... Any sugestions would be awesome, and if you guys have comments on ways to RP it, or about him, ask away. Thanks in advance Some notes to add He knows about the beast, and doesn't like it coming out, as he has no control over it. He trusts the Beasts judgement The beast generally won't act unless the human side is threatened When Beast has control, human side can't communicate, when human side has control, the beast can.
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 10:38 AM	after realizing how broad my question was, let me narrow it down a bit. I'm mainly looking for how the multilpe personalities and abilities in the same body could have happened. Example 1 could be that a ressurection went wrong, or a ritual, or something, and the Beast was trapped in someones body, but that's a little farfetched. ANY comments would be nice, and suggestions would be nicer.
Lyinginbedmon 10-09-06, 01:28 PM	One of the best ways to work in a little demonic side dish is the old line "I only enhanced what was already there" Perhaps this creature was already inside of them, maybe anger issues or something passed down the family line. Or maybe it's a part of their personality that after a few bad experiences they spent years splintering off of their normal side, which inevitably meant that they became more civilised and therefore more human (Not that humans are usually civilised :P), but when the other side takes over then everything goes back. I think that last one is best, kind of a 'Jekyll and Hyde' idea. The civilised man with the bestial side that wants out. Naturally they won't be very open, they'll want to stay away from large numbers of people and won't try to make friends or associates, too big a risk if the Beast comes out at the wrong time. On that note, there should probably be something that sets him off regardless of circumstance, maybe a piece from a really bad memory that started the splinter process. Maybe the catalyst event was when the Beast killed someone they liked, like a childhood friend. If so, then perhaps mentioning that child's name would send them into a fury, the human side overcome by guilt and the Beast side overcome by sadistic glee.
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 01:34 PM	One of the best ways to work in a little demonic side dish is the old line "I only enhanced what was already there" Perhaps this creature was already inside of them, maybe anger issues or something passed down the family line. Or maybe it's a part of their personality that after a few bad experiences they spent years splintering off of their normal side, which inevitably meant that they became more civilised and therefore more human (Not that humans are usually civilised ), but when the other side takes over then everything goes back. I think that last one is best, kind of a 'Jekyll and Hyde' idea. The civilised man with the bestial side that wants out. Naturally they won't be very open, they'll want to stay away from large numbers of people and won't try to make friends or associates, too big a risk if the Beast comes out at the wrong time. On that note, there should probably be something that sets him off regardless of circumstance, maybe a piece from a really bad memory that started the splinter process. Maybe the catalyst event was when the Beast killed someone they liked, like a childhood friend. If so, then perhaps mentioning that child's name would send them into a fury, the human side overcome by guilt and the Beast side overcome by sadistic glee. That is exactly something I was looking for, I love that last idea. Something I totally forgot to add, but probably should have... They are playing with an intelligence of 8 (Not dumb I know), and are travelling with a single close friend, a swordsage, that is the Beasts Keeper (Termed loosely) I'm going to start typing up a story, Should take me a while. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll probably use them.