Ur Theobrand: Former Slave (Faerun) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ur Theobrand: Former Slave (Faerun) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nessaj
07-31-05, 05:24 PM My DM is making a Faerunian game, something I've never played in before. I've done a little reading from the Campaign Settings book, but i thought I'd post to try and get a little background of the area into my character. Basically what we (the DM, party, and myself) have come up with so far is that my character (Ur Theobrand - Strongheart Halfling Monk Level 5, Lawful Neutral, Hin Fist School) was formerly a slave in Calimshan who was rescued by my as of yet unnamed comrades (a fighter and a warmage) and took up Monkhood to better himself, vowing never to need saving and relinquish all hope as he had before. He sees his comrades as rivals for saving and taking him in out of pity, although travels with them in a self-imposed debt to them for saving his life. The group is mostly neutral and basically works whatever jobs they can get for cash, living day by day. Ur is a dedicated fighter and trains relentlessly. He's also rather reserved and laid back but can't stand comments, joking or otherwise about race, comments about halflings in particular, and the sight of slaves being bought and/or tortured does not fly too well either. Ur also has a strong sense of pride in the Halfling race in general, hence the intolerance for racial slurs. So, anyone who knows Faerun or has some fun ideas, feel free to share.

Also need a character quirk too, if you can think of one. I always throw a few ranks into an odd skill, and am drawing a blank on this one. My last monk had max ranks in Craft (Origami) and that made for some interesting moments. Don't say Chef or something else that's been done a thousand times. Game starts in 2 days. Post away! :D
Levism84
08-01-05, 02:45 AM Hmm, interesting concept.

I am currently playing my first campaign in forgotten realms (aparently they have a few source books out there for this campaign setting or something? hehe), and my DM is very strict about what is allowed (i couldnt play a shifter druid). So i will try to help as best i can.

Quirks are always fun to play, but they should really be an extention of yourself, and avoid being disruptive to the party as a whole. You might try taking a few ranks in perform (either wind instrument for a flute, or weapon drill to show off your training to earn money and respect). Due to your small size, you might try taking some ranks in hide, seeing it as a game to hone your skills and get the upper hand on opponents (also allow you to show up the other party members when they cant find you).

Crafts are always good, as are professions, but nothing really stands out for a halfling or monk. If you dont like slavery, try a few ranks in sleight of hand and palm small object to give to slaves who might enjoy some fresh fruit, a small trinket (like keys to their locks), or any number of similar items.

You could juggle as a means to improve your hand-eye quardination, exercise your racial throwing weapon bonus, and throw off your enemies with a suprise assult with daggers and the like (quickdraw and weapon focus could all be good for that).

Just some thoughts, hope someone who knows the setting better posts.

~Rain~
Nessaj
08-01-05, 09:25 AM I never even considered Sleight of Hand...That WOULD be excellent for passing along little trinkets to said slaves. Thanks for the idea. Yea, my DM was very strict as well, it was rather suprising, but I guess Faerun has it's own rules and such.

Yea, I never pick disruptive or overly annoying quirks...My Barbarian liked opera, my ninja was vain and a wino, and my other monk did origami. Character quiks make for better out of battle role playing.
Nessaj
08-02-05, 01:02 PM Here's an updated version:

As a native of Luiren, 8 year old Ur Theobrand was always a relaxed, carefree kid who loved it when he got to accompany his parents to the larger cities of the foreign lands for what were as far as he was concerned "grown-up stuff." Ur loved the hustle and bustle of the big cities in and beyond the borders of Luiren, the open air markets, the street performers, the games...Even the local militia in their radiant armor. His parents were the face of their village of Trinksken, and make trips to initiate and maintain trade ties with the area. However it was not always safe work for diplomats. Ur's village was on the border of Luiren, adjacent to the Mortick Swamp, far from the Strongheart capital, and the immediate area was populated by savage races. One day Ur's parents left early on a diplomatic mission to said lands, and Ur, having been woken accidentally, snuck into their cart and hid under a blanket. expecting another city trip. Instead, he was unwittingly brought to a land populated by ogres. The ogres were previously okay with halflings in what they considered their lands, however word spread among them that the negotiators were toying with their minds with magic. How else could they be so convincing? Despite his parent's pleas for further negotiations, they decided they wanted the village's land and proceeded to kill the negotiators before they could get a word in edgewise in front of Ur's eyes. Ur lept from the cart and proceeded to flee, tears streaming from his eyes, however the ogres caught him and instead of killing him kept him around, hoping to use the magic powers they believed his kind had for their own uses. The ogres then proceeded to slaughter the village of Trinsken, incurring the wrath of the rest of Luiren. The enraged Stronghearts sent a task force of the finest from the nearest city to deal with the ogre menace. The army of nearest city was strong, however, and even a sizeable band of ogres proved to be little threat. However the survivors of the massacre managed to escape with young Ur without the army knowing. As far as they know every member of Trinsken is dead. The village was eventually rebuilt and repopulated once the ogre menace was "dealth with."
Months later, the surviving ogres, constantly on the lam and with few resources, sold Ur to a goblin slave trader on his way to Calimshan for a handful (goblin-sized) of gold and silver and a crippled human for food. There Ur learned the true nature of the big city, as he was passed from one uncaring wealthy citizen to the next, acquiring new scars and vendettas on the way. By his 20th year, Ur had become a uncaring, unemotional shadow of his former self, having lost all hope for anything. Slavery had become his life until he met Nethren Wildken, a fellow halfling, around age 42. There was something different about Nethren however. He wasn't there because he was a slave, he was there out of choice. Nethren was a missionary of the Hin Fist Order, who often sent emmissaries into the bowels of the city in search of potential new recruits who want to do something better with their lives. Slavery bred strong resolve and determination in those who can survive the hellish conditions. Of course Nethren did not tell Ur of this immediately, but rather tested and befriended him over the course of five years, teaching him tactics for defending himself against the onslaught of the larger slaves in the group. Once Ur found out who Nethren was, he first disbelieved it, and then turned on his friend, hating him for not helping him to escape immediately. Not wanting to lose a friend and student, Nethren hastily planned a quick escape for them. Too hastily, as it went terribly and ended up costing Nethren his life and Ur nearly so, if not for the timely intervention of _____________ and ______________, who saved Ur for their own reasons. Ur with the help of his newfound comrades took his master's remains to the nearest monastery. The master of which gave Ur membership and his former master's uniform and equipment. The master gave Ur nothing more, not even a name. He merely said "for the first time in your life you can choose your own path. Go out into the world and seek that path. When the time is right, you will find your destiny."
At age 25, Ur is 3 feet tall, with buzzed black hair and bright blue eyes. He has tanned skin, wears a rag of a black bandanna over his head, a loose fitting black shirt, and grey pants. Grey bracers with white etchings are on each of his wrists. A plain gold ring sits on his right ring finger and leather straps with red writing in an unreadable language are on each hand. Ur generally wears a black cloak and carries no obvious gear, not even a bagpack, weapon or money pouch. Scars abound on any part of his skin that shows, which is generally the hands, arms, and face. Ur keeps his head covered as a sign of mourning for his master and because his head in particular bears serious scarring from the escape attempt that cost his master his life. Patches of hair no longer grow right so Ur simply keeps it near-shaved. Ur does not like being called by his first name. Simply Theobrand suffices in any introductions out of fear of someone knowing who he is and out of habit; names are meaningless to a slave.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nessaj 07-31-05, 05:24 PM	My DM is making a Faerunian game, something I've never played in before. I've done a little reading from the Campaign Settings book, but i thought I'd post to try and get a little background of the area into my character. Basically what we (the DM, party, and myself) have come up with so far is that my character (Ur Theobrand - Strongheart Halfling Monk Level 5, Lawful Neutral, Hin Fist School) was formerly a slave in Calimshan who was rescued by my as of yet unnamed comrades (a fighter and a warmage) and took up Monkhood to better himself, vowing never to need saving and relinquish all hope as he had before. He sees his comrades as rivals for saving and taking him in out of pity, although travels with them in a self-imposed debt to them for saving his life. The group is mostly neutral and basically works whatever jobs they can get for cash, living day by day. Ur is a dedicated fighter and trains relentlessly. He's also rather reserved and laid back but can't stand comments, joking or otherwise about race, comments about halflings in particular, and the sight of slaves being bought and/or tortured does not fly too well either. Ur also has a strong sense of pride in the Halfling race in general, hence the intolerance for racial slurs. So, anyone who knows Faerun or has some fun ideas, feel free to share. Also need a character quirk too, if you can think of one. I always throw a few ranks into an odd skill, and am drawing a blank on this one. My last monk had max ranks in Craft (Origami) and that made for some interesting moments. Don't say Chef or something else that's been done a thousand times. Game starts in 2 days. Post away! :D
Levism84 08-01-05, 02:45 AM	Hmm, interesting concept. I am currently playing my first campaign in forgotten realms (aparently they have a few source books out there for this campaign setting or something? hehe), and my DM is very strict about what is allowed (i couldnt play a shifter druid). So i will try to help as best i can. Quirks are always fun to play, but they should really be an extention of yourself, and avoid being disruptive to the party as a whole. You might try taking a few ranks in perform (either wind instrument for a flute, or weapon drill to show off your training to earn money and respect). Due to your small size, you might try taking some ranks in hide, seeing it as a game to hone your skills and get the upper hand on opponents (also allow you to show up the other party members when they cant find you). Crafts are always good, as are professions, but nothing really stands out for a halfling or monk. If you dont like slavery, try a few ranks in sleight of hand and palm small object to give to slaves who might enjoy some fresh fruit, a small trinket (like keys to their locks), or any number of similar items. You could juggle as a means to improve your hand-eye quardination, exercise your racial throwing weapon bonus, and throw off your enemies with a suprise assult with daggers and the like (quickdraw and weapon focus could all be good for that). Just some thoughts, hope someone who knows the setting better posts. ~Rain~
Nessaj 08-01-05, 09:25 AM	I never even considered Sleight of Hand...That WOULD be excellent for passing along little trinkets to said slaves. Thanks for the idea. Yea, my DM was very strict as well, it was rather suprising, but I guess Faerun has it's own rules and such. Yea, I never pick disruptive or overly annoying quirks...My Barbarian liked opera, my ninja was vain and a wino, and my other monk did origami. Character quiks make for better out of battle role playing.
Nessaj 08-02-05, 01:02 PM	Here's an updated version: As a native of Luiren, 8 year old Ur Theobrand was always a relaxed, carefree kid who loved it when he got to accompany his parents to the larger cities of the foreign lands for what were as far as he was concerned "grown-up stuff." Ur loved the hustle and bustle of the big cities in and beyond the borders of Luiren, the open air markets, the street performers, the games...Even the local militia in their radiant armor. His parents were the face of their village of Trinksken, and make trips to initiate and maintain trade ties with the area. However it was not always safe work for diplomats. Ur's village was on the border of Luiren, adjacent to the Mortick Swamp, far from the Strongheart capital, and the immediate area was populated by savage races. One day Ur's parents left early on a diplomatic mission to said lands, and Ur, having been woken accidentally, snuck into their cart and hid under a blanket. expecting another city trip. Instead, he was unwittingly brought to a land populated by ogres. The ogres were previously okay with halflings in what they considered their lands, however word spread among them that the negotiators were toying with their minds with magic. How else could they be so convincing? Despite his parent's pleas for further negotiations, they decided they wanted the village's land and proceeded to kill the negotiators before they could get a word in edgewise in front of Ur's eyes. Ur lept from the cart and proceeded to flee, tears streaming from his eyes, however the ogres caught him and instead of killing him kept him around, hoping to use the magic powers they believed his kind had for their own uses. The ogres then proceeded to slaughter the village of Trinsken, incurring the wrath of the rest of Luiren. The enraged Stronghearts sent a task force of the finest from the nearest city to deal with the ogre menace. The army of nearest city was strong, however, and even a sizeable band of ogres proved to be little threat. However the survivors of the massacre managed to escape with young Ur without the army knowing. As far as they know every member of Trinsken is dead. The village was eventually rebuilt and repopulated once the ogre menace was "dealth with." Months later, the surviving ogres, constantly on the lam and with few resources, sold Ur to a goblin slave trader on his way to Calimshan for a handful (goblin-sized) of gold and silver and a crippled human for food. There Ur learned the true nature of the big city, as he was passed from one uncaring wealthy citizen to the next, acquiring new scars and vendettas on the way. By his 20th year, Ur had become a uncaring, unemotional shadow of his former self, having lost all hope for anything. Slavery had become his life until he met Nethren Wildken, a fellow halfling, around age 42. There was something different about Nethren however. He wasn't there because he was a slave, he was there out of choice. Nethren was a missionary of the Hin Fist Order, who often sent emmissaries into the bowels of the city in search of potential new recruits who want to do something better with their lives. Slavery bred strong resolve and determination in those who can survive the hellish conditions. Of course Nethren did not tell Ur of this immediately, but rather tested and befriended him over the course of five years, teaching him tactics for defending himself against the onslaught of the larger slaves in the group. Once Ur found out who Nethren was, he first disbelieved it, and then turned on his friend, hating him for not helping him to escape immediately. Not wanting to lose a friend and student, Nethren hastily planned a quick escape for them. Too hastily, as it went terribly and ended up costing Nethren his life and Ur nearly so, if not for the timely intervention of _____________ and ______________, who saved Ur for their own reasons. Ur with the help of his newfound comrades took his master's remains to the nearest monastery. The master of which gave Ur membership and his former master's uniform and equipment. The master gave Ur nothing more, not even a name. He merely said "for the first time in your life you can choose your own path. Go out into the world and seek that path. When the time is right, you will find your destiny." At age 25, Ur is 3 feet tall, with buzzed black hair and bright blue eyes. He has tanned skin, wears a rag of a black bandanna over his head, a loose fitting black shirt, and grey pants. Grey bracers with white etchings are on each of his wrists. A plain gold ring sits on his right ring finger and leather straps with red writing in an unreadable language are on each hand. Ur generally wears a black cloak and carries no obvious gear, not even a bagpack, weapon or money pouch. Scars abound on any part of his skin that shows, which is generally the hands, arms, and face. Ur keeps his head covered as a sign of mourning for his master and because his head in particular bears serious scarring from the escape attempt that cost his master his life. Patches of hair no longer grow right so Ur simply keeps it near-shaved. Ur does not like being called by his first name. Simply Theobrand suffices in any introductions out of fear of someone knowing who he is and out of habit; names are meaningless to a slave.