Character Backstory/Alignment Help: Too Much Angst? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Backstory/Alignment Help: Too Much Angst? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Callista
02-14-07, 03:39 AM All right, here's the backstory I wrote for a character. She's a 30-year-old level 1 human sorcerer.

Iona was an unremarkable woman in an unremarkable town. However, in the space of a few days, everything changed. A strange weakness overcame the inhabitants of the town. It affected everything in the town--people, animals, even plants. First, weakness; then, on the morning of the third day, death.

Helplessly, Iona watched her husband and three children die, and her village turn into a blasted wasteland. Unable to think or reason, she spent some days immersed in unthinking grief. With her mind shattered, Iona developed odd abilities. Strange lights twinkled; voices spoke; unexplainable fires started; a sleek black rat, as inexplicably alive as Iona herself, followed her, and she found she shared its emotions.

When Iona finally came to herself in the middle of her dead village, her rational mind had reasserted itself, but the powers remained.

Iona could think of only one answer for the disease that had passed over her and killed her kinfolk: She must be its cause. Somehow, she had drained the lives of the townsfolk; these new abilities, sparked by mere words and gestures, must be fueled by the lives of everyone she had ever loved.

After she buried her family, Iona packed her possessions and left the town. She was reassured to find that the vegetation outside the radius of destruction did not wilt, and the animals remained alive.

Iona is heading for the nearest city. There, she plans to seek out anyone who might know about the magic she believes has cursed her.

At Iona's belt is a dagger whose hilt she unconsciously rubs with her fingertips. Iona is desperate never to cause more death such as that which befell her village, and while she stubbornly tells herself that in the city she will rid herself of her curse, she has resolved that if she sees those around her weakening as those in her village did, to prevent another tragedy she will use the dagger on herself.

Iona is dressed in a drab black dress, obviously a woman in mourning. Despite her unremarkable looks, her aura of unreality makes her impossible to ignore. Her posture is rigid; she speaks very little; and her grip is white-knuckled around her walking stick. It is clear to the observer that she is a woman who keeps herself carefully in check, as though the wrong thought or word could prove disastrous. She carries a crossbow, though she holds it as though she is not very familiar with it. At her feet, moving in strange synchrony with Iona herself, is a large black rat.

My questions:

1. Is the story too angsty? I.e., would the character be a drag on a role-playing party? She is meant to eventually overcome her grief and understand it wasn't her fault; but until then, she could be a problem. I'm not going to force anybody to talk her out of suicide, but... well.

2. Is it obvious to the reader that the character, a mere sorcerer, could not actually have caused the death of her family? Or do I need to say this explicitly?

3. What's a proper alignment for this character?

4. Should I use UA insanity rules for her?--she definitely qualifies for some sanity point loss, and has already gone through temporary psychosis.

5. Am I being unwise to ask a DM to use this plot hook--mysteriously dead village, one unaffected survivor? Would you as a DM be put out that I'd given you that sort of material to work into your plots?

6: Wee Jas--good idea for a deity, or should I go for not assigning a deity for now and have her turn to Wee Jas later on?
Manic Man
02-14-07, 04:49 AM 1. Is the story too angsty? I.e., would the character be a drag on a role-playing party? She is meant to eventually overcome her grief and understand it wasn't her fault; but until then, she could be a problem. I'm not going to force anybody to talk her out of suicide, but... well.

Not really. Its pretty good but you have to remember that since she did not kill herself as yet, there is something holding her back. If you can dientify it, you should get a good handle on why she will not just kill herself at the start of the campaign.

Also in the midst of doing something very engrossing, like combat, she should not get any ideas on seppku right there and then, as her mind would not be in a suitably emotional mood.

2. Is it obvious to the reader that the character, a mere sorcerer, could not actually have caused the death of her family? Or do I need to say this explicitly?

Why do that? Leave it to your DM and talk to him/her. Perhaps in the end, you find out you really were the cause. Perhaps you're a living prison for a great danger (like a demon) or some such

3. What's a proper alignment for this character?
As yet from your background it can be any non evil. Her adherence to her obession on not causing more damage from unwise actions mark her as likely having shifted alignment towards the lawful axis, so her alignment could be N, NG, LN or LG

4. Should I use UA insanity rules for her?--she definitely qualifies for some sanity point loss, and has already gone through temporary psychosis.

No comment. It depends on you.

5. Am I being unwise to ask a DM to use this plot hook--mysteriously dead village, one unaffected survivor? Would you as a DM be put out that I'd given you that sort of material to work into your plots?

No, as DM i would be happy to mix in your side of the story. I would however go with you actually killing off everyone was a seed of evil planted in you by persons unknown (the BBEGs) awoke.

As with all plants when its nice and grown, its time to harvest. That means getting their hands on you. Likely you will get your hands on them. The awakened seed would not stay complacent and quiet long though and may not be so willing to go along with the BBEGs plans (assuming it has guessed part of it).

As an additional twist, perhaps a seed of good would have also been within you, planted by the BBEGs, but weakened to ensure it would never prevent the evil side from arising. Since evil cannot exist without good and vice versa, perhaps it was part of the condition for the planting ritual.

6: Wee Jas--good idea for a deity, or should I go for not assigning a deity for now and have her turn to Wee Jas later on?

Assign whatever deity you wish and be mindful that you can change deities without too much mechanical impact. Since she should still have her original deity (the one she has followed since young), Wee Jas may not be a good idea, as not many rural folk actually follow her as their main deity.
Callista
02-14-07, 06:47 PM Yes, that's what I was thinking... Normal villagers don't worship Wee Jas; so if she does, she'd have to convert from some other deity. It's just... well, "the goddess of death and magic"... those would seem to my character like she'd get some sort of divine protection from causing further catastrophe.

I like the "seed" idea. Technically not her fault... but she's in it up to her eyebrows!
Potato Weasel
02-15-07, 11:02 AM If you're a weejas worshiper- don't forget she's also a love goddess! She recently got a very well written article in dragon magazine. Sorry, i just liked it a lot.
pres_man
02-15-07, 02:06 PM she speaks very little; and her grip is white-knuckled around her walking stick. It is clear to the observer that she is a woman who keeps herself carefully in check, as though the wrong thought or word could prove disastrous.
I think this is going to be the biggest problem. Playing the quiet loner seems fun, but isn't usually when playing a party. Not speaking alot just makes you a drama-sink. If it was more about that she chooses her words carefully that I think would work better. But not talking much, yeah, not so great for a roleplaying game.
Ioosef
02-15-07, 05:14 PM I agree and disagree with pres_man. There's a reason why she doesn't talk much, and that would make for a great story telling around the fire place kinda thing, and even if she doesn't want to tell the whole group her story, she could tell one of them, and it could escalate from there.
pres_man
02-15-07, 06:00 PM I agree and disagree with pres_man. There's a reason why she doesn't talk much, and that would make for a great story telling around the fire place kinda thing, and even if she doesn't want to tell the whole group her story, she could tell one of them, and it could escalate from there.
Well I guess if a group spends lots of time reading their backgrounds to each other it would be fine. It is just not something that tends to happen in most games I have been in. For one thing it does not usually move the story along (unless the DM has tied the story to the specific background), and, yes this is a silly metagame reason but ..., it doesn't involve any kind of "challenge" and thus precious game time is being spent on something that usually has no chance to give any xp (or very little usually).
danielinthewolvesden
02-15-07, 08:23 PM Generally, "too much angst" is what folks do when they first get into real RPing. Who are your fellow players? Are they more mature and expereinced than you? If so, they may well snicker and roll their eyes at all the angst.

However, you also may have the best background in your campaign, it all depends.

I have read far worse.:P

But take into account I am 50+ and been playing & DMing for more than 30, so I have "seen it all". Grognard.

No matter what- make sure you do not play your PC as disruptive. She *MUST* be part of the "team". If you can not see her as being "part of the team" then she should not join in the first place. This is another common newbie mistake- introducing a super-loner and super-disruptive PC into a "band of brothers' and then blaming the ill-will on "it's roleplaying". It is not "role-playing" as you- THE PLAYER- have chosen the disruptive role.

Take these caveats to heart and have fun, OK?
Callista
02-16-07, 01:40 AM Regarding silence: Yes, i will need to have this character either begin speaking, or do a lot of things I can describe. If I don't she'll become invisible.

I don't intend on disrupting the team. A self-disciplined character with a respect for life (I'm beginning to lean towards LG alignment on those grounds) should not be very disruptive at all. She won't be very patient with the Chaotics, though; she's extremely serious and there'd be friction with anyone who treated life as a game or tended towards pranksterism.

All in all, though, she is essentially a commoner with strange powers she doesn't understand. She will want to seek company for protection, as she has likely spent her entire life within a ten-mile radius of her home village, and the outside world would seem frightening to her.

I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing.
danielinthewolvesden
02-16-07, 02:53 AM I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing.

Ah, then your angst will be minor compared to everyone else- not only were their families killed in a horrible way, but they will be lesbian underaged hookers. Oops, make that lesbian underaged vampire hookers.:P :D
Orchomenos
02-16-07, 02:00 PM Regarding silence: Yes, i will need to have this character either begin speaking, or do a lot of things I can describe. If I don't she'll become invisible.

I don't intend on disrupting the team. A self-disciplined character with a respect for life (I'm beginning to lean towards LG alignment on those grounds) should not be very disruptive at all. She won't be very patient with the Chaotics, though; she's extremely serious and there'd be friction with anyone who treated life as a game or tended towards pranksterism.

All in all, though, she is essentially a commoner with strange powers she doesn't understand. She will want to seek company for protection, as she has likely spent her entire life within a ten-mile radius of her home village, and the outside world would seem frightening to her.

I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing.

If it's a play by e-mail thing, you can describe what your character think. If you think it might be too OOC, you might describe the thought she share with the rat familiar.

Wee-Jas is definitively out of the way. Your PC even don't understand she has magical power, why should she worship the Goddess of Magic? Unless whe worship Her for the sake of her familly's souls, and eventually, Wee-Jas herself helps her to understand magic...

There's something odd in this backstory. This PC is half-sure she somewhat caused the death of anything living in her whole village. And in an attempt to learn more, she travels to the city? Does she wants to cause the death of a whole city? She could perhaps travel to meet an ermit living in the mountain, or if the campaign is beginning in the city, she could have lost only her familly and close friends, and think she cause the death of anyone she comes into physical contact with. You could describe her as wearing thick black gloves to make sure her skin is never in contact with strangers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Callista 02-14-07, 03:39 AM	All right, here's the backstory I wrote for a character. She's a 30-year-old level 1 human sorcerer. Iona was an unremarkable woman in an unremarkable town. However, in the space of a few days, everything changed. A strange weakness overcame the inhabitants of the town. It affected everything in the town--people, animals, even plants. First, weakness; then, on the morning of the third day, death. Helplessly, Iona watched her husband and three children die, and her village turn into a blasted wasteland. Unable to think or reason, she spent some days immersed in unthinking grief. With her mind shattered, Iona developed odd abilities. Strange lights twinkled; voices spoke; unexplainable fires started; a sleek black rat, as inexplicably alive as Iona herself, followed her, and she found she shared its emotions. When Iona finally came to herself in the middle of her dead village, her rational mind had reasserted itself, but the powers remained. Iona could think of only one answer for the disease that had passed over her and killed her kinfolk: She must be its cause. Somehow, she had drained the lives of the townsfolk; these new abilities, sparked by mere words and gestures, must be fueled by the lives of everyone she had ever loved. After she buried her family, Iona packed her possessions and left the town. She was reassured to find that the vegetation outside the radius of destruction did not wilt, and the animals remained alive. Iona is heading for the nearest city. There, she plans to seek out anyone who might know about the magic she believes has cursed her. At Iona's belt is a dagger whose hilt she unconsciously rubs with her fingertips. Iona is desperate never to cause more death such as that which befell her village, and while she stubbornly tells herself that in the city she will rid herself of her curse, she has resolved that if she sees those around her weakening as those in her village did, to prevent another tragedy she will use the dagger on herself. Iona is dressed in a drab black dress, obviously a woman in mourning. Despite her unremarkable looks, her aura of unreality makes her impossible to ignore. Her posture is rigid; she speaks very little; and her grip is white-knuckled around her walking stick. It is clear to the observer that she is a woman who keeps herself carefully in check, as though the wrong thought or word could prove disastrous. She carries a crossbow, though she holds it as though she is not very familiar with it. At her feet, moving in strange synchrony with Iona herself, is a large black rat. My questions: 1. Is the story too angsty? I.e., would the character be a drag on a role-playing party? She is meant to eventually overcome her grief and understand it wasn't her fault; but until then, she could be a problem. I'm not going to force anybody to talk her out of suicide, but... well. 2. Is it obvious to the reader that the character, a mere sorcerer, could not actually have caused the death of her family? Or do I need to say this explicitly? 3. What's a proper alignment for this character? 4. Should I use UA insanity rules for her?--she definitely qualifies for some sanity point loss, and has already gone through temporary psychosis. 5. Am I being unwise to ask a DM to use this plot hook--mysteriously dead village, one unaffected survivor? Would you as a DM be put out that I'd given you that sort of material to work into your plots? 6: Wee Jas--good idea for a deity, or should I go for not assigning a deity for now and have her turn to Wee Jas later on?
Manic Man 02-14-07, 04:49 AM	1. Is the story too angsty? I.e., would the character be a drag on a role-playing party? She is meant to eventually overcome her grief and understand it wasn't her fault; but until then, she could be a problem. I'm not going to force anybody to talk her out of suicide, but... well. Not really. Its pretty good but you have to remember that since she did not kill herself as yet, there is something holding her back. If you can dientify it, you should get a good handle on why she will not just kill herself at the start of the campaign. Also in the midst of doing something very engrossing, like combat, she should not get any ideas on seppku right there and then, as her mind would not be in a suitably emotional mood. 2. Is it obvious to the reader that the character, a mere sorcerer, could not actually have caused the death of her family? Or do I need to say this explicitly? Why do that? Leave it to your DM and talk to him/her. Perhaps in the end, you find out you really were the cause. Perhaps you're a living prison for a great danger (like a demon) or some such 3. What's a proper alignment for this character? As yet from your background it can be any non evil. Her adherence to her obession on not causing more damage from unwise actions mark her as likely having shifted alignment towards the lawful axis, so her alignment could be N, NG, LN or LG 4. Should I use UA insanity rules for her?--she definitely qualifies for some sanity point loss, and has already gone through temporary psychosis. No comment. It depends on you. 5. Am I being unwise to ask a DM to use this plot hook--mysteriously dead village, one unaffected survivor? Would you as a DM be put out that I'd given you that sort of material to work into your plots? No, as DM i would be happy to mix in your side of the story. I would however go with you actually killing off everyone was a seed of evil planted in you by persons unknown (the BBEGs) awoke. As with all plants when its nice and grown, its time to harvest. That means getting their hands on you. Likely you will get your hands on them. The awakened seed would not stay complacent and quiet long though and may not be so willing to go along with the BBEGs plans (assuming it has guessed part of it). As an additional twist, perhaps a seed of good would have also been within you, planted by the BBEGs, but weakened to ensure it would never prevent the evil side from arising. Since evil cannot exist without good and vice versa, perhaps it was part of the condition for the planting ritual. 6: Wee Jas--good idea for a deity, or should I go for not assigning a deity for now and have her turn to Wee Jas later on? Assign whatever deity you wish and be mindful that you can change deities without too much mechanical impact. Since she should still have her original deity (the one she has followed since young), Wee Jas may not be a good idea, as not many rural folk actually follow her as their main deity.
Callista 02-14-07, 06:47 PM	Yes, that's what I was thinking... Normal villagers don't worship Wee Jas; so if she does, she'd have to convert from some other deity. It's just... well, "the goddess of death and magic"... those would seem to my character like she'd get some sort of divine protection from causing further catastrophe. I like the "seed" idea. Technically not her fault... but she's in it up to her eyebrows!
Potato Weasel 02-15-07, 11:02 AM	If you're a weejas worshiper- don't forget she's also a love goddess! She recently got a very well written article in dragon magazine. Sorry, i just liked it a lot.
pres_man 02-15-07, 02:06 PM	she speaks very little; and her grip is white-knuckled around her walking stick. It is clear to the observer that she is a woman who keeps herself carefully in check, as though the wrong thought or word could prove disastrous. I think this is going to be the biggest problem. Playing the quiet loner seems fun, but isn't usually when playing a party. Not speaking alot just makes you a drama-sink. If it was more about that she chooses her words carefully that I think would work better. But not talking much, yeah, not so great for a roleplaying game.
Ioosef 02-15-07, 05:14 PM	I agree and disagree with pres_man. There's a reason why she doesn't talk much, and that would make for a great story telling around the fire place kinda thing, and even if she doesn't want to tell the whole group her story, she could tell one of them, and it could escalate from there.
pres_man 02-15-07, 06:00 PM	I agree and disagree with pres_man. There's a reason why she doesn't talk much, and that would make for a great story telling around the fire place kinda thing, and even if she doesn't want to tell the whole group her story, she could tell one of them, and it could escalate from there. Well I guess if a group spends lots of time reading their backgrounds to each other it would be fine. It is just not something that tends to happen in most games I have been in. For one thing it does not usually move the story along (unless the DM has tied the story to the specific background), and, yes this is a silly metagame reason but ..., it doesn't involve any kind of "challenge" and thus precious game time is being spent on something that usually has no chance to give any xp (or very little usually).
danielinthewolvesden 02-15-07, 08:23 PM	Generally, "too much angst" is what folks do when they first get into real RPing. Who are your fellow players? Are they more mature and expereinced than you? If so, they may well snicker and roll their eyes at all the angst. However, you also may have the best background in your campaign, it all depends. I have read far worse.:P But take into account I am 50+ and been playing & DMing for more than 30, so I have "seen it all". Grognard. No matter what- make sure you do not play your PC as disruptive. She MUST be part of the "team". If you can not see her as being "part of the team" then she should not join in the first place. This is another common newbie mistake- introducing a super-loner and super-disruptive PC into a "band of brothers' and then blaming the ill-will on "it's roleplaying". It is not "role-playing" as you- THE PLAYER- have chosen the disruptive role. Take these caveats to heart and have fun, OK?
Callista 02-16-07, 01:40 AM	Regarding silence: Yes, i will need to have this character either begin speaking, or do a lot of things I can describe. If I don't she'll become invisible. I don't intend on disrupting the team. A self-disciplined character with a respect for life (I'm beginning to lean towards LG alignment on those grounds) should not be very disruptive at all. She won't be very patient with the Chaotics, though; she's extremely serious and there'd be friction with anyone who treated life as a game or tended towards pranksterism. All in all, though, she is essentially a commoner with strange powers she doesn't understand. She will want to seek company for protection, as she has likely spent her entire life within a ten-mile radius of her home village, and the outside world would seem frightening to her. I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing.
danielinthewolvesden 02-16-07, 02:53 AM	I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing. Ah, then your angst will be minor compared to everyone else- not only were their families killed in a horrible way, but they will be lesbian underaged hookers. Oops, make that lesbian underaged vampire hookers.:P :D
Orchomenos 02-16-07, 02:00 PM	Regarding silence: Yes, i will need to have this character either begin speaking, or do a lot of things I can describe. If I don't she'll become invisible. I don't intend on disrupting the team. A self-disciplined character with a respect for life (I'm beginning to lean towards LG alignment on those grounds) should not be very disruptive at all. She won't be very patient with the Chaotics, though; she's extremely serious and there'd be friction with anyone who treated life as a game or tended towards pranksterism. All in all, though, she is essentially a commoner with strange powers she doesn't understand. She will want to seek company for protection, as she has likely spent her entire life within a ten-mile radius of her home village, and the outside world would seem frightening to her. I don't actually know how long everyone's been playing; this is a play by e-mail thing. If it's a play by e-mail thing, you can describe what your character think. If you think it might be too OOC, you might describe the thought she share with the rat familiar. Wee-Jas is definitively out of the way. Your PC even don't understand she has magical power, why should she worship the Goddess of Magic? Unless whe worship Her for the sake of her familly's souls, and eventually, Wee-Jas herself helps her to understand magic... There's something odd in this backstory. This PC is half-sure she somewhat caused the death of anything living in her whole village. And in an attempt to learn more, she travels to the city? Does she wants to cause the death of a whole city? She could perhaps travel to meet an ermit living in the mountain, or if the campaign is beginning in the city, she could have lost only her familly and close friends, and think she cause the death of anyone she comes into physical contact with. You could describe her as wearing thick black gloves to make sure her skin is never in contact with strangers.