Help with character background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with character background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chimera245
09-12-05, 10:10 PM We're going to start a 5th level game soon, and my character is a Rog 4/Pal 1.
She's a redeemed villain type of character, but I can't figure out what it is she used to do that was so evil...

She's a half-elf, and her human parent was very dark-skinned. So, she's inherited dark skin from the human, and pointy ears, and light hair from the elf, so she looks like a drow at a quick glance or to someone who doesn't know about a drow's red eyes.

So she's been prejudiced aainst all her life, and that's plenty of fuel for being evil, turning from evil, and fighting against evil.

But I still can't think of what she DID when she was evil.

Our party's collective background so far is that She was the leader of a lecherous rogue-like human bard, and a (probably, but he might change his mind) halfling rogue. Both of them were Neutral while I was Evil, and they're still Neutral now that I'm good. (and they're not really sure what to make of it...) But I'm not sure yet what I led them in doing...

She's got these skills at 7 ranks (maxed out for a 4th level rogue):
Bluff
Decipher Script
Diplomacy
Forgery
Intimidate
Listen
Search
Sense Motive
Sleight of Hand
Spot
Use Magic Device

But I can't figure out what kind of villain this would fit.
I want her to (formerly) be something truly vile, but all I see looking at her skills is "liar and thief"

Anybody have any good ideas for a type of bad guy who would do evil because she was hated as a kid, and who would use those skills to accomplish those evil deeds?
ytookay
09-12-05, 10:31 PM Make her a chronic liar. Picked on as a little girl, she reverted to lying to herself, building up so many delusions that, once faced with the truth, she ran away and tried to start again.

Thats not really evil, just sorta tragic. But you could make her prone to becoming angry if anyone ever proves that she contradicted herself. Unused to having someone [to] call her on her excessive fibs, she became violent and killed a man/woman/mind flayer/familiar.
Doopliss
09-12-05, 10:47 PM I'm really not that good with backgrounds, but you'd probably be better off in the character development forum.
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe
09-12-05, 10:47 PM She could have used all her "liar and theif" skills to wrest high-priced magic items from their owners (by any means possible) and give them to some evil overlord/cult-leader/monarch/guild-leader, in order to further his plot to take over the region/country/world.

It would also help the DM lead into a plot arc to hunt that person down.

She could have worked as a double agent for an evil force, then eventually "saw the light" and converted to goodness, due to exposure.
EarthForce
09-13-05, 06:30 PM She could have been a manipulator of sorts. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. She could have used those skills to climb through the ranks of certain organizations to suit her desires(Which might have included seeking revenge upon those who showed her prejudice when she was younger. Maybe even their families.)

As for what you made your "cohorts" do. They could have been assigned the task of eliminating opposition to your power climb. Either through assassination, threats, framing, theft, or any combination of the above.

Obviously being only level 5 will limit what you could accomplish. But achieving a position of power in a village or small town(Or a more minor position in a large city) really wouldn't be that hard if you were good at decieving people and had two friends to "convince" those you weren't able to decieve that you were right.

As for your sudden alignment change. Well, I can't really think of anything particularly good at the moment. But I'll give it some thought and maybe get back to you on that. Or someone else could come up with a good theory.

"Power is lying. Lying big and getting the whole world to play along with you. Once you get everybody agreeing with what they know in their hearts ain't true, you got 'em by the balls."
-Senator Roark, Sin City
Aldarionn
09-13-05, 07:50 PM Perhaps she was in the employ of a high ranking Deamon/Devil (depending on what her alignment was prior to the class switch) without the knowledge of her companions. She could have worked as an assassin, slowly working her way into the trust of her targets (or maybe mind controling them with magic items trusted to her by her fiendish employer), and in the end betraying them, and murdering them while they sleep or are off guard. Then one day she found herself with a target that was more than her match (a mid level Paladin could explain the class she chose). Said target then caught on to her and turned her to the light before her plan to murder him/her came to fruition. This sort of backstory could provide a DM with great material to use in the campaign he/she is running. Perhaps the redeemed murderer is being sought by her old employer who is attempting to "tie up loose ends" so to speek.

Other types of backstories could include a highway murderer/robber who saw the err of her ways and sought out a church of whatever god she worships in hopes of making up for her evil past.

Or a mercenary rogue that grew up in a big city, utalizing her skills to carry out tasks ranging from intimidating debters to killing those who did not pay up in time until she was cought by the city guards and imprisoned. In prison she was found by a paladin/cleric of some sort and was shown that faith and goodwill were the ways to happyness, not causing the suffering or deaths of others.

Any of these stories could include the neutral companions, because they could have just gone along with what their evil leader said. Maybe she was driven by being beaten as a child (by other children or adults who did not know what she was) due to her skin color. Seeking revenge she looked to greater figures of power than herself (the possible fiend from my first backstory) for protection and work, bringing with her her neutral companions/cronies.

There are far more vile and horrible things she could have done, but those are probably best left to the mature boards. I hope this helps you come up with some ideas, and you are welcome to take any of these ideas verbatim if you wish (just letme know so I can feel proud of myself :P ).

Happy Adventuring,
Aldarionn

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chimera245 09-12-05, 10:10 PM	We're going to start a 5th level game soon, and my character is a Rog 4/Pal 1. She's a redeemed villain type of character, but I can't figure out what it is she used to do that was so evil... She's a half-elf, and her human parent was very dark-skinned. So, she's inherited dark skin from the human, and pointy ears, and light hair from the elf, so she looks like a drow at a quick glance or to someone who doesn't know about a drow's red eyes. So she's been prejudiced aainst all her life, and that's plenty of fuel for being evil, turning from evil, and fighting against evil. But I still can't think of what she DID when she was evil. Our party's collective background so far is that She was the leader of a lecherous rogue-like human bard, and a (probably, but he might change his mind) halfling rogue. Both of them were Neutral while I was Evil, and they're still Neutral now that I'm good. (and they're not really sure what to make of it...) But I'm not sure yet what I led them in doing... She's got these skills at 7 ranks (maxed out for a 4th level rogue): Bluff Decipher Script Diplomacy Forgery Intimidate Listen Search Sense Motive Sleight of Hand Spot Use Magic Device But I can't figure out what kind of villain this would fit. I want her to (formerly) be something truly vile, but all I see looking at her skills is "liar and thief" Anybody have any good ideas for a type of bad guy who would do evil because she was hated as a kid, and who would use those skills to accomplish those evil deeds?
ytookay 09-12-05, 10:31 PM	Make her a chronic liar. Picked on as a little girl, she reverted to lying to herself, building up so many delusions that, once faced with the truth, she ran away and tried to start again. Thats not really evil, just sorta tragic. But you could make her prone to becoming angry if anyone ever proves that she contradicted herself. Unused to having someone [to] call her on her excessive fibs, she became violent and killed a man/woman/mind flayer/familiar.
Doopliss 09-12-05, 10:47 PM	I'm really not that good with backgrounds, but you'd probably be better off in the character development forum.
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe 09-12-05, 10:47 PM	She could have used all her "liar and theif" skills to wrest high-priced magic items from their owners (by any means possible) and give them to some evil overlord/cult-leader/monarch/guild-leader, in order to further his plot to take over the region/country/world. It would also help the DM lead into a plot arc to hunt that person down. She could have worked as a double agent for an evil force, then eventually "saw the light" and converted to goodness, due to exposure.
EarthForce 09-13-05, 06:30 PM	She could have been a manipulator of sorts. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. She could have used those skills to climb through the ranks of certain organizations to suit her desires(Which might have included seeking revenge upon those who showed her prejudice when she was younger. Maybe even their families.) As for what you made your "cohorts" do. They could have been assigned the task of eliminating opposition to your power climb. Either through assassination, threats, framing, theft, or any combination of the above. Obviously being only level 5 will limit what you could accomplish. But achieving a position of power in a village or small town(Or a more minor position in a large city) really wouldn't be that hard if you were good at decieving people and had two friends to "convince" those you weren't able to decieve that you were right. As for your sudden alignment change. Well, I can't really think of anything particularly good at the moment. But I'll give it some thought and maybe get back to you on that. Or someone else could come up with a good theory. "Power is lying. Lying big and getting the whole world to play along with you. Once you get everybody agreeing with what they know in their hearts ain't true, you got 'em by the balls." -Senator Roark, Sin City
Aldarionn 09-13-05, 07:50 PM	Perhaps she was in the employ of a high ranking Deamon/Devil (depending on what her alignment was prior to the class switch) without the knowledge of her companions. She could have worked as an assassin, slowly working her way into the trust of her targets (or maybe mind controling them with magic items trusted to her by her fiendish employer), and in the end betraying them, and murdering them while they sleep or are off guard. Then one day she found herself with a target that was more than her match (a mid level Paladin could explain the class she chose). Said target then caught on to her and turned her to the light before her plan to murder him/her came to fruition. This sort of backstory could provide a DM with great material to use in the campaign he/she is running. Perhaps the redeemed murderer is being sought by her old employer who is attempting to "tie up loose ends" so to speek. Other types of backstories could include a highway murderer/robber who saw the err of her ways and sought out a church of whatever god she worships in hopes of making up for her evil past. Or a mercenary rogue that grew up in a big city, utalizing her skills to carry out tasks ranging from intimidating debters to killing those who did not pay up in time until she was cought by the city guards and imprisoned. In prison she was found by a paladin/cleric of some sort and was shown that faith and goodwill were the ways to happyness, not causing the suffering or deaths of others. Any of these stories could include the neutral companions, because they could have just gone along with what their evil leader said. Maybe she was driven by being beaten as a child (by other children or adults who did not know what she was) due to her skin color. Seeking revenge she looked to greater figures of power than herself (the possible fiend from my first backstory) for protection and work, bringing with her her neutral companions/cronies. There are far more vile and horrible things she could have done, but those are probably best left to the mature boards. I hope this helps you come up with some ideas, and you are welcome to take any of these ideas verbatim if you wish (just letme know so I can feel proud of myself :P ). Happy Adventuring, Aldarionn