Human Paladin of Bahamut? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Human Paladin of Bahamut? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Edymnion
05-18-04, 10:54 PM Okay, I got asked to play a combat character in a friend's (online) game to help fill a gap from where a player went AWOL.

I've always wanted to play a good old fashioned Dragonslayer, but never really had the chance to do it. So, for this game, I've made up a human Paladin of Bahamut. I plan on having him be a hunter of evil dragons, probably taking up some levels in the Dragonslayer and Vassal of Bahamut PrC to do this.

The question is, what sort of background to give him.
He is a human, not a half-dragon, and he's a devout follower of the good god of dragons. Strong and Charismatic (17s in each), but just a hair on the not-so-smart side (Int 9), and weilding a spiked chain.

But I'm at a bit of a loss on a plausible background that doesn't sound completely idiotic. Obviously he's going to have to be hunting evil dragons in order for the good dragons to prevail. What I'm at a loss for is WHY. What sort of background could possibly drive someone into being a Paladin for a dragon god?

Perhaps he's drawn to Bahamut's absolute dissapproval of any evil act, and B's nearly limitless compassion/empathy for the downtrodden, combine with the shear power of dragons? I've got the big picture, its just the details are giving me trouble.
Skaboozh
05-18-04, 11:08 PM Perhaps he hunts down dragons to prove to himself that he can. You could say that he used to worship a different god when he first took up the path of combat, but at the first chance of real combat he grew weary and his inaction ended up costing somebody's life to the hands of someone evil. So, after having dishonored his god and his homeland, he decided to take to the path of adventuring, worshipping Bahamut because of what he stood for, and hunting down dragons not necessarily to prove to anyone else of his courage and his honor, but to prove it to himself.

Whoever's death he feels he was responsible for is up to you. It could be literally anyone. He could now be wandering the land always with an eye out for retribution, a chance to take the life of the man that changed his. But until that day comes, he hunts the land for evil dragons, for their is not a more powerful foe for him to vanquish.

You could even create a link between this man you're searching for and the evil dragons. I don't like it, because it makes the emphasis of the dragon hunting being that they are tied in with this evil man, instead of the fact that he's hunting dragons in order to continually convince himself of what he has always continually doubted anout himself.
Edymnion
05-18-04, 11:18 PM I suppose I could say that his home town was being razed by a red dragon. He cries out to the god he had been giving lip service to for salvation, and none came. Cried out to a few others he knew, and nothing happened. Finally cries out for anyone to help him, to give him a sign, and thats when a silver dragon showed up to defend it's turf. Of course, mindset already on the gods, and seeing a light colored metallic dragon, does some research, and is convinced he was saved by Bahamut himself.
Night_Fall_2
05-19-04, 03:15 AM I agree with Edymnion,

it is a good base for developing a more rich and detailed history.

Your PC was just on a break after a resent adventure and went back to his hometown for some good old R&R, just sitting around with old childhood friends, flirting with some old girlfriends, when all of a sudden a cone of fire is blasted down from a Red Dragon flying over head. Being somewhat trained your PC jumps out of the way in time to see his old friends burn to a crisp.

Then while praying to his gods for help he sees nothing and can do nothing until the Red is chased off by a Silver protecting his lands.

I think in every campain I have played in at least one person is adventuring in search of somebody that killed a loved one or something. It is a quick easy hook.
Salla
05-19-04, 08:07 AM The first thing that leaps to my mind, for some reason, is that it's a matter of heritage. Perhaps he comes from a long line of slayers-of-evil-dragons and feels compelled to uphold the family history ... or perhaps his family are slayers-of-good-dragons and he wants to atone for his shameful ancestry.
Edymnion
05-19-04, 06:31 PM Originally posted by Salla
The first thing that leaps to my mind, for some reason, is that it's a matter of heritage. Perhaps he comes from a long line of slayers-of-evil-dragons and feels compelled to uphold the family history ... or perhaps his family are slayers-of-good-dragons and he wants to atone for his shameful ancestry. Salla, you are a freaking genious. If I combine this with the earlier bit about the hometown being razed by dragons, thats it. Long family line of dragonslayers, after the family founder went through the dragon razing.

Sorta like the family from Van Helsing (terrible movie, btw) that wouldn't rest until they had killed Dracula.
Ax'Orl
05-19-04, 08:28 PM I had this thought when reading this thread:

And after reading the latest Dragon Magazine: (the article about dragons fosterring some of their offspring) How bout a man whose parents raised him with a silver dragon (poly'd into a human). After reaching adulthood, the human is following in his "big" brothers footsteps as best he can..Since the parents are fostering the silver dragon, perhaps they already worship B which is why they were chosen as fosters. Eithter that or he was raised by a church of B along side a fostered silver. Would open up avenues when he gets a high enough level to attract a cohort=silver dragon cohort! perhaps the child of his childhood friend/foster brother?
Salla
05-20-04, 11:55 AM Originally posted by Edymnion
Salla, you are a freaking genious.

Can I add that to my sig? :D
Edymnion
05-20-04, 07:31 PM Originally posted by Salla
Can I add that to my sig? :D Yeah, but it'll cost you $0.05 in royalties every time you use it. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Edymnion 05-18-04, 10:54 PM	Okay, I got asked to play a combat character in a friend's (online) game to help fill a gap from where a player went AWOL. I've always wanted to play a good old fashioned Dragonslayer, but never really had the chance to do it. So, for this game, I've made up a human Paladin of Bahamut. I plan on having him be a hunter of evil dragons, probably taking up some levels in the Dragonslayer and Vassal of Bahamut PrC to do this. The question is, what sort of background to give him. He is a human, not a half-dragon, and he's a devout follower of the good god of dragons. Strong and Charismatic (17s in each), but just a hair on the not-so-smart side (Int 9), and weilding a spiked chain. But I'm at a bit of a loss on a plausible background that doesn't sound completely idiotic. Obviously he's going to have to be hunting evil dragons in order for the good dragons to prevail. What I'm at a loss for is WHY. What sort of background could possibly drive someone into being a Paladin for a dragon god? Perhaps he's drawn to Bahamut's absolute dissapproval of any evil act, and B's nearly limitless compassion/empathy for the downtrodden, combine with the shear power of dragons? I've got the big picture, its just the details are giving me trouble.
Skaboozh 05-18-04, 11:08 PM	Perhaps he hunts down dragons to prove to himself that he can. You could say that he used to worship a different god when he first took up the path of combat, but at the first chance of real combat he grew weary and his inaction ended up costing somebody's life to the hands of someone evil. So, after having dishonored his god and his homeland, he decided to take to the path of adventuring, worshipping Bahamut because of what he stood for, and hunting down dragons not necessarily to prove to anyone else of his courage and his honor, but to prove it to himself. Whoever's death he feels he was responsible for is up to you. It could be literally anyone. He could now be wandering the land always with an eye out for retribution, a chance to take the life of the man that changed his. But until that day comes, he hunts the land for evil dragons, for their is not a more powerful foe for him to vanquish. You could even create a link between this man you're searching for and the evil dragons. I don't like it, because it makes the emphasis of the dragon hunting being that they are tied in with this evil man, instead of the fact that he's hunting dragons in order to continually convince himself of what he has always continually doubted anout himself.
Edymnion 05-18-04, 11:18 PM	I suppose I could say that his home town was being razed by a red dragon. He cries out to the god he had been giving lip service to for salvation, and none came. Cried out to a few others he knew, and nothing happened. Finally cries out for anyone to help him, to give him a sign, and thats when a silver dragon showed up to defend it's turf. Of course, mindset already on the gods, and seeing a light colored metallic dragon, does some research, and is convinced he was saved by Bahamut himself.
Night_Fall_2 05-19-04, 03:15 AM	I agree with Edymnion, it is a good base for developing a more rich and detailed history. Your PC was just on a break after a resent adventure and went back to his hometown for some good old R&R, just sitting around with old childhood friends, flirting with some old girlfriends, when all of a sudden a cone of fire is blasted down from a Red Dragon flying over head. Being somewhat trained your PC jumps out of the way in time to see his old friends burn to a crisp. Then while praying to his gods for help he sees nothing and can do nothing until the Red is chased off by a Silver protecting his lands. I think in every campain I have played in at least one person is adventuring in search of somebody that killed a loved one or something. It is a quick easy hook.
Salla 05-19-04, 08:07 AM	The first thing that leaps to my mind, for some reason, is that it's a matter of heritage. Perhaps he comes from a long line of slayers-of-evil-dragons and feels compelled to uphold the family history ... or perhaps his family are slayers-of-good-dragons and he wants to atone for his shameful ancestry.
Edymnion 05-19-04, 06:31 PM	Originally posted by Salla The first thing that leaps to my mind, for some reason, is that it's a matter of heritage. Perhaps he comes from a long line of slayers-of-evil-dragons and feels compelled to uphold the family history ... or perhaps his family are slayers-of-good-dragons and he wants to atone for his shameful ancestry. Salla, you are a freaking genious. If I combine this with the earlier bit about the hometown being razed by dragons, thats it. Long family line of dragonslayers, after the family founder went through the dragon razing. Sorta like the family from Van Helsing (terrible movie, btw) that wouldn't rest until they had killed Dracula.
Ax'Orl 05-19-04, 08:28 PM	I had this thought when reading this thread: And after reading the latest Dragon Magazine: (the article about dragons fosterring some of their offspring) How bout a man whose parents raised him with a silver dragon (poly'd into a human). After reaching adulthood, the human is following in his "big" brothers footsteps as best he can..Since the parents are fostering the silver dragon, perhaps they already worship B which is why they were chosen as fosters. Eithter that or he was raised by a church of B along side a fostered silver. Would open up avenues when he gets a high enough level to attract a cohort=silver dragon cohort! perhaps the child of his childhood friend/foster brother?
Salla 05-20-04, 11:55 AM	Originally posted by Edymnion Salla, you are a freaking genious. Can I add that to my sig? :D
Edymnion 05-20-04, 07:31 PM	Originally posted by Salla Can I add that to my sig? :D Yeah, but it'll cost you $0.05 in royalties every time you use it. ;)