Hi everyone.
Right now I'm in the middle of preparing characters for two different campaigns... The problem is, I'm also suffering from a serious lack of inspiration, and find myself unable to write anything halfway decent. If you could help me come up with some ways to make this character come to life, be it rewriting him from scratch, changing something, adding quirks and habits, or posting a story, I'd really appreciate it.
Here's what I have so far:
Name: Sacril Morrigo
Gender: male
Race: shifter (perhaps better described as a human from a very strange bloodline)
Age: late 20s
Class: ranger
Alignment: unaligned, with strong good tendencies
Level: 8
A very basic rundown of the character's history:
Show
-He comes from a twisted family of former nobles with strong ties to black magic and lycanthropy.
-Their castle now lies in Lamannia, connected to the material plane through a huge magical hedge maze on their old estate in northern Breland. The place rests abandoned, and the locals consider it haunted.
-He witnessed treachery, incest, murder, and all manner of decadent depravity by the time he was ten years old. The memories still haunt him to this day.
-Owes a good part of his sanity and life values to his grandfather, Hefeir -- his only real support, and the closest thing to a role model one could find in the black hole he calls his childhood.
-Escaped from home when he turned 15, after his grandfather was killed at the hands of an ambitious cousin. He spent some time traveling with a group of wandering gypsies before finally settling down in Sharn.
-His last name was originally Morrigain, but he changed it immediately upon arriving to the city of towers. If he feels any bond with the family, it's one of shame and contempt.
-He worked at the docks of Cliffside as a member of the city guard, until, disappointed with the widespread corruption, he moved to Lower Dura to pursue a different career -- that of a bounty hunter.
-Over the following decade, he built quite a reputation for himself, becoming something of a legend in the lower wards as a champion of the poor. He was given many nicknames, including "The Wolf," "Slums Devil" and "Goldeye."
-Not long ago, he was invited to join a special investigations agency, which he accepted without a moment’s hesitation. Sacril saw it as a challenge, and a long awaited chance to do something significant. Not one he could afford to miss.
EDIT, Some additional info:
-The silver pendant he carries was a gift from his grandfather, received shortly before the old man's death and his escape. For him, it's just a fond keepsake. For the family (or their enemies) however, it could have a greater significance.
-Sacril never had the aptitude for practicing arcane arts, and the lycan blood coursing through his veins was thin and impotent. This, combined with his obvious distate for their cruel games and machiavellian plotting, branded him as a weakling among the Morrigains -- a black sheep of sorts.
-Also probably worth mentioning, he never knew his parents. He was told they both died in a fire, but the subject was generally avoided whenever possible. Everyone seemed to get a little nervous at the mention of his father's name though.
-Their castle now lies in Lamannia, connected to the material plane through a huge magical hedge maze on their old estate in northern Breland. The place rests abandoned, and the locals consider it haunted.
-He witnessed treachery, incest, murder, and all manner of decadent depravity by the time he was ten years old. The memories still haunt him to this day.
-Owes a good part of his sanity and life values to his grandfather, Hefeir -- his only real support, and the closest thing to a role model one could find in the black hole he calls his childhood.
-Escaped from home when he turned 15, after his grandfather was killed at the hands of an ambitious cousin. He spent some time traveling with a group of wandering gypsies before finally settling down in Sharn.
-His last name was originally Morrigain, but he changed it immediately upon arriving to the city of towers. If he feels any bond with the family, it's one of shame and contempt.
-He worked at the docks of Cliffside as a member of the city guard, until, disappointed with the widespread corruption, he moved to Lower Dura to pursue a different career -- that of a bounty hunter.
-Over the following decade, he built quite a reputation for himself, becoming something of a legend in the lower wards as a champion of the poor. He was given many nicknames, including "The Wolf," "Slums Devil" and "Goldeye."
-Not long ago, he was invited to join a special investigations agency, which he accepted without a moment’s hesitation. Sacril saw it as a challenge, and a long awaited chance to do something significant. Not one he could afford to miss.
EDIT, Some additional info:
-The silver pendant he carries was a gift from his grandfather, received shortly before the old man's death and his escape. For him, it's just a fond keepsake. For the family (or their enemies) however, it could have a greater significance.
-Sacril never had the aptitude for practicing arcane arts, and the lycan blood coursing through his veins was thin and impotent. This, combined with his obvious distate for their cruel games and machiavellian plotting, branded him as a weakling among the Morrigains -- a black sheep of sorts.
-Also probably worth mentioning, he never knew his parents. He was told they both died in a fire, but the subject was generally avoided whenever possible. Everyone seemed to get a little nervous at the mention of his father's name though.
1. Arnt all the the weres dead? The whole silver crusade? its been a bit since i read that part of Eberron.
2. Black Magic and Lycanthropy? Silver flame would be in a tizy if they found out about your characters family.
3. with his history i would think he would be hesitant to harm peaple. i would see him more as a gruff person who would try to use intimidation and non-lethal tactics, and only resort to serious injury and killing as a last resort.
4. Why would they allowed the grandfather to be "normal"? Perhaps he was a rare type of Were that they wanted to keep in the family, like a were-bear (i think those where good aligned)
5. Why would they tolerate your character? did they see him as an link to your mysterious father? perhaps you where the first "shifter" to be born in awhile. did he exhibit some special talent?
6. i would think that he would have changed his last name more.
7. As far as personal faiths go i could see him going twords silver flame (for obvious reasons) or worship the nine.
8. His veiws on other shifters could vary. He could see them as kindered spirits or reminders to his dark past.
9. How did he get his reputation for helping the poor?
Anyways i hope that helps.
1. Arnt all the the weres dead? The whole silver crusade? its been a bit since i read that part of Eberron.
Not at all.
They're rare, but far from gone.http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20050404a
http://gloomforge.livejournal.com/12390.html
2. Black Magic and Lycanthropy? Silver flame would be in a tizy if they found out about your characters family.
The Morrigains were never exactly a wild pack of monsters. As far as the outside world was concerned, they were little more than spoiled eccentrics. Magic, gold and connections have a way of sweeping things under the rug.
With that in mind, I imagine they probably wouldn't have retreated to Lamannia without having a very good reason to. Perhaps rumors started circling, people started paying attention, and things got a little out of hand. Or perhaps they were banished from the material plane as a result of a large-scale conflict with the Silver Flame Inquisition... Possibly even something to do with his father? The options are numerous, but I'd rather leave them open.
3. with his history i would think he would be hesitant to harm peaple. i would see him more as a gruff person who would try to use intimidation and non-lethal tactics, and only resort to serious injury and killing as a last resort.
Life was never easy on him. He does what he has to. It doesn't make him happy, but it does keep him alive.
His past is probably best reflected in his profoundly non-discriminative nature. Having grown up among monsters with pretty powdered faces, refined manners and expensive clothes, he knows that there's more to people than outward appearance. One of his closest associates, for instance, is a gnoll, no less.
4. Why would they allowed the grandfather to be "normal"? Perhaps he was a rare type of Were that they wanted to keep in the family, like a were-bear (i think those where good aligned)
I prefer to think of him as more of a head-of-the-family figure, or a respected elder, who over the years came to harbor many regrets. Trying to save Sacril from suffering the same fate was, in a way, his final attempt at redemption. I wouldn't necessarily call him a "good guy," but he was certainly closer than any of the other relatives.
5. Why would they tolerate your character? did they see him as an link to your mysterious father? perhaps you where the first "shifter" to be born in awhile. did he exhibit some special talent?
No, as far as talents go, Sacril was a complete failure in the eyes of the family. Why he was tolerated? Grandfather's protection, a connection to his father, who knows... I'd leave that one to the DM.
6. i would think that he would have changed his last name more.
Yes, that would have definitely made sense. Any ideas why he wouldn't? Maybe he didn't know what a proper last name was supposed to sound like? I don't know. I will ask the DM if I can change this.
7. As far as personal faiths go i could see him going twords silver flame (for obvious reasons) or worship the nine.
I don't think he's very big on religion. Everything he did in life, he had to do on his own. The gods never seemed to care much about him, and he doesn't care much about them either.
8. His veiws on other shifters could vary. He could see them as kindered spirits or reminders to his dark past.
I'd say the latter would be more accurate, but he doesn't take it against them.
9. How did he get his reputation for helping the poor?
Fighting minor criminals and gangs who preyed upon them, bringing back the occasional wayward son, that type of thing.
Anyways i hope that helps.
It does, thank you.