Interesting character! A drow with an inferiority complex out hunting a bounty that doesn't exist is a nice change from the wangst-filled drow most see.
I've added quotes to Bodak Steelgrinder, Bharazhd Berama and Gaston Duchamps.
Mostly Ghostly: This is a great example of how cool drow can be, done well - I thought about making one for a character once upon a time, but couldn't get away from some of the iconic ones from R.A. Salvatore's works (When I tried to get away from a Drizzt lookalike, they just turned into something akin to Jarlaxle ) I congratulate you on escaping the Curse of the Cookie Cutter Drow.
I'm kind of hesitant to post this character, as I'm rather afraid he's overpowered (or whatever the appropriate term would be), but I figured I'd never know unless I showed him off. To point out before folks question, the setting I'm using incorporates elements of Infernum, a 3rd party D20 setting based off adventuring in Hell. Basically, demons aren't inherently evil (though many are), and they have to consume iliaster (an ectoplasmic substance extracted from mortal souls via torture) on a regular basis (1 point per level every day, in rule terms) or suffer a hideous, but quick, death as they essentially devour themselves from the inside out. The Church of Zhakarum is a 'generic' Good-aligned, Paladin-sponsoring faith.
Sargat; Male "Human" Wizard Concept & BackgroundShow
1: he is a secretive and insular person, an avowed treasure hunter and notably (if restrainably) hostile towards religious people, particularly followers of the Church of Zhakarum. 2: In reality, he is actually the half-demon son of the last Witch-King of Shul'gareth, the rather aptly-named "City of Demons" that was sealed away by the efforts of the Church of Zhakarum some 100 years ago. 3: when the Church performed their ritual, they not only made access to or escape from the city impossible, they somehow 'banished' all of the mortals and souls from it as well, leaving behind the pure and half-demons to starve. 4: towards the end of the resultant slaughter, as hellkin desperately murdered and devoured each other to try and eke out another few days of existence, Sargat locked himself away in a secret chamber, deep in the heart of the palace, and used the last of his remaining energy to firstly spin a stasis cocoon and then began to try and project his spirit beyond the barrier, in hopes of escaping. He finally succeeded on the 100th anniversary of the day the barrier had been erected. 5: the body he now wears is actually the body of a human youth who he found dying in the forest where he materialized, courtesy of a snake bite. Recognizing the amulet around the young man's neck as a holy symbol of the Zhakarum faith, he remorselessly consumed his dying spirit and took his body as his own.
1: Sargat's primary goal, naturally, is to find some way to break the barrier around Shul'gareth, after which he can reclaim his original body and begin restoring it to its former glory. 2: his secondary goal is to find a way to discredit or destroy the Church of Zhakarum for its actions towards his birthplace, which he sees as cruelty and barbarism unworthy of a supposed church of goodness and light.
1: Sargat's primary secret, naturally, is both the truth as to what he is and the true nature of what the Zhakarumites did when they sealed Shul'gareth. 2: unknown to Sargat, the body he now inhabits was arranged to marry a local girl who had been inducted into the Zhakarum paladins. She has finished her training and is now in pursuit of him, having heard about his mysterious change in behavior and departure from their village. She has no idea that the man she loved is now dead and his body is being worn by a half-demon from 100 years ago. 3: Sargat's father is still alive, and has recently managed to escape and begun to muster his own efforts to try and exact revenge on the Zhakarum faith. He has no idea that his son is still alive, and the loss of his family and kingdom, coupled with a century of 'festering', has made him more than a little irrational- and lowered his discrimination in his choice of targets.
1: "Old" Ebeneezer is an actually rather young scholar, whose nickname comes from his obsession with dusty old tomes and ancient lore, which coupled with his tendency to get so caught up in things he forgets about eating, sleeping or hygeine means he's often caked in dust and cobwebs. Sargat has a fairly good working relationship with Ebeneezer, trading stories of Shul'gareth (most information in regards to it having been destroyed by the Zhakarumites) and whatever books and trinkets he 'acquires' and doesn't want in exchange for Ebeneezer's advice and directions. When Sargat is travelling in search of someplace or something, at least 7 times out of 10 he's pursuing a lead Ebeneezer gave him.
2: Lady Gennifer el'Druu is a noblewoman that Sargat made the mistake of robbing one night. A 'collector' of artifacts from Shul'gareth, she was not pleased to discover a thief after her collection- and less so when he revealed that the vast majority of her items were either fakes or worthless trinkets. She blames him for "spoiling things", though she doesn't take too great (or at least, too obvious) an interest in revenge. Mostly she sticks to occasionally hiring thugs to either try and mug Sargat, or to swipe whatever it is Sargat happens to be pursuing on a given quest.
3: Mallory is an outcast female halfling thief that Sargat met while exploring a lost dungeon-complex in the sewers below a city. Mallory had stumbled upon the location by accident whilst fleeing from guild collectors anxious to "discuss" her lack of fee payment. Saved from a trap by Sargat, an act she would repay several times, Sargat earned her gratitude and friendship when he allowed her to take most of the gold they found, which allowed her to pay off her debts whilst still being quite comfortably off.
1: Sargat remembers the Darkness. How could he forget? The constant fear of betrayal and death. The endless burning hunger. Stalking friends, lovers, allies and enemies alike through the dark streets, and being stalked in turn. Tearing open corpses to wring the last few drops of precious iliaster from their organs. The desperate struggle to survive, and the depths to which he sank, haunt his dreams.
2: He remembers settling in the body he now wears. Relief and blessed peace flooding through him. The scent of clean, fresh air, of grass and flowers. The gentle warmth and light of the sun flowing over him. And the waking desire to tear down the barrier and restore his city to this state of freedom.
3: Sargat remembers the rage he felt upon finding the Zhakarumites not only unashamed of what they did to his people, but actively boasting about it. The incandescent fury he felt that they would gloat over not getting their hands dirty, over not having the decency to fight but instead caging Shul'gareth so its people would butcher each other. He slew those who awoke his fury, and he feels no remorse.
Misty ( :P ) I don't think this is overpowered much at all - may I ask what made you think that? (Of course I haven't seen the stats, but he seems fine to me )
Actually I quite like the character - he's not evil, just desperate, which can make for some very interesting roleplaying, as long as it doesn't get angsty.
I also like his rival, the Lady Gennifer - she's not a bitter enemy - their relationship seems almost playful. One question - why does she pursue him so halfheartedly? Is there some sense of attraction to it (or is the romantic in me grasping at staws? :D ) Great Char in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.
I think the term I was actually looking for was 'too special', if that makes any sense. Or maybe "Mary Sue-ish".
As for the Lady Gennifer... well... truth be told, I only just threw her (and the other two) together when I put the profile up- I hadn't thought about Sargat's contacts before today. Which basically means she's tabula rasa, as I haven't put all that much thought into her. Hmm... I might try doing her up the way I did Sargat...
I think the term I was actually looking for was 'too special', if that makes any sense. Or maybe "Mary Sue-ish".[\QUOTE]
I know exactly what you mean. I don't think its too bad - It's not like he's Lord of ALL Demons or anything (is he?) So I think its ok. And I mean, his dad proved that survival was possible and not jsut cause your char was "special"
Mist-Bound wrote:
As for the Lady Gennifer... well... truth be told, I only just threw her (and the other two) together when I put the profile up- I hadn't thought about Sargat's contacts before today. Which basically means she's tabula rasa, as I haven't put all that much thought into her. Hmm... I might try doing her up the way I did Sargat...
No, he's not the lord of all demons (which is actually an impossible rank to achieve anyway)- Shul'gareth, in its heyday, had a demon population of roughly half the average of an Infernum Viscounty, and the nature (both mental and reproductive) of demons means that the loss of Shul'gareth's population is, literally, a drop in the ocean in Hellish terms.
Not to mention the fact that he is, essentially, prince of nothing- his people are all dead (though there might be some half-demons in coccoons of their own and/or unhatched pupae in the spawning pits), the mystical treasures of his kingdom have mostly been sucked dry of their power by starving demons, and let's not forget the whole 'the entire city is completely encased in an impenetrable barrier' deal. Not to mention the fact that mentioning his citizenship would get him thrown in the loony bin at best and sent to the chopping block at worst.
I still just can't shake the feeling I'm making him sound too important though...
If you're curious about the stats I envison him having, these are what I see him with at level 1, using Standard Array stat scores... Sargat's statsShow
Sargat Male Human Wizard 1 Alignment: Desperate bordering on Better Than The Rest (in Infernum alignment rules; straight Unaligned in 4e) Str: 14 Dex: 10 Con: 12 Int: 16 Wis: 13 Cha: 13 (11 +2 Racial Boost) Feats: Toughness, Skill Training- Athletics (Human bonus feat) Skills: Arcana (Wizard Default), Diplomacy, Dungeoneering, History, Insight (Human bonus skill) Class Feature: Cantrips, Implement Specialisation (Wand)
Spells: At-Will -Cloud of Daggers -Scorching Burst -Ray of Frost (Human bonus At-Will)
Well he is, but not in a bad way - remember in the new edition especially, characters are supposed to be "special" - more than normal people, so he fits right in.
I think the term I was actually looking for was 'too special', if that makes any sense. Or maybe "Mary Sue-ish".
As for the Lady Gennifer... well... truth be told, I only just threw her (and the other two) together when I put the profile up- I hadn't thought about Sargat's contacts before today. Which basically means she's tabula rasa, as I haven't put all that much thought into her. Hmm... I might try doing her up the way I did Sargat...
One reason I have so many backgrounds on this thread is that I did just that--decided to flesh out some concepts that were little more than a name and a personality. For instance, both Bharazhd Berama and Gaston Duchamps were characters I introduced in my game without a lot of forethought...Bharazhd literally was created from whole cloth during the session, and the players liked him enough that I decided to tie him in more to the game so that he could make a return appearance.
I often find that I discover new facets of a character when making up a TMB. Sometimes while I'm writing, a really cool idea will pop into my head, and I'll run with it, such as the whole plot behind Bulrick's life. Other times I'll find unexpected but logical connections, such as Brother Maynard knowing Bishop Montaire. Doing all this work beforehand can be difficult, but once I'm done, I find I've created a rich series of backstories and relationships that I can then introduce to the party later.
Step 1: Background "Welcome to the temple of Amyra! Please, rest, and let the beauty that surrounds you refresh and gladden your soul." --Angelique, using a traditional Amyran greeting while meeting a newcomer to the Lyceum
1) Angelique DuParis is a graceful Eladrin cleric. She is the wife of Celebrant Marcel DuParis, and together they administer the Lyceum of Siriia Amyra, The Goddess of Love. 2) To all appearances, the Celebrants of Amyra are a model couple. They have been together for over a century, and are as passionate now as when they first wed. 3) It was the Celebrants who organized the evacuation of Abbeville after the Doom, so the descendants of those survivors view them as living legends and heroes. 4) It is also the Celebrants who maintain the largest and most complete genealogical record in Coralton. They record births, deaths, marriages, and all manner of other details from across the country. 5) Recently, Angelique was attacked by bandits during a visit to Clermont to gather wedding information. Since this attack, she has been more withdrawn and less confidant than normal, and the people of St. Clarice worry about her health. To help put her mind at ease, Marcel has assigned Audric Cwellen, his best friend and most trusted paladin, to protect her.
Step 2:
"There are tangles...webs within webs. I used to be so sure what we were doing was right but...but now...it has gotten so complicated..." --Angelique during a private meeting with a loved one.
1) Angelique is the key to many story hooks. First off, she is the keeper of knowledge about backgrounds, something which several characters are interested in. She is also at the center of a tangled web of intrigue revolving around the White Fox Society, a horribly complicated love affair, and the BBEG Gerard's plans to discredit and ruin the churches of St. Clarice.
Step 3: Secrets
"No. I'm sorry. I want to, but we can't, Audric. We can't keep meeting like this...I'm sorry." --Angelique to Audric, unsuccessfully trying to avoid a tragedy.
1) Angelique has grown closer romantically to the paladin Audric Cwellen, though she realizes she shouldn't be. She is torn for her feelings for the handsome half-elf and her duty as wife of an important religious figure in town. She is not aware of her husband's dalliances with a captivating raven-haired half-elf. 2) Angelique is a member of the White Fox Society. While her husband Marcel is the main coordinator of White Fox efforts in the region, Angelique is responsible for the Faceless Underground, an effort to smuggle persecuted changelings from the Feywild. The Eladrin Court has decreed that changelings represent a threat to all Eladrin society, and that they are to be eliminated. Changelings are hunted and summarily executed at the hands of The Wild Hunt (Eladrin military forces). The White Fox Society works with sympathizers in the Feywild to rescue changelings, smuggle them across the Veil, and find them new identities in The World. Spoiler:Show
However, the network has been compromised by members of the Eladrin Court, who have manipulated the White Fox Society almost from its founding. The changelings are being led back into the hands of The Wild Hunt under the noses of those who actually would help the changelings escape. Angelique was in Clermont investigating irregularities in the Faceless Underground when she was attacked by the "bandits" (see next secret). 3) The woman currently claiming to be Angelique is actually a changeling named Sil. The real Angelique died doing work for the Faceless Underground, protecting Sil and her brother Dev from a surprise attack by Eladrin posing as bandits as they traveled to Clermont (an attack orchestrated by Old Leroux, as part of his duties to the Eladrin court). Realizing that the death of Angelique would but the entire Underground at risk, Sil decided to take Angelique's place, one of the most difficult tasks she has ever taken on. She has successfully managed to impersonate Angelique for over a month, but not without incident. She respects Marcel and even likes him, but she does not love him the way Angelique did, which has put up a wall between them. Also, she is falling for Audric Cwellen, though she knows she shouldn't be. Added to that, she is struggling with performing the duties of a high priest of Siriia Amyra without the supposed century of knowledge she is supposed to have. So far, she and Dev have managed to keep up the charade, but it is only a matter of time before something happens, which could threaten the Faceless Underground and the lives of all the changelings who depend upon it to escape the Eladrin Court. 4) "Angelique" is the target of an assassination plot masterminded by Mai'ali Nightwound, who sees her as a threat to her plans and an obstacle in the way of her seduction of Marcel. The assassin attacks against Audric are meant to lure him away from her, leaving her vulnerable to attack.
Step 4: Contacts
"I am composing this letter to you, because I do not know how to just say what I am thinking. I know that reading these words will cause you pain, so I hope that it will never be necessary to give this to you, but I am fooling myself if I think it will never be necessary for you to know how I feel, and I hope one day you will forgive me." --Angelique prepares a letter
1) Her husband, Marcel DuParis, has been distant of late...or perhaps she has become distant from him. But she knows that he loves her, and he will do what he can to help her. 2) Dear Audric, so passionate, so tempting...and yet, it must not be. She cannot betray her station, not for him, and she has to fight the feelings he inflames within her. 3) Dev, stoic Dev, is Marcel's guard, and an especial confidant. She is sure she would not be able to bear the burdens she has without an ear to speak to, and Dev has provided that ear. 4) Who is the lady with the Raven Hair? She has seen the woman, glaring at her with an evil look in her eye, even as she smiles and laughs merrily. There is something dark about the dark-haired woman that scares Angelique so.
Angelique is a strange case. In the previous campaign, she was a widow, as her husband had been killed by Mai'ali before the party ever got to town. So she served as the face of the Amyran faith to the party, and actually became an important NPC for them, especially when a player took over the role of Audric Cwellen, who had been an NPC up to that point.
This time around, Marcel fulfills the place Angelique did last time, so I was kind of stuck about what to do with her. Sure, I had the whole "Love Triangle" thing, but at the current point it doesn't affect the party much. I also wanted to find a way to get the party more involved with the Faceless Underground, since two members of my group are playing changelings. And then I began to think...and the result was the third secret here, something that puts a whole new aeries of complications on an already tangled affair. It's the sort of thing that will have far-reaching implications if uncovered, which are the kinds of secrets I like preparing for.
This brings me to an interesting observation: I tend to build my NPCs secrets first. The corrupt Merchant Guild head in league with smugglers. The vampire lord trying to destroy the good names of the local churches. The cleric who has turned his back on his faith as inevitable death approaches. The double-agent in a secret society. The unfaithful husband who has two huge burdens to bear. The girl who has two souls struggling for control. These are the places I tend to start when making NPCs for my game, probably because each of these is an adventure hook in the making. But a secret alone is not enough to float a character, so I work on the rest of the background, and I discover things. Sometimes surprising things, sometimes just logical.
) I congratulate you on escaping the Curse of the Cookie Cutter Drow. 
)
