We have been working all year for one big night. Big Red was prepping his sleigh when something came and took him. It’s been an eternity since I’ve swung an axe but me and my fellow gnomes have got to get the big man back so he can deliver our presents.

Gnome for a Christmas-themed one shot. 

I watched as they came, their stench the only thing worse than them, in great columns, the Black Riders at the head of each ragged, massive unit, the black banner with the red skull upon it hanging limply; like the rest of my people, I screamed and I ran and I watched them round us up.

I survived the camp they built, where they dragged in the people from other villages, kept them in cages except to work in the smithies and the fields until they dropped dead and were dragged into the long row houses of the guards and never seen again.

The adventurers who found us said the war was far from over, and I am just fine with that; once I have recovered, I aim to give the Dark Lord one extra reason to go back to his ruined home.

I killed a man, that’s how it all started. It wasn’t an accident, I murdered him, and then I had to flee the city or face arrest. Now I get to travel around and use my skills at murder on all sorts of creatures, which is good… because I like it.

When I was eight years old, I had a nightmare and went to my daddy's room to sleep next to him so I wouldn't be afraid.

As I was crawling beneath the covers, I heard a noise, and I quick hid under the bed -- just in time, too, because a man came in through the window, and he was a bad man, and he killed my daddy while he slept above me; and he said "Murder isn't so hard after all" when he was done.

I am grown now, and I have learned many things as I grew, and now I will find him, and I will kill him; for I am now the nightmare of adults who steal children's safety from them.

I'm just a poor boy; I need no sympathy.
I just killed a man; put a crossbow against his head, pulled my trigger--now he's dead.
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me.

Asmodeus bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat, and he laid that golden fiddle on the ground at my feet.
"Asmodeus, just come on back if you ever wanna try again.
I done told you once you son of a *****, I'm the best there's ever been."

Well the word got around they said this kid is insane man.
Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland.
Get your education don't forget from whence you came; and the world is gonna know your name--what's ya name, man?

Now look at them yo-yos, that's the way you do it; you swing a sword in a dungeon.
That ain't working, that's the way you do it, money for nothing and your chicks for free.
Lemme tell ya, them folk ain't dumb, maybe get a blister on yer little finger, maybe get a bumpin on yer nog.

After so long drifting in the Astral Sea, I had almost forgotten what anything else was like. But then I met Her, and everything changed for me, so She sent me to the prime as her agent. Now I spread her name like a wildfire, and will until the end of my days.

(Any race, Astral Drifter background, Cleric)

You see me now, a veteran of a thousand magic wars, I've been livin' on the edge where the winds of Limbo roar.

I'm young enough to look at and far too old to see; all my scars are on the outside -- I'm not sure there's anything left of me.

I'm floating in this place, a tomb for all to see --  am I now a Lich or just a Demi?

Tequila!

Tequila!

Tequila!

When I was just a little gal, I went to my mother and asked her "What will I be?"; she responded "Tequila".

A few years later I turned to my father and I asked him "What will I be?"; he responded "Tequila".

And, as a result, when entering an unexplored dungeon and asked what I am, I look them dead in the eyes and I say "Tequila".

Quote from AEDorsay >>

You see me now, a veteran of a thousand magic wars, I've been livin' on the edge where the winds of Limbo roar.

I'm young enough to look at and far too old to see; all my scars are on the outside -- I'm not sure there's anything left of me.

I'm floating in this place, a tomb for all to see --  am I now a Lich or just a Demi?

 Loved this one.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

You see me now, a veteran of a thousand magic wars, I've been livin' on the edge where the winds of Limbo roar.

I'm young enough to look at and far too old to see; all my scars are on the outside -- I'm not sure there's anything left of me.

I'm floating in this place, a tomb for all to see --  am I now a Lich or just a Demi?

 Loved this one.

 
native Phoenix gal here — BOC is still inescapable in some parts 😉

I used to be a normal kobold when i was younger.  When my warrens shaman  sent me out into my trial into adulthood everything changed.
Alone  i went into the Caverns of Tarall to succeedi I had find enough food and water to survive 5 days. I also had to avoid what i know is
a hook horror. Sadly  our meeting was unavoidable.  While I killed the fiend I was mortally wounded  as i lay dying i saw three vials praying to
any god listening i drank all three. The pain was so great i passed out. When i woke... well that is a story for later.

When I woke up on the battlefield, I was the only one left, everyone else was either dead or gone. I knew this was my chance to finally get the hells out of the army, and I took it, but I had nowhere else to go. Now I use the skills I honed on the battlefield to line my pockets and make a name for myself.

(Almost any race, Soldier background, Fighter)

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew.
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, I aped it up.

(Druid)

I would like, ah, if I may, to take you on a strange journey, I left Denton late one evening, to visit Dr Everett Scott, ex-tutor, and now friend and it is true there were dark storm clouds, heavy, black, and pendulous, towards which I was heading. It's true, also, that the horse I was riding was badly in need of some rest, but, being the normal kid I was and on a night night out, well, I was not going to let a storm spoil the events of my evening and it was a night I was going to remember for a very long time. A party, a mad scientist and his creation and me left naked and crawling through the mud in the morning cause me to shudderr to recall my misadventures of that night and now I am left to wonder where that mad scientist went and what other creations he is creating.

*Slightly longer than intended and based on a section from a well known muscial.

I stood still for a moment and turned to gaze back at the Great Sand Sea in which I had been born, in which I had come into my power, the peculiar gift of making the sand dance and harden and soften and play; for the sea is in me and part of me and here I stood, now turning back to gaze ahead along my path.

I confess I am afeared, for I have never left this sea, and as I gaze into the valley that spread out below and the ocean that glitters in the distance so far away, I realize that being able to shape and and form the sand as I have taught myself may not be so useful once I leave the endless dunes, the waves of the winds, the blaze of the sun.

But they stole the Desert's Heart, and the elders have chosen me to return it, and i swore an oath, I recall as I turn yet again and scoop a little more sand into my already very heavy pouch; i know not how long it will be until I return home, but I know that I must, and so with a heavy heart I take that step away and down the ridge, the mighty waterfall beside me cooling the air...

Within Death or Destruction my salvation lies. Be it mine, or theirs.

artificer, on the run from gods, due to him changing fate with his inventions.

Quote from AEDorsay >>

I stood still for a moment and turned to gaze back at the Great Sand Sea in which I had been born, in which I had come into my power, the peculiar gift of making the sand dance and harden and soften and play; for the sea is in me and part of me and here I stood, now turning back to gaze ahead along my path.

I confess I am afeared, for I have never left this sea, and as I gaze into the valley that spread out below and the ocean that glitters in the distance so far away, I realize that being able to shape and and form the sand as I have taught myself may not be so useful once I leave the endless dunes, the waves of the winds, the blaze of the sun.

But they stole the Desert's Heart, and the elders have chosen me to return it, and i swore an oath, I recall as I turn yet again and scoop a little more sand into my already very heavy pouch; i know not how long it will be until I return home, but I know that I must, and so with a heavy heart I take that step away and down the ridge, the mighty waterfall beside me cooling the air...

Incredible three sentence backstory... Done the AEDorsay way! :)