Hello all! This is my second time as part of a D&D campaign, but the first where I have actually put a significant amount of time into character development (last time, my experienced DM put in most of the leg-work helping me create my character). My first campaign only lasted three sessions, and I realized that part of the reason why the group was so short-lived was that no one was really invested in their characters. This time, if I plan on dedicating hours towards rolling dice, I want to make sure that I am all-in so I don't waste my or my teammates' time. That stated, what suggestions/input do you all have on my background story for my wood elf, Soltyn FlameWeaver, a cleric of the light domain?
BACKSTORY: Soltyn FlameWeaver hails from the great land of Azarah, a now peaceful region that was previously oppressed by the tyrannical rule of Gholtorah the Conqueror, a malicious Minotaur skilled in the arts of dark sorcery. In the last year of his reign, just before the league of woodland resistance fighters known as the Order of Crylon began to gain momentum in their twelve-yearlong effort to overthrow the throne, Gholtorah began to hear murmurs of a prophecy. Although the rumors only contained bits-and-pieces of the prophecy, the Minotaur gathered that it involved a newborn elf as well as that it foreshadowed the fall of his empire. He was not one to believe in the predictions of fortune-tellers, but Gholtorah sent out spies to locate the rebel's hideout for their elderly and younglings just in case. Upon discovering the location of this refuge, the dark sorcerer ordered a band of his mercenaries to go there in the night and kill anything that breathed. This invasion party was led by Gholtorah's Chief Commander, Zorr, a dragonborn who was credited as the empire's most lethal warrior; many of the Order of Crylon had perished at his blade.
The evening of the attack just so happened to be on the same night as the Ember Moon, a celestial phenomenon that occurred only once every 23 years. On this night, the moon emitted a vibrant golden hue, and it was viewed as a religious holiday by the descendants of Azarah's native peoples. This Ember Moon, however, was particularly sacred, as it coincided with what had been prophesied by the Azarahnians of old:
On the eve of a century of darkness, One hundred years of the great sorcerer's reign, An elvish babe with eyes of the golden moon Will make what is broken whole again.
In the hours of despair when all seems lost A rekindling of hope will arise An infant will ignite a spark of resilience Setting ablaze the fire of the tyrant's demise.
When the mercenaries arrived, they overpowered the small group of rebels who guarded the safe-haven. However, just as they entered the cave, they were immediately captivated by two golden spheres that illuminated in the shadows. As they approached the spheres, they realized they were actually eyes - eyes of a small elvish child. Before they took another step, their armor combusted, and they were incinerated in a ball of inferno almost instantaneously. Word of these miraculous happenings spread across the land, restoring hope to the rebellion. At a time when many where beginning to believe that defeat was imminent, the story of this child and the death of Zorr helped turn the tables of the conflict, ultimately resulting in forces uniting with a newfound strength that led to victory. The infant was bestowed the name FlameWeaver, and the Order of Crylon believed him to be a blessing from Kossuth, the god of fire.
Unfortunately, his mother and father were killed during one of Gholtorah's invasions just weeks after his birth. His mother died in the arms of an elderly elvish widow named Kaeda, and she asked her to take Soltyn to the rebel safe-haven and watch over him just before she passed. Additionally, she also gave Kaeda an ivory locket inlaid with precious stones in the design of a pheonix - the symbol of the Order of Crylon, saying it was a talisman; however, she passed before she could say what magic it held or the spell required to unlock its power. Kaeda gifted the locket to Soltyn when he turned 20 years of age. His mother had told her it was a talisman, but died before she could say what magic it held or the spell required to unlock its power. The chain from which it hangs never leaves Soltyn's neck, and he derives great courage from it in remembrance of the valiant sacrifices made by his late mother and father; this courage helps him direct his focus and energy whenever utilizes his Channel Divinity abilities. He hopes to one day discover the incantation that opens the locket, partially explaining his intense devotion towards research and discovery. Both of Soltyn’s parents are remembered as valiant warriors whose courage and charisma showed time-and-time again as they fought for the Order of Crylon; in fact, they were two of the Order’s founding members.
Since the the fall of Gholtorah, much has come to pass in Soltyn's 137 years of life. He became a scholar of a highly reputable group known as the Emerald League shortly into his 42nd year and continues to pursue the knowledge and histories of ancient texts to broaden his own understandings. Despite his fame from birth, Soltyn has never been one to have an inflated self-image or ego. In recent days, strange happenings have been occurring in the land of Azarah; word has begun to spread of an obscure plague that is believed to have originated from the region’s southernmost border, killing all plant-life and causing intelligent creatures and beasts alike to suffer from fits of insanity. Members of the High Council within the Emerald League convened, many of which fear that the dark arts are at play. They tasked Soltyn, who has yet to gain a seat on the Council, with orders to travel south, uncover the mystery of what is causing this great disturbance, and report back. Shortly after departing from his woodland dwelling on his assigned mission, he was lifted from his own world and transported to another. This is where our adventure begins!
Sounds like you have put a lot of time into it. Hopefully you'll enjoy it, and your party will stay together this time!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Good luck. Like crzyhawk said, looks like you've put a lot of time into it. Other than tips in style, there isn't really any advice to give here. It's not too long, lots of details. Make sure you DM knows what you've written and other than that, have fun.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Hello all! This is my second time as part of a D&D campaign, but the first where I have actually put a significant amount of time into character development (last time, my experienced DM put in most of the leg-work helping me create my character). My first campaign only lasted three sessions, and I realized that part of the reason why the group was so short-lived was that no one was really invested in their characters. This time, if I plan on dedicating hours towards rolling dice, I want to make sure that I am all-in so I don't waste my or my teammates' time. That stated, what suggestions/input do you all have on my background story for my wood elf, Soltyn FlameWeaver, a cleric of the light domain?
BACKSTORY:
Soltyn FlameWeaver hails from the great land of Azarah, a now peaceful region that was previously oppressed by the tyrannical rule of Gholtorah the Conqueror, a malicious Minotaur skilled in the arts of dark sorcery. In the last year of his reign, just before the league of woodland resistance fighters known as the Order of Crylon began to gain momentum in their twelve-yearlong effort to overthrow the throne, Gholtorah began to hear murmurs of a prophecy. Although the rumors only contained bits-and-pieces of the prophecy, the Minotaur gathered that it involved a newborn elf as well as that it foreshadowed the fall of his empire. He was not one to believe in the predictions of fortune-tellers, but Gholtorah sent out spies to locate the rebel's hideout for their elderly and younglings just in case. Upon discovering the location of this refuge, the dark sorcerer ordered a band of his mercenaries to go there in the night and kill anything that breathed. This invasion party was led by Gholtorah's Chief Commander, Zorr, a dragonborn who was credited as the empire's most lethal warrior; many of the Order of Crylon had perished at his blade.
The evening of the attack just so happened to be on the same night as the Ember Moon, a celestial phenomenon that occurred only once every 23 years. On this night, the moon emitted a vibrant golden hue, and it was viewed as a religious holiday by the descendants of Azarah's native peoples. This Ember Moon, however, was particularly sacred, as it coincided with what had been prophesied by the Azarahnians of old:
On the eve of a century of darkness,
One hundred years of the great sorcerer's reign,
An elvish babe with eyes of the golden moon
Will make what is broken whole again.
In the hours of despair when all seems lost
A rekindling of hope will arise
An infant will ignite a spark of resilience
Setting ablaze the fire of the tyrant's demise.
When the mercenaries arrived, they overpowered the small group of rebels who guarded the safe-haven. However, just as they entered the cave, they were immediately captivated by two golden spheres that illuminated in the shadows. As they approached the spheres, they realized they were actually eyes - eyes of a small elvish child. Before they took another step, their armor combusted, and they were incinerated in a ball of inferno almost instantaneously. Word of these miraculous happenings spread across the land, restoring hope to the rebellion. At a time when many where beginning to believe that defeat was imminent, the story of this child and the death of Zorr helped turn the tables of the conflict, ultimately resulting in forces uniting with a newfound strength that led to victory. The infant was bestowed the name FlameWeaver, and the Order of Crylon believed him to be a blessing from Kossuth, the god of fire.
Unfortunately, his mother and father were killed during one of Gholtorah's invasions just weeks after his birth. His mother died in the arms of an elderly elvish widow named Kaeda, and she asked her to take Soltyn to the rebel safe-haven and watch over him just before she passed. Additionally, she also gave Kaeda an ivory locket inlaid with precious stones in the design of a pheonix - the symbol of the Order of Crylon, saying it was a talisman; however, she passed before she could say what magic it held or the spell required to unlock its power. Kaeda gifted the locket to Soltyn when he turned 20 years of age. His mother had told her it was a talisman, but died before she could say what magic it held or the spell required to unlock its power. The chain from which it hangs never leaves Soltyn's neck, and he derives great courage from it in remembrance of the valiant sacrifices made by his late mother and father; this courage helps him direct his focus and energy whenever utilizes his Channel Divinity abilities. He hopes to one day discover the incantation that opens the locket, partially explaining his intense devotion towards research and discovery. Both of Soltyn’s parents are remembered as valiant warriors whose courage and charisma showed time-and-time again as they fought for the Order of Crylon; in fact, they were two of the Order’s founding members.
Since the the fall of Gholtorah, much has come to pass in Soltyn's 137 years of life. He became a scholar of a highly reputable group known as the Emerald League shortly into his 42nd year and continues to pursue the knowledge and histories of ancient texts to broaden his own understandings. Despite his fame from birth, Soltyn has never been one to have an inflated self-image or ego. In recent days, strange happenings have been occurring in the land of Azarah; word has begun to spread of an obscure plague that is believed to have originated from the region’s southernmost border, killing all plant-life and causing intelligent creatures and beasts alike to suffer from fits of insanity. Members of the High Council within the Emerald League convened, many of which fear that the dark arts are at play. They tasked Soltyn, who has yet to gain a seat on the Council, with orders to travel south, uncover the mystery of what is causing this great disturbance, and report back. Shortly after departing from his woodland dwelling on his assigned mission, he was lifted from his own world and transported to another. This is where our adventure begins!
Sounds like you have put a lot of time into it. Hopefully you'll enjoy it, and your party will stay together this time!
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Good luck. Like crzyhawk said, looks like you've put a lot of time into it. Other than tips in style, there isn't really any advice to give here. It's not too long, lots of details. Make sure you DM knows what you've written and other than that, have fun.