My wife is a hobbyist author and, I totally mean to brag here, pretty darn awesome at it. She's published one small book but doesn't want to pursue it as a career, she writes because it makes here happy to be creative. She invents stories for out daughter's bedtime.
Here's the backstory she created for my next character. I hope you enjoy it or find some of your own inspiration from it.
Greaves (Warforged Hexblade/Bard)
How does one begin to explain nothing? Well, darling, I guess the best I can do is to tell you to imagine a giant, empty blackness. And then take the blackness away. Right? Then into that nothing- snap!- there was me. A bright spark of being, of identity, of, if I may say so, greater than average intelligence.
I. Was.
Oh, it was intoxicating, darling, simply to be. Especially when an instant ago I hadn't been. I could have lingered in that space, that ultimate bliss of just being, for eternity. Only, well, it got rather loud and crowded rather quickly and then just when I was getting accustomed to all the noise and others we were herded into an armory and told we were at war. Can you even? Just so rude.
There were a couple of years of fighting and wars, I'm sure, but who can remember all that? It was mostly hot and uncomfortable except when it was cold and uncomfortable. There were some battles that were rather touch and go and I do remember some extraordinary deaths, just so much fluids everywhere, ah, but you flesh beings don't really like talking about that, do you. darlings? That's fine because it's what came next that was most delicious. Freedom. Liberation. The whole world my oyster and no one going to try to tell me how to eat it. Hell, I could have that oyster gilded and framed if I wanted to and all the old warlords couldn't say boo. I'll admit it did go to my head a bit and I might have frittered away a few long days in, ahem, celebrating, but after I sobered up it was time to take all this potential and really become a person. A 'me'. Ah, but who was this me going to be?
I dabbled in several identities before anything really stuck. First I became a town's baker, but you would not believe the crevices flour can get stuck in when you're made of wood and metal. Plus, I had seen my share of early mornings and really don't look my best before noon. So then I tried, well, I probably shouldn't say precisely what but I will tell you that I discovered a magically forged creature could be seasick. Who knew? That put an end to what would doubtlessly have been a sterling career. It might have been where I developed my love for big hats like this one here. A beauty, isn't she? Anyway, after the pirate, oops, privateer gig didn't pan out I found myself with a group of like-minded individuals who enjoyed being dangerous for money. We had a patron who supplied the gear and supplies and, most crucially I suppose, the clients. I did have to sign a contract to join the mercenary band which they made quite a big fuss about, darling, but it seemed perfectly boilerplate to me. That is, I'm sure it would have if I'd read it. Honestly, you read one soul-binding contract, you've read them all, am I right? At least this one came with an enchanted sword. They don't always, I can tell you. Well, I'm pleased to say we had a perfectly marvelous time together. There was a great deal of blood and swordplay, which I found oddly soothing, and an even greater deal of treasure, which I found delightful, and I'm sure I could have been happy there for a short eternity. We didn't all agree on that point, though, so I decided to leave. It seemed simplest to avoid all the fuss and hoopla of teary goodbyes so I just walked away while they were all sleeping. So much easier.
I'd enjoyed the sell-sword, warlock thingy, but it was time to try something new. So I asked myself what was farthest away from the mercenaries' standard territory and their patron's reach, both thematically and geographically, if you understand what I mean, darling. So imagine my delight when I found this school that teaches people like me how to use their natural gifts of music and, ahem, charm to get what they want. Have I not mentioned my musical skills? Well, I'm sure it was implied. Do try to keep up, dear. Anyway, I joined the school and found an entire branch that taught the music bit and was delightfully free with the sword aspects of life. I graduated, top of my class, I'm sure, and left to see what else the world had to offer me. Shortly after, I did run into a mercenary in a tavern who might have mentioned a warlock with the same general name as that patron from ages ago. After a few pints, he seemed to hint that this warlock- who was probably someone else entirely. I mean, the names they come up with? How are you supposed to keep them straight?- was a bit, well, peeved about an alleged theft. Something about a magic sword? Defaulted contract? But, honestly, darling, would you trust the word of a drunk? It was certainly nothing to do with me.
Anyway, the next morning I decided that the towns on the far side of the continent were sure to be starved for entertainment and, well, here, we are.
So I started building out the actual character sheet and I got stuck at the background. I think Soldier fit best but I'm not sure if the Military Rank feature fits.
Can you guys think of backgrounds or background features that would fit better? Either mix'n'match from other backgrounds or invent something else; the DM is pretty flexible. This will be an eberron campaign.
The Mercenary Veteran background from SCAG is a fine fit. Proficiency in Athletics, Persuasion, land vehicles and a gaming set, and a background feature that allows you to find minor mercenary work, identify mercenary heraldry and remember the key notes of any company you recognize, and find the "taverns and festhalls" where mercenaries hang out and thrive.
If that doesn't work, consider the Soldier background with the Criminal Contact or Bad Reputation feature of Criminal or Pirate. Bad Rep can make for some interesting roleplaying opportunities, especially if you treat it the way my group has in our Exandrian game and claim that the reputation is associated with the organization rather than the individual. One has to visibly show a claim to membership in the organization or otherwise be known as a part of it to benefit from the Bad Rep and get one's freebies, but that also means you're opening yourself up to being more easily hunted down
My wife is a hobbyist author and, I totally mean to brag here, pretty darn awesome at it. She's published one small book but doesn't want to pursue it as a career, she writes because it makes here happy to be creative. She invents stories for out daughter's bedtime.
Here's the backstory she created for my next character. I hope you enjoy it or find some of your own inspiration from it.
Greaves (Warforged Hexblade/Bard)
That was a lovely little story. Greaves sounds like they would be a very fun companion to travel with!
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
So I started building out the actual character sheet and I got stuck at the background. I think Soldier fit best but I'm not sure if the Military Rank feature fits.
Can you guys think of backgrounds or background features that would fit better? Either mix'n'match from other backgrounds or invent something else; the DM is pretty flexible. This will be an eberron campaign.
Looking forward to ideas.
The Mercenary Veteran background from SCAG is a fine fit. Proficiency in Athletics, Persuasion, land vehicles and a gaming set, and a background feature that allows you to find minor mercenary work, identify mercenary heraldry and remember the key notes of any company you recognize, and find the "taverns and festhalls" where mercenaries hang out and thrive.
If that doesn't work, consider the Soldier background with the Criminal Contact or Bad Reputation feature of Criminal or Pirate. Bad Rep can make for some interesting roleplaying opportunities, especially if you treat it the way my group has in our Exandrian game and claim that the reputation is associated with the organization rather than the individual. One has to visibly show a claim to membership in the organization or otherwise be known as a part of it to benefit from the Bad Rep and get one's freebies, but that also means you're opening yourself up to being more easily hunted down
Please do not contact or message me.
Your wife is very talented.
Wow, that background is insane! As an amateur writer myself, I love how that story was woven!
Fintan Alasadiar: |High (Moon) Elf|Fighter| Rime of the Frostmaiden|
Wafku Dyandriver:|Mountain Dwarf|Warlock|Fighter|
Errk:|Arakorca|Ranger|
DM: The Dragons of Icespire Peak Campaign, Frozen Sick
''I will serve injustice with justice.'' 𝕱𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖓𝕬𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖗𝕼𝖎𝖑𝖆