I was an avid player for many years, I then moved to the middle of nowhere (I will give you a clue, I now live in a Yurt)
While I no longer really roleplay, one aspect I have continued to participate in is thinking up characters and their backstories. I should say for this I have to limit myself by remaining within the lore as close as possible. One character I have always struggled with writing is a Warlock, particularly with the Fiend Pact.
A particular hurdle for this is because I am working backwards in the sense that I know what I want the character to look like, appearence, weapons etc
I want a Half-Orc Bladelock. That wields both a staff and their pact weapon. They wear predominantly furs, that skulls and bones are hung from. Wearing a Skull Mask, and a Headdress and Cloak of a Deer Carcass. The staff has a horses skull attached at the end. Overall it gives a very Savage/Feral/Primal/Nomadic appearance. While I side on alignment being more of an outsiders perspective, this character from appearance alone would NOT be considered lawful.
Now the challenge of the Fiend pact is it RP wise pushes you slowly towards that bottom right of the 9 square cube, Chaotic Evil. Which I am trying to avoid, along with Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, and a Comedic/Stupid/Oblivious character. It goes without saying I hope "No Mary Sue's" So I am aiming for one of three "types" of character by the process of elimination.
(I hope you are following along nicely so far, as for me a Warlock backstory is a terrible thing to waste but, it is also full of moving parts that make up a deep, rich, and flavorsome backstory if it is not just tropes and cliches).
Why and how was the pact made? This is where I read my many drafts, and google search results and find they lack a certain depth that can be achieved with other classes (Not Evil). Ghost Rider, and to some extent Green Arrow provide great examples of this pact making. The difficulty is to reduce the number of hoops ones backstory must go through.
Unfortunately this is often the most tropey cliche filled section, and I am hoping out there in the 'Internet of many DnD things' we are able to find something that is not 'I am weak I need more power'.
Then there is the question of what Fiend, Archdevil, Demon Lord? Would a named one work or is it best left a secret (I lean on the later).
Finally I have a recent idea of powerful creatures from the Fiendish Planes, specifically would a Night Hag patron be a useful tool to remove a lot of the challenges I hope I have highlighted
So over to you, how would you right a balanced Warlock character? What ideas would you suggest for me
I tend not to build my Warlocks on the Fiend Pact line. I prefer Fey Pact from the various PHB options and both Hexblade and Celestial Pact from the new XGE book options.
In your write-up, near the end, you mention Night Hags. Those are actually Fey creatures. Also putting together a Warlock with a traditionally evil master doesn't always mean that your character has to slide towards the evil-ish corner of the Alignment chart. As an example, here is one of my Warlocks that made a pact with a very evil fey creature:
Like most kenku, Kha-Trill had been part and parcel to one criminal enterprise or another for as long as he can remember. That all changed when his previous employers sent him and a group of thugs up into the north to raid a research exploration outpost near Winterhaven. Things went very poorly for the group and Kha-Trill, the designated messenger, was sent, rather haphazardly into the icy wastes in search of help. Instead he found someone greater. Out among the cold and carnage, Kha-Trill crossed paths with the Winter Witch (of Dungeon #162 fame). Whether by luck, pity, or some unknowable fey reasoning, the Winter Witch formed a pact of power with Kha-Trill, forever marking him as one of her court. With this new power, Kha-Trill has returned to the nearby Fallcrest to make his own way in the world, probably in service to his new mistress.
While his patron may be rather evil, Kha-Trill is more Neutral Good in his outlook. Does his mistress have a plan for him? Maybe. Will it make for a fun story later? Probably. But for now he made his pact, took his powers, and will use them as he pleases.
As for your character plan, since you were planing on going Blade-lock anyway, I'd suggest looking into the Hexblade over the Fiend Pact, unless you really really want the Fiend Pact for its powers and flavor. If you want to keep up the Fiend Pact, I'd suggest just tying it into the normal demonistic shamanism of the orcs. Maybe your character just happens to be something of a demonist, making small pacts with imps and mephits to fuel his powers. Maybe they require ritual scaring or small sacrifices to appease, as they are not as demanding as more powerful demons and devils.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
In your write-up, near the end, you mention Night Hags. Those are actually Fey creatures. Also putting together a Warlock with a traditionally evil master doesn't always mean that your character has to slide towards the evil-ish corner of the Alignment chart. As an example, here is one of my Warlocks that made a pact with a very evil fey creature:
Night Hags are from the Fiendish Plane, they are kinda both
demonistic shamanism of the orcs. Maybe your character just happens to be something of a demonist, making small pacts with imps and mephits to fuel his powers. Maybe they require ritual scaring or small sacrifices to appease, as they are not as demanding as more powerful demons and devils.
Little bit of a Trope, what I am trying to get around is the need to make pacts to increase your power. The personality trait really does restrict you in the long run
This is what I have got so far, still need to work out how to finish it
"There is no surprise Maulkren is a strong able bodied half-orc. He came from the Grave Snow Clan, a nomadic clan of mixed races that herd their animals across the rocky and icy slopes of the Rising Crags of the Red Lightning Mountains.
The Reckonings came before his self-imposed exile. He was no more than three during the first coming. A terrible disease spread through the tribe, and animals, suffocating many prime males in their sleep, including his father. A strange occurrence occurred during this time that would not be revealed until many years later, many female infants would temporarily disappear only to be found safe a well shortly after.
The screams of the dead still ring in his ears. It was clear for the village elders he possessed the same strength and toughness his father’s lineage provided, he learned his role in his community well; Strong enough to protect their livelihood.
Nearly thirteen years after the last death from the first coming did the second one sweep through their yurts. The tribal shaman helpless to stop it, they saw strong men wither before their eyes, and children disappear without trace. In a moment of chance, as the bitter wind blew through their camp Maulkren and a handful of his peers saw a strange skeletal black skinned creature with burning red eyes that pierced through the night carrying a helpless child away.
The tribe sort to track down this monster and return their child to its rightful home. All those that were still able to walk were tasked with this goal, carrying whatever weapons they could find. Born on the mountain they made short work of tracking this foul creature to its lair. As they ventured further into the lair they slowly came across more and more skeletal remains until they saw it, a Coven of Night Hags.
Among the bones many of them that of an infants, the party launched their ambush, too late to stop the final ritual. Maulkren slashed at their surprisingly rigid frames with his father’s sword, and bludgeoned them with his quarterstaff. Alongside his mountain brothers and sisters, who were slowly dwindling in number beat back the Crones. As the fight waged on Maulkren came face to face with the Hag countess, the orchestrator of all bad omens that had befallen his tribe. Rage boiled under the surface, and in a furious assault knocked the creature to the ground. Raising his sword, the hag spat out
“Strike me with steel, and I will haunt your dreams forever!”
The steel tip of his sword pierced the tough abdomen, for the wicked creatures to disappear before their eyes. Surveying their surroundings, the effects of this fight would not be revealed for many weeks. As the nights passed after that fateful day Maulkren’s dreams twisted into something far more sinister; vivid memories of debaucherous events. Waking in cold sweats fearing every night; the nightmares were taking hold, and so was something else."
Maybe your character made a pact with the evil in order to protect someone else/his people. A sort of ‘take me instead’ vibe, with the pact itself being years old before it finally manifests with your patron calling on you/giving you powers.
Maybe you confronted a great evil, and saw some glint of truth in what they said or did. So you made a pact, with the sole intention of trying to ‘save’ your patron, and sway them to the side of good (or at least neutral)
Maybe you couldn’t help but fall in love with a beautiful archdevil/succubus/etc. You pledged your love and that pledge took the form of a pact. You know you’re being used in a one sided relationship, but maybe one day you can win them over.
Any of these seem good? I also like the idea of warlocks with less cliche stories (although I’m not too sure how cliche these things I’ve suggested are)
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Thomas was born to Karla Sheildbourn after being taken hostage by orc and watching her husband slain and town razed. In fact, she almost died giving birth the him, but was saved due to magic. However, she became paraplegic as a result. Even so, she loved her son and named him after her now late husband, Thomas.
Thomas grew up fast, learning the read and write at home while also finding odd jobs to help keep the roof over their heads. Ever since he was old enough to piece it together, he's know the truth of his conception, and harbored great guilt for crippling his mother at birth. As a result, all his own free time was spent collecting books and reading about magic and medicine, hoping and praying that he would one day find some way to heal what everyone said was beyond all but the most difficult and expensive magic.
That''s how he found the book. Or more than it found him, as he didn't remeber buying, finding, or stealing it before he came across it in his room. It was full of diagrams, symbols, and a language he didn't understand, but some notes inside made it clear it was a book of dark magic. Inside, he found a ritual to summon a devil, and knowing the folklore of deals made with fiends, he thought he found his way to heal his mother.
In the dead of night, after his mother was asleep, he packed what he needed and snuck out into the woods behind his village. Going through the ritual, he successfully summoned a horned devil who only called himself Deggo. Without thinking, he challenged the devil to a fist fight, say if he could beat him that he'd have to make his mother well. Deggo accepted the challenge, saying that Thomas would suffer if he lost. Though Thomas only thought it as fighting words, the devil intended the words to be Thomas's end of the bargain. So when Thomas was inevitably struck down, he suffered. The devil healed him and beat him again, and again, over and over. Thomas fought to stay conscious through it all, to the point where the devil told him he was impressed he could stand it as well as he did. It seemed to go on forever, but suddenly, as if waking up, Thomas came to in the middle of the clearing. The sun was rising and the evidence of his ritual remained, but he was unharmed. Except, when he looked at his chest, he found a brand-like sigil over his heart, and the black book was gone.
Confused and frightened, he herd screams coming from with his home as he accroached. Despite his worst fears, he found out there were screams of joyous surprise, as Karla could suddenly feel her legs. Spending the rest of his savings for a minor healer to help her atrophied muscles recover, she was walking with little to no assistance in weeks.
Though Thomas was pleased with his mother's recovery, he still habored guilt over the cost of it all. He only lived at home long enough to save a bit before he moved out to find his own way in life. With fighting being the only thing he was ever good at, he traveled with wannabe adventurers until he was good enough to be a sellsword under the name A'tumah Shattersheild (because, as he puts it, no one wants to hire a half orc named Thomas).
As he traveled and strongarmed for money. He would try to find answers to his questions about what happened with the devil. Why did it let him live? Why did it give his mother her legs back if he had lost? Most went unanswered, but he came to learn that the symbol over his heart was indeed a brand, marking him as a claimed soul destined to go to hell upon death.
Thomas grew sullen after finding this out. He also began to notice powers he had. He reviled them and avoided using them, not wanted any further reason to be ostracized from society. However, in times when he was angry or desperate, spells would leap into his head almost automatically and dissappear from memory as soon as they were cast. It was during a near death experiance during a job clearing out some bandits that he discovered the only power from his debtor that'd he learn to control at will: summoning his pact weapon. Since then, knowing he was damned before death, he's spent most of his adventures trying to put as many other deserving people in Hell as he can find, hoping to at least spit in the devil's face just once before being taken.
Currently he's wandering Strahd's domain trying to get home, and his pact is proving to be more trouble than anything. I like to think that despite a few tropes in there that he's not too horribly cliched. My DM is leaving me a lot of options where I want to take my pact and class, since Strahd is basically being lent my soul and wants to use it as leaverage. Idk yet if I want to break it and give up potentially useful magic or find a way to cut off Strahd's influence a grow in those powers. It's been the character I've most gotten to RP and I'm enjoying the challenge of trying to not use my spells unless under real duress (since my flaw is that I'm uncomfortable willingly using magic that I know comes from Hell).
What do you think, though? I like to think he's pretty original, but I hear stories of characters I could've swore I made all the time.
Another start off point would be perhaps you are entirely unaware of the true nature of the creature you made a pact with. Demons and devils are known for trickery and treachery, perhaps they hope to corrupt your pure spirited character (if good) and turn them to the dark side.
Second option being this is just a source of power, an imprisoned demon or some such that your family has used over the years. If that is too much of a stretch you are entirely aware of the nature of the beast you are entering a pact with and are so proud and determined you KNOW that this creature cannot extend its influence over you. Perhaps that is too tropey but those are the ideas i think of for more good aligned character to take the pact of the fiend.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
First the question is what kind of Fiend has the pact?
Baatezu (Devil: lawful) or Tanar’ri (Demon:chaotic). You don’t have to be evil to have a pact with an evil patron… remember Fiends are immortal and play a long long long game.
You’ve got Half-Orc. Are your parents both half-orcs? 1 half-orc and one human or orc? Or a human and an orc?
If you want to avoid tropes, avoid the classic: ****/pillage/birth. It’s just… eww.
Something truly innovated? You’re parents were actually in forbidden love, other people didn’t understand and tried to stop them. When they were besieged and had no where else to go and prayed for *anyone* to help… something answered the call.
A Fiend used its powers to rescue your parents. Since then they worship the Fiend and you grew up a normal every day half-orc cultist!
First the question is what kind of Fiend has the pact?
Baatezu (Devil: lawful) or Tanar’ri (Demon:chaotic). You don’t have to be evil to have a pact with an evil patron… remember Fiends are immortal and play a long long long game.
You’ve got Half-Orc. Are your parents both half-orcs? 1 half-orc and one human or orc? Or a human and an orc?
If you want to avoid tropes, avoid the classic: ****/pillage/birth. It’s just… eww.
Something truly innovated? You’re parents were actually in forbidden love, other people didn’t understand and tried to stop them. When they were besieged and had no where else to go and prayed for *anyone* to help… something answered the call.
A Fiend used its powers to rescue your parents. Since then they worship the Fiend and you grew up a normal every day half-orc cultist!
"There is no surprise Maulkren is a strong able bodied half-orc. He came from the Grave Snow Clan, a nomadic clan of mixed races that herd their animals across the rocky and icy slopes of the Rising Crags of the Red Lightning Mountains.
The Reckonings came before his self-imposed exile. He was no more than three during the first coming. A terrible disease spread through the tribe, and animals, suffocating many prime males in their sleep, including his father. A strange occurrence occurred during this time that would not be revealed until many years later, many female infants would temporarily disappear only to be found safe a well shortly after.
The screams of the dead still ring in his ears. It was clear for the village elders he possessed the same strength and toughness his father’s lineage provided, he learned his role in his community well; Strong enough to protect their livelihood.
Nearly thirteen years after the last death from the first coming did the second one sweep through their yurts. The tribal shaman helpless to stop it, they saw strong men wither before their eyes, and children disappear without trace. In a moment of chance, as the bitter wind blew through their camp Maulkren and a handful of his peers saw a strange skeletal black skinned creature with burning red eyes that pierced through the night carrying a helpless child away.
The tribe sort to track down this monster and return their child to its rightful home. All those that were still able to walk were tasked with this goal, carrying whatever weapons they could find. Born on the mountain they made short work of tracking this foul creature to its lair. As they ventured further into the lair they slowly came across more and more skeletal remains until they saw it, a Coven of Night Hags.
Among the bones many of them that of an infants, the party launched their ambush, too late to stop the final ritual. Maulkren slashed at their surprisingly rigid frames with his father’s sword, and bludgeoned them with his quarterstaff. Alongside his mountain brothers and sisters, who were slowly dwindling in number beat back the Crones. As the fight waged on Maulkren came face to face with the Hag countess, the orchestrator of all bad omens that had befallen his tribe. Rage boiled under the surface, and in a furious assault knocked the creature to the ground. Raising his sword, the hag spat out
“Strike me with steel, and I will haunt your dreams forever!”
The steel tip of his sword pierced the tough abdomen, for the wicked creatures to disappear before their eyes. Surveying their surroundings, the effects of this fight would not be revealed for many weeks. As the nights passed after that fateful day Maulkren’s dreams twisted into something far more sinister; vivid memories of debaucherous events. Waking in cold sweats fearing every night; the nightmares were taking hold, and so was something else."
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I was an avid player for many years, I then moved to the middle of nowhere (I will give you a clue, I now live in a Yurt)
While I no longer really roleplay, one aspect I have continued to participate in is thinking up characters and their backstories. I should say for this I have to limit myself by remaining within the lore as close as possible. One character I have always struggled with writing is a Warlock, particularly with the Fiend Pact.
A particular hurdle for this is because I am working backwards in the sense that I know what I want the character to look like, appearence, weapons etc
I want a Half-Orc Bladelock. That wields both a staff and their pact weapon. They wear predominantly furs, that skulls and bones are hung from. Wearing a Skull Mask, and a Headdress and Cloak of a Deer Carcass. The staff has a horses skull attached at the end. Overall it gives a very Savage/Feral/Primal/Nomadic appearance. While I side on alignment being more of an outsiders perspective, this character from appearance alone would NOT be considered lawful.
Now the challenge of the Fiend pact is it RP wise pushes you slowly towards that bottom right of the 9 square cube, Chaotic Evil. Which I am trying to avoid, along with Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Evil, and a Comedic/Stupid/Oblivious character. It goes without saying I hope "No Mary Sue's" So I am aiming for one of three "types" of character by the process of elimination.
(I hope you are following along nicely so far, as for me a Warlock backstory is a terrible thing to waste but, it is also full of moving parts that make up a deep, rich, and flavorsome backstory if it is not just tropes and cliches).
Why and how was the pact made? This is where I read my many drafts, and google search results and find they lack a certain depth that can be achieved with other classes (Not Evil). Ghost Rider, and to some extent Green Arrow provide great examples of this pact making. The difficulty is to reduce the number of hoops ones backstory must go through.
Unfortunately this is often the most tropey cliche filled section, and I am hoping out there in the 'Internet of many DnD things' we are able to find something that is not 'I am weak I need more power'.
Then there is the question of what Fiend, Archdevil, Demon Lord? Would a named one work or is it best left a secret (I lean on the later).
Finally I have a recent idea of powerful creatures from the Fiendish Planes, specifically would a Night Hag patron be a useful tool to remove a lot of the challenges I hope I have highlighted
So over to you, how would you right a balanced Warlock character? What ideas would you suggest for me
I look forward to reading your thoughts
I tend not to build my Warlocks on the Fiend Pact line. I prefer Fey Pact from the various PHB options and both Hexblade and Celestial Pact from the new XGE book options.
In your write-up, near the end, you mention Night Hags. Those are actually Fey creatures. Also putting together a Warlock with a traditionally evil master doesn't always mean that your character has to slide towards the evil-ish corner of the Alignment chart. As an example, here is one of my Warlocks that made a pact with a very evil fey creature:
While his patron may be rather evil, Kha-Trill is more Neutral Good in his outlook. Does his mistress have a plan for him? Maybe. Will it make for a fun story later? Probably. But for now he made his pact, took his powers, and will use them as he pleases.
As for your character plan, since you were planing on going Blade-lock anyway, I'd suggest looking into the Hexblade over the Fiend Pact, unless you really really want the Fiend Pact for its powers and flavor. If you want to keep up the Fiend Pact, I'd suggest just tying it into the normal demonistic shamanism of the orcs. Maybe your character just happens to be something of a demonist, making small pacts with imps and mephits to fuel his powers. Maybe they require ritual scaring or small sacrifices to appease, as they are not as demanding as more powerful demons and devils.
Little bit of a Trope, what I am trying to get around is the need to make pacts to increase your power. The personality trait really does restrict you in the long run
This is what I have got so far, still need to work out how to finish it
"There is no surprise Maulkren is a strong able bodied half-orc. He came from the Grave Snow Clan, a nomadic clan of mixed races that herd their animals across the rocky and icy slopes of the Rising Crags of the Red Lightning Mountains.
The Reckonings came before his self-imposed exile. He was no more than three during the first coming. A terrible disease spread through the tribe, and animals, suffocating many prime males in their sleep, including his father. A strange occurrence occurred during this time that would not be revealed until many years later, many female infants would temporarily disappear only to be found safe a well shortly after.
The screams of the dead still ring in his ears. It was clear for the village elders he possessed the same strength and toughness his father’s lineage provided, he learned his role in his community well; Strong enough to protect their livelihood.
Nearly thirteen years after the last death from the first coming did the second one sweep through their yurts. The tribal shaman helpless to stop it, they saw strong men wither before their eyes, and children disappear without trace. In a moment of chance, as the bitter wind blew through their camp Maulkren and a handful of his peers saw a strange skeletal black skinned creature with burning red eyes that pierced through the night carrying a helpless child away.
The tribe sort to track down this monster and return their child to its rightful home. All those that were still able to walk were tasked with this goal, carrying whatever weapons they could find. Born on the mountain they made short work of tracking this foul creature to its lair. As they ventured further into the lair they slowly came across more and more skeletal remains until they saw it, a Coven of Night Hags.
Among the bones many of them that of an infants, the party launched their ambush, too late to stop the final ritual. Maulkren slashed at their surprisingly rigid frames with his father’s sword, and bludgeoned them with his quarterstaff. Alongside his mountain brothers and sisters, who were slowly dwindling in number beat back the Crones. As the fight waged on Maulkren came face to face with the Hag countess, the orchestrator of all bad omens that had befallen his tribe. Rage boiled under the surface, and in a furious assault knocked the creature to the ground. Raising his sword, the hag spat out
“Strike me with steel, and I will haunt your dreams forever!”
The steel tip of his sword pierced the tough abdomen, for the wicked creatures to disappear before their eyes. Surveying their surroundings, the effects of this fight would not be revealed for many weeks. As the nights passed after that fateful day Maulkren’s dreams twisted into something far more sinister; vivid memories of debaucherous events. Waking in cold sweats fearing every night; the nightmares were taking hold, and so was something else."
Maybe your character made a pact with the evil in order to protect someone else/his people. A sort of ‘take me instead’ vibe, with the pact itself being years old before it finally manifests with your patron calling on you/giving you powers.
Maybe you confronted a great evil, and saw some glint of truth in what they said or did. So you made a pact, with the sole intention of trying to ‘save’ your patron, and sway them to the side of good (or at least neutral)
Maybe you couldn’t help but fall in love with a beautiful archdevil/succubus/etc. You pledged your love and that pledge took the form of a pact. You know you’re being used in a one sided relationship, but maybe one day you can win them over.
Any of these seem good? I also like the idea of warlocks with less cliche stories (although I’m not too sure how cliche these things I’ve suggested are)
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Lemme tell you about my half orc warlock, Thomas.
Thomas was born to Karla Sheildbourn after being taken hostage by orc and watching her husband slain and town razed. In fact, she almost died giving birth the him, but was saved due to magic. However, she became paraplegic as a result. Even so, she loved her son and named him after her now late husband, Thomas.
Thomas grew up fast, learning the read and write at home while also finding odd jobs to help keep the roof over their heads. Ever since he was old enough to piece it together, he's know the truth of his conception, and harbored great guilt for crippling his mother at birth. As a result, all his own free time was spent collecting books and reading about magic and medicine, hoping and praying that he would one day find some way to heal what everyone said was beyond all but the most difficult and expensive magic.
That''s how he found the book. Or more than it found him, as he didn't remeber buying, finding, or stealing it before he came across it in his room. It was full of diagrams, symbols, and a language he didn't understand, but some notes inside made it clear it was a book of dark magic. Inside, he found a ritual to summon a devil, and knowing the folklore of deals made with fiends, he thought he found his way to heal his mother.
In the dead of night, after his mother was asleep, he packed what he needed and snuck out into the woods behind his village. Going through the ritual, he successfully summoned a horned devil who only called himself Deggo. Without thinking, he challenged the devil to a fist fight, say if he could beat him that he'd have to make his mother well. Deggo accepted the challenge, saying that Thomas would suffer if he lost. Though Thomas only thought it as fighting words, the devil intended the words to be Thomas's end of the bargain. So when Thomas was inevitably struck down, he suffered. The devil healed him and beat him again, and again, over and over. Thomas fought to stay conscious through it all, to the point where the devil told him he was impressed he could stand it as well as he did. It seemed to go on forever, but suddenly, as if waking up, Thomas came to in the middle of the clearing. The sun was rising and the evidence of his ritual remained, but he was unharmed. Except, when he looked at his chest, he found a brand-like sigil over his heart, and the black book was gone.
Confused and frightened, he herd screams coming from with his home as he accroached. Despite his worst fears, he found out there were screams of joyous surprise, as Karla could suddenly feel her legs. Spending the rest of his savings for a minor healer to help her atrophied muscles recover, she was walking with little to no assistance in weeks.
Though Thomas was pleased with his mother's recovery, he still habored guilt over the cost of it all. He only lived at home long enough to save a bit before he moved out to find his own way in life. With fighting being the only thing he was ever good at, he traveled with wannabe adventurers until he was good enough to be a sellsword under the name A'tumah Shattersheild (because, as he puts it, no one wants to hire a half orc named Thomas).
As he traveled and strongarmed for money. He would try to find answers to his questions about what happened with the devil. Why did it let him live? Why did it give his mother her legs back if he had lost? Most went unanswered, but he came to learn that the symbol over his heart was indeed a brand, marking him as a claimed soul destined to go to hell upon death.
Thomas grew sullen after finding this out. He also began to notice powers he had. He reviled them and avoided using them, not wanted any further reason to be ostracized from society. However, in times when he was angry or desperate, spells would leap into his head almost automatically and dissappear from memory as soon as they were cast. It was during a near death experiance during a job clearing out some bandits that he discovered the only power from his debtor that'd he learn to control at will: summoning his pact weapon. Since then, knowing he was damned before death, he's spent most of his adventures trying to put as many other deserving people in Hell as he can find, hoping to at least spit in the devil's face just once before being taken.
Currently he's wandering Strahd's domain trying to get home, and his pact is proving to be more trouble than anything. I like to think that despite a few tropes in there that he's not too horribly cliched. My DM is leaving me a lot of options where I want to take my pact and class, since Strahd is basically being lent my soul and wants to use it as leaverage. Idk yet if I want to break it and give up potentially useful magic or find a way to cut off Strahd's influence a grow in those powers. It's been the character I've most gotten to RP and I'm enjoying the challenge of trying to not use my spells unless under real duress (since my flaw is that I'm uncomfortable willingly using magic that I know comes from Hell).
What do you think, though? I like to think he's pretty original, but I hear stories of characters I could've swore I made all the time.
#OpenDnD. #DnDBegone
Another start off point would be perhaps you are entirely unaware of the true nature of the creature you made a pact with. Demons and devils are known for trickery and treachery, perhaps they hope to corrupt your pure spirited character (if good) and turn them to the dark side.
Second option being this is just a source of power, an imprisoned demon or some such that your family has used over the years. If that is too much of a stretch you are entirely aware of the nature of the beast you are entering a pact with and are so proud and determined you KNOW that this creature cannot extend its influence over you. Perhaps that is too tropey but those are the ideas i think of for more good aligned character to take the pact of the fiend.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
You want to avoid too many clichés or tropes?
First the question is what kind of Fiend has the pact?
Baatezu (Devil: lawful) or Tanar’ri (Demon:chaotic). You don’t have to be evil to have a pact with an evil patron… remember Fiends are immortal and play a long long long game.
You’ve got Half-Orc. Are your parents both half-orcs? 1 half-orc and one human or orc? Or a human and an orc?
If you want to avoid tropes, avoid the classic: ****/pillage/birth. It’s just… eww.
Something truly innovated? You’re parents were actually in forbidden love, other people didn’t understand and tried to stop them. When they were besieged and had no where else to go and prayed for *anyone* to help… something answered the call.
A Fiend used its powers to rescue your parents. Since then they worship the Fiend and you grew up a normal every day half-orc cultist!