Hey, so, I'm a new player, and I just wanted to share the backstory for my character. Any help or ideas are welcome, although I can't guarantee that I'll use them all, if any. It's pretty short, so I would recommend reading the entire thing.
So, he's a Reborn, and wears a long black cloak with a deep cowl (hood) that covers his face. He also wears a mask that covers his face, half of which is torn off. The mask resembles a fanged skull with horns. His hair is thick, black, and constantly messy due to it being almost always covered by his hood. Depending on his emotions, his red eyes will glow dimmer or brighter. The backstory is told in his point of view. Oh, and Nevaeh, the other person in there, is another one of my characters. Pay no attention to it please.
My father killed me several years ago. I escaped from the grave and have lived in hiding ever since, haunted by my missing memories and afraid of hurting others. All I remembered at the time was my name, the face of the my father, and the face of my closest friend. Don't ask me who she is. I still don't remember. I've convinced myself that being away from the living is for the best, and have existed in this way for years, only venturing into villages and towns when absolutely necessary. When I do, I tend to stay in the dark corners of the streets or the tavern. People tend to steer clear of me in return, but obviously not you, since you decided to join me here. If you really want me to, I guess I'll join you and your friends, if only to see what's going to happen to you all. You seem interesting enough, Nevaeh. You may call me Ezra.
(do not tell campaign members the next bit unless they specifically ask)
Why am I a Haunted One? Shadows follow me, no matter where I go, no matter what I do. Living shadows.
Since you did ask for suggestions, here are some things you might want to consider before starting to play this character (which mostly apply to any other character, as well):
1. Which elements of their backstory is your character willing to reveal? To whom? Random people on the street? Any sympathetic listener? To someone else with a look of past hardship in their eyes? Or only to a trusted friend?
2. What might make them reveal those elements of their history? Sheer loneliness? A sense of solidarity with a like minded person? A shared confidence with a lover? Getting blind drunk and spilling your secrets unintendedly?
3. How does your character feel about about their backstory? For example, are they still angry at things that happened decades ago, or have they made peace with their past? How do the events in their past shape how they experience the world today?
4. What motivated them to do the things that they did? Are those motivations still the same now, or would they do something differently if given the same choices today?
5. What motivates your character to want to join *this* party and/or seek out *this adventure?
Specifically for the character you described, what was it about this party that makes him willing to stop lurking in the shadows, and talk to anyone, much less ask to join a group of strangers?
Why does he feel like he might be accepted here, and why isn't he afraid of hurting these people like all of the others?
Also, why does this individual wear a torn up devil mask under a dark cowl if they don't want to attract unwelcome attention to their supernatural nature? Why do they let their eyes glow red instead of trying hide it behind colored lenses or fabrics?
Also, I get the potential irony of juxtaposing celestial and infernal themes within the group : but giving one of your characters a devil mask and glowing red eyes, and then naming your other character "Heaven" (spelled backwards) feels a bit much for my tastes; but hey, do whatever you and our group enjoy!
By the way, if you're a new player, why on earth did your GM ask you to play two characters at once? One is usually more than enough for a beginner to manage!
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Hey, so, I'm a new player, and I just wanted to share the backstory for my character. Any help or ideas are welcome, although I can't guarantee that I'll use them all, if any. It's pretty short, so I would recommend reading the entire thing.
So, he's a Reborn, and wears a long black cloak with a deep cowl (hood) that covers his face. He also wears a mask that covers his face, half of which is torn off. The mask resembles a fanged skull with horns. His hair is thick, black, and constantly messy due to it being almost always covered by his hood. Depending on his emotions, his red eyes will glow dimmer or brighter. The backstory is told in his point of view. Oh, and Nevaeh, the other person in there, is another one of my characters. Pay no attention to it please.
My father killed me several years ago. I escaped from the grave and have lived in hiding ever since, haunted by my missing memories and afraid of hurting others. All I remembered at the time was my name, the face of the my father, and the face of my closest friend. Don't ask me who she is. I still don't remember. I've convinced myself that being away from the living is for the best, and have existed in this way for years, only venturing into villages and towns when absolutely necessary. When I do, I tend to stay in the dark corners of the streets or the tavern. People tend to steer clear of me in return, but obviously not you, since you decided to join me here. If you really want me to, I guess I'll join you and your friends, if only to see what's going to happen to you all. You seem interesting enough, Nevaeh. You may call me Ezra.
(do not tell campaign members the next bit unless they specifically ask)
Why am I a Haunted One? Shadows follow me, no matter where I go, no matter what I do. Living shadows.
This is super cool! Nothing really to change, you have given plenty of knives for your DM
A New DM up against the World
What do you mean by "knives"? Like, stuff for my DM to work with?
Work probably meaning stab, yes.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
Knives are meaning stuff for the DM to work with.
A New DM up against the World
Thanks. :)
Cool
Since you did ask for suggestions, here are some things you might want to consider before starting to play this character (which mostly apply to any other character, as well):
1. Which elements of their backstory is your character willing to reveal? To whom? Random people on the street? Any sympathetic listener? To someone else with a look of past hardship in their eyes? Or only to a trusted friend?
2. What might make them reveal those elements of their history? Sheer loneliness? A sense of solidarity with a like minded person? A shared confidence with a lover? Getting blind drunk and spilling your secrets unintendedly?
3. How does your character feel about about their backstory? For example, are they still angry at things that happened decades ago, or have they made peace with their past? How do the events in their past shape how they experience the world today?
4. What motivated them to do the things that they did? Are those motivations still the same now, or would they do something differently if given the same choices today?
5. What motivates your character to want to join *this* party and/or seek out *this adventure?
Specifically for the character you described, what was it about this party that makes him willing to stop lurking in the shadows, and talk to anyone, much less ask to join a group of strangers?
Why does he feel like he might be accepted here, and why isn't he afraid of hurting these people like all of the others?
Also, why does this individual wear a torn up devil mask under a dark cowl if they don't want to attract unwelcome attention to their supernatural nature? Why do they let their eyes glow red instead of trying hide it behind colored lenses or fabrics?
Also, I get the potential irony of juxtaposing celestial and infernal themes within the group : but giving one of your characters a devil mask and glowing red eyes, and then naming your other character "Heaven" (spelled backwards) feels a bit much for my tastes; but hey, do whatever you and our group enjoy!
By the way, if you're a new player, why on earth did your GM ask you to play two characters at once? One is usually more than enough for a beginner to manage!