One of the secondary villains I've created for my first campaign is a Drow House Captain who is the Matron Mother's eldest child and only son. He's a rather tragic villain who suffered horrific abuse and un-favorite treatment from his mother, especially for being somewhat cowardly and clumsy as a boy... and for being born male. But as an adult, he's shed those traits and now hungers for love and affection from his mother. Like most Drow Princes, he was made House Captain and commands his clans army, and hopes that in the coming invasion, he'll finally prove his worth to his mother, and himself.
As such, I've written that his flaw is that his efforts to please his mother lead him to self destructive behavior. But that can take many different forms. What forms of self destructive behavior do you think would be good fits for a House Captain with mommy issues?
By the way, he didn't get the job out of merit. He got the job through nepotism because Drow law and customs state that only a Matron Mother's son can be a House Captain. One of the few privileges for male Drow. And in this setting, this is a law ordained by Lolth herself. So mother gave him the job mainly to avoid pissing off Lolth.
But as an adult, he's shed those traits and now hungers for love and affection from his mother.
What more do you need? That right there is self-destruction. Every time he does something, no matter how amazing or successful, he rushes back for his "Praise me, Mom!" and always gets the Scourge of Fangs instead.
The main one I'd see him having is the need for approval. He'll take unnecessary risks and make foolish decisions...if he ever gets a choice, he's likely to do whatever he thinks is going to get approval from is mother - even if it's likely to end up being detrimental the big plan.
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He can't see how he will never win his mother's approval no matter how much he tries? Even when he succeeds she will just brush it off as an you met expectations, he pushes all allies away as being wrong, often restructuring memories of the past to shift blame from mummy dearest to others. He also copies her traits treating others as she treats him.
Self loathing makes us do many things. Drugs, unwholesome (some would say interesting) sex, self-harm (like, literally), drinking, getting in fights, failing at relationships .. and so on.
For a villain, if I wanted to somehow show that side, I'd go for drug-addled and twisted sex, if the purpose was, like, graphic. If I was doing it to build character, I'd go with depression, long disappearances, a string of floundered romatic relations, maybe have the PC's find diaries filled with lots of cringy need and hand-wringing doubt and indecision.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Self loathing makes us do many things. Drugs, unwholesome (some would say interesting) sex, self-harm (like, literally), drinking, getting in fights, failing at relationships .. and so on.
For a villain, if I wanted to somehow show that side, I'd go for drug-addled and twisted sex, if the purpose was, like, graphic. If I was doing it to build character, I'd go with depression, long disappearances, a string of floundered romatic relations, maybe have the PC's find diaries filled with lots of cringy need and hand-wringing doubt and indecision.
I can already see the PC's snooping around his office and finding his diary that shows him as who Theon Greyjoy would become if he kept trying to make Balon happy. Complete with a lot of toxic masculinity emo kid stuff.
He can't see how he will never win his mother's approval no matter how much he tries? Even when he succeeds she will just brush it off as an you met expectations, he pushes all allies away as being wrong, often restructuring memories of the past to shift blame from mummy dearest to others. He also copies her traits treating others as she treats him.
I suppose poor treatment of underlings can be a good reminder that he's still a villain. After all, he is House Captain meaning he commands the clan's military. So him being a drill sergeant nasty or abusing subordinates shows how bad Drow society is.
The main one I'd see him having is the need for approval. He'll take unnecessary risks and make foolish decisions...if he ever gets a choice, he's likely to do whatever he thinks is going to get approval from is mother - even if it's likely to end up being detrimental the big plan.
and customs state that only a Matron Mother's son can be a House Captain. One of the few privileges for male Drow. And in this setting, this is a law ordained by Lolth herself. So mother gave him the job mainly to avoid pissing off Lolth.
That's also interesting since this character strikes me as a villain that feels remarkably insufficient. Though he knows his mother will laugh in his face and diminutize his evil accomplishments. So yeah, he's insecure, likely takes too many risks to strive for his mom's unsecurable affirmation and he always runs back to mommy for praise.
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I can already see the PC's snooping around his office and finding his diary that shows him as who Theon Greyjoy would become if he kept trying to make Balon happy. Complete with a lot of toxic masculinity emo kid stuff.
You know ... Theon always strikes me as trying too hard (on the part of GRR Martin). He's not evil, he's actually deranged. He's Patrick Bateman, except he's not trying to hide it. And that doesn't work. Well, at least not to me. There have been murder-cult-psychos, historically, but they always had justification (however delusional). But Theon just doesn't work. No one would gather around a psycho bloody to the armpit for no discernible reason.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I can already see the PC's snooping around his office and finding his diary that shows him as who Theon Greyjoy would become if he kept trying to make Balon happy. Complete with a lot of toxic masculinity emo kid stuff.
You know ... Theon always strikes me as trying too hard (on the part of GRR Martin). He's not evil, he's actually deranged. He's Patrick Bateman, except he's not trying to hide it. And that doesn't work. Well, at least not to me. There have been murder-cult-psychos, historically, but they always had justification (however delusional). But Theon just doesn't work. No one would gather around a psycho bloody to the armpit for no discernible reason.
Matron Mother. Um. Still a GoT reference? I didn't finish it, see =)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
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One of the secondary villains I've created for my first campaign is a Drow House Captain who is the Matron Mother's eldest child and only son. He's a rather tragic villain who suffered horrific abuse and un-favorite treatment from his mother, especially for being somewhat cowardly and clumsy as a boy... and for being born male. But as an adult, he's shed those traits and now hungers for love and affection from his mother. Like most Drow Princes, he was made House Captain and commands his clans army, and hopes that in the coming invasion, he'll finally prove his worth to his mother, and himself.
As such, I've written that his flaw is that his efforts to please his mother lead him to self destructive behavior. But that can take many different forms. What forms of self destructive behavior do you think would be good fits for a House Captain with mommy issues?
By the way, he didn't get the job out of merit. He got the job through nepotism because Drow law and customs state that only a Matron Mother's son can be a House Captain. One of the few privileges for male Drow. And in this setting, this is a law ordained by Lolth herself. So mother gave him the job mainly to avoid pissing off Lolth.
What more do you need? That right there is self-destruction. Every time he does something, no matter how amazing or successful, he rushes back for his "Praise me, Mom!" and always gets the Scourge of Fangs instead.
The main one I'd see him having is the need for approval. He'll take unnecessary risks and make foolish decisions...if he ever gets a choice, he's likely to do whatever he thinks is going to get approval from is mother - even if it's likely to end up being detrimental the big plan.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
He can't see how he will never win his mother's approval no matter how much he tries?
Even when he succeeds she will just brush it off as an you met expectations, he pushes all allies away as being wrong, often restructuring memories of the past to shift blame from mummy dearest to others.
He also copies her traits treating others as she treats him.
Self loathing makes us do many things. Drugs, unwholesome (some would say interesting) sex, self-harm (like, literally), drinking, getting in fights, failing at relationships .. and so on.
For a villain, if I wanted to somehow show that side, I'd go for drug-addled and twisted sex, if the purpose was, like, graphic. If I was doing it to build character, I'd go with depression, long disappearances, a string of floundered romatic relations, maybe have the PC's find diaries filled with lots of cringy need and hand-wringing doubt and indecision.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I can already see the PC's snooping around his office and finding his diary that shows him as who Theon Greyjoy would become if he kept trying to make Balon happy. Complete with a lot of toxic masculinity emo kid stuff.
I suppose poor treatment of underlings can be a good reminder that he's still a villain. After all, he is House Captain meaning he commands the clan's military. So him being a drill sergeant nasty or abusing subordinates shows how bad Drow society is.
A clear cut picture. Thank you.
That's also interesting since this character strikes me as a villain that feels remarkably insufficient. Though he knows his mother will laugh in his face and diminutize his evil accomplishments. So yeah, he's insecure, likely takes too many risks to strive for his mom's unsecurable affirmation and he always runs back to mommy for praise.
BoringBard's long and tedious posts somehow manage to enrapture audiences. How? Because he used Charm Person, the #1 bard spell!
He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
Ever wanted to talk about your parties' worst mistakes? Do so HERE. What's your favorite class, why? Share & explain
HERE.You know ... Theon always strikes me as trying too hard (on the part of GRR Martin). He's not evil, he's actually deranged. He's Patrick Bateman, except he's not trying to hide it. And that doesn't work. Well, at least not to me. There have been murder-cult-psychos, historically, but they always had justification (however delusional). But Theon just doesn't work. No one would gather around a psycho bloody to the armpit for no discernible reason.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Speaking of Theon, why not make the Drow Captain like Theon's friend Ramsay Bolton?
I'm saving a more GOT plot for later.
And if your the Matron Mother's son?
Matron Mother. Um. Still a GoT reference? I didn't finish it, see =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.