I've been playing around with this concept for a barbarian character and thought it might be good to get some feedback on it now that I've finally got a rough draft of her backstory.
Name: Eithni
Race: Variant Human
Class Barbarian (probably berserker)
Eithni was born to the Malisari, a highland tribe that valued proficiency in battle. From a young age she was brought up learning how to fight and survive in the wilderness, and became quite talented among her peers. Eithni quickly gained a reputation among her tribe as “the crazy one” because of her aggressive and competitive personality and general recklessness. These traits proved useful in tribal clashes.
Many had stories about her ruthlessness in battle. Her rivals told stories about her supposed accomplishments. Many of them were probably exaggerated, but the line between truth and myth became a blur even among her own tribe. She certainly had her share of scars to show for her life of fighting, which she took great pride in. Her tattoos often tried to accentuate her scars, and they added to her reputation among rival tribes.
Stories persisted about her supposed indestructibility, with claims that Eithni was able to keep fighting after getting stabbed multiple times or shot by a dozen arrows. Probably not true- though her tolerance for pain was definitely impressive. Of course, that did not stop her from embracing this image and making her own exaggerated claims.
Off the battlefield, she could be quite flamboyant. She was no stranger to dangerous stunts, “dancing”, and drinking. The one thing she could do better than fighting was holding her liquor. She was also known for her promiscuity. Eithni was happy to share a bed with just about anyone who consented, regardless of gender.
Those who agreed often described her providing a unique experience, though it was often short-lived. Eithni had a habit of quickly wearing herself out and falling asleep, at which point the night took a less comfortable turn. She was a heavy sleeper, and described as not being a particularly graceful one. Once she was out, she was out. She was described snoring and drooling. There were a few instances where she fell asleep on top of a person trapping them under her own body weight.
But deep down, beneath her rough exterior and brash personality, she really did care about her tribe. She would violently retaliate against harm done to her family, and was prepared to die for them if she had to. Failing that, she would make sure they were avenged.
Tribal clashes were one thing, but the situation changed when their enemy became a massive occupation force. One by one they conquered neighboring tribes. Some fought valiantly but were ultimately conquered. Now these mysterious imperialists were eying Malisari lands. One elite member of the tribe tried to negotiate a truce. A few days later, a messenger arrived with his head and demanded they surrender. The Malisari were unwilling to accept these terms.
What followed was a long and brutal war against the imperialists, with heavy casualties on both sides. Eithni herself proved a force to be reckoned with, enough that she terrified soldiers on the battlefield and became something of a legend among them. Between her remarkable ability to tolerate injuries that would down most people and the ruthlessness with which she slaughtered members of the Imperialist legions, they began to tell stories of her cruelty. Stories from captured members of other tribes also helped to fuel this image. Bounties were suddenly being offered for Eithni’s head, and the reward seemed to just keep going up as the war escalated.
Unfortunately, for all their vigor, the Malisari were outnumbered and eventually overpowered by their occupiers. The ones that weren’t outright killed were enslaved, and taken to a fate unknown- but most assumed worse than death.
What remained of the Malisari was eventually cornered and had no choice but to make their last stand. Despite the number of casualties inflicted, they were massacred. Eithni was among the few survivors, reportedly being shot and stabbed multiple times before falling off a cliff into a wide river below. Her body was never found and she was presumed dead.
In actuality, by a strange stroke of luck, she had survived- barely. Her unconscious and barely breathing body was found by a villager from nearby, who immediately brought her to the local cleric. Eithni’s injuries were treated, and she was slowly nursed back to health. Before long she was welcomed into the village, but as the memories came back to her she could feel nothing but a burning anger.
As far as she could tell, she was the last free member of her tribe. Anyone else who was alive was likely a slave. She made a personal vow that one way or another, she would avenge her tribe. She would track down everyone in those occupying forces and make each one pay. She would be sure that the last thing they ever heard was the voice of the last Malisari.
I imagined Eithni's tribe somewhat resembling the Picts, possibly including a habit of fighting mostly naked and covered in war paint/tattoos. I tried to write the backstory to be flexible but I kinda imagined the occupying forces being something like the Romans. Obviously that part might have to be adapted depending on the campaign. I also liked the idea of subverting the "horny bard" stereotype by instead having those traits go to a different class.
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I've been playing around with this concept for a barbarian character and thought it might be good to get some feedback on it now that I've finally got a rough draft of her backstory.
Name: Eithni
Race: Variant Human
Class Barbarian (probably berserker)
Eithni was born to the Malisari, a highland tribe that valued proficiency in battle. From a young age she was brought up learning how to fight and survive in the wilderness, and became quite talented among her peers. Eithni quickly gained a reputation among her tribe as “the crazy one” because of her aggressive and competitive personality and general recklessness. These traits proved useful in tribal clashes.
Many had stories about her ruthlessness in battle. Her rivals told stories about her supposed accomplishments. Many of them were probably exaggerated, but the line between truth and myth became a blur even among her own tribe. She certainly had her share of scars to show for her life of fighting, which she took great pride in. Her tattoos often tried to accentuate her scars, and they added to her reputation among rival tribes.
Stories persisted about her supposed indestructibility, with claims that Eithni was able to keep fighting after getting stabbed multiple times or shot by a dozen arrows. Probably not true- though her tolerance for pain was definitely impressive. Of course, that did not stop her from embracing this image and making her own exaggerated claims.
Off the battlefield, she could be quite flamboyant. She was no stranger to dangerous stunts, “dancing”, and drinking. The one thing she could do better than fighting was holding her liquor. She was also known for her promiscuity. Eithni was happy to share a bed with just about anyone who consented, regardless of gender.
Those who agreed often described her providing a unique experience, though it was often short-lived. Eithni had a habit of quickly wearing herself out and falling asleep, at which point the night took a less comfortable turn. She was a heavy sleeper, and described as not being a particularly graceful one. Once she was out, she was out. She was described snoring and drooling. There were a few instances where she fell asleep on top of a person trapping them under her own body weight.
But deep down, beneath her rough exterior and brash personality, she really did care about her tribe. She would violently retaliate against harm done to her family, and was prepared to die for them if she had to. Failing that, she would make sure they were avenged.
Tribal clashes were one thing, but the situation changed when their enemy became a massive occupation force. One by one they conquered neighboring tribes. Some fought valiantly but were ultimately conquered. Now these mysterious imperialists were eying Malisari lands. One elite member of the tribe tried to negotiate a truce. A few days later, a messenger arrived with his head and demanded they surrender. The Malisari were unwilling to accept these terms.
What followed was a long and brutal war against the imperialists, with heavy casualties on both sides. Eithni herself proved a force to be reckoned with, enough that she terrified soldiers on the battlefield and became something of a legend among them. Between her remarkable ability to tolerate injuries that would down most people and the ruthlessness with which she slaughtered members of the Imperialist legions, they began to tell stories of her cruelty. Stories from captured members of other tribes also helped to fuel this image. Bounties were suddenly being offered for Eithni’s head, and the reward seemed to just keep going up as the war escalated.
Unfortunately, for all their vigor, the Malisari were outnumbered and eventually overpowered by their occupiers. The ones that weren’t outright killed were enslaved, and taken to a fate unknown- but most assumed worse than death.
What remained of the Malisari was eventually cornered and had no choice but to make their last stand. Despite the number of casualties inflicted, they were massacred. Eithni was among the few survivors, reportedly being shot and stabbed multiple times before falling off a cliff into a wide river below. Her body was never found and she was presumed dead.
In actuality, by a strange stroke of luck, she had survived- barely. Her unconscious and barely breathing body was found by a villager from nearby, who immediately brought her to the local cleric. Eithni’s injuries were treated, and she was slowly nursed back to health. Before long she was welcomed into the village, but as the memories came back to her she could feel nothing but a burning anger.
As far as she could tell, she was the last free member of her tribe. Anyone else who was alive was likely a slave. She made a personal vow that one way or another, she would avenge her tribe. She would track down everyone in those occupying forces and make each one pay. She would be sure that the last thing they ever heard was the voice of the last Malisari.
I imagined Eithni's tribe somewhat resembling the Picts, possibly including a habit of fighting mostly naked and covered in war paint/tattoos. I tried to write the backstory to be flexible but I kinda imagined the occupying forces being something like the Romans. Obviously that part might have to be adapted depending on the campaign. I also liked the idea of subverting the "horny bard" stereotype by instead having those traits go to a different class.