I'm currently writing a character that will be a Minotaur Barbarian, but was originally a slave on a pirate ship, primarily used for rowing and other strength-based tasks. She was then sold to fight in a gladiator-style arena, where she eventually won her freedom.
Basically, what might be some quirks a former slave would have? Obviously being handcuffed would be a trigger, as well as being on a boat, but I'm a bit stumped for other ways it would affect what will be an otherwise gentle character's personality.
Its hard to say without knowing how such slaves were treated. If they were whipped or beaten into line, she might still recoil at a sound or movement that reminds her of that. If there was a particular kind of person or race that enjoyed tormenting slaves or minotaurs, seeing such a person might make a normally gentle personality go hot.
Here's a list of traits that could be really interesting for a character like this.
A distrust of the race that owned her (possibly worse if the people she's interacting with look like the specific people that owned her)
Nightmares, having her wake up tired or admit to being a bit out of it because she hasn't slept well can be a way of hinting at this.
Obsessive hoarding tendencies of things that she'll need to keep her freedom. If she has a paper or something showing her freed status, she would never leave that anywhere but on her person. She'd probably try to keep as much gold on her person as she can. Keeping the deed to any property she buys on her at all times (and keys to her home!). Keeping food, sometimes until it has reached the end of its life, in case she ever runs out again.
If she has any identifying slave marks, she'd cover them and probably be disgusted by them and avoid anyone seeing them at all costs. Same for any scars she'd have gained while fighting.
She'd probably have physical issues from the fighting and/or physical labour. Maybe a limp or a weak arm, etc.
I would even say a distrust of authority figures could play into her psychology. She wouldn't necessarily go to the guards for help in a crisis situation, especially not if slavery is legal in the place she's in.
She'd probably have an affinity for the lower classes, and offer them things to make their lives easier. Food/gold/help, etc. You can use this to show her kindness and compassion.
She would want to free other slaves, especially any that were kind to / friends of her while she was a slave. Can be good for character related plot if your DM wants to build that into the campaign. She'd probably make this her #1 goal if she's as kind as you say she is.
Blinding rage at seeing people mistreat others, especially if it's the same way she was mistreated.
It's entirely possible that if her race is a known slave race people around her will treat her badly, even if they aren't the race that own her, so maybe have a general guarded sense against strangers until they don't treat her like that.
Hope some of those grab your interest. She's an interesting character, I might have to have a go at something similar myself.
I think it might also depend on the type of slavery she was put into. If it's chattel slavery (think pre Civil War US South), I could see plenty of issues mentioned. She would have grown up with little to zero rights, could jealously guard all possessions (having never been allowed to own property before), and have a Githyanki-like desire to get revenge on her former masters.
Alternatively, it sounds like you are drawing more on antiquity and Roman slavery (winning freedom in the arena has a very "Gladiator" ring to it, and the galley Ben Hur). Don't get me wrong, all forms of slavery are horrendous, but it might have been a little better for her under this regime. As a Roman-esque slave, there might be an entirely different perspective. Rather than want to kill her former masters (the masters may even have been her own countrymen or race), she may seek to be more prosperous than them as revenge, amassing fame and wealth to show off her freedom and superiority, there might even be some misplaced admiration for the person who granted her freedom in the ring (Think prospero in Gladiator and his wooden sword and gladiator academy). This might extend to even seeking to own a number of slaves herself. Gladiators in ancient Rome were celebrities on par with modern athletes (the movie Gladiator had to actually tone this down, as Gladiators having corporate sponsors, despite being historically accurate, was deemed too unbelievable), she might consequently feel that the only way to ensure her continued status as a free person is to continue to be a celebrity.
Of course, it might not have been so good for her under this system as well. Spartacus didnt revolt for nothing, and she might feel a similar duty to liberate her brethren. Consequently, she might engage in open rebellion or subterfuge against the masters, or have a compulsion to help slaves or buy their freedom when possible.
In short, Ben Hur (Ben Hur), Maximus & Prospero (Gladiator), and Spartacus (Spartacus and real life) are all good candidates for drawing inspiration on your character.
I like the list prepared by Voodoopunx. Before reading all the posts I immediately thought about the obsession to never be a slave again. I thought this would manifest itself as always having a weapon readily available even (or especially) at night. I thought of the hoarding part as well, and Voodoopunx gave you some good ideas about what might be hoarded. The physical infirmities of being a slave or wounded in the gladiatorial arena are also good ideas for flavor. The reaction to sounds, smells or other actions, maybe even certain words or accents could be triggers for frightened or violent behavior. She would likely dress to avoid ever being mistaken for a servant or even an hireling. And she likely wouldn't put up with the smallest comment suggesting she wasn't master of her own affairs. Concerning existing slaves, she might have disdain for slaves she believes have the wherewithal to obtain their own freedom, such as slaves not chained that could just run away.
I think the two new thoughts to add to the mix would be a deep desire to get as far away from there as possible, maybe back to her real homeland, although that could well be where it all began, AND the desire to gather a band of super trustworthy friends that together would help make sure she never ended up a slave again. This could become a "thing" if someone she thought was among these inner circle friends and they did something, even fairly minor, to betray her trust. How might she react and deal with that?
Voodoo covered everything that came to mind. Food hoarding would be a big thing. At every meal taking a roll of bread or some such and tucking it away for later. You never know when your next meal might come. Even at a grand banquet with the king they would probably be eating lightly while saving things that would keep well. Wedge of cheese, bread rolls, small meat pies and the like. Maybe even tucking away a flagon of mulled wine, some of this they might do subconsciously and might even be ashamed of if someone brought attention to the behavior.
Also obsessive apologizing. The slave is always wrong and must appease the master type situation could bring this about. Especially if there was physical abuse involved. Might even jump at certain noises (a little PTSD like) like the crack of a whip, clanging of pots, maybe even stranger sounds could be a trigger of sorts. A predisposition to automatically start doing something when given a firm command, avoidance of confrontation.
"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."
I think this was touched upon, but someone who was doing the same kind of labor over and over again would probably develop physical ailments. Someone who's bent over an oar all day would probably develop problems with her spine or even problems with her legs if she hasn't been able to move them a lot. I've also heard that when people become used to poor conditions, it's hard for them to get used to nicer conditions. People used to sleeping on a hard floor have a hard time sleeping on soft beds, for instance.
Study the effects of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She might have an aversion to prying questions. She might hate loud or sudden noises. She probably sits with her back in a corner whenever possible and watches entrances and exits. She probably has insomnia because the night terrors aren't worth the sleep. She definitely hates any practical joke that involves startling or scaring her. She probably has a brash personality that covers up her insecurities, which she will only reveal to the most intimate of confidants. Almost assuredly she has a substance abuse problem. It might be something she's working on overcoming now that she's adventuring.
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I'm currently writing a character that will be a Minotaur Barbarian, but was originally a slave on a pirate ship, primarily used for rowing and other strength-based tasks. She was then sold to fight in a gladiator-style arena, where she eventually won her freedom.
Basically, what might be some quirks a former slave would have? Obviously being handcuffed would be a trigger, as well as being on a boat, but I'm a bit stumped for other ways it would affect what will be an otherwise gentle character's personality.
A mistrust/dislike of whatever race/culture/people that owned her.
An interest in learning about her culture that she didn't get to grow up in.
A preference for certain items/foods/weapons she was stuck with and got used to on the ship.
A desire to free slaves whenever possible.
Its hard to say without knowing how such slaves were treated. If they were whipped or beaten into line, she might still recoil at a sound or movement that reminds her of that. If there was a particular kind of person or race that enjoyed tormenting slaves or minotaurs, seeing such a person might make a normally gentle personality go hot.
I'm guessing some sort of Post traumatic stress syndrome. (Night mares and flash backs)
Possible weakened and miss shaped bones from malnutrition and scurvy. Plus excessive physical exertion.
Here's a list of traits that could be really interesting for a character like this.
Hope some of those grab your interest. She's an interesting character, I might have to have a go at something similar myself.
I think it might also depend on the type of slavery she was put into. If it's chattel slavery (think pre Civil War US South), I could see plenty of issues mentioned. She would have grown up with little to zero rights, could jealously guard all possessions (having never been allowed to own property before), and have a Githyanki-like desire to get revenge on her former masters.
Alternatively, it sounds like you are drawing more on antiquity and Roman slavery (winning freedom in the arena has a very "Gladiator" ring to it, and the galley Ben Hur). Don't get me wrong, all forms of slavery are horrendous, but it might have been a little better for her under this regime. As a Roman-esque slave, there might be an entirely different perspective. Rather than want to kill her former masters (the masters may even have been her own countrymen or race), she may seek to be more prosperous than them as revenge, amassing fame and wealth to show off her freedom and superiority, there might even be some misplaced admiration for the person who granted her freedom in the ring (Think prospero in Gladiator and his wooden sword and gladiator academy). This might extend to even seeking to own a number of slaves herself. Gladiators in ancient Rome were celebrities on par with modern athletes (the movie Gladiator had to actually tone this down, as Gladiators having corporate sponsors, despite being historically accurate, was deemed too unbelievable), she might consequently feel that the only way to ensure her continued status as a free person is to continue to be a celebrity.
Of course, it might not have been so good for her under this system as well. Spartacus didnt revolt for nothing, and she might feel a similar duty to liberate her brethren. Consequently, she might engage in open rebellion or subterfuge against the masters, or have a compulsion to help slaves or buy their freedom when possible.
In short, Ben Hur (Ben Hur), Maximus & Prospero (Gladiator), and Spartacus (Spartacus and real life) are all good candidates for drawing inspiration on your character.
I like the list prepared by Voodoopunx. Before reading all the posts I immediately thought about the obsession to never be a slave again. I thought this would manifest itself as always having a weapon readily available even (or especially) at night. I thought of the hoarding part as well, and Voodoopunx gave you some good ideas about what might be hoarded. The physical infirmities of being a slave or wounded in the gladiatorial arena are also good ideas for flavor. The reaction to sounds, smells or other actions, maybe even certain words or accents could be triggers for frightened or violent behavior. She would likely dress to avoid ever being mistaken for a servant or even an hireling. And she likely wouldn't put up with the smallest comment suggesting she wasn't master of her own affairs. Concerning existing slaves, she might have disdain for slaves she believes have the wherewithal to obtain their own freedom, such as slaves not chained that could just run away.
I think the two new thoughts to add to the mix would be a deep desire to get as far away from there as possible, maybe back to her real homeland, although that could well be where it all began, AND the desire to gather a band of super trustworthy friends that together would help make sure she never ended up a slave again. This could become a "thing" if someone she thought was among these inner circle friends and they did something, even fairly minor, to betray her trust. How might she react and deal with that?
Voodoo covered everything that came to mind. Food hoarding would be a big thing. At every meal taking a roll of bread or some such and tucking it away for later. You never know when your next meal might come. Even at a grand banquet with the king they would probably be eating lightly while saving things that would keep well. Wedge of cheese, bread rolls, small meat pies and the like. Maybe even tucking away a flagon of mulled wine, some of this they might do subconsciously and might even be ashamed of if someone brought attention to the behavior.
Also obsessive apologizing. The slave is always wrong and must appease the master type situation could bring this about. Especially if there was physical abuse involved. Might even jump at certain noises (a little PTSD like) like the crack of a whip, clanging of pots, maybe even stranger sounds could be a trigger of sorts. A predisposition to automatically start doing something when given a firm command, avoidance of confrontation.
"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."
I think this was touched upon, but someone who was doing the same kind of labor over and over again would probably develop physical ailments. Someone who's bent over an oar all day would probably develop problems with her spine or even problems with her legs if she hasn't been able to move them a lot. I've also heard that when people become used to poor conditions, it's hard for them to get used to nicer conditions. People used to sleeping on a hard floor have a hard time sleeping on soft beds, for instance.
Hombrew: Way of Wresting, Circle of Sacrifice
Study the effects of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She might have an aversion to prying questions. She might hate loud or sudden noises. She probably sits with her back in a corner whenever possible and watches entrances and exits. She probably has insomnia because the night terrors aren't worth the sleep. She definitely hates any practical joke that involves startling or scaring her. She probably has a brash personality that covers up her insecurities, which she will only reveal to the most intimate of confidants. Almost assuredly she has a substance abuse problem. It might be something she's working on overcoming now that she's adventuring.