Can you be Obsessive/Compulsive with Character Generation?
Back in September Smite was looking to run a 4E campaign which he created a setting for and asked us his players to fill out surveys. Well it turns out he’s not going to be running it so to get some use out of the work I put into making a character I’ve decided to share my character with all of you. It was an exercise in doing something with almost nothing. All the info I had to go on was what was in the setting post linked above. I also had to skirt the experience line. No point in giving elaborate adventures in the backstory if you are making a first level character. Still I managed to make a character I was happy with and answer all the questions on the survey. However, it does show how I tend to go a little overboard in character creation.
Character name: Ævernay the Tall. aka Ævernay the Cursed (to the dwarves), “Aves” to his human friends.
Character race: Dwarf
Character class: Ranger/Rogue
Character gender: Male
CHARACTER QUESTIONS
In this section, “you” refers to your character.
Red answers are in character.
Blue answers are not.
- After a brief encounter with a stranger such as a shop keeper or town guard, list up to three first impressions that you are likely to have given (ignore race/gender: don’t say “I’m a tiefling”, but do say “I seem mysterious and shifty”, or “I’m outrageously beautiful”).
- I try to be polite to others but my laconic nature sometimes puts people off.
- I’m unremarkable in a “What was his name again?” way. If I was among dwarves I might be completely unforgettable.
- Even if they don’t remember much else they will remember my eyes because of my curse. It’s why I don’t make eye contact much.
- After having gotten acquainted with someone for several months or even years, list up to three of your hidden qualities that you are likely to have revealed.
a. I can hold a grudge for a long time.
b. I am intensely loyal to my friends and family. I’ll often talk like I don’t care, you know, trying to be cool and all, but when push comes to shove I will always stick up for those close to me.
c. I believe in action, not words. If something needs to be done I will do it not talk about it.
- Describe up to three closely-guarded secrets that you have, and which you take pains to hide from all except those very closest to you.
a. I blame myself for my mothers death and consequently for my fathers self imposed exile.
b. I trim my beard. My father thinks it is natural and just coming in slowly. He says that I shouldn’t be self conscious about it. I trim it to better fit in with my human friends who can barely grow any beards at all.
c. I’ll save this spot for his desire/obsession for gold if it ever surfaces. It is definitely something he would try to hide.
- Describe up to three interesting things or defining characteristics about your family.
a. We are a mixed race family. My father is a Dwarf; my mother, well step mother, is human. I also have a human step sister (Saskia) who is a few years older than me. She is not very fond of me and my father. She is not hostile but she does think that her mother could have done better. I also have a young brother (Bohdan). He is only a few years old it is tough to tell because of his elf blood. He was a survivor from a caravan attack that was rescued by Alessia and adopted by my parents. (Bohdan can be a elf or a half elf depending on how rare you want elves to be in general.)
b. We have a comfortable living/standing. Father works as a blacksmith (he doesn’t own his own business however) and Mother is a freelance midwife/nurse/etc. She might be a witch too but I’ve never seen her do any magic.
c. My family are all survivors. My Father survived the death of my mother and our exile from the dwarven lands. My step mother and step sister are survivors of a goblin raid which took their husband/father. In a way this has given us a common bond that helps make up for any lack of blood connection.
- What have been up to three high points of your life so far?
a. Forming the Edgewalkers. For the first time in my life I felt like I was somewhere I belonged.
b. Being named Nat’s Knight. (See below) By accepting my protection, even in a joking way, she acknowledges that I am worthy to defend her.
- What have been up to three low points of your life so far?
a. First day of school, shame, humiliation, etc. etc. It was only made worse by my parents arranging for alternative education. It was as if they agreed that I did not belong with the human children.
b. Getting lost in the wild. I had always taken solace in the calmness and beauty of nature so I wandered farther from town then I should have. Then I got lost and night fell and for the first time I felt menaced by nature. It was terrifying and I despaired of ever making it back home. Fortunately Auntie Alessia found me.
- Have you been raised with an expectation that you will follow some specific path, calling, or profession, in life? If so, what? What would a failure to do so mean to you?
Not so much. Father expects me to find an honest trade but he does not want to be all ‘dwarfish’ and oppressive about it. Mother hoped I’d find a religious calling.
- Do you feel, or have you ever felt, that you have a fate or destiny? If so, what is it?
I am terribly afraid that I am truly cursed. My father says that it is nonsense and that I am no different from any other dwarf. My mother says she sees great things for me but I don’t buy into that fortune telling nonsense. I’ve sworn an oath to myself that if I am cursed I will not take anyone else down with me. The dwarves say that we Coalborn will bring misfortune on our clans. I’m not sure what this means to a dwarf without a clan like me. Whatever my fate I am constantly vigilant to protect those around me.
- List up to three things you know that no one else in the world knows.
a. There is a secret series of caves in the cliffs outside of town. I discovered them while out exploring when I was younger. They are not very extensive but there is one point where in the late afternoon the sun reaches in and strikes a large quartz deposit which lights up the whole place. It is my secret hiding place where I go to be by myself or when I need to think.
b. I’m convinced that there is something sinister in the Lightning Riders. Raz and Nat think I am just suspicious of them because the allowed Danilo to join but I am sure there is more to it than that. Marco has told me tales of their behavior in places outside of our area and sometimes it seems like they are just glorified bandits. I can’t discount the good they’ve done but I have this suspicion that it is just a front for something. Some larger plan that we cannot see from here.
c. There are Dwarf ruins under the human ruins. Marco once described to me a strange cave he found there once (I suspect that it was someone else’s discovery because I can’t imagine him actually going out into the wild lands.) What he described sounded exactly like the descriptions my father told me of right down to the dwarven symbol for Moradin. I did not tell Marco I recognized them. Maybe I’m worried about his human friends looting dwarf holdings. Maybe I am hoping that some dwarves still live out there and I don’t want him running afoul of them.
- Describe up to three NPC allies or friends you have. Include name, place of origin, profession, your relationship to this ally/friend, his or her mannerisms/quirks, and what you think they’ve been up to recently.
a. Raz – Human Male Rogue or Warlord, Gang leader. Raz is my best friend as well as leader of our gang the Edgewalkers. He is an orphan who grew up on the streets. I met him a few winters back and helped him out of a tight spot. We’ve been hanging out ever since. Together we founded the Edgewalkers, a name I helped come up with. I explained that we couldn’t be as lawless as the rest of the gangs; that if we had a code of conduct we might inspire others to be more than lawless ruffians. Raz came up with the idea of ‘walking the edge of the law’ and from there the name. We try not to break too amny laws and only prey on those who deserve it. Raz is an idea guy. He always has some scheme he’s working on. (I see him as a Lando Calrissian type; better at cons that at business but always looking for that ticket to the big time.)
b. Nataliya – Human Female Rogue. Nat is a friend of the family as well as a fellow Edgewalker. I’ve known her all my life. She’s tough, beautiful, and fiercely independent. We’ve know each other since we were young children and that has formed a strong bond between us. I can talk to Nat about things that I can’t talk to anyone else about.
c. Marco – Human Male Bard. I met Marco at the Tankard a soon after I started hanging out with Raz. Marco was making a living as a wandering minstrel. We became fast friends. He talks constantly which I like because it takes all pressure of keeping a conversation going off me. He knows a bunch of stories and a near limitless supply of jokes. He says I am a great audience because I rarely interrupt him. He’s a few years older than me and has seen way more of the world than me but his penchant for tale tales casts doubt on the truth of his stories of distant lands. He is a lot of fun to be around but he is kind of unreliable. You never know when he is going to take off again.
- Describe up to three NPC rivals or enemies you have. Include name, place of origin, profession, your relationship to the rival/enemy, his or her mannerisms/quirks, and what you think they’ve been up to recently.
a. Danilo – Human Male Rogue or Ranger. He was one of the kids who picked on me in school. Later he was in a rival gang. He always seemed to delight in proving how strong he was and making people suffer. He also is stilled pissed at me because of that time I beat him up.(See below) I think it also made him a little afraid of me too. Otherwise he definitely would have found a way to call me out to try to get back some of the respect he lost that day. Last I saw of him he was going off to join the Lightning Riders. I was thinking of trying out for them around the same time. I suspect Danilo joined them specifically to show me up but I don’t know how he found out I what I was planning. With his acceptance I gave up on the idea. I have no time for any organization that wants his kind. Plus with his joining before me he would outrank me and I could never serve under him.
b. Emilian Esseltoth – Human Male Aristocrat. Emilian is a merchant prince type with delusions of grandeur. He’s arrogant and has little time for ordinary people. I first took note of him when he assaulted a friend of mine and fellow Edgewalker, Justin. Justin was working as stable hand at The Dancing Dawn, and inn of some repute. He was serving Emilian when he stayed there one day and dropped his luggage in the mud. Emilian beat him within an inch of his life for the offense. We Edgewalkers decided some retribution was in order so Raz and Nat set up an elaborate scam with which to trap Emilian. It went off without a hitch; those consumed with greed can be so easily led around. He only lost a few hundred gold but he also was publicly humiliated. I was only window dressing for their scam but being the only dwarf I kind of stood out. I don’t know where he is now as he took off on a merchant run soon after that. He or his family may be planning some kind of revenge but what we did to him was not technically illegal so we don’t fear legal repercussions. Still I get nervous anytime I see the “EE” logo on anything.
c. Marta the Strong – Dwarf Female Cleric. Marta is a traveling priest of Kord. I ran afoul of her when she was trying to stir up trouble against Nataliya’s mother, Alessia. She heard tales about a witch in the area and was trying to get a group to go after her. I don’t know what problem she has with witches but I’ve never heard of Alessia hurting anyone. Raz and I caught her speech and had to do something. Raz stopped her just as she was getting ready to march them out to Alessia’s place and started a debate with her. I helped by supplying facts about who in the mob Alessia had helped over the years. We couldn’t convince Marta of the error of her ways but we were able to get the crowd dispersed. She then left our community saying that if we were not up to defend ourselves we did not deserve her help. In spite of Raz taking the lead in confronting her I know she remembers me because before she left she said to me “I’m not surprised that you would protect such a creature, Coalborn.”
My first enemy is a rival. The next two are more enemies who dislike me because of who I associate with. I am going for the traditional ‘caught in someone else’s trouble’ trope that is standard in literature. I figure that is the best way to have cool enemies without actually having done much (meaning 1st level.) Also I’ve pegged Danilo and Emilian as evil even if only mildly right now but with the potential to become real nasty. I see Marta as Unaligned just to show that not all enemies have to be evil.
- Describe up to three NPC contacts you have. Include name, place of origin, profession, your relationship to the contact, his or her mannerisms/quirks, and what you think they’ve been up to recently.
a. Father Osborn – Priest of Erathis. Human Male Cleric. Father Osborn was my tutor. When my folks decided to keep me out of the local school they hired Father Osborn to make sure I got a good education. I think my mother expected I would become his apprentice. He always said I had a good soul (if not a good attention span.) I haven’t seen him much lately. I stopped going to his services a couple years ago. I hope the reputation I’m getting doesn’t disappoint him too much.
b. Garrick – Owner/operator of the Gilded Tankard. Human Make Rogue. In spite of its name the Tankard is pretty run down. I know Garrick could keep it up better if he wanted to. I think he likes taking it easy and the run down look scares off the customers. He never seems to be short on cash however. Still he’s nice enough to let us hang out there even when we aren’t drinking and when we are the food and drink are decent enough. Plus he sometimes helps us fence something if it is too difficult for us to move. He knows a lot more people than we do.
c. Alessia – Human Female Warlock/Wizard/Druid/Witch/??? If there was a ‘wise old lady’ template she’d have it even though she is only middle aged. Auntie Alessia is Nataliya’s mother and my mother’s best friend. She lives at the edge of town and most of the townsfolk call her a witch. She definitely knows more than anyone else I’ve ever met and she is never surprised by anything. Once when I was young I wandered too far from home and got lost. It was Auntie Alessia that found me and brought me home. When I asked her how she found me she just smiled and said ‘the world knows many things if you know how to ask’ and would not elaborate. In spite of all the mystery she is a good person. She never turns anyone away from her door and always has some wisdom to impart.
- List up to three things that make you special.
a. The Curse of the Coalborn as the dwarves call it. I have black within black eyes. It often makes people nervous when looking me in the eyes.
b. I am aware of the importance of the greater good and am willing to sacrifice myself for it. It is not a death wish just a willingness to lay down my life for something greater than myself.
c. I am very observant. I don’t always realize the importance of things until later but I notice everything.
- Overall, what motivates you? List/describe the three most important ones.
a. The desire to fit in.
b. The need to help people especially those close to me.
c. Following a Great Leader.
- Describe, in general or in detail, up to three major quests you would feel motivated to participate in, that would result primarily in personal advancement (for example, becoming the owner of a certain powerful magic item, achieving a certain political position, acquiring great wealth discovering/learning some important truth about the world).
a.&b. I would like to be instrumental in expanding our society. I think we should try to tame the wilderness and unite the surrounding people. I’m looking for a contribution that would make people notice me in a positive way. I’d be a bad leader so I guess what I am looking for is respect without responsibility. A medal would be cool too.
c. (from the subconscious) I want great wealth. In the form of Gold. Large quantities of Gold! Piles and piles of Gold!
- Describe, in general or in detail, up to three major quests you would feel motivated to participate in, that is primarily for the greater good (for example, supporting an upstart rebellion, returning a powerful artifact to its rightful owner, defeat an evil mastermind).
a. Stopping a force of chaos. (A horde of orcs, a rampaging dragon, an invading army, something like that.)
b. Finding a relic from a bygone age that conveys the right of rulership of our people. (Like Excalibur) I would love to support whoever rightfully gained that in reclaiming their lost throne. Even as far as a righteous war of conquest.
c. Assuming b happens or that there is some kind of nation state for me support. I would love to have a volunteer ‘suicide’ mission to infiltrate behind enemy lines for sabotage, information gathering, and other Special Forces type of things.
- Do you know any childhood stories, gossip, wild rumors, or legends about faraway places or ancient times? Share up to three that you find most interesting.
a. The Dwarves say that there are huge underground kingdoms and not just of dwarves. They say there some that are run by hideous monsters that eat your brains. I think this is just a fairy story to scare kids. I mean come on, a creature that is all tentacles and that eats brains? That can’t be real. I still would like to see a real dwarven kingdom. Not that I’d be welcome there, but it would still be nice to see.
b. Auntie Alessia has told me all kinds of fairy and ghost stories. One that she swears is true is that there is a race of shape shifters that live in the wild lands in a city called Piste. All kinds of were-creatures are represented but she says that not all of them are evil and some are even good. She has cautioned us too be careful of them because even the good ones can have a feral nature. She definitely has made me think twice about how to treat wild animals.
c. Marco has told me all kinds of stories of lost civilizations. My favorite is the lost civilization of Almoros which was ruled by wizards and had such miracles as wondrous clockwork devices and flying ships.
- Is there anything I missed that you feel you just have to tell me about yourself?
I try to be good and follow the rules. But I believe it is more important to support my friends than to try to get them to act appropriately. As a result I have done some things I’m not proud of, petty theft and such, but only when my friends needed me to.
- Here is the story of me, Nat, and Danilo: I’ve always felt a little protective of Nataliya. So one day when she was on an errand to the east side of town I made sure to be in the area. The east side is enemy territory and we try to avoid going there alone but Nat said she didn’t need anyone looking after her. It didn’t take Danilo long to hear that she was in the area. They knew each other from school or something (I never found out the specifics) and Dan had something of a crush on Nat. He stopped her and started telling her something. I couldn’t hear what was being said. I was in the alley across the street. I figured I’d hang out in the general vicinity that Nat was heading towards just in case. Well whatever Danilo said must have pissed Nat off cause she went and slapped him. This really set him off. You see he’s always had a temper and being slapped right in front of his people was intolerable. Who knows what he would have done if I wasn’t there. He grabbed Nat but before he could do anything else I jumped him. I’d been in scuffles before but this was the first time that I ever attacked someone with the intent to kill them. I beat the tar out of him. We probably would be evenly matched in a fair fight but because I got the drop on him he went down and could do nothing but turtle up. His boys were stunned with the ferocity of my attack and backed off. Nat pulled me off before I did any permanent damage (beyond the cosmetic) and dragged me out of there before they got their nerve up to jump us. Boy, did Nat lay into me after that. She’s always been tough and capable of handling herself so she was pissed at me for following her as well as for intervening. I told her that I would protect her whether she liked it or not. She was kind of taken aback by this because I’ve never really stood up to her before. So she said ‘My Knight Protector, huh?’ and gave me that crooked smile of hers. Now she calls me her Knight anytime she wants me to do something for her. Mostly it’s fetching stuff for her but I don’t mind.
I’ve omitted the rest of the survey because it has nothing to do with the character.
Here is Aves’ character sheet if you want to see the stats: