Xallace
2009-01-31, 09:02 PM
In our upcoming 4E campaign, I'm going to play a drow. His name is Johann, and he is arachnaphobic.
I've been slowly piecing his backstory together, but am having some trouble at this point (as the title so conveniently states). And while this could usually be something that could be filled in later, this little issue is actually denying me the ability to decide on a class. Yikes. I was hoping anyone could help me here, maybe pitch a few ideas that might make me go "ooh."
Here's what I have so far:
Johann was born to a drow priestess and her bodyguard. Soon after the birth, Johann's mother was struck down by a rival's hired assassin. TO explain it as Johann's Father did: "She was irrevocably evil and would probably have sold you to slavery, but still, it's kinda tragic." Johann's father (hereafter referred to as JF) was not so evil, however, and hid Johann away from the church. He taught Johann about being compassionate, as well as how to kill a man in close combat.
Oh, and JF was actually a devout follower of Vaeraun, the drow god of assassins, poison, and equality-for-everyone-unless-you-aren't-elfy-in-any-fashion. Which explains the close-combat kills. Anyway, a few years later, JF's little cult of Vaeraun assassins was getting ready to infiltrate the church of Lolth and totally kick some elfrachnid butt. But it turned out that the Lolth's Sting Ninja were one step ahead, and a priestess (in fact the one that killed Johann's mother!) showed up, transformed into a giant spider, and promptly ate JF right in front of the little drow, scarring the kid forever (and instilling in him a massive phobia of spiders; one because it ate his dad, and two because MY GOSH can you image how big that thing must've been? And he was right there in front of it?).
So, Johann made a run for it. And here's where I'm stumped. I've come up with a few options so far, but you can come up with some too if you want!
OPTION ONE:
Johann joined a surface cult of Vaeraun and learned the assassin's arts, vowing vengeance upon Lolth and the priestess that took his family... assuming he manages to get over his fear of crawlies. [Class: Rogue, Monk-variant Ranger from WotC]
OPTION TWO:
After wandering aimlessly on the surface for a while, Johann was taken in by cult of Elistraee. During his short stint with them, a priestess blessed the boy. He now wields moon-powers, and intends to use them to help other drow like him escape from the Spider Queen's clutches. [Class: Cleric or Star Warlock]
OPTION THREE:
JF took Johann to a hidden temple of Vaeraun the day before his death. There, the two of them underwent a special blessing for luck (specifically on the upcoming mission) and unity (a big thing with Vaeraun, believe it or not). JF performed the ritual, being a priest himself.
While his dad was getting liquified by a giant spider-priest, Johann cried out in anger, there were some crazy lights, and the last thing Johann saw before waking up under the moon was the assassins getting struck down (though the priestess was quite explicitly still alive).
Vaeraun, being a hands-on kind of god, had taken special interest in the blessing of father and son. Johann got invested with a little bit of divine (infernal?) spark. When he saw his father die, the spark ignited, and Vaeraun's power was channeled through the little guy.
So now, years later, Johann is still trying to master his spark. As far as he's concerned, the power came from his dad, and he intends to lay some poetic justice down on Lolth and her followers. [Class: Cleric or Warlock]
...so, what do you think? Any of those, or have you a better idea?
Thanks for taking the time to read.
I've been slowly piecing his backstory together, but am having some trouble at this point (as the title so conveniently states). And while this could usually be something that could be filled in later, this little issue is actually denying me the ability to decide on a class. Yikes. I was hoping anyone could help me here, maybe pitch a few ideas that might make me go "ooh."
Here's what I have so far:
Johann was born to a drow priestess and her bodyguard. Soon after the birth, Johann's mother was struck down by a rival's hired assassin. TO explain it as Johann's Father did: "She was irrevocably evil and would probably have sold you to slavery, but still, it's kinda tragic." Johann's father (hereafter referred to as JF) was not so evil, however, and hid Johann away from the church. He taught Johann about being compassionate, as well as how to kill a man in close combat.
Oh, and JF was actually a devout follower of Vaeraun, the drow god of assassins, poison, and equality-for-everyone-unless-you-aren't-elfy-in-any-fashion. Which explains the close-combat kills. Anyway, a few years later, JF's little cult of Vaeraun assassins was getting ready to infiltrate the church of Lolth and totally kick some elfrachnid butt. But it turned out that the Lolth's Sting Ninja were one step ahead, and a priestess (in fact the one that killed Johann's mother!) showed up, transformed into a giant spider, and promptly ate JF right in front of the little drow, scarring the kid forever (and instilling in him a massive phobia of spiders; one because it ate his dad, and two because MY GOSH can you image how big that thing must've been? And he was right there in front of it?).
So, Johann made a run for it. And here's where I'm stumped. I've come up with a few options so far, but you can come up with some too if you want!
OPTION ONE:
Johann joined a surface cult of Vaeraun and learned the assassin's arts, vowing vengeance upon Lolth and the priestess that took his family... assuming he manages to get over his fear of crawlies. [Class: Rogue, Monk-variant Ranger from WotC]
OPTION TWO:
After wandering aimlessly on the surface for a while, Johann was taken in by cult of Elistraee. During his short stint with them, a priestess blessed the boy. He now wields moon-powers, and intends to use them to help other drow like him escape from the Spider Queen's clutches. [Class: Cleric or Star Warlock]
OPTION THREE:
JF took Johann to a hidden temple of Vaeraun the day before his death. There, the two of them underwent a special blessing for luck (specifically on the upcoming mission) and unity (a big thing with Vaeraun, believe it or not). JF performed the ritual, being a priest himself.
While his dad was getting liquified by a giant spider-priest, Johann cried out in anger, there were some crazy lights, and the last thing Johann saw before waking up under the moon was the assassins getting struck down (though the priestess was quite explicitly still alive).
Vaeraun, being a hands-on kind of god, had taken special interest in the blessing of father and son. Johann got invested with a little bit of divine (infernal?) spark. When he saw his father die, the spark ignited, and Vaeraun's power was channeled through the little guy.
So now, years later, Johann is still trying to master his spark. As far as he's concerned, the power came from his dad, and he intends to lay some poetic justice down on Lolth and her followers. [Class: Cleric or Warlock]
...so, what do you think? Any of those, or have you a better idea?
Thanks for taking the time to read.