Kiyona
2009-11-12, 04:28 AM
Hello all,
I am almost done with the background to my mute mage in GURPS, but there i one little detail that I am stuck on. And was hoping on you guys to give me suggestions. :smallbiggrin:
She is not only mute, but cannot make any sounds at all. This is due to a curse from a very, very powerful mage that she somehow angered beyond belief.
This is where I am stuck. I cant come up with anything that would yield such a result. Why not just kill her? Her bigggest dream was to become a bard, and music was her life prior to the curse, so he really struck where it would hurt the most.
I would prefer that it has something to do with her owl familiar. As mages dont automatically get familiars in GURPS. They have to bind the spirits (or demons) themselves. And my mage has no skill that would let her do that.
I was thinking on the lines that she stole "or saved" tha familiar from the mage, and that that particular spririt was important to some ritual or such. But I cant make it sound believable.
Please, fellow playgrounders, help me make a good background. :smallsmile:
This is the background I got so far. Major TLDR warning, you dont have to read it to make suggestions. The above is good enough. But if you want some more flavour, here it is. :smallsmile:
Ten minute background. Selah
Step 1: Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum... more elements are encouraged!
The first thing you notice about Selah is that she is very quiet. So quitet that you probably gave a start when she politly tapped on your shoulder. Selah is mute, and constantly carries a small chalkboard and massiv amounts of chalk with her so that she will be able to comunicate. After spending some time with her it will be obvious that her lack of speech is not the only thing off about her. She makes no sound whatsoever. When asked about this oddity, she simply holds up the chalkboard with the words Never angry a mage written on it.
Selah grew up in a small farming comunity, enjoying the simple things of life. Her affinity to magic showed in a very early age but due to lack of competent teachers never amounted to anything more than simple pranks pulled on fellow children.
Art, and music escpecially, was her biggest interest growing up. There was never a moment when the young Selah woudnt be found singing or dancing, alone or in front of an audience didnt matter. Where Selah was, there was music. This interest was what eventually led her to leave her home and family behind. She had heard stories about bards, traveling entertainers that channeled their magic through song. This, she tought, was her calling. So when she turned 15 she left for the city, hoping to find a bard willing to train her.
Since she was very young, Selah has had a very bad habit of taking what isnt hers. When she was little, she took almost anything that wasnt nailed down and stacked it in her room. She got scolded about it a few times, but since everyone knew where to look if something disappeared her parents evetnually gave up and let her do what she wanted. Back then, it was the thrill of not getting caught in the act that kept her going, but now it has become a small compulsion. She knows that it is wrong, and she feels awful about it. But if something catches her attention it takes tremendous willpower for her to keep her hands of it.
The incident....
Since loosing her voice, Selah has been trying to adjust, and her owl familiar (soon to be named) has been good help in getting her through the first weeks of depression. Slowly, and with (familiars) help, she came to realise that magic also can be considered an artform. And in fact, is a really good way of expressing oneself. Although she still greatly appreciates music and art in all forms she has now completley replaced the music in her life with magic, and travels to learn as much about it as possible.
Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
Although Selah has adjusted to the situation and giving up on her childhood dream of becoming a bard, she is still searching for ways to get her voice back.
She also wants to learn as many spells as possible, and would very much like to find a teacher who can help her.
And finally, she is also searching for a way to help her familiar to a more permanent body as owls has very limited lifespans.
I would love to see her get some sort of revenge on the mage (also to be named) who cursed her. Even if the reversal of the curse is not possible, I would like to see her kick his a**.
Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!
She has no idea of what her familiar really is, and why he was so important to the mage. Even I dont, that is DMs secret.
She is ashamed of, and tries to hide her kleptomania, so I guess that counts as a secret.
Selah loves the feeling of power she gets that casting a particularly hard spell gives her and would laugh maniacly if she could.
Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.
Aidan Hart, her childhood sweetheart. He always adored her and was heartbroken when she left the village. If she ever comes through his parts of the land she can depend on his help, even though he now is married. He owns his own farm and has some cattle and a few workhorses, he has enough money to support his family and live a rather comfortable life.
Mama Hope, the innkeeper of the flaming flagon, where Selah worked when she first came to the city. Selah was a good entertainer, and Mama Hope cared especially for the young girl. Mama Hope can be counted on to help Selah in anything, as long as it doesnt endanger her inn.
And of course, the Mage (also needs a name).
Step 5: Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.
Memories:
Selah still remembers her first kiss fondly, and thinks of Aidan from time to time. Though she dont think he will approve of her chosen lifestyle.
The first time she channeled magic both scared her and intrigued her to no end.
The curse, she still has nightmares about it and prefers to not talk about it.
Other stuff
Selah is generally good natured, but has a bad temper that only got worse after loosing her voice. If no one will listen to what she has to say she will smack them on the head with her chalkboard.
Being so quite herself, Selah has developed a small phobia of loud and sudden noices. Nothing she cant handle, but she gets a bit unnerved.
Another side-effect of making no sound is that animals avoid her, and some are outright afraid of her. This, of course does not apply to animals without hearing.
Oh, and she is basically a good guy. Some anger-management issues, but she would not murder his kids or some other atrocity.
I am almost done with the background to my mute mage in GURPS, but there i one little detail that I am stuck on. And was hoping on you guys to give me suggestions. :smallbiggrin:
She is not only mute, but cannot make any sounds at all. This is due to a curse from a very, very powerful mage that she somehow angered beyond belief.
This is where I am stuck. I cant come up with anything that would yield such a result. Why not just kill her? Her bigggest dream was to become a bard, and music was her life prior to the curse, so he really struck where it would hurt the most.
I would prefer that it has something to do with her owl familiar. As mages dont automatically get familiars in GURPS. They have to bind the spirits (or demons) themselves. And my mage has no skill that would let her do that.
I was thinking on the lines that she stole "or saved" tha familiar from the mage, and that that particular spririt was important to some ritual or such. But I cant make it sound believable.
Please, fellow playgrounders, help me make a good background. :smallsmile:
This is the background I got so far. Major TLDR warning, you dont have to read it to make suggestions. The above is good enough. But if you want some more flavour, here it is. :smallsmile:
Ten minute background. Selah
Step 1: Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum... more elements are encouraged!
The first thing you notice about Selah is that she is very quiet. So quitet that you probably gave a start when she politly tapped on your shoulder. Selah is mute, and constantly carries a small chalkboard and massiv amounts of chalk with her so that she will be able to comunicate. After spending some time with her it will be obvious that her lack of speech is not the only thing off about her. She makes no sound whatsoever. When asked about this oddity, she simply holds up the chalkboard with the words Never angry a mage written on it.
Selah grew up in a small farming comunity, enjoying the simple things of life. Her affinity to magic showed in a very early age but due to lack of competent teachers never amounted to anything more than simple pranks pulled on fellow children.
Art, and music escpecially, was her biggest interest growing up. There was never a moment when the young Selah woudnt be found singing or dancing, alone or in front of an audience didnt matter. Where Selah was, there was music. This interest was what eventually led her to leave her home and family behind. She had heard stories about bards, traveling entertainers that channeled their magic through song. This, she tought, was her calling. So when she turned 15 she left for the city, hoping to find a bard willing to train her.
Since she was very young, Selah has had a very bad habit of taking what isnt hers. When she was little, she took almost anything that wasnt nailed down and stacked it in her room. She got scolded about it a few times, but since everyone knew where to look if something disappeared her parents evetnually gave up and let her do what she wanted. Back then, it was the thrill of not getting caught in the act that kept her going, but now it has become a small compulsion. She knows that it is wrong, and she feels awful about it. But if something catches her attention it takes tremendous willpower for her to keep her hands of it.
The incident....
Since loosing her voice, Selah has been trying to adjust, and her owl familiar (soon to be named) has been good help in getting her through the first weeks of depression. Slowly, and with (familiars) help, she came to realise that magic also can be considered an artform. And in fact, is a really good way of expressing oneself. Although she still greatly appreciates music and art in all forms she has now completley replaced the music in her life with magic, and travels to learn as much about it as possible.
Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
Although Selah has adjusted to the situation and giving up on her childhood dream of becoming a bard, she is still searching for ways to get her voice back.
She also wants to learn as many spells as possible, and would very much like to find a teacher who can help her.
And finally, she is also searching for a way to help her familiar to a more permanent body as owls has very limited lifespans.
I would love to see her get some sort of revenge on the mage (also to be named) who cursed her. Even if the reversal of the curse is not possible, I would like to see her kick his a**.
Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!
She has no idea of what her familiar really is, and why he was so important to the mage. Even I dont, that is DMs secret.
She is ashamed of, and tries to hide her kleptomania, so I guess that counts as a secret.
Selah loves the feeling of power she gets that casting a particularly hard spell gives her and would laugh maniacly if she could.
Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.
Aidan Hart, her childhood sweetheart. He always adored her and was heartbroken when she left the village. If she ever comes through his parts of the land she can depend on his help, even though he now is married. He owns his own farm and has some cattle and a few workhorses, he has enough money to support his family and live a rather comfortable life.
Mama Hope, the innkeeper of the flaming flagon, where Selah worked when she first came to the city. Selah was a good entertainer, and Mama Hope cared especially for the young girl. Mama Hope can be counted on to help Selah in anything, as long as it doesnt endanger her inn.
And of course, the Mage (also needs a name).
Step 5: Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.
Memories:
Selah still remembers her first kiss fondly, and thinks of Aidan from time to time. Though she dont think he will approve of her chosen lifestyle.
The first time she channeled magic both scared her and intrigued her to no end.
The curse, she still has nightmares about it and prefers to not talk about it.
Other stuff
Selah is generally good natured, but has a bad temper that only got worse after loosing her voice. If no one will listen to what she has to say she will smack them on the head with her chalkboard.
Being so quite herself, Selah has developed a small phobia of loud and sudden noices. Nothing she cant handle, but she gets a bit unnerved.
Another side-effect of making no sound is that animals avoid her, and some are outright afraid of her. This, of course does not apply to animals without hearing.
Oh, and she is basically a good guy. Some anger-management issues, but she would not murder his kids or some other atrocity.