Thajocoth
2010-07-03, 07:23 PM
I have a lot of trouble coming up with new proper nouns... But I want my character's background to provide some people and places that the DM can use. In the words of Dory: "Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo." So I don't want my BGs to be completely DM-proof. My current character's BG accidentally is. Had him for 6 levels, and he feels repetitive now, as I left no real room in his BG for growth. I want to avoid that pitfall too, if possible. I don't think I'm doing that now, but it's difficult for me to tell.
EDIT: I've filled in the proper nouns now.
-----
Grizz the Bugbear Barbearian (I can likely expect a lot of bear themed puns at the table.)
Basic story:
He's been a mercenary for a while. He enjoys the battle. But it's starting to get too easy. Maybe his skills are too sharp? He's heard that a group in Opal knows where to find good battles, so he travels to Opal to seek them (the party) out. (In the game world, the party's gotten pretty famous.)
Grizz was raised to be a warrior in the Medvedev tribe of Bugbears, lead by Baribal. Baribal was the tribe's Shaman. The tribe had very primal leanings, worshiping the spirits, with particular interest in the spirits of the bear. They believed the bear to be the most powerful of beasts, and that there are many lessons to be learned from the bear. Grizz still holds onto these beliefs, though he is no longer with whatever remains of his tribe. His immediate relatives were Gedt - Father, Inuka - Mother, Ursius - Brother.
One day, he comes back from sparring with one of the other warriors, Wojtek, and sees the place ransacked, dead Bugbears everywhere. Assuming that the rest of the tribe is dead, and being unable to track down who did it, Grizz and Wojtek eventually began selling their fighting services as mercenaries nearby in Woodville. They did not do a particularly thorough search though, as they were too wrought with anger to concentrate, and Bugbears are not exactly known for their detective work. They initially fought together, but eventually just kinda split up. They've never opposed one another on the battlefield.
Grizz has sold his services to forces of Good & Evil alike. He does not discriminate between the two. In his eyes, both are necessary for him to continue doing what he loves to do. (Fighting) He also wishes he could figure out what happened to his tribe, or find someone of his tribe escaped, but he assumes that neither is possible at this point.
Once, a long while back, he was fighting in a battle between Lord Quinston & Lord Taralius. Both claimed that they were to inherit Arcteria after the death of King Arcturus. Lord Taralius happened to hire Grizz, and so he fought. He cornered Lord Quinston. He could kill him easily... And the fighting would be over. Then, he looked back at the battlefield, at all the soldiers fighting on both sides, and decided... "I can't put all these people out of work." So he tells Lord Quinston that he'll kill him slowly and painfully if he does not retreat. Lord Quinston refused, so Grizz gouged out his eye (with a large waraxe, Grizz's weapon of choice). This quickly changed Lord Quinston's mind and he retreated temporarily. For this desertion, Grizz never went back to pick up his pay for that battle, as he did not do what he was hired to do to the best of his ability. He hasn't seen either lord since then. After another month, Grizz heard that Lord Taralius gave up, and remained a lord, with Lord Quinston becoming king. It's the only time he ever deserted a battle. He never returned to the region. After all, he gouged out the king's eye!
Looks:
Grizz is tall and imposing, with dark brown fur. His appearance is immediately similar to an upright bear, but anyone who doesn't run at the sight of him might notice a few more Goblinoid features, such as a lack of a snout, pointed ears and an underbite with a pair of underfangs. He has a tattoo of a bear, a marking given to all warriors of his tribe, though it is difficult to see with his fur in the way.
In each of his very large hands is an axe larger than any human could realistically wield. One of his axes looks more crude... It's jagged edge and unrefined wooden handle. This axe has been his since he was still in his tribe. The other looks very well sculpted and perfectly symmetrical, with a very smooth edge. The second axe, despite it's size, is symmetrical and well balanced enough to throw. This axe was made for him by a Dwarven blacksmith by the name of Harbek, who hired Grizz to escort him from the Human settlement of Blackport to the Dwarven city of Stonehammer, but lacked other means of payment upon arrival. Harbek told Grizz that it was the largest weapon he's ever made.
-----
Here (http://www.gamecheetz.com/Grizz.pdf)'s his character sheet, if his stats & decisions help at all (We get a free expertise feat, so there's an extra feat on his sheet. Also, his Waraxes will grow to Huge at 24, and Grizz's body will grow from 7'2" to 14'4")
So, how is the BG after the edits?
EDIT: I've filled in the proper nouns now.
-----
Grizz the Bugbear Barbearian (I can likely expect a lot of bear themed puns at the table.)
Basic story:
He's been a mercenary for a while. He enjoys the battle. But it's starting to get too easy. Maybe his skills are too sharp? He's heard that a group in Opal knows where to find good battles, so he travels to Opal to seek them (the party) out. (In the game world, the party's gotten pretty famous.)
Grizz was raised to be a warrior in the Medvedev tribe of Bugbears, lead by Baribal. Baribal was the tribe's Shaman. The tribe had very primal leanings, worshiping the spirits, with particular interest in the spirits of the bear. They believed the bear to be the most powerful of beasts, and that there are many lessons to be learned from the bear. Grizz still holds onto these beliefs, though he is no longer with whatever remains of his tribe. His immediate relatives were Gedt - Father, Inuka - Mother, Ursius - Brother.
One day, he comes back from sparring with one of the other warriors, Wojtek, and sees the place ransacked, dead Bugbears everywhere. Assuming that the rest of the tribe is dead, and being unable to track down who did it, Grizz and Wojtek eventually began selling their fighting services as mercenaries nearby in Woodville. They did not do a particularly thorough search though, as they were too wrought with anger to concentrate, and Bugbears are not exactly known for their detective work. They initially fought together, but eventually just kinda split up. They've never opposed one another on the battlefield.
Grizz has sold his services to forces of Good & Evil alike. He does not discriminate between the two. In his eyes, both are necessary for him to continue doing what he loves to do. (Fighting) He also wishes he could figure out what happened to his tribe, or find someone of his tribe escaped, but he assumes that neither is possible at this point.
Once, a long while back, he was fighting in a battle between Lord Quinston & Lord Taralius. Both claimed that they were to inherit Arcteria after the death of King Arcturus. Lord Taralius happened to hire Grizz, and so he fought. He cornered Lord Quinston. He could kill him easily... And the fighting would be over. Then, he looked back at the battlefield, at all the soldiers fighting on both sides, and decided... "I can't put all these people out of work." So he tells Lord Quinston that he'll kill him slowly and painfully if he does not retreat. Lord Quinston refused, so Grizz gouged out his eye (with a large waraxe, Grizz's weapon of choice). This quickly changed Lord Quinston's mind and he retreated temporarily. For this desertion, Grizz never went back to pick up his pay for that battle, as he did not do what he was hired to do to the best of his ability. He hasn't seen either lord since then. After another month, Grizz heard that Lord Taralius gave up, and remained a lord, with Lord Quinston becoming king. It's the only time he ever deserted a battle. He never returned to the region. After all, he gouged out the king's eye!
Looks:
Grizz is tall and imposing, with dark brown fur. His appearance is immediately similar to an upright bear, but anyone who doesn't run at the sight of him might notice a few more Goblinoid features, such as a lack of a snout, pointed ears and an underbite with a pair of underfangs. He has a tattoo of a bear, a marking given to all warriors of his tribe, though it is difficult to see with his fur in the way.
In each of his very large hands is an axe larger than any human could realistically wield. One of his axes looks more crude... It's jagged edge and unrefined wooden handle. This axe has been his since he was still in his tribe. The other looks very well sculpted and perfectly symmetrical, with a very smooth edge. The second axe, despite it's size, is symmetrical and well balanced enough to throw. This axe was made for him by a Dwarven blacksmith by the name of Harbek, who hired Grizz to escort him from the Human settlement of Blackport to the Dwarven city of Stonehammer, but lacked other means of payment upon arrival. Harbek told Grizz that it was the largest weapon he's ever made.
-----
Here (http://www.gamecheetz.com/Grizz.pdf)'s his character sheet, if his stats & decisions help at all (We get a free expertise feat, so there's an extra feat on his sheet. Also, his Waraxes will grow to Huge at 24, and Grizz's body will grow from 7'2" to 14'4")
So, how is the BG after the edits?