Character Backgrounds

[zedturtle]

So, due to about of productivity that came out of nowhere, I'm almost done with Theft of the Moon, the Extended Edition.

Two major things remain: a map of the Falrock (try #3, FYI) and the sample character's backstories. I wanted to provided my own pregens for a couple of reasons: some of the pregens have odd mechanical decisions baked into them, and I wanted to have a group of characters that would have enough connections so that with a table picking 4-6 characters out of 8 we wouldn't end up with everyone being complete strangers (e.g. if every character knows at least three other of the pregens then every player has a connection to at least one other player, hopefully).

But I'm a sucky player with limited experience. My NPCs tend to either be painted with a broad brush (for later detailing if necessary) or created with a particular need in mind. I'm not good with the multi-paragraph backstory. Fortunately, some of my playtesters allowed me to steal their character's backstory. But I still need the others

So help me, my friends! I'm going to post each character as a post, with the backstory as best I've got it (this might be nothing, so far) and notes on where I want to go with him/her. Hopefully, y'all can help me hash things out.

[zedturtle]

Biarnor the Beorning
Specialties: Fishing, Shadow-lore, Story-telling
Distinctive Features: Generous, Hardy

Biarnor was born in Woodland Hall, but he loved the Anduin from an early age. He moved near the river, and then swore allegiance to Beorn when the lord declared the Eastern Middle Vales to be under his protection. He has spent the last few years patrolling the river for his lord.
Biarnor is a serious young man, but he is not above having fun once all the work has been done. He has been released from his duties for the year and has a few weeks for himself before he returns to Woodland Hall for his annual visit to his parents. He's heard of the festival before, and now he has a chance to attend.
If anyone has come to visit from the Eastern eaves or from the Woodland Realm, Biarnor could easily have accompanied them to the festival. Alternately, if Dhuoda or Iwald will be at the festival, Biarnor could be looking to meet with them.

Biarnor first appeared in my Tales game; he's my only NPC that I have a real back-story for, and it's still weak.

[zedturtle]

Sigdan of Dale
Specialties: Old-lore, Smith-craft, Folk-lore
Distinctive Features: Adventurous, Hardy

I have nothing on Sigdan... she should know Egil and No-Name the Dwarf, at least.

[zedturtle]

Iwald of Mountain Hall (The Fosterling)
Specialties: Beast-lore, Enemy-Lore (Orcs), Leechcraft
Distinctive Features: Bold, Generous

Iwald was found as an abandoned infant at the edge of the Wolfswood. Hartnid, hunter of Mountain Hall, took the child in and raised him as his own. Despite this, many of Mountain Hall call Iwald 'the Fosterling'. Hartnid has taught Iwald the Great Bow and the Long-hafted Axe and calls him son. But still, as Iwald sits by the fire in the Great Hall, he dreams of songs made for him and winning his own name from those who have raised him.
When the call came to attend the Festival and Iwald learned that Beorn might be present and that a great honour could be won by participation in the Trials, he resolved to take part.
Iwald knows Biarnor, Dhuoda and Roderic from his travels.

Originally played by cuthalion in the play-test, Iwald's backstory needed a bit of editing for size... I also tried to play-down the inherent tragedy in his background, as it's unlikely to come up in a con game.

[zedturtle]

Dhuoda of Woodmen Town
Specialties: Anduin-lore, Leechcraft, Folk-lore
Distinctive Features: Curious, Swift

Dhuoda, daughter of Fredegund, grew up on her family's farmstead in the Western Eaves of Mirkwood. As the third of five children, and the only daughter, Dhuoda spent countless hours exploring with her brothers after their chores were done. As she grew up, the call to explore further was too strong to resist. Fortunately her two older brothers were happy to settle down to helping run the farm and her younger brothers were eager to defend their kin from any dangers lurking in the forest. So Dhuoda was allowed to go her own way. Her father's only condition was that she always have her grandfather's Bearded Axe and her own spear with her... for the world is a dangerous place.
Dhuoda's wanderings have brought her to the village just in time for a festival- Dhuoda could not resist the opportunity to attend. Not to mention it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to visit an inn long enough to take a bath...

Originally played by Rue, Dhuoda' background was edited down as well. She might need a bit of tweaking, as she should know Iwald and Roderic as well.

[zedturtle]

Egil of Dale
Specialties: Old-lore, Smith-craft, Folk-lore
Distinctive Features: Adventurous, Hardy

Egil was an apprentice blacksmith when he followed Bard from the ruins of Old Laketown to Dale. He continued his apprenticeship under the critical eye and caustic tongue of a one-handed Dwarf named Orin. Orin tried to make the boy quit, but what Egil lacked in aptitude he made up for with determination, grimly doing whatever awful tasks his new master assigned with complaint. At night Egil remained at the forge, working and reworking steel, until he had made himself a sword, bigger than those typical of Dale and Laketown, that satisfied him.
Soon after that he finished his apprenticeship, and everybody expected him to set up shop in Dale, but he surprised them by selling most of his belongings the next day and leaving town with a trader heading West. He's found himself in the Vales, and he hears there is going to be a festival in one of the little settlements they call "towns" on this side of the wood. Maybe they will need a smith...

Originally played by Glorelendil, Egil has had a touch of editing. He needs to know No-Name the Dwarf and Sigdan at the very least.

[zedturtle]

Somebody of Erebor
Specialties: Rhymes of Lore, Stone-craft, Tunnelling
Distinctive Features: Determined, Steadfast

Even less developed than Sigdan, the Dwarf doesn't even have a name. It's worth mentioning that he has Broken Spells, as one of my two characters designed to entice someone more interested in a D&D approach to play the game.

[zedturtle]

Roderic of Rhosgobel
Specialties: Burglary, Herb-lore, Leechcraft
Distinctive Features: Curious, True-hearted

I originally intended for Roderic to be a seeker of lost things, in the service of Radagast. But another way to explain him being a Treasure-Hunter is that he's trying to scrounge up the money for a wedding dowry. {This was used by another player in a current game, and I was a touch disappointed that his hero was a Wanderer, not a Treasure-Hunter}

[zedturtle]

Luthwen of the Woodland Realm
Specialties: Elven-lore, Fire-making, Rhymes of Lore
Distinctive Features: Cunning, Quick of Hearing

My other magic user, with Wood Elf Magic. No good ideas for her, at all.

[Glorelendil]

Iwald of Mountain Hall (The Fosterling)
Specialties: Beast-lore, Enemy-Lore (Orcs), Leechcraft
Distinctive Features: Bold, Generous

Iwald was found as an abandoned infant at the edge of the Wolfswood. Hartnid, hunter of Mountain Hall, took the child in and raised him as his own. Despite this, many of Mountain Hall call Iwald 'the Fosterling'. Hartnid has taught Iwald the Great Bow and the Long-hafted Axe and calls him son. But still, as Iwald sits by the fire in the Great Hall, he dreams of songs made for him and winning his own name from those who have raised him.
When the call came to attend the Festival and Iwald learned that Beorn might be present and that a great honour could be won by participation in the Trials, he resolved to take part.
Iwald knows Biarnor, Dhuoda and Roderic from his travels.

Originally played by cuthalion in the play-test, Iwald's backstory needed a bit of editing for size... I also tried to play-down the inherent tragedy in his background, as it's unlikely to come up in a con game.

I like your backgrounds. If you're concerned about word counts I can work on paring, without (I hope) losing meaning. I'll use this one as an example:

Iwald, 'the Fosterling', was found as an infant abandoned at the edge of the Wolfswood. Hartnid, hunter of Mountain Hall, raised him as his own, teaching him woodcraft and warfare and calling him son. But as Iwald sits by the fire in the Great Hall he dreams of earning his own name from those who have raised him, and hearing it sung in tales. When Iwald learns that Beorn might be present at the festival, and that great honour can be won in the Trials, he resolves to take part.