Favorite Character

[SBMC]

My favorite Character - Orin; my current one (v3.5)

I had a character previous to him that I liked; but I sort of got bored with him. He was a fighter that went with the shield bashing TWF thing. His stats were OK (all pretty weak except for STR). One day we chased after a half demon into the nine hells - some creature or another cast "hold person" on him, he failed his save, and a Slaad took him out - where he then fell into a river of molten lava…lost forever. That adventure all but one guy died (a wizard that, after the last cleric and fighter died in the same round did not hesitate to Teleport out of the area and back to the gate where we came in! We then decided to start off anew.

So then came the six siders (at that time we rolled for the stats instead of the now more popular point-buy-systems). I rolled them for my new character -They hit the table with a thunderous roar (well as thunderous as six siders get on an oak table!) and THREE times - 3 times - 18's! A Sixteen, a Fourteen and an Eleven! NICE! I love fighters…so…

My Powergaming frenzy is now over…onto the Character Development…

To make a long story (20 page Bio) short - Orin was a peasant; his father the hamlet leader (though still a peasant). Raiders came and sacked the hamlet - killing Orin's family - he watched them all die. Orin and several other young boys fought with bravery and skill and as such were awarded by the King scholarships in a select military school. Orin excelled there; learning to read and write, of culture and history - and most importantly how to be a soldier (fighter). He graduated, went onto military service as a man-at-arms (sergeant per se' - he was a "commissioned" military school graduate). He rose in the ranks quickly and was knighted (landless) in a short time.

Later he was released from service after rescuing the King's daughter (though he had to remain loyal to the kingdom still) and he began his adventuring career.

Orin is an arrogant, womanizing brute - even though now at 15th level he has a +11 diplomacy modifier (which he only really uses when he needs it - in other words he has the skill to be nice but is not). His goal in life is to become as famous as possible; his name to be in legend for people to speak of for millennia. In part he has this; having been a famous warrior in his original kingdom and now famous where he is now (along with the rest of the party)

Amusing Story: One day whilst staying at an inn within a large city he "picked up" one of he barmaids. Well she ended up being no barmaid! But instead a Suucubus! (my DM was having fun with Orin given his lust). Obviously he had no armor on but did manage to grab his sword, strike out and do some damage before the creature got out the door (noting he took a high Wisdom score and the Iron Will Feat - the Will Save!). Naked he ran after her, Longsword in hand - into the crowded tavern on the first floor…

Well lets just say things got a bit hairy with the locals at that point…

His mouth has gotten him (and the party) into trouble in the past however his skills have also gotten them out of that same trouble and trouble other party members got into (the rest of the party does not have the Diplomacy, sense motive and other skills). Orin is also fiercely loyal to his party and friends. He refuses to let them be left behind and gladly has coughed up gold for raisings - often the first to put his on the table.

Orin is a master of melee combat; focused on the Longsword, Power Attack and any other feats to enhance his melee ability. As such when he walks into combat he tears things up quite well. However he is also a bit foolhardy and reckless: One time he actually jumped off a cliff in order to ensure that a gravely wounded "flying Sock" (I forget the actual monster's name) that was slowly falling to the ground below (past the edge of the cliff) was indeed dead. Per the flaws (which were actually roleplaying flaws, less the actual penalties of course, before the original ones were actually published UA! He has Grudge-Keepe and Glory-Hound) he indeed got angered when damaged in combat and was overjoyed with each enemy he took down - counting them and marking his belt for each. He is also not beyond taking a "trophy" from particularly difficult foes and has tortured captives for information (he is Lawful Neutral in alignment). Though he will not do so if his fellow adventurers request him not to which they rarely do given those he takes the knife to usually deserve it anyways (and there are no LG types). Orin also rarely forgets from his mistakes. An Ogre-magi once rose again after he thought it was slain to almost kill several other party members. Since that day Orin will always, if he has the time, behead the fallen and even burn or chop them up into little pieces. This is most especially true with the exotic and rarer monsters he may face. The standard fare (Orcs, hobgoblins, etc) are usually not afforded such desecration as Orin knows of them well (as in they don't regenerate). However if one is a caster (shaman, adept, etc.) - good by head! (just in case…)

Somewhere along the way he ran into an old dear friend who was now a Cleric - and they stayed together (leadership feat - cohort created by the DM (as he reserves that right)) with the rest of he party.

Now he is a Fighter14/Legendary Leader 1 with a small keep (shared with the party) which is staffed with his followers. They are all Knighted in the Kingdom here they currently reside and are "cleaning up" various areas infested with evil creatures and clearing ruins in the region (as well as collecting the treasure there mind you).

Well to avoid writing a book - that’s that!

 

[SBMC]

My favorite character was a Kender by the name of Rasharaf Kindlepotkinhoff. He was a 2E CG little #$%$%# in a FR setting (long story). Needless to say, as it usually is with Kender, it was the only time that a DM banned a race/class shortly after I finished.
He lived a long life (for a kender), having a great deal of fun.
He saved the life of the wizard in the party, for unbeknowst to the wizard, his ring of invisibility was actually a ring of Kender Dissappearing. The wizard had already used the ring 7 times, but as everyone knows, if a non-kender wears a ring of Kender Dissappearing 8 times, you die. He was not very grateful.
There was also a time he single handedly blinded a dragon. The DM told me to hit the dragon's eye, I'd have to roll a 20, followed by another 20, on my attack. I did it one round and hit it's right eye, and later it's left. I called him 'Dragon Blinder', but everyone else called him "Stupid Lucky". The Nerve!
Rasharaf also managed to find talking sword! How wonderous! However, the sword was lawful, and would not let me take ANY un-lawful act. It made my character miserable and even worse, it made him BORED. I could not leave the sword, I could only GIVE it to someone, but no one would touch it. It became so funny to the other players, that they made me a little sword prop to hold (foam covered in duct tape). Finally, one session, I managed to convice some cheiftan or prince to take it. I was free! I was so giddy. Then, the chieftan (played by the DM, standing less than a foot away from me holding the sword 'prop') realized what a curse the thing was and said 'here catch'. My first reaction to something be thrown at me was, or course, to catch it. The session ground to a halt as no one could stop laughing.
Other notables include when the party found a luck sword with one wish, and while they were all debating what to do with it, I managed to get a hold of it and wish for a giant vat of spiced mashed potatoes (with a hint of paprika). If it wasn't for a paladin, it would have been a case of party-kendercide.
An antique magical Plate (dish) of Death Knight turning. Never got to use it, but Death Knights beware!
I freed a captive orc (whom the party wanted to kill), who immediately renounced his alignment, proclaimed me his deity, and returned about a year (RL) with a giant legion of orcs to serve me, which proved useful in the last battle of the campaign. Well, useful to a kender, woefully mismanaged in the eyes of the rest of the party
Too much to relate, but these are some of the Highlights of Rasharaf Kindlepotkinhoff, Dragon Blinder, Harper Helper, and Puzzle Solver of the Gods.

Now this takes the cake! This must have been a blast to play!

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

My favorite character is still Majoru Oakheart, professional adventurer and treasure seeker.
He is a half elven fighter/rogue(or thief depending on the edition). He is a bit of the swashbuckler type: always ready to help those in need, dashing into danger, as long as he gets SOME reward out of it (of course, he is too good hearted to actually turn someone down, even if they have nothing to offer him). He is out to get rich by looting the dungeons of the world using his "scouting" skills.

He has always had sort of an aura of luck around him. HIs party and he managed to attack a drow city. When the first daughter of the head house of the city lead a group of drow to track him down and kill him, he managed to use a rod of beguiling, get past her magic resistance, she rolled a natural one on the save. Then, he convinced her to wear a helm of opposite alignment. After all this he managed to get 2 scrolls of wish cast to make the effects of both permanent. Thus, the only way to return her to her previous self was with 3 wishes (2nd ed). He eventually married her and they had a couple of kids. This caused a drawn out campaign where his wife and kids were kidnapped by drow and his group had to assault the underdark to get them back.

His party also killed a dragon and found a couple of million copper pieces (amongst other treasure) in the horde. In order to avoid devaluing the entire economy of the Realms, they build the building that was to be known as "The Copper Cottage" on the outskirts of Waterdeep. This building was entirely made of copper, with spells in place to prevent it from melting. The project didn't have enough copper to finish, so we implimented the Copper Exchange Program. Anyone who brought us 9 copper got 1 silver in return. Eventually, we built a moat around it and added some psychic defenses (due to our resident psionisist) in order to avoid rust monster attacks.

 

[Evilhalfling]

hmm, Pierre Artanyan - the first son of the Lord of a City. The city was in a demon run empire and his father was one of the high priests of the demon lord of cold. Pierre stumbled into a plot to bring an ice age to the world, but did'nt realize it. His father not wanting to kill him directly, instead had him banished from the plane, without his bodyguards and minders. He joined up with a party of adventures on the plane of Shadows. Pierre burrened with the power of magic, but had no common sense or planning skills. He had a few tricks that he would use over and over again regardless of the circumstances, or past sucesses or failures.

Int 7, Wis 7, Chr 17; Sorcrerer 6th - 7th lvl. His favoriate spells: Mount, Alarm, Fly. He must have had an attack spell - MM or scorching ray but I dont remember him using it much. perhaps it was even a wand.

His mounts were used for cover, for trapfinding, for distracting monsters, baiting sharks,
as living walls in small spaces. He got the idea that the druids wolf liked to play fetch, and that it would chase a stick anywhere. Not once did the wolf ever retreive a stick, no matter how many times pierre demonstrated it. He even through his wand once.

Eventually the party finally returned to thier home plane, into the middle of a ruined city full of brown gorgers (ratmen). Pierre got lost and seperated from the mostly invisable party, and was later caught and eaten by ratmen. The party did eventually stop his father from creating an Ice age but never confronted him directly. They did it by questing and giving his agents the artifact he needed, but unknown to either it was a fake. Pierre would have been proud of them.

 

[Kristivas]

["Dangit, Chris! What is it with you and fighters?!" This is a long post.]

Kade Jordan was born to a family in the wonder that is Baulder's Gate. With the rest of his family all being wizards, Kade was largely ignored. His Father paid for him to go to a military school after finding his son had no aptitude for the arcane, more-or-less to keep him out of the way. Though he grew up on the coast, Kade was deathly afraid of water and drowning (something to remember for later).

Kade tried out for and accepted a job with the Flaming Fist. Stopping bar fights and hunting down thieves was fine work, but became rather boring after awhile. Kade hoped for more, but knew he wouldn't find it doing such meager tasks. He resigned his post and turned to his family.

Though his family members were all wizards, Kade's Father was also a member of a merchant cartel. He thought surely he could become a trader, travelling to distant lands and making quite a bit of profit. His Father grudgingly agreed to let him into the business, and soon Kade was off on the next caravan out of the city.

Of course, the caravan was ransacked and pillaged. It seems Kade was fortunate enough to run into a conscripted army of... goblins. Small and generally weak, goblins are a force to be reckoned with only when they have the advantage of sheer numbers.. which they did. A hundred or so swarmed the caravan, and though Kade killed many, he was forced to retreat.

Knowing the shame he would face if he returned home, Kade decided to work up the money to repay his Father for the lost goods. His first stop in 'job hunting' landed him at a small farming community. In the local, seedy tavern, Kade met his first companion - a Dwarven Rogue named Dorgam Tallhammer. Dorgam was also an outcast of sorts, and after aiding Kade in taking care of the town drunk/bully, the two fell in together.

After taking a few jobs together, the pair travelled north. In one of the costal fishing towns (I'm terrible with specific names at times), the two ran into an Elven Cleric named Seriase' and her Half-Elven brother, a Fighter/Mage named Khorias. Khorias had been frowned upon in Evereska since his birth, with Seriase' as the only one who'd cared about him. When he finally came of age, the two left to see the world.

Now the duo was a quintet. They continued their travels, taking jobs together and righting wrongs. Slaying monsters, rescuing folk when they could, being kind to the needy, and the like. The stronger they grew, the more challenging tasks they undertook.

[Two friends joined the game at this point. We were all about level 8 or so, so the DM let them create level 7 characters to join in.]

Mythos was a Human Paladin, bent on avenging his Father who'd been slain by his brother for an inheritance. Milgrahm was a Dwarven Wizard who'd been saved by Mythos and was now travelling with him to repay the debt. They met Kade and his group in the city of Tantras, where Kade aided Mythos in finding, and thus killing, his brother.

Now they were six, and it was time to begin heading toward the west. Their adventures carried them to the desert of Anauroch, where they aided a nomadic tribe in hunting a young Blue Dragon that had been tormenting them. In doing so, Kade's group found the lair of the Blue Dragon's parents. Most of the treasure had been lost, but Kade found a book he believed to be quite valuable.

Finally, Kade reached Baulder's Gate. His Father was glad to see him alive, and absolved him of his debt for the caravan. He gave his Father the book, who then translated it. Come to find out, it was an ancient Netherese tome of spells.

Since this book was worth more than a fortune, Kade's Father brokered a deal for land and a keep to be built for his son. So, some miles away from Baulder's Gate, an old keep was repaired and renovated, and gifted to Kade and his group.

As they gathered followers and continued their adventures, a warlord was amassing his power in the east. This warlord, a human barbarian/sorcerer named Valang the Ruthless, was bent on conquest. A nearby town petitioned Kade and his friends for aid against the force that was headed for their homes, and the group couldn't turn them away. They all gathered at the village and staged a heroic defense.

Like with the goblins that wrecked his caravan, though.. the numbers of the enemy were just too great. Most of the groups followers were killed in the battle, along with all of the villagers. Kade and his friends were taken captive.

With his sorcerous powers, Valang learned of Kade's fear of water. He took joyous pleasure is securing a ship and taking the group out to sea where, as Kade screamed in protest.. he was pitched into the water. The boat sailed off and night fell, with Kade having blacked out from shock. When he awoke, he was alone and lying on the beach of an island.

As Kade explored and sought to find a way out, his friends were all subjected to their own horrors. Dorgam and Mythos were both killed in their own trials, a fact Kade would later learn to his dismay. Khorias turned to Valang's service after being tortured. His sister was forced to watch him commit atrocities in Valang's name before being tied to a tree in the middle of a deep swamp and deserted. Milgrahm escaped slavery and sought to find his friends to bring them back together.

On the island, Kade battled man-sized lizards with a spear he made himself just to eat. On the far side, however, he found a monastary of clerics. These were clerics of Illmater, who travelled to the island once a year to escape the suffering of the world. It was something of a vacation, and yet they were discovered by the tormented Kade. Though he'd always worshipped Tymora, Kade developed a deep respect for Illmater and his followers.

He spent a month with them, and one in particular (named Korash) helped him to get over his fear of water. When their ship came, Kade returned to Baulder's Gate, where he was found by Milgrahm. Kade's way of thinking had changed during his ordeal, and he decided to turn to faith. He re-dedicated himself to Tymora's church and became a weilder of her might.

[11th level fighter, 1st level cleric at this point.]

It took awhile, but Kade and Milgrahm rejoined Seriase' who'd escaped the tree with the help of a Ranger named Keria. Keria was the daughter of a Elder Druid, sent to investigate the clear-cutting of a large amount of trees (which was the result of Valang's lumber mill).

Reformed and ready for revenge, the group took the fight to Valang's forces. They started with sabotage, killing officers when they could, fighting off persuers. With the Flaming Fist engaged in battle with Valang's army, the group snuck into his lair.

They had a battle with Khorias, but spared his life. Eventually, they faced Valang and defeated him.

The group was heralded as heroes, they restored their keep and amassed more followers. After more adventures, they eventually upgraded to a castle. The campaign ended with the group retiring and some of them going their seperate ways.

[at the end: 12th level fighter, 6th level cleric. I didn't take any prestige classes. At the time -as this was when 3e first came out- there weren't any to fit the character. It was the longest and best game I've ever played in. I left a lot out, due to I don't want to write a novel lol, but you get the general idea.]

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Back in the day my favorite character was a drow ranger-mage-thief by the name of Garic Everhate.

Any relationship to Zanatose Everhate?

 

[Pillsbury]

Elrohn-Tay "the greatest swordsman who ever lived", just ask him. 1E/2E fighter retired at 18th level. We used a rule that if you rolled a natural 1 you droped your weapon, and Elrohn dropped at least 5 weapons every combat. He also never managed to drop below 1 HP no mater how bad the battle was going against the party. After going through the Mines of Bloodstone and battling Orcus, we ended the campaign but he is still rembered by the group 15 years later. Every time a player rolls a natural 1 someone says he must have been trained by Elrohn-Tay "the greatest swordsman who ever lived".

 

[PrinceZane]

Mmmm, characters. Lets see.

I'm fairly partial to two. One being a fighter (first character I created by myself), the other, the rogue I'm currently playing (first character outside of a fighter I've ever attempted).

Zane, the fighter, was from a very conservative, militaristic family. Thrown into military school at a young age, he quickly learned the arts of fighting. Having a nice str/dex/con, he was one of the best tanks the city's militia had ever seen. He constantly was overtaking ranks and by 17 (human), he was 2nd in charge over the entire militia - the youngest to ever attain such a feat. One day while patroling, he saw a group of thugs in an ally torturing a child. He ran to the child's aid and the thugs fled. Zane gave chase. He went through the allys and found their underground hideout. He went inside and was awestruck. He stayed in the shadows and began to investigate them every day. Instead of gathering information on how to shut down this obvious crime ring, he found his first flaw: greed. Zane had never been treasure hunting or anything, and the sight of all the gold, riches, and jewels corrupted him faster than anything he had ever known. Finally he approached them. The members fled in panic, thinking they were busted. Time and time again he tried to approach and they fled. One day while lurking, one of the higher ranks walked by him and he leaped out, grappling him and dragging him to the center of the room. He then demanded them to listen to him or the guy would die. After explaing, the entire ring laughed and sighed in relief, and quickly let the big guy join. *story warp* Not much happened after that, just typical dungeon/urban raiding by a NN-NE group.

I liked him so much that he was my first char that I made a background for, as well as the first char that I made by myself (instead of using someone else's idea/concept). I took him from level 1 - 10, 1 - 12, 1 - 8, 10-15, 1 - 10. (the party kept getting outbalanced while were trying to learn the rules and such still, and also DM switching that wanted to restart chars, or the players wanting to redo chars, all that fun stuff. I just kept the char the same, attitude and background wise, just reset stats). I'll put the other char in a diff post.

Oh yeah, Zane never died. Although his CS was thrown away in the tossing of some papers that I didn't know he was in, he lives on... somewhere.... in Madeup Town. Kicking butt, taking crap, and parading around like mad.

 

[PrinceZane]

This post is about my other favorite char, Zane, the rogue. (notice the trend when it comes to me and char names...)

His char background was written very quickly, in hopes to get out the full story, but in the smallest amount of space (i.e. didn't want it to be 20 pages long or something). Zane rogue was my first attempt at a non "human fighter" and goes something like this:

"Zane grew up in an underground colony in the eastern tropics. He stands 2'10, weighing approximately 27 pounds. Although he is halfling, he was cursed by the with whom delivered him giving him red eyes and jet black hair, and skin as pale as snow. His troupe reguarded him as a social outcast, so he quickly became friends with various other socially outcasted people of whom there were various trades (wizards, rogues, etc.).

His family were involved in both Arcane and Military affiliations (due to his mother and father's trades respectively). He had a decently large family, having both parents and being the middle child of seven (three older and three younger). However, both mother and father have grown old in their days and a few town guards watch over the family and their home as a debt to his father's long term service in the militia. They are about the only people that trust the family, due to their vast generocity and overall politeness, but are as well as the only people the family trusts. The rest of the troupe looks upon Zane's family as cheats, and liars, because of various rumors spread about by the troupe's leader. This of course giving them a bad reputation and conflict with their peers.
"That (eh, sorry, forgot there was an explicit in here)ing leader has to go! It's him or us! We'll be driven out of town before too long," his father spat one day. He had been planning for several months on how to get a new leader in charge with a revolution, with or without help. "Those stinking Pelor do gooders think they can do whatever they want. If he weren't in the position he was in, no one would give him the time of day. Oh Zaphaxious, why couldn't you do something about him and bring peace to our family and cure the rest of the fools of their blindness." his father added.
"Oh come, he's not that bad. He knows you are the only competition for control of the troupe and is only doing his job." his mother replied, "And besides, who cares what the troupe thinks. As long as we're happy and please Him (Zaphaxious) we needn't fear a thing." After Zane grew of age, he was sent away to a neighboring troupe to begin his studies for his trade. Shortly after his father did lead a revolution and both his mother, father, and all their support were easily pushed back and slain.

Zane's new mentor was indeed a great man. He encouraged outdoor activity and nature hikes for early survival practices, as well as reading during the night hours for intellect. As with all students, Zane was partial to few studies and disreguarded the rest. The few subjects he found interesting were Astrology, Astronomy, and Law. One of the things he learned from his mentor, was that he was born under a blood moon. The mentor explained that typically it was a bad omen sign, but it was just a superstition.
"Some even say that those born to a blood moon will be nothing more than cold murderers and hanged before their life is half over." he said. His mentor also knew that intelligence and wit would not keep him alive in the world and pushed Zane towards a militaristic trade. Being a quick learner, and very nimble, Zane quickly gained ranks in the local militia jumping from some "punk kid" to Squire, and eventually to a middle ranking officer in very impressive time.


"I'm sorry my love, I do this for us." And with that, he impales his beloved. She screams and howels as he thrusts again. After a few minutes, he rises and eyes the trail of blood escaping her body. He stares in awe of what he has done, yet soon his signature smirk is on his face and he leaves, pleased with his work. The next morning, he goes to his lady's chamber, thoughts of the night before racing in his mind. Silently he sat on her bed and ran his hand across the blood stained sheet.
"Is it actually done? Are things now complete?"
Zane looked to the voice of his lover and smiled, glad she was awake.
"Yes, we are truely one now. We are lovers emotionally and now physically. Are you ok?"
"Aye. Sore, but never have I felt better.
"I knew of the pain you would endure your first time. I tried to make it as easy for both of us as possible."
I know mylord. I love you."
"And I love you as well. Let us rejoice..."

That was a year to the day. Remembering the night Zane and his lover became as intimate as two individuals could be. The wedding was to take place soon there after, had things not gone ill. Zane was a treasure hunter by trade among his colligues. Thief to society. One day a well to do adept accusted Zane of stealing his wares.

"I swear I have none of this man's possessions or wares. I have never seen him before!" Zane pleaded when the guards interrigated him. Even according to a noble paladin's word Zane was indeed telling the truth, but the adept was certain Zane had them. Two days later, Zane came home from a days hard work to find his lover again in blood. This time from her neck. A message was by her corpse saying "I didn't steal her life. I have never seen her before."

"That fool makes a mochery of my words and takes her life. Such a stupid fool." Zane thought. For Zane knew the adept murdered his lover and that night paid him a visit. Bag in hand and dagger at the waist, Zane made quick work of the adept in his sleep, as well as to his wares and most expencive possessions. He then went back home and wept to sleep. Coincidentially, the next day, he learns at the guildhall that his best friend was in fact the assassin to his lover hired by the adept. Zane snapped, and in a raging fury unleashed his blade into his friend hacking him until his corpse was unable to be identified. Realizing he had no one left to love or trust in the troup, he went home, packed his things, and left his home at sun rise to find a new beginning.

After traveling several miles, he came upon a new town. He went to the inn and after giving the tennant his name, the tennant presented him with a message. Puzzled as to who would know his presance here, he opened it to see it from his old mentor. "It has been many moons since you studied under me son. Remember all that I taught you. Not everyone is as your home was. I have a friend in town who is in decent standing at the local guild. Tell him I sent you and he may be able to help you get your new life started. We shall never meet again. Fare the well."

So, he did as the message said, met his mentor's friend and was soon on his way to establishing a life in his new town. Enrolling into the guild himself, he quickly impressed the other members, eager to share many activities with him. One day, while at the tavern, he met a man similar in height, although nowhere near the same background nor trade. He and Ian quickly became friends, the first since his deceesed lover. She has and probably will forever have a strong emotional effect on his life ever since, as well as the effects from his friend's betrayal. He now lives without giving anyone any trust. Every man for themself. Don't trust anyone. Will his newly found friend in this new town break the curse set upon him by his past? Only time will tell."

He has sense battled undead/golems almost religiously, making him near ineffective in combat, but he has taught me so much in the RP sense. I've had more fun being the "comic relief". There are a few posts, that I'll put links to when I look them up that talks about this char a bit more.

 

[PrinceZane]

["Dangit, Chris! What is it with you and fighters?!" This is a long post.]

Thanks for the warning, I should've done something similar I guess... *halo*