Help with character motivation

[Melbourne Mew Mew]

(IFirst time posting here... I'm also asking about this on rpg.net)

Okay, my group is starting up a Dragonlance campaign (beginning at the start of the War of the Lance), and I have a basic concept for a character. The thing is, the concept needs more work and I'm having one of those annoying mental blanks of mine at the moment.

The basic concept for the character, Elena Redlyon, is a lass who is hoping to become a Solamnic Knight, following in the footsteps of her older brothers. The GM says that he'd like her to have more motivation for aiming to become a knight than just that, especially given the medieval-European attitude to women's place that is present (keep in mind that this is before Laurana arrived on the scene), and I wouldn't mind giving her some more motivation, either.

So can anyone offer any suggestions to get me started?

 

[robberbaron]

Are you intending to become a Knight as a woman or only reveal your sex after you have been knighted?

Maybe she's in love with a Knight and thinks that joining him is the only way they can be together.

Maybe she has always had her fighting skills belittled and wants to earn respect and show "them" how wrong they were.

A family secret? She has clues to an ancient secret but they lead her to the Knights' Fortress and the only way she can think of to get in is to become a Knight.

All I can think of on the spur of the moment, sorry.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Welcome to the boards.

So being a knight is a tradition, brothers, so how about others along line of expectations. Now, you have something to prove, that you can do the job just as good as everyone else in the family...and what is this, while nothing can be proven, there are some 'skeletons' in the family closet that you want to prove as lies they are!

What could they be? That is up to the DM and you but possible things are that your family does not have the right blood to be a knight or some one failed to do their duty which resulted in the death of some very well liked or a family member was a coward and ran from a battle or a family weapon was lost and you are going to claim it or all the above...

Then there is the running away - by being a knight you do not have to marry someone or you do not have to become a bard or such, knighthood is a way out.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Hello!

We had a female PC in a similar situation. She used to pass herself off as a man so she could become a knight... led to some amusing situations.


Perhaps there is a prophecy which states 'something bad' will happen if a member of each generation of your characters family doesn't become a knight of the Rose, Crown or Sword - depending on how long term a goal you want. Maybe her brothers died, were exiled or have no hope of promotion. It's down to her now.

To add an interesting spin onto this character, perhaps she doesn't even want to be a knight. Her real interest lies elsewhere, but sense of duty keeps her going?

Even worse, it could be possible that someone else wants the 'something bad' to happen and worked to cause her brothers to fail. Gives a nice enemy for you and your DM to have fun with. Could she ever clear her one of her brothers names and be free to live her own life?