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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Beholder Bob" data-source="post: 2135658" data-attributes="member: 12866">I'm writing the history of a character of mine, Rook, a Hexblade Warmage.  I thought it might make good reading, and feedback could only improve it.  Let me know what you think (I'm going to do this in installments so it isn't too big).Rook's Story . . . A gallows's child, Rook's mother collected the seed from a hanged man in order to conceive him.  After 13 months, he was born to the witch and named after her cat familiar, Rook.  No maternal instincts blighted his hag-mother, she steeped him in witchcraft and cruelty equally, using him as a gopher, aid, and a target for her cruelties.  Rook, her familiar, tormented the boy, scarring his back and ankles with scratches that would not heal properly.  With a life dominated by her, he developed a mean streak that he unleashed on the local peasantry, growing up to be a feared bully and an accomplished terror. . . . On his 18th birthday, Rook tended the hut he and his mother shared as she "took care of business" at the local village.  The familiar, as it typically spent its time, terrorized Rook, biting and clawing from surprise, overturning cups, and launching onto him, then quickly off before he could react.  He generally would swat it and no more, for to harm the familiar would be to anger his mother, but this day he grabbed it by its neck and dashed it against the wall.  Before it could stand, he began stomping it to the ground, yelling abuses and curses with an anger long suppressed.  With broken limbs, the cat was unable to escape, but with unnatural vitality it suffered abuse beyond what its body should have been able to suffer.  At last, as he throttled the life from it, its eyes changed to those of his mother.  In response, he snapped its neck and tossed the body into the fire.  Sure to face punishment or death for this murder, Rook grabbed his things and fled into the woods - ready to slay his mother if she pursued him.                         . . . Meanwhile, his mother stalked through the village – taking what she wanted from farmers and shopkeepers.  Farmers simply walked away when she showed, while shopkeepers called her thefts gifts.  Both hated and feared, none would dare anger her for fear of being cursed.  While taking spools of thread, she abruptly stood upright and cooed out ‘Rook’.  Staring off into space, she began shaking her head, then shouted the name again.  She collapsed into a heap with a spasm.  The shopkeeper checked to see if she was dead, but was disappointed to see she still breathed.  The constable was called, the witch bound, and the village debate begun.  Who should kill her; would the slayer be cursed, should she instead be revived?  None dared strike the killing blow, but all agreed it would be better if she died.  The best method, they agreed, was a public execution – everyone helping, but no one person specifically responsible.  They would give her a trial for witchcraft, following tradition so as to rob her of foes to single out as cheating her. . . . The strongest villagers went to the witch’s home, with torch and spear.  Her son was to be slain outright unless he surrendered, and the house to be burned to the ground – destroying the witch’s magical tools and charms.  With Rook already fled, they searched the house then put it to the torch, watching it burn.  Once done, they returned to the village with the bad news, the witch’s son had escaped.  They quickly started the 4 day trial. . . . Rook saw the smoke from his home and quickly returned.  Unsure of what had happened; he stole onto a farm and captured a farm boy to question him.  Upon learning his mothers trial and assured fate – he battled between the urge to save his mother, and the urge to attend the burning and watch her squirm in the flames.  Instead, he brained the farmboy, robbed the farm, and fled the village altogether.  He left the valley on the 3rd day of the trial.B<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" />B</blockquote>

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