From: Michael Derry (mad@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu)
Date: Thu 27 Feb 1992 - 09:56:33 EET
The following post addresses the method I used to introduce the
characters in my last RQ III game. This post is divided into three
sections: General Notes and Background, Legend/Glossary, and Character
Backgrounds. The first two sections are abbreviations of the campaign
packet and character backgrounds are modified for ease of
understanding.
I. General Notes and Background
I usually develop all the characters prior to the campaign and prior to
the first session, characters select their characters and develop their
backgrounds more. Hopefully the players have a reasonably developed
framework of a personality and background by the time we start the first
game. (This is a ROLE PLAYING GAME.)
The main unifying element of my last campaign was that the characters
were all members or associates of the local temple in a town located in
a lightly inhabited area. The characters were the key members of the
temple and decided and controlled all activity associated with exploring
and pacifying a nearby, vast wildness area granted to the temple.
My world is not a Gloranthan world, but does have gods similar to the
feel of those in the world of Glorantha. Most players worshipped
Nisava, a storm god with similarities to Orlanth in Glorantha. Another
character worshipped P'ishan, a war god closely associated with Nisava
and sort of similar to Yanafal Tarnils. Pwe To is the god of movement and stasis.
II. Legend/Glossary
The campaign was set in a remote and barely settled area of my world.
Babel: the Imperial Capitol, about two weeks away
Gil'adi: the town in which the player's temple was and which was the
center of most campaign activity
Temple Reserve: vast mountainous and forested area granted to the
Gil'adi Nisava temple by a nearby queen. Much of the campaign activity
dealt with exploring and pacifying the Temple Reserve.
Darklands: a remote and still wild area within a day's travel. Wilder
and not part of the Temple Reserve.
Sure Foot Legion Lands: a mountainous area to the north where the
Imperial Sure Foot Legion was based.
All Others: various villages in the local area
Languages: Osirian is the main language and Blacktongue is the language
of orcs.
III. Character Backgrounds
The characters could all be considered barbarians, with only Septamus
and Maelius close to civilized. These backgrounds were intended only as
a start to the character background/development process and to provide
and introduction to the characters.
List of Characters: (Position, Character Relations)
Menalaus: Livestock Comptroller
Lucius: Temple Messenger
Dorus: Temple Artificer and Handyman, Brother to Alric
Alric: Assistant Purser, Brother to Dorus
Julius: Assistant to Temple Alchemist, almost Brother-in-Law to Zwei
Zwei: Assistant/Engaged to Temple Alchemist, almost Brother-in-Law to
Julius
Septanus: Temple Librarian /Temple Purser (Priest), Half-Brother to
Octavius
Octavius: Assistant Librarian, Half-Brother to Septamus, Brother to
Muller
Muller: Captain of Temple Troops, Brother to Octavius
Tactius: Temple Weapon Master
Maelius: Liaison to the Temple from a nearby sorcery society
Format: Name [Language of Name] Religion ("Character Class")
Note: RQ does not use character classes, but I put these one-word
descriptions to give players a quick feel for a character's abilities.
Menalaus Vespasian [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Skirmisher)
Special Knowledge: Clever and resourceful woodsman who knows much
about the mountains and its creatures, especially the Dark Lands. Can
speak Osirian and Stormtongue, can read and write Osirian.
Background: Born and raised in the village of Regii, near the
Darklands and on the Cique Creek. When he was 20, both parents were
killed by a Jabberwock from the Darklands. He has been living at the
Gil'adi temple ever since as the assistant to Septanus Pila, the Temple
Purser.
Other: Livestock Comptroller is the current position of Menalaus in
the temple hierarchy. Every spring and fall, he must go count the
temples livestock. During the year he also responsible for making spot
checks in order to see if tithes are appropriate to the level of the
community's wealth.
Lucius Expedem [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Scout)
Special Knowledge: Lucius has a more open-minded view of the world and
has a lot of general knowledge. He is the only party member to
regularly travel to Babel. He can speak Osirian, Utigur, Blacktongue,
Stormtongue, and Tradetalk. He cannot read or write.
Background: Older brother, Nerius, is a big merchant who started
trading between their village of Valla and Gil'adi, and now trades all
over the region. Nerius took his little brother on these trade
expeditions during off-season (so father would not complain to much.)
Lucius has a much more cosmopolitan outlook on the nature of the world
that others in this area, all because of his broad exposure during these
journeys.
Other: In his role as Temple messenger, Lucius has met many of the
important political figures in the region
Dorus Cervii [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Technician)
Special Knowledge: Dorus has special abilities with 'science' and he
can brew acid, craft special devices, set traps, and do many other
amazing and practical things. He can speak Osirian and Stormtongue. He
can read and write Osirian.
Background: Dorus is an older brother of Alric and both are the
children of the old Gil'adi stone mason. The current Gil'adi stone
mason is the oldest brother, Cannae. At and early age, Dorus showed
aptitude with the tools of stone masoning and other trades. The temple
handyman took Dorus as an apprentice and taught him many special things.
Just before the handyman retired, the temple set Dorus to the temple in
the Sure Foot Legion Lands to learn alchemy and other skills for a
year.
Other: Dorus is now the Temple Artificer and Handyman. He knows
several important people in the Sure Foot Legion Lands. His ability to
devise is also his ability to set traps, pick locks, break doors, etc.
Alric Cervii [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Thief)
Special Knowledge: Alric has special weapons and other skills learned
from the orcs in Gil'adi. He can speak Osirian, Blacktongue, and
Stormtongue. He can read and write Blacktongue and Stormtongue.
Background: Alric is the younger brother of Dorus and both are the
children of the old Gil'adi stone mason. The current Gil'adi stone
mason is the oldest brother, Cannae. As a child, Alric was thin and
gangly which caused his two brothers to pick on him all the time.
Alric's two brothers also would not let him play with them and the rest
of the kids. Alric began playing with the orc kids, whose roughness and
bellicose nature was what Alric was used to at home. After a while the
family of his best friend, Pata (Patanenana) the orc, sort of adopted
Alric. AlricUs father did not mind, because he has five sons and Alric
was too scrawny to help building. Three years ago Alric married an orc
woman who is a glass-blower, and she is now a Nisava Initiate.
Other: Septanus Pila, the Purser, caught Alric "borrowing items" from
the temple storerooms. Septanus decided the best thing to do is to make
Alric the Assistant Purser, since Alric has always been a loyal Nisava
worshipper, regardless of what others think of his involvement with the
Gil'adi orcs. Alric has another Initiate do most of the real work,
while he relaxes and gambles with the local orcs.
Julius Uteus [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Sniper)
Special Knowledge: Julius knows much about the Darklands and the
village of Landatum. The temple employs him to gather special plants
from the Darklands for the Temple Alchemist, Priestess Viana. The
priestess is his sister and their mother is the village Priestess in
Landatum. He can speak Osirian and Stormtongue, but cannot read or
write.
Background: Julius was born in Landatum and his father was a local
hunter. Julius used to go with his father into the Darklands on hunting
expeditions. His mother sent his sister, Viana, to Gil'adi when his
father was disappeared in the Darklands. After a while his mother
became self-sufficient and he could come and go as he pleased. Viana
offered him a job in Gil'adi, which also allows him to come and go.
Other: Julius is sort of a loner. He is close to his mother and
sister, but seems reluctant to form friendships after his father's
disappearance. He knows few people but is now beginning to become more
open to those at the temple.
Zwei Two-Hands [Uti-Osirian Name] Pwe To and Nisava cultist (Healer)
Special Knowledge: He learned the healing arts from a Pwe To witch.
When she died, she gave him two special abilities. One is the ability
of permanent soul sight.
Background: When Zwei was but a babe, a Pwe To witch saved the village
of his parents (Regii) from a band of marauding spirits. In exchange
she asked for Zwei. He knows of his past but does not remember his real
parents. The witch raised Zwei as a guard to protect them both. The
witch passed away two years ago and she told Zwei to go join the Nisava
temple in Gil'adi after she died. When he arrived, he felt out of
place, but now he has found his place as the temple healer.
Other: Zwei has now forgotten where his old cavern home is. He works
with and is engaged to Viana, the Temple Alchemist (who is the sister of
Julius.)
Septanus Pila [Osirian Name] Nisava Priest (Scholar)
Special Knowledge: Septanus has a wide range of esoteric knowledge
about seemingly everything. Septanus can speak Osirian, Blacktongue,
and Stormtongue and he can read and write all three too.
Background: Child of one of two noble families in Gil'adi. Father was
the old High Priest of Nisava in Gil'adi, who remarried and had another
child, Octavius. Third son of eight children. First brother, Primus,
is family head and High Priest of Nisava in Gil'adi. Septanus has
always been a bookworm and he has read every book in the temple library,
including the three Blacktongue ones. Septanus has always been in the
shadow of his brother, Primus. When Septamus was nine, Octavius was
born and received all the attention. Septanus now wants to stand out
from his brothers and prove to everyone and himself that he has worth.
He is the main planner for cult missions
Other: Close friends with Magus Haeru, because of adventuring Haeru
used to make in this area. The presence of Maelius is the result of
that involvement. Septanus is the Temple Librarian and the Temple
Purser. The Dwarven iron armor Septanus wears was a gift from the Sure
Foot Legion to the Gil'adi Temple for services long ago. Half-brother
Octavius is the Assistant Librarian and Alric is the Assistant Purser.
Alric taught Septanus to read the Blacktongue books. Captain Muller is
the adopted half-brother of Septanus.
Octavius Pila [Osirian Name] Nisava cultist (Acolyte)
Special Knowledge: The current High Priest and his brother, Primus is
cultivating Octavius to become a Bishop, Cardinal, or such. So far this
has consisted of book learning and weapon training. But now Octavius is
to go out and learn the ways of the world. Octavius can speak, read,
and write Osirian, Stormtongue, and Tradetalk.
Background: Child of one of two noble families in Gil'adi. Father was
the old High Priest of Nisava in Gil'adi and who remarried the woman who
is the mother of Octavius. She already had Captain Muller from another
marriage. Septanus, Primus, and all his other siblings are all
half-brothers and sisters. Primus, is family head and High Priest of
Nisava in Gil'adi.
Other: Octavius is currently the Assistant Librarian. The Dwarven
iron armor Octavius wears was a gift from the Sure Foot Legion to the
Gil'adi Temple for services long ago. His magic sword is also from the
legion. Note that Octavius has this sword because Septanus does not use
swords.
Captain Muller [Uti Name] Nisava cultist (Vicious Killer)
Special Knowledge: Leadership and knowledge of the psychology of men.
He can speak Uti, Osirian, and Stormtongue, but cannot read or write.
Background: He joined a traveling circus at the age of five and left
the lands of his ancestors, Uti. The circus travelled south through
High Mountain Pass and the Sure Foot Legion Lands. By the time they
made it to Gil'adi, he was disgusted with them and stayed in Gil'adi. A
local woman adopted him and she later married the ex High Priest of
Nisava in Gil'adi, the father of Primus, Septanus, and Octavius.
Octavius is sort of his brother. He has always been martially oriented
and led the other boys in mock-combat. At the Nisava Temple, his
strength was noticed early and he trained in the skills of a warrior.
Other: Captain Muller is the captain of the Old Fort, whose garrison
is currently four stone masons (lead by the older brother of Dorus and
Alric.) Since there are no local lords, Captain Muller is a very
important man.
NOTE: Uti lands are inhabited by barbarian tribes which are represented
by Ogres in my game. Muller is an Ogre.
Old Tacitus [Osirian Name] P'ishan cultist (Mercenary)
Special Knowledge: Tacitus has learned exercises to maintain fitness
and current abilities. But this has become a time-consuming job now.
Has a strong will and an amazing ability to overcome adversity with raw
determination. Although still fit, some memory and knowledge has faded.
Familiar with entire region. Can speak Osirian, Afshari, Blacktongue,
Darktongue, and Stormtongue; but he cannot read or write.
Background: Born in Vici to a woodsman. As a youth, Tacitus followed
father around local forest as junior Reserve Warden. At age 15, joined
P'ishan and Sure Foot Legion. Spent twenty-five years in the Legion and
fought all sorts of wild beasts and bandits. He then retired to Gil'adi
to teach new warriors, of which few are P'ishan warriors. The local
P'ishan center of worship is a shrine, tended by a priest who is a
personal friend of the Nisava High Priest, Primus Pila. Tacitus is
assigned to assist the Nisava temple and they are to provide him room
and board.
Other: Has friends in the Sure Foot Legion and various forts.
Maelius Constena [Osirian Name] Sorcerer (Adept)
Special Knowledge: Member of and privy to the secret ways of the
Col-wan sorcery society. Also knows a little about Elves and the local
Aldryami. Can speak Osirian and Aldryan, and can read Osirian and
Blacktongue.
Background: The older brother of Maelius is Magus Haeru of the Col-wan
society complex south of Taelus (a town two days away.) This Col-wan
sect has ties with the power groups in the region. Most of these ties
are junior members of the sect assigned as liaisons to the various
groups. Maelius is the current liaison to the Gil'adi Nisava temple.
His job is designed to broaden his abilities with outside exposure and
be in a relatively safe area.
Other: The trip to the Col-wan complex and back is two days. For
important expeditions, Maelius may borrow enchantments with other spells
from the Magus.
Postscript: I have not edited these passages much for clarity (for they
are extracted from the campaign packet I pass out to players.) But, I
hope they provide an idea of how I run several elements in my game.
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