Random Roll 103 - The Randomness

This week’s character presents an interesting conundrum from a background perspective, two actually. The first is he’s raised in an elven homeland, but on the elven home land chart he rolled a non-elven town or village. How can you be from an elven homeland but not from an elven town? The second is his drawback being race. How can one be uncomfortable around others not his race when he is basically a bastard half breed? Does he not trust anyone who isn’t an elf or a human? Or does he truly not trust any of his parent races and only feel comfortable around other half-elves? We’ve gotta lot of work cut out for us so let’s see what we can come up with.

Gender:Male

Race:Half-Elf

Human Ethnicity:Shoanti (Skoan-Quah)

Nationality:Varisian

Age:26

Height:6’ 4”

Weight:180

Alignment:Chaotic Good

Str: 11

Dex: 18

Con: 12

Int: 15

Wis: 10

Cha: 10

Homeland: Raised in an Elven Homeland - Non-Elven Town or Village

Parents: Both of your parents are alive.

Siblings: You have no siblings.

Circumstance of Birth: [Prophesied] Your birth was foretold, as recently as during the last generation to as far back as thousands of years ago.

Parent's Profession: Thieves

Major Childhood Event: [Competition Champion] You distinguished yourself at an early age when you won a competition. This might have been a martial contest of arms, a showing of apprentice magicians, high stakes gambling, or something mundane like an eating championship.

Influential Associate:[The Fool] One of your close associates was a clown who mocked propriety and custom, instead engaging in wild and somewhat random actions from time to time. After a while, you learned that there was simple wisdom to this foolery—a careless worldview that taught you how to cast off concern.

Conflict: [Major Theft] You stole expensive items.

Conflict Subject: Leader.

Conflict Motivation: Family.

Conflict Resolution: [You Enjoyed It] Those who cling to petty morals have no understanding of what true freedom and power is. The fact is, you enjoyed your part in the conflict and would do it all over again if the opportunity presented itself. Many people know of your misdeed, and they also realize your complete lack of remorse.

Deity/Religious Philosophy: Count Ranalc

Romantic Relationship(s):[Several Inconsequential Relationships] You have had many lovers but no long-lasting, meaningful relationships.

Drawback:[Race] You are truly comfortable only around others of your race, and you have a hard time putting faith or trust in those of races different from your own.

(Trait) Child of the Streets

(Trait) Failed Apprentice

(Trait) Influence

(Trait) Prophesied

(Trait) Shaper of Reality

(Trait) Unpredictable

(Story Feat) Champion

(Drawback) Xenophobic

In the comments give us your ideas for how to make this into a fully realized character? What class would this character take up? What was the prophecy of his birth? What Competition did he win? Who was his foolish friend? And don’t forget to stay tuned Friday when my background hits the CRB.

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but makes you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to created please consider supporting your favorite content provider – that’s me right – by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon or making a direct donation to my Paypal.

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Character 96 - Kerrac

Going off stats alone, the options for this week’scharacter were a charisma-based caster or a ranged or possibly finesse weapons, combatant. I wasn’t quite fond of either of those concepts as I didn’t see the background information really pushing him toward being a charisma caster but I wanted social situations to be his wheelhouse. I looked through the rules on a class I have never really used before and decided that I could really sink my teeth into the background of a vigilante.

Kerrac

Although Andoran is seen as one of the most progressive countries in all of Golarion, its democracy is still fledgling and its people are not all equal. Even in the capital city, where elves, dwarves, humans, and halflings rub elbows as equals, the poor and homeless fill the streets. Half-elves and half-orcs are still looked down upon by those of pure blood even if they are availed the same “rights” as anyone else.

Kerrac was born to an elven mother whose family fell on hard times a generation before. His father was a strapping Kellid lad from Numeria who traveled halfway around the world looking to become rich and famous. The two fell in love – despite the protests of his mother’s parents – thus Kerrac was brought into the world in the slums of Almas.

Growing up, Kerrac saw the prejudices that those with money still had for those without. Even without kings and queens, the line between the upper class and the lower were still there. On top of his family’s social standing, being a half-elf saw him get bullied not only by the well-off,  who believed they were better than him, but also by pure-bloods in his own neighborhood.

Kerrac’s father never found the life he was looking for, although he continued to try and make his fortune. His hard work kept his family afloat but they were never able to leave the Almas district of Mugget, and the smell of dead meat and lye. It was in the gore of the slaughtered animals they found his body, mugged for what little he had earned that day.

Life was not all heartache and pain for the young half-elf. His mother loved him and did her best to see her son taken care of. Kerrac also found friendship and love to brighten his days; the halflingBaggard, his best friend who knew everyone from the lowliest beggar to the highest patrician’s aide and his lady love, Jania, who stuck with him even through his mistakes.

Even Kerrac was subject to his own prejudices. When he was trying to woo Jania, he wanted to show her that he was daring and strong. He knew of the mongrelmen encampments that laid just below the surface of the city and snuck into one. He destroyed some of their small shanty houses, thinking himself the hero for vanquishing the “monsters”. But what he saw as he left was people, not unlike himself, trying to make do. This was one of the few things he never told anyone, not even Jania, but it helped put him on his path.

Regardless of the corruption and the class disparity, Kerrac loved his city and sought to make it a better place. He knew he couldn’t do anything from his position in the slums of Mugget, but Baggard knew a guy who knew a guy. In order to bring justice to those who thought their money could buy them a free pass, the half-elf would have to mingle with those people. And thus was born Talric Phillarand III.

A rumor started here, a favored cashed in there. After many months the name of Talric was getting around. When the well-to-do foreign investor came on the scene, people were clamoring to know more about the mysterious figure. Little did anyone know that the man was a figment of Kerrac’simagination. An identity backed up with the help of Baggard and Jania, the only two who knew it was a false identity.

Talric was how Kerrac would gain confidences and information. He would move within the circles of the elite and help bring down those who felt they were above Andoran’s democratic ways. Although he prefers to find ways to out his target so that they can be made an example of by the justice of the realm if there is no other choice he will do away with the wrongdoer on his own. It is a task he’d rather not perform and has only had to once.

Still new to the life of a vigilante, he is lucky to have two confidants to back his play. He only hopes that what he is doing is right and the Abadar blesses his mission to bring justice to the places where the law can be bought.

What life path did your half-elf take? Who was his lover? How did his father die? Which monstrous humanoid did he destroy the property of?

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but helps you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to create, please consider supporting your favorite content provider – that’s me, right? – by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon or making a direct donation to my Paypal.

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Random Roll 96 - The Randomness

This week we return to our regular schedule and the first character of 2018. We rolled half-elf follower of Abadar from a poor background. He is of Kellid stock on his human sized and resides in the fledgling democracy of Andoran. A mid-range dexterity and constitution could mean some kind of ranged combatant. A high charisma opens the door to many social classes. The question as always is what do we create from these building blocks.

Gender:Male

Race:Half-Elf

Human Ethnicity:Kellid

Nationality:Andoran

Age:24

Height:6’ 1”

Weight:155lbs

Alignment:Lawful Neutral

Str: 10

Dex: 14

Con:  14

Int: 10

Wis: 10

Cha: 18

Homeland: Raised in a Human Homeland - City or Metropolis

Parents: Only your mother is alive.

Siblings: You have no siblings.

Circumstance of Birth: [Lower-Class Birth] You were born among peasants or slum denizens. You grew up working the land around a village or manor, practicing a rudimentary trade, or begging in a settlement.

Parent's Profession: Serfs/Peasants

Major Childhood Event: [Bullied] In your early life, you were a victim— easy prey for those stronger or cleverer than yourself. They beat you when they could, using you for their sport. This abuse nursed a powerful flame of vengeance.

Influential Associate:[Well-Connected Friend] In your circle of disparate associates, there was someone everyone knew. This person collected friends like trophies, and she had contacts in every social or professional circle. Through this connection, you continue to meet and associate with a wide variety of people in every walk of life.

Conflict: [Destruction] You destroyed someone else’s property.

Conflict Subject: Humanoid monster.

Conflict Motivation: Love.

Conflict Resolution: [Secret Regret] You regret the conflict, but go to great lengths to keep it secret and try desperately to forget it ever happened. Only you and maybe a select few people know of your involvement in the conflict.

Deity/Religious Philosophy:Abadar

Romantic Relationship(s):Current Lover] You are currently involved in a romantic relationship.

Drawback:[Power] You long for the ability to influence the world around you, whether that’s as small as a village or as large as a plane of reality.

(Trait) Bullied

(Trait) Civilized

(Trait) Honey Tongued

(Trait) Failed Apprentice

(Trait) Poverty-Stricken

(Trait) Well-Informed

(Story Feat) True Love

(Drawback) Power-Hungry

In the comments give us your ideas for how to make this into a fully realized character? What class would this character take up? How did has father die? Which parent was the elf? Who is his current lover? And don’t forget to stay tuned Friday when my background hits the CRB.

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but makes you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to created please consider supporting your favorite content provider – that’s me right – by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon or making a direct donation to my Paypal.

If you don’t want to miss a beat make sure you sign up to get the CRB pushed directly to your e-reading device with Kindle Subscriptions through Amazon. And to keep up with my other musings and thoughts you can follow the CRB on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and Twitter.

Character Exploration 73 - Quraish Brokenbough

This week’s random rolls showed us a bright, intuitive, and lithe young half-elf. Born in the crusader state of Mendev, his human blood came to that land from the far off Keleshite Empire. We had to link together at least one parent that was an entertainer, a betrayal, and the worship of Bharnarol among other things. So how did I do it and what class did I choose?

I really liked the technological aspect of Bharnarol, and with a craftsmen as a mentor it seemed to fit together. I wasn’t going to use any 3pp classes so I needed an archetype of a class that had a technical flavor. It stated that Bharnarol’s followers and sometimes the Empyreal Lord himself hunt down those who invent dangerous things. So I needed a technologist who could ferret out an evil inventor. After a very brief search I found the scavenger archetype for the investigator class.

Quraish Brokenbough

Mendev sees people of all races and ethnicities make their way to the frontlines of the battle against chaos. Some of these crusaders and their hangers-on return to their homes, worlds away. Some remain, making a new home for themselves in a land constantly at war. The small town of Krega is one such location, with a diverse population of humans and non-humans.

Krega is situated on the outskirts of the Estrovian Forest. Although the forest itself is considered haunted, for the most part by monstrous beings known as herne, the places close to towns like Krega and Dubrov tend to house those more comfortable living among the trees like elves and gnomes. In one of these small woodland enclaves is where Quarish was born.

Quraish’s father was a crusader from Kyonin who retired to work the land. The boy’s mother came with an enclave of Kelishite warriors seeking glory in battle. Although all of the crusaders died in combat, their retinues lived and either went home or spread across Mendev looking for work. The two met and fell in love in Krega, where his mother sang at a local tavern. She eventually moved out to his father’s forest home, although she would return to the town from time to time to perform.

The woodland enclave was most self-sufficient. Elves, gnomes, and more rural minded humans all pitched in to make it work. The werebear-kin that patrolled the forest would stop in from time to time when rumor of one of the herne surfaced. Each member of the small community had their say and their contribution. Quraish himself was always fond of Yurtok the Numerian craftsman.

Yurtok never talked about his past, although his ease around weird mechanical devices suggested he had some truck with the Technic League. Quraish was always trying to figure out the little doodads and gadgets the old man would create. The boy became a constant in Yurtok’s workshop, so the Kellid eventually took him on as an apprentice.

Living in the wilds usually meant one did what one needed to survive, but never at the expense of those who relied on you. Quraish’s father lived a hard life as a crusader but he instilled in his son the difference between law and justice. He always told his son that you do what is right, regardless of what is expected. These lessons would hold with Quraish his entire life.

Although his father was a worshiper of Erastil, the tenets of Old Deadeye didn’t sing to Quraish’s soul. The young half-elf once again turned to his mentor. The craftsman held a special place in his heart for Bharnarol, the Empyreal Lord of creativity. Although he would speak of what he was before, he says that the agathion saved him from himself. Feeling a call to creation, Quraish chose Bharnarol as his own patron.

One of the reasons his father left Kyonin to become a crusader was that his wife had died. Although she was already an adult, his flight to Mendev also left behind his daughter from his first marriage. When the elven maiden came calling, it was a shock to her father and his new family. Although he had failed to speak of her in the past Quraish and his mother welcomed her as part of the family.

His half-sister was on the run and had nowhere else to turn. She too came to Mendev to fight the demon horde, but she had a falling out with her commander. She felt he was leading her unit to their certain death and she mutinied against him. It saved the lives of many of her fellows – including her commander – but it left her in a precarious position having usurped command. So she ran.

Her father promised to hide her, but his love for his daughter was not held by all. Another former crusader, who still numbered friends among the armies of Kyonin, had heard of her desertion. And even though he and Quraish’s father had been friends for years, he still turned the girl in. The soldiers came and took her away to Krega to await trial.

Quraish, who wasn’t home at the time, managed to follow them back to town. Using a number of his mentor’s inventions he managed free his half-sister. He knew he had broken the law but what is just and right, isn’t always what is the law. Although it could never be proven, everyone assumed he freed her. To this day he has never said where she headed.

The half-elf, now a man, sought to find his own place in the world. His mentor had explained that he originally came to Mendev as a sort of crusader of his own. His patron sought to stop those who would create to destroy and had sent him to fight against the followers of the Demon Lord Haagenti. If the boy wanted his own quest he offered the mission he could no longer undertake.

With his growing mastery of the mechanical arts, as well as an ability to ferret out those who would use invention for evil, Quraish would head out into the world. He would refuse to officially join the armies of the crusaders but he would often work with them when their objectives and his coincided. The worshipers of Haagenti had better beware.

Now that you’ve seen what I came up with, what was your interpretation of these rolls? What class did your half-elf choose? Who were his parents? Who was his influence? Who has he betrayed? When did he start worshiping Bharnarol?

Bringing these characters to life is a second full-time job. A pledge of as little as one dollar a month on Patreon or a one-time donation to my paypal can help keep the lights on while I concentrate on producing new content for you.

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Character 73 - The Randomness

Mendev is the land of crusaders, bringing folk from all over the world to fight the encroaching demons. This week’s random rolls bring us a half-elf with Keleshite human ancestry, who was born in this war torn region. Trained by a craftsmen, betrayed by someone he trusted, and instilled with a strong since of justice. What will we make of the bits of information this week? We’ll see on Friday.

Gender: Male

Race: Half-Elf

Human Parent Ethnicity:Keleshite

Nationality:Mendev

Age:33

Height: 6’ 3”

Weight: 175lbs

Alignment: Neutral Good

Str: 12

Dex: 18

Con:  8

Int: 14

Wis: 14

Cha: 10

Homeland: Forest

Parents: Both of your parents are alive.

Siblings: You have 1 half-sibling.

- older elf sister

Circumstance of Birth: [Lower-Class Birth] You were born among peasants or slum denizens. You grew up working the land around a village or manor, practicing a rudimentary trade, or begging in a settlement.

Parent's Profession: Entertainers

Major Childhood Event: [Betrayal] A friend or family member whom you trusted more than anyone else betrayed you. You have never fully trusted anyone since and prefer to rely on your own abilities rather than place your trust in others.

Influential Associate:[The Craftsperson] One of your major influences cherished perfection in every form of art. This person might have followed any path in life, from craftsperson to artist to assassin. From this person you developed a disciplined mind, a solitary focus, and the ability to create something useful and beautiful.

Conflict: [Cheater] You broke a rule, law, contract, or agreement for your own gain.

Conflict Subject: Soldier or warrior.

Conflict Motivation: Family.

Conflict Resolution: [You Enjoyed It] Those who cling to petty morals have no understanding of what true freedom and power is. The fact is, you enjoyed your part in the conflict and would do it all over again if the opportunity presented itself. Many people know of your misdeed, and they also realize your complete lack of remorse.

Deity/Religious Philosophy:Bharnarol

Romantic Relationship(s): [Several Inconsequential Relationships] You have had many lovers but no long-lasting, meaningful relationships.

Drawback: [Justice] Unfairness and injustice are intolerable. Whenever you witness them, you feel compelled to act or speak out. When you’re personally wronged, you require appeasement—or revenge if you don’t receive it.

(Trait) Artisan

(Trait) Log Roller

(Trait) Poverty-Stricken

(Trait) Suspicious

(Trait) Talented

(Drawback) Headstrong

In the comments please tell us what character you would make with these disparate pieces information? What class would this Half-Elf naturally gravitate towards? How his parents end up in Mendev? Who betrayed him? And don’t forget to stay tuned Friday when my background hits the CRB.

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but makes you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to created please consider supporting your favorite content provider – that’s me right – by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon or making a direct donation to my Paypal.

If you don’t want to miss a beat make sure you sign up to get the CRB pushed directly to your e-reading device with Kindle Subscriptions through Amazon. And to keep up with my other musings and thoughts you can follow the CRB on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and Twitter.

Character Exploration 68 - Jingar Redfurrow

The week’s random rolls brought us an ultra-charismatic but not all that bright half-elf of Kellid descent. With a decent dexterity and constitution this might scream some kind of dumb jock, but after taking a look at some of the Golarion lore I went a totally different direction. Remembering a tidbit from Dave Gross’ pathfinder novel in his Count Jeggare series called King of Chaos I really tried to anchor this character in the history of the world. This week I went with summoner as a class, specifically the archetype called the God Caller. Meet Jingar and his little god.

Jingar Redfurrow

Before the worldwound, before the abyss spilled out onto Golarion there was Sarkoris. It was a savage land then, too, but not in the twisted way it has become. Tribes of Kellids roamed the land as well as erected cities such as Dyinglight and Storasta. This was the legacy of Jingar’s father, a legacy whose only remains are the tiny town of Gundrun.

Jingar’s mother was a half-elf. How the blood of the fair ones got into her veins is unknown, she was not originally of the tribe although her human heritage was obviously Kellid. Both his mother and his father were crafters, keeping the traditional ways of the Sarkorian tribes alive in this new age. Many travelers seeking back ways into The Worldwound come through Gundrun for guides and some of those buy what amounts to pieces of lost art to most of the rest of Golarion.

But even in Gundrun his family was seen as less. Although his father tells tales about the once great chieftains of his clan – how they led great war parties to glory – that is but a distant memory. Jingar’s family lived on the outskirts of the ramshackle town and his father was labelled ‘narakor’ or traitor. The elder Redfurrow accepts this fate quietly, although when Jingar inquired from his mother she told him that the dishonor was not of his father’s doing, although it was his burden to bear.

Although Gundrun is not directly under any demonic influence, that doesn’t make it completely safe. In Jingar’s younger years raiders targeted the town riding off with livestock and other goods. They also took him. When one of the riders found the half-elf hiding behind a cart in town his eyes went wide and he dropped whatever he was carrying to scoop up the boy.

The cave in which the raiders lived were covered in paintings of deformed creatures. Tentacles, multiple eyes, odd appendages, and twisted bodies were all common themes of the wall paintings. The tribe of raiders would chant and scream through the night and each night they would present Jingar on a simple altar of black rock caked in blood. Each night he thought he was going to die, but all they ever did was continue to chant and scream.

For ten days and ten nights Jingar was prisoner to these tortured souls. Although he feared them, there was something familiar. On the eleventh day a man rode in on a great beast, like a giant wolf. He tore through many of the cultists and scattered the rest. He introduced himself as Jingar’s uncle who was there to take him back to his parents. The two rode in silence for hours, when Jingar asked his unknown relative about the wolf the man called it his ‘little god.’

When Jingar returned he found that not only had he been kidnapped but that his mother had been killed in the raid. After much discussion and raised voices it was decided the boy would go with his uncle, away from Gundrun. In the night they left and headed as far as they could go.

The trek was long, clear south across Avistan, down the Sellen River, and into Taldor. In the crumbling empire’s capital they rode a boat – the largest Jingar had ever seen – and sailed for Abasalom. From the city at the center of the world they took one more ship around across the inner sea and to the far off land of Katapesh.

During the trip his uncle taught Jingar the ways of the god caller. Although he never managed to summon his little god, the boy took to heart the historical connection of his people to the divine. What he also learned was that those in Gundrun were not the only Kellids left of Sarkoris. Some of the tribes turned on their own people and joined the demonic invasion. As their civilization was destroyed they killed their own for their new masters. These were the sins of his father’s father and the reason his family would always be dishonored.

Katapesh was not unlike his home in The Worldwound. Outside of the cities the land was harsh and unforgiving. Giving up the bitter cold for the sweltering heat took some getting used to but eventually he managed. Unlike his parents, his uncle had no settled job. He was what some might call an adventurer. And not every – as a matter of fact not most – of these adventurers were meant for children. Jingar spent a lot of time in small fringe towns while his uncle was off exploring some ruin.

Being alone gave the boy a lot of time to think. He loved his family, but now that he knew their history he longed for the days when his people were powerful. He longed for the history of strong leaders his father had told him about. In his longing both pride and denial of their horrific act grew.

In one small frontier town out in the Katapesh desert Jingar had an encounter with a group of traders. They called him a barbarian, uncivilized, and backward. They said that his people would never amount to anything. It was then that Jingar heard the call, he touched the divine and it heard his call, but what he called wasn’t the will of his people of old, it was the new divinity of his people as they are now.

Like the cave paintings of those who kidnapped him, Jingar’s little god was an aberrant ball of mouths and tentacles. The creature poured forth into the world and began to attack the traders. As his little god lay waste to those who would taunt him Jingar saw visions of The Worldwound. A voice called him to reclaim his cursed kingdom and take his mantle as chief.

Before his uncle could return Jingar ran off. He lost himself in the deserts of Katapesh with the voice of the Qlippoth Lord Yamasoth gibbering away in his mind. Unsure of where to go next he has twisted his love of his family with the need to rebuild their lost civilization in his own image as an homage to them. For now he is alone with his new master and his little god.

My interpretation of these bits of information isn’t the only way to build this character. What class did your half-elf choose? How did he come to worship Yamasoth? Who was the relative that he was so close to? Why did he mass murder a bunch of tradesmen?

Bringing these characters to life is a second full-time job. Contributions to my Patreon or Paypal help me invest more of that time into creation instead of worrying about keeping the lights on. If you’d like to support your favorite content provider – come on, that’s me, admit it – please consider contributing.

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Character 65 - Kyroo Atswata

So this week’s random rolls saw a uber smart and very attentive half-elf. A killer and a follower of the Fey Eldest of reincarnation. The question as always is how to tie all of this together. Picking a class is always the hardest but this time I went with the Arcanist, particularly the Elemental Master Archetype. So take a look and see if this is close to what you came up with.

Kyroo Atswata

Kyroo was born on a boat, literally he was born aboard a ship at sea. His mother is a half-elf of Ekujae stock taken by Apsis Consortium slavers and his father was a sailor from Bloodcove from Bonuwat ethnicity of the Mwangi people. Kyroo was born on the ship on which is father was a crewmen although he couldn’t admit the boy was his.

To the Apsis his mother was useless after she gave birth and so they sold her to slavers to take to the market in Okeno. When his wife and son were about to be sent off his father stood up and demanded they not be sold. But standing up to the Apsis Consortium is never a wise move and Kyroo’s father was struck down. Weeping his mother carried the now fatherless child aboard the yellow sailed slave galley and set off to be sold.

On the way west the ship stopped in Absalom to see if it could unload some cargo before reaching its final destination. Although frowned upon slavery is not illegal in the City at the Center of the World. A few of the less desirable stock including the mother and her infant son were taken to the slave pits on Misery Row. There they were bought by a wealthy trader whose own son needed a wet nurse.

Kyroo grew up in the house of the merchant, alongside his master’s son. When the boy no longer needed a wet nurse Kyroo’s mother was kept on as a maid. They weren’t treated poorly – although they were still slaves – and the merchant allowed the young half-elf to tag along when he took his own son on business around the city. Kyroo’s favorite stop was when his master would go to the docks to check on ships and goods. Somewhere in his heart he always longed for the sea.

As he grew older the merchant noticed that Kyroo had an affinity for water. One day he watch the boy make small droplets of rain appear over his own head. With little else for the boy to do around the house his master arranged for him to take the annual open exams at the Arcanamirium. With Kyroo’s astute mind and incredible intuition he ranked himself as a high level apprentice, with little to no actual magical training. Kyroo was even chosen to be sponsored by one of the faculty members.

Kyroo studied for years, combining his talent for water spells with his natural aptitude for ships and sailing. The Arcanamirium was well known for teaching how to combine spellcraft with everyday mundane activities. During his time there he befriended a young bard who couldn’t take anything seriously. The duo were in stark contrast with the bards light hearted and whimsical personality and Kyroo’s subdued and practical approach to everything.

While learning magic from the Arcanamirium Kyroo also sought out a metaphysical place in the world. Since the school brought in many different magical philosophies – including clerical – kyroo had a chance to meet people of many different faiths. The one that stuck with him most was an elvish druid who followed the teachings of the Fey Eldest known as Shyka. Belief in the malleability of time and the reincarnation of ones soul were core to the teachings. Kyroo latched on to the belief that one day his father would be reincarnated and the two could meet again at last.

After graduating the merchant sought to use Kyroo as a force on his ships. After all the man was still technically he and his mother’s master. Although the half-elf felt at home with the idea of being on a ship he didn’t enjoy being forced to be there. He fought against the posting but he would soon have no choice but to set sail.

The elder cleric felt it was his time to be placed back into the great cycle of reincarnation. But the elf was fearful of death none-the-less. He very carefully talked Kyroo into helping him ease himself into his next life. However, not everyone could see the beauty in moving on and Kyroo was now wanted for murder. He had only one place to turn, his bardic friend.

Although the bard came off as a fool he was actually just one who understood that custom and propriety weren’t always right. He felt his friend hadn’t done anything wrong and helped plan his escape. Although he couldn’t set out with him, he helped get Kyroo onto a ship setting forth to many ports of Garund. Leaving his mother and the life he knew behind, set on his own eventual entropic course to the end. He would seek out the world until it too was his turn to rejoin the cycle of reincarnation.

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Random Roll 65 - The Randomness

This week’s random rolls have brought us a half-elf living in Absalom with Mwangi human stock. Born into bondage and trained at an academy, he worships the fey Eldest of entropy, reincarnation, and time. Physically frail and of average looks and personality where he really excels is intellect and awareness. So what will become of this character for Friday.

Gender: Male

Race: Half-Elf

Human Ethnicity: Mwangi (Bonuwat)

Nationality: Absalom

Age:  28
Height: 6’ 1”
Weight: 165 lbs

Alignment: True Neutral

Str: 11

Dex: 12

Con:  9

Int: 18

Wis: 15

Cha: 11

Homeland: Forest

Parents: Only your mother is alive.

Siblings: You have no siblings.

Circumstance of Birth: [Born into Bondage] You were born into slavery or servitude. Your parents are likely slaves or servants, or you were sold into slavery as an infant.

Parent's Profession: Tradespeople

Major Childhood Event: [Academy Training] You attended a private academy where you studied a number of skills and gained training in your current profession. Whether you were a brilliant student or a dropout, the university environment was your home for a good portion of your formative years.

Influential Associate: [The Fool] One of your close associates was a clown who mocked propriety and custom, instead engaging in wild and somewhat random actions from time to time. After a while, you learned that there was simple wisdom to this foolery—a careless worldview that taught you how to cast off concern.

Conflict: [Murder] You killed someone.

Conflict Subject: Clergy.

Conflict Motivation: Pressured or Manipulated.

Conflict Resolution: [No Guilt] Either guilt is for the weak, or you know you made the right decision. You might not openly brag about your part in the conflict, but you don’t deny it when confronted either.

Deity/Religious Philosophy: Shyka

Romantic Relationship(s): [Several Inconsequential Relationships] You have had many lovers but no long-lasting, meaningful relationships.

Drawback: [Religion] Your beliefs are of paramount importance in your life, whether you belong to a temple, follow a cult, or practice a religious philosophy independently. When others question or attack the beliefs, principles, relics, or structures of your faith, you respond with fury.

(Trait) Artisan

(Trait) Civilized

(Trait) Artisan

(Trait) Shaper of Reality

(Trait) Focused Mind

(Trait) Life of Toil

(Trait) Log Roller

(Trait) Unpredictable

(Drawback) Zealous

In the comments please tell us what character you would make with these disparate pieces information? What class would this Half-Elf naturally gravitate towards? What academy did he train at? Who did he kill? And why? Who had his family enslaved and how did he get free? And don’t forget to stay tuned Friday when my background hits the CRB.

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but makes you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to created please consider supporting your favorite content provider – that’s me right – by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon or making a direct donation to my Paypal. 

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Character Exploration 36 - Krunder Hound-Speaker

A half-elf whose defining ability is his insane toughness was a tough call. Not strong enough to be a great melee fighter, not dexterous enough to excel as an archer, lacking the wisdom or intelligence to be a great caster. Just incredibly hard to keep down and a force of personality to back it up. The rest of the background information, seen here, left little clue to his possible life path. His choice of worship, the inscrutable fey lord, Count Ranalc of the Eldest, spoke of betrayal—possibly exile.

I did finally pick a class after much deliberation and finishing a good deal of the background of his early years. I went with cavalier. Specifically the huntmaster archetype and the Order of the Green. In an attempt to codify why his life would lead him here, I rolled on the cavalier background table and the result helped clear things up.

Tragedy and Loss: In your formative years, you experienced a significant tragedy that forged you into the person you've become. You gain access to the Grief-Filled social trait.

Krunder Hound-Speaker

In the time before Starfall the elves inhabited many of the great forests across the face of Golarion. When the elves fled not all left with them. Some fled into the darklands and became the drow, others moved into the lands of humans and became the forlorn, but other still stood their ground to protect their forest homes. In the Fangwood forest that spans between what is now Nirmathas and Lastwall one such elven enclave exists.

Feeling betrayed by their people, forgotten and living in near exile from their kin in Kyonin, these elves have taken up what they consider their fey roots. Many revere the Eldest called Count Ranalc, seeing his dominion over those who have been betrayed and cast aside as their only means of survival. They seek to protect their primeval home allying with the fey of the wood. Over the course of centuries, however, Northern Fangwood has been the roosting ground of a great green dragon and much later tribes of orcs who worship him. More recently Southern Fangwood has seen a rot with the corruption of a dryad and her tree bringing a great blight.

All in all the elves of Northern Fangwood tend to be less whimsical than the other elves of Golarion, and for this reason it comes as no surprise when the odd child tries to make an escape into the humans lands. Usually the runaway elf is captured before he or she can even make the edge of the forest, but Allissitiare was the daughter of the enclave’s best tracker and she had been keeping ahead of the other hunters since she was only fifty. Once past the border of the forest, she made it to Vellumis and then a boat to the lands of Razmiran.

Allissitiare’s intent was to make for the River Kingdoms, where everyone was hiding from something, but as is often the case love got in the way. A whirlwind romance with a kellid trader found the young elf maiden in the unlikeliest of places, Numeria. Kord lived apart from his tribe but traded their goods on trips to Ustalav, Razmiran, and the River Kingdoms. His return with an elven lover set him even further afield, even after she proved she was just as good a hunter as any of them. Even with his people’s disfavor they eventually bore a child and then another.

Krunder was the eldest and he showed the blood of both his parents with slightly pointed ears and his mother’s purple eyes, as well as his father’s thick build and ruddy skin tone. Haram was the younger brother by two years and took only after his father, his mother’s elven blood did not pass on, leaving him wholly human. Regardless of their appearance they were a family and loved each other as such.

The lands of Numeria are known for their many dangers, and sadly while traveling back to Razmiran to trade Kord was felled by an irradiated ankheg. With his tribe never really caring for her, Allissitiare left the barrens of Numeria and headed home with her sons, now ten and eight. Although she feared going back to the Fangwood, Lastwall was home and she crossed Lake Encarthan once more and settled into the lakeside town she passed through once before, Vellumis.

The thing about elves is they have a long memory, and the elves of the Fangwood keep constant vigil for those who might spread tales of their existence. When Allissitiare made her return to the shores of Lastwall it was not very long before she was met by representatives of her former home. Cornered and threatened the elves of Fangwood wrested Krunder from his mother’s grasp. They informed her of their intention to keep her eldest child. If she never came for him and kept the secret of the elves of Fangwood then she and both of her sons could live.

In the shadow painted depths of Northern Fangwood Krunder was brought before his grandfather, still head of the Fangwood enclave’s defenders. The young half-elf was placed with his cousin and her husband, who had no children of their own.  Both were soldiers as were most of the elves of Fangwood and Krunder learned to live a very strict and regimented life.

When he was of age he was enrolled in the academy where all youngsters were trained in the fighting arts. Krunder was tough and could take a beating better than any of the other students, but he had no aptitude for the blade and was little better with the bow. He also lacked any talent with magic, natural or otherwise. What the half-elf did have was an affinity for animals, specifically canines. Krunder was apprenticed with the master of the kennel who in his day was a great huntsman and a member of the Order of the Green.

After graduating the academy Krunder was given the name Hound-Speaker. The elders also tried to give him a more elven name but he refused to be called anything but that which his father named him. For decades Krunder served as one of the enclave’s troops. Hunting orcs with his faithful hound Feruss but this life, this strict order, this exile from his true family ate at his heart. Eventually, like his mother, he ran, and like his mother he left behind the darkness and despair of his people as he tore through the border of Northern Fangwood.

The first place he made for was Vellumis to find his mother, but neither she nor his brother could be found there. Very few remembered the elf woman with the human son, and even those who did couldn’t say when she left or where she’d gone. Although free of the Fangwood he was still an exile from his loved ones. The one thing that stuck with him was the worship of Count Ranalc as the voice of the exile and those who have been betrayed. And now Krunder searches for his family with no hint of where to start.

The shadows of Fangwood (and the random rolls) have birthed Krunder Hound-Speaker, but this may not be the character you envisioned. What character did the disparate pieces of information call on you to make? Why would he follow Count Ranalc? From where did his parents come from? Who is the man he would become?

Have you been inspired to make your own random characters, or use one of these as an NPC in your game? The CRB thrives on the support of its viewers, consider becoming one of its supporters by contributing on my Patreon. Looking for more out of the CRB? Then you’re in luck. Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook all now have a CRB presence. And if you’re as impatient as I am, have the CRB pushed directly to your Kindle with every new post by signing up for Kindle Subscriptions.

Random Roll 36 - The Randomness

A Half-Elf who’s human parent was of Kelish. Adopted outside of his family and raised amongst the elves even though he has a living brother and mother. Blessed with incredible vitality and hardiness as well as a natural presence about him. Follower of the fey lord of betrayal exiles and shadows, Count Ranalc. But who is he? What choices did he make, or were made for him to get him to this place? What is the story for this set of disparate rolls?

Race: Half-Elf

Human Parent Ethnicity: Kellid.
Nationality: Lastwall.

Age: 31
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 135 lbs.

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Str: 10

Dex: 12

Con: 20

Int: 12

Wis: 10

Cha: 14

Homeland: Raised in an Elven Homeland - Forest
Parents: Only your mother is alive.
Siblings: You have one biological sibling.
- biological younger brother
Circumstance of Birth: [Adopted] You were not raised by your birth family, but taken in by another family within your race or culture.
Birth Parent's Profession: Tradespeople
Adopted Parent's Profession: Soldiers
Major Childhood Event: [Academy Training] You attended a private academy where you studied a number of skills and gained training in your current profession. Whether you were a brilliant student or a dropout, the university environment was your home for a good portion of your formative years.

Influential Associate: [Well-Connected Friend] In your circle of disparate associates, there was someone everyone knew. This person collected friends like trophies, and she had contacts in every social or professional circle. Through this connection, you continue to meet and associate with a wide variety of people in every walk of life.

Conflict: [Corrupted an Innocent] You counseled an otherwise innocent person who trusted you, toward adverse choices.
Conflict Subject: Non-humanoid monster.
Conflict Motivation: Amusement or Entertainment.
Conflict Resolution: [No Guilt] Either guilt is for the weak, or you know you made the right decision. You might not openly brag about your part in the conflict, but you don’t deny it when confronted either.
Deity/Religious Philosophy: Count Ranalc

Romantic Relationship(s): [Several Inconsequential Relationships] You have had many lovers but no long-lasting, meaningful relationships.
Drawback: [Loyalty] You value loyalty over all things. You treasure the friends, associates, and lovers you have earned throughout the years, and when someone breaks your trust or betrays you in some way, you become utterly unhinged.

Available Traits/Feats/Drawbacks

(Trait) Artisan

(Trait) Ease of Faith

(Trait) Focused Mind

(Trait) Kin Bond

(Trait) Life of Toil

(Trait) Log Roller

(Trait) Tactician

(Trait) Well-Informed

(Trait) Worldly

(Drawback) Pride

In the comments please tell us what character you would make with this information? What class would he naturally gravitate too? Who is this half-elf?

The CRB not only brings you the creative content you desire but makes you look inside for your own creativity. If you feel both inspired and pushed to created please consider supporting your favorite content provider (that’s me) by pledging as little as $1 on my Patreon. If you don’t want to miss a beat make sure you sign up to get the CRB pushed directly to your e-reading device with Kindle Subscriptions through Amazon. And to keep up with my other musings and thoughts you can follow the CRB on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.