| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Solomon |
Posted - 29 Jun 2007 : 13:31:30
Hey everybody,
I'm looking to write a short story (published online) set in the Sword Coast, with the possibility of doing an ongoing series. The trouble is, I'm having some difficulty sorting out a few basic plot elements, and since I've been mightily impressed by some of the creative ideas of the forum residents here, not to mention their near exhaustive knowledge of the Realms, I figured there'd be no better place to ask for assistance.
First off, a few vital statistics - the protagonist will be a male Moon Elf and speaking in game terms, Chaotic Neutral in alignment (though he may deviate from this as the story progresses). In terms of personality, a major source of inspiration was the 'clever scoundrel' archetype from Complete Scoundrel. He's basically a survivor at heart - he's cunning, resourceful and able to survive through a combination of wit and charm. His main personality strengths are his ability to persevere in spite of adversity and his daring, whereas some of his flaws include his selfishness, recklessness and lack of trust. His personality is both a product of his natural elven heritage (his highly individualistic streak) and his upbringing - nature versus nurture will be one of the major themes of his personality.
The key concept with regard to origin is that for some reason, he grew up on the streets of a human city (inspired by the 'Guttersnipe' background of the Player's Handbook II). One idea I had was that he was the product of an extra-marital affair by an elven noble, and was taken to human lands and abandoned to avoid bringing shame on the family, but this doesn't make a lot of sense - why would they take the child to the human lands? It seems more like an idea for a half-elf character. The other idea I had was that while being taken away (for example, the child is given to the father - the extra-marital lover - who is told or decides to leave) the bearer is killed while traveling through the human city. This seems to work a little better, but doesn't explain how he survived - babies don't raise themselves. I'd be interested in hearing any other ideas or variations any of you might have.
Basically, the character spends his youth as a rogue, picking pockets and stealing what he can to survive - his natural agility and his intelligence makes him particularly adept at his craft. His activities soon draw the attention of a local power group (more on this shortly) and after a near-death escape, he is forced to flee the city (this point basically marks the beginning of the story). Of course, there's more to it than that, but I don't want to spoil it. 
Anyway, one of the other big issues I have been dealing with is where to set the story, and have narrowed it down to just a couple of possibilities. I really liked the idea of Luskan - as a city of pirates and evil wizards, it seems like the perfect setting for a character like this to grow up in. I particularly like the presence of the Arcane Brotherhood - they would likely be a major influence on his attitudes towards spellcasters and magic in general (which will become important later). However, there are a few issues - for one, location: it's the northernmost point of the Sword Coast, and because it's not really on the way to anywhere, it's hard to justify why the child would have been taken there instead of somewhere else. I'd have to think carefully about where his elven parents were from, since the closest major populations of elves would be the High Forest or Evermeet: again, the problem of why would an elf from either of those places be taken to Luskan? Also, in some of the sources I've read, Luskan seems to have issues with non-humans - I mean, it's not Hillsfar, but it doesn't seem like there's much tolerance for them (then again, this could be a good thing - the added dimension of growing up in an intolerant society, discriminated against and viewed with suspicion and envy because of his race).
The other possibility for this initial setting would be Waterdeep. This is a lot easier to work with in terms of the origin story, since it would be easy enough to justify him being brought to the city (brought by ship from Evermeet, for example) due to both the closer proximity to elven lands and the city being the largest in Faerun - there seems to be more reason for an elf to go there. That said, I'm not sure I like this setting as much, since it's already seen a lot of use in Realms fiction and also because of other characters there of a similar nature (for example Elaith Craulnober - also a rogueish Moon Elf who originally hailed from Evermeet). I think if I went with this setting, I'd need to make my character's background more distinctive in order to distinguish him from existing characters. Maybe something involving Skullport would be cool, but my knowledge of Waterdeep is pretty limited (another reason why I'd prefer to work elsewhere) and I'd need some help.
I mentioned a run-in with a power group before - this would be dependent on location: in Luskan I'd likely go with the Arcane Brotherhood (due to later developments that I'd rather not reveal yet), whereas if I went with Waterdeep it could involve Xanathar's Guild or the Shadow Thieves or something.
So, in summary - any ideas on his story of origin (who are his parents, what was the story of his birth, why did he grow up in human lands, etc.)? Also, which location do you recommend I set the story in (Luskan or Waterdeep being the examples provided)? Be sure to keep in mind his story of origin - he is an elf after all. I will add further questions if I think of any.
I have a wide array of source books to work from if there's something in there you'd like to suggest I should look at. I would ask your permission before using any of the ideas you suggest and if I ended up using them I would be sure to give you credit where credit is due. Feel free to ask for more information on the character if there's more you'd like to know. I'd really appreciate any ideas, input or advice any of you have to offer. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Daniel of the North |
Posted - 24 Aug 2007 : 15:07:15
quote:
Originally posted by Marquant Volker
i see and understand your problems with the Elven lifespan, and the abandoning of the child from his elven parents, since elves are emotional and caring creatures. This two obstacles can by bypassed if you make the child a Half-Elf, it also fits (in my opinion) with the rogue attidute (hybrid,outcast,loner etc)
Some half-elves have not elven features at all, so with a quick glance he can pass as a human and thus the way he survived in Luskan (by denying his heritage?)
As a place to start have you thought about Moonshae Islands? Its a colourfull place, really close to Evermeet and its been a while since i heard from there.
Just some ideas..
And a good one indeed! This may explain why Valindra Shadowmatle parted with her child.
Im thinking, how about starting the book of with this half-elf beeing raised by a human. Not Valindra`s lover, but a realative of some kind. Learning about his past as he vitness his human "father" death (of age).
I will look in to this when I have more time.
Good luck! |
| Marquant Volker |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 04:28:33
i see and understand your problems with the Elven lifespan, and the abandoning of the child from his elven parents, since elves are emotional and caring creatures. This two obstacles can by bypassed if you make the child a Half-Elf, it also fits (in my opinion) with the rogue attidute (hybrid,outcast,loner etc)
Some half-elves have not elven features at all, so with a quick glance he can pass as a human and thus the way he survived in Luskan (by denying his heritage?)
As a place to start have you thought about Moonshae Islands? Its a colourfull place, really close to Evermeet and its been a while since i heard from there.
Just some ideas..
|
| Solomon |
Posted - 01 Jul 2007 : 01:58:01
Kuje: On going over the relevant lore and doing a little thinking, I don't think I'll be able to use Valindra after all due to the timeframe - she's just too young for me to be able to feasibly suggest she had a child who could grow to an age for the stories I intend to tell given the current year in the Realms, especially as (depending on the response) I'd like the option to continue the stories even after he reaches elven adulthood (and at the rate of time progression in the Realms thus far, this wouldn't be possible). I think my best option is to come up with something different for his origin and set the stories in the recent past, so that the character comes to full adulthood during the current year.
Now, last night before bed I came up with a few more ideas regarding his time in Luskan, though I have yet to tie them in with how he actually came to be in the city. They involve a foster father figure, the background of which I've not yet worked out - one possibility is a former sailor who retired to Luskan and operates a small trading business out of the city. The most important feature of this foster father figure is a connection to the Arcane Brotherhood (who in addition to criminal enterprises have connections to legitimate trade in the region) - perhaps they exchange information (from his connections in trade) and/or a share of his profits for continuing to allow him to operate his business (with the underlying threat that since they hold the real power in town, they could easily do with him what they will).
Anyway, the character spends the earliest years of his life (as you said, probably until the elven equivalent of 8-10 years) provided for by the foster father, who by this time has grown old (he was already in his late middle years, and elves grow slowly and have long lifespans). The key turning point comes when the relationship between the foster father and the Arcane Brotherhood sours - he is shortly thereafter arrested (on some made-up charge) by the corrupt town authorities (but not before he tells his elven foster child to escape). The foster father is then subjected to Luskan's harsh justice (public execution), and the elf child witnesses this spectacle. This is one of the key points of his childhood, instilling in him a great anger and hatred of the Brotherhood (and to a certain extent, of arcane spellcasters in general).
Since the deceased foster father's assets have been seized, the child seeks out the few people in town his father dealt with on a regular basis - however, none are willing to offer shelter or assistance for fear of drawing the suspicions of the Arcane Brotherhood (the child is the ward of an executed criminal, after all). This is another key experience of his childhood - embittered, he vows never again to rely on the charity of others, and that from that point on he will trust no one, surviving only by his own wits.
As a street urchin, he grows up stealing food and picking pockets to survive, taking shelter in the alleyways and abandoned buildings of the slums, running from gangs of thugs and becoming highly resourceful. As time goes on (and as he improves at his craft) he gravitates to riskier crimes (the value he puts on his own life at this stage is exceedingly low) with a larger pay-off, and begins to gain some recognition among the criminal underworld of Luskan, who see him as a talented and daring rogue with a lot of potential.
Unfortunately for him, this also draws the attention of the Arcane Brotherhood, who "have their fingers in any number of unsavory pies" (Lords of Darkness, pg. 108), and an ambitious young mageling is dispatched to make him an offer he cannot refuse: work as an agent for the Brotherhood and the fact that he is the child of an executed criminal will be overlooked, or else. Of course, having seen the rewards bestowed on those who serve the Brotherhood, he refuses and while deciding what to do, he is attacked by the mageling (who hopes to earn the favor of his superiors through single-handedly eliminating this nuisance). Fortunately, he is able to kill the mageling (who underestimates the young elf child) - another important turning point in his early life (the first time he took a life), and plots his escape from the city . . .
I've already said too much.
Any thoughts, opinions, additions, amendments, or anything at all? I really appreciate this help with brainstorming. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 30 Jun 2007 : 00:32:12
Aye, no problem.
Another thing, maybe he's a bit jaded because he watched all of his human companions grow old and die, while he continued to mature and grow..... So, it caused him to become bitter and angry. |
| Solomon |
Posted - 29 Jun 2007 : 23:58:52
I think that's actually a pretty interesting idea - especially considering future involvement with the Arcane Brotherhood.
As you've said, the lifespan was always going to be an issue. The fact that this character was raised among humans would accentuate this fact - I mean, if he had been raised among elves he'd likely have peers and would lead a relatively normal life, whereas among humans he'll face an even more exaggerated plethora of problems than a half-elf: the vast gap in rates of maturity, etc. Perhaps more important than this is the time frame - after all, Arklem Greeth himself came to the Host Tower in around 1311DR, and Valindra herself is only 147 years old (according to Lords of Darkness), meaning that the elf in question would have to be very young indeed.
Thank you so much for your suggestion - I hadn't expected a reply so soon. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 29 Jun 2007 : 16:12:54
Maybe he is a offspring of Valindra Shadowmantle, who is a female moon elf and the Master of the North Tower of the Arcane. Her stats/info are in Lords of Darkness and Silver Marches.
He could have been given away after Valindra birthed him, or given to his father. After the elf grew, if you want to keep him an elf, maybe Valindra killed the father or tried to kill both of them but the character managed to escape.
Just a idea, if you are going to use Luskan....
The problem with elf NPC's is you have to think about the first century or so of their life and who raised them for a century. |
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