Step 1:
Grahm is the grandson of an adventurer that quested with Sir Eustus. His grandfather told Grahm's father that Sir Eustus was a good man, and would help their family in case of emergencies. His father was an adventurer as well, and has now retired, however an old enemy has returned to strike at him. Grahm's father sent Grahm to go live with Sir Eustus, where he believed he would be safe and hidden from the eyes of his foe. That was nearly 6 months ago, and Grahm's indignation at being left out from the fight has changed to fear for his family's life, 6 long months have passed, and there has been no word from his father.
Grahm grew up knowing he wanted to be just like his dad, Craher. Unlike many adventurers, Craher had accumulated enough wealth to retire before he settled down to have a family, and he actually adopted a child, so Grahm got to spend his early years with his father, listening to two generation's worth of tales of adventure. However, he grew up without any maternal influence. This led to him feeling like he needed to prove himself, and when he was younger, he was a bit of a brat. Now he’s trying to improve himself as he’s beginning to learn that adventuring has more to it than just smashing monsters, you also have to be heroic. Currently in the process of trying to stop being a selfish kid, and become a true hero.
Graham is a quite romantic individual, instead of logical, and thinks with his heart instead of his head. Despite this, he is actually quite bright,
He’s fairly physically impressive, and has been training to be a great fighter like his dad. However unlike his father, he prefers to come up with machiavellian strategies, which fail as often as they succeed. He’s always had an interest in being a mounted combatant, but has a slight stigma against ranged weapon users.
A particularly significant event in Grahm's life, (other than being sent away from home) was the first time his father took him on a small "adventure." While not being very long, or particularly dangerous, the feeling of finally being accepted as a potential fellow adventurer by his father hardened his resolve to follow in his footsteps.
Although he'd never admit it, he would also takes considerable joy in baking, in particular watching others enjoy the end result, and has some native talent for it.
Step 2:
Goal 1: (In game) To learn as much as he can from Eustus so he can be ready to help his father with this old enemy.
Goal 2: (Player) Emphasize the transition from bratty kid to heroic do-gooder
Goal 3: (Player/In game) Have Grahm become an accepted part of the town, or at the very least well liked, learn the value of teamwork, listening to others, usual hothead stuff.
Goal 4: As a late adolescent, he'd probably be interested in getting to know some of the more eligible singles in the town, but if that's not an aspect you're interested in exploring, I totally, get it, and I have no qualms about dropping it.
Step 3:
Secret 1: Grahm has actually never killed anything bigger than a fly before. Although he acts tough, and has endured numerous beatings as part of his training, he has yet to be in a fight where he truly feared for his life.
Secret 2: (Unknown) Unbeknownst to Grahm, his adopted father killed his birth parents while adventuring, and adopted the seemingly family-less infant. The man who now hunts his father could be related in some way? Feel free to work with that!
Secret 3: Bonus! In lieu of being allowed into town, Grahm has started caring for a stray kitten that lives on Sir Eustus's estate. He has yet to tell the old man, because he is still unsure if he'd allow him to keep it. The kitten's name is Virgil.
Step 4:
Notable NPC 1: Sir Eustus and his servants are an obvious connection. Grahm has tried unsuccessfully to get Sir Eustus to show him some of his fighting techniques, but holds out hope that perhaps one day the old man will relent. He has been doing his best to make himself useful around the house, although the unseen servants do a much better job, and although he may occasionally be a little more curt than his elders would prefer, he heard stories of Sir Eustus in his prime from his father, and has nothing but respect for the old man. When Grahm comes into his prime he wants to be like his father, but when he comes into his retirement, Sir Eustus is his model of success. At the end of the day, he is still quite intimidated by the elderly gent.
Notable NPC 2: Also rather obviously, his father's enemy if aware of his existence would also be his enemy, and might try to get to Grahm to enact vengeance. I have intentionally left this vague with the hope that something interesting pops up in your mind, so I'll put in some extra effort in these other NPC's.
Notable NPC 3: Virgil the kitten. A playful beast who Grahm nursed back to health when found in Sir Eustis's garden. Grahm's only companion in this trying period of his life. Grahm has spent multiple afternoons crying with Virgil when the weight of the world seems to be too much for him. Still, Grahm's most immediate fear is that Sir Eustus would disapprove of a cat on his grounds, and worries that one day he'll never see Virgil again.
Notable NPC 4: Grahm is on very bad terms with Mrs. Mucinus, as he cannot stand the food that she tries to feed him. Worse yet, they took an instant disliking to each other. She also disapproves of his training in the gardens.
Notable NPC 5: In order to first nurse Virgil back to health, Grahm needed to ask Leeka Roundbottle for a healing mixture when she came to the garden. He claimed it was for a large cut that he inflicted on himself to reduce suspicion, but the halfling seemed only half convinced. Grahm now avoids her when he can to avoid drawing further suspicion.
Step 5:
This has already been sort of incorporated into the other sections, but I'll keep going! Backstory creation is fun.
Grahm is left-handed, but has spent most of his life learning right handed sword forms. Only recently has he learned to use his left hand as his main hand, and still swings a little too hard as compensation for his weaker right.
Grahm has a slight limp that mysteriously vanishes when he forgets about it. He thinks that it will make him seem more grizzled and experienced. It only serves to show how young he still is.
Grahm loves listening to stories, no matter how boring, and has a knack for remembering strange details. This makes him endearing to those who often find themselves ignored.
Grahm has adopted one of Sir Eustus's favorite idioms from over-exposure.
