Rock Halfblood's page

Step 1: Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile…whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum…more elements are encouraged!
1. Rock is a big girl, standing at about 6 feet and muscular at that. She is not very green skinned., for a half-orc. In fact, her skin tone is almost normal, pinkish though under close inspection maybe a little green-tinted. Mostly her heritage is visible in the strong muscles and powerful lines of her; Rock is no retiring flower. She does have tusks, though like her skin they are subtle, mostly noticeable when she smiles, which isn’t often. She dresses in loose, easy fitting clothing with no armor at all and no weapons, (and usually no shoes) though one always gets the impression that she’s never exactly unarmed when looking at the size of her biceps.

2. Rock is one of Zhen’s many (many) ‘grandchildren’. She’s never met the old man, though her mother knew him well enough, and he’s always sent the little half-orc presents at appropriate holidays. Still, her relationship with him is a bit distant, so his request to come see him strikes her as odd – with so many family members, surely someone else would have been a better choice to visit his deathbed…

3. Rock is abrasive. Not exactly pretty, and used to being wild and unkempt, she has a personality to match. Not mean, just not very diplomatic, and definitely not patient, Rock tends to make more enemies than she does friends. She is generally good natured, but has a terrible temper, only exacerbated by her somewhat slow understanding of the world around her.
4. Rock wanted to be a monk. She wanted to be a monk really, really badly. She always admired the zen calmness and careful consideration of the monks she met, which seemed to her the best way to handle the lingering aggression of her orc blood. But her temperament simply was not suited to the pursuit of quiet contemplation and self perfection, try and study as she might. Bounced from temple to temple, she has become an excellent martial artist, but cannot and will never be able to tap into the deeper powers and understanding of other monks. This is a bit of a disappointment to her, and she hasn’t quite accepted it yet.

5. Rock was raised (more or less) in Katapesh until she began her monk training. Since then, she’s bounced from temples all over the Inner Sea. Its amusing to her to return to Katapesh – she hasn’t been here since she was a child.

Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.

1. Rock wants to be a (real) monk; as far as she’s concerned, she isn’t one. She never will be; her chaotic nature is too strong, but she will always try and learn and do monk-like things anyway.

2. I want to build Rock like a tank, dipping into Barb and bringing her to the forefront of battles slappin’ folk and trippin’ dudes. She’ll be resistant to Barbarian levels; it’d be cool to run her through coming to embrace that side of herself.

Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!

1. The human half of the Rock equation was at one time Shaonti (Both of her parents were already half-orcs). Her family doesn’t particularly think that the Shaonti would be too pleased to have mixed with orcs; its not a secret so much as an interesting fact that isn’t advertised too much. Not too hard since Rock’s never been through Varisia. (yet)

2. Rock is not actually one of Zhen’s Grandchildren – she’s one of his daughters, though her mother didn’t want to admit to having an affair with the old adventurer.

Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.

1. Dhama – Rock’s mother, a half orc woman that works at a meat stall in Katapesh. She raised her daughter as best she could, but was somewhat relieved when she could pawn her off on temples.

2. Rock is close to a few of the monks who taught her, most of all with Regnar, a half-orc monk that she met at one of her many temple stops. He is perhaps her greatest inspiration for monk-hood – she has always been a little jealous of his ability to control himself. And maybe she has a little crush. Maybe. Shh.

3. Zoruk – A human boy that Rock beat up for calling her fang-face. Rock definitely still holds a grudge, even if he doesn’t.

Step 5: Describe three memories that your character has. They don’t have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.
1. Rock’s first and formative impression of a monk was the one that tore her and Zoruk apart from their fights. He seemed so calm and logical and … cool … he was the only person that ever made her feel ashamed of her temper and violent instincts and want to control them…She is still having a hard time accepting that that just isn’t her.
2. Rock doesn’t like to drink. Or, well, she does like it … maybe too much. So she’s stopped herself from drinking altogether to try and control any possible addiction; but lets face it … drunk monks are better.
3. Rock loves animals. Sadly, animals do not like her. But that won’t stop her from trying to play with every lost kitty!