Step 1: Background and Concept Elements
1) Viri Farthingdale grew up with semi-retired adventurer parents. Her father Eston was a bard, and her mother Virin was a rogue. The rest of the party and their kids were an extended family.
2) Her parents' group went on a quest to seek a strange travelling island that was a planar focus point when she was 12. The children went along with the journey, but they were intended to stay with the ship. But the island was surrounded with a planar storm and the ship began to sink. Viri was put into a sea-chest with a bottle of air and ring of sustenance in hopes of survival.
3) She landed on the island and immediately had to hide from monsters that came in from the planes. She found a monastery on a hill with a beached pirate ship below. Both were abandoned by the living, but the ghosts of some monks and pirates remained locked in battle. The ghosts of Grandmaster Ooliswa and Captain Excelsior took pity on her and helped raise and train her. The monastery's library was very well stocked within it's field.
4) She used the pirates' booty and the monk's relics to help her survive on an island of monsters. There was a pool of healing waters that she would flee to when wounded, but she also learned to help herself in the field.
5) Eventually, she learned enough to access one of the portals on the island and fled to a strange enormous city demiplane, the Many-Angled City. She hired on as an adventurer there, but never felt comfortable. It was a savage place and the groups she'd hire into were all looking to gain advantage and take as much as possible.
6) When she was finally recruited into the Lady's service, she found peace. A place of culture and knowledge was a respite, and she felt honored to earn her place here. The teams had a purpose beyond mere money.
Step 2: Goals
1) She would like to go on a long sailing voyage. She's learned about ships, but has little actual experience.
2) Deep down, she is a romantic. She hasn't had much experience with people, but one day, she'd like to find love.
Step 3: Secrets
1) On the island, she found a cave with deep mists. She received a prophecy. "The Dragon is hiding it's true colors. The mark of faith will reveal it's true motives." She has been mulling over this for years.
2) She doesn't know it, but one of her parents and one of her childhood friends survived. They had a divination that she is alive and are seeking to find her.
Step 4: People
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) Ashkren Duvalier. He is a tiefling inquisitor who wanders the planes seeking people who could serve the Lady. It's rumored he was banished but chose to continue to serve by leading those with the proper heart to her door.
2a) Grandmaster Ooliswa. While he is a ghost trapped on an island, he knows the art of dream-walking. As her mentor and friend, he sometimes checks in on her to offer his counsel and to see how she is doing.
2b) Captain Excelsior. Her other ghost mentor found out that her rival was visiting Viri's dreams and threw herself into finding out how. She manages to cut her way into Viri's dreams to offer advice and hear the tales of Viri's adventures.
3) Dash Brilliance. Dash is a swashbuckler working out of the Many-Angled City. He charmed her and used that to cheat her in several of the adventures that they went on. He then wanted more than she was willing to give and they fought. It was close, but she knocked him out and took his lucky green glove as a trophy. He wants it back.
Step 5: memories, mannerisms, or quirks
1) She has less experience with people than most people her age would. Her natural charm helps her conceal it, but she has her share of awkward moments.
2) She remembers the songs from her childhood. Music bonded her parents together and some of the songs were written together as a family.
3) Her father was boisterous and boastful, her mother was quiet about her abilities. Likewise Ooliswa was humble and Excelsior was a braggart. She has elements of all of them.
