Hello everyone
My group are nearing the end of Rise of the Runelords, and are slowling gathering ideas together (Cheating on our current characters) for our next campaign Return of the Runelords. I have settled on playing a Pact Wizard and before I send my backstory to my DM, I am hoping the kind people here would care to take a look. Hopefully this way I can present a more refined and polished piece, as of course he is already incredibly busy with our current campaign wrap up.
There are a few premises I wanted to use.
- 1. To tie already into established lore
- 2. A wilderness Wizard
- 3. A little bit lovecraftian in nature (An existential dread)
Anyway here it is
On the outskirts of Roderic's cove and the border of Churlwood lived the young, bright, and energetic Tholamin Charbane with his mother Ravaaga, and grandparents, as a small family of gatherers.
Roderic’s Cove is often assailed by all manner of bandits and goblins that use Churlwood as a favorite hide out of theirs; and Family’s that border the two often tell their children stories of Werewolves, Ghosts, and all manner of horrifying monsters, to scare them into being careful at night. Tholamins curiosity however often got the better of him, who would often be found running and playing on the edge of the forest, to the dismay of his family and the town elders.
If it was not for the Rangers that patrol this land, Roderic’s Cove would certainly not have prospered as it has, and it may have even resulted in falling into ruin many moons ago. As these individuals passed through the town, or could be seen protecting civilisation from those that prowl the night, Tholamin would always been found watching on in admiration. For you see from a very young age, Tholamin had romanticized his father, Adolamin, who too had served to protect the town; and who had met his untimely demise whilst on patrol before his birth.
So when he came of age at sixteen, Tholamin decided to enlist so that he may help end the threat to his family and home. As an Initiate, he kneeled before the port-governor Captain Larenza Thort, and as part of his pledge of fealty presented his fathers Longsword with which he would carry back out into the wilderness once more as a symbol of his office.
Soon the glamour of what was supposed to be his proudest moment faded, and the direness of his situation had begun to set in. The youthful enthusiasm soon faded as he began his training; peering beyond the veil of his reality to see all manner of terrifying vistas slowly took their toll. His thoughts began to worsen, how could a simple sword or bow stand in the way of such reckless hate, and as these thoughts worsened so did his dreams turn into nightmares, and terrible visions begin to cloud his mind.
Then one night unable to sleep Tholamin took out an old battered antique leather bound tome from the wooden box filled with his fathers possessions, it was filled with pictographs that could only be seen under dim light, and slowly but surely he began to document and record the living nightmare he now found himself in. As the weeks rolled on, and the sleepless nights raked up, his deepest feelings and secrets were shared upon those pages. The more he wrote the greater clarity he found. Eventually he came to the realisation that what the Rangers are fighting is inevitably doomed to fail. The only way he knew how to prevent such a catastrophe from falling upon his family, his village, and the rest of mankind laid in the laws of the arcane, and the total commitment to the study of Magic.
From this moment onwards he spent every spare moment he had studying and scrounging, to learn what he can about the arcane arts, writing notes in the tome that not once left his side. Then one day as he was writing, his ink dissolved into the page, before writing back at him “Let me show you”. The emotional vulnerability he had shared allowed the book to share part of its power but, to also challenge his control of mind. Then that night it dawned upon him, that with his new found power and his new ally, admittedly still unknown, he could rid Churlwood of its threat to the town, and to his family.
The weeks and miles soon began to add up under his feets as he traversed all manner of dangers and threats patrolling the land surrounding Roderic’s Cove. Using his time in the wilderness to practice and learn of his new gifted arcane powers, with the guidance of his unknown patron. As his power grew, his shadow slowly began to fade, until it disappeared all together, and with no shadow, his most recent return has him feeling unwelcome and scorned upon his return.
I hope you enjoyed the read, I would love to hear what your thoughts are, as well as any potential pitfalls or ideas of your own
Now if you know much about D&D 5E, Xanathars Guide to Everything has these "hooks" which we as a group use
Wizard
• Spellbook -Found in storage, this old battered antique leather bound tome is filled with pictographs that is visible only in dim light. On its cover is one of the arcane symbols for the illusion school of magic.
• Ambition & Ideal & Homeland – To end the threat to my family and home
Having grown up on the edge of one of the darkest reputations of any woodland in Varisia, Tholamin wants nothing more than to once and for all eradicate the threat to his family, and to Roderic's Cove.
• Eccentricity & Bond & View of the World - “The Night is dark and full of Terrors” - I suffer terrible visions
Tholamin has seen beyond the veil, and is now unable to look away. There are unimaginable nightmares out there, and knowing their very existence has torn away at Tholamins sanity, causing him to have all manner of nightmares and visions.
• Keepsake – Sentimental Longsword
Presented with his fathers Longsword. The reasonably well balanced sword is emblazoned with the symbol of Roderic's Cove's office.
• Familiar – Figment Sage
Four Winged Raven that goes by the name Zailas. Zailas is a figment of Tholamins subconscious, a manifestation of his Id. Zailas aims to help guide Tholamin through the darkest moments of his life
Pact
• Patrons Attitude – Has guided and helped me
My (Shadow) Patron treats me with care and compassion. Guiding me through the challenges of becoming a powerful wizard.
• Special Terms of the Pact & Sworn Enemy -
When directed by my patron I must occasionally take or stop an action against a specific enemy immediately.
• Binding Mark & Flaw – No Shadow & I am slow to Trust new people
Tholamin Charbanes shadow dissolved away as the bond between Pact and Patron grew stronger. His brief forays into civilisation since then has shown him that people often now treat him with scorn and suspicion, leading him to be slow to trust new people around him.
Secret
• Pass for Human – Tiefling
One day Tholamins Father Adolamin went out on Patrol, and that night what returned was not Adolamin but, instead the monster that left his body in the woods disguised as him. Having spent the night, left on “patrol” again the following morning. Adolamin was five days later discovered dead from asphyxiation, and with bite marks around his neck (Phasmadaemon).
It looks like you've put a lot of thought into your character. There are only a few points I can make
1) Figment Familiar and Pact Wizard are incompatible with each other; one or the other needs to go.
2) The Pact Wizard is a notoriously overpowered archetype and frequently banned as a result. It's definitely something you should run past your GM before using.
3) Be mindful of tying yourself too heavily to Roderic's Cove. Sandpoint acted as a main hub throughout Rise of the Runelords, and Roderic's Cove is not like that in Return of the Runelords. I won't say more than that lest I accidentally give spoilers.
May I ask why the two Archetypes are incompatible? The Pact Wizard Familiar does not provide spells
Yes I am aware, I do have permission
May I ask why the two Archetypes are incompatible? The Pact Wizard Familiar does not provide spells
My mistake; must have gotten it mixed with a similar effect in another archetype. You're in the clear.
I like both the premise and your tie in to the area. Two of my fellow players used the Churlwood also to flesh out their backstories. Hope that you have fun with the character in Book 1!