A significant part of your character's personality can be shaped by their past before they enter the world of Veil of Ashes. Thinking deeply about your character' history will not only enrich your experience but also help you engage meaningfully with others in-game. Consider exploring some of the following aspects:
- Who were your parents or guardians, and what was your relationship like with them?
- Were you raised by family, or did someone else take on the role?
- Did you have any close friends growing up? How did they influence you?
- Who were your enemies, and why did you come into conflict with them?
- Were you part of any group, organization, or guild?
- What was the culture, customs, and beliefs of your people?
- What kinds of individuals did you associate with or avoid?
The possibilities are vast, and we encourage you to shape your character’s history as you envision it. Your character will hail from somewhere within our fantasy world, though it doesn't necessarily have to be the place you find yourself in now. However, to keep things grounded, we kindly ask that you avoid certain clichés, such as being the offspring of an all-powerful deity or being born into royalty. If you have questions about the appropriateness of any details, feel free to ask.
Other Things that you should consider:
- Personality and Quirks: What makes your character unique? Consider how their upbringing and experiences may have shaped their behavior. Do they have any habits, fears, or particular mannerisms? Maybe they fidget when nervous or have a strong superstition about black cats.
- Motivations and Goals: What drives your character? Are they searching for someone they lost, seeking revenge, or just looking for a fresh start? Understanding your character's motivations can help guide your decisions in-game.
- Strengths and Weaknesses: Everyone has flaws. Consider what your character is good at and what they struggle with. Are they a brilliant strategist but terrible at relating to others? Maybe they are kind-hearted but naive.
- Relationships and Connections: Think about how your character relates to others. Are they naturally trusting or wary? How do they handle authority? Relationships, whether positive or negative, will add layers to your interactions in the game world.
When your character first enters the game, they will find themselves in an unfamiliar land. It might help to think about what they were doing right before they were brought here. This backstory is optional—your character could just as easily arrive with vague memories or none at all of their past life. It doesn't always have to be a dramatic event; it could be something as simple as going about an everyday activity like fishing or preparing a meal with loved ones.
Below is an example story that might inspire you when imagining your character’s journey prior to their arrival in this new world. Remember, this is just one possible scenario and not a standard to measure your own character’s history against:
Example Backstory:
Sir Liam swore an oath that he would rid the world of undeath before his demise or die trying. Today was meant to be that day.
“That damn lich,” he whispered to himself as he looked at the horde before him. The last of his order was succumbing to the onslaught one by one. He knew the odds were stacked against them before the battle even started, but he knew that the belief of his order, and doing what was righteous, would see them through the impossible. Only now did he realize his folly.
“Was I wrong, or am I just a fool?”
As his daughter, the child who carried the very best of him began to rise from the ground with her skin desiccated and rotting, he choked back his tears as anger swelled from deep within his soul. He had lost all his children this day, and before him stood the testament of his failure.
The General stood, knowing that his time would soon come to an end. They were the last bastion of hope, the last ones capable of stopping the coming storm. All his training, all of his preparation, all of it... for nothing. He then looked to his remaining knights for strength but only found the cruel irony that his last act upon this world would be leading them to their demise.
As Sir Liam drew his sword, Silverlight, from its sheath the blade emanated a radiant light of which he had never seen before. Was this one last gift? Would this turn the tide of battle?
His entire order of Knights had been decimated and the undead hordes were closing in around him. Knowing that his time was at an end, Sir Liam fell to one knee. Grasping the hilt of his sword tightly, he thrust Silverlight hard into the ground. “With the power of Silverlight, I consecrate this ground and destroy these abominations before me!” screamed Sir Liam in a final move of desperation. As he finished, light exploded from his body. The first wave of undead, maybe thirty or more, were struck by a pulse of energy and instantly turned to ash... but it wasn’t enough.
As the vile army closed around him once more, he looked to his sword… The light from Silverlight was completely extinguished now.
For his final act, he raised his sword, ready to charge toward the fate that awaited him. As he readied himself, the blade of Silverlight once again came to life. Instead of radiating the light of grace as before, the blade began to emit a thick grey mist that suffocated the air around him. Sir Liam looked to his sword, which had carried the light of his order for centuries.
“Have I been betrayed?”
Confused and disoriented, he attempted to break through the veil that had begun to surround him. However, the harder he pressed forward the more he found himself trapped within.
The dense grey fog began to surround him, choking the life from him. His vision became dark. His strength began to fail him, and he slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
When you are ready, please feel free to submit your character history by clicking here.
