Elf Warlock concept - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Elf Warlock concept

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jan 19, 2006 9:52:28 A friend of mine has decided to start a Ravenloft campaign, and I've decided to play an outlander elf warlock. This is the background I've got worked up for him so far:

The character's name is Daegollo, and he hails from an elven kingdom on a distant prime world. The kingdom is ruled by a seasonal monarchy, with a different king and queen presiding over the court in each season, and passing into a magical slumber during the other three seasons.

Daegollo is the third and youngest son of the King of the Winter Court. He is just about to come of age, being about 110 years old. Until his 110th birthday he was raised as any other elf prince, though there is much about his people's history that he wasn't told of...

The elven kingdom is in what seems at first glance a golden age; unlike the elves of other prime worlds, they aren't on the decline. Their forests are enormous, untouched by the axes of men; full of game, natural beauty, and fey creatures. The elves are relatively untroubled by the "young kingdoms" of man, who on this world know to leave the elder folk be.

The reason for this uncommon prosperity is sinister, to say the least. Thousands of years ago, the elven kings of this world made a pact with 'dark forces' (originally I thought of this as a diabolic pact with hell, though now that I think about it, it could be the dark powers of Ravenloft...). The elves would retain their mastery of their world, but each 100 years the noble-born families must sacrifice their youngest child to hell (or whatever).

Being the youngest scion of the Winter Court, Daegollo is chosen to be the sacrifice. Days before his coming of age ceremony, he is ensorcelled and brought to the Tower of Regret, a dark and brooding building in the center of the forrest. He awakens from his magical stupor in the midst of a ceremony, watching in horror as several dear cousins of the other noble houses are put to the altar and drained of their souls. In turn he is bound upon the unholy altar, and as the liturgies are recited over him he feels his soul seeping away. He can feel dark energy filling his being as his own soul is pulled out.

Empowered by desperation, he manages to break free of the magical compulsion that holds him on the altar, and unconsciously draws power from the darkness that is overwhelming him. Black colored Witch-fires blaze all around him as he blasts his way out of the tower. Fey creatures (with whom he had cultivated friendships with in his youth) spirit him away from the scene and to the edge of the Forrest.

After recovering his strength in the secret places of the fey beings, Daegollo learns that while his body is healed, fragments of his soul are still missing; replaced with a shadowy void. He learns to channel and harness the power of the void for his own use, and sets off exploring the young kingdoms, hoping to find a way to restore his soul.

Traveling far and wide, Daegollo is always looking for clues to the whereabouts of his lost soul, as well as studying the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the evil he blames for his loss. While he might consult demons, devils, hags or witches, it is only because these beings are most likely to know the whereabouts of his missing soul. while he may study occult lore, it is only to gain an edge over his enemies, to better his own talents to strike at evil with it's own weapons.

Acting on the advice of a night hag, Daegollo ventured into a far corner of the land, where the hag told him he would find what he sought. As he explored the tumbledown ruins of a town, mists roll in and conceal everything. When the mists clear, he finds himself in Ravenloft.

Daegollo is a CN character, almost an anti-hero of sorts. He hates evil outsiders, hags, the occult, etc but is drawn to seek these forces out, for the trade of souls is their forte. He capitalizes on the fractious nature of Evil, manipulating the hatefulness of evil against other evils (I.E. Learning the best way to fight devils from a demon, etc...). Despite all he's been through, he isn't himself evil, though the taint in his soul leaves him no capacity for true goodness.

Just a rough outline so far, abit that needs to be fleshed out, but there you have the basics.

what do you think? does this sound like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero, or does this guy sound like he's getting a one way ticket to his own domain?
#2
zombiegleemax
Jan 19, 2006 10:18:10 I think the big question is, how will he act in Ravenloft? Will he be seen as just another dark thing that goes bump in the night, or is he to become the thing that those monsters fear. Will the Town's people see him as savior or villian? Warlocks can really go either way, its all up to you to decide how Ravenloft will see him.
#3
zombiegleemax
Jan 19, 2006 12:57:29
what do you think? does this sound like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero, or does this guy sound like he's getting a one way ticket to his own domain?

Sounds like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero who's lined up to get a one way ticket to his own domain.

Many Warlock incantations will require Powers Checks (unless the DM is extremely kind). Being an elf has it's own problems, but i assume you knew this going into it. My advice? view Powers Checks as the void(s) in your soul growing larger, and eventually your character will learn to distrust his own powers...thereby saving himself from future powers checks. Encourage the DM to pick up Heroes of Light and maybe you can try to become one of the ex-powers check failers that came back. Should be a fun descent, if the DM goes for it (I would, makes for plot hooks)
#4
zombiegleemax
Jan 20, 2006 1:04:06
I think the big question is, how will he act in Ravenloft? Will he be seen as just another dark thing that goes bump in the night, or is he to become the thing that those monsters fear.

the thing that those monsters fear is what im goin' for

Will the Town's people see him as savior or villian?

mmm, I suppose it depends on the villager in question, and more specifically what they see him do. He'll probably be pretty discrete in his clothing; no skull motifs or anything silly like that. Probably wears alot of dark clothing and travel gear, so i assume that regular ol' Joe Townsfolk won't be able to tell him apart from another elf

Being an elf has it's own problems, but i assume you knew this going into it.

Actually, this is my first Ravenloft campaign, though ive been reading through the setting lately, and i've read the lord soth books. I know that elves are generally distrusted and seen as fey spirits in some domains. What other difficulties do elves in ravenloft face?
#5
zombiegleemax
Jan 20, 2006 9:24:21
Actually, this is my first Ravenloft campaign, though ive been reading through the setting lately, and i've read the lord soth books. I know that elves are generally distrusted and seen as fey spirits in some domains. What other difficulties do elves in ravenloft face?

Most countries in Ravenloft are all human in population, and highly xenophobic. As an Elf, you'll enjoy a -3 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, and Perform checks (though a +3 on Intimidate). Being seen as a fey spirit is NOT a good thing, especially since in at least one Domain the local religion (I think it's the Church of the Lawgiver) has organized an Inquisition to destroy fey spirits. You do, however, have two lands in which you can blend in (Darkon, a greyhawk-like area, and of course Sithicus, where the main population is elven).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jan 19, 2006 9:52:28	A friend of mine has decided to start a Ravenloft campaign, and I've decided to play an outlander elf warlock. This is the background I've got worked up for him so far: The character's name is Daegollo, and he hails from an elven kingdom on a distant prime world. The kingdom is ruled by a seasonal monarchy, with a different king and queen presiding over the court in each season, and passing into a magical slumber during the other three seasons. Daegollo is the third and youngest son of the King of the Winter Court. He is just about to come of age, being about 110 years old. Until his 110th birthday he was raised as any other elf prince, though there is much about his people's history that he wasn't told of... The elven kingdom is in what seems at first glance a golden age; unlike the elves of other prime worlds, they aren't on the decline. Their forests are enormous, untouched by the axes of men; full of game, natural beauty, and fey creatures. The elves are relatively untroubled by the "young kingdoms" of man, who on this world know to leave the elder folk be. The reason for this uncommon prosperity is sinister, to say the least. Thousands of years ago, the elven kings of this world made a pact with 'dark forces' (originally I thought of this as a diabolic pact with hell, though now that I think about it, it could be the dark powers of Ravenloft...). The elves would retain their mastery of their world, but each 100 years the noble-born families must sacrifice their youngest child to hell (or whatever). Being the youngest scion of the Winter Court, Daegollo is chosen to be the sacrifice. Days before his coming of age ceremony, he is ensorcelled and brought to the Tower of Regret, a dark and brooding building in the center of the forrest. He awakens from his magical stupor in the midst of a ceremony, watching in horror as several dear cousins of the other noble houses are put to the altar and drained of their souls. In turn he is bound upon the unholy altar, and as the liturgies are recited over him he feels his soul seeping away. He can feel dark energy filling his being as his own soul is pulled out. Empowered by desperation, he manages to break free of the magical compulsion that holds him on the altar, and unconsciously draws power from the darkness that is overwhelming him. Black colored Witch-fires blaze all around him as he blasts his way out of the tower. Fey creatures (with whom he had cultivated friendships with in his youth) spirit him away from the scene and to the edge of the Forrest. After recovering his strength in the secret places of the fey beings, Daegollo learns that while his body is healed, fragments of his soul are still missing; replaced with a shadowy void. He learns to channel and harness the power of the void for his own use, and sets off exploring the young kingdoms, hoping to find a way to restore his soul. Traveling far and wide, Daegollo is always looking for clues to the whereabouts of his lost soul, as well as studying the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the evil he blames for his loss. While he might consult demons, devils, hags or witches, it is only because these beings are most likely to know the whereabouts of his missing soul. while he may study occult lore, it is only to gain an edge over his enemies, to better his own talents to strike at evil with it's own weapons. Acting on the advice of a night hag, Daegollo ventured into a far corner of the land, where the hag told him he would find what he sought. As he explored the tumbledown ruins of a town, mists roll in and conceal everything. When the mists clear, he finds himself in Ravenloft. Daegollo is a CN character, almost an anti-hero of sorts. He hates evil outsiders, hags, the occult, etc but is drawn to seek these forces out, for the trade of souls is their forte. He capitalizes on the fractious nature of Evil, manipulating the hatefulness of evil against other evils (I.E. Learning the best way to fight devils from a demon, etc...). Despite all he's been through, he isn't himself evil, though the taint in his soul leaves him no capacity for true goodness. Just a rough outline so far, abit that needs to be fleshed out, but there you have the basics. what do you think? does this sound like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero, or does this guy sound like he's getting a one way ticket to his own domain?
#2 zombiegleemax Jan 19, 2006 10:18:10	I think the big question is, how will he act in Ravenloft? Will he be seen as just another dark thing that goes bump in the night, or is he to become the thing that those monsters fear. Will the Town's people see him as savior or villian? Warlocks can really go either way, its all up to you to decide how Ravenloft will see him.
#3 zombiegleemax Jan 19, 2006 12:57:29	what do you think? does this sound like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero, or does this guy sound like he's getting a one way ticket to his own domain? Sounds like a good conflicted and pained Ravenloft hero who's lined up to get a one way ticket to his own domain. Many Warlock incantations will require Powers Checks (unless the DM is extremely kind). Being an elf has it's own problems, but i assume you knew this going into it. My advice? view Powers Checks as the void(s) in your soul growing larger, and eventually your character will learn to distrust his own powers...thereby saving himself from future powers checks. Encourage the DM to pick up Heroes of Light and maybe you can try to become one of the ex-powers check failers that came back. Should be a fun descent, if the DM goes for it (I would, makes for plot hooks)
#4 zombiegleemax Jan 20, 2006 1:04:06	I think the big question is, how will he act in Ravenloft? Will he be seen as just another dark thing that goes bump in the night, or is he to become the thing that those monsters fear. the thing that those monsters fear is what im goin' for Will the Town's people see him as savior or villian? mmm, I suppose it depends on the villager in question, and more specifically what they see him do. He'll probably be pretty discrete in his clothing; no skull motifs or anything silly like that. Probably wears alot of dark clothing and travel gear, so i assume that regular ol' Joe Townsfolk won't be able to tell him apart from another elf Being an elf has it's own problems, but i assume you knew this going into it. Actually, this is my first Ravenloft campaign, though ive been reading through the setting lately, and i've read the lord soth books. I know that elves are generally distrusted and seen as fey spirits in some domains. What other difficulties do elves in ravenloft face?
#5 zombiegleemax Jan 20, 2006 9:24:21	Actually, this is my first Ravenloft campaign, though ive been reading through the setting lately, and i've read the lord soth books. I know that elves are generally distrusted and seen as fey spirits in some domains. What other difficulties do elves in ravenloft face? Most countries in Ravenloft are all human in population, and highly xenophobic. As an Elf, you'll enjoy a -3 to Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, and Perform checks (though a +3 on Intimidate). Being seen as a fey spirit is NOT a good thing, especially since in at least one Domain the local religion (I think it's the Church of the Lawgiver) has organized an Inquisition to destroy fey spirits. You do, however, have two lands in which you can blend in (Darkon, a greyhawk-like area, and of course Sithicus, where the main population is elven).