Hi all! I'm hoping to get my character fleshed out today because I fear I might be delaying the game and I certainly don't want to spoil anyone's fun! I already have a pretty good idea of my character's background, and what I want it to be able to do, but am still a bit confused what belongs where and how to phrase things better mechanically. As before, please forgive the noobness :-)
DIGINUS
Brass & Steel Automaton who served as its master’s Artificer and Master of Doors.
APPROACHES:
Careful (+3), Clever (+4), Flashy (+1), Forceful (+0), Sneaky (+1), Quick (+2)
BACKGROUND:
When the Storm Dragon Vrexoeis had reached his second millenium he resolved to craft a clockwork body that he could imbue with his life-force and his vast arcane power. He would shed his mortal form and inhabit this new body that he could improve and evolve, thus achieving immortality. But first he needed to experiment. He worked tirelessly in his sky citadel and created a miniature automaton of brass & steel, and infused it with his will and placed in it a shard of his Storm Magic. He named his clockwork homunculus Diginus and made it his Chief Artificer and Master of Doors.
So here's where I haven't set anything in stone because I guess this is where connections are made with the world and the other characters, directly or indirectly.
So:
Vrexoeis the Storm Dragon causes his sky citadel to descend. Where does he land it? Right next to Valarin? In the Waste of Dual'tioth? The Fire Fields? I'm thinking maybe up North on a mountaintop in the Dwarven Holds. He makes a deal with the dwarves: they provide him metals, he gives them wondrous machines.
Then:
In time, the dragon's new clockwork body is complete. But he never gets the chance to use it. The great wyrm goes out hunting one day and never returns. No one knows what became of him. His clockwork creation still lies lifeless in the citadel.
Or:
The dragon goes out and is killed in spectacular fashion. His clockwork creation still lies lifeless in the citadel.
Or:
The dragon sheds his mortal form and dons his glorious new body, then performs wonders for all the realm to see. His eventual destruction at the hands of sorcerous rivals is motivated by envy & greed.
Either way:
No one can get in or out the Storm Dragon's citadel because no one has the Key, and powerful magical wards prevent intrusion by force or cunning.
TROUBLE: Key to a Hoard of Wealth and Power
OTHER ASPECTS, STUNTS, AND EXTRAS:
So Diginus is basically three things: A Storm Mage, an Artificer, and a Master of Doors. (I just want to mention that I know nothing about the Artificer class from D&D, nor was I aware until a few minutes ago that there is such a thing as a Storm Mage prestige class also in D&D. So I am defining both those terms differently for our fiction.)
So:
As a Storm Mage Diginus can manipulate the weather, is immune to ill effects of inclement weather, can summon & command Storm elementals, and can manipulate metal objects, even from a distance. Yeah, hes Magneto and Storm rolled into one.
As an Artificer he has the right tool for every job. I have his idea for an aspect: "It Ain’t Broke But I Can Fix It!" He's really good at fixing stuff, including himself, but he has difficulty resisting tinkering with anything mechanical he comes across.
Besides being the Key to the citadel, as Master of Doors Diginus can unlock any door, even magically barred ones. In addition, he can create doors where none exist. He can grant passage to his allies, and deny it to foes.
I understand the Extras are tricks that can be pulled any time, Aspects need to be double-edged, and Stunts are limited-use or are activated at cost. So what goes where, and how? I assume the more powerful stuff should go in Stunts.
It's really rough so I am very very open to your ideas!
Thanks!