Character Creation

I created Alastriona, the Fallen Aasimar Paladin of Kelemvor. I'm taking the literal "fallen angel" theme and gave her the Far Traveler background to reflect her foreign nature. However, she has no memory of what she is, no knowledge of the plan her god Kelemvor has for her, and for all intents and purposes she simply Is.

Character personality settings:
Personality Trait: I have a strong code of honor or sense of propriety that others don't comprehend.
Ideals: Reserved. As someone new to these strange lands, I am cautious and respectful in my dealings.
Bond: So long as I have this token from my homeland, I can face any adversity in this strange land (holy symbol).
Flaw: I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have.

I'm playing deep into the Flaw with the intention of RPing the lack of understanding in any social situation, and exercising my writing skills to try and convey ideas and meaning without dialogue. Alastriona does understand basic concepts, of course, but I'll likely decide on a case-by-case basis how far this pretense will go.

If, as was discussed on Discord, we gather our party as a touring band of musicians, Alastriona can easily be added if one character can act as a mentor, guide, or just someone to show her the world. She could start off as someone who is directed to carry things, but she also has proficiency in a musical instrument so she could participate on stage, too.

Butler Ashdown
Background - Entertiner, instrumentalist
Personality: I'm a hopeless romantic, always searching for that "special someone."
Ideal: Honesty. Art should reflect the soul; it should come from within and reveal who we really are.
Bond: My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love.
Flaw: I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.

Butler has always wanted to be a hero, the stories of the champions of old filled his mind as he was growing up and lead to him following around the local lords guards and generally being a pain. As he grew older his general pestering lead to him being given odd jobs to do, mainly to keep him out from under foot, but after a long while he made himself useful enough that he earned himself a place as one of the local militia.
Never the best soldier on Toril he did find he had a particular talent for keeping the other troops entertained. Even though he proved to be a crack shot with the crossbow his lack of discipline and quick tongue landed him in trouble on more than one occasion, his ability to keep morale up with the other troops being the one thing that saved him from being discharged on more than one occasion. During his service he grew close to the lieutenant of his company, a half elf man by the name of Peren Aloro. This relationship may have developed into something more than the close friendship they had in their off hours but the difference in their ranks always seemed to be a barrier. A few months after he earned his place he was on patrol with his squad, their captain had heard reports of something bothering the local cattle in the area and they were to investigate....the didn’t have a clue what they were walking into. Butler doesn’t remember much about what happened, flashes of everyone laughing and smiling as they patrolled, him playing the dulcimer that Peren gave him as they walked, screams and blood as something tore into them, Peren screaming at him to run before darkness took him.
He woke to find himself in a comfortable bed in the inn at Nightstone, a Dragonborn Knight by the name of Sora Mystan had been hunting the same creature that his company were when she found Butler bleeding at the side of the road and managed to get him to safety. He answered what questions he could but he could tell Sora was a little disappointed he couldn’t help further. She told him she was an agent of the Lords Alliance and in return for her saving his life he agreed to pass along any information he felt may be of use to them in addition to being available for any odd jobs that may come up.
Once his strength returned he found himself in a bit of a malaise. His dreams of being a hero had had a rude awakening and he felt not an undue amount of guilt at being the only one of his squad to survive, this is compounded with the worry that it was his music that attracted the beast. Turning his back on his home and his duty he headed to the City of Splendors, there he met with his current band of misfits, finding simple pleasure in being part of a group again and enjoying earning his coin playing for a living rather than getting neck deep in blood.

Thoughts for possible connections with Butler if anyone wants to pick any up:

Grew up in same village/town - I’ve deliberately left this vague to make it an easier fit
Did a job together in the past/Butlers company helped you in some way
Was in Nightstone when Butler was brought in
Met on the road to Waterdeep

That’s just a few thoughts I had that could be easy hooks for having a previous connection with anyone. As for NPC’s Butler would probably be on fair terms with Durnan and Bonnie as he’s had a tendency to get deep into his cups these days (sad drunk, not agressive, gets fairly maudlin but keeps to himself when drunk)

Vatra - Fire Genasi Sorcerer

Born of the union of an Efrit and a half-elf woman. Vatra was raised by his mother in and around Baldur's Gate. When he became a teenager he fell in love with a young noble girl, Daisy, who shared his feelings. Her family however were quited bigoted and opposed the relationship to the point where a physical confrontation occured. During this encounter with Daisy's brother and cousins, Vatra's Wild Magic power began to manifest and he nearly killed the boys. Witnesses backed Vatra as defending himself but Daisy's family was powerful enough to force the boy to leave his hometown and his mother.

I have finally submitted "Prince" Alexander Starr, human bard.

Alexander claims to be a prince from some far-off land, but the truth of that assertion is anyone's guess.

Trait: I love a good insult, even one directed at me.
Trait: I fall in and out of love easily, and am always pursuing someone.
Ideal: Independence. I am a free spirit— no one tells me what to do.
Bond: I want to be famous, whatever it takes.
Flaw: I’m a sucker for a pretty face.
Flaw: A scandal prevents me from ever going home again. That kind of trouble seems to follow me around.

For Friendly Faces he would obviously be drawn to Bonnie.

For party connections, aside from the obvious (I assume we've all played together as a troupe before the adventure begins? Or am I wrong in this?) here are a couple of ideas:

1. Your PC knows the truth about Alexander's past, but is sworn to secrecy.
2. Your PC and Alexander both wooed the same person. This fierce rivalry almost came to blows, but in the end s/he chose neither of you.

Xelia had always taken the path of the least resistance. A member of a prominent family herself, she married into House Rosznar at an early age and became deeply involved in the intricacies of the family's dealings. She spent years crafting her image as one of a dutiful wife, mother, and later grandmother. However, as the time passed, she grew weary of the toxic members of the family, and bitter that her role of decision-maker was always marginal at best despite her wisdom and experience. (She suspected that her race was the reason for this disrespect.) When her husband passed peacefully in his sleep, she decided to make a change. Her passions had always been writing and music. So, she packed up all of her notes and compositions and reached out to everyone she knew who could aid her in her new path. It was an unconventional choice of course, but who would dare question a mourning widow?

Notes:
Her strength and health are on the decline from years of stress and what can only be described as mild depression.
She was trapped in her station for so long, she didn't know how to break free from it. She hopes to change that now.
Now that her children and grandchildren are mostly grown, she's subconsciously looking for another litter to nurture.
She's fairly young for a grandmother, but seems much older.
Xelia knows Durnan well, and a few of the others at the Yawning Portal.

The sound of "The-painful-giggling-of-a-man-afflicted-with-Tasha's-Hideous-Laughter" or "Stitches"

Personality Trait: When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
Ideal: Aspiration: I work hard to be the best there is at my craft.
Bond: I am fiercely loyal to those with whom I work.
Flaw: I'm never satisfied with what I have—I always want more.


Stitches was hatched into a low-level street gang in Zazesspur, on the coast of Tethyr, one of the few kenku the group counted among its number. In his younger years, he witnessed an impromptu wizard's duel in a seedy part of town, and he adopted the cackling death throes of the loser as his name. Even then, arcane magic fascinated him.

His thirst for knowledge of the mystic arts led him to take caravan work along the Trade Way before the end of his first decade. A chance meeting with Athalantar "Alan" Glim, an elven archaeologist with a knack for both spellcasting and fisticuffs, blossomed into a fruitful partnership, with Glim as mentor and Stitches his eager pupil.

A few years ago, Glim took a teaching position in Waterdeep, though he maintains connections with the black market, keeping an eye out for artifacts that belong in museums, not in some dusty hoard. Stitches struck out on his own, doing a decent business in skullduggery and forgery.

Lately, he's been spending time at The Yawning Portal, where he can often catch sight of magic users plying their trade. He's developed something of a crush on Obaya Uday, a cleric of Waukeen visiting from Chult, and will sometimes bring her baubles from his latest job. Often they're worthless but shiny trinkets, but she's occasionally delighted by a semiprecious gem or bit of jewelry.