n this document, I describe the life, personality, and personal details of one Donald McFloren, a character for Chris Thiessen's
RPG campaign.
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Table of Contents
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n this document, I describe the life, personality, and personal details of one Donald McFloren, a character for Chris Thiessen's
RPG campaign.
Being the overly melodramatic history of Donald McFloren.
Donald was born in the year of the Tiger in the metropolis of Mela'Tonis, in the northern reaches of Lord Forlon's domain, Melan.
Donald remembers very little of his very early childhood. Sometime around the age of five, Donald began to play the game of Krassel.
Krassel was a sport for two teams of 8-10 members each, played with sticks and balls. It combined elements of strategy and tactics, choice of equipment, and personal prowess. It was quite dangerous, and very complex. It was intended to emulate military skirmishes, and thus make the players skilled in matters martial. The game succeeded in this goal: Melan was home to many of the keenest military minds in the world.
Donald has a natural affinity for this game, which pleased his father greatly, since grand-champions of the game were considered for rulership of Mela'Tonis. Donald's skill became his fame, and he was suddenly very popular amongst the female subspecies, as well as his peers. He was admired and respected, was likely to have a bright future, and was happy and content.
Then the Enemy came.
Lord Forlon had for years been plagued by the El'Torrad (a roving armada-nation, bent on looting and conquering all they could find). Until Donald's 17th year, the El'Torrad focused their attention in the Southern reaches of Melan. That year, however, they changed their strategy: circling around Melan in the winter months, they struck with full force the northern city of Mela'Tonis.
Poor Mela'Tonis, it didn't have a chance. All of Forlon's armies were clustered in the South of Melan, Forlon not expecting the enemy to make the dangerous northward journey in winter. When the El'Torrad struck, they destroyed.
Donald was at home when news of the attack was heard. He quickly rounded up his neighbors and held out as long as possible, wading bodily into the fray, using all the skills he learned at the game of Krassel in the city's defense. But it was not enough. They were outnumbered, out-skilled, and the enemy had the element of surprise.
Donald saw his mother and father struck down before he was captured and enslaved, forced to be an oarsman on one of the great El'Torrad warships.
When Donald first went to the oar, he thought he wouldn't last a week. His arm strength was pitiful, even compared to the ancient slaves sitting to either side of him on the bench. After the first rowing stint, he collapsed upon the oar (to which he was chained), and earned a whipping for his trouble.
Donald did last that week, although he was soon to wish that he hadn't.
As soon as the El'Torrad had a respite from looting and pillaging Forlon's northern cities, they went through the galleys and inventoried the slaves. Donald (and the other newly captured slaves, who were all strangers to him) was branded with a number, 54395, on his right inner forearm, and chained back down to his oar to continue working.
Not two days later, two drunken soldiers came down, unchained him, took him into the galley, and raped him. When they were finished (Donald struggled, but was beaten into submission), they took him back, re-chained him to his oar, where the other slaves didn't even look twice at him. He was utterly alone.
This went on for two years. He lost track of the times he was beaten nearly to death (his back is covered in whip scars), and the number of fellow slaves that were quite literally killed by the slave master. The rapes continued, as did other, unspeakable atrocities on his body. He was broken.
Two years later (Donald was 19) the El'Torrad were on a campaign against some quite distant land, and Donald's ship was out on some scouting mission (being the fastest ship in the fleet), when a creature from the deeps rose up and destroyed the vessel entirely in a single stroke.
Bits of the ship rained down upon Donald, still chained to a bit of floating oar, and his last sight before blacking out was the huge maw of the sea creature coming towards him, the baleful red eyes glaring intelligently at him. He was near some revelation, when the darkness overtook him.
He recovered in an uncomfortable wooden bed. He learned, slowly, that he had washed ashore, still chained to the bit of oar. Father Teldon, a priest of Raan (the goddess of war, confusion, and tactics), had happened upon him on the beach, and gathered Donald up in strong arms, and carried him back to the temple. His wounds were treated (his wrists had been badly flagellated, he had lost nearly all of his blood, the old wounds on his back had become inflamed, and something large and unpleasant had chewed his leg nearly off.)
Weeks passed while Donald languished in the infirmary. His memories of this time are hazy, but he remembers priests coming and going nearly constantly, late night consultations by his bedside while they thought he was unconscious, horrible pains, overpowering energies, and finally, a slow realization that he wasn't dead after all.
The pain he experienced those weeks also had a healing effect on his mind. As though he went into the wilderness and passed some test of manhood, Donald gained inner strength that would forever help him to deal with the things he had seen and experienced.
Raan's powers of healing are quite remarkable. Donald survived his first sea wreck. He would forever walk with a limp, his back gives him trouble to this day, and he gets a twinge in his leg whenever he experiences fear, but he survived.
Donald, while he was recovering, was asked to join the priesthood. This didn't surprise Donald particularly, knowing what he did of priests, but he thought about it for a week during his recovery, and finally decided that he didn't have anywhere else to go, he owed the church something for their service to him, and perhaps fate had brought him there.
He had to choose a mentor within the church, and chose, as all assumed he would, Father Teldon, who he had become quite close to during his recovery. Teldon was an old man, well preserved by the weed (his eyes were red and moved about disconcertingly), and well respected by his peers. It was generally considered a good omen for Donald to have chosen Father Teldon.
Donald's training took one year, as is considered proper by the church. During that year, Donald managed to regain some measure of his old personality, which he had managed to keep hidden behind masks of uncaring while enslaved. The slavery scarred him for life, however.
Donald was trained in the many skills thought proper by the church. The sword and bow are compulsory weapons for all holy men, as well as basic training in tactics and strategy. Basic diplomacy and etiquette are also taught, as well as management skills.
After the year, Donald was brought before the high priest of Raan in that land (of whom Donald had always been frightened, although he didn't know why), and was blessed. A link was created between Donald and Raan, and he could wield the beginnings of his holy powers.
He was then cast out upon the world to wander until recalled, as is considered proper by the church.
The church of Raan believes that true wisdom and experience can only be gained by wandering the world alone or in small groups, discovering the world, and undergoing personal growth and introspection.
After Raan believes that that priest is ready, she calls upon him in a dream, telling that priest what to do with his life. The priest wanders, hoping to grow into a man that Raan will be interested in.
Donald wandered about the world for two years, in search of what to make of himself in this new priesthood. He served in the militias of a few minor lords, but always in the heat of battle, his mind's eye saw that battle of his youth when he saw his parents and friends die, and he was unable to stop it.
He tried to be a farmer, but he had too much time to think about his life and the things that had happened to him.
Thus, for years, his life was a depressing array of pain and desolation. He picked up a penchant for drink, frowned upon but not forbidden by the church, in an attempt to forget his troubles. He spent long nights at bars, getting into fights, spending time in prison. He had come a long way down from the young commander of men, destined to rule Melan, beloved of his peers.
Being a description of the adventures to date, including:
Rejoining his sister
Waging war against slavers again, with great success
Gaining command of an army and a ship
Making new friends
Being stranded by his sister, months (years?) away from home, and the events leading up to it.
His journey home, and some of the adventures.
Being the mannerisms and ethos of Donald McFloren.
Donald McFloren is a lean, wiry man of average height. He has tight muscles and broad shoulders. His head is covered with a shock of black hair, which is tied back from his face with a ribbon, most of the time. His eyes are sharp and penetrating, and his facial features are finely boned.
Donald typically wears wildly colored and styled clothing, as that was the style of his homeland, Melan. Bright colors and excessive ornamentation make Donald happiest.
Donald, in his youth, was vain and proud, extroverted and cheerful. Then he was enslaved.
For a time he was dark and dour, moody and unpleasant. His nature, however, didn't allow him to maintain this for long after he escaped from slavery. He slowly settled back into his old ways, with perhaps a darker, more mature side caused by his hardships.
He will always have a fear of sea creatures, and by connection, the sea. Always when on a boat, especially in storms, he sees that huge red intelligent eye, that awful mouth, and often faints into a horrible sleep where dreams of being eaten plague him until he recovers.
He has an affinity for slaves, and will help them if he can, but will do nearly anything to stay out of slavery again. That time of his life he tries not to think about, but he dreams of it nearly all the time, and it fills his waking thoughts when he lets his guard down.
Similarly, he loathes those who torture and harm helpless victims, and especially rapists. He will risk much personal harm to bring a rapist to justice (usually the justice of his own blade).
Donald simply wants to forget his life and make something of himself. He can't kill himself, because he fears what might be on the other side. So he has to survive, day by day trying to make himself into somebody he can be proud of, who doesn't fear the shadows any more, and who is once again happy and successful.
Donald is a worshipper of Raan, the goddess of War, Confusion, and Tactics. He hasn't been a priest long enough to start to question what he's been taught, and so is still the model priest. He puts a lot of himself into his goddess, trying to erase his own identity.
Being a game mechanical description of the man known as Donald McFloren.
Str 17 +1 to hit; +1 dmg; 85 wgt; 220 mx.prss; 10 doors; 13% bb/lg Int 12 3 languages Wis 13 - Dex 10 - Con 8 60% sys shk; 65% rssr Cha 9 4 henchmen Com 10 - Level: 5 THAC0: 16 (-1 str) = 15 AC: 10 (however, Donald sometimes wears armor, so this can be adjusted) HP: 28 Weight: 210 lbs Height: 5'9" Age: 22 Birthdate: Alignment: Lawful Neutral (with chaotic tendencies)
Longsword, Longbow, Dagger, Quarterstaff
Military Strategy and Tactics, Navigation, Reading/Writing, Etiquette, Heraldry
Level 1 (3 spells) Bless, Cure Light Wounds x2, (Combine) - alternate Level 2 (3 spells) Spiritual Hammer, Chant, Silence 15' radius Level 3 (1 spell) Prayer, (Glyph of Warding) - alternate
Paralyzation, Poison, or Death Magic 9 Rod, Staff, or Wand 13 Petrification or Polymorph 12 Breath Weapon 15 Spell 14
Being a list of things owned and administered by Donald McFloren.
Donald owns very little. These are the things he does own.
Holy Symbol: The holy symbol of Raan consists of a sphere, one hemisphere of which is black and the other hemisphere of which is white. Donald owns a stylized version of this made of steel, with treatments on the metal to effect the coloration. It is about 2 1/4" in diameter, and Donald keeps it in his belt pouch.
Black Quarterstaff: Donald's Quarterstaff is the very same bit of oar that he was washed ashore chained to. He's had the wood treated and shod in bronze, engraved and varnished, but he carries it with him wherever he goes, and uses it in battle. He is quite attached to it. The quarterstaff is 80" long, about 1 1/2" in diameter, is varnished black, and is shod in bronze.
Longsword: Donald's longsword is property of the church, and while it was new when he received it, it is now marred and chipped with heavy use. It is a good, comfortable blade, and Donald is quite familiar with it. He keeps it by his side most of the time.
Scabbard: Donald's longsword is in a scabbard he had made for it a while ago. It is made out of tanned leather, and is otherwise plain. There's a nasty scuff near the end, where an enemy nearly took off Donald's leg. Donald killed him for that.
Dagger: Donald's dagger is also property of the church, and hasn't seen as much use as the longsword. Donald keeps it razor sharp, and uses it to shave daily. He stores it in his boot while not in use.
Longbow: Donald bought a longbow in a splurge of spending once: it's a high-quality ash bow with a good cat-gut string. He has two spare strings wrapped around the bow, and the current string is wrapped there, too, when the bow isn't strung. Donald keeps the bow strapped across his back when not in use.
Quiver and Arrows: Donald has a 20-capacity quiver made out of hard leather in his pack. It currently contains 7 arrows (3 of which Donald made himself, and 4 of which he received while in an army), and 12 arrow heads recovered from broken arrows. He needs to get those arrows rebuilt.
Belt Pouch: Donald managed to buy a very nice dark-brown belt pouch, in which he keeps his money, a whetstone, and some dried fruit in a side pocket to snack upon while walking.
Whetstone: Donald bought his current whetstone nearly six months ago, and it's nearly worn away. He needs to buy a new one. It is wrapped in cheesecloth in his belt pouch, convenient for when he pulls it out to keep the edge on his sword keen.
Tinderbox: Donald keeps his tinderbox in the pack on his back. A simple, battered, iron box containing the works to start a fire. He was issued it in an army in the past, and was allowed to keep it when he left.
Backpack: Donald's backpack is made of good pig leather, and has two shoulder straps, a tie-down flap, and a side pocket for keeping small things in.
Small Chest: Donald's chest is 2 1/2' by 1 1/2'. It is plain, made of pine, and varnished black. It has a simple lock closing it shut. It contains Donald's changes of clothes.
Food: Donald is not extremely particular in his food choices, but does like food. He currently has:
3 days snacking dried fruit (mostly apricots and prunes) in his belt pouch.
1 week (or maybe only 5 or 6 days) worth of hard army biscuits, dried meat, and dried fruit.
A pig-bladder wineskin filled with good red wine.
Clothes: Donald has 6 complete outfits in outlandish styles. His favorite, which he wears most, consists of:
maroon pantaloons
socks to match the pantaloons
underpants to match the socks, with yellow pinstripes surrounding the openings.
high leather boots with curly toes
wide, black belt with silver studs and a very gaudy belt buckle.
white 'pirate-style' shirt with huge collar.
maroon vest with many buttoned pockets (all these pockets are empty - it is considered rude to have anything in them)
wide-brimmed hat with peacock feather coming out of it.
Other outfits will be described when he puts them on, and then documented. He always wears long-sleeved shirts, though, and dislikes taking them off in public. He is ashamed of his tatoo.
Soap, Comb, Mirror, and other sundries: Donald keeps many small items in his backpack, including:
Soap
Comb
Mirror
Chalk (6 sticks)
Parchment (12 sheets)
Ink Pot 3/4 full of India ink.
3 quills
heavy woolen (grey) blanket. Frayed a bit around the edges.
Money: Donald isn't a rich man, but he does have some money, consisting of:
12 coins of gold.
20 coins of silver
5 copper coins
