9 replies to this topic

[leahnkain]

A long time ago I played an enchanter named Aesdale Essen. (Around 1992?) The first name is original. the last name is influenced maybe by something I read in a forgotten realms 1st ed book. Aesdale in the pen and paper game was so different. The background remains the same. He was my last character to ever play in a PNP game, so the name was easy for me to remember.

Aesdale Essen
Mage
Chaotic Good?...This may change to Neutral good in the future.

Str: 11 Dex: 16 Con: 15 Int: 18 Wis: 10 Cha: 16
Bio
When asked about his past Aesdale Essen proudly tells you he the youngest son of the merchant house Essen in Waterdeep. Aesdale was raised with the finest tutoring in magic, politics, and diplomacy. He is less aloof than most Moon Elves and comfortable of other races and beliefs. His natural affinity for manipulative magic was honed to perfection. This skill makes him a very suitable negotiator.
Aesdale was sent by with a small group to investigate why some merchants have recently stopped trade with his family. Betrayed by a mercenary hired to protect him, Aesdale was subdued and when he regained consciousness he found himself in a chained in small, dark, oppressively cramped area on a ship. Aesdale has joined your group with cheerful enthusiasm. He is grateful to <charname.>

This dialog is a bit of a spoiler...

Aesdale: A few days ago you asked about my group. Would you still like to know how I came to be imprisoned?

(I would love to hear you tale.)
(I am sorry, it seemed interesting before but now the moment has passed.)

Aesdale: The group wasn?t very large. To outsiders we would have looked like an adventuring party. We had a elven guide named Markessa, a wood elf from the wolf tribe named Arendil, a nobleman Althon Merchantius and two guards. Arendil joined our group as a favor to my family.

(What happened to your group?)

Aesdale: On the first night of travel a strange event happened. Our guide led us to an ambush. When we were setting up camp a group of orcs led by man mounted on a horse in full plate attacked. Markessa used this opportunity and she attacked me. Arendil managed to subdue her and we defeated the orcs and let the noble fled. Arendil suggested that we ask for aid from a group of wild elves who lived in the area. They proved healing and they allowed us to leave Markessa with them after we interrogated her. Through interrogation we learned that she was a member of house Damuir. House Damuir is presently in exile due to their shady dealing with seedy characters. I am unsure what they may have did in the past but to be barred from entering Waterdeep it must be severe. The wood elves kindly offered us a guide to replace Markessa. Paraway joined the group and we set off once again. After traveling for about two days one of the guards mentioned to Lord Merchantius that there was a nearby tomb hidden nearby. The guard said he could not move the heavy stone door but he was sure that the tomb held many exotic treasures. Althon said our mission was of the most importance so we should press forth but the guard had told Althon we should at least go to the site so in the future we could return there to get the treasure. When we arrived at the tomb we immediately noticed that it was dedicated to Bane. Althon noticed the heavy stone door and he and Arendil easily moved it. The guard pressured Althon to just take a peek inside. Althon decided that there would be no harm in just briefly so he ordered the group to enter and for me to remain outside with the guard who suggested we enter the tombs. Moments after they entered the guard suddenly attacked me and caught me off guard. When I regained consciousness I was on the ship where you found me shackled.

(Aren?t you concerned for their safety?)

Aesdale: Lord Althon is a powerful fighter and Arendil is a skilled elven warrior. I am sure they were sent in to the tomb to separate me from them. Without a warrior?s protection a mage is easy prey. Especially when the mage is caught off guard. They may be trying to investigate my fate. I will send a message that I am alive. Ultimately they will continue their mission without me. Althon will know the importance of the mission and he will continue without me.

Attached Files

•  TCAESDAl.bmp   55.17K   303 downloads

Edited by leahnkain, 24 August 2005 - 05:18 PM.

[cujo]

...
Arendil suggested that we ask for aid from a group of wild elves who lived in the area. They proved healing and they allowed us to leave Markessa with them after we interrogated her. Through interrogation we learned that she was a member of house Damuir. House Damuir is presently in exile due to their shady dealing with seedy characters. I am unsure what they may have did in the past but to be barred from entering Waterdeep it must be severe. The wood elves kindly offered us a guide to replace Markessa. Paraway joined the group and we set off once again. After traveling for about two days one of the guards mentioned to Lord Merchantius that there was a nearby tomb hidden nearby.

Very nice character Leahnkain with good bio and a good dialog but I would like to point out some little mistakes in the dialog about what happened to Aesdale Essen's group.

I think it should be that the wild elves provided healing. Also I would scrap the first nearby (marked in italics) as it makes more sense to me without it.

[leahnkain]

Thank you for the feedback! I am using a Japanese version of Word and often it doesn't catch my errors. I will be more careful to proof read! I want to make sure with all of the NPC's the player wants them in his/her group. I found with the BG series some NPC's were never used. I am hoping that these characters will add to replay value so I am doing my best to give them strong backgrounds and storylines. I am really grateful for any feedback received.

[Fluttering Butterfly]

Will any of Aesdale's friends join soon? You said Arendil? Is he going to join? What is his relationship with Aesdale? Markessa is listed as an NPC is she hunting Aesdale? He is such a cool NPC! I want to read more bio's. Arendil or markessa sounfd really interesting! You have a klocked forum now. What is the password? Is it posted? I think he is like Imoen. Trouble for the PC at times but really great to have around.

[Sir BillyBob]

Markessa is going to show up soon during the slaver mods. You will see some involvement with her earlier in banters and cutscenes. I think Arendil was cut from the team. It would be up to Leahnkain to add him back in.

Perhaps at this point, other Waterdeep personnel could show up in cameo roles and then later join? Don't know. Both of us are flexible about this right now.

[leahnkain]

Markessa is going to show up soon during the slaver mods.  You will see some involvement with her earlier in banters and cutscenes.  I think Arendil was cut from the team.  It would be up to Leahnkain to add him back in.

Perhaps at this point, other Waterdeep personnel could show up in cameo roles and then later join?  Don't know.  Both of us are flexible about this right now.

I don't mind creating dialog for him. I am just worried Aesdale has too many friends. Aesdale Arendil and Althon all are from the Waterdeep area and all are linked in a storyline with each other. Is it boring for players? If people don't like Aesdale then it would really be terrible to have his best friend in the group. I will post his bio and if anyone wants to comment if they would like to see him in the MOD I will talk to Sir Billy Bob how to put him in.

Edited by leahnkain, 26 August 2005 - 09:30 PM.

[Fluttering Butterfly]

Will Aesdale's story finish in the next patch? It's really interesting. I think it's very cleverly done.

[Sir BillyBob]

Not in this patch. There isn't really a plan to "stop" his development. We just don't have ideas yet for what happens after the slaver series. I think more quests for each NPC will happen over time and as we come up with ideas. After all, I don't see how you will go from one mod series to another unless something or someone was moving you along in that direction. Aesdale could be that someone but right now I doubt it. However, he could play a part.

[leahnkain]

Actually it is kind of funny, when I　first started to write Aesdale I intended him to be a major NPC. Kind of like a best friend for the player. Instead what has happened is Dirbert has filled that role very nicely. I also found Althon (who was intended to further the Aesdale storyline?s plot has become a very developed NPC and I have put much more focus on writing his background and plaaning his future development. As Sir BillyBob has said all of the NPC?s will continue to be developed in the near future. I am just about to send a lot of extra dialogs to Sir BillyBob for some of the major NPC?s. (I just have to proof read them.) It is hard to believe but it has almost been one year in the making. I thhink people would be surprised how many changes to the NPC's in terms of design has actually happened.