Ghost

This story is Andrew's backstory of his Ghost character to make his powergaming decisions backed by a reason. In reality, though, it is a mockery of using backstory manipulations to support powergaming decisions.

Tulin Niemh was born in a lower class elven family in southern Chrace. Almost immediately, he developed an overwhelming greed that alarmed his village and family. Materialism drove his young existence, and Tulin’s cunning use of speech allowed him to con local villagers into giving him money. He also excelled at thievery. Soon, Tulin began accumulating a wealth well beyond his years (although he would still be considered poor). Tulin wanted nothing more then to own every material possession in the world, and have all the wealth be his. His progress was rapid for one his age until an orcish incursion into the southern region of Chrace changed his plans.

            The Orcish tribe quickly descended upon his village and enslaved all men and slaughtered all women. It was a terrible sight to behold and soon enough the Orc’s marched away with their slaves in tow. Tulin and the other elves became slaves to help construct the orcish war machine, as well as small dabbles in gladiatorial combat. He was overwhelmingly charismatic, however, and quickly organized the slaves into one, flowing, almost hive-mind band. After his 2^nd year of slavery, Tulin successfully toppled the tyrannous rule of the Orc’s and fled with his new band of companions. Or so they thought.

            Immediately after clearing the Orc encampment, Tulin turned back and waited. He watched, and waited. He memorized patrol routes and lookout of the Orc camp. When he found the perfect opportunity, he slipped in and stole every bit of gold he could. He narrowly escaped tugging 60 lbs. Of gold behind him by jumping in the river and having the current pull him away. Orcs dove in after him, but lost him as the gold allowed him to sink out of their view. In fact, he looked at the slave experience as a good thing. He had learned some fluid combat techniques as well as made a fortune for himself.

            It was the moment he slogged out of the river at dawn with his booty in tow when he was suddenly teleported to a dark, shadowy, bustling city. He knew naught where he was. A shadowy humanoid walked up to him and welcomed him to the ‘City of Shadow.’ Knowing his weakness, the man instantly offered him a vast wealth, and this bait lured Tulin into following the man. After about 1 month of stay in the city, Tulin became a shade – that is, a member of the cities small army of thieves, spies, and assassins. He worked for the city for many years, aquiring wealth for himself and the city. He gathered the wealth via scams, heists, and simple burglary alike. However, in a grand attempt to scam the King of Tulleytown out of his oversized diamond, Tulin was killed by a battalion of guards.

            He awoke again, right where he died. He looked down to see his bloody corpse on the ground, being dragged by a horse around the town square. He also noticed that nothing was normal – everything he saw had a bluish, uncolored hue to it. He knew immediately what happened - he had become a ghost. Curiously enough, however, he maintained his abilities he learned as a shade. But now he was free from the control of the city of shadow. He was free to continue his journey to accumulate wealth.

            Ghost, as he later became known, stood quietly in the square as he saw the king – with the diamond – parade around the square on a carriage, dragging his corpse about. It was only then that he saw a small boy that crawled under the legs of the guards and headed towards the king. Knowing or caring not the little boy’s true intentions, Ghost flew over and possessed him, taking complete control over his body. He jumped up, grabbed the diamond, tore it off the scepter with unrealistic strength for a boy that size. And he ran like he never ran before. With the diamond, he ran.

(It’s at this point that the mini-campaign events occurred where the players chased the boy through the woods, where he threatened to drop the diamond down a well. The diamond was later recovered by ghost off of a corpse of one of the player characters. He hid it in a small mountain pass but upon checking up on it it was nowhere to be found.)