Story Hooks

[Stix]

What would you like to have happen to your character? (Note: these things are of a more thematic or emotional nature than simple plot. Examples might include "I want my character's faction beliefs to be challenged," "I want my character to become obsessed with a certain place or object," "I want my character to fall in love.")

[Uathach Blackmantle]

At the moment I only have two major thoughts in mind:- I want her beliefs and faction ideals challenged, and I want her to fall in love.
Maybe I'll think of some others, but right now this is all I can think of.

*For a more personal "character" based thing [aside from searching for father], I was thinking of a Juliet [or Othello, or Jane Eyre] sort of thing [just an example] where a tragic or failed romance and certainly betrayal leads her to insanity, turning stag on her Faction, and possibly undeath [turns to a Vampire for solace.]
She truly falls in love, having never experienced love before, quite possibly with someone whose ideals, beliefs or even Faction allegiences are different to her own. This new experience would likely challenge her views of the Dustmen and their tenets, probably make her begin to think that they've been peeling her all along, and solidify her own beliefs and ideals concerning True Life.
But in the end, she's betrayed. Members in her own faction may betray her - to make her realise again that she is dead, and that what she experienced was a lie - and order the murder or disappearance of the one she loved with every fibre of her being.
This act will likely shatter the last shreds of her sanity, causing her to turn stag on her own Faction, and go barmy, or seek solace in undeath.
On the flip-side, a tragic ending may cast some light on her existence. She'll still turn stag, but maybe find hope in seeking a new ideal to live by [for example, the ideals of her blood father.].

*I want her beliefs and her faction ideals to be challenged and turned upside down. Already she's a Hopefull [her ideal "heaven" being Arborea] and thinks somewhat like a morbid "reverse Godsman". She seeks to evolve, searching for answers to the Truth of the multiverse, but deep down she knows she won't find thus amongst the Dead, since they deny the core of the truth she seeks; Life. She's the sort of factioneer who wants to challenge the way others view the Dustmen, and indeed even the way the Dustmen think.
She's a poet and a musician at heart, despite her scrutinising analytical side that searches for the truth through examining the innards of various deaders from many planes. The calls of her blood demands constructive expression, whereas her mind seeks cold hard facts. Her spirit is trapped somewhere in between.
Perhaps after learning about her father and his own philosophy, she may come to realise the dark of what's been bothering her for so long, and finally see the parallels between the two opposed factions... and how she could combine them to create her own belief system, since, despite their opposition, they have some common ground in ascencion and improving one's self in a "life" of tests...

[Uathach Blackmantle]

I'd like to elaborate upon the above with some ideas I've adapted from concepts I've developed over the past few months.

This is what I had in mind [if none of it is appropriate, or fitting to you game, I'll alter or scrap the ideas, as needed. ]:

First is the presence of her Celestial guardian; Niall, a gloomy Firre Necromancer/Bard [like herself, if such a class combination is allowable with Eladrin], Veiled to look like a half-elven Dustman [Faction-wise, he's probably a Godsman of Factotum rank, or a member of an appropriate sect]. She may or may not've already met him yet, but she has seen him on the rare occassion around the Mortuary; or more commonly, sitting alone, quite conviently, in the taverns she frequents [namely the Ubiquitous Wayfarer, the White Casket, Zero and a few others]. She's heard his voice, and at night she finds her dreams are haunted by him.

If she has already met him, and started forming some sort of emotional bond with him, he is both her Muse, and someone who supports her, emotionally, physically and spiritually. He won't convert her as such, but he's trying to convince her to leave the Dustmen; he fears that her slowly slipping sanity and faith in existence will send her on a one-way trip to the Gatehouse - not just as a patient, but a potential Faction member.

If she hasn't met him yet, then that could happen gradually. In either case, she falls for him [and he for her], but she has no idea if her love is requitted or not. She may even start to doubt him, push him away, if he doesn't reciprocate her feelings, or express them how she expects him to.


Niall is quiet and reserved, seemingly stoic and rather gloomy for an Eladrin. He dresses in simple, plain attire, and drab colors, usually scholarly robes. He gives the first impression of brooding thoughtfulness, as though he's in a daze or a daydream, while he observes from afar, carefully planning his actions. He will not interfere with her life or decisions directly; he won't rob her of her independence, free will to chose, or what could be a valuable learning experience. He will counsel, inspire, support, teach and guide her; and of top priority is convincing her to leave the Dustmen, despite the hardship and loss of belief she is currently experiencing.
[Niall has a personal grudge against the Dustmen, as he is convinced they are responsible for the mysterious death of his grandfather, the previous guardian of Uathach and her twin, Xune. Not only that, he doesn't like how their insidious influence is crushing the flame of her fragile spirit.]

What drew Niall to Wraith was not only her singing voice [he calls her "nightinggale"], but the repressed flame of her spirit. He recognises the potential to be a great mage and performer beneath the gloomy, pale exterior.


Secondly, Wraith at some point [currently or in the near future] will turn stag on the Dustmen. Her faith has been [or will be] shaken to the point where she snaps, going completely barmy, and joins the Bleak Cabal. Alternatively, she finds renewed purpose in life, realises the Dustmen were lying to her, reaffirms her beliefs in True Life, and seeks to join the Godsmen.

Currently she's confused, torn by her beliefs, and the ideals she's supposed to have. She's losing faith in the Dustman creed as she becomes more and more aware of how miserable her life is. She can't shake her feelings, can't pretend to go numb when the fire of her fiendling spirit refuses to be quenched. She's stagnating. She can't ingore the realisation that she will never ascend, never find peace with the Dead until she lets go of Life and Hope; the only ideals that've kept her going for so long [the hope that there is a better Life beyond]

I see both concepts being closesly tied together.