Seriously though, thanks much for taking a moment to put your thoughts about your characters next to my POV. It think it’s interesting, to say the least. Honestly, I can see us running through a workshop here to build new characters (when the time comes, not in the immediate future, as I have been told that I force “retirement” too early, too often. The campaign will take you guys to 20+, likely.

So, I’ve tried like 5 times to write this bio for XaXa (pronounced like Zsa Zsa Gabor) out, and I finally realized why I was getting hung up on it. The rest of the group wrote out their bio in first person. I couldn’t find her voice, so I’ll have to narrate it as LadyGlutter. Oh, yeah, also, I’m probably the most nutty of the roleplayers, having to step into and out of my character, and other little quirks like that. I really do immerse myself in my character — I couldn’t even write the backstory in 1st person because she wouldn’t tell anyone all of this. For an example, I just realized that even though I cry very easily, I haven’t once gotten misty-eyed in this campaign, despite it being very emotional. XaXa does not cry, so I haven’t.

Also – I’m not clear how you’re going to make this website PG with the storyline as is. I can avoid bad language in the posts, but writing my backstory isn’t PG. I’ll do my best, though.

XaXa’s beginning was a bloody, angry one. Her mother had been brutalized by a human noble who had strayed from the battlefield into a nearby orc village. He caught her unprepared, or else he would not have lived long enough to brag about the deed. As it was, her mother stole into his camp the next night, took her vengeance, and left silently, leaving his sleeping companions to awaken to a scene of hideous gore.

XaXa was raised in that orc village, knowing the story of her own conception from a very young age. She was constantly reminded that she wasn’t fully orc, and her entire tribe made sure that her rights of passage were especially rigorous. After a time, her human grandfather contacted her mother, trying to set right the wrongs of his deceased child and claim some connection to the only fleshly legacy he had on earth. Her mother, unreadable as ever, agreed. XaXa, already a misfit amongst the orcs, was sent off to live for a while amongst human nobility.

While she had been raised to regard them as the enemy her entire life, she also had been treated with suspicion and wariness because she was part human. She hoped to find a place where she belonged amongst the humans, and attended to her new studies and home with enthusiasm and imagination. She was disappointed to find that she was just as much an outcast here as she was at home. She did grow to have a warm relationship with her grandfather, despite his wrongheaded attempt at fixing his son’s sins.

After her paternal grandfather died, he left XaXa a small amount of fortune, a human title of nobility, and no home. She would not accept her place as a human noble, because she felt that any system that judged people worthy based on lineage was wrongheaded. She was not easily blinded by the prejudices she was raised under, having been a target her whole life, and she felt that this was just more of the same.

Physically, XaXa is statuesque and quite attractive by both human and orc standards.  Her dark red hair is almost black, and depending on who you ask, her olive complexion is neither “too green” or “too pink.”  Her straight, graceful bearing can be attributed to her noble standing, her fierce orc heritage, or, more likely, a strong sense of self-confidence.

XaXa’s time amongst people of very diverse cultures has served her well in adventuring. Her unique background makes her a very good judge of character, because she actually takes the time to read people as individuals, rather than taking the racial composite as the truth. She has spent so much time learning when to blend in and go with the flow, and when to stand up and take control. She has an iron will, a fierce temper and very little tolerance for any form of slavery or oppression. If she wants you dead, start saying your prayers. She is very patient, not because she’s indecisive, but because waiting for the right moment to act ensures success. Ask anyone she’s sneak attacked with her mace…. oh wait, can you speak with dead?