PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Name:
Cogliostro
Nicknames given by others:
Baldy, Prick, Bald Prick, Dickless Wonder
How your character refers to him/her self:
Cogliostro (very little imagination used there)
Race:
Human, more or less, with a touch of divinity
Age:
Unable to determine that any longer
Health:
Excellent
General appearance:
Well groomed and dignified at most times
Clothing usually worn:
A maroon uniform
Clothing preferred:
Elegant yet practical
What image (overall) is portrayed:
A somewhat overbearing, upscale, arrogant, yet somehow oft times charming fellow
Height:
6'4"
Weight:
225 lbs
Eye color:
Brown
Hair color:
Salt-n-peppered black (usually shaven bald, however)
Skin color:
Olive
Complexion:
Clear and relatively smooth (a few very faint wrinkles in just the right places to keep one guessing about his age)
Body type:
Fit and fairly well muscled
Athletic proficiencies:
Likes to believe himself able to hold his own in any such endeavors
Posture:
Regal and overbearing; stands tall and clasps his hands at the small of his back quite often
Walk:
Again, regal and overbearing, almost never moving beyond a casual pace
Other physical distinctions:
His clean-shaven head is covered in various tattoos and arcane runes
Characteristic manner of speaking:
Long-winded and preachy, when he's not being overbearing or generally an ass
Habitual expressions:
Frowns, scowls, knowing smirks, condescending smiles
Habitual mannerisms:
Clasps his hands at the small of his back
Usual swear words:
He has no usual ones used, but he generally tries to avoid speaking aloud the most crass of them
Voice quality:
Deep and melodical (as opposed to grating)
HISTORY
Earliest memory:
His "birth" (See below)
Place of birth:
He wasn't born, so much as made, being originally nothing more than a splinter personality of someone else eventually given flesh and a mind of their own.
Travel history/reason:
Despite the fact he will flit about the Realms as his whims and needs suit him, he's never actually traveled extensively outside of Sshamath
Has your character ever lived in a foreign land:
See above
What events, circumstances, or experiences have had a major impact on your character's way of thinking:
The fact that he is/was nothing more than a splinter personality of someone else constantly grates at him. As he was composed of the worst characteristics of that person, he believes himself beyond redemption and any ability to escape the darkness. Not that he particularly cares most times.
Looking back, how would your character describe the past five to ten years of his/her life, both professionally/academically and personally/socially:
He hasn't had much more than a year to call his own, let alone five or ten. Ask again in another decade.
Is there anything in your character's life-experience which he/she feels warrants clarification:
He wants it made known that he is not merely the shadow of another man, that he has risen fully into his own being (despite the fact it's largely bullshit).
Describe home life while growing up:
He didn't have one, obviously
Illnesses/when:
He's not the type to fall prey to them
Major accidents/when:
Accidents don't happen to men like him.
Most painful thing in your character's life:
The truth of his half-existence
SENSE OF LIFE
What is the important thing to know about your character:
He's dangerous because he's desperate to prove a key point or two mentioned above. And due to the fact he's an evil, manipulative bastard under it all.
How self-aware is he/she:
Completely, much to his dismay
Philosophy of life:
The world is my game board
Sees self as:
The next big contender (amongst the evil gods, I'm presuming)
Main goal in life:
Aside from "finding himself", he aims to gain absolute power (whatever that actually entails)
Short term goals:
Get his affairs in order and rebuild
Long term goals:
Absolute power, fool
Short term needs:
Competent hired-help
Long term needs:
For those like Cyric, Bane, Shar, etc to keel over and die so he can take the throne(s)
Ambitions/desires:
I believe you have that information by now
Hobbies/pastimes:
Foolishness, all of them
Most pressing problem:
Despite the fact he acts contrary, he's very much a lost soul at the moment
What traits really make your character come alive:
His oft times prickish attitude and the ability to babble on forever
One-line characterization:
The next step in the evolution of man and god alike
Outstanding qualities:
I wouldn't really classify any of them as "outstanding". I suppose you could call it "steadfast" rather than "stubborn", though, and there'd be one.
Inferior qualities/faults:
Largely unswerving, self-serving, manipulative to the extreme...the list goes on and on
Tragic Flaw:
That he exists in the first place, though it's more the flaw of another than his own
Fears/phobias:
That he'll never actually come to terms with his sense of self, or rather, that he'll never truly gain one
Superstitions:
Something for primates to dwell on
Complexes:
Low self-esteem, in all honesty (which all the bluster mentioned above is meant to cover)
Most feared threat:
To lose what existence he has, despite the fact he often despises that very thing
Reaction to threat:
Live in constant denial, mostly
Reaction to emergency:
Have a moment of scarcely controlled anger and frustration, then have a minion do something about it
Is your character willing to die for anything:
Hell no, but he's plenty willing to kill for pretty much anything
Religion:
Oddly enough, it's disagreeable with him. He believes in deities, obviously (seeing as he is one), but he doesn't really agree with the whole concept of religion
Weekly ritual:
Shaves his head (though that's more like every couple or few days)
Moral/immoral code:
In that he believes much as his "creator": Morality is irrelevant in the eyes of necessity
Inner conflicts:
Aplenty
Frustrations/irritations:
Even more plentiful. People that don't do what he wants, for one.
Pet peeves/gripes:
The list could go on until this thread could hold no more text
Things that make uncomfortable/embarrass your character:
Nothing comes to mind, at least nothing that he'd give any indication of in public
Prejudices:
Arrogant people (ironic in the extreme)
Describe your character's special qualities and/or personal strengths:
He's a bastion of divine power, for all it's worth
Have your character select an activity in which they have been significantly involved, and have them elaborate upon its importance to them:
He's not been around long enough to get mixed up in anything of real import
If a particularly memorable experience is connected with the activity they have selected, be sure to provide that info too:
See above
STATION
Real property assets:
A divine realm, and various business holdings in the Realms
Debts:
Not the type to accrue them (too proud, in other words)
Occupation:
Innkeeper, master manipulator
Major mode of transportation:
Teleportation
Organizations of which your character is a member:
None whatsover, unless there's a union for godly types that he wasn't informed about
Military service:
None
Social class in childhood:
Didn't have one. A childhood, that is
Social class at present:
Upper crust
List any awards or honors your character has received:
Funny. Really.
Criminal behavior:
I would say quite a bit and make a huge list, but I don't believe that much of it is criminal where he's residing. Just in case, he delves into blackmail, extortion, drug-running, smuggling, slavery, and pit-fighting, to name a few things that other cultures may see as criminal.
Oppressed by individual or group:
Only by his own doubts and fears
Favors owed or owing:
Much to his perpetual dismay, he owes the right to "dwell" in the city to certain drow personages of power, and he must constantly keep them happy in whatever way they deem fit. For now, at least (forever to those concerned besides himself).
FAVORITES/DISLIKES
Favorite books:
Spellbooks
Favorite play:
He's never experienced one
Favorite periodicals:
None available
Favorite music:
Anything soothing (odd considering he runs a "night club" sort of establishment with loud, hip-shaking music)
Favorite quote(s):
"Challenge in life is inevitable...defeat is optional."
Arts preferred:
Paintings and tapestries
Favorite animal:
He's never contemplated it, so for now he's unconsciously stayed with rats, a favorite of his "creator"
Favorite entertainment:
Dancing, mostly-nude females
Favorite weather:
Overcast and snowing, to remind him bitterly of his cold, dark existence
Preferred foods/drinks:
Brandy. Otherwise, he's a meat & potato sort of guy
Disliked foods/drinks:
Most of what the drow and other Underdark dwellers habitually eat
Favorite place:
His office
Dislikes this place:
Wherever his "creator" happens to be roaming
Favorite phrases/words:
"Bah"
"Mmhm"
"Make it so" (a Picard fan if there ever was one)
Dislikes which phrases/words:
Anything that's overly crass
Other likes/dislikes/comments of note:
None come to mind
EDUCATION
Best subject:
Spellcasting, I suppose
Favorite subject:
Again, spellcasting, I suppose
Poorest subject:
He does nothing poorly (besides communicate, according to Xull and just about everyone else)
Special communication skills:
Is able to ignore everyone else and keep on babbling, no matter how loud they get (not sure if that's a good thing)
Language proficiencies:
Fluent in all languages (if only due to his divinity)
Skills/Talents:
It'd be simpler to ask what skills or talents he doesn't possess (yeah, right)
Level of common sense:
More than most would give him credit for
PERSONALITY/EMOTIONAL MAKEUP
Basic nature:
A scared child living in denial who puts on an overly strong front so no one can see the truth
Seen by other as:
An overbearing, pompous tyrant
Introvert/Extrovert:
Extrovert
Temperament:
Though he's quick to anger, he can often hold it in check for great lengths of time, if doing so will further anger those he's talking to at the time.
Sense of humor/kind:
Dry
Habits (good and bad):
Drinks too much (not that it has any effect)
Method of handling anger/rage:
Let it boil and fester inside until it reaches the bursting point. Then really let loose and overreact.
Imagination:
He's got quite a big one (take that as you want)
Eccentricities:
Nothing particularly eccentric comes to mind
Traumas/psychological scars:
If you hadn't caught on to this by now, I really pity you
Sexual turn-ons:
Females of most any persuasion, though the ones with tails and horns really do it for him
Sexual turn-offs:
Bad odors (so unwashed women are definitely out)
Fetishes:
None that he's allowed anyone to live to tell about
List several adjectives which your character, your character's family, or your character's friends would use to describe him/her:
Overbearing, pompous, arrogant, stoic, stubborn, manipulative, powerful, selfish
FAMILY
Create a family tree:
There isn't one, aside from his one "parent", ShadowHeart
Immediate family background:
See above
Other key relatives:
None of his own to speak of, though he could claim relationship to all of Shadow's brood and kin. Not that he'd care to. Nor would much of anyone else care to, for that matter.
Friends and associates:
Of friends, he has none. Of associates, well, he mostly thinks of them as underlings, then summarily thinks nothing more of it.
Pets:
Useful for kicking around, when no real underlings are at hand to do likewise unto.
RELATIONSHIPS
How does your character treat and/or get along with:
Significant other:
That's quite the laughable thought, him having a significant other.
Children:
The minions of tomorrow
Parents:
Breeding stock for those minions of tomorrow that I mentioned above
Siblings:
There aren't any. And if there were, he take pains to correct that
Opposite sex:
Use and abuse them as he sees fit
Same sex:
Use and abuse them as he sees fit, just not in a sexual manner like he does with the females
Neighbors:
Tolerate them as he must, and kill them when he can get away with it so that he can replace them with someone more tolerable.
Friends:
Ahem. Yes, moving on.
Those more successful:
Covet their power and assure himself that it will soon be his.
Those less successful:
Make sure they know that they are his minions and nothing more.
Anyone who challenges:
Toy with them as long as it amuses him to, then destroy them if they haven't scurried off before he gets bored with it.
Anyone who helps:
Make sure the terms are laid out plainly ahead of time and that there's no confusion as to him owing them anything in return
Anyone who asks for help:
"And so the question becomes, what do I get out of it...?"
Name:
Cogliostro
Nicknames given by others:
Baldy, Prick, Bald Prick, Dickless Wonder
How your character refers to him/her self:
Cogliostro (very little imagination used there)
Race:
Human, more or less, with a touch of divinity
Age:
Unable to determine that any longer
Health:
Excellent
General appearance:
Well groomed and dignified at most times
Clothing usually worn:
A maroon uniform
Clothing preferred:
Elegant yet practical
What image (overall) is portrayed:
A somewhat overbearing, upscale, arrogant, yet somehow oft times charming fellow
Height:
6'4"
Weight:
225 lbs
Eye color:
Brown
Hair color:
Salt-n-peppered black (usually shaven bald, however)
Skin color:
Olive
Complexion:
Clear and relatively smooth (a few very faint wrinkles in just the right places to keep one guessing about his age)
Body type:
Fit and fairly well muscled
Athletic proficiencies:
Likes to believe himself able to hold his own in any such endeavors
Posture:
Regal and overbearing; stands tall and clasps his hands at the small of his back quite often
Walk:
Again, regal and overbearing, almost never moving beyond a casual pace
Other physical distinctions:
His clean-shaven head is covered in various tattoos and arcane runes
Characteristic manner of speaking:
Long-winded and preachy, when he's not being overbearing or generally an ass
Habitual expressions:
Frowns, scowls, knowing smirks, condescending smiles
Habitual mannerisms:
Clasps his hands at the small of his back
Usual swear words:
He has no usual ones used, but he generally tries to avoid speaking aloud the most crass of them
Voice quality:
Deep and melodical (as opposed to grating)
HISTORY
Earliest memory:
His "birth" (See below)
Place of birth:
He wasn't born, so much as made, being originally nothing more than a splinter personality of someone else eventually given flesh and a mind of their own.
Travel history/reason:
Despite the fact he will flit about the Realms as his whims and needs suit him, he's never actually traveled extensively outside of Sshamath
Has your character ever lived in a foreign land:
See above
What events, circumstances, or experiences have had a major impact on your character's way of thinking:
The fact that he is/was nothing more than a splinter personality of someone else constantly grates at him. As he was composed of the worst characteristics of that person, he believes himself beyond redemption and any ability to escape the darkness. Not that he particularly cares most times.
Looking back, how would your character describe the past five to ten years of his/her life, both professionally/academically and personally/socially:
He hasn't had much more than a year to call his own, let alone five or ten. Ask again in another decade.
Is there anything in your character's life-experience which he/she feels warrants clarification:
He wants it made known that he is not merely the shadow of another man, that he has risen fully into his own being (despite the fact it's largely bullshit).
Describe home life while growing up:
He didn't have one, obviously
Illnesses/when:
He's not the type to fall prey to them
Major accidents/when:
Accidents don't happen to men like him.
Most painful thing in your character's life:
The truth of his half-existence
SENSE OF LIFE
What is the important thing to know about your character:
He's dangerous because he's desperate to prove a key point or two mentioned above. And due to the fact he's an evil, manipulative bastard under it all.
How self-aware is he/she:
Completely, much to his dismay
Philosophy of life:
The world is my game board
Sees self as:
The next big contender (amongst the evil gods, I'm presuming)
Main goal in life:
Aside from "finding himself", he aims to gain absolute power (whatever that actually entails)
Short term goals:
Get his affairs in order and rebuild
Long term goals:
Absolute power, fool
Short term needs:
Competent hired-help
Long term needs:
For those like Cyric, Bane, Shar, etc to keel over and die so he can take the throne(s)
Ambitions/desires:
I believe you have that information by now
Hobbies/pastimes:
Foolishness, all of them
Most pressing problem:
Despite the fact he acts contrary, he's very much a lost soul at the moment
What traits really make your character come alive:
His oft times prickish attitude and the ability to babble on forever
One-line characterization:
The next step in the evolution of man and god alike
Outstanding qualities:
I wouldn't really classify any of them as "outstanding". I suppose you could call it "steadfast" rather than "stubborn", though, and there'd be one.
Inferior qualities/faults:
Largely unswerving, self-serving, manipulative to the extreme...the list goes on and on
Tragic Flaw:
That he exists in the first place, though it's more the flaw of another than his own
Fears/phobias:
That he'll never actually come to terms with his sense of self, or rather, that he'll never truly gain one
Superstitions:
Something for primates to dwell on
Complexes:
Low self-esteem, in all honesty (which all the bluster mentioned above is meant to cover)
Most feared threat:
To lose what existence he has, despite the fact he often despises that very thing
Reaction to threat:
Live in constant denial, mostly
Reaction to emergency:
Have a moment of scarcely controlled anger and frustration, then have a minion do something about it
Is your character willing to die for anything:
Hell no, but he's plenty willing to kill for pretty much anything
Religion:
Oddly enough, it's disagreeable with him. He believes in deities, obviously (seeing as he is one), but he doesn't really agree with the whole concept of religion
Weekly ritual:
Shaves his head (though that's more like every couple or few days)
Moral/immoral code:
In that he believes much as his "creator": Morality is irrelevant in the eyes of necessity
Inner conflicts:
Aplenty
Frustrations/irritations:
Even more plentiful. People that don't do what he wants, for one.
Pet peeves/gripes:
The list could go on until this thread could hold no more text
Things that make uncomfortable/embarrass your character:
Nothing comes to mind, at least nothing that he'd give any indication of in public
Prejudices:
Arrogant people (ironic in the extreme)
Describe your character's special qualities and/or personal strengths:
He's a bastion of divine power, for all it's worth
Have your character select an activity in which they have been significantly involved, and have them elaborate upon its importance to them:
He's not been around long enough to get mixed up in anything of real import
If a particularly memorable experience is connected with the activity they have selected, be sure to provide that info too:
See above
STATION
Real property assets:
A divine realm, and various business holdings in the Realms
Debts:
Not the type to accrue them (too proud, in other words)
Occupation:
Innkeeper, master manipulator
Major mode of transportation:
Teleportation
Organizations of which your character is a member:
None whatsover, unless there's a union for godly types that he wasn't informed about
Military service:
None
Social class in childhood:
Didn't have one. A childhood, that is
Social class at present:
Upper crust
List any awards or honors your character has received:
Funny. Really.
Criminal behavior:
I would say quite a bit and make a huge list, but I don't believe that much of it is criminal where he's residing. Just in case, he delves into blackmail, extortion, drug-running, smuggling, slavery, and pit-fighting, to name a few things that other cultures may see as criminal.
Oppressed by individual or group:
Only by his own doubts and fears
Favors owed or owing:
Much to his perpetual dismay, he owes the right to "dwell" in the city to certain drow personages of power, and he must constantly keep them happy in whatever way they deem fit. For now, at least (forever to those concerned besides himself).
FAVORITES/DISLIKES
Favorite books:
Spellbooks
Favorite play:
He's never experienced one
Favorite periodicals:
None available
Favorite music:
Anything soothing (odd considering he runs a "night club" sort of establishment with loud, hip-shaking music)
Favorite quote(s):
"Challenge in life is inevitable...defeat is optional."
Arts preferred:
Paintings and tapestries
Favorite animal:
He's never contemplated it, so for now he's unconsciously stayed with rats, a favorite of his "creator"
Favorite entertainment:
Dancing, mostly-nude females
Favorite weather:
Overcast and snowing, to remind him bitterly of his cold, dark existence
Preferred foods/drinks:
Brandy. Otherwise, he's a meat & potato sort of guy
Disliked foods/drinks:
Most of what the drow and other Underdark dwellers habitually eat
Favorite place:
His office
Dislikes this place:
Wherever his "creator" happens to be roaming
Favorite phrases/words:
"Bah"
"Mmhm"
"Make it so" (a Picard fan if there ever was one)
Dislikes which phrases/words:
Anything that's overly crass
Other likes/dislikes/comments of note:
None come to mind
EDUCATION
Best subject:
Spellcasting, I suppose
Favorite subject:
Again, spellcasting, I suppose
Poorest subject:
He does nothing poorly (besides communicate, according to Xull and just about everyone else)
Special communication skills:
Is able to ignore everyone else and keep on babbling, no matter how loud they get (not sure if that's a good thing)
Language proficiencies:
Fluent in all languages (if only due to his divinity)
Skills/Talents:
It'd be simpler to ask what skills or talents he doesn't possess (yeah, right)
Level of common sense:
More than most would give him credit for
PERSONALITY/EMOTIONAL MAKEUP
Basic nature:
A scared child living in denial who puts on an overly strong front so no one can see the truth
Seen by other as:
An overbearing, pompous tyrant
Introvert/Extrovert:
Extrovert
Temperament:
Though he's quick to anger, he can often hold it in check for great lengths of time, if doing so will further anger those he's talking to at the time.
Sense of humor/kind:
Dry
Habits (good and bad):
Drinks too much (not that it has any effect)
Method of handling anger/rage:
Let it boil and fester inside until it reaches the bursting point. Then really let loose and overreact.
Imagination:
He's got quite a big one (take that as you want)
Eccentricities:
Nothing particularly eccentric comes to mind
Traumas/psychological scars:
If you hadn't caught on to this by now, I really pity you
Sexual turn-ons:
Females of most any persuasion, though the ones with tails and horns really do it for him
Sexual turn-offs:
Bad odors (so unwashed women are definitely out)
Fetishes:
None that he's allowed anyone to live to tell about
List several adjectives which your character, your character's family, or your character's friends would use to describe him/her:
Overbearing, pompous, arrogant, stoic, stubborn, manipulative, powerful, selfish
FAMILY
Create a family tree:
There isn't one, aside from his one "parent", ShadowHeart
Immediate family background:
See above
Other key relatives:
None of his own to speak of, though he could claim relationship to all of Shadow's brood and kin. Not that he'd care to. Nor would much of anyone else care to, for that matter.
Friends and associates:
Of friends, he has none. Of associates, well, he mostly thinks of them as underlings, then summarily thinks nothing more of it.
Pets:
Useful for kicking around, when no real underlings are at hand to do likewise unto.
RELATIONSHIPS
How does your character treat and/or get along with:
Significant other:
That's quite the laughable thought, him having a significant other.
Children:
The minions of tomorrow
Parents:
Breeding stock for those minions of tomorrow that I mentioned above
Siblings:
There aren't any. And if there were, he take pains to correct that
Opposite sex:
Use and abuse them as he sees fit
Same sex:
Use and abuse them as he sees fit, just not in a sexual manner like he does with the females
Neighbors:
Tolerate them as he must, and kill them when he can get away with it so that he can replace them with someone more tolerable.
Friends:
Ahem. Yes, moving on.
Those more successful:
Covet their power and assure himself that it will soon be his.
Those less successful:
Make sure they know that they are his minions and nothing more.
Anyone who challenges:
Toy with them as long as it amuses him to, then destroy them if they haven't scurried off before he gets bored with it.
Anyone who helps:
Make sure the terms are laid out plainly ahead of time and that there's no confusion as to him owing them anything in return
Anyone who asks for help:
"And so the question becomes, what do I get out of it...?"
Challenge in life is inevitable...defeat is optional.
