A Quick History of the Five
Ed.: The paragraphs below were written by the players in the campaign. We used the three-phase system from The Fate Core System to create backstories for the characters. The first paragraph in each section was written by the character’s player. The others were written by other players who had to integrate themselves into the original’s story.
Grr'imiss[redacted]
Grr'imiss'ithkrahtlathethraalakrathzzrhtilmhrhthlatholthatrethulmethresstrraa, as part of his tribe's tradition, ventured to the mana caves, which recently have been less spiritual, less connected to the Great Well of Magic. There he fasted and meditated, facing his inner demons and pushing his body to it's limit. It was in that moment, while Grimiss was on the mirror's edge between life and death, the Mana caves exploded with magical energy. The local Shaman took this as a sign that Grimiss was destined to venture out into the world and learn why the Great Well of Magic seemed to be fading in the world.
The lead that Grimiss' Shaman could offer: seek out the Gold Skinned tribe - who have the most detailed historical records of all the scaly tribes of the western oasis. Grr' set out in the direction the shaman told him, but before he could reach the Golden tribe, he came upon a single Gold-skin: Lissal - who claimed to be a Prince of the tribe, no less!
After running into Lissal, Grrimiss and his new acquaintance venture toward the Golden Tribe, as they travel across a scorched escarpment, they stumble into a Mexican standoff between The Judge, a desert raider, and a defector from a foreign power. The Judge looks off to the right as he sees the two figures stop still. The Judge looks at Lissal in the eyes as he draws his revolver and splits open the skulls of both foes in one quick movement.
William “Bill” Wordsworth IV
For his Bard College thesis, Bill had to follow around an old bounty hunter. His name was Stank McStunk, and he was a mean old fuck. His target was Jon Jon Silverstrum, another mean old fuck. In reality, their showdown was slow, boring, and lame as fuck. Jon Jon took a bullet to they eye, and that's all she wrote for the old gunslinger. Not long after, Stank bit the bucket. Bill spiced up his story a lil’ bit, and the ballad of Stank and Jon Jon was a hit. People starting hiring him for bardin' duties, and the rest is history. All he wants is a bit of fame, a bit of gold, and to stay alive. And so far, he’s not doin half bad.
One of The Judge’s main targets during the first round of clashes between his people and the occupying forces, was Jon Jon Silverstrum. On a mission to assassinate him, he was a few seconds too late as I saw McStunk take out Jon Jon's eye. After the dust settled, we discussed bounty huntin' and there he met a jolly bard by the name of... Bill.
As The Judge & Bill sat down to get to know each other, they noticed a large, awkward figure staring at Bill - particularly at the musical instrument by his side. Lissal the dragonborn stepped forward when it became clear that Bill & The Judge could see him staring. Proclaiming - somewhat incredulously - that he was a Prince of all things, the dragon man asked (with great embellishment from his foppish claws) for Bill to play him a tune.
Lissal sett Kelsar
While Lissal’s tribe requires all males of the highest caste to take a pilgrimage to the dusty lands of man folk, he had used my privileged place as Prince (sett Kelsar) of the tribe to avoid doing so for years - and was happy for it, seeing as he preferred the luxury of his carpeted tents. But his uncle, always the schemer and tainted with jealousy from his silvery scaling and inferior bloodline, used this fact to turn the counsel against him. Banished now from the only home he has ever truly known (despite his extensive education), he must return to his homeland only once he has acquired a unique piece of knowledge or technology - as all young males must - but doubly so for me so that he may prove the nobility of his birth and fierce heritage of his bloodline.
Enthralled by Lissal's tall tale, Bill offered his services, so that folks across the wild desert would know the legend of Lissal sett Kelsar. And where princes go, gold tends to follow, so Bill saw an opportunity and ran with it.
Who was this curious little man who followed around the Golden Fop? He had many tales that Grr'imiss'ithkrahtlathethraalakrathzzrhtilmhrhthlatholthatrethulmethresstrraa found interesting, and any chance to learn more about the world through the little man's tales was a great opportunity. Grimiss was enthralled by Bill's songs (Which Grimiss took as 100% authentic) and knew that he has to be the star of the next one by deeds that out-shone the light that reflect off the Gold Prince's vain and hollow scales.
Samuel Shepard
Samuel's story follows two 17th-century Irish priests who travel from Dublin to Pride's End to locate their missing mentor and spread Catholic Christianity. The story is set in a time when it was common for the faith's adherents to hide from the persecution that resulted from the suppression of Christianity in the realm. Samuel succeeded in his mission, but lost his partner due to the harsh conditions of the travel. (Copyright belongs to the Mob Flick Man)
Grimiss came upon Samuel, who was praying over his partner who had succumbed to the hardships of the barren wastes. Having had very little contact with the outside world, Grimiss related to, and respected Samuel's devotion to his friend and faith. Grimiss helped Samuel return to civilization.
Some time later after Samuel had already returned to civilization once, he got lost yet again. While following his majesty and his similar-looking-but-not-identical... companion... Greg'fast - Gru'mbo? Grum'sack? Anyway, Bill and Lissal also decided to help run into a priest, whom Bill instantly remembers as Samuel from a different adventure. Despite their differences they agree to help Samuel get back to town...
The Judge
After a paramilitary death squad raided my village during a foreign-backed coup, the Judge grew up seeking revenge on the forces that destroyed my country. The Judge set out on an adventure to locate the remaining soldiers left in the territory, the scouting mission was successful, he and his companions located a large camp, snuck up on them before dawn, and slaughtered everyone within the grounds. This led him on his current path to become a bounty hunter and scalp collector, and an overall protector of his people’s lands.
On Samuel and his partner's (fellow priest Richard Gear) journey to Pride's End, they came across The Judge's violently destroyed village. In their discovery they couldn't believe anyone could create such destruction as this and vowed to make it part of their faith spreading mission to find the survivors of this tragedy and share their religious values to make it better. Samuel and Richard Gear follow in their tracks and find the trail of many ravaged villages and become even more passionate in their quest to spread the word of the lord. As Samuel and Richard approach their 4th or maybe 5th ruined village (where The Judge and his fellow survivors are still situated), in the worst of their traveling conditions, Samuel's fatigue gets to him and he falls off a cliff overlooking the town. The Judge witnesses.
After meeting up with The Judge at one of their village raids, he meets up with a man known as Bill or Will. The two butt heads almost immediately and William begins telling him of an almost biblical tale of Jon Jon and Stank. Sam wants almost nothing to do with this story as the only stories he likes are those of the real bible... you know... factual stuff.