Posts From a Long Winded Gamer

Ivard Jorviksson-Goblin Taker

Following the death of Kaelen, I decided to go with a more martial character, building a Fjarlandr warrior with a mix of Knight, Barbarian and Scout skills and advantages. Best skills are in melee combat, and the scouting skills are deficient, but at least better than defaults. I used ChatGPT to build a character background, and to recommend some disadvantages based on my play logs for two of my major characters. We even developed the tenets of his faith, and of the Fjalandr warrior’s code of honor, fleshing out those “disadvantages” and with a few moral questions and answers, I was able to ensure they aligned with my play style, so they don’t limit me too much beyond the normal constraints in which I play most of my characters.

“Born in the cliff-shadowed village of Brimholt, seven miles west of Drangholm, Ivarn grew up between saltwater and stone, casting nets in the cold Nort Sea and trailing deer in the pine ridges above. His father, Jorvik Broadhand, was a quiet fisherman with a warrior’s past, who taught Ivarn to hunt, build traps, and always carry a blade, even on a fishing run.

When Ivarn turned fifteen, he helped repel a goblin raiding party that reached the high pastures. He killed one with a thrown spear and was blood-named in the village longhall. Ten years later, he’s still known as “Goblin-Taker”, though his heart remains restless.

With no land of his own and no bride pledged, Ivarn has set out to prove himself in the wider world. He means to earn enough coin and reputation to claim a house-stead of his own—ideally near Brimholt, where the sea wind sings.”