Character Backstory

Your backstory is the personal history that brings your character to life. It shapes their voice, purpose, and place in the world. Whether you’re brand new to LARP or a veteran of many campaigns, this guide will help you build a compelling and playable story for your time in Volaire.

A backstory is a short narrative explaining what your character has experienced before stepping onto the stage of play. It doesn’t need to be long or overly detailed—just enough to answer: *“Who are you, and why are you here?”*

A strong backstory:

• Grounds your character in the world of Volaire
• Inspires real-time choices and emotional depth
• Provides the Plot Team with threads to weave you into ongoing storylines
• Adds weight to your victories, flaws, and alliances

Think of it like the prologue to a book—give us the “before” so we can help create the “after.”

These questions help guide the essential structure of your backstory. You don’t have to answer them all—but the more you do, the more connected your character will feel.

You can answer these as full prose or simple bullet points—whatever feels most natural to you.

• Keep it short and sharp. One or two strong paragraphs is enough.
• Flaws make stories. Perfect heroes are boring. Give your character vulnerabilities.
• Avoid clichés. “The chosen one,” “raised by wolves,” and “secret royalty” can feel tired. Make your character special through *how* they act, not just *what* they are.
• Leave room to grow. Don’t script your whole arc in advance. Let play shape the rest of their journey.
• Don’t make assumptions. Don’t claim relationships to NPCs or factions without staff approval.

Name: Kaelin Thorne
Race: Human
Class: Rogue
Background: Kaelin grew up in the ruins outside of Serrow Hollow, stealing to survive. When her brother was taken by shadowspawn, she joined a local militia to learn how to fight back. She recently heard rumors that her brother might be alive and came to Volaire to follow the trail. She doesn’t trust easily, but she has a soft spot for lost causes.

–Born on the edge of Tuatha near the warfront.
–Spent early years scavenging among refugees; learned survival skills young.
–Father died fighting in the northern skirmishes. Mother was a traveling herbalist.
–Discovered latent magic during an ambush; fled the scene before being punished.
–Hopes to study magic in Volaire under more open-minded minds, but hides past trauma.

Backstories are optional, but highly encouraged.

To submit:

• Use the official Support Ticket System
• Include your character name, race, and class
• Make sure the file or message is clearly labeled for the Plot Team

You must submit your backstory by your third event for it to be eligible for integration into personal or regional plotlines.

For balance and setting integrity, the following are not allowed in character backstories:

• Claims of noble blood, titles, or royal lineage
• Undead transformation, necromantic origins, or forbidden pacts
• Possession of restricted classes or races without staff approval
• Destruction of major landmarks or named NPCs
• “I don’t remember anything” unless approved for specific story reasons

All backstories are reviewed by staff. If edits are needed, you’ll be contacted.

Want to add flavor? These elements are completely optional but add great story potential:

• Quirks – Fear of thunder, always hungry, obsessed with riddles
• Keepsakes – A family ring, a locket with a mystery photo, a cursed trinket
• Named NPCs – A sibling, a lost love, a bounty hunter on your trail
• Short-Term Goals – Earn coin, join a guild, find a missing friend
• Secret Motivation – Something your character hides even from allies

Not sure how to start? Reach out to staff or fellow players! We're happy to help brainstorm with you or review your draft before submission.

Your story doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be yours.

Your backstory is your spark. Let it shape your future in the ashes of Volaire.

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