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Table of Contents
Character Backstory
Your backstory is the personal history that brings your character to life. It helps define their motivations, relationships, and how they fit into the world of Volaire. Whether you’re brand new to LARP or a seasoned roleplayer, this guide will walk you through creating a meaningful and playable backstory.
🎭 What Is a Backstory?
A backstory is a summary of your character’s life up to the point they arrive in Volaire. It doesn’t have to be long or poetic—it just needs to explain who your character is, where they’ve been, and why they’re here now.
A strong backstory helps:
- Inform your roleplay and decision-making
- Give Plot staff hooks to connect you to the world
- Ground your character in Volaire’s setting
- Avoid clichés or overpowered tropes
🧱 The 5 Core Questions
Use these questions as a template to get started:
| Question | Think About… |
|---|---|
| 1. Where did you grow up? | A town, forest, ruin, caravan, fortress, or region? Did you live comfortably or struggle to survive? |
| 2. What shaped you? | Was there a key event—loss, war, mentorship, betrayal, survival—that changed your path? |
| 3. What skills have you learned? | Were you trained by someone? Did you learn from trial and error? What are you good at? |
| 4. Why are you in Volaire now? | What pulled you here—hope, revenge, curiosity, duty, or accident? |
| 5. What drives you? | Are you searching for purpose? Chasing justice? Escaping a past? Hiding something? |
You can answer these as full paragraphs or simple bullet points.
🧠 Tips for First-Time Roleplayers
- Keep it simple. One paragraph is better than none.
- Avoid being “The Chosen One” or “The Last of Your Kind.” You’re special—but so is everyone else!
- Let your flaws be real. Being too trusting, bitter, or reckless adds more story than being perfect.
- Don’t write your whole life. Focus on the last few years and key turning points.
✍️ Example: Simple Backstory
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.
📜 Submitting Your Backstory
Submit your backstory using the Support Ticket System so Plot staff can review it and use it for story integration.
Backstories are optional—but highly encouraged. The more you give us, the more we can give back to you in play.
🔍 Optional Add-Ons
You may include any of the following for extra flavor:
- Personal quirks (e.g., hates the cold, collects broken charms, talks to their weapon)
- Memorable NPCs (e.g., mentor, rival, parent, criminal contact)
- Short-term goals (e.g., find a lost item, earn respect, prove your worth)
These don’t need to be complex—they just help create dynamic stories and open doors.
Your backstory is your spark. Let it shape your future in the ashes of Volaire.
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