Ramblings on Character: Ser Jacques
I have a hard time imagining where a character will go. I am the guy that wants to start at lvl 1 in D&D. Backstory only gets me to a point, an accomplished character is already the hero of a story, one that I haven’t told (Exalted is a bit different contextually but that’s not for this post).
So how do you make a character who’s supposed to be a hero when bad stuff…like happens.
It is an interesting concept to build a character, knowing, that being good is the only way. I think that it causes me to think harder about tougher questions. I like that Jacques, while good, has become a victim of that goodness. His story will be one of redemption. But whose redemption exactly? His own, for a crime he didn’t truly commit? His country, for betraying someone loyal? Someone else down the road? With that in mind, he is the ideal white knight. He will dive into the fray with bravado and empathy; his flair (Panache).
But what in that is important? I think that especially with games like 7th Sea, getting to be the actual good guy can build confidence. You know that you will succeed to do good or die doing it. He has gotten exiled from his court, his people, his home because of it. What he did is less important than that it happened. And that is the double-edged sword of being a hero and the kernel of what this character’s story would be about. The song, No One Is Alone says it best, “Witches can be right, Giants can be good.” Despite that, perceptions rule the day. The world sees Jacques as a disgraced night it is up to him to change that and save the day. After all, the very next line rounds it out: “You decide what’s right, you decide what’s good.” Besides what’s more good than being the hero of a fairy tale?
The second part of his story is about finding love. A white knight needs someone to fight for. His actions have to be for someone too. Ideally, this could be another PC (consent and safety tools applied as well). But it could be an NPC too, the does have this mysterious friend at court. Regardless of the who, it needs to be someone. I don’t say this to cheapen love, but more that it needs to be right for the table. Ser Jacques is good, and that is in character and out of character. Look, I can get meta too.
Ser Jacques can be found here. Feel free to use him however you wish in your 7th Sea campaign. If you do, drop by our discord and let us know your thoughts.