Dob

In light of his bid for ‘Most Tragic Backstory’ the best thing you could say about Dob’s childhood is at least he had a nice view. Probably.

He grew up in a small homestead in a wooded, mountainous region with only his older sister for company. What happened to his parents? Who knows? Probably something tragic.

His sister raised young Dob, spending her days foraging and hunting in the woods for food and medical supplies. One day whilst she was out, Dob was off playing when he was bitten by a rabid wolf. Apparently you can’t find the cure for rabies just lying around waiting to be foraged, because his sister was forced to set out for the nearest human settlement, leaving the young and confused Dob behind.

She didn’t come back.

*pauses to wipe away tear*

Little Dob had to raise himself (and apparently cure himself of rabies which proves he’s nothing if not resourceful). His only memory of his sister from those early, hazy years is the lullaby she used to sing him at night. Which sounds suspiciously like the Vengabus but is not due to copyright reasons.

Years later he set out too, meaning to head for human settlements and see if he could find out what happened to his sister. In the nearest town he stole a lute, learning how to play the lullaby she’d once taught him. Realising that stealing had worked out quite well, Dob stole other songs from minstrels in taverns too, playing them to earn money.

Even better, he quickly found that he had a natural ability to do magic with his music. Which should definitely be worth an extra gold coin or two thrown into the busker’s cap.

Now he travels from town to town, learning new songs and new powers but always playing his sister’s melody in every new place in case she hears it.

Having spent very little time around other half orcs, he doesn’t really behave like you’d expect of the race. He’s also notoriously bad with money. If you give him your gold he’ll very quickly decide someone else should have it – like that poor beggar over there, or that hungry looking goat, or maybe that very deep lake…