About my role playing and what this page is all about
It's important to have a quick intro or elevator pitch to describe the character you are playing.
Zed is a Kobold Monk who's dream is to one day grow up and become a dragon.
Zed is a Kobold Monk who's dream is to one day grow up and become a dragon.
Zed is a Dungeons & Dragons character that I play every Thursday live on stream beginning at 8pm ET. We are going through the Tyranny of Dragons campaign, which is one of the first campaigns written for 5e. As a role player, I mostly did one shot campaigns until a little over a year ago, when I was asked to be a part of a beta testing group for my DM and they explored the world of professional game mastering. I said yes and almost every week since, we've gotten together as a group to go through different modules and test out the variety of tools available for running D&D sessions remotely. I also play a second campaign as a paying customer off stream with the same DM because the experience is that good.
My characters, prior to Zed, were often built off of a pop-culture reference or a very loose and thrown together character based off the setting of where we were playing. I've played a tortle based on Raphael from TMNT. I've played several villagers of Barovia in Curse of Strahd. I even play a Loki-variant (thank you Marvel for making that a thing) in charity streams that I participate in where we raise money through Extra-Life. All of that time, I was more learning the ways of playing this game and less of a commitment to the role play of the character. I often just made decisions based on how I would handle the given situation.
As we were preparing for Tyranny of Dragons, I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to really develop a character. I feel exceptionally strong in my ability to play the game portion and know my classes (I'm proficient in Monks and Rogues) of D&D and fancy myself as a decent storyteller, but I wanted to sharpen that skillset of storytelling by immersing myself into my character. And that is how Zed was born.
This page and the resources attached to it I've developed to help me develop Zed for the role play. When I get into the session, I want to BE Zed, not a player guessing what their character would do in a situation. With that, there are some resources above for you and a compendium of out of character knowledge about Zed below.
Personal Diary - I am taking notes on what is happening each session, but they are written as Zed in the form of a personal diary. You'll learn more about Zed, including his personality, through this diary. For me, this is a combination of creative writing and it helps me stay immersed in character. Notes in bold are me, out of character, setting the scene for you.
Book of Dragon Facts - Zed has a Book of Dragon Facts and that's all I'm gonna say about it. Tune into a live stream or watch the VODs to figure this one out.
Character Sheet - For you D&D fans that wanna see "under the hood" for Zed.
Ability Progression - A quick cheat sheet of Zed's progression or levelling in the campaign.
Watch Zed - A direct link to Twitch where you can find me playing Zed every Thursday beginning at 8 pm ET. Follow me on Twitter for specific announcements one way or the other. You can also go there to watch the VODs of the sessions.
My characters, prior to Zed, were often built off of a pop-culture reference or a very loose and thrown together character based off the setting of where we were playing. I've played a tortle based on Raphael from TMNT. I've played several villagers of Barovia in Curse of Strahd. I even play a Loki-variant (thank you Marvel for making that a thing) in charity streams that I participate in where we raise money through Extra-Life. All of that time, I was more learning the ways of playing this game and less of a commitment to the role play of the character. I often just made decisions based on how I would handle the given situation.
As we were preparing for Tyranny of Dragons, I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to really develop a character. I feel exceptionally strong in my ability to play the game portion and know my classes (I'm proficient in Monks and Rogues) of D&D and fancy myself as a decent storyteller, but I wanted to sharpen that skillset of storytelling by immersing myself into my character. And that is how Zed was born.
This page and the resources attached to it I've developed to help me develop Zed for the role play. When I get into the session, I want to BE Zed, not a player guessing what their character would do in a situation. With that, there are some resources above for you and a compendium of out of character knowledge about Zed below.
Personal Diary - I am taking notes on what is happening each session, but they are written as Zed in the form of a personal diary. You'll learn more about Zed, including his personality, through this diary. For me, this is a combination of creative writing and it helps me stay immersed in character. Notes in bold are me, out of character, setting the scene for you.
Book of Dragon Facts - Zed has a Book of Dragon Facts and that's all I'm gonna say about it. Tune into a live stream or watch the VODs to figure this one out.
Character Sheet - For you D&D fans that wanna see "under the hood" for Zed.
Ability Progression - A quick cheat sheet of Zed's progression or levelling in the campaign.
Watch Zed - A direct link to Twitch where you can find me playing Zed every Thursday beginning at 8 pm ET. Follow me on Twitter for specific announcements one way or the other. You can also go there to watch the VODs of the sessions.
zed's character breakdown
As Zed progresses through the campaign, this section will evolve to capture and explain Zed out of character.
Meet Zed. Zed is a Kobold. Kobolds are typically scrappy little humanoids that are distant relatives to dragons. They are typically good trappers and are fairly aggressive. They don't like being so small. Zed is not your typical kobold, but he agrees that is stinks being small, especially when you are the smallest of the small.
Zed is 2'3" tall and 23lbs. At the start of this campaign, Zed is a young 23 years old. As depicted to the side, Zed is vibrant red with a scale like mohawk that is a darker shade of red. Zed has ruby red eyes. He carries around a spear, but is fearful that it will break, so he doesn't actually use it in combat, it's more of a empty threat. The monks have taught him how to make unarmed attacks with some proficiency. He is also qualified as a "Dragon Scholar" and with that comes the following:
You can automatically identify locations built or used by dragons and can identify dragon eggs and scales by sight. You also double your proficiency bonus on any ability checks involving dragons lore. If you fail an Intelligence check to recall lore relating to dragons, you know someone or some book you can consult for the answer unless the DM rules that the lore is unknown.
While Kobolds are traditionally Lawful Evil, Zed doesn't necessarily believe in the kobold way of life, but hasn't yet figured out what means what to him, so he currently is a True Neutral. Having spent time in the monasteries and learning from the monks, Zed has begun to figure out is own code, and hopefully the journey he goes on will help continue to shape him.
Zed is very timid. At this point, he will not start a fight and to engage in combat takes a lot out of him mentally. He is very aware of the numbers advantage and will make decisions based on how comfortable he is in the situation. Zed is also aware that there are some perks to being his size, but that does not necessarily give him a boost of confidence.
Zed shows a great deal of respect to dragons and at this point would never even attempt to cause physical harm. Zed will cower in respect and will beg if needed.
Zed does understand that he is on an adventure, and that everything he encounters is strange to him. Zed is very inquisitive and will always try to learn instead of fight.
Zed does not like the cultist and think they are a mockery of what it means to pay respect to dragons. In combat, he will try to prioritize attacking them over any other type of enemy. Zed has ran into kobolds on this campaign already, and still thinks that they are one big family, but once they "pick on him" he lashes back out of protection.
Zed gets these very vivid dreams that he jots down in his journal whenever he is able to take a long rest. You'll know it is a dream because there is usually commentary about it being a dream, but more importantly, it is bold and italics. These dreams are related to the big secret below, but nothing direct, should you still want that secret to be a surprise to you.
Zed has taken his Monastic tradition in the Way of the Ascendant Dragon because...dragons. He is still trying to figure out what that all means and will learn about his different new abilities over a period of time.
Zed is 2'3" tall and 23lbs. At the start of this campaign, Zed is a young 23 years old. As depicted to the side, Zed is vibrant red with a scale like mohawk that is a darker shade of red. Zed has ruby red eyes. He carries around a spear, but is fearful that it will break, so he doesn't actually use it in combat, it's more of a empty threat. The monks have taught him how to make unarmed attacks with some proficiency. He is also qualified as a "Dragon Scholar" and with that comes the following:
You can automatically identify locations built or used by dragons and can identify dragon eggs and scales by sight. You also double your proficiency bonus on any ability checks involving dragons lore. If you fail an Intelligence check to recall lore relating to dragons, you know someone or some book you can consult for the answer unless the DM rules that the lore is unknown.
While Kobolds are traditionally Lawful Evil, Zed doesn't necessarily believe in the kobold way of life, but hasn't yet figured out what means what to him, so he currently is a True Neutral. Having spent time in the monasteries and learning from the monks, Zed has begun to figure out is own code, and hopefully the journey he goes on will help continue to shape him.
Zed is very timid. At this point, he will not start a fight and to engage in combat takes a lot out of him mentally. He is very aware of the numbers advantage and will make decisions based on how comfortable he is in the situation. Zed is also aware that there are some perks to being his size, but that does not necessarily give him a boost of confidence.
Zed shows a great deal of respect to dragons and at this point would never even attempt to cause physical harm. Zed will cower in respect and will beg if needed.
Zed does understand that he is on an adventure, and that everything he encounters is strange to him. Zed is very inquisitive and will always try to learn instead of fight.
Zed does not like the cultist and think they are a mockery of what it means to pay respect to dragons. In combat, he will try to prioritize attacking them over any other type of enemy. Zed has ran into kobolds on this campaign already, and still thinks that they are one big family, but once they "pick on him" he lashes back out of protection.
Zed gets these very vivid dreams that he jots down in his journal whenever he is able to take a long rest. You'll know it is a dream because there is usually commentary about it being a dream, but more importantly, it is bold and italics. These dreams are related to the big secret below, but nothing direct, should you still want that secret to be a surprise to you.
Zed has taken his Monastic tradition in the Way of the Ascendant Dragon because...dragons. He is still trying to figure out what that all means and will learn about his different new abilities over a period of time.
Zed's big secret
If you do not want to know the campaign secret for Zed. You can ignore this section. Otherwise, you can highlight the section between the brackets below to reveal the secret that even Zed doesn't know. This secret was given to me AFTER I developed Zed.
[[You once were a gold dragon who served Bahamut. You were too proud and vain, to the point that Bahamut decided to teach you a lesson. You have been trapped in a weak, humanoid body, with your memories of your former life but a dim shadow. You remember only one thing with perfect clarity: Bahamut's command to go into the world and prove your devotion to the cause of good. If you prove worthy, on your death you will return to his side in your true form.]]
[[You once were a gold dragon who served Bahamut. You were too proud and vain, to the point that Bahamut decided to teach you a lesson. You have been trapped in a weak, humanoid body, with your memories of your former life but a dim shadow. You remember only one thing with perfect clarity: Bahamut's command to go into the world and prove your devotion to the cause of good. If you prove worthy, on your death you will return to his side in your true form.]]
zed's backstory
Zed grew up in a very small village, not recognized by any known maps or journals. Zed is the runt of a very large family. In fact, Zed got his name because he was so small and the last born that his parents said, "No more after this one. Like the last letter of the alphabet, this ends with Zed."
Growing up, it was obvious that Zed would remain quite small, even for a kobold. Zed would be constantly picked on by his siblings, the other kobolds in the village, and pretty much anyone that came into interaction with Zed (besides his parents of course). This really shaped Zed as Zed is not aggressive. He does not look to start a fight, and certainly does not want to be picked on. Even with so many around him during his childhood, Zed felt isolated and alone.
One of the ways to pass the time, he would hear tales from the older Kobolds who went on adventures of interacting with dragons. While the other kobold children would cower in fear, something in Zed told him that it was okay, and a passion to learn more grew with each story. He would follow these former adventures around the village and listen as they told him all sorts of facts about the dragons and jotted them down into a book. One day, unfortunately, the former adventurers ran out of stories and ran out of facts. This brought a great sadness to Zed because that was the only thing that made him happy.
He kept to his tiny area of the home for a long time, looking out windows and searching the skies to see if he'd ever see a dragon in real life. He loves everything about dragons. Day after day, no dragons in the area were to be found. As he got to the age where you begin to contribute to your family, Zed could never figure out what that would mean. He was too little to fight, too weak to do the hard labor, and too timid to boss anyone around.
One night, he sat by the fire with his parents and talked of all the facts he had learned about dragons. Honestly, it was probably the hundredth time his parents had heard these, but they acted like it was the first. He finished his reciting his facts, when it dawned on him.
What if I could grow up and become a dragon?
His parents, puzzled as all could be because that is impossible, couldn't possibly destroy Zed because this was the happiest they had ever seen him. Instead, they encouraged Zed that maybe by continuing to learn about the dragons, Zed too could one day become a dragon.
Zed lost his mind out of excitement and even though it was the darkest of night, he ran to pack up his belongings. This was his calling. This was his dream! One day, he will return to his home as a Dragon and could then be the protector of his family and village. Something no one in the village could ever thought was possible of little old Zed.
So the next day Zed started off on his grand journey to learn about dragons. Zed would spend the next several years travelling across the lands investigating and gathering as much information as he could. He would try to talk with the scholars in each new place, but they would scoff at the tiny kobold and point them to the monasteries, which also kept the literature written by these scholars. So Zed learned that the best thing for Zed was to seek out the monasteries, for they would always welcome him in, offer him protection, and had a vast amount of knowledge about dragons. During his stays, Zed would learn some ways to defend himself like a monk. Zed would in turn make sure that everyone in the monastery knew something new about dragons. They quickly would nickname him the Dragon Scholar.
This exchange of knowledge for lessons from the monks is what allowed Zed to survive through a wide variety of conditions. While Zed hasn't yet come in contact with a dragon, he knows that is going to change soon and is prepared as he can be. Zed's travels brought him to the town of Greenest, a small village that he saw was under attack and set ablaze by a dragon, a blue dragon to be specific. Terrified and hiding in a bush, he is called over by a collection of adventurers that through their own narratives, found themselves staring down the same blaze. This begins the exploration of the Tyranny of Dragons.
Growing up, it was obvious that Zed would remain quite small, even for a kobold. Zed would be constantly picked on by his siblings, the other kobolds in the village, and pretty much anyone that came into interaction with Zed (besides his parents of course). This really shaped Zed as Zed is not aggressive. He does not look to start a fight, and certainly does not want to be picked on. Even with so many around him during his childhood, Zed felt isolated and alone.
One of the ways to pass the time, he would hear tales from the older Kobolds who went on adventures of interacting with dragons. While the other kobold children would cower in fear, something in Zed told him that it was okay, and a passion to learn more grew with each story. He would follow these former adventures around the village and listen as they told him all sorts of facts about the dragons and jotted them down into a book. One day, unfortunately, the former adventurers ran out of stories and ran out of facts. This brought a great sadness to Zed because that was the only thing that made him happy.
He kept to his tiny area of the home for a long time, looking out windows and searching the skies to see if he'd ever see a dragon in real life. He loves everything about dragons. Day after day, no dragons in the area were to be found. As he got to the age where you begin to contribute to your family, Zed could never figure out what that would mean. He was too little to fight, too weak to do the hard labor, and too timid to boss anyone around.
One night, he sat by the fire with his parents and talked of all the facts he had learned about dragons. Honestly, it was probably the hundredth time his parents had heard these, but they acted like it was the first. He finished his reciting his facts, when it dawned on him.
What if I could grow up and become a dragon?
His parents, puzzled as all could be because that is impossible, couldn't possibly destroy Zed because this was the happiest they had ever seen him. Instead, they encouraged Zed that maybe by continuing to learn about the dragons, Zed too could one day become a dragon.
Zed lost his mind out of excitement and even though it was the darkest of night, he ran to pack up his belongings. This was his calling. This was his dream! One day, he will return to his home as a Dragon and could then be the protector of his family and village. Something no one in the village could ever thought was possible of little old Zed.
So the next day Zed started off on his grand journey to learn about dragons. Zed would spend the next several years travelling across the lands investigating and gathering as much information as he could. He would try to talk with the scholars in each new place, but they would scoff at the tiny kobold and point them to the monasteries, which also kept the literature written by these scholars. So Zed learned that the best thing for Zed was to seek out the monasteries, for they would always welcome him in, offer him protection, and had a vast amount of knowledge about dragons. During his stays, Zed would learn some ways to defend himself like a monk. Zed would in turn make sure that everyone in the monastery knew something new about dragons. They quickly would nickname him the Dragon Scholar.
This exchange of knowledge for lessons from the monks is what allowed Zed to survive through a wide variety of conditions. While Zed hasn't yet come in contact with a dragon, he knows that is going to change soon and is prepared as he can be. Zed's travels brought him to the town of Greenest, a small village that he saw was under attack and set ablaze by a dragon, a blue dragon to be specific. Terrified and hiding in a bush, he is called over by a collection of adventurers that through their own narratives, found themselves staring down the same blaze. This begins the exploration of the Tyranny of Dragons.
From this point, all details of the campaign/adventure is captured through Zed's personal diary. Again, this is written by Zed, so you should continue to learn more about Zed and his personality through it. This is a lot of fun to write, so I hope you are able to visit it and enjoy it.
Out of character reasoning for Zed's decisions, actions, and development will continue to be updated through his character breakdown above.
Questions? Give me a ping on Twitter @BGxMage or hop into a live stream and ask me there! Thank you.
Out of character reasoning for Zed's decisions, actions, and development will continue to be updated through his character breakdown above.
Questions? Give me a ping on Twitter @BGxMage or hop into a live stream and ask me there! Thank you.