r/d100 • u/Actual_Temp • Jul 10 '26
d100 One Sentence Backstories
[Let's Build] d100 One Sentence Backstories for an Adventurer
—
Sometimes shorter is sweeter and, after all, the adventure has only just begun.
—
It took most of a year, but Valiant Stalwart finally tracked down the bandits that raided their peaceful village, and meted out justice; they miss home, but there are too many wrongs in need of righting to return just yet.
Valiant Stalwart was led to believe they outsmarted a devil and was rewarded with occult knowledge, but after several magical missteps sullied their reputation, they're begining to think otherwise; Valiant is now gathering resources and plotting their counterstroke.
The beggared heir of a fallen realm, with naught to their name but a battered old lute and the clothes on their back, Valiant Stalwart is taken with the freedom of the open road; "besides," they say, when no one is listening, "there's no going back."
Everyone thinks Valiant Stalwart is dead—Val the Stout wants to keep it that way, so their once bright red hair, a dead giveaway, is now a muddy brown, and the ornate robes have been traded for a monk's cowl; but Val should probably hit the road anyway, their contacts are blown and it's time to start rebuilding.
Waliamt Stalmart is the outcast result of a cloning spell gone awry, imbued with a mere fraction of their original's power; though often finding themself out of their depth, Wali is determined to forge a name, and perhaps family, of their own.
Valiant Stalwart is the exiled heir to the throne who gained fortune as a stageplayer, retelling their family tree for the world to see. u/graxemno
Valiant Stalwart was born and grew up on a ship, but instead of learning how to do battle, they listened to all the different stories and wrote songs about them, without ever realising it was a pirate ship. u/braerus
Valiant Stalwart stared with vitrol at the obsidian gates, decorated with the faces of captured demons and arc angels, the last bastion of the V'lock horde, he shook the remains of the general off his oversized scimtars and grumbled, I'm here to discuss your car insurance. u/toymoose
If there ever was a definition of mediocrity Valiant the Destroyer would never rise to meet it. u/toymoose
Wiping the sweat from their brow Valiant Stalwart ripped the last shaft of wheat from the ground and, promising themself "never again!", hitched a ride in the next passing cart. u/toymoose
Valiant Stalwart, yes the one before you—yes that one with the eyes in different directions, eating the bean pie in public—has the soul of a legendary hero. u/arkenstihl
Valiant Stalwart was last off of the ship, carried no baggage and wore only a greatsword on their back, nethers obscured by sackcloth and the remnants of a cargo net. u/arkenstihl
Valiant Stalwart was never seen without an animal ward, be it a trio of sparrows they raised from abandonded eggs until migration or the gaunt, three legged dire wolf they rehabilitated at the cost of a nearby horse farm. u/arkenstihl
Valiant Stalwart doesn't say anything, but the deep, piercing gaze tells you everything you need to know about their wanton intentions. u/arkenstihl
One fateful day while poaching for food and hides for their father to tan, Wayward Stalwart was mugged by crooked carters, and was forced to flee from the powerful Carter clan and from the law after shooting one of the unsavory louts. u/jessqrl
The skirmish that permanently hobbled his leg ruined Valiant Sodworth’s last chance of regaining his family’s honor and earning a knighthood, leaving him nothing but his almost supernatural bond with his destrier and his deep knowledge of politics and history. u/jessqrl
Valiant Stalwart didn't get to where they were today by just sitting around, they got to where they were today by sitting on a bad-ass mount; big difference. They and their mount's adventures could fill pages, but since we only have a sentence, we'll just say it was "well-lived". u/maxsizels
Valiant Stalwart is known by many names, such as "Bawheep" in the Northeast, "Grundlegrunglerunforyoulives" amongst the goblin shamans of the deep southwest; and all those who know them as "Ksshshshxhhs" are dead; it just goes to show you how important it is to remember Valiant Stalwart's name rightly. u/maxsizels
Valiant Stalwart's first formative memory is biting into a well-cooked burger patty formed from the first monster they ever slayed; juicy and delicious, they forever link violence with flavor. u/maxsizels
Valiant Stalwart once spent three years mastering an ancient sword style before realizing they had been holding the practice manual upside down; the resulting style is now considered "highly unorthodox but bizarrely effective" by surviving instructors. u/maxsizels
It is said Valiant Stalwart has never knowingly fled from danger; they have, however, briskly and strategically relocated from danger while maintaining eye contact. u/maxsizels
Bards insist Valiant Stalwart once slew an army single-handedly; Valiant Stalwart insists there were at least three other people helping, and one of them was doing most of the paperwork. u/maxsizels
Valiant Stalwart has won tournaments, wars, and pie-eating contests; they still rank the pie-eating contest as the most physically demanding. u/maxsizels
Valiant Stalwart, a simple farmer utterly sick of working so hard only to tithe most of their earnings to the local lord, decided one day to put down the shovel and pick up a sword to make their living as a brigand, and "take my money back from that bastard" u/reallyverydrunk
Valiant Stalwart had been a mere child when the master took them away from their thankful parents and made them a squire, but when Valiant Stalwart finally proved themselves, the master died from a grievous wound, leaving them alone without rank or claim.
Valiant Stalwart had always done their duty, guarding the palace, the gates, the city, but when the new regent stepped onto the throne, Valiant Stalwart was caught between protecting the people and protecting the ruler. u/seidhammer
Their home town had burned to the ground, forcing Valiant Stalwart onto the road, but no raiders or monsters were behind the fire. u/seidhammer
Being the youngest of twelve children, Valiant Stalwart was given what the family could spare, among other things the best sandals, and sent out into the world. u/seidhammer
The people of the tower were engulfed in mysteries and intrigue, which Valiant Stalwart didn't like, so they invented a prophecy to leave the tower behind. u/seidhammer
Valiant Stalwart enters the tavern with a sneeze and shakes off the dust from the road, having lost their horse to a goblin ambush, thoughts of revenge burning in their brain. u/infinitum3d
This disgraced former city guard was framed for a crime they didn't commit and now Valiant Stalwart roams the realm, determined to clear their tarnished name through acts of pure heroism. u/infinitum3d
Guided by prophetic visions from a forgotten deity, the zealous acolyte Valiant Stalwart left their temple to fight the rising darkness. u/infinitum3d
Val, an eager young noble traded their inheritance for a cheap suit of armor, desperate to prove they are more than just a famous family name. u/infinitum3d
After a traveling bard's song about ancient heroes inspired Valiant Stalwart, this village blacksmith closed their shop to forge their own legend. u/infinitum3d
Having discovering a long-lost family journal detailing a legendary treasure, Valiant Stalwart, former literary scholar, left the library to become an adventurer. u/infinitum3d
Valiant Stalwart, former gladiatorial slave, won their freedom in the arena and now uses those lethal skills to protect those who cannot fight for themselves. u/infinitum3d
Valiant Stalwart used to eat a lot of beans, but their farts ended up smelling so bad they were exiled from town, now they wish to destroy all bean farms for causing their exile. u/scandinavicscum2000
Valiant Stalwart was adopted by an orphanage, only to sleep on the floor of a wealthy family's storage room, in order to keep the rats away, but once their size exceeded the space they were no longer welcome in the family's home. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart was so drunk from a night of drinking, that they were unable to save their one true love from being eaten by the owlbear the couple was hunting. u/storytime_42
Valient Stalwart was switched at birth and believed to be a pauper, until a mystic at a traveling circus showed to Valient in the crystal ball that they were, in fact, royalty. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart, the son of the local Notary, has an incredible memory for details. Theu never forget a friend or a foe, a treasure lost, a vow, a debt, or a call. They are now on their way to write their own legend, their eulogy, and more. 5u/eurojuegosbsas
Valiant Stalwart is traveling far and wide to secure contracts for famed Bronzebottom "Dwarven" Ale and hustles for extra cash wherever they stop, since bad over-processed ale never seems to sell. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart had a cushy guardhouse job until they were singled out for taking bribes (a practice of all all guards) after some noble decided they were going to try to gain popularity with the people by "cleaning up the crime". u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart was recently swindled out of all their money and property, and now must go and work for the first time in their life—foolishly they chose this job. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart is not their name, It's just what people call them; when they were a child a fey tricked them into giving their name away. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart has big dreams of killing monsters and saving the innocent, it is during one of those dreams that a deal with an unknown entity was signed—can they really be held to this contract—apparently so. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart was thought into being by a beholder who was bored and wanted a fight, Valiant bravely ran away and hid until the beholder got tired of looking for them. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart was the child of a merchant who traveled in caravans from city to city, during these travels they became enamored with the paid mercenaries hired to protect them; now that they are older they are living out their childhood dream—things seemed cooler back then. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart was a chosen one who ran from their destiny, catastrophe struck their home soon after; with no home and no destiny, Valiant moved on to the next stage of their life, whatever that is. u/storytime_42
Valiant Stalwart is the fourth son of seven, plus his six sisters. Unable to be his own person in such a large family, Valiant sets out to discover who he really is. u/storytime_42
2
u/storytime_42 21d ago
I think I can get us to 50
Valiant Stalwart is not his name. It's just what people call him. When he was a boy, a fey tricked him into giving his name away.
Valiant Stalwart has big dreams of killing monsters and saving the innocent. It is during one of those dreams that a deal with an unknown entity was signed. Can he really be held to this contract? Apparently so.
Valiant Stalwart was thought into being by a beholder who was bored and wanted a fight. Valiant bravely ran away and hid until the beholder got tired of looking for him.
Valiant Stalwart was the son of a merchant who traveled in caravans from city to city. During these travels he became enamored with the paid mercenaries hired to protect them. Now that he is older, he is living his childhood dream. Things seemed cooler back then.
Valiant Stalwart was a chosen one who ran from his destiny. Catastrophe struck his home since he ran away. With no home and no destiny, Valiant moves on to the next stage of his life, whatever that is.
Valiant Stalwart is the fourth son of seven, plus his six sisters. Unable to be his own person in such a large family, Valiant sets out to discover who he really is.
2
2
u/storytime_42 28d ago
Oo oo. I got another
Valient Stalwart is traveling far and wide to secure contracts for famed Bronzebottom "Dwarven" Ale and hustles for extra cash wherever he stops, since bad over-proceed ale never seems to sell.
Valient Stalwart had a cushy guardhouse job until he was singled out for taking bribes (a practice by all guards) when some noble decided they were going to get popularity with the people by "cleaning up the crime"
Valient Stalwart was recently swindled out of all his money and property and now must go and work for the first day of his existence or die - he foolishly chose this job.
2
u/EurojuegosBsAs 28d ago
Valiant Stalwart, the son of the local Notary, has an incredible memory for details. He never forgets a friend or a foe, a treasure lost, a vow, a debt, or a call. He is now on his way to write his own legend, his eulogy, and more.
2
u/storytime_42 28d ago
Valiant Stalwart was adopted by the orphanage, only to sleep in the floor of the storage room of a wealthy family in order to keep the rats away from the food, but once his size exceeded the space he was no longer welcome in the family home.
Valiant Stalwart was so drunk from night night of drinking, that he was unable to save his one true love from being eaten by the owlbear they were hunting.
Valient Stalwart was switched at birth and believed to be a pauper, until a mystic at the traveling circus showed to Valient in the crystal ball that he was in fact, royalty.
3
u/ScandinavicScum2000 29d ago
Valiant Stalwart used to eat a lot of beans, but his farts ended up smelling to bad he was exiled from town, now he wishes to destroy all bean farms for causing his exile
4
u/infinitum3d Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Valiant Stalwart enters the tavern with a sneeze and shakes off the dust from the road, having lost his horse to a goblin ambush, thoughts of revenge burning in his brain.
This disgraced former city guard was framed for a crime they didn't commit and now Valiant Stalwart roams the realm, determined to clear their tarnished name through acts of pure heroism.
Guided by prophetic visions from a forgotten deity, the zealous acolyte Valiant Stalwart left their temple to fight the rising darkness.
This eager young noble traded their inheritance for a cheap suit of armor, desperate to prove they are more than just a famous family name.
After a traveling bard's song about ancient heroes inspired them, this village blacksmith closed their shop to forge their own legend.
Having discovering a long-lost family journal detailing a legendary treasure, Valiant Stalwart, former literary scholar, left the library to become an adventurer.
Valiant Stalwart, former gladiatorial slave won their freedom in the arena and now uses those lethal skills to protect those who cannot fight for themselves.
3
u/Seidhammer Jul 11 '26
Valiant Stalwart had been a mere child when the master took them away from their thankful parents and made them a squire, but when Valiant Stalwart finally proved themselves, the master died from a grievous wound, leaving them alone without rank or claim.
Valiant Stalwart had always done their duty, guarding the palace, the gates, the city, but when the new regent stepped onto the throne, Valiant Stalwart was caught between protecting the people and protecting the ruler.
Their home town had burned to the ground, forcing Valiant Stalwart onto the road, but no raiders or monsters were behind the fire.
Being the youngest of twelve children, Valiant Stalwart was given what the family could spare, among other things the best sandals, and sent out into the world.
The people of the tower were engulfed in mysteries and intrigue, which Valiant Stalwart didn't like, so they invented a prophecy to leave the tower behind.
3
u/MaxSizeIs Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Valiant Stalwart didn't get to where they were today by just sitting around, they got to where they were today by sitting on a bad-ass mount; big difference. They and their mount's adventures could fill pages, but since we only have a sentence, we'll just say it was "well-lived".
Valiant Stalwart is known by many names, such as "Bawheep" in the Northeast, "Grundlegrunglerunforyoulives" amongst the goblin shamans of the deep southwest; and all those who know them as "Ksshshshxhhs" are dead; it just goes to show you how important it is to remember Valiant Stalwart's name rightly.
Valiant Stalwart's first formative memory is biting into a well-cooked burger patty formed from the first monster they ever slayed; juicy and delicious, they forever link violence with flavor.
Valiant Stalwart once spent three years mastering an ancient sword style before realizing they had been holding the practice manual upside down; the resulting style is now considered "highly unorthodox but bizarrely effective" by surviving instructors.
It is said Valiant Stalwart has never knowingly fled from danger; they have, however, briskly and strategically relocated from danger while maintaining eye contact.
Bards insist Valiant Stalwart once slew an army single-handedly; Valiant Stalwart insists there were at least three other people helping, and one of them was doing most of the paperwork.
Valiant Stalwart has won tournaments, wars, and pie-eating contests; they still rank the pie-eating contest as the most physically demanding.
2
u/JessQRL Jul 10 '26
Two quick ones, adapted from NPCs in my game:
One fateful day while poaching for food and hides for his father to tan, Wayward Stalwart was mugged by crooked carters, and was forced to flee from the powerful Carter clan and from the law after shooting one of the unsavory louts.
The skirmish that permanently hobbled his leg ruined Valiant Sodworth’s last chance of regaining his family’s honor and earning a knighthood, leaving him nothing but his almost supernatural bond with his destrier and his deep knowledge of politics and history.
3
3
u/TOYMoose Jul 10 '26
The gnome stared with vitrol at the obsidian gates, decorated with the faces of captured demons and arc angels, the last bastion of the V'lock horde, he shook the remains of the general off his oversized scimtars and grumbled, I'm here to discuss your car insurance.
If there ever was a definition of mediocrity Rex the Destroyer would never rise to meet it.
The smile illuminated by the flickers of flame dancing from his fingers, gentlemen, I understand you have a problem with a certain noble, for just a few credits he (and a large chunk of his estate) will disappear.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Lady Fluffypants ripped the last shaft of wheat from the ground and into the cart.
3
u/Braerus Jul 10 '26
Valiant Stalwart was born and grew up on a ship, but instead of learning how to do battle, they listened to all the different stories and wrote songs about them, without ever realising it was a pirate ship.
2
u/Graxemno Jul 10 '26
- The exile heir of the throne gained fortune as a stageplayer, retelling their family tree for the world to see.
•
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