Ode to the Roleplaying Mom…
In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought it best to say a few words about your character’s mother. (No, this isn’t going to be a series of “your character’s momma is so fat” jokes…)
Sometimes nurturing, sometimes gone…
Often, your character’s mother will fall into two categories: the nurturing type that readily awaits any update from their all-grown-up child, or sadly, she is dead and gone. Very rarely will she have some sort of mental illness or be the cold standoffish type.
This is where this post could diverge into a valuable discussion on how to give your character’s mother some interesting characteristics, but I think I’ll leave that one for when I’m in a less irreverent mood.
Another interesting thing about your character’s mother: your arch-rival always knows where she is, and given the opportunity will capture her and hold her hostage. For this reason, I recommend your character giving ol’ Mom a very valuable gift, if she is still among the living.
A necklace of fireballs, when you love her enough to give her the ability to do 10d6 damage. You know… to keep her safe from interlopers. Also, a few lessons on how to use it might not hurt so she doesn’t incinerate her sewing circle showing it off. And sending her a letter from time to time wouldn’t kill you, would it?
In our last session, my cleric went up a level and was able to cast Sending for the first time. Her first message was to her mentor in the temple to request advice in dealing with the serious world threatening conspiracy her group had uncovered. The second message was to her mom to say ‘I love you. I miss you. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been travelling, but I’m perfectly safe’ etc.
(Yes, my lawful good cleric lied to her mother! Scandalous!)
One of the Dwarven PC’s has a mother who’s an important NPC as a rough and tumble barbarian warrior. She also married an Orc King.