When submitting character lore for the season, you should understand that the story you are creating is principally to give yourself a starting position. Regardless of the lore or story for the season, you should be able to answer some basic questions about your character:
When building or generating a character, you need to remember, you're not designing a person, you're building a character. It is a work of fiction. They can be quirky, weird, mean, kind, memorable in any way you want. Putting too much of your own extremely important beliefs, or playing “yourself” will only lead to bad things in and out of game. You will be too offended when people don't like your character, too upset when the things you try fail, too hurt when those you care for don't respond in kind or betray you. It is much easier to bleed in character when you feel that people are treating "You" poorly rather than your character.
Try to think of a goal that is fun for you personally to play and something your character would want to do. If, for example, you personally find standing at a shop counter and talking to customers all day is boring, no matter how much your character believes owning a shop is the peak of achievment, you're going to have a bad time playing it.
Your character lore for the application can be intimidating, especially the first time through VRP or if its your first time on a role-playing server at all. Trust us, everyone understands this feeling. You might not have a strong grasp of what you CAN do on our server, what goals are achievable, or who your character really is or how you'll express it.
You are not required to post your character lore publiclly. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, know that the only person who HAS to read your lore is the person approving your application.
If you're having trouble or feel intimidated, stick to the basics.
Start with a basic idea.
What kind of character might want to do something like this, that you personally would enjoy playing? Someone with an overwhelming sense of pride? Maybe an egocentric workaholic? Someone quiet who believes that hard work speaks for itself? The possibilities here are endless. Find a comibination that works for you.
You don't need to be a talented novel-published writer to establish your backstory. A simple few paragraphs can suffice. The sample writing below, for example, is just over half of the required 2,000 characters needed for a submission. A little filling in of the details, another paragraph or so, and you're ready to submit.
Remember: this excercise is to help YOU get into the mind and history of this character. It's not here to entertain people. Thinking of it this way makes it much less intimidating.
I am Character Name. I was born in the year 13something in the country of place. I was an only child who was expected to work in the fields as soon as I was old enough to walk. My first memory was of ____. I had a dog I loved then. My dad rescued him from our neighbors who would mistreat him often. Ever since then I've been someone who looks out for the weak or less fortunate. I discovered my love of blacksmithing when I saw ____. I knew then what I wanted to do with my life. I crafted my first sword at the age of 16 and still hold it dear to my heart today. It sits polished on a shelf, shining like a trophy proving I could accomplish what I set out to do. I've been looking to test myself and try new materials. I heard through a friend that people from the nearby port working for the Alpin Company are selling maps to previously unexplored islands. I decided I would get a boat to sail me there no matter the cost. I might be a good blacksmith here, but perhaps in the Radiant Isles I can be the greatest. I know I have it in me. I've sold most of my tools, my shop, and I'm leaving tomorrow. I hear the journey will be long, but I'm ready. I know I can do it, and I know my swords can protect the people there.
Your character will develop naturally as you play them on the server. By the end of the game, they'll be totally different than how they started. The beginning may be difficult to imagine, but it won't take long to step into their shoes.
If defining your characters' personality is tough, focus on where they're from. A history of where they've lived, how they've made money. Even a loose geographical background can provide values. If your character is from a Roman background, maybe they believe in strong leadership and military prowess. If they're from a Viking clan, maybe they detest physical weakness. Draw from whatever source that appeals to you. It doesn't have to be historically correct down to the last detail. Just take the pieces you need.
If you need some historical backfround for season 10, take a look through the list of events from the 1350's or 40's here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1350s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1340s
These are events your character may have been through or experienced. Pick something that interests you or seems fun to work with.