"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed"
Francis Bacon, Novum Organum
These are the things which make each Role special, defining and affecting it in some way. When creating a character, try to give traits which make it interesting and original, and avoid just creating super heroes or monsters (unless that is what the Story is about). This is your opportunity to be really imaginative, to string together a number of qualities which relate to each other, your Life Path, you Motive, and the core of the Role itself. It is the Director's job to question you about your Role's traits, encouraging you to relate Gifts, Quirks and Burdens to part of the character's history and the setting in which the Story takes place. Sometimes, new traits are picked up during a Story. Sometimes the Director might give you a hidden Trait which you later discover (to your joy or dismay). Discovering this trait may even be the whole point of your character's adventure.Gifts
Helping us in life are certain gifts that we possess. These may be merits or virtue of character, a magical possession, knowledge of arcane secrets, or special training in some kind of martial art. Perhaps you are the Queen's confidant; an unrivalled swordsman; blessed with immortality and the blessings of centuries of wisdom; guided by the dead spirits of your ancestors; you are kind and well liked; go berserk in battle with the strength and violence of a bear, totally without fear; perhaps you are blessed with an awe-inspiring beauty unsurpassed in all the lands. These are gifts help make you unique and aid you in your adventures and dealings with all sort of obstacles. Some Gifts come bundled with a Burden, like a Vampyre's immortality, which comes with the cost of the need to drink blood and to avoid daylight.Quirks
There are traits that are too temporary or ineffectual to be considered either good or bad. So you have black hair and a scar on your chin; you don't like to eat potatoes; you like carrying an extra knife hidden in your boot, just in case; you prefer wearing bright cheery outfits and sing songs when you're nervous... these little details and usually only important to make your character seem more real and lifelike, and more fun to play. Sometimes they may be good, sometimes bad, or it may be your character changes slightly over the years- you tasted salt and vinegar potato chips and liked them; you start hiding the knife strapped to your wrist because in the boot was too obvious; you found that wearing chain mail armour was more important than wearing 'nice' clothes, and now you just hum when you're scared...Burdens
A burden is something we carry which weighs us down, or hinders our movement. In a personal sense each of us has such burdens, slowing us in our journey through life, or getting right in the way. You may have a terrible berserk-like temper or a fear of the dark; you may fall prey to alcoholism; or be excessively cruel and selfish (and thus make many enemies); perhaps you are haunted by your past or by malevolent spirits bent on bringing you down; maybe you are cursed with unwanted immortality, or with such disfigurement that people fear you. It is the flaws that can often make a character more interesting, and the personal faults they must overcome to succeed can be as much an undertaking as any adventure could be.Example
Katherine gets very lonely when by herself, and tends to get paranoid. She has the Gift of Seeing Spirits, but has made a few of them enemies which pursue her when she is weak- she can cast magic spells (needs to for controlling spirits); people unconsciously fear her abilities, and feel uncomfortable around her, particularly when she uses these abilities. She longs for the love of a man, but distrusts all men, having been molested in the past- and in any case she tends to spook even the most willing of men. She prefers to dress simply, in neutral colours and sings for pleasure, or when very sad. She cannot drink alcohol without getting giddy and silly, and is then prone to the dark spirits which haunt her, yet when in good company she forgets this...In point form:
Quirks Burdens