"You’re only as good as your reputation, and your reputation is only as strong as what you can prove."
— Eliza Kane, Commonwealth Ranger

No character pack is complete without strong examples that illustrate the types of individuals who might roam the world of Perseverance. Creating a character isn’t just about numbers—it’s about who they are, where they come from, and how they carve their fate on this unforgiving frontier. QuestWorlds’ Prose Method allows us to craft rich, narrative-driven characters, while Assign Ratings and Improvement Points ensure mechanical balance and growth.

This post is the first in a series showcasing character creation examples for Perseverance. Our first character, Dane Calder, is a corporate enforcer who traded his Commonwealth badge for a stun baton and a corporate mandate. The second, Kael Drummond, is a river trader who thrives on the thin line between commerce and smuggling. Let’s see how they take shape using the Prose Method.

Dane Calder – Corporate Enforcer (Prose Method with Ratings & Improvement Points)

We will now create Dane Calder using the Prose Method while strictly following the Assign Ratings and Improvement Points sections of character creation.

Step 1: Writing the Prose with Embedded Keywords

Dane Calder doesn’t ask questions—he just enforces policy. A corporate enforcer for Perseverance Metals, he ensures that the company’s mining operations run smoothly—whether that means breaking strikes, silencing whistleblowers, or shutting down smugglers trying to skim off the top. They call him Lockjaw because once he’s on a target, he doesn’t let go.

He wasn’t always a corporate man. Once, he wore a Commonwealth Guard uniform, trained in riot control and high-risk extractions. But after an incident with “disproportionate force”, he was cut loose—too brutal for the Commonwealth, but perfect for corporate security. Perseverance Metals scooped him up before his discharge papers were dry, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Now, he wears a corporate badge, not a badge of law. His orders come from executives, not officers, and his authority extends only as far as the company's interests. But out here on the frontier, that’s more than enough. Workers fear him, rivals avoid him, and troublemakers quickly learn that corporate policy is enforced with a stun baton and an energy pistol.

Lockjaw is cold, efficient, and entirely without remorse. He respects power—but only the kind that can be enforced. He doesn’t care about morality, only results. The company doesn’t need enforcers who hesitate. They need men like Calder.

Step 2: Assigning Ratings

According to the Assign Ratings section:

• Choose the most defining keyword at 15. This is typically the occupational keyword.
• If the distinguishing characteristic is a keyword or an ability, it's also set to 15, if it's a breakout ability (such as "Lockjaw" for Dane) it's set to +10.
• All other keywords and abilities start at 10.
• Breakouts start at +5.
• Flaws are assigned ratings equivalent to abilities.

Initial Ratings (Before Improvement Points)

• Corporate Enforcer (15)

  • Brutal Compliance Tactics (+5)
  • “Lockjaw” Never Lets Go (+10)
  • Suppressing Resistance (+5)

• Ex-Commonwealth Guard (10)

  • Riot Control & Tactical Extraction (+5)
  • Commonwealth Combat Training (+5)

• Follows Orders, No Questions Asked (10)

  • Respects Strength, Not Ethics (+5)
  • Knows How to Bend the Rules (+5)

• Flaw: Blunt Instrument (15) – Dane follows orders without considering nuance, making enemies where he doesn’t need to.

Step 3: Spending Improvement Points

Dane gets 20 Improvement Points to increase his abilities.

Step 4: Final Character Sheet for Dane Calder (Prose Method, Fully Rated)

Keywords

• Corporate Enforcer (5M)

  • Brutal Compliance Tactics (10M)
  • “Lockjaw” Never Lets Go (15M)
  • Suppressing Resistance (10M)

• Ex-Commonwealth Guard (15)

  • Riot Control & Tactical Extraction (20)
  • Commonwealth Combat Training (20)

• Follows Orders, No Questions Asked (15)

  • Respects Strength, Not Ethics (20)
  • Knows How to Bend the Rules (20)

Flaws

• Blunt Instrument (15) – Dane follows orders without considering nuance, making enemies where he doesn’t need to.

Kael Drummond – River Trader (Prose Method with Ratings & Improvement Points)

Step 1: Writing the Prose with Embedded Keywords

Kael Drummond is a river trader, born and raised among the waterways of Perseverance. He learned young that trade isn’t just about cargo—it’s about knowing who to trust, who to bribe, and who to double-cross. The rivers are lifelines between settlements, and Kael knows them like the back of his hand—where to dock, where to hide, and where the patrols don’t go.

He’s riverfolk through and through, raised among merchants, smugglers, and outlaws who call the water their home. He’s not officially a smuggler, but let’s just say that he knows which crates get “lost” in transit.

Sharp-witted and silver-tongued, Kael can talk his way into a deal and out of trouble, but he keeps a scattergun within reach just in case words aren’t enough. He doesn’t like violence, but he knows that on the rivers, hesitation can cost you everything. His reputation is built on being reliable—when it suits him.

You want your cargo to make it upriver? Pay the right people. Otherwise, best send a goodbye letter.

Step 2: Assigning Keywords & Initial Ratings

According to the Assign Ratings section of QuestWorlds:

• The most defining keyword starts at 15 → River Trader
• The distinguishing characteristic, if a keyword, is also set at 15 → Riverfolk Survivor
• Other keywords start at 10
• Breakouts start at +5
• Flaws are rated like abilities

Keywords & Breakouts (Before Improvement Points)

• River Trader (15)

  • Knows Every Dock & Smuggler’s Route (+5)
  • Silver-Tongued Negotiator (+5)
  • Cargo Always Finds a Buyer (+5)

• Riverfolk Survivor (15)

  • Reads People Like a Map (+5)
  • Knows Who to Bribe & Who to Avoid (+5)

• Fast-Talking Opportunist (10)

  • Deals Only Get Better for Him (+5)
  • Always Has an Escape Plan (+5)

• Flaw: Trusts His Own Luck Too Much (15) – Kael plays risks like a gambler, and one day, it’ll catch up to him.

Step 3: Spending Improvement Points

Kael gets 20 Improvement Points to increase his abilities.

• Each improvement point raises an ability by +1.
• Breakouts cannot be improved directly.
• Since his Distinguishing Characteristic is a Keyword ("Riverfolk Survivor"), it starts at 15.
• The most effective improvement is to raise River Trader, making him a dominant force in trade and negotiation.
• The maximum starting ability rating is 5M.

Applying 20 Improvement Points

Step 4: Final Character Sheet for Kael Drummond (Prose Method, Fully Rated)

Keywords

• River Trader (5M)

  • Knows Every Dock & Smuggler’s Route (10M)
  • Silver-Tongued Negotiator (10M)
  • Cargo Always Finds a Buyer (10M)

• Riverfolk Survivor (20)

  • Reads People Like a Map (5M)
  • Knows Who to Bribe & Who to Avoid (5M)

• Fast-Talking Opportunist (15)

  • Deals Only Get Better for Him (5M)
  • Always Has an Escape Plan (5M)

Flaws

• Trusts His Own Luck Too Much (15) – Kael plays risks like a gambler, and one day, it’ll catch up to him.

Conclusion: Setting the Stage for Future Characters

This is just the first of many character examples that help bring Perseverance to life. Whether enforcing corporate policy or navigating the lawless waterways, each character is built for storytelling and adventure. Expect more examples to come—because no character pack is complete without a cast that showcases all the possibilities this world has to offer!