Dan and I (hi, Dan!) have discussed the issue of altering or enhancing PC's histories over ICQ privately. (and so everyone here knows, I am basically for it, dependent on circumstances. There are some things in my characters' pasts that are designed to allow GMs some lee-way. If there is something I don't want altered, I consider it my duty to be as specific as possible.)
Until now, however, I never knew the specific circumstances that Dan held in question.
No, *I* don't; The character didn't consciously choose the path, nor did he have any direct recollection of it. Events like these, just as in real life, are beyond our control, and therefore, for me, at least, fair game.<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Dan asked:
Does anyone think that such a plot would have been out of line or over the top?
</font>
Of course, it helps to know your player in order to guage how he or she may react to it; if there were any question of tantrums being thrown, or games being walked away from, I would approach the player, just as you did, and ask if he/she is open to the idea of experiencing an event that may alter their original conception of the character.
Something of that nature, Dan, would certainly be a paradigm shift fot the character if not the player. In my opinion it makes for interesting story-telling; and you were in no way out-of-line.
-R