[D&D-5e] Riddles of Power

[gotha]

Game Name Riddles of Power

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Fantasy Build Your Own Adventure

Flavour Fantasy Experimental Writing

Plot Summary WIP Plot In Character You have spent years mastering your art. Your riches are bountiful beyond your wildest imaginations. The stories you can tell at the tavern seep with adventure. Your experience, knowledge, and skill are better than they have ever been. You are at the height of your power, the greatest version of yourself that you have ever been. You have achieved what you wanted to achieve. Your renown and fame rivals the gods, but where do you go from here? OOC: The purpose of this adventure is to explore what happens next. You will make a character from the highest level and grace them with whatever powers and riches you wish. You will give them a history with achievements and experience so full that any dying man would leave this world content. From there we will weave a tale together and create the world from your character's outward. The story will be heavily themed around wielding great power. What you do with it? Who do you hurt? Who do you help? What does it mean to have it? ect. ect.. Game Style Game Style Control in this game will be heavy in the hands of the players. As the GM I will try to use the lightest touch as possible for the purpose of keeping the party together and pushing the story forward. Even when I do present challenges they will be bare bones. It will be up to players to bestow enemies and npcs with personalities, histories, goals and much more The world is going to be a blank canvas for you to build and paint as you wish. Players will be given task like describing the power structure of the city they enter, giving motives to the bandits, and much more. I will control NPCs but players will help fill in the details of those characters. From these we will build a story together. GM About Myself I have been doing games for a number of years now from White Wolf, DND, Hero system and a few others. I have been GMing for two or three years. This is going to by second game gming by Pbp. As a gm I have learned and developed lots of techniques in letting the players help build the world. Many of these come from my friends home brew system which was heavily themed around players weaving the story. In this game I hope to move the bar forward and leave as much power in the hands of the players as I can. I have found giving players control over aspects of the story helps builds Especially when you kill their beloved NPCs later in the game. mwhahahagreater emotion investment in the game. This will be my first time applying many of these techniques to Pbp and I hope you join me in this fun experiment. Magic My rule on Magic, the gods, creation and history. Like in the real world religion is a thing highly debated with many interpretations. It is passed down through historical documents and accounts that leave much to the imagination. Magic and Gods in this game work in a similar fashion. When you create magic, religion, or anything of the like with your character I want you to shroud it in mystery and debate. I have found this creates fun conflicts but also gives players more room in creating the world as a group. Try to create historical documents, accounts, and reasons for why you believe what you do. If it conflicts with another player even better it will give you something to debate in character. Application Character Application and creation Are you a powerful mage, prince, or scholar or maybe a hermit secretly stronger than the gods hiding in plain sight. Let your imagination run wild. This game is going to more focused on story telling and role-playing than testing interesting builds or mechanics. Min-max characters are going to be frowned upon unless the story is really good. Combat is likely to be light to moderate. If you choose a character that is situational in their power uses or just generally weak mechanically do not worry. It is my job as GM to provide problems that fit your character's skill set. Deadline: May 7th Name: Race: Anything officially released, UA ok. Class: Anything officially release UA ok. Starting level 20 Appearance: Pic and Description Post rate: shooting for 3-6 times a week.. Personality: Title: Quote: Please write this as if your character is reflecting in the mirror about their past. How did you become?: Your history and background up until this point. What did you achieve, where did you fail ect. Ect. A thing of power: Is it a magical item, is it a direct line to an ancient being, or some secret organization what unique thing of power does your character have? Those around your: Friends, pawns, minions, organizations, what people surround you? The things that make you what you are: Drives, fears, habits what makes you what they are. Your Ideals: Your Flaws: Your Bonds: Those that stand in your way: Enemies, awkward allies, who keeps you from achieving what you want and why? Allies: Who are allies in this world? Those you love: Specific person, kind of people, people with certain traits who do you love? Those you despise: Specific person, kind of people, people with certain traits who do you despise? Sacrifices you made: Time, money, love, ethics, friends, damsels to dragons, what did you give up to gain your power? Regrets: What do you regret. The extra bits: Anything else you wish to add. OOC Question: Character Concept: A general overview of your character. Short and concise What are you exploring with this character: Similar Characters: List any real fictional, mythical or historical characters that inspire or are similar to your character. Choosing different aspects from different people is ok. Theme song: Link a theme song for your character.Please make sure the song is PG-13ish or under. Roleplay sample: This is a sample of the kind of game-play and instruction I will give you as a GM. Please give me a sample roleplay using it. Combat finished Assassin Slain. You unmask your assassin and realize they are someone close to you and tried to kill you because they felt you were a danger. Their reasons cant be evil. Who are they and why were they trying to stop you? Please role-play this situation and realization out with your character.

Player	Character	Class	Race	Status
Nordika	Thia Valisia	Fighter (14), Sorcerer (6)	High Elf	Complete
Johnstone	Dinuvian Duskblade	Rogue 12 (AT)/Wizard 8 (BS)	High Elf	WIP
delpinator	Sudeiman Mei	Ranger	High Elf	Complete
Neqq	Ylva Wolfmother Eiklund	Druid	Human	Complete
Kro Darklorr	Kro Darklorr	Warlock	Human	Complete
Geldar	Darian Vanderlain	Paladin	Human Variant	Withdrawn
Kidjab	Sa'dhu	Mystic	Half orc	Complete
Kelda	Kelda	Deep Stalker Ranger	Genasi	Complete
voodoozombie	na	na	na	WIP
Pistola Caliente	Ahzriael Valerran	Kensai 7 Monk 11 Rogue 2	Aasimar	Complete
anamiac	Elana the Warbringe	Druid (moon) 20	Wood elf	WIP
In The Mix	Danya Ayr	Ranger (5)/Monk (15)	Human	WIP

[JohnStone]

A lvl 20+ adventure, hmmm my original thought is an Arcane Trickster/ Bladesinger. a sneaky LOKI type character that wants to control the battlefield and stay out of harms way. Maybe a Ninja type since SA needs a weapon (unless we can handwave the magic SA thing)

[Leet Master Ace]

Anybody interested in creating a party capable of taking on the Lords of the Nine or some of the major Demon Princes? I know the princes are actually statted in Out of the Abyss, so Gotha (and we, apparently) can craft a cool adventure into the Abyss to fight some badass high level demons who could call forth avatars of our greatest enemies from our collective pasts.

Or we could clear out a goblin warren. *shrugs*

[Nordika]

Name: Thia Valisia
Race: High Elf
Class: Fighter (14), Sorcerer (6)
Appearance:



Thia is small, lithe, with an hourglass figure that she knows how to carry in ways that'll make any enemy beg. She demands to be the center of attention at all times, which isn't hard to do with a title like her own. She stands at only 4'10", and weighs maybe 100lbs, but her personality is large enough to make her seem bigger than life. She doesn't smile, she only smirks, and you better count your blessings if you find yourself on the receiving end of that 'evil' grin. You may be invited in as her very important guest, or more likely, you'll find yourself in the dungeon.

Post rate: 2-4 times a week

Personality:

Thia has a stern outlook on life with the stare of a woman who's seen more than enough death. She's solemn and sometimes vicious, a far cry from the bubbly, kind girl she used to be. Years of war have weathered and broken her naivety, baptizing her in the flames of conflict. She's a fighter and a survivor, a ruler with a commanding personality. Bold and bodacious, she'll stop at nothing to exact her revenge on any who wrong her.

Thia has lost sight of who she used to be. She sits on her throne with a stoic expression, bored by peace and wanting more. Valiant, honorable...all the things she once strived to be have dissipated in the wave of guilt that swallows her existence. Behind the facade of indifference, she secretly hopes to redeem herself. Thia is a means justify the end kind of person, and it shows, for no living person on the continent has ended as many lives as she in the name of 'good'.

Title: Queen Thia, the Dragon's Dame of Valisianmont

Quote:
"Do I deserve this...immortality?"

How did you become?:



In the beginning, closer to the times of creation then to our own, an elven prince made a blood pact with a great red dragon. The dragon promised him power, in exchange for his daughter. The crafty elf, gathered all the mages to make sure he had only sons. The spell they came up with lasted nigh on ten thousand years down the Valisian line before wearing off, and thus Thia was born of the seventh generation, the first Princess of the Valisian Kingdom. By then, the prophecy had largely been forgotten.

Valisia was a city-state inhabited by high elves. Flanked by forests and built into the mountains, it was a place of great culture and wealth. It's warriors were well known for their grace in and out of battle. When the princess was born, the people rejoiced and celebrated it as a sign of the divine. But when she reached the age of maturity, the dragon returned to steal her away and laid the castle to waste.

She spent decades as the dragon's prisoner, a mere piece of treasure dressed in gold amongst his horde, until a brave human paladin came to rescue her. His shield was broken and his sword was lost in the ensuing fight. Running to his aid, the dragon would have scorched them both had she not discovered her ability to bend his own fire. Thia finished the dragon, and fell in love with her rescuer, a king in waiting for the throne of Whitemont, the largest human city in the north. They returned to his kingdom triumphant and happy.

On the night of their wedding, the whole land was assembled for the festivities. Giving a toast to his new wife, the young paladin unexpectedly died from poisoning. The city guard turned on those loyal to the paladin in a bloodbath, and his brother came forward as the culprit in a coup.

Mad with grief, she was powerless to stop her brother-in-law from framing her for the murder and casting her in the dungeon. She was too filled with rage to think clearly, too naive to know how to fight back.

Bound in darkness she waited and fumed, her cell charmed to be magic-proof. When the executioners came, she finally escaped, igniting the stage in a brilliant distraction. In retaliation, Whitemont invaded the lands held by what was left of Valisia. They killed her brother.

Princess Thia returned home and led a war against Whitemont to clear her name and protect her people. Above all else, she led the war to avenge her husband and her brother. For every ally they gained, two enemies were made, until finally it seemed all of the continent was fighting a proxy war against her. She raised cities. She raised countrysides. Peasants who would fight with her were freed from their serfs. Prisoners were released. News spread of an angel on the battlefield, fighting to restore the world's glory. Headlines spoke of a seductive demon slaughtering men by the thousands. The lines blurred from skirmish to skirmish until finally the war was won in the Battle of Eight Nations. In the final hour, when all hope seemed lost, Thia unleashed a firestorm that annihilated her enemies and secured her place in the books of legend. The cost was high. She lost most of her army, but scorched the earth where the other seven had stood.

Thia Valisia was crowned Queen of Valisianmont, the new Kingdom formed from her counquest. Made up of men and elves, it covers both mountainous forests and river valley. She ruled at first with a gentle, but firm hand, personally overseeing the rebuilding of both cities. As time went on however, the stories of her battlefield exploits would grow into tall tales, and soon adventurers were lining up to try and kill the she-dragon. Thia gradually began to grow distant from the people she ruled, finding herself able to trust no one as she turns into the monster the world seems to think she already is.

A thing of power: Thia possesses an amulet made from the pupil of the dragon she killed. It's hard and smooth like glass. Empowered with the beast's essence, it makes the wearer invulnerable to fire damage.

Those around your: Thia surrounds herself with advisors and servants, whom she treats kindly but solemnly. She has no true friends anymore, and little remaining family. Thia has a hard time trusting anybody.

The things that make you what you are: Thia is driven by an urge to survive and an urge to do good, both of which have seemed to get in the way of the other. She is afraid of death, and afraid of who she is becoming by living. Most of the time, she can be found locked away in her fortress, crying over the past.

Your Ideals: Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity. Survival is what's important in this world.

Your Flaws: If you so much as harm me, I will give everything to ruin you and make the world forget you existed. I fought a war that killed millions, and I will forever bare that guilt upon my shoulders. What's a little more? If you threaten me, I will end you..

Your Bonds: My people are like my children, and I will do whatever it takes to insure that they are taken care of. I used to love, however any semblance of a family perished in the war. Suitors be damned, unless the have proven themselves in combat.

Those that stand in your way: Her enemies vary, as do the politics on the continent. She hasn't made very many friends with the neighboring Lords, who are probably planning an invasion. There are still people in Whitemont who wish to see her dead for a crime she didn't commit, or maybe now it's because of the ones she did during the war? It's not like she killed women and children, Thia just took their homes in an inferno.

An insurgent organization, the Brotherhood of the Whitehand, preys on official caravans. Those lords in Whitemont who swore fealty to Thia, house and fund them even as they fake loyalty to the matriarch. Her late husbands cousin, king of a human kingdom across the sea to her east has created a shaky alliance with the dwarves, orcs, and barbarians that surround Valisianmont.

The real threat, however, is the whispers among Thia's spies of a coup in the making.

Allies: There are people who may aid her, namely the elves of Valisia and loyalists among Whitemont, but the only person she truly trusts as an ally is herself. She's been betrayed too many times to have anyone close. Her generals are probably the ones she lets in the most, but even they are blocked off. Her kingdom may be in a golden age of both power and wealth, but her rivals are to blind to admit it.

Those you love: Thia loves those who are strong, brave, and pure of heart. She has a special fondness of children for their innocence. Thia is a leader, but she feels most content when someone else is able to rise and take the burden of command from her. Warriors are who she admires most, men at arms whose courage can rival her own.

Those you despise: Anyone and everyone who seeks to harm her or to slander her name. Traitors and felons are the worst. Anyone who prays upon the weak deserves the fire, and those who deserve the fire get it.

Sacrifices you made: Thia has sacrificed little in the way of time compared to other great warriors, but she has paid for her power every step of the way in blood. She lost her childhood, then her husband, her family, and her innocence. Sometimes she wonders, how she she still has a kingdom. She doesn't deserve it, but then again, who does?

Regrets: Thia regrets the war between Valisia and Whitemont. It wasn't her fault, yet as a belligerent, she feels partially responsible for the destruction. If she could go back, she'd swear an oath to never take the life of another being. Now, it seems it's too little, too late. In all honesty, she regrets a lot of things, but she's too stubborn to publicly acknowledge it for fear people will take her for weak. If she's weak, she's as good as dead.

OOC Question:

Character Concept: A young noble warrior who won her war with burning ruthlessness, but almost wishes that she hadn't. The stories remember her as a villain, even though she tried to be heroic, and as the history is written she finds herself slowly conforming to it.

What are you exploring with this character:
In fantasy, there are often great wars that decide the fate of one' world, but to what means is one willing to go to win, and what is the cost when all is said and done? Can a girl, called after by the name of a fiery beast, redeem herself to a people that fear her more than they admire her?

Similar Characters: Danaeyres Targaryean, Joan of Arc, Elsa, Logan, Mystique

Theme song:

Empress of Fire

Roleplay sample:

Combat finished Assassin Slain. You unmask your assassin and realize they are someone close to you and tried to kill you because they felt you were a danger. Their reasons cant be evil. Who are they and why were they trying to stop you? Please role-play this situation and realization out with your character.

Thia stood up from her iron throne, walking down the marble stairs with little heed to the trail of blood she followed. At the bottom was the crumpled heap of the man who had just attempted to kill her, lying dead at her feet. The elven queen bent down to remove his mask, tugging gently at the threads which held the veil to his face. It came off easily, torn in her would-be assassins tumble.

Thia looked up, the sound of marching footsteps was heard beyond the door. Late, as usual. She returned her attention to the body and froze as all the color drained from her body.

"Mother of Dragons, kizuk," She swore under her breath. The face was that of her best general, Sir Jerkyns, who had fought with her since Whitemont. He was noble, if not a little flamboyant, but honorable as well. Queen Thia found herself unable to breath, collapsing to her knees and whispering madly to no one. "What have I done?!"

Her guards entered the throne room, and Thia rose to her feet, cremating the corpse with a flick of her wrist. The blonde woman gritted her teeth and decomposed herself. "Clean...this...up..." She sat back on her throne and watched. If Sir Jerkyns had the balls to try and murder her, then the whole kingdom must have thought her evil, or at least mad. Of course, by now, she was used to it.

If they wanted fire, she'd let them all burn. Sir Jerkyns wasn't the first assassin, nor would he be the last, but his betrayal certainly left a stinging impression on the dragon queen.

[JohnStone]

Dinuvian Duskblade...The Spectre
Race: High Elf
Class: Rogue 12 (AT)/Wizard 8 (BS)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

"You shall become the spectre that they fear, the ghost in the night that...when it comes it comes for you."

Brief history: Dinuvian was a common thief making his living in one of the biggest cities there ever was. He stole to make a living for his family, his wife and daughter, however once the thieves guild got involved everything changed. At first it seemed the guild could offer only benefits but eventually they took a price...His Family.
Always an intelligent elf he concocted a plan to enact his revenge...

Inspiration: Loki. A jedi/sith. The "Skyrim Nightengale". Any ninja trope that can disapear at will and use illusion.

[gotha]

Hold off a little on apps still working a few things out.

Ok have it.

[elaform]

Posting for interest! Are there any alignment restrictions? Which pantheon are we using?

[gotha]

The world is going to be created around your characters so DnD pantheon or your own is ok. No alignment restrictions besides the party has to stick together so your character will have to be ok with strange bed fellows. Chaotic evil GTA style is also out unless you can make it work.

The other thing with the pantheon and religion is that it is obscure. You might have faith in your gods and pantheon but other people might not believe in them, or even view them as outright evil.

[Jkaen]

Not going to get a chance to pull something decent together here, good luck all

[Eros]

Well... shite... this is the perfect forum in which to consider my Richard-esque level of complexity with a concept, or perhaps an emotionally vulnerable physical powerhouse. Gots lots of inspiration for such a concept. I'm thinking a full progression Warlock or perhaps a Warlock/Bard hybrid may be in order. Someone who follows a Great Old One embodied within their mind and an old, archaic, and possibly scored Tome resplendent with alien markings, and shifting scorches upon it's blackened face.

Alternatively, I like the idea of an old warrior, who strives for the release from the torrid of life he has made for himself in countless battles and political intrigue, looking to spend his renewed youthful luster in whatever the version of Valhalla is here. Think of Ragnar Lothbrok but much older, not dead, and still finding himself (always) in the middle of feuding jarls, kings, and emperors... and forced to intervene for peace... only to be once again stuck with land, wealth, political decisions, and the life of others on his hands and conscience. This type of game could have far reaching ideals... and that makes me so excited!

Well, this looks like it's going to take some time to fill it out... so no time like the present to just jump in feet first and hope (read as, brace) for the best!

-   WIP Title: "WIP" Race: Human | Class: Barbarian (Totemic) Height: 6'4" (76") | Weight: 225 lbs. Appearance: WIP Personality: WIP Reflections   - How did you become?: Your history and background up until this point. What did you achieve, where did you fail ect. Ect. A thing of Power: Is it a magical item, is it a direct line to an ancient being, or some secret organization what unique thing of power does your character have? Those around your: Friends, pawns, minions, organizations, what people surround you? The things that make you what you are: Drives, fears, habits what makes you what they are. Your Ideals: Your Flaws: Your Bonds: Those that stand in your way: Enemies, awkward allies, who keeps you from achieving what you want and why? Allies: Who are allies in this world? Those you Love: Specific person, kind of people, people with certain traits who do you love? Those you Despise: Specific person, kind of people, people with certain traits who do you despise? Sacrifices you made: Time, money, love, ethics, friends, damsels to dragons, what did you give up to gain your power? Regrets: What do you regret. The extra bits: Anything else you wish to add. OOC Questions   - Character Concept: A general overview of your character. Short and concise What are you exploring with this character: Similar Characters: Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings; TV Show, Historical Figure), Wulfgar (Forgotten Realms), Beowulf (Danish Legend), Vandal Savage (DC Comics), and so many more. Theme Song: WIP Roleplay Sample Response WIP

[gotha]

yeh sorry about the long app everyone, given I am building the world around your characters I want lots info to play with.

[Eros]

Hey no worries. As I design more and more concepts in my mindseye... well, more and more ideas spring into creation. Been through a couple ideas already... and still have one or two more bouncing around. Now I have a Dragonborn concept just springing to life... and it's intriguing. I'm going to work on each idea separately, and eventually I'll post the one that seeds the best results from my imagination.

[Gulielmos]

This should be interesting

[KroDarklorr]

Originally Posted by Leet Master Ace

Anybody interested in creating a party capable of taking on the Lords of the Nine or some of the major Demon Princes? I know the princes are actually statted in Out of the Abyss, so Gotha (and we, apparently) can craft a cool adventure into the Abyss to fight some badass high level demons who could call forth avatars of our greatest enemies from our collective pasts.

Or we could clear out a goblin warren. *shrugs*

That would be awesome in my book. My ideas are leaning towards a Warlock class, so that theme fits for my character at least.

[TheTalentedMrJ]

Nevah played 5th edition, but I do like the idea of an open world/permissive DM. Placeholder.

Researching system now. Other than 5th Edition SRD, are there any other good sites?

EDIT: I'mma have to withdraw. I'll stick to what I know for now. Kinda hit a wall in my compren-shun.