Name: Artur Grayson Race: Human Class(s): Artificer (Alchemist) Social Status:Merchant
Homeland:
The Taashen Territory (called Taash’nen in the local dialect) is a cold and barren land situated in the far northeast of the Empire, though referring to it as a single entity is rather optimistic. The harsh winters meant that settlements have traditionally been inward-facing, self-governing entities formed for mutual survival, the vast majority of them are clustered in the general vicinity of the southern border. Though the relatively recent discovery of natural resource deposits - coal, iron, copper, and precious stones useful for arcane rituals - has rapidly begun to turn local leaders’ eyes to the fertile lands of the Empire proper, the territory's organization as a loosely collected cluster of city states remains; imperial diplomats often complain that you can’t throw a stone in Taash’nen without hitting a king.
If a harsh land breeds harsh people, however, you would never be able to tell looking at Artur, a rather slight young man with a quiet voice and a mild temperament. This is a disconnect that likely springs from his upbringing. His father, Pyotr Grayson, was born to a relatively successful shopkeep in Yiral Wenbuhral, a city situation at the feet of the far northern mountains, on the edge of tundra that seemed to stretch on forever. Pyotr made a decent fortune in the copper trade, eventually moving to the largest city in Taash’nen, A’laek, and marrying the daughter of a prosperous inn owner. But doing business in Taash’nen meant doing business in the rest of the Empire, home to all the food and goods that the people of the tundra wanted.
So Artur grew up on the road, feet dangling from the back of the caravan as they moved from city to city. With few other children his age, he naturally became a rather awkward child; viciously devouring books over the course of the journey, taking an interest in numbers and figures and the strange machinery of commerce. A brother five years his senior saved him from his father’s ambitions toward marrying into nobility, and his lack of social skills (coupled with a concerning naivety) did not make for a fine merchant. What Artur was good at was making and fixing things, whether that meant potions, small clockwork toys, or maps of their path through the Empire and back to Taash’nen to resupply. He honed these skills in the longs days of travel, a budding magically abilities developing alongside them.
Meeting the King:
As Artur reached adulthood, it was easy to tell that his skill in alchemy and mechanics easily outstripped an ability he had to broker a sale of copper. He eventually returned to A’laek, a city that had spent the last several decades swelling in size from its trading riches. It grew up as well as out - a consequence of being situated where two rivers merged into the great Ruthraashi, too fast for ice to take hold - with glass lanterns swinging off of hastily constructed wooden buildings built on top of each other, all overlooking oil-slicked streets. A need to stem the possible chaos led to the King of A’laek hiring a large number of nobles and “new money” to serve as bureaucrats, a position Artur obtained after submitting blueprints for his idea of city planning.
Artur took to his job as well as he could have, the young man finding that bureaucratic organization wasn’t all that different from the fiddling with the inner workings of anything else. He liked designing streets, surveying the quality of river water, overseeing the distribution of an excess harvest. Admittedly, Artur never took well to the harsher parts of his work; though he appears fairly detached, he cares a good deal about other people and ill-enjoys accepting that the world can’t live up to his fairly optimistic outlook. But overall he did his job and he did his job ably enough, securing a decent amount of accolades for his work.
Artur’s pride and joy is the firewire, a mix of alchemy and technology that brings heat and light to a decent amount of A’laek without the danger of an open flame. It is also this project that earned him a letter from King Grohl, a request to meet him down south to discuss the possibility of employment. Artur was interested in the passion that came clear through the parchment, as well as the possibility of doing what he loved while being able to travel again, to see new places and learn new things as he did in his youth. For King Grohl, there was an obvious benefit in bringing on someone like Artur; a person with an interest in the drier parts of governance, drawn to the type of organization and bureaucracy that would be needed to ensure a successful transfer of power in El Stow.
Upon meeting King Grohl, Artur’s decision was made. From what he saw in the Empire, conflict in El Stow was inevitable. It’s his desire for that conflict to end as quickly as possible, to maintain the agricultural production necessary to keep the region from ending in a ruin of salted earth and burnt forests, while building a place where some of the folk who follow King Grohl into this enterprise can reintegrate. Artur keeps perhaps the least influential seat on King Grohl’s council, that of the record keeper and paper pusher, but it's a task he takes on with gusto and a fair measure of the strong, campfire-tasting tea of his homeland.
Follower 1: North
Name: North Race: Tiefling Class: Warrior 3
North is a tiefling woman around Artur’s age, born and raised in the wilds around A’laek. She’s much more comfortable outdoors than around people, making a living by serving as a scout and guide to various caravans. She met Artur when he was organizing a survey of the land around the city, and forged an odd sort of friendship. Neither are very charismatic people, though Artur is awkward and North is blunt, but this means that they’re able to be themselves around each other. Though she considers herself a realist who doesn’t suffer fools easily, she has a soft spot for the few friends she does manage to make, especially considering her heritage keeps many people away. She accompanied Arthur to meet King Grohl under the normal conditions of her job and has stayed on as a bodyguard now that he's joined the king's council.
Follower 2: Milo Grayson
Name: Milo Grayson Race: Goblin Class: Expert 2
Milo is an A’laek street urchin who was hired by Artur to perform odd jobs while the human was taking various different surveys of the city. When winter came, he was offered a place to sleep - and he simply never left. Essentially, Milo is Artur’s son, a fact they legally recorded two years ago, though the complications of goblin aging when compared to humans means that he is at the level of an older teen despite them meeting when he was a very young child. Milo is cheerful and talkative, caring far less for money and material comforts than a sense of friendship and belonging with other people - after all, he knows how to survive with little more than his clothes to his name. Having said that, Milo doesn’t really have much use for rules or laws, more comfortable with his own instincts.
DM Notes:
In terms of motivation, there’s a mixture of selfish and selfless. Artur generally loves being a government bureaucrat in the same way an author would enjoy writing books. His upbringing (being raised by a father who clawed his way to new money and wants to keep clawing to nobility), combined with the current Taash culture of wealth above most other virtues (due in part to the territory’s past struggles with starvation), has also made him unconsciously see career progression as an unquestioned aim. So being a bureaucrat for a whole region is the logical next step up from being a bureaucrat for a city-state. Plus he gets to travel, which he enjoys the idea of.
There’s also the matter of what’s going to happen in El Stow. Artur is sure the Empire is going to attempt to take over El Stow for a myriad of reasons, including King Grohl, and that this confrontation isn’t about to be simply stopped; he tends to see history under the lens of great forces more than great men, given his childhood as an outside observer to various societies, a cultural tendency toward fatalism/determinism in his homeland, and his own experiences as a gear in the machine of governance. So Artur wants to try and make the transfer happen with the least possible amount of bloodshed and lasting damage. He’s a good deal naive, but he’s also of the belief that a prolonged war here means ruining the land and lives of future generations.
As for after King Grohl takes the throne, Artur’s current plan would be to continue on as a member of the King’s council. He doesn’t see that as the end-point to anything as much as the beginning of his real job. From his point of view, there’d be years of work in standardizing currency, creating infrastructure to link El Stow with further imperial lands, making sure the populace isn’t going to revolt, and other matters. Maybe after years or even a decade or so of solid work, he’d get a higher-ranking position closer to the imperial heartland - the logical next career step.
OCC, however, Artur is likely to have a wake-up call and face the question of what he really wants out of life during the course of the campaign. I imagine his relationship with King Grohl, other PCs, and the people of El Stow would greatly influence what path he takes. He might become jaded and increasingly ruthless, manage to stick to his ideals and help influence Grohl's path for the better, be executed for treason, realize what he really wants is to own a simple potion shop and hire someone else to take care of the front end, change his mind and adopt a more individualistic view of history, realize an independent El Stow under King Grohl is necessary, or any number of things. I want to keep an open mind for how he will develop, even if some possibilities are more likely than others.
Last edited by Baraqi; Feb 27th, 2023 at 10:01 PM.
Late of the Feywild, Quince was sent to ensure that King Grohl reclaim his father's throne. Before travelling the length of the kingdom to seek out the intended man, Quince landed in the Western Witch Woods. There, he found an discomforting and uncanny blend of native flora and fauna with those of his native land. He also still saw the remnants of the destruction that the passing orcish war bands had caused decades ago.
While the disorder was unsettling, Quince also saw it as the sort of situation that might allow him to cut out a space of his own, after he was freed to do so.
Not entirely by choice and bereft of any details, Quince found himself imbued with magical abilities and sent from the Feywild to the Material Plane to ensure King Grohl made his way to the throne of El Stow.
Thrown out on his ear without any sort of direction, was afraid he'd sooner abide by the 'or die trying' part of his bargain. He infiltrated the human and orcish societies best he could and gradually revealed himself for the spectacle he was in these circumstances. He had learned the most popular tavern songs and the ways to show subtle support for the king while in disguise and used those to worm his way into the societies around him.
Propping himself up as a unique and desirable treasure to behold, he soon found himself invited to the most noble of houses. It was from those stages that he was able to, without their knowledge, get word into the ears of the would-be king's support group.
Put the final touches on the app, open for critique. Actually trying to create something vaguely artistic was the highlight of my day so far - let's just say it was an iterative process to even get to what you see!
Put the final touches on the app, open for critique. Actually trying to create something vaguely artistic was the highlight of my day so far - let's just say it was an iterative process to even get to what you see!
Love it! I put together a simple tutorial on the expected quality of work for these types of things here: Draw a Hill Giant [EASY]. I think you have exceeded that bar a fair amount.
Also keep an eye on the Q and A in the 2nd post of the tread. I have started adding some things that came up in PMs that might be of interest to all.
Love it! I put together a simple tutorial on the expected quality of work for these types of things here: Draw a Hill Giant [EASY]. I think you have exceeded that bar a fair amount.
Also keep an eye on the Q and A in the 2nd post of the tread. I have started adding some things that came up in PMs that might be of interest to all.
Oh snap! I dunno, that Hill Giant looks mighty realistic - you nailed that shirt color (I hope I kept to the PG rating...I did give Kren a belt!)
@Bhelogan: What's the general flavor of the setting? I get kind of a base D&D fantasy vibe, but I was curious about the tone of the setting and previous adventures in the world.
__________________ Status: Starting the New Year off right! With RPGs! Pronouns: Any
Name: Shai-Tan Race: Changeling- Commonly appears as Human or Half-Elf when in public Class: Assassin Rogue/Shadow Monk/Hexblade Warlock
Background: Urchin – Training for the Manus Umbra begins at birth, and for those destined to serve the Order as Shuju, that training has harsh beginnings. With all but the most rare of exceptions, the child is taken barely beyond infancy and deposited in a city far from the Fortress-Monastery itself. Its childhood spent on the streets of some city or another, learning to survive and thrive with an utter lack of privilege or advantage. If a child manages to survive until the age of 5 or 6, then agents of the Order will retrieve those children for their true training. So it was for Shai-Tan, like many who had come before him.
Traits: I must always carry myself in a manner that inspires others to be comfortable around me. I am attentive, compassionate and seek to espouse a soothing demeanour, all of which serves the purpose of encouraging others to drop their guard around me. Furthermore, it helps disguise the sudden and explosive violence of which I am capable. When I must resort to violence, it is quick and efficient, and is something from which I must detache myself completely. I must take no joy from ending a life, but neither must I assume any mantle of remorse or shame.
Ideal: There is honour in the methods of the Manus Umbra, and it is a sacred honour. A more difficult path than those who find their honour in the Light. For them, there is glory and adoration. Not so for us. We do what we do so that others do not need to, so that the stain of dark deeds is spared them. Ours is the greater honour, regardless if the world does not recognise that fact.
Bond: I am bound eternally to the Order of the Manus Umbra. I uphold its tenets and enact its will. So too am I bound to those in my service, those who serve the Order as I do, and for whom I am responsible. Their success is my success; their failure, my failure.
Flaw: The Order has placed in me great faith, to serve as part of the King’s council and to bestow upon me other members of the order to oversee and instruct. I do not believe I am ready for this honour. Though I dare not question the will of those older and wiser than I, and I cannot show it before those given into my instruction, I believe firmly they have made a great error in this appointment. I spend many long hours in solitude despairing that my inadequacies shall be uncovered, and that I shall fail the King, or worse the Order, in a sensational manner.
Backstory: Shai-Tan’s life has always been about the Order. Those who join the Manus Umbra come from two different paths. Those who seek out the order and prove themselves worthy, and those who have been bred for the honour. Shai-Tan comes from the latter path, his biological parents nothing more than biological donors participating in a planned breeding program that has spanned the course of a millennia. He has never met them, and indeed, never even considered them. His family is the Order.
His earliest childhood was spent on the streets of El Stow. For those destined to be Shuju, the agents of the Order who serve interests beyond the walls of the Fortress-Monastery of Obscuris, this is often the first part of their training. Spirited away from Obscuris to a distant city, a child barely out of infancy is abandoned on the streets. There it either perishes or thrives. Should the latter prove the true, then by the age of six agents of the Order will retrieve the child, and their true training begins back at the monastery.
For Shai-Tan, his life on the streets of El Stow’s slums was a tough, but fruitful one. An agile and quick witted child, he learned how to survive by being silent as a cat and using the shadows as his ally. So too did he learn of his biological nature, his ability to change form at will. With these tools in his arsenal, Shai-Tan was not only able to survive on the streets of El Stow, but also thrive. By the time the Manus Umbra came to retrieve him, he was already well on the way to becoming a Shuju, though he did not yet know it.
Upon his return to the Fortress-Monastery of Obscuris, Shai-Tan, who until then had gone by the name of Xavi, was schooled into his true identity and destiny. First educated in the monastic traditions of the Manus Umbra monks, then in the more martial skills of the order, the identity of Xavi soon melted away. The more he learned, the more he realised in his heart that he had indeed been born for this. Every event in his life had prepared him to be what the Order wanted him to be, and as he grew in knowledge and skill, he felt more fulfilled.
Years have passed, and now in early adulthood, Shai-Tan has been handed an assignment of great, and terrifying, honour. Appointed a Shuju of the Manus Umbra, Shai-Tan’s duty is now to serve the will and interests of the order abroad. It also means taking on the instruction of junior members of the order. Further compounding the honour (and the dread), is his appointment. He has been dispatched to serve the aspirant King Grohl, replacing a compatriot who had lost their life in service to Grohl.
Unsure as to his worthiness, but unable to fathom ever questioning the Order he serves so fully, Shai-Tan and his retinue now stand as part of King Grohl’s household. As a Shuju advisor, it is his duty to serve King Grohl as needed. An advisor, a spy and an assassin, the agents of the Manus Umbra have many uses to those nobles who utilise them.
How did you come to be in King Grohl's service?: Shai-Tan is a relative newcomer to King Grohl's service, having only recently been dispatched from Obscuris to fulfill the role. King Grohl's family have a long history of enlisting the aid of the Order, and for many generations a member of the Order has dutifully served as an advisor to the head of the family. Shai-Tan has been sent as a replacement to his predecessor, whose life was given in service to King Grohl. Now the duty falls to Shai-Tan, to carry on a contract made long ago, and one which the Manus Umbra has dutifully upheld for many generations.
Home: The Fortress-Monastery Obscuris Location: Sorayari Mountains
To the distant north-east, the temperate plains creep slowly upwards, their tall, swaying grasses slowly giving way to frostbitten, rocky slopes. Rising up is a vast mountain range, almost eternally capped in snow and racked by howling winds that can grow to such intensity that they strip the flesh from the very bones of man and beast. Few dwell in this harsh land, a place known as the Sorayari Mountains, or Skyspear Mountains in the common tongue. Nestled in amongst the soaring, icy peaks of the Sorayari Mountains is a mighty Fortress-Monastery known as Obscuris. The citadel, like the mountains in which it resides, thrusts its towers upwards like dark blades plunging into the flesh of the sky itself. This cold and brooding place is home to an order of monks known as the Manus Umbra. The monastery and the Order that inhabits it have both existed for well over a millennia.
The Manus Umbra is a monastic order of warrior-scholars who have served the various nobility of Mysoth for generations. Much is said about the order, though little is actually known by those outside of it. They are whispered to be all manner of things, from spies and thieves through to assassins and practitioners of dark magic. To the commonfolk of Mysoth, Obscuris and the Manus Umbra are the stuff of terrible legend. Tales of the dark monks of the Manus Umbra are used to scare misbehaving children, and often blamed for all manner of misfortune to befall the good people of the Empire.
Worse still, it is whispered that they practice dark arts, selling their souls to oblivion in fell pacts with vile beings and forces.
Despite all this, the Manus Umbra occupy a strange place in society. Reviled and feared by most as they are, they are also incredibly valued. As much as it is said that there is no vile deed the Manus Umbra will not commit, so too is it well known that they are an order who holds to their word. A pact or deal made with the Manus Umbra is never broken. For the members of this order, once their service is pledged, the oath is sacred. For the other side of such pacts, there is a small list of those who have tried to break faith with the order, none of whom lived more than a few days after making that poor decision. Their demise is the stuff of legend.
In truth, the Order is far less sinister than the folk of Mysoth, both noble and common alike, would believe. They hold that it is their duty to undertake distasteful and difficult tasks so that others do not have to. So that such deeds are not committed by people with evil hearts, but instead who hold to a code of honour and ethics that whilst unconventional, is no less demanding than even the most noble of knightly orders. In their view, they are neither spies nor assassins, but something greater. They see themselves as agents of order, who serve the realm in a way that most others are incapable of. For them, theirs is a more difficult honour than those who ride resplendently in the light, showered in glory and adoration. It takes true honour to do what is required, regardless of the personal cost or revulsion it may invite upon oneself. Therefore, they view themselves as the truly the honourable ones.
For most of their history, the Manus Umbra have served as advisors, spies, and covert agents, serving various nobles and interests across the breadth of the Empire. Whilst this often includes less tasteful duties, they are valued for their efficiency, reliability and discretion. There are very few noble families who have not, at one time or another, engaged the services of the Manus Umbra, and behind most thrones in the land there stands a member of the Manus Umbra. Few nobles, though, openly admit to doing so. The Order, however, does little in the way of attempting to improve its public image. If anything, they welcome it. The fear and mystery that surrounds their operatives generally makes their work easier to accomplish. They much prefer fear of what they might do helping achieve their goal, than having to resort to what they must do to see their work done.
Name: Ogadai Class: Warrior 4 Race: Half-Orc Age: 39 Background: A loyal servant of the Order, Ogadai serves as a Bushi of the Manus Umbra. The Bushi are not actual monks of the Manus Umbra, but serve predominantly as bodyguards for the Shuju who go abroad, and as guards for the Fortress-Monastery itself. On the very few instances that the Manus Umbra has mobilised as a military force, the Bushi largely comprise the more conventional field armies for the Order.
Ogadai has been appointed as Shai-Tan’s bodyguard. The two have only known each other in passing up until recently, but there is a respectful relationship there. Ogadai is a half-orc of few words, but is dependable and honest. He has served the Order for a long time, and has a wealth of experience. World-wise more than book smart, he will be an invaluable resource to Shai-Tan.
Mehli'sahl
Name: Mehli’sahl Class: Expert 3 Race: Drow Age: 81 Background: A Manus Umbra initiate of some skill, Mehli’sahl shows great promise as Komon. Not quite as revered amongst the Order as the Shuju, the Komon, are still highly skilled courtiers and strategists, masters in the arts of intrigue and politics. Mehli’sahl has been appointed as Shai-Tan’s own advisor, both to further her own skills abroad, whilst also assisting Shai-Tan in his duties to King Grohl. She is a highly intelligent, if sometimes belligerent, woman with a temper to match her keen mind. One she often struggles to keep in check. It is hoped that in her time under Shai-Tan, she will learn to manage this shortcoming better.
Akka
Name: Akka Class: Expert 2 Race: Goblin Age: 14 Background: It is the duty of every fully fledged Shuju, to take on a Gaku initiate. Akka has been appointed as Shai-Tan’s Gaku. A form of apprentice, it is both Akka’s duty to serve Shai-Tan and also to learn as much as possible from Shai-Tan so that he might someday follow a similar path.
Akka is quick witted and highly skilled, but shows a slyness and cunning that is typical of his people. There is a maliciousness in him that the Order would see quelled, and it is hoped that much of Shai-Tan’s calm and composed demeanour will impress itself upon the young Goblin. If Akka can, through Shai-Tan’s guidance, gain ascendancy over his less desirable character traits, then he has the potential to be a great Shuju indeed. Shai-Tan does, however, need to keep a considerably close watch on him.
RP Sample:
“Again.” The words spoken were soft, barely audible over the whistling winds of the mountain air.
That same wind whipped a few stray locks of Shai-Tan’s obsidian black hair across the silver mask that obscured his face. Dark eyes stared downwards without emoting any sense of thought or feeling, instead resting upon the sprawled form of the goblin at his feet.
There was a grunt of protest as the young initiate, Akka, stood and resumed his stance. The small clawed fingers curled into a fist, and whilst no sign of it showed on Shai-Tan’s face, he was pleased. The stance was good. Solid, but not rigid. There was a look in the young Gaku’s eyes that belied the anger that boiled behind them, but Akka had the sense not to voice it. He had been warned of the Gaku’s character issues, and was watchful for them, but it was a promising sign that the young goblin was at least trying to keep them in check. For now.
There was a sudden flurry of movement followed by a roar as Ogadai swung in once more with his sword, the big half-orc Bushi attempting to rush Akka, who was but a fraction of his size. Nimbly, Akka rolled under the arc of the blade and aggressively towards the Half-Orc. Coming up under the warrior’s guard, Akka regained his feet and thrust upwards with a fist. Shai-Tan saw the intent, but so too did Ogadai, and before the goblin’s strike found purchase in the vulnerable parts of the Half-Orc’s loins, a knee was brought up which connected brutally with Akka’s head.
To Akka’s credit, he kept his feet, using the momentum of the blow to spin away and resume a defensive stance. No doubt with a ringing in his head that would rival the monstrous prayer bells that sat atop Obscuris’ main tower, Akka nonetheless maintained his composure.
Another positive sign.
“You are too aggressive, Akka, but there is promise there. That is enough for today. See to your chores, and present to me after evening studies for tomorrow morning’s assignments. No doubt we will be setting off for El Stow before noon.”
Shai-Tan turned away from his two retainers, his attention caught by the form of his Komon adept, Mehli’sahl, approaching. No doubt coming to inform him of that very fact. He was about to move towards her when the subtlest movement caught the attention of his periphery. In the blink of an eye Shai-Tan was in motion.
His form a blur of shadow and smoke, Shai-Tan, who had been standing calmly, arms behind his back, in the centre of the training yard, now appeared as if from mist itself behind Akka. Barely discernible to the eye of his followers, Shai-Tan struck Akka with such a blow that sent the goblin sprawling hard into the dirt.
A clatter of steel on stone echoed as a small throwing dagger slipped from Akkas hand and clattered across the stone.
Shai-Tan’s form coalescing from the mind-numbing darkness that seemed to will itself from nowhere, he stood over his Gaku apprentice, looking down with eyes that were devoid of anger.
“We do not strike for such petty things as anger or revenge. These are not reasons to spill blood or take life. Only when duty requires it, and no other option remains, do we become Loosely translated: death-bringers/people of deathShi-jin ."
Turning away from his prone apprentice, Shai-Tan starts moving towards Mehli'sahl once more. He takes a few steps before pausing.
Without looking around, he speaks once more with a tone of finality. "There is no shame in being overcome by Ogadai, but there is shame in your thirst for vengeance. You will see to Ogadai's chores as well as your own, until I am satisfied that you understand this truth, Gakusei. Now begone from my sight.”
__________________ Playing: On an extended Leave Of Absence I have taken the Oath of Sangus
Last edited by Arkaon; Dec 15th, 2020 at 08:26 AM.
Lesser Knobles, Scholars, Military Officers, Priests
3
4,3,2
91-99
Noble
Knight, Chief Judge, High Priest
4
4,3,2,1
Does 'status' refer to our character's status, or the status of our sidekicks? I rolled a 65. Does that mean my character is a merchant, my sidekicks are merchants, or both?
What kind of government is currently in El Stow? Is it a ruling council? A Throne usurped by one of Grohl's cousins or another noble? Looks like it's a council, per the Information thread.
__________________
We are men of action, lies do not become us.
Westley - The Princess Bride
Last edited by anamiac; Aug 14th, 2020 at 11:25 AM.
Does 'status' refer to our character's status, or the status of our sidekicks? I rolled a 65. Does that mean my character is a merchant, my sidekicks are merchants, or both?
What kind of government is currently in El Stow? Is it a ruling council? A Throne usurped by one of Grohl's cousins or another noble? Looks like it's a council, per the Information thread.
Well, it does say, "You will begin the game with a number of resources and followers, based on your Social Status" in the game advert.
As to whether or not that includes the sidekick, I thought it did, though I may be wrong. Makes sense that they would be the same or lesser if a sidekick though.
__________________ Posting Status: Decent - If a reply is needed from me either in a game I am in as a player or as a DM/GM, please send me a PM.
Does 'status' refer to our character's status, or the status of our sidekicks? I rolled a 65. Does that mean my character is a merchant, my sidekicks are merchants, or both?
This is your character's background status. Where did they come from, who were their parents. You may or may not have followed in their footsteps. Your followers are probably independent of this, depending on how you tie them into your background.
@Bhelogan: What's the general flavor of the setting? I get kind of a base D&D fantasy vibe, but I was curious about the tone of the setting and previous adventures in the world.
Yea, kind of a generic D&D fantasy setting. I usually make it similar to Forgotten Realms, in terms of deities and such. My games have few common themes. Generally, there will be a few embarrassing typos, and I will probably use two different spellings of a name for a character or two... (totally didn't happen in Outplay this year, right?). I do try to keep things light-hearted but also deal with series issues and threats (invading armies, the birth of a lich, cultural conflict). This campaign will be revolving, initially at least, a potentially hostile takeover of a region by an unpopular ruler. Hopefully, that helps. Happy to answer any specific questions.
Somewhere, out in the range of mountains North-East of El Stow is a narrow valley nestled in the shadows of two great peaks. The vale lies in near-perpetual shadow, save for when the sun is at its zenith; and even then, it is a shadowy place thanks to the tall, big-leaved trees that fill the area.
Tales tell that that the valley is the home of a den of mythic thieves, responsible for all lost things in the world. If there's something lost and forgotten that you seek (a great treasure, a mystical artifact, your missing keys, that sock that never returned from the washer's), you can find it in the Vale of Lost Things, Knick-Knack Valley.
Like most legends, there's a nugget of truth there. The Knick-Knack Valley is home to a clan of Kenku, and the clan operates as an expert thieves' guild for unsavory folk across the land. No great treasures or artifacts lie in their home, but they do have odd collections and vaults full of odd collections of stuff (including at least one well-guarded dungeon for protecting the hoard of socks-stolen-from-clothes-lines). In this place, Kenku can live in relative peace and isolation from other folk who don't normally tolerate their proclivity for theft and their unusual curse of Mimicry.
Here, a Kenku can carve a hive-like nest from the great trees in the Valley, and fill it with whatever tchotchkes suit them. Typically, a Kenku home ends up as the most extreme example of the cluttercore aesthetic - every wall and notch having some little doo-dad, shiny bauble, or glittery mess to fill it. Hooks in the ceiling can suspend drapes, ropes, tapestries, and more. The floor can hold so many pretty layers of rug and mat.
With all these things everywhere, lighting is tough. Kenku can't see well in the dark, and know the true value of lighting (it can really make or break a collection!). However, torches and candles are a huge fire hazard, and most lighting spells are limited in time. For that reason, the Kenku in Knick-Knack Valley usually have a shrine to Candela, Goddess of Interior Lighting. Her priests and priestesses always have the continual flame spell readied - just in case a room needs an adjustment in light levels.
With the importance of the faith of Candela and continual flame, her Priests act as the spymasters and chiefs of Kenku society; and are typically the Kenku responsible for connecting with the outside world for criminal jobs.
There comes a time in every noble's life that they wants something that someone else has. Perhaps it's a piece of jewelry, an important slip of parchment, a weapon, a sack of money, a title, a deed, or a particularly fancy hat. In those times of great covetousness, all the power in the world won't get that object of desire - or at least not without looking like a greedy jerk. That's where a good criminal steps in. A forger, a thief, a charlatan, a con-man...
Kenku do most of those things very well.
There once was a time where King Grohl held a secret competition. Whispers and rumors said that the half-orc king was looking for a master of theft and forgery. Rumor had it that his personal forge, Bohg Standhard, had failed to produce viable paperwork on one too many occasions - and it was high-time to hire a contractor.
Within a week of sending out this rumor, King Grohl received a letter from his personal forge delivered by the Sir Standhard's own page. The letter was one of complaint - that Bohg was personally insulted by the competition, and that he was hereby retiring from King Grohl's service. The letter was signed and stamped with the forge's personal seal. Grohl barrelled down the halls to give the forge a piece of his mind - how dare Bohg retire, how dare he say these things in a letter, and not to the King's face? First under-performance, and now this?! What cowardice!
The King burst into the forge's office and bellowed about the contents of the letter to the very-confused Bohg. It took some time until the forge could explain that he wrote no such letter - that the forge's letter was, ironically, a forgery all in itself! The king, the forge, and the page puzzled over the mystery.
Who could have forged the penmenship of a man who's profession was to copy others? Who got a hold of the forge's signet ring? Who could convince the page to deliver the letter without the page realizing he was receiving orders from someone other than his master?
A creak came from the window, and a gust of cold wind blew out the candles in the room. The fireplace shuddered, making the shadows of the king and his men dance across the walls.
From the window came a voice, high-pitched and sing-songy, "Allow us to introduce ourselves..."
The King, the forge, and the page looked to the window to see three crow-folk jammed in the sill. The leader, Talon-Click held out both of his claws invitingly, and all three of the humanoid magpies opened their beaks and... wall-eyed... they screeched in unison:
And thus began the start of a beautiful business relationship...
Hiccup - Kenku - Spellcaster (Druid) 3- WIP
Scribbles - Kenku - Expert 2 - WIP
Character Picture in a spoiler, something that can be used to make a token for battle maps. (Note - I give extra credit to those who use custom artwork, as opposed to googling something and copying it, even if you draw like a 5 year old)
__________________ Status: Starting the New Year off right! With RPGs! Pronouns: Any