[D&D-5e] Out of the Abyss

[Disaster Master]

Applications are closed!

Game Name Out of the Abyss

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Underdark, Wonderland, Demons, Drow, Forgotten Realms

Flavour Gritty, Survival, Sandbox, Intrigue

Plot Summary Out of the Abyss Deep beneath the surface of the world lies the Underdark, a realm of endless labyrinthine tunnels and caverns where the sun never shines. The Underdark is filled with races and creatures too numerous to count or list, and foremost among these are the dark elves — the drow. Hated and feared even by their fellow dwellers in darkness, the drow raid other settlements in the Underdark as well as the surface world, taking prisoners back with them. Rendered unconscious with drow poison, then collared and shackled, these prisoners are eventually sold as slaves or entertainment in the dark elves’ subterranean cities. You have all had the misfortune of falling to such a fate. Captured by the drow, you are prisoners at one of the dark elves’ outposts, awaiting transportation to Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders. Whether you came into the Underdark seeking knowledge or fortune, or were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, you were ripe prey for a drow raid. The characters' goal in the first chapter of this adventure is straightforward: escape from the drow outpost of Velkynvelve, with an eye toward escaping from the Underdark. However, this goal is complicated by the adventurers' lack of familiarity with their surroundings. Even if the prisoners can get away from the drow, where will they go and how will they survive?

Game Information Deadline: 25 March 2018, 4:00 p.m. UTC Party Size: 6 Posting Rate: 5/week Sources: PHB, SCAG, VGTM, XGTE Starting Level: 1 Ability Scores: 27 points

House Rules   We will be using the following variant rules from the PHB, DMG, and SCAG: Customizing Ability Scores Variant Human Traits Multiclassing Feats Speed Factor Attack options Human Languages Half-elf Variants Tiefling Variants We will be using Story-Based Advancement, so you can do away with experience points entirely. Characters can choose one of the following features to replace the feature normally granted by the character's background. Optional Feature: Deep Delver You have a knack for making your way in the deep places of the world. You can recall the twists and turns of passageways and tunnels such that you can always retrace your steps underground. You’re also well acquainted with foraging and survival in the Underdark, and can determine when sources of food and water are safe to consume. You can always find sufficient food and water for yourself and up to five other people in the Underdark, as long as sustenance is available in the area. Optional Feature: Underdark Experience You are no casual visitor to the Underdark, but instead have spent considerable time there learning its ways. You are familiar with the various races, civilizations, and settlements of the Underdark, as well as its major routes for travel. If you fail an Intelligence check to recall some piece of Underdark lore, you know a source you can consult for the answer unless the DM rules that the lore is unknown. This list provides alternative bonds that characters can have instead of the bonds from their backgrounds. You were once lost in the Underdark, and a group of kuo-toa helped you find your way out. You learned that there are kindly folk even among that otherwise mad race, and remain indebted to them for their aid. You once had the opportunity to meet a circle of myconids — the mushroom folk of the Underdark. They offered you shelter and a chance to "meld" using their telepathic spores, and you have yearned ever since to repeat that experience. One of your best friends in your youth was Morista Malkin, a shield dwarf and member of the Emerald Enclave. Though you haven’t seen her in years, you heard she found her way to the reclaimed dwarf hold of Gauntlgrym. You once worked for Davra Jassur, a Zhentarim "troubleshooter" recruiting promising new talent for the Black Network. She helped you get your start as an adventurer, and you owe her for that. You have long had a curious recurring dream about visiting a vaulted stone library in the depths of the Underdark, and becoming lost in the endless lore it holds. You studied with a deep gnome alchemist and miner named Kazook Pickshine, who saved your life once when a magical experiment went awry. Last you heard, his family controlled some of the largest mines in the deep gnome settlement of Blingdenstone. What little you know about the Underdark, you learned from living and fighting alongside the Feldrun clan of dwarves. You swore an honor debt to the clan before they joined the forces retaking Gauntlgrym and established themselves there. Years ago, a vicious noble named Ghazrim DuLoc was implicated in the death of someone you cared about. The crime was covered up, though, and DuLoc disappeared. Rumor has it the Zhentarim aided his escape, but you’ve sworn to find him one day. Years ago, you lost people you loved in a raid by creatures from the Underdark. They disappeared without a trace, either slain or taken into the depths, and you've always wondered whether they might still be alive and held as prisoners. You know the dwarf hold of Gauntlgrym well, having fought alongside the dwarves to help reclaim it. King Bruenor Battlehammer congratulated you on your valor, and you know the price the dwarves paid in blood to regain their home.

Application Name: The name of your character. Race: Uncommon racial choices should at least be backed up by a good back-story. Alignment: Non-evil alignments are preferred. Patron Deity: The patron deity of your character. Class: Please include the class option you like to take (e.g., Nature Domain, Eldritch Knight, or College of Lore). Background: Either a published background or a custom one. Personality Traits: Two traits, chosen among those published or your own. Ideal: Either a published ideal or your own creation. Bond: Either a published bond or your own creation. Flaw: Either a published flaw or your own creation. Appearance: Describe the appearance of your character. Supplementary pictures are appreciated. Personality: Describe the personality of your character. Motivation: Describe what motivates your character. History: Describe the character's back-story. Role-Playing Sample: What was your character doing before being captured by the drow?

What I expect from my players If you want to apply, please read this game advertisement carefully and make sure you have understood everything. If not, feel free to ask. Note that you are expected to be a nice person (or at least behave as one) if you apply for this campaign. This includes that you will give us notice should you ever be forced to drop out of the campaign. Out of the Abyss is a huge campaign for characters from level 1 to level 15. This means that the campaign is expected to last many years in real time until your heroes will finally be victorious. So don't apply if you don't expect that you can keep it rolling for many years to come. Also, don't apply if you think you cannot cope with the expected posting rate of 5/week. Of course, we can and will work around temporary absences due to vacation or illness. While there will be combat (it is D&D, after all), role-playing will be at least as important. Characters shall be more than two-dimensional. Use the opportunity and explore your character by interacting heavily with the other characters and NPCs, of which there will be a lot. Players shall role-play their characters in a way that is beneficial to the story and to the overall fun (e.g., a rogue character that regularly picks purses is perfectly possible; the same character that constantly picks the purses of the other characters probably less so). I expect that my players have a good knowledge of English grammar and spelling rules, and know how to format their posts nicely. Given the expected posting rate, not all your posts have to be several-paragraph masterpieces. If a particular scene is fast-paced, short posts are fine if they move the scene forward.

What you can expect from me Running a campaign means to me that my players have fun. Of course, this does not mean that there won't be deadly encounters or that there won't be any adverse situations, in which you will find your character. However, I can promise you that you will be victorious at the end of the day. Should your character be so unfortunate and die, the gods will find a way to resurrect your character if you still want to play this character. I have been a DM for many games since about 2000; however, the rules of D&D form a complex system; while I will do my best to adhere to the rules, I will make mistakes. Simply approach me if you think I have made a mistake.

FAQ Do I have to include a finished character sheet in my application? No, a character sheet is not needed before your application has been accepted. Do I have to roll any dice in this thread? No rolls are needed, and you are actually forbidden to use the dice roller in this thread. I have already played or read the game. Can I still apply? Yes, just keep player and character knowledge separate. Can I have a review of my application? Certainly, feel free to request a review. Can I play the revised ranger from UA? No, please stick to the source material allowed above. I just don't want to open another can by allowing UA material on a case-by-case basis. There are already more applications than slots. How can I improve my chances to be accepted? It certainly helps to follow the application requirements. If there are already five fighters applying, think of a character that can fill another niche. Show me that you really care about your character and that you will feel connected to the character for many adventures to come. The Ten Minute Background is a great tool to breathe life into a character. There is Aeternis' Seminar on Stellar Applications. Finally, you can ask for an external review of your application.

Prisoners     Player Character Race Class Background Status 1 Squadfather43 ? ? ? ? WIP 2 Trmmilwwi Dorlamin Xiloscient Moon Elf Fighter (Eldrith Knight) Courtier Reviewed 3 Berith Sskath Yiskah Yuan-ti pureblood Cleric (Arcana Domain)/Sorcerer (Divine Soul) Far Traveller Reviewed 4 Anthrueser Julius De'Vountara Human Bard (College of Glamour) Courtier Draft 5 delpinator Thamior Kevolithe Half-Elf Warlock (The Fiend) Acolyte Reviewed 6 RedWolf0214 Travok Holderhek Shield Dwarf Fighter (?) Guild Artisan Withdrawn 7 FamnDool El'lynsyn Wood Elf Druid (Circle of the Moon) Hermit Reviewed 8 Arthilian01 Gol Flagstone Shield Dwarf Barbarian (Path of the Berserker) Acolyte Reviewed 9 Elwen Maylene Vryn Dark Elf Cleric (Light Domain) Spy Reviewed 10 ColdBones Domu Evencrest Lightfoot Halfling Rogue (Scout) Soldier Reviewed 11 Trinity Katarina "Kat or Kitty" Vesna Human Monk (Way of the Open Hand) Inheritor Reviewed 12 Spizzow Lev Waylan Half-Orc Fighter (Battlemaster) Outlander WIP 13 Shaede Bormor Greycloak Shield Dwarf Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) Soldier Reviewed 14 mahousenseiikai Shadow of the Abyss Tabaxi Monk (Way of the Shadow)/Rogue (Arcane Trickster) Spy Reviewed 15 tomplum Buddle Cobbleshaper Svirfneblin Wizard (School of Illusion) Guild Artisan Reviewed 16 Stonk Throm Hammerhand Gold Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) Guild Artisan Reviewed 17 Kaneda Shepard Mordecai Nowhere Tiefling Ranger (Hunter) Soldier Reviewed 18 Bio Thisaleeandre "Thistle" Curunir Elf Paladin (Oath of the Ancients) Slave (Custom) Reviewed 19 NightFire Nadidah Amin Scourge Aasimar Bard (College of Lore) Entertainer Reviewed 20 Azedenkae Azedenkae Wood Elf Cleric (Arcana Domain) ? WIP 21 secretID Brimley Walton Human Wizard (School of Divination) Sage Reviewed 22 BrokenPlayer Sydney Rose Human Fighter (Champion) Noble Completed 23 TheJester Tocryn Corvalys Forest Gnome Wizard (School of Illusion) Sage Completed 24 Begon Ugo Zevlina Drassk Half-Drow Monk (Way of the Long Death) Haunted One Completed

[Squadfather43]

I've been looking to play this campaign. What are your rules for character creation? Would you allow the alternate human?

[Trmmilwwi]

Dorlamin Xiloscient Name: Dorlamin Xiloscient Race: Moon Elf Alignment: CG Patron Deity: Selune, Our Lady of Silver Class: Fighter, Eldritch Knight Archetype, Lord's Alliance Background: Courtier Personality Traits: I know the municipal history of Neverwinter and understand the politics of our dealings with neighboring communities, including the underdark. I like those that are creative when finding solutions to problems. Ideal: People united cannot be defeated. Bond: I shall protect the values of our leaders in Neverwinter no matter how far away they may be. Flaw: I try to save those who do not welcome my help. Appearance: Dorlamin has features that look more like a wood elf as he has tan skin and brown hair. A combination of being in the city and marrying within the different subraces has bought more standard wood elf features to the family even though they are mostly moon elf. He stands just over 6'-0" tall and has a very athletic build. One can sense the years of rigorous training that he must have endured. His beauty and charm come through very clearly and it is very easy to understand how he has become an integral part of the Xiloscient's perceived standing within Neverwinter. Personality: That standing within the city has shaped Dorlamin's life from before he was even born. Upon seeing that she was pregnant with another child Dorlamin's mother, Silonnel, chose to have a midwife attend to her during the pregnancy so as to not overburden herself physically. This led to her being very protective of her youngest son and shielding him from most of the harsh realities of life, unlike what his older brothers and sisters had been exposed to. This allowed Dolamin to develop an altruistic attitude in life that brings a large amount of compassion for those who are less fortunate.

Character Background Motivation: Dorlamin has a number of different goals that are pulling him in different directions. Most importantly he wants to get back to Neverwinter and see his family. While he has a very large family he believes that he more than anyone fights for the good of the commoners. His brothers and sisters are always aware of how the family is perceived within the noble families of the area but are not as involved with the commoners within the City. He also feels a need to extend the values of the Lord's Alliance in whatever way he can. This is easily accomplished in Neverwinter as there are many guildhalls and the faction is well known, with the crown emblem being displayed proudly. Furthering the Lord's Alliance's goals and mission in darker regions of Faerun can become a bit more problematic however. He will certainly find that the enemies of the Alliance are more numerous than its' supporters in some areas. History: The Xiloscient house has been active since the city was first founded. It was an elven settlement that went by the name of Illefarn at the time and while the Xiloscient's were not direct heirs to the land they were of noble standing. Many, many generations later they are of but a handful of families that can be traced back to the beginnings of Neverwinter. They are intertwined with not only the history of the city but also the region in general. They have fought back against evil rulers, evil factions and most recently evil outsiders. Their home within the Blacklake District is utterly safe from harm but the Xiloscient's have fought from within the Lord's Alliance since it was first brought from Waterdeep to fight against evil in Luskan. It was with the Lord's Alliance blessings that the sons of the family, along with other faction members, fought sisters Sylvara and Ayala to leave the area. The pair had come to Neverwinter to help build forces for Bregan D'aerthe out of nearby Castle Never. It was during this effort that Dorlamin first discovered contacts that originated from the underdark as Bregan D'aerthe was in tight with one of the Dark Elf houses from below. After dispatching the pair of sisters the regions was relatively untouched by outside influences until the winter of 1487 hit. The cold stormy winter would be the worst that anyone had ever remembered and the normally temperate climate of Neverwinter was affected by the river by which it drew its' name going cold as well. Fearing evil influence, the elders sent a group from the Lord's Alliance to Mount Hotenow to investigate the freezing of Neverwinter River. The goal in mind was to gain an audience with the fey that reportedly fed the heat into the river from the active mountain. It was during this expedition that Dorlamin was separated from the rest of the group while under the mountain. Fate would have it that a separate scout group of Lord Neverember's was travelling to the reclaimed City of Gauntlgrym to check on the recently reclaimed city's status. Fearing what may happen if he was alone within the mountain he joined the Lord's group and they descended into the underdark. It was there that the group met a gruesome fate and Dorlamin was captured by the drow. Role-Playing Sample: Despite having just met the caravan group of dwarves, Dorlamin trusted that they not only knew what they were doing but that they also had Lord Neverember's best interest in mind. Not that I have much choice but they seem a decent lot of travelers. Over the past few days time, it is difficult to know how much time passes when you are underground, the group proved themselves fit for their task. They seemed to know the best routes, any possible obstructions, and also what creatures to stay clear of. While their mission was not aligned with what Dorlamin had initially set out to accomplish they could lead him to Gauntlgrym, where the elf could then meet up with others whom knew more about the fey. The elders would not be happy if he returned empty handed so it was important to find out not only what the fey knows, but also what came of the rest of Dorlamin's original group. No doubt about it, this caravan would help him piece together the necessary next steps. Dorlamin's muscles were aching from the relentless travels over the course of the 2nd day and his body's internal clock was telling him it was well past sun down. How much past it was impossible to know but it was definitely close to time to set camp for the night. A few twists and turns later the group happened upon a hollowed out portion of the trail that led to a fairly well protected alcove. Gestalt, the groups scout, motioned the rest of the group in towards the alcove and stated quietly, in common for Dorlamin's understanding, "This will be home my lad. It is not the best suited campsite but it is about as protected as we'll find. You will have last watch with Dugmar." Dorlamin nodded his head and set his pack down near an area that had some small pebbles and sand. Gestalt was right, the area was about as comfortable as he would be able to find in this rocky area of the underdark. He made preparations to start his trance and figured that in due time he would wake to relieve the middle watchman. Dorlamin's trance was suddenly interrupted by a loud thud nearby. It took the elf a few moments to adjust his senses to the complete darkness around the camp. The dwarves had told the elf the previous night that fires or bright light attract the wrong kind of attention and even if the light cannot be seen directly it encourages more movement among all of the denizens of the underdark. Which in turn invites suspicion from the creatures who are more intelligent. Now the elf was wishing he had light. He was able to spot the large dwarf figure on the ground nearby but only blackened shapes next to him. There was no sign of the other dwarven travelers. Dorlamin sensed something was very wrong and started to rise to go find the rest of the group when a slender figure dressed in very dark clothes appeared out of one of the dark spheres. Dorlamin was unprepared for this encounter and was unable to move or speak, instead just standing shocked and motionless in front of the drow priestess. In elvish the priestess spoke to Dorlamin in a very formal and consistent tone, "You must come with us surface dweller. You won't need any of your things. Oh, and by the way, your squat friends thought themselves more honorable than to become our slaves. You will never see the white of their eyes again." Dorlamin was wearing only his travelling pants and an undershirt but was immediately blindfolded, shackled, and led to a wagon. His first meeting with a dark elf did not go as he had thought it would.

[Disaster Master]

@Squadfather43: Variant human is allowed. 27 point buy.

[Squadfather43]

Originally Posted by Trmmilwwi

Perfect adventure and posting rate!!! Application coming.

I'll second that, application in the works.

[Berith]

Application - Sskath Yiskah Name: Sskath Yiskah Race: Yuan-ti pureblood Alignment: Neutral Patron deity: Mystra Class: Arcana cleric / divine soul sorcerer Appearance: Sskath is tall, just under six feet, and slender, about 145 pounds, with narrow hips and an undulating walk. Her skin has a slight, greenish tint, and her ears are small and sharply pointed. Something similar to, but unlike scales run from her cheekbones down past her neck and shoulders to at least her upper chest. Her eyes are yellow, with slitted pupils, and her tongue is longer than that of a human, with a notable fork. Background: Far traveler (modified) Traits: I have no qualms about stealing from the dead. I honor my deities through practices that are foreign to this land. Ideal: I must be careful - I have no way of telling friend from foe. Bond: I will make amazing discoveries and profit by them! Flaw: I have a weakness for new intoxicants and pleasures. Feature: All eyes on you Personality: Spending the vast majority of her life among humans has had a deep impact on Sskath. Simply put, she is more human than most Yuan-ti. She is physically appealing and has an engaging, somewhat seductive personality, and she is also quite self-centered, but she lacks the overt wickedness of most of her people. She disdains direct confrontation and tends to be cool and calculating. Motivation: She is motivated by a complicated mix of honest curiosity and base greed. Having had little to do as a youth besides let her imagination run wild, she was endlessly fascinated by the ruins she spent time near. She spent hours and hours imagining who lived there and what they did. As she got older, she came to imagine that many of those old civilizations had wealth and power beyond belief. She dreamed incessantly of being the first to discover great cities and artifacts left behind by long-forgotten people, discoveries that would be amazing in their own right and make her wealthy and powerful, to boot.   Mother was a Yuan-ti "diplomat" (spy) stationed in the jungles of Chult (Port Nyanzaru), so I grew up in the world of men. Ever since I was old enough to remember, I was plagued by nightmares - horrible, shrieking nightmares that denied me and my whole household sleep. They went on for years, and indeed got worse over time. In desperation, my parents took me to an old witch woman, a woman from one of the tribes that lived out in the jungles. She told them that there were gods far older than our own, gods once revered by people such as ours, the old people. One of them was Dendar, a serpent who fed on nightmares. She preferred the nightmares of the mighty, like kings and gods, but powerful dreams like mine were also sweet to her. His enemy was Ubtao, the old god of Chult, who was once worshipped among the tribes. He had turned his back on Chult long ago, but there was an ancient place nearby that was sacred to him, and my nightmares might be a sign that something in me was drawn to it. She said that although they revered the new gods, they had rituals, all but forgotten, that could help with the dreams. I wouldn't stop having them, but I would wake from them less often and not remember them when I did. She said that it was possible that my dreams could help save the world. We didn't trust her, of course - who offers aid like that to those such as us? I was scared, and suspicious. We are Yuan-ti, Mother and Father said, and plans within plans within plans are as comfortable and familiar to us as being wrapped in scales. There was no bargain that we could not evade, father said, no human that we could not outplan. No human, indeed. A week later, when the moon was just the barest crescent, I was spirited out of our home and delivered to the old woman outside the city walls. My father's final words to me were the credo of our people, "The whisper before the fang." Then he turned and walked away. It would be years before I saw him or my mother again - snakes are not sentimental. I was seven years old, and I had been abandoned to my fate. For six days, the old woman and I traversed the dense jungle. She spoke little, but did not in any way mistreat me. We both knew that I would poison her in her sleep if she did. Also, when I was with her, the dreams did not come as often or as fiercely. We eventually arrived at what I can only call a dent in the jungle. An old place, very old, where something or someone had once cleared the ground. A few stones, once standing, long collapsed, dotted the area, smudges of ancient paint still visible in places. A clan met us there, two dozen or so tribespeople, headed by the oldest human I had ever seen. Long, stringy white hair and eyes milk-white with cataracts, he nevertheless held himself with an authority and wisdom that lacked any hint of frailty. He cupped my chin in his hand and stared at me with his sightless eyes. "The dreams are so strong," he said. "I can taste them from here." He touched my forehead and murmured a word, a word that caressed my mind and bypassed my ears, and then I knew he was my father. He told me I was home. Thus began my nine years in a peculiar sort of non-captivity. I was never threatened or harmed - the magical charms the shaman used instead made me comfortable and complacent. I later learned that the charms were nothing of the kind - they simply took advantage of my youth and inexperience. I learned that although they honored the new gods of the mainland, Mystra chiefly, they had remnants of knowledge from an ancient cult once dedicated to Ubtao, and they believed that by keeping me they could offer my nightmares to the gods. By doing so, they could deny their power to Dendar, if nothing else. They believed that Ubtao himself could possibly use the dreams as a source of power, the better to fight Dendar when she came to eat the sun. I lived with them for nine years, living a nomadic life in the jungles of Chult. It was not a bad way for a snake to live. I learned that the Chultic jungles were dotted with the remnants of ancient habitations and civilizations, old upon old. My clan knew many stories of some of them, bare rumors of others, and for others still, I was left to explore and draw my own conclusions. Inevitably, having few people to talk to and fewer demands on my time, I became fascinated by ruins and eternally curious about who had lived there and what they had done. I always suspected that they had had great treasures and powerful magic, but those relics had been long discovered and spirited away. I fantasized that I would find new ruins and explore them, plundering them for knowledge and power. This became my recurring fantasy. Over the years, I came gradually to the Church of Mysteries, the worship of Mystra. I was too young to have been thoroughly indoctrinated to the worship of Sseth, as most of my people are - my parents were too far away from our homeland and too integrated into the world of men. I came to see Her presence in the magic that permeated the skies and the earth. My recurring nightmares recalled to me anew each morning the death that would befall the world if Dendar were allowed to consume the sun. I learned Her rituals and came to love particularly the study of the stars and constellations, their stories and powers. The shaman died. He died in the most ironic way possible - a snake bit him as he moved his bowels one morning. The clan was bereft...old as he was, he was hale and strong and had not trained a successor. I understand now that they planned for me to succeed him, but for reasons that died with him, those plans remained nebulous. With his death, much of my connection to the clan died as well. I bore them no ill-will, but had no desire to remain with them, either. Snakes are not sentimental. I left that very night. For about a year, I roamed the jungles of Chult, solitary and alone. I found myself drawn to that first settlement, the dent in the jungle where I first joined the cult. I stayed there for one cycle of the moon, and there I discovered that I had some control over my nightmares. I could, myself, offer them up to the gods in some indescribable way. When I learned to do that, I learned also that I could do some small magics, in addition to those that are the legacy of my people. It is difficult to explain, but I have come to understand that my nightmares are the result of a spark of something deep inside me, and those nightmares are also sweet nectar to Dendar, who must be denied them at all costs. This drew a tiny fragment of Mystra's awareness close to me. That combination makes me writhe with magic, as a clutch of newborn serpents tangle together while they learn how to live. Role-playing sample: Eventually, I returned to Port Nyanzaru and my family. I simply showed up one day and took up residence in my old rooms. I was neither welcomed back nor turned away - snakes are not sentimental. I spent most of my time in our little library and in what few archives the city had to offer, studying legends of ancient cities and cultures, the more nearly-forgotten, the better. Every night, I deliberately fed my dreams to Ubtao, and my magic became stronger. After some few months, it was time to leave and seek my fortunes elsewhere. I took passage on a ship to Waterdeep, believing that the unexplored wastes of the North would yield some of their secrets to me. I found the cold to be hellish. In Waterdeep, I found an abundance of scholarly resources. After a month of study, I chose the ancient gnome city of Dolblunde as my first target. All know that the gnomes are masters of magic and the fabrication of artifacts, and in that long-forgotten city I would surely find great trials and greater treasures. Oh, my hubris. I was captured on my fourth night. It was obvious that the city once known as Dolblunde had changed hands many times and had been long abandoned. Gnomish architecture had been covered with orcish graffiti, kobold spoor was everywhere, as were broken arrows, bits of armor; the detritus of centuries of war. I went down and down, believing I was peeling back the layers of an onion. I simply walked right into them. Drow. Cold-hearted, utterly cruel, and utterly insane. I had heard of the Underdark, but imagined it to be miles and miles below the surface, like a cancer buried deep in the body. It is a cancer, but one that has spread everywhere, nowhere far from the healthy, living surface. They fell upon me while I made my cold camp, emerging from the darkness to take me prisoner effortlessly. They marched me down and down for what had to have been at least ten days, scarce pausing for food, water, or rest. I was surrounded constantly, kicked, prodded, and tormented with weapons and their vile magic. At last, we emerged into one of the things they call a city - haphazard piles of rubble called homes, blood and bodies in the streets constantly. For even the drow themselves, life is brutal and short. For their slaves, as I now found myself, life was vastly worse. At least I am female and nonhuman. This gives me a sliver of status over the human slaves, particularly the men. Those seldom live longer than a few weeks. I endure. I offer my nightmares to the gods each night; would that I could feed him the nightmares that are my days. I grow a little stronger in my magic. I feel...something, quickening inside of me. I hide. I whisper. I do what I must, when I must. I will escape, and destroy those who have victimized me. Snakes are not sentimental, and they never forgive.

[Anthrueser]

Interested. I will likely apply with Julius De'Vountara, a human bard from a previous dead OOTA ad who I'm still very interested in playing. With a change here and there to spice him up a bit more.

[delpinator]

thamior Name: Thamior Kevolithe Race: half-elf Alignment: neutral good Patron Deity: selune Class: warlock(fiend) Background: acolyte Personality Traits: I've enjoyed fine food, drink, and high society among my temple’s elite. Rough living grates on me. Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude. Ideal:I hope to one day rise to the top of my faith’s religious hierarchy. Bond:I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. Flaw: I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy. Appearance: Thamior is six feet in height. He has wispy white hair on half his head falling to shoulder length reminiscent of the shade of the moon. He has inscriptions written by the tongue of the voice he hears(infernal) upon his body written under the cover of moonlight. He wears silken robes coming over a single shoulder and reaching down to his ankles. He has brown eyes and his ears bend toward a point reminiscent of his elven ancestry. Personality: Thaminor is determined and vigorous in his expeditions. He makes allies easy is slow to trust due to being cheated by those he looked up to allowing for few close friends. He enjoys the drink and prefers to spend his night in a pub than under the stars. Motivation: He is determined to rejoin his faith and remove the hierarchy who branded him a heretic. History: Thaminor was born in the temple with the guidance of selune. His mother was a priestess and father an adventurer. He grew up in the faith and spent many nights staring into the stars before going to bed. Upon his fourteenth birthday, he began to hear whispers. They didn't seem to ask for much. Mostly just creating small scars and marks upon his skin in a language he seemed to begin to understand the more he wrote. He began to hear whispers going against what he was told and when he told his elders they would scold him. He knew what he was told though. He only heard the words under moonlight so surely selune wouldn't betray him. Eventually, the elders grew tired of scolding thaminor and sent him away and told to return only when he could be true to the faith. Role-Playing Sample: Thaminor left the monastery and made his way toward the underdark. perhaps there he could find someone to tell him the truth after all selune and her counterpart controlled the underdark. The constant night should bring clarity to his mind. He was making his way down when he came upon some dwrven runes though only admiring as he had no knowledge of their works he was found by a partol of drow. While attempting to flee he was hit across the head and woke up finding himself in their control.

[Anthrueser]

Application Draft: 'Without a Name, A Man is Nothing' Julius De'Vountara "Ain't heard of De'Vountara? Don't blame yah, plays for nobles so you wouldn'ta seen him about... but you've no doubt heard a song or two. 'The King's Daughter', 'Mililian Man' and I even heard it was 'im that first did 'Old Mott's Horse'. Heard he was a poshy lordling but 'Ol' Mott' ain't a song of their like. No, that one gave me a right holler when I figured out what he really meant by it." Race: Human Class: Bard of the College of Glamour Background: Courtier Alignment: Neutral Good Patron Deity: Milil Traits: I'm well known for my works in high society, and am always taken aback when people haven't heard of me. I am always thinking of my next line, a conversation is a play and I am but a charming and handsome actor. A truly human drive to succeed pushes me onward, I don't tend to give up on something, good or bad. Bond: Because of my capture the love of my life was left upon the alter. Nothing will stop me from returning to her. I was raised a commoner and, despite my bluster, I am no fool to the struggles of mediocrity. Ideals: No matter your situation, there is always a way to make your life better. You only need the creativity to find it. What is beautiful often leads towards what is right. Flaws: I am a romantic and tend to follow my heart before my mind. I'm never satisfied with what I have—I always want more.   Backstory: Trading Silver for Gold Julius De'Vountara, it was a name he came up with for himself. Sure, Julian Parish was the name his father gave him, bless the man, but the boy knew it in his heart that he was meant for greater things than the life of Julian Parish, the juicer's son. Truly it was from the moment he saw the lights coming from those grand halls in High Town, the laughter that echoed above the streets, the scent of food far richer of smell than he thought possible... the music. Bless the lords, the music! Yes, Julian knew the life of a juicer's son definitely wasn't for him. But first did not come the name. He wasn't so brash, so stupid. It took him years of smooth talking: favors, rubbing elbows with the lower folks, learning their names, their better's names, outright thievery, grooming, learning and lying. From eight to eighteen Julian Parish worked up to being Julius De'Vountara, and once he was... he never went back. Julius started out simply, as an unpaid musician selling his services to nobody lords for a chance at recognition. It wasn't until a year down the line, when he was requested for a banquet of one of the greater local lords, that he truly got his shot in the light. And he didn't waste it. Before long he'd come into grace with the man, appearing silver-tongued and ever so talented, and it wasn't long before he was beyond that same noble and his only now seemingly simple parties. He was playing for greater men, drinking sweeter wines and, before long, he was courting the most enchanting woman in the world. At least, to him. Perhaps if he hadn't been so old-fashioned, so much of a romantic that he'd dared the trip home to get his father's blessing to marry his darling Elaine, then maybe this wouldn't have happened to him. Waylaid and assailed; chained and taken. Enslaved by the drow.   Personality: Sly, Romantic and a Fool All through his life he has worked to be known as a noble, a man of high society, and even if such a title is still a lie the fact of it denotes the man's unwavering drive. From his days among the streets he learned to be crafty and persuasive, skills he carries with him to the day. His words now filled with that hint of noble ego, they still sound like honey and often hide more than they say. The game requires this and you can never be quite sure who is and isn't a player. However, this mask he's crafted for himself was never quite just that. Julius loves high society, living the life he'd always desired, it's true, and he would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to ever leave it. He's always been a romantic at heart, not only in obvious terms but also that of fantastical ideals, a big reason for his actions, but there are times when his almost common sense of fun and joviality have gotten him into hot water. No man can ever quite hide where they come from after all.   Appearance: Once Elegant and Charming, now... Beaten and Disheveled While he may have looked so very fanciful and a bit gaudy in attire before, since his capture at the hands of the drow his foppish hairdo and fine clothing have become ragged, stained and a horrible mess. A terrible problem which the man bemoans to anyone willing to listen. At least they weren't barbaric enough to cut his fine mustache, he's seen how they look at it. Jealousy, so obviously because their fey blood denies them the ability to be as dashing as himself. Of course, he wouldn't say that to their faces. Ruffians, the lot of them, can't stand a man with swagger or a joke to lighten the horrid trip. And he'd heard the drow upheld sophistication and art... terrible.   Motivation: Elaine   Roleplay Sample: Old Mott's Horse

[RedWolf0214]

Posting for interest. Will try to have something done for you this weekend.

[FamnDool]

Name: El'lynsyn
Race: Wood Elf
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Patron Deity: Rillifane Rallathil (god of Nature)
Class: Circle of the Moon Druid

 

Hermit
Feature 1 I was a pilgrim in search of a person of spiritual significance.

Personality Traits:
I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.
I’m oblivious to etiquette and social expectations.
Ideal: Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress.

Flaw: I’d risk too much to uncover a lost bit of knowledge.

Appearance: (Obviously this is what he looked like before he got captured...) El'lynsyn wears an odd mis-match of armor, arm pieces of studded leather, a chest piece and greaves of leather, and leggings of Hide. The armor is well used, and has been worked over with charcoal, mud, and rubbed leaves leaving it a patchwork of black, grey, brown, tan, and several dark shades of green. From his right side dangles a strange series of loops of woven vines which hold in place a trio of Javelins. From the left hangs a quiver of arrows for the longbow across his back. In his right hand he walks with a staff made from a large oaken branch that has been stripped of it's bark, and smoothed and polished. With a light coating of bee's wax the staff gleams even in the dimmest light.

Personality: El'lynsyn is almost too open, almost too honest, almost too friendly. His years spent among a village of only 12 people, only once in a while encountering others as he went to Loudwater to acquire the occasional fishhooks or salt, has left him lonely, even though it was by his own choice. And yet...looking at him one feels a foreboding. Maybe it's the fact that he is so in tune with the mysteries of Nature, but he always seems as if he's holding something back.

Motivation: El'lynsyn was searching for his Uncle, Bo'Syliar, when he was captured. Syl vanished almost without a trace two weeks ago. At his last known camp site signs of a struggle were found, and, drawn into dirt turned mud, not by water but by blood, and then allowed to dry, a single Rune. A rune to strike fear deep into the heart of any Elf. "Lloth". El'lynsyn has guessed that Syl chose to use the fairly simple Rune Lloth rather than the much more complicated compound Rune for Drow because he was being held captive.


History:
112 years ago Hyi'velen, the priest of Rillifane Rallathil at the Holt in the far west of the High Forest, and Ey'levar the Wizard had a child. The boy was, naturally for an Elf, trained in weapons and the basics of magic. He was a never ending source of headaches, always running away into the forest.

52 years ago this boy was on one of his jaunts into the wood when he ran into a small group of Goblins that were in the process of cutting down a medium sized tree. Angered, he drew his longbow, and loosed an arrow, taking one of the Goblins in the eye, dropping it. The other Goblins ran away at the sight of this mighty warrior.

2 weeks later Bo'Syliar, the boys Uncle, arrived in the Holt, having come to test the child. When Bo'Syliar left the Holt 2 weeks later he had the boy with him.

Last year, after half a century of training El'lynsyn was finally deemed worthy of the title "Protector of the Wood", and accepted his role as a Druid.

[Arthilian01]

Gol Flagstone: Name: Gol Flagstone Race: Mountain Dwarf Alignment: Chaotic Good Patron Deity: Tempus Class: Path of the BerserkerBarbarian Background: Acolyte Personality Traits: -I’ve spent so long in the temple that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world. -I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other gods. Ideal: -Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any) Bond: -I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died. Flaw: -My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god. Appearance: Gol's appearance is that of a typical shield dwarf, He stands just at five feet tall and weighed a hefty two hundred pounds, his complexion remains ruddy and brownish. His head is bald and he wears his reddish-orange beard in one thick band at the middle with two thick braids to either side. His frame is thick and and his limbs are corded with muscles from working the deep mines that spiderweb his home in Felbarr. His eyes are dark green under thick bushy brows of reddish-orange. He favors thick leather work trousers and calf-high leather boots with thick soles. He also wears a thick, wide belt about his waist with a plain rectangular buckle and thick leather bracers about his wrists. Personality: Gol is like most dwarves when it comes to personality. He enjoys working for the sake of his community and to the betterment of all. He often attempts to be thoughtful and profound but often loses himself to wild frenzies of anger and ferocity. For him, he sees this rage as a gift from his deity therefore has never tried to curb it. He enjoys drink as much as he enjoys work as well as honoring Tempus. Motivation: Gol is motivated by the honoring his deity with acts of bravery, honor, duty and battle, as all followers of Tempus. Being under the detainment of the evil and vile drow is anathema to Tempus' tenants. He seeks a glorious death in battle against a worthy opponent among his captors if he cannot wrest his freedom from them. History: Gol Flagstone was born among a diminishing family line, his forebears all giving up their lives for the sake of Tempus, glorious deaths in battle against worthy opponents. Unfortunately, many Flagstones sat at Tempus' table in the afterlife. Shortly after his fifteenth winter, His father and mother, the only remaining Flagstones before Gol, met with worthy opponents and their glorious deaths deep in the halls of the underground community. After this event, Gol was taken in by the priest, Dirge Falon, that retired from battle, giving up his opportunity at a glorious death to see to the upkeep of the temple of Tempus. Gol had nothing but respect for the aged dwarf and learned the tenants of Tempus as his parents and grandparents before him. As he grew, he learned the rituals of battle bestowed to the followers of Tempus, taught to channel his anger and rage at his enemy in order to fully grow to the song of Tempus that resounded in the hearts and minds of his followers when met with the rush of combat. Although Dirge taught Gol more of the upkeep of the temple, small chores and rights to bestow Tempus' blessing upon the dead, Gol did not shirk his combat ability and strove for more. He lived in the temple and daily worked in the mines, rarely associating with his kin because they saw him as battlerager rather than a true shield dwarf. Tempus was not a deity shared by many dwarves but Gol was tolerant and respectful of the deities of his kin but never strayed from the teachings of Tempus. The faithful day when Gol thought his glorious death was upon him, he was instead captured and taken even deeper into the tunnels as a captive. He had just finished his shift in the mines and traveled to the tavern above in order to find meal and drink when he heard one of his kin telling tale of a patrol falling prey to a drow raiding party. Of all the talk being bantered about, it seemed one noticed Gol sitting nearby and mentioned that it would be the duty of the followers of Tempus to go down there, hunt down the drow and end their lives. Gol would have seen this as folly but the teller of such tales professed a wish to respect and honor Tempus in a way similar to Gol. It might have been impetuous to think that Gol, all on his lonesome, could accomplish this mission and thus he ventured down into the mines to find this raiding party and put an end to it. Role-Playing Sample: Gol was sitting about the tavern after a usual day at work, hauling large rocks from a deep portion today, the starting process of a new tunnel. Enjoying his drink was the singular thought until talk of a drow raiding party was begun. The tale that a patrol had fallen prey to them. Then a whisper beside him, a hooded and cloaked individual that sat near Gol, "It would be to the glory of Tempus if these drow were seen to." Gol risked a sideways glance and the whisperer knew he had struck the proper target, "What do ye mean, Tempus would see these drow destroyed but what are we to do, The followers of Tempus number two." The hooded figure took a swig of ale from the tankard before him, "I would see Great Tempus renewed, if perhaps the followers were to show their prowess once again." Gol was out of his seat before the sentence was finished and down into the tunnels within ten minutes. He had seen his warhammer loosened from it's strap as he stalked about the tunnel where the drow were to have been. He knelt as he found the discarded shield of one of his kin and then a weapon of drow-make. He ran a finger along the blade then put finger to tongue, spitting the foul tasting poison to the ground immediately, 'Drow, certainly.' He was on the right trail and as he prowled along, it wasn't long that his search bore fruit. From the darkness, sprung the trap, a number of drow that seen the powerful dwarf swiftly overpowered, he was outnumbered ten to one, easily if he had to wager a guess. He was knocked into unconsciousness before he could raise his hammer and as he was carried off into the darkness, he began to come to but was repeatedly beaten senseless until thrown into a cage. He awoke to pacing drow guards that spoke of transporting the prisoners to Menzoberranzan. He knew at that moment, he would earn his freedom or his seat beside Tempus.

[Arthilian01]

Application complete, pending GM Critique.

Unfortunately, this will be my third attempt to get into an Out of the Abyss game and my third fresh, original character concept. If need be, I will change my character to hopefully meet approval.

[Disaster Master]

Thank you very much for your interest so far in playing this game!

Just one note regarding the background: Please choose 2 Personality Traits, but only 1 Ideal, 1 Bond, and 1 Flaw.

[Disaster Master]

@FamnDool and @all: For your back-story, you may assume the canonical Forgotten Realms world after 1489 DR. The campaign will start in the Underdark below the Sword Coast (the region detailed in the SCAG).