[D&D-5e] In the service of Duke Osric

[Stadiumite]

Game Name In the service of Duke Osric

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Party of conscripted servants to the Duke must compete a series of missions

Flavour Role-play/Combat/Exploration. Perhaps politics and intrique

Plot Summary Duke Osric Vaelor, ruler of the coastal city of Stormwatch and the southern archipelago, seeks a band of capable adventurers for a noble task. The duke’s four children each govern one of the great islands in his domain. As a gift—and a test—he periodically sends a team of adventurers to visit them, offering aid in times of crisis. But the House of Vaelor is known for its rivalries and bitter feuds. While your mission is to serve the realm, beware—you may find yourselves caught in the tangled web of sibling ambition, power struggles, and secrets long buried beneath the waves. Will you navigate these troubled waters with honor, or will the tides of intrigue pull you under?

Character Creation 5e. Open to 2024 rules. I'd prefer no "mixing" of 2024 with 2014. If you are playing a 2024 version, please stick with the published species, origins, and sub-classes. Standard Array to start. 2nd level characters. I'd like 4 to 6 players.

Methodology This is my second experiment with a game where I heavily rely on GenAI technology to help me as a DM. My first attempt was a very linear dungeon crawl, where I had ChatGPT generate a room a random, one after another. I'm afraid this game failed. My players did not stick with it very long. I think the lack of continuity failed to hold their interest. I am trying a new approach now, where I am generating batches of encounters. This gives the AI more change to hold a theme or context over time. We'll see how it works. I'm also experimenting with ways to incorporate a more sophisticated plot, centered around the members of House Vaelor.

Application Name: Age: Class: Species: Character Description: Background: Why are you here: You have been conscripted by the Duke for this. How or why? Perhaps you are in his military or guard. Perhaps you are serving a sentence for some minor crime against the realm. Perhaps you are fulfilling some religious obligation for public service. Perhaps you are just a volunteer. I'm not a believer in a long drawn out application process. I'll decide not sooner than Feb 23. I'll wait longer if I don't get a strong response. Is you are a sorcerer or warlock: Let me know your thoughts on how you would like to handle your sub-class. Since at level 2, you will not have chosen your sub-class, but it factors into the source of your power. Do you have powers, but don't understand why? Perhaps you already know, they have just not become fully realized.

Expectations Post rate will be "average". I'll put up one or two major posts a week, and try to keep up in between. My main expectation is that I want players who will stick with the game. I have planned out 4 "chapters" of the journey around the archipelago. If we get through that and we want to keep going, I'll do more.

Places you may visit The nearest island to Stormwatch is Alderwynd. Ruled by Lady Eryndel Vaelor. The large settlement at Alderwyind is a fortified town called Oakenhold. A bit further is Drakeholt. Ruled by Lord Dain Vaelor. The largest settlement there is Varhaven. This is a rugged fishing and warrior settlement, serving as a military stronghold against threats like the Sahuagin. Further still is Ebonreach. Ruled by Lady Seraphine Vaelor. Ebonreach is dark and mist-laden, with a reputation for its arcane history. People sometimes go there is seek forbidden knowledge. Lysindral is a mystical town built around an ancient tower of knowledge, known for its scholars, mages, and healers. Neighboring Ebonreach is Blackrock. Ruled by Lord Garron Vaelor. It is known for its jagged, volcanic cliffs looming over the sea. Dreadhaven-Upon-Blackrock is a grim, imposing city where fear and discipline keep the populace in line. Its black stone walls and ever-present patrols make it feel more like a fortress than a home.

The Royals Duke Osric Vaelor Personality: Wise, stern, and weary. The duke is a ruler who has seen many conflicts within his family and understands the delicate balance of power. He is a pragmatist, willing to make difficult decisions for the greater good, but he is also deeply regretful of how things have unraveled among his children. He wants to see them united but fears that ambition and pride may ultimately tear them apart. Appearance: A middle-aged man with a strong build, though time has worn away some of his youthful vigor. His once-dark hair is now streaked with gray, and his beard is neatly trimmed. He wears fine yet simple clothing, preferring functionality over splendor, with a symbol of his rule—a family crest—prominently displayed. Leadership Style: Duke Osric governs with a steady hand, though his authority has weakened due to the constant infighting between his children. He rules the coastal city with the intent to maintain stability but is increasingly concerned about the growing tensions within his family and the islands. He is a mediator at heart, seeking peace wherever possible, though his children’s rivalry strains his ability to act decisively. View on His Children: The duke loves all of his children but is deeply troubled by the rift between them. He feels responsible for their divisions and wishes he could find a way to reconcile their differences. He hopes to guide them toward unity before their rivalry causes irrevocable damage to their rule and the archipelago. Relationship with the Party: The duke views the party as a tool to manage the tensions between his children and restore some measure of peace. He is not without hope that they will be able to help guide his children to maturity and unity, but he is unsure whether they can succeed. He may offer the party missions to aid his children, testing their loyalty and wisdom in handling family politics. Lord Garron Vaelor (Oldest) Personality: Tyrannical, calculating, and controlling. He rules with fear and absolute authority, believing that the ends justify the means. Lady Eryndel Vaelor (Second-Oldest) Personality: Ambitious, calculating, and resentful of her older sibling's tyranny. She seeks to expand her power and gain the throne, using diplomacy and strategic alliances. Lord Dain Vaelor (Third-Oldest) Personality: Brash, prideful, and a warrior at heart. He values strength and independence, leading his people with personal authority rather than political maneuvering. Lady Seraphine Vaelor (Youngest) Personality: Enigmatic, intelligent, and reserved. She prefers studying magic and knowledge over politics but is dedicated to her people’s well-being.

Applicant	Character Name	Class	Species	Relationship to the Duke
Penbeast0	Jibril	Paladin	Tiefling	Liaison to Osric's court from a foreign ally.
The Rat Queen	Elisabeth	Bard (Glamour)	human	Part of the Duke's court as the daughter of a wealthy noble
Aisede	She..	Cleric/Warlock	Human	ambassador to the Duke from a community of Merfolk
abc123	Garrick	Rogue	Half-Orc	Wrongly imprisoned and given reprieve by the Duke
BlackDragon0	Braxxis	Fighter(Champion)	Minotaur	Exiled soldier from a foreign land
Purplerook	James	Fighter	Goliath	Part of the Duke's personal guard
Hilly7	Evastian	Sorc	Elf	A spy in too deep
Kshnik	Kaleed	Ranger/Monk	Human	Tied to the Duke through a business relationship with his monastery
Cardassian	Pieron	Wizard/Monk	Human	Volunteer seeking to defend innocent lives

[penbeast0]

Foreign Devil Name: Jibril Ibn Shaytan Age: 20 Gender: Male Class: Paladin Species: Tiefling Character Description: Jibril stands out amongst the noble warriors of Stormwatch for two simple reasons. One, he isn't human, as his horns and tail will attest. Tieflings are not unknown but they are rarely acknowledged as noble or treated as such. But Jibril is . . . tolerated . . . at noble events because of the second reason he stands out. He is a foreigner, fostered to the Duke as surety for a treaty between the two nations. As such, he is considered a part of the Duke's household. That doesn't mean people are comfortable around him, no matter how much he smiles or speaks. Background: And Jibril is always polite and well spoken. He had that beaten into him early by the Qadiriyya that raised him. You see, nobles of Ebonsreach aren't any happier than those of Stormwatch when their woman bear children that are half Infernal. Like others in their stead, Jibril's family turned him over to the Qadiri Order to be raised. He was raised in military discipline as neither his family nor the Duke had much interest in him outside of the alliance he represents. Character Description continued: But within him, the slights and discrimination add up to a powerful anger. This channels into his fighting and leads him to look for opportunities to pay back the world, without of course offending his superiors in the order as discipline among the Qadiriyya is harsh and the world outside the order harsher. So, he seeks out Evil to fight rather than staying safe in the court. Background continued: And so Jibril leads a sort of double life here in this cold and foreign land. He attends upon the Duke and his court, following the dictates of diplomacy. His strangeness in some ways just adds to his attraction to some at the court so his social calendar is similarly full with balls, parties, or drinking sessions with the local nobles who are less fixed in their traditions. Meanwhile, he seeks out trouble outside the court as well, cultivating acquaintances among the local clergy, at least those who do not seek to exorcise him on sight and taking his vengeance out on more acceptable targets than repaying the slights of various courtiers and his own superiors. Superiors in the Qadiri Order: Grand Master Abdul Qadir Gilani came out of the sea with nothing to found the Qadiriyya. Ancient, dangerous, secretive, a young low level follower like Jibril has never met him. Master Mahmud Aziz is a wizard and leads the city's Qadiriyya mission which means he is Jibril's superior and gives him orders. He does not seem prejudiced against Tieflings though he seems to hold martials generally in lesser esteem than mages. He encourages Jibril to make contacts in the court and in the streets. Ahmed Yesevi is a poet and mystic who sponsored Jibril. That doesn't necessarily mean he had Jibril's welfare at heart. The Future: is written in the waves, as the poets say. Jibril would like adventure, romance, intrigue, and danger (he's still very young). However, his oaths to the Order mean a great deal to him and it would take some extraordinary betrayal for him to forsake them.

[Aisede]

Do you mind if we contribute to the lore in some way? I have an idea revolving around mermaids, and an old alliance made with one of islands/Vaelor member

[Stadiumite]

Originally Posted by Aisede

Do you mind if we contribute to the lore in some way? I have an idea revolving around mermaids, and an old alliance made with one of islands/Vaelor member

No problem at all. It is kind of a blank slate at this point.
Part of the fun is seeing that get built out.

[The Rat Queen]

The Privileged Child Name: Elisabeth Hausler Age: 22 Class: Bard (College of Glamour) Species: Human Character Description: While most would describe Elisabeth as beautiful, there is a quality about her that transcends simple physical attractiveness. 'Beautiful' is generally not the first word most use to describe her; indeed, she tends to go a bit out of her way to avoid such a descriptor. Instead, she is described as 'charming', 'mesmerizing', or 'fascinating'. She works hard to engender such characterizations, wishing to remain a level above the typical court beauties that tend to haunt the galas and court proceedings around the city. She maintains an aura of mystique that draws attention even from the most jaded of court players. She has been trained her entire life to play the court game. The initial goal, of course, was for Elisabeth to achieve the highest possible value as currency for the advancement of the family by securing an advantageous marriage. She certainly had the tools to do so - the looks, the charm, the intellect, the courtly skills. But as the political and social situation continued to deteriorate, and the nobles and landed gentry continued to push their collective heads further and deeper into the sand, Elisabeth's father, Burgrave Caspar Hausler, began to guide her more toward court intrigue and an ability to flow with the situation. They needed a courtier who could blend in and advance within the court without being summarily executed in case of a peasant revolt. Elisabeth has learned the value in captivating people, the common bond between peasant and noble. Get someone's attention and make them wish to be your friend. She knows she cannot afford true friendship during such a turbulent time, so the best alternative is to be loved, if even at a superficial level. Thus she ingratiates herself to all, becoming friend - even invaluable - to all, so that no matter which way the winds of fortune blow, they blow favorably to her. Deep inside, hidden even where her father cannot detect it, she yearns for true relationships. Love, friendship, camaraderie - it matters little to her, so long as it's honest. Though she can be ruthless, she has no malice within her. She hopes that, once she and her family are safe and secure, she can stop the lies, the usage, and the manipulation and actually develop trust with someone. She just isn't willing to sacrifice her family's fortune and well-being to get it...yet. Background: The Hausler family is one of many minor nobility houses within the city, each one vying and jockeying for position, status, wealth, and power. It is a ruthless, fast-paced game they all play, with the various members of each family as the pieces on the chessboard. The Hauslers were ennobled two generations ago, and thus are relative newcomers to the courtly games, but they have grown remarkably in status and wealth in that time - a fact that carries both merit and peril. Elisabeth was brought up in the court and has witnessed the madness within firsthand. While she enjoys the intrigue, prestige, and attention of court, she detests the cruelty, debauchery, and nihilism just as much. She has walked the streets and seen what is going on with her own eyes, and firmly believes that the ruling class has failed in their duty to protect and provide for the commoners. However, she also knows that to point this out would spell ruin and destruction for her family. So she copes in the only way she can - distraction. She is a trained bard, a graduate of the College of Glamour. This carries the rather perplexing dichotomy of people knowing that she is highly skilled at manipulating them, while simultaneously begging her to do it. Wariness blended with fascination, like a small child reaching for a flame, particularly one who has already been burned at least once. Such is the decay and debasement of the court that people are willing to put themselves in position to be manipulated in exchange for a brief moment of distraction. It is wonderful and horrific all at once. The commoners are little better, though one would think that living day-to-day would provide a sense of practicality, if not wisdom. But no, they line up just as quickly to be entertained, a moment's distraction to take them away from the doldrum and struggle of their daily life. The coming festival is the perfect opportunity for Elisabeth to follow her father's direction and form a bridge between the nobility and lower classes. This should serve to demonstrate to the smoldering lower classes that not all of the nobility are bad, while simultaneously making it dangerous for the nobility to move openly against the family...if Elisabeth can indeed ingratiate herself with the populace. Elisabeth enjoys a symbiotic relationship with those around her - use and be used by all parties. For the time being, she is content enough with her 'rock star' lifestyle. She plays, recites, sings, or often just stands around to allow others to soak up her presence. But she is aware enough that the ride may soon be ending, and that the jolt of the carriage may well toss her far. Things are changing in her town, and she only hopes she has generated enough allies to come out on top.

[penbeast0]

I will always regret the missed opportunity to dance with you.

[Aisede]

Quick question: what other sea creatures call the archipelago home? Tritons? Sea elves? And what might be some underwater landmarks? Something sea creatures may find notable.

[Kshnik]

Posting interest.. Will see what I can come up with. Will be straight 2024.

[The Rat Queen]

Originally Posted by penbeast0

I will always regret the missed opportunity to dance with you.

Who says the opportunity is gone?

[Stadiumite]

Originally Posted by Aisede

Quick question: what other sea creatures call the archipelago home? Tritons? Sea elves? And what might be some underwater landmarks? Something sea creatures may find notable.

For certain, Sahuagin are a threat that most people know about. Varhaven was established as a result of aggressive raiders decades ago. Tritons and Merfolk are around. It is known that there are settlements or ruins of ancient settlements. On these matters, it is hard to tell truth from legend.

There are crabs, sharks, sea crocodiles of course. Sailors will tell tales of more exotic creatures - like Harpies or dragons.

[Aisede]

Name: She Who Calms The Tides
Age: Indeterminate. Appears early 20's
Class: Cleric (Tempest- Eadro)/Warlock
Species: Human
Character Description:
Trim figure. Subtle musculature. She Who Calms The Tides typically stands at ease, yet her eyes are ever alert for danger. She wears a slate criss cross crop top (common for her clan), and a hip scarf of the same color. She adorns herself with merfolk jewelry consisting of shells and coral. Her skin is a shade of burnt amber, and speckled with freckles. Her eyes are hazel, and the pupils are rimmed in silver. Like many merfolk that take on a human form, she forgoes shoes entirely.
Background:
She Who Calms The Tides began her life as all humans do: weak and feeble. She was vulnerable to the influence of man, and the very elements that constituted her home. Fortunately, she remembers little of her time amongst men, possessing only a vague suggestion of her original home; her earliest memories are of Mother, the sea, and the teachings of Eadro. For She Who Calms The Tides was not raised a man, but a merfolk, gifted a body befitting a child of The Water of Life. her early life was of magic and discovery, of communion with Eadro, and exploring the ancient lore of her home. She also learned of the tritons, eccentric allies of the merfolk, and allies against the great enemy, the Sahuagin. She was not sheltered from the threats of her home, developing martial skills early in life in order to mount a defense against the malicious seafolk. It is in her confrontations with the Sahuagin that she learns of sea gods other than Eadro, or the triton's Persana; the Sahuagin are patronized by a god of their own, a great and terrible shark god, The Caller from the Depths, Sekolah. She witnessed a cleric of this monstrous deity wield the power beyond any she had seen. A terrifying, abyssal power that shook her to her very core... And, perhaps, it also inspired a sort of reverence in her. What could she do with that power within her own hands? How might she turn the wrath of The Shark-Father against hiw own children?

It is after one of many skirmishes with the Sahuagin that She Who Calms The Tides spirited away a Sekolah cleric, intent on interrogating them. The teachings of Eadro echoed in her head as she brutalized the seafolk, desperate to put an end to the fighting. To gain the power to save her home. In the end, she learned terribly little... But she learned enough, and she stole the cleric's holy symbol, an ivory dorsal fin rising from waves. It is a treasured item, and one she hides from Mother, and her fellow merfolk. It is during another skirmish- during which She Who Calms The Tides first attempts to call on the power of Sekolah -that varhaven proves its mettle, and inspires loyalty in the mermaid; during her lapse in concentration, a Sahuagin cur nearlu impales her, but she is saved by a Varhaven bowman. A handsome lad, by her begrudging reckoning. Thereafter- and as a sign of trust between her clan and the people of Varhaven -She Who Calms The Tides has been lent to Varhaven in times of need as ambassador, and warrior. A duty she upholds to this day, to Lord Dain Vaelor.

It also helps that, during this brief stint on land, she is able to return to her human form, loathe as she is to assume it.

[Aisede]

So, what do you guys think of the concept? For context, her mother polymoprhed her into a merfolk, and polymorphed her back into a human. She does not possess the power herself.

[abc123]

Garrick 'Ironjaw' Draeven Name: Garrick 'Ironjaw' Draeven Age: 42 Class: Rogue Species: Half-Orc Character Description:   Ol' Ironjaw Draeven is a half-orc worn by time, duty, and betrayal. His broad, powerful frame has lost some of its youthful vigor, but what he lacks in raw strength, he makes up for in hardened experience. His grey-green skin is marred with old battle scars, the most prominent being a jagged wound running along his jawline, a reminder of a duel he barely survived. His short-cropped black hair has begun to show signs of silver, and deep lines mark his golden eyes, eyes that have seen too much. He wears a leather coat, worn but functional. His weapons, a finely honed rapier and a sturdy dagger, rest at his side, tools of a man who understands that battles are often won in the moments before steel is drawn. Garrick carries himself with a quiet confidence, a presence that commands attention even in silence. A lifetime of betrayal and hard lessons have left him cynical but determined. He does not trust easily, but when he does, his loyalty is unshakeable. Background:   Childhood and Youth Garrick Draeven was born in the back alleys of Stormwatch, the son of a mercenary and a tavern maid. His father, a passing sellsword with orcish blood, was never in the picture, leaving his human mother to raise him alone in the city's poorest district. Life was hard and Stormwatch is not kind to half-orcs. As a child, Garrick learned quickly that the world was built on power. Those who had it ruled, while those that didn't suffered. He grew up on the streets, surviving on scraps, brawling with other street urchins, and stealing when he had to. His mother did her best to raise him right, but honestly work rarely put food on the table, and when she grew ill, it fell on Garrick to provide. At thirteen, he took his first job as a dockhand, unloading cargo in the storm-lashed harbours of Stormwatch. It was back-breaking work, but it built his endurance and taught him the value of patience. More importantly, it introduced him to the city's underbelly: smugglers, informants, and enforcers who operated in the shadows. He started running messages, listening to whispers in the back rooms of seedy taverns, learning the art of reading people. By fifteen, he had made a name for himself as someone who noticed things, a skill that would shape the rest of his life. When his mother finally succumbed to illness, Garrick left the docks behind. He had no family anymore, no real home. Just a sharp mind and a relentless drive to carve out a place for himself in a world that had never wanted him. Early Career Garrick's talents did not go unnoticed. His keen eyes and natural ability to uncover lies caught the attention of an aging investigator in the Duke's service, a Captain Rodric Hale. Hale saw the potential in the half-orc and offered him a chance to join the city watch, learn the trade, and make something of himself. Garrick took the offer. For the next two decades, he served as an investigator in the Duke's personal guard, rising through the ranks He specialized in rooting out corruption, exposing conspiracies, and uncovering the hidden rot within Stormwatch's noble circles. He earned a reputation as a relentless seeker of truth, feared by driminals and nobles alike. It was during this time that he earned the name Ironjaw, not because of his unbreakable will, but also for the brutal duel in which he took a blade to the face and kept fighting. But the truth is a dangerous thing, and the more Garrick uncovered, the more enemies he made. The Fall Garrick's downfall came at the hands of the very people he had once sworn to protect. His final case involved whispers of treason, missing funds, clandestine meetings, and a growing power struggle within the House of Vaelor. He followed the trail, uncovering evidence that pointed to a conspiracy among Stormwatch's noble families. And then, everything collapsed. Key evidence vanished overnight. Witnesses disappeared. The noble he had accused produced an ironclad alibi, and, suddenly, Garrick found himself on trial instead. He was stripped of his rank, branded a reckless fool who had overstepped his authority, and thrown into the dungeon. His years of service had meant nothing. His reputation was shattered. For years, he rotted in a cell, abandoned by the system he had devoted his life to. He spent his days ckntemplating who had betrayed him, who had orchestrated his downfall, and whather he would ever have the chance to set things right. And then, the Duke came to him. Why are you here:   Duke Osric Vaelor is a man who understands power better than most. He knew Garrick had been set up, but politics had forced his hand. Now, with tensions arising between his children and the realm on the brink of a crisis, he needed someone he could trust, someone who wouldnt be swayed by noble promises or courtly maneuvering. So he made Garrick an offer. He would be released, his name partially restored, and given one final mission: travel to the islands of the House of Vaelor, observe the Duke's children, and ensure that their revalries did not escalate into war. He would be the Duke's unseen hand, the investigator no one expected, because they all thought he had already been destroyed. For Garrick, this mission is more than just another job. It is his only chance at redemption. His only chance to uncover who betrayed him. His only chance to make sure the truth is heard, no matter what it costs him. He has lost everything once before. He will not let it happen again.

[The Rat Queen]

Decided to go with Elisabeth after all. Just need to convert her back to L2.

[penbeast0]

Originally Posted by Aisede

So, what do you guys think of the concept? For context, her mother polymoprhed her into a merfolk, and polymorphed her back into a human. She does not possess the power herself.

I don't think you are going to be able to change forms to be underwater as a human unless you take a feat that allows it. Otherwise, it's fine.