[Other] Grottos and Godbound

[Wynamoinen]

I’m definitely interested, though daily posting does intimidate me a little bit (since I’ll inevitably fail at some point). I’m reading over the rules now, and I want to let ideas simmer for a few days before I decide whether I could commit. But lest I leave the pot of my thoughts on the burner too long: do you have an application deadline in mind?

Edit, a day later:. Oof, this setting is way more grimdark than I noticed at first glance. I think I’d struggle to stay motivated and on-pace in this milieu.

[Inuvash255]

I mean, missing a day ain't the end of the world!

I don't have a date written down yet, though I'm thinking April 7th? I'll be out of town that weekend, but should be able to make selections and things ezpz. c:

[Rylus]

This does sound like an interesting type of game, that post rate though. If it was every other day i would be all in, but with a word restriction it makes me think i could do it. Alright i convinced myself, I'm gonna have a look at the rules as I've never even heard of them.

Short concept: demi-god of smithing, metal, earth.

[Tecumseh]

Well Rylus just summarized my second idea pretty succinctly, so I'll move down to the third option on my list.

Currently thinking of someone on the subtle side of things. Luck/Time and maybe Knowledge for the third Word.

[taleteller50]

Possible interest. Just downloaded the book and will be going through it. Played a Pathfinder based God game at one point and it was quite interesting. Doubt the god from that will work here tho as she began her life as a panther. I'll have to look at the setting for some inspiration.

[Tecumseh]

Second try!

Application Information You: Tec. Been playing TTRPGs since the mid-80s, play-by-post for almost 12 years, and Kevin Crawford systems for the last 3 years. Have you checked out the system? What do you think of it? Do you have any comments or concerns? Yes, I think it's very exciting! I've been eager to play it. One of the things that most interests me is the speed at which the story can progress. Things that might be a whole adventure in a traditional game might be resolved within minutes here. That pace is alluring, especially combined with the posting rate. How do you feel about the posting rate and the constrained writing challenge? Big fan of the posting rate. I had never considered a constrained writing challenge before but I think I like it. One of the things that seems to bog down games a lot is people wanting to do a "proper" IC post, when the reality is that the momentum of the game would be better served by something quick and dirty. Pre-Apotheosis Concept: A well-educated and independent woman who impressed others with her intelligence and eloquence. She acted as a counselor to the poor and powerful alike. Demigod Concept: From a mechanics standpoint, thinking Time/Luck/Knowledge. From a narrative standpoint, a demigod with the blessing/curse of a thousand lives who can subtly manipulate reality. She has seen and experienced so much that she understands how to bend things to her will. Worldbuilding Exercise: Binai's strategic location at the mouth of the river is a source of power and wealth for the enclave. Not only does it enable trade and provide irrigation for crops, but it also produces a dependable supply of aquaculture year-round. This allows Binai to exert control over the surrounding countryside.

[braintitan]

WIP Feedback appricated You: Online I go by Samical or Sam, been dabbling with TTRPG for decades. Avid reader, gamer etc...Work from home so can post almost every day , except when wife kidnaps me for vacations on cruise ships. System Thoughts: I haven't played it but in reading it seems very simple and complex at the same time. Liking the feel. Posting and Writing Challenge Thoughts: I think the every day is doable given the short length, personally I would prefer a fast pace with many shorter posts. Pre-Apotheosis Concept: A man racked with grief over the death of his family while he watched as a boy but could do nothing to stop. Educated himself in the occult, undead and magic to never be in that position again. Demigod Concept: Words: Death, Knowledge, Sorcery. The king of the undead bound to keep them from harming others but at the same time making them useful tools. Worldbuilding Exercise 50 Words or Less

[taleteller50]

Application Information You: - Taleteller or TT is fine. I've been roleplaying for 25+ years now and always enjoy games more focused on roleplaying and storytelling rather then mechanics and combat. Have you checked out the system? What do you think of it? Do you have any comments or concerns? - Went through the book and it looks interesting. More focused in simplifying broader strokes then minute mechanical details. A decent engine for storytelling and imaginative narratives rather then finite min maxing. Should do well with a play by post sandbox game. The words were a little limited (in variety) but their Gifts did at least have some broad applications. Like how Health isn't just about healing people but can also represent a power over disease as well, utilizing it as a weapon. How do you feel about the posting rate and the constrained writing challenge? - I fear that the limitations will restrict exploration of inner thoughts for the character but will encourage a more focused approach to posting and roleplay. Pre-Apotheosis Concept: - A Grey Necromancer who sought to comfort the dead while protecting the living. - Born as the union between a mother faithful to the One Church and a hunter father who respected the spirits of his prey, Aman was molded by their teachings. - Upon the death of his mother Aman questioned why such a faithful woman, a saint within his own eyes, would be taken so soon and then forced to suffer in the afterlife until the One God returned. He began to study death and other teachings forbidden by the church in an attempt to understand. However, the church caught wind of Aman's studies and proclaimed him a heretic. - Aman believed that, even as he was forced to turn to more questionable sources for support, he could find a way to channel his studies to something to help people. Not because he feels that it's the right thing to do, but to honor his mother's beliefs. - When the Night Roads opened Aman believed the only way to save his homeland was finding a way to convert the undead that were created. Utilizing them to rebuild the country while at the same time helping those spirits who could not find rest. Demigod Concept: - Aman believes he can help the living by utilizing the bodies of the dead. He understands that the living need comfort but (due to his own neural divergence) does not understand how to provide this himself. Instead, he seeks to provide peace to the spirits of those who had passed while providing safety to the living. - Bound Words: Artifice, Death, and Health. Worldbuilding Exercise: - Mr. Linjee: A young bookseller who appears to be more interested in reading from his extensive collection and providing suggestions to his customers then worrying about the dangers surrounding the town. Rumors claim he is a sorcerer or other powerful individual, but no one has seen him use such powers.

 

Name: Aman Dega

Stat	Score	Mod	Check Score		Saving Throws
Str	13	+1	8		Hardiness	13		HP	10
Dex	13	+1	8		Evasion	14		Effort	2
Con	16	+6	5		Spirit	13		Wealth	0
Int	14	+1	7		AC	6		Influence	2
Wis	16	+2	5
Cha	8	-1	13

Facts
- Mother was a minor healer associated with the Church of the One while his father was a hunter. While his mother taught him to respect life Aman's father taught him to never be wasteful. Utilizing all the parts of the animals who they hunted.
- After his mother died and the Church could not provide him with the answers he sought Aman began researching death; eventually joining a necromantic group of sorcerers.
- The Church of the One in Ancalia hunted after Aman and the other necromancers even before the open of the Night Roads. Many in the church have even come to blame Aman for the opening of the portals forcing him to keep a low profile in the past.

Words		Divine Gifts	Type	Source
Artifice		Ten Thousand Tools	Lesser	Artifice
Death		Faultless Repair	Lesser	Artifice
Health		Keeper of the Graves	Lesser	Death
		A Pale Crown Beckons	Lesser	Death
		Flesh Made True	Lesser	Health
		Merciful Gaze	Lesser	Health

Weapons/Armor
- Light Armor
- 2H Ranged (Bow)

[Cap Ut]

So, I was looking at the part about Facts and I was wondering how I could translate the Pre-Apotheosis concept I had in mind in those terms: basically I was thinking about an old man who in a past life was a Patrian scout that ended up blind from a battle injury, and so, after a deep change of outlook, he became this blind vagabond traveling through Arcem. Would something along the lines of "Former Patrian scout" and "Blind vagabond" be okay for Origin and Past Profession respectively?

As for the Demigod concept, the basic idea is that he got imbued by solar divine energy (Sun) through his eyes, and now this energy sustains and invigorates his body (Endurance), in addition to having restored and enhanced his sight. Furthermore he would be able to channel and project this energy through his eyes (as the unarmed attack from the Gift Omnipresent Reach), either as pure divine force (from the Word Bow) or searing fire (using the connection to the Word Sun), at his discretion depending on the circumstances. So in practice a Sun/Endurance/Bow demigod (and perhaps also Health or Alacrity, at the cost of 3 Gift points later on).

Since I'm new to the system, I was wondering if I got things right and interpreted those Facts, Gifts and Words correctly.

[Inuvash255]

Hey everyone! Thanks for the apps so far! Lookin' good~

@Cap Ut: I can't say at the moment. I'll get deeper into those rules soon and get back to you.

[Kaiya]

Application You: Kaiya. I've recently returned to this site, after a decent absence. System Thoughts: I've played Godbound several times before. I enjoy both the world and system. Posting and Writing Challenge Thoughts: I have some concerns about the 50 word restriction. But I'm willing to give it a try. Pre-Apotheosis Concept: One of the anonymous peasants who suffered under noble rule. Her life was defined by the restrictions placed upon it. Arbitrary rules prevented her from becoming a priest or knight. She fell in love with someone whom the Church would never accept; And thus, that love remained a dream. Her only solace was acting as an informant for the 'Many Paths': A secret organisation dedicated to social change. But she had little of value to offer them. People like her are a reminder that Ancalia was always a flawed nation, even before it fell. Every day, she wished to break free of her chains. That wish was granted in the most sadistic way... Demigod Concept: A fierce frontline warrior. Divinity has granted her the strength and resilience to carve out a new life. She wants to save Ancalia; Or at least, the parts of it that are worth saving. Some outmoded ideals belong in the grave. Her Words would be Alacrity, Endurance and Might. Worldbuilding Exercise The actual reason for Binai's survival remains unclear. Theoretically, it should already have fallen. Rumours abound that Uncreated are toying with this enclave: Gradually wearing down its spirit, while forcing the inhabitants to make soulless bargains. What price will desperate people pay, in order to survive for one more week?

[ElderOblex]

This premise, especially the limited wordcount, sounds great!

The daily pace is... challenging. I can be quite inconsistent.

I'll read the pdf regardless, but welcome back, Inuvash, and kudos to a wonderful idea!

A Tentative Application You: EO is fine, how do you do? I'm a relative noob to TTRPGs. Played 5E mostly for maybe ~3 years, sometimes dallying with the occasional Other RPG category. I like narrative with a conservative topping of crunch. System Thoughts: Posting and Writing Challenge Thoughts: Very enticing, yet very challenging! I tend to write shorter posts compared to some, but 50 words? Well, I'm willing to try, at least! Pre-Apotheosis Concept: A shy, sheltered, starry-eyed secretary whose best buddies were contracts, court rulings, books, and dust bunnies. Demigod Concept: An explorer, yet obviously still very intimidated and uncomfortable with her newfound powers. Suddenly Ancalia is her oyster, and the SKY is the literal limit, but where to even begin? And shouldn't she use these... gifts... for the good of her people, and not just for her voracious appetite for lost knowledge? Haven't gotten into it yet. but her Words would probably be: Sky, Journeying, and Knowledge. Worldbuilding Exercise Crate & Barrow Intercontinental was an old but well-regarded shipping conglomerate. Some say they were even older than Ancalia itself. A scant few however, whisper in hushed tones that the company's rise to global success involved dark, otherworldly... practices... Crate & Barrow had just established a satellite office in Binai a few years back, before the kingdom so suddenly fell...

[Kaiya]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

A Grey Necromancer who had issues differentiating between using the corpses of animals and the corpses of men in similar fashions. Both bodies are dead with their spirits passed on. Why do we utilize the parts of one and entomb the other?

One who believed he could help the living by utilizing the bodies of the dead. He understood that the living needed comfort but (due to his own neural divergence) did not understand how to provide this. Instead he sought to provide peace to the spirits of those who had passed.

Quick note: Greater undead still have their souls. If a corpse gets raised as greater undead, then the spirit of its former owner will be denied eternal rest.

[taleteller50]

True. In the case of Greater Undead he would seek to help them finish their unfinished business to help them pass on peacefully. That or try and help them realize how a foolish/selfish wish isn't really what they need.

When I talk about using undead to help the living it's more about using lesser undead, those who don't need the spirit to function, to help with simple, menial tasks that will allow the living to become more prosperous. If someone wishes to become a Greater Undead to accomplish some greater goal that would be fine too but it would need to be something achievable and beneficial to the living. Becoming undead just to avoid a restful peace wouldn't be good enough. Such an individual would have to be shown how much greater that final rest will be rather then toiling in a mortal world.

He might even become driven enough to create an afterlife which such people would not need to be afraid to join.

In truth I'm still molding the idea/character but the point is to create someone who is linked to necromancy, who some might fear because of his involvement with death and the undead, but who seeks a balance between life and death. One who tries to help others to understand the importance of accepting loss even as he himself does not have the same emotions as others.

One who places importance upon the spirit, which he sees as the person, rather then the shell the spirit was housed in. Yet who sees how using that shell after the spirit has pasted can help to protect and assist those who are still living.

[Inuvash255]

@Wynamoinen: Understandable! Though I would say it's more "nobledark", in the sense that the world is dark, but the players can make big changes in it.

@Elder Oblex: Thanks! I'm hoping that the extra-short-form writing helps with consistency. Like I say in the ad, a post can be pretty simple and still push things forward.