[D&D-5e] The Rangers of Ramia

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Azure Nokori

I've finished my application, but it feels a little simple at the moment.

Roger!

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To all current applicants...

For those that feel iffy on their characters, I will add that the primary focus of my judgement on who will be selected is character motivation.

The Rangers of Ramia is best considered an exploration sandbox adventure. As with all sandbox games, it works best if the characters are self-propelling. Other elements will be important, but exploring Ramia is the core of the game.

I also like knowing player motivation too. What sort of player you see yourself as, what you like to see in a game, and how you would like to see your character developing.

If you have time, add that in a spoiler below your application. I generally check each for updates once a day.

[Azure Nokori]

Got it.

I like the idea of Pensman fighting with his all to go out in a blaze of glory, but I think I'll rewriting the backstory to have going to Ramia be his decision, this creating more of a motivation that you're looking for.

Thanks!

[O2CXt3]

Nyasia Name: Nyasia Class: Ranger (Revised) Background: Custom (With a focus on undeadTracker) Description: Nyasia is a young woman, who in other circumstances would be considered quite attractive - she has dark brown hair that spills past her shoulders, dark brown eyes, pouty lips, arched eyebrows, and clear skin - but circumstances being what they are, she makes a point to avoid young men. She is serious, and expects the people around her to be serious too; she has no patience for fools. Like her father, she has a job to do - a duty - and that duty is more important than anything else. The only thing that she holds higher than slaying the dangerous creatures that threaten her community is protecting her family. “Family first” as her father used to say. Backstory: Nyasia’s father, Hawel, was part of the Third Settling Party. He was the party’s tracker. His job was to help track animals and hunt for food, and to track anything else that threatened the group. Like the rest of the party, he has not been heard from since setting out for Ramia. So when the call came for a search party, Nyasia never hesitated. From her earliest days as a small girl, her father trained her to be a tracker like him. The family had been trackers and hunters for generations. They specialized in tracking and killing the undead; those unfortunately souls whose bodies had not been properly disposed of upon their death. When there was a story of a creature haunting the night, it was for Hawel that people called, and it was Nyasia, his only daughter who he brought with him. The undead were not the only creatures they were called to help with, but it was their specialty, and it had been for generations. Although she would never admit it, Nyasia worshiped her father. She loved her mother, but her mother’s life wasn’t the life for her. No, she loved the time she spent with her father: nights sleeping on the forest floor under a full moon, hiding in the forest amongst the trees, and tracking the dead things that haunted the night. She loved the freedom of being in the woods. They had been happy together. Why had her father agreed to be part of the Third Settling Party? She never knew, but she suspected he had no choice. He had only told her that he had been asked to go and that it was his duty. And now it was her duty to find him and the others who had been lost. Motivation: To find her father who was a tracker in the Third Settling Party, or to find what became of the party. Role: Tracker, Archer Player Motivation: I like seeing how stories unfold, good or bad, and I enjoy character building over time. I like games where the DM and players pay attention to details in one another's posts and play off of one another. I'm not sure how Nyasia will develop - I don't really have any expectations, but I think tracking and exploration will be her forte.

[Alatere]

First draft of Hedran is complete now just need to do a couple of rounds of tweaking…

[O2CXt3]

Ok, I've got a draft of Nyasia's application finished too. Let me know if you have any feedback. Thanks, @Hitch!

[Alatere]

Originally Posted by O2CXt3

Ok, I've got a draft of Nyasia's application finished too. Let me know if you have any feedback. Thanks, @Hitch!

Nyasia Has a very similar background / motivation to Hedran. I could certainly see then teaming up.

[Damionovich]

Notes to fellow adventurers. I'll be attaching my version of the map with notes. Hopefully it is easier to vision.

1. I tried to take the notes on the introduction and update the map. Let me know where I'm wrong.
2. Remember that the water is bad (probably dead animals etc polluting); We need to boil any water before consuming.
3. Where does the ship captain plan on dropping us off?
4. How were the expeditions expected to communicate with the capital? Were they given schooners or ships of their own or merchants expected to establish trade with the island?
5. The natives are afraid of the sun, won't burn their dead, and sleep in trees/caves. Are we sure that they know what fire is? If they are afraid of fire, we now have a method to securing our encampments.


Maybe we don't have the answers, that is fine. They are things for the group to consider though (whether I'm selected or not).

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Damionovich

Studying the map you gave us. How much information do we have?

1. Are the mountains in the west 'under water' or stand on an island?
2. With the marsh lands linked to the ocean and the lake, is the marsh water and/or lake water fresh or brackish?
3. Where does the ship captain plan on dropping us off? (Beaches on the SE??)
4. How were the expeditions expected to communicate with the capital? Were they given schooners or ships of their own or merchants expected to establish trade with the island?

Maybe we don't have the answers, that is fine. They are things for the group to consider though (whether I'm selected or not).

1. Excuse the vagueness of the map. I drew it with a head-empty state to depict how an untrained settler would draw Ramia; painting in broad strokes and labeling things he cares about. All The first sailors' evaluation in the Plot Summary.previous information would say that area is supposed to be a forest.

2. Unknown until explored. The settler didn't know or care enough to label it.

3. The sailors plan on going to the most south-easterly beach since that's near where the Third's settlement was supposed to be. You guys are the customers though. They'll drop anchor wherever you want to disembark (so long as it isn't dangerous).

4. From common gossip or previous briefings (dependent on the character), you would know that the second and third expeditions communicated via ship and messenger birds. You guys don't have any sworn ships, but the noble NPC attached to your expedition has brought a decently-sized rookery.

[Elanir]

Sister Ignatia Name: her true name is unknownSister Ignatia Class: Warlock (or Fiend, if Celestial is not acceptableCelestial) Background: with Variant Feature: RetainersNoble Alignment: Lawful Neutral (LN) Faith: Eternal Flame (though she is not an official member of the Red Church’s priesthood) Description: How can one properly describe someone whose face is forever hidden behind an ornate silver mask, someone whose long gloves and holy robes of a white as pristine as freshly fallen snow leave no inch of skin uncovered? How can one be certain that Sister Ignatia is indeed a woman? Her voice would suggest so, as would the life that seems to stir inside her belly. But is this the truth? Is the Eternal Flame really inside her, waiting to be given form? Such questions can be asked, but not answered. What does appear to be certain about the holy maiden, is that she is of noble birth. Even had she not been surrounded by three handmaidens seeing to her needs, the Sister is measured and refined in all she says and does. Tall and lithe, she has obviously done no manual labor in her life, though her constitution appears to be sound. Referring to herself in the plural, she probably sees herself as one of the very great, though it is also possible that she speaks for two - herself and the Eternal Flame residing within her. Though of little use in most everyday matters, Sister Ignatia is clearly well educated in history, law, the mysteries of the world and above all the faith, and very eager to guide and inspire those around her. Backstory: The individual called “Sister Ignatia” is nothing less than a true mystery. It is clear that great pains were taken to hide the true identity of this woman and to present her more as a symbol than a real person. As for the reason for this, it is anybody’s guess. No one aboard the sea vessel transporting her to Ramia is aware of it, not even the captain of the ship or the nobleman in charge of the group of Anurians meant to reinforce the island colony. Two letters bearing the imperial seal and a hefty sum of gold coins made certain that no questions were asked as the holy woman was respectfully escorted to the part of the ship that was meant to serve as her cabin for the duration of the journey, one of the very few available. Whatever Sister Ignatia’s true story is, she won’t speak about it and neither will her servants. Whether they remain silent out of loyalty and devotion or fear of punishment is unclear. Perhaps a little bit of both. Or perhaps they are as unaware of the “sister’s” identity as everyone else.   Motivation: Sister Ignatia finds herself on the island of Ramia, because that is her destiny, not because of an order given. Though bound by law and love to the land that bore and reared her, she heeds a voice that is greater than that of any man or woman who wears a sorceress’ hood, a hierophant’s mitre or an emperor’s crown. She has dreamt that this is the place where she will give birth to the Eternal Flame, the Being that will bring change not only to the Anurian Empire, but the whole world as well. This is her duty. This is her privilege. This is her life and she will make the most of it. Role: Spiritual Advisor, Prophetess, Vessel of the Eternal Flame   Aurelia, Clara and Lucia Just like their mistress, Sister Ignatia’s handmaidens have abandoned their old names and adopted new ones, chosen by herself. Aurelia, the golden-haired one, is an artist. Empathetic, emotional and an avid admirer of beauty, she is looking for it in the most unlikely of places. She enjoys composing poems, singing, dancing and playing the flute, while at the same possessing painting skills that are considerable. Aurelia’s company is guaranteed to keep dullness and tediousness far away and Sister Ignatia is very appreciative of this fact. Clara, the chestnut-haired one, is what one might consider Sister Ignatia’s protector or “bodyguard”, ever concerned with the holy maiden’s well-being. Confident and determined, the young woman is ready to place herself in harm’s way so that her mistress might be spared. She spends many hours each day in physical training, but is also an accomplished physician, knowing much about human anatomy and physiology. Lucia, the ebony-haired one, is a solver of problems. She is clever and perceptive, taking note of minor details others are likely to miss. She remains mostly silent, but when she does speak her advice is always worthy of being listened to. This sensible woman is also well-known for being something of an artisan, having a knack for crafting and repairing things.   What I am mainly interested in roleplaying games are the story, character advancement (in a non-mechanical sense) and the relationships between characters (PCs with other PCs and NPCs). I like portraying complicated, flawed characters, whose views and opinions often diverge from those of the majority. What drew me to this particular game is the sense of the unknown. The setting is sure to challenge the PCs’ preconceptions, which is a very interesting challenge, I find. I also enjoy mysteries, riddles and problem-solving. I have few expectations from a DM other than portraying the world they have in mind in a realistic way - strange customs, unique names and small details can make all the difference. I usually have no predetermined “path” for my characters, for I much prefer them to be shaped by the story and the interaction with the other characters. I love getting surprised, thus I am not adverse to the DM adding twists to my character’s backstory. Is Sister Ignatia truly the Vessel of the Eternal Flame? I don’t know, but I am very eager to find out!

[Lookie Louis]

I've updated my app with a few tie-ins to other players.

[Damionovich]

In regards to creating NPC characters for families and/or friends. Can we equip them as well with basic things a homesteader or trade person would bring on a permanent move? (in addition to a friendly bump to the top)

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Damionovich

In regards to creating NPC characters for families and/or friends. Can we equip them as well with basic things a homesteader or trade person would bring on a permanent move? (in addition to a friendly bump to the top)

Non-Player Characters will generally have the tools and items relevant to their designated professions and survival. You are free to give them an additional item or two, but try to keep it to what 'defines' them.

As an example, Conner has a warrior background, so I'm not against him also having a sword and shield.

[DiceGoblin]

Hello! I'm interested in applying but I had a quick question regarding character creation.

I know you want just the PHB but I was wondering if I could use death domain for a Cleric. I've been playing a ton of Mortuary Assistant and have an idea for a character who works with the dead a lot.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiceGoblin

Hello! I'm interested in applying but I had a quick question regarding character creation.

I know you want just the PHB but I was wondering if I could use death domain for a Cleric. I've been playing a ton of Mortuary Assistant and have an idea for a character who works with the dead a lot.

You can use the Death domain. However, keep in mind (at least for backstory reasons) that practicing necromancy is essentially a criminal offense in Anur.

[Damionovich]

Originally Posted by Hitch

You can use the Death domain. However, keep in mind (at least for backstory reasons) that practicing necromancy is essentially a criminal offense in Anur.

I think he is looking more at countering undead rather than controlling it. (My guess)