[D&D-5e] Seas of Fortune

[JaredSyn]

Campaign Fortune of the Seas

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Fairly open-world game, set in custom realms, with a bit of everything!

Flavour Epic fantasy with a gritty edge- think along the lines of Lord of the Rings in scope, although with more magic.

Plot Summary I’m looking for a group of 4-6 players to take on a seafaring adventure that will include seafaring and land based excursions into discovered and undiscovered lands seeking fame and fortune. You are part of a small group of adventurers who have been hired by a dwarven ships Captain intent, on exploring uncharted waters expanding his knowledge of what awaits in the distant seas, hoping to create new maps, and discover new trade routes. Or course in the process making his fortune on the seas. I’ll be running this game from custom maps found online that I feel fit the campaign. This adventure will have opportunities for almost every kind of player: everything from dungeon crawls to diplomacy, warfare to infiltration, and just about everything in between! As for posting rate, I'll usually be posting at least 2 times per week, typically more. For players, I'd appreciate a commitment to be able to post at least twice a week- you're welcome to post more, but I think that 2 per week should be a reasonable baseline to make sure the game keeps moving without leaving anyone behind.

House Rules For this game, I’m aiming for a bit of gritty realism in the form of slowed healing, injuries and infections, and some penalties around reaching 0 hit points and/or dying. I’ve never liked the way 5e handles such things, (Healing Word and a long rest, and you’re golden!), so I’m trying out some house rules to help add a more realistic feel.   A long rest restores a number of hit points equal to twice your level, plus your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 hit point). This reflects the fact that in real life, one would need to take time to actually heal from wounds- after all, you can’t just get stabbed in the chest, take a nice nap, and be good as new in the morning! You can still spend hit dice during a short rest, but the number you can spend is capped at ⅕ of your level, rounded up. This is intended to represent bandaging wounds and administering basic first aid, in order to take the edge off of injuries and be able to grit your teeth and keep going, rather than the “healing surge” mechanic that short rests usually tend to resemble in 5e.   In this game, we'll be adding a new condition that applies any time your hit points are at or below half your hit point maximum, rounded down. This condition has two sides to it: first, it serves as a descriptive tool, indicating a blow that really connects with a character or monster. This can help dramatize a fight further, as it both indicates that a side may have a good chance to prevail if they keep fighting and adds a sort of "critical moment" to a fight where a character or monster takes a real wound, rather than simply a series of blows chipping away at an abstract "hit point maximum". Its second function is mechanical- I've decided to change the infection house rule to "when you have become bloodied" rather than "when you have taken damage", because almost every character is going to take damage on most days of adventuring, so that rule would effectively be "make a save against infection every day." I want infection to be a risk, but I want it to be an interesting risk, not one that's effectively just a ticking clock waiting for you to inevitably fail a save. In addition, a character or creature gains a minor benefit when it becomes bloodied. The player/DM controlling the character can choose to: 1. Regain the use of a single ability that recharges on a short rest. This only applies to a specific ability: so for example, a fighter's Action Surge would be eligible, but a monk's pool of ki points would not. A monk or bard using this ability can regain 2 bardic inspiration dice or 4 ki points. 2. Regain a spell slot of the lowest level that you currently have expended. This spell slot can be no higher than 3rd level. If you are a warlock, you can gain a higher-level spell slot if it is the only level of spell slots you have. 3. Automatically regain the use of any ability you have with a recharge. (Such as a dragon's breath weapon) 4. Gain inspiration, if you don't already have it. I've chosen this list of benefits so that it should provide at least one benefit option to members of any class (with inspiration as a backup option), but if you think I've overlooked a class that wouldn't get any benefits other than inspiration please let me know! I wanted to design this to contribute to the epic-fantasy feel both mechanically and thematically, and if this fails to live up to that then I'm open to any ways to improve/correct it. Sorry if the system is a little overcomplicated, I'm just looking to make sure that it confers reasonably equal benefits to each class.   Injuries: The world is a dangerous place, and the life of an adventurer can be hard on the body! 5e doesn’t usually bother with permanent/long-term injuries, infections, etc, but this game will. If a PC (or other creature, subject to DM’s decision on whether or not such a creature would take an injury) sustains a critical hit or rolls a natural 1 on a saving throw against a damage-dealing effect, then there will be a 10% chance that they gain an injury, rolled on a modified version of the “Lingering Injuries” table in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The main difference is that “Festering Wound” won’t be on the table (I’ll be using a slightly different system to track infections) and there will be some additional options with more details added. Infections: At the end of a day, any character that has become bloodied during the course of the day must make a Constitution saving throw to avoid infection. The base DC of the saving throw is 5, but the DC can be increased for certain circumstances- for example, if the character was slashed by a rusty sword, was already suffering from a poison, or was fighting in the sewers and is likely to have been contaminated. On a failed saving throw, the character’s hit point maximum is reduced by 1, and continues to drop by 1 every 24 hours. If the hit point maximum reaches zero, the character dies. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the infection is particularly nasty, and the character’s hit point maximum is reduced by 1d4 per day rather than 1. This infection can be cured with a lesser restoration spell or similar magic of equal or higher level, or through nonmagical means with a series of ten DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) checks made every 24 hours. (A failed check does not reset the progress, only fails to make any further progress). Each day that the check is successful, the infection does not worsen and the character’s hit point maximum is not reduced. If the saving throw failed by 5 or more, the DC for the Medicine checks is 15, instead of 10.   One frequent complaint about 5e is that there’s no penalty for being reduced to 0 hit points, bleeding out on the floor, and then being healed for 6 hit points by the bard’s Healing Word spell and being back up and ready to fight! In order to remedy this, being reduced to 0 hit points will impose one level of exhaustion, effective immediately upon being knocked unconscious. This will make exhaustion a far more common condition than it usually is (unless you guys are really good, really careful, or really lucky!), and I recognize that exhaustion is a truly nasty condition to deal with, so to help mitigate that, the Lesser Restoration spell will be capable of removing one level of exhaustion, and Greater Restoration will remove all levels of exhaustion from a target. Notice, however, that an exhaustion level of 3 means a character has disadvantage on all saving throws, and that WILL apply to death saves! If you’ve been pushing yourself too hard for long enough to acquire three levels of exhaustion, your will to hold on and your physical ability to stay alive will indeed be significantly impacted! A character who dies and is resurrected permanently loses 1 point of Constitution. They can still take level related ability increases to Constitution to raise it as normal, and it doesn’t impact their maximum for the score, but it also doesn’t just go away after a long rest or anything like that, the way some ability score drains do.   “SUFFOCATING” A creature can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 1 + its Constitution modifier (minimum of 30 seconds). When a creature runs out of breath or is choking, it can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 round). At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying, and it can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again. For example, a creature with a Constitution of 14 can hold its breath for 3 minutes. If it starts suffocating, it has 2 rounds to reach air before it drops to 0 hit points.” What this means for your character is that unless you’ve got a good expectation of getting a water breathing ability, a good Constitution score might be even more valuable than usual. It’s good advice in general, but avoid making Con your dump stat for any seagoing campaign. “MELEE” For melee oriented players, you’ll want to keep the following rules in mind: “When making a melee weapon attack, a creature that doesn’t have a swimming speed (either natural or granted by magic) has disadvantage on the attack roll unless the weapon is a dagger, javelin, shortsword, spear, or trident.” You’re going to need to plan around this. Rogues and other Dexterity based melee fighters shouldn’t be too fazed by this, daggers and shortswords are their bread and butter. For strength based melee characters this will become more of an issue, as most of your high damage-die strength weapons are really nerfed underwater. Unless you’re playing a triton barbarian (which doesn’t sound half-bad now that I’m saying it) you’ll have to settle for two-handed wielding a spear or trident as your primary underwater battling tool of choice. Speaking of tridents, it’s hard to think of a weapon that stylistically fits better in an aquatic setting. It’s a shame that the trident is strictly worse than a spear in 5th edition. Tridents are statistically identical to spears in 5e, except they are martial weapons (fewer classes can effectively wield it) and it costs slightly more gold. IRL, tridents are useful for catching your enemy’s weapon and disarming them. 5e lacks any universal disarming rules, and this is probably why the trident feels underwhelming. If you want to run a trident wielding master in your next seafaring campaign, ask your DM about allowing a minor improvement to the trident such as adding a disarming ability or increasing it’s damage die by a step. “RANGED” Ranged fighting underwater has some restraints as well: “A ranged weapon attack automatically misses a target beyond the weapon’s normal range. Even against a target within normal range, the attack roll has disadvantage unless the weapon is a crossbow, a net, or a weapon that is thrown like a javelin (including a spear, trident, or dart).” Obviously, your pinpoint longbow sniper is going to have some trouble, but this is honestly less of a problem than it may seem at first. Unless you specifically made a character for long range sniping, this only affects shots that were going to be at disadvantage anyway. It makes the bad shots impossible but doesn’t actually do anything to the good shots. Normal range for a longbow is 150 feet, and a shortbow has 80 feet. I’ve found this most often comes up with hand crossbows, which have a mere 30 foot normal range. Just keep your range in mind while you roll up a marksman in your next aquatic adventure. “MAGIC/CASTING” Finally we arrive at the magic users, and here it all gets a bit wonky because with 5e’s streamlining, nothing in the rules as written really addresses underwater spellcasting. Does water count as an obstruction to a fireball? Would it explode in my hand? Does fire even work underwater? The real kicker is verbal components. Unless you have a way to breathe or speak underwater spells that require verbal components cannot be utilized under water, and certain spells like fire may have reduced damage while lightning could very well affect you and your comrades as well. “MOVEMENT” Finally, there’s one big problem to aquatic combat, your movement speed is reduced: “While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a swimming or climbing speed.” This means that without a swim speed (gained naturally or magically) you’re essentially moving through difficult terrain while in water, and SUPER difficult terrain if the water is choppy. Try and wrangle up a swim speed because it’s going to be rough otherwise. All of this sounds horrible right? A set of extra restrictions on your ability to fight right? Well it comes with a pretty amazing trade-off, flight! Well, sort-of flight. It’s not identical, but in an aquatic combat situation you and your party are essentially flying. This “free flight” is amazing and rife with ways to abuse it tactically. Don’t underestimate the versatility of attacking a problem from all angles. It also, unfortunately comes with a bigger negative, that is the opposite of flight, which is falling (sinking). In very deep water things can go horribly wrong quickly if you’re not able to get to something that’s floating you will soon be on your way to the ocean floor.   Control Currents Conjuration Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V,S Casting Time: 10 minutes Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched Duration: 1 day Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No Drawing magical forces around the vessel you touch, you are able to guide sea currents to literally draw the ship along at far greater speeds than normal. Whether oared or sailed, the ship you touch will now move 25% faster than its original base and daily movement rates for a period of one day. Curse Ship Transmutation M Level: Clr 7 Components: V,S,DF Casting Time: lminute Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes Calling upon the mighty power of your deity, you curse the ship of an enemy, dooming both it and its crew to a lifetime of misery and death. Apply the cursed ship template (see p63) immediately. Curse ship cannot be dispelled but it can be removed with a limited wish, miracle or wish spell. In addition, it may also be removed by a break enchantment or In battles too, magic comes to the fore, with sorcerers hurling immense fireballs at enemy vessels as their ship ploughs forward, eager to find a target for its magically charged keen ram. Few captains willingly set sail without some form of magical support and those that do often find themselves at a distinct disadvantage both against mortal enemies and nature, no matter how large their ship and how skilled their crews. remove curse spell cast at a higher caster level than curse ship. Delay Sinking Abjuration Level: Sor/Wiz 7 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes Control Currents Conjuration Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V,S By calling upon powerful arcane forces, you are able to call up invisible barriers of magical force that effectively plug holes in the hulls of sinking ships for a short period of time. Crewmen are then able to effect longer lasting repairs in the hope their ship might reach the safety of port. A ship under the influence of this spell will stop sinking for the duration of its casting. After this period has elapsed , the ship will continue to sink as normal. Distil Water Transmutation Level: Drd 2, Clr 2 Components: V,S, DF Casting Time: 1 action Range: Close (25 ft.+ 5 ft./2 levels) Area: 20ft. radius spread Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Fort halves damage Spell Resistance: No You are able to remove the salt from seawater, transforming it into fresh drinking water. If cast into a huge body of seawater, the freshwater is quickly diluted and lost in a single round but any sea creature caught within the area of effect during this time will immediately suffer 2d6 points of damage (a successful Fortitude save halves this damage) as freshwater is poisonous to them. If the spell is cast into seawater within a container, then the drinking water will remain fresh. Enchant Ram Transmutation Level: Cir 6 Sor/Wiz 6 Components: V,S,F Casting Time: I action Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched Duration: I minute/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes Enchant ram gives a ship's ram a+ I enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. If you are a good* aligned cleric, the weapon is also considered to be blessed, which means it has special effects on certain creatures. At caster level 13-14, the enhancement bonus raises to +2, at level 15-16, +3 and level 17-18, +4. Finally, those with caster levels of 19-20 will grant a +5 enhancement bonus to the rams they enchant. Focus: The ship's ram. Hold Ship Abjuration Level: Sor/Wiz 6 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: I action Range: Long ( 400 ft. + 40 ft./level) Targets: One ship Duration: Concentration Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes A spell much valued by captains who may employ you, hold ship allows you to halt another vessel in its tracks, holding it immobile irrespective of winds, currents and the efforts of its crew. The ship will automatically remain motionless for one round. You may attempt to hold the ship for longer than one round by succeeding in a Concentration check at a DC based on the ship's size, as listed below. This Concentration check is made in addition to any others you may be forced to take, due to sustaining damage or casting in adverse conditions, for example. Ship Size Concentration DC Tiny 10 Small 12 Medium 15 Large 18 Huge 20 Gargantuan 25 Colossal 30 Once a Concentration check has been failed, the spell dissipates and the ship is once again free to move normally. Material Component: A small metal anchor. Pacify Storm Conjuration Level: Drd 3, Cir 4, Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: 1 minute Range: 1 mile centred on ship touched Targets: One ship touched Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No You are able to harness the magical energies required to calm the most powerful of storms, enabling the ships you sail in to speed safely through raging tempests. Pacify storm will affect only natural storms, altering the conditions for one mile in every direction around the ship so touched to strong winds (see p22.). This spell has no effect on storms of a magical nature. Material Component: One pint of rain water. Predict Weather Divination Level: Drd 0, Cir 1, Sor/Wiz 1 Components: V,S Casting Time: 1 minute Range: Personal Area: 1 mile/level Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No By casting this spell, you are able to predict the future weather within its radius of effect. The Games Master will inform you of the coming weather conditions (calm, stormy, etc . .... ) for a period of up to 1 day per caster level. This spell has no ability to predict weather with magical cause, such as those conditions created by other spells. It will only correctly predict natural weather. Protection from Water Abjuration Level: Sor/Wiz 2 Components: V,S,F Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Targets: Object touched Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No Material Component: A handful of dirt. Highly prized amongst wizards, this spell allows you to completely protect any inanimate object of up to two cubic feet from water. Commonly used to seal spellbooks and scrolls from the damaging effects of immersion in water, this spell remains in effect until dispelled. However, it will not protect the objects from other damaging effects, even if water related - crushing damage from being at depth or heat damage from steam, for example. Material Focus: Object to be protected. Repair Ship Casting Time: l action Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes Through the use of this spell, you are able to knit together smashed timbers and ripped sails, restoring a ship a small way to its original seaworthiness. Through using repair ship, you automatically repair one structure point worth to any vessel that has sustained damage. If a ship has been reduced to -1 to -9 structure points, repair ship will stop it losing further structure points and eventually sinking. Material Component: A small piece of timber. Repel Water Abjuration Level: Cir 1, Sor/Wiz 1 Components: V,S Casting Time: l action Range: Touch Targets: Living creatures touched Duration: 2 hours/level (D) Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless to air breathers) Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless to air breathers) You are able to keep a number of subjects completely dry when immersed in water. Divide the duration evenly amongst all the creatures you touch. This spell does not allow creatures to breath water, only keep them and any possessions they carry perfectly dry when immersed. If used against a water* breathing creature, it will effectively suffocate them for the duration of the spell. Resist Pressure Abjuration Level: Drd I, Sor/Wiz 2 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: I action Range: Touch Targets: One living creature touched Duration: I hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) By calling upon protective magics and sorcerous barriers, any subject you touch will be resistant to the huge pressures water can exert at great depths. The subject will be completely immune to crushing caused by water depth for the duration of this spell. Material Component: A small live shellfish. Seavision Transmutation Level: Drd 1, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: I action Range: Touch Targets: One living creature touched Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) Any subject you touch will have their vision completely unaffected by being underwater. Their vision remains exactly as it does on dry land, granting them a great advantage over those reliant on more natural means of sight. Gloomy water and darkness affect the subject as normal, however. Material Component: A pair of fish eyes. Shell Skin Transmutation Level: Drd 4 Components: V,S,DF Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Targets: One living creature touched Duration: 10 minutes/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) Invoking powerful druidic magicks, you cause the skin of the subject to become hard and extremely durable, giving it a thick texture reminiscent of sea shells. This grants a +4 natural armour bonus to the AC of the subject. This natural armour bonus increases to +5 at caster level 10 and +6 at caster 14. Teleport Ship Transmutation (Teleportation) Level: Sor/Wiz 9 Components: V Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Targets: One ship touched, plus all crew and cargo carried Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None and Will negates ( object) Spell Resistance: No and yes (object) This spell instantly teleports a ship and all its crew and cargo to a designated destination. Distance is not a factor, but interplanar travel is not possible. A ship of any size may be teleported in this way, along with all its crew and cargo but you must be present on board the ship yourself. All the usual rules for the teleport spell detailed in Core Rulebook I are used for teleport ship, including the blocking of astral travel and the use of the teleport table to determine actual destinations and mishaps. If a mishap does occur, all characters take 1D10 damage, whilst the crew lose 3D10 Crew Hit Points and the ship itself is dealt 3d6 structural points of damage. Tsunami Evocation Level: Ord 7, Cir 8, Sor/Wiz 8 Components: V,S Casting Time: l minute Range: Long ( 400 ft. + 40 ft./level) Effect: Tsunami l O ft./level high, 50 ft./level wide Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes This is amongst the mightiest of magicks available to any practitioner sailing on the high seas. Harnessing the awesome power of the ocean, you cause a great tsunami, a massive and destructive wave, to rise up and destroy all in its path. The tsunami moves directly away from you at 100 feet per round. It will continue travelling for l mile per caster level before it dissipates. Any ship hit by a tsunami must make a Seamanship check at DC 10 to ride the wave out. This check is modified by -1 per 10 feet the tsunami is in height. In addition, it is further modified by the ship's size, as shown below; Ship Size Seamanship check modifier Tiny -8 Small -4 Medium -2 Large -1 Huge +O Gargantuan +l Colossal +2 A ship that fails this Seamanship check will sustain 1 d6 structure points of damage per 10 feet of the tsunami in height. The tsunami will double in height in coastal waters, but will slow down to 50 feet per round and will deal 1d6 structural points of damage for every 20 feet in height. The Games Master will decide the effects of the tsunami if it should ever make contact with land, but as a rule of thumb, coastal villages will be utterly destroyed and the wave will cause serious death and damage to a port town. Whirlpool Evocation Level: Drd 9 Components: V,S,DF Casting Time: 1 action Range: Long ( 400 ft. + 40 ft.fl eve I) Effect: Whirlpool 60 ft. wide, 300 ft. deep Duration: 1 round/level Saving Throw: Reflex negates (see text) Spell Resistance: Yes You are able to create a powerful whirlpool in any large body of water with this spell, moving it at will at a speed of 60 feet per round. You can concentrate on controlling the whirlpool's every move or specify a simple program, such as move straight ahead, zigzag, circle or such like. Directing the whirlpool's movements or changing its programmed course is a standard action for you. The whirlpool always moves during your turn, in Initiative order. If the whirlpool exceeds the spell's maximum range, it moves in a random, uncontrolled fashion for 1D3 rounds and then dissipates. You cannot regain control of the whirlpool in this event, even if it subsequently moves back into range. Any huge or smaller creature who comes into contact with the whirlpool must succeed at a Reflex save or be dealt 3d6 points of damage. If this Reflex save is failed, another must be taken immediately or the creature will be sucked down to the bottom of the whirlpool, 300 feet below the surface of the water, possibly causing crushing damage from depth. Any medium or smaller sized ship must succeed at a Seamanship check at DC 15 to avoid being dealt 2d6 structural points of damage. Those that fail this check must immediately make another or be sucked down into the whirlpool, where they will immediately sink. All crew and cargo are now considered to be 300 feet below the surface of the water. Water Crush Transmutation Level: Drd 2, Clr 3, Sor/Wiz 3 Components: V,S,M Casting Time: 1 action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels Targets: One creature or object Duration: 1 round/level Saving Throw: Fort halves damage Spell Resistance: Yes You are able to compress the water around a subject, greatly increasing its effective pressure and potentially crushing the subject to death. For the duration of the spell, the subject is considered to be 100 ft. times your caster level deeper than they really are. This spell will only work when the subject is completely immersed in any liquid and you cannot cause them to be effectively more than 1000 ft. deeper than they really are. Material Component: Tentacle of a deep sea squid.

Applications To apply to this game, please post on this thread no later than 11:59 AM (Noon) EST, May 30th. A character sheet is NOT required to apply… but with that said, if you’d like to create one and link it in your post, then feel free to! Characters will all be starting at 1st level, I’d like to see: Name: Pretty straightforward- what’s your character’s name? Image: Provide a visual representation of your character. Race: Anything from PHB, and or Volo’s minus the triton is fair game. I would prefer not to have a crew full of Triton’s, part of a sea faring adventure should be the threat on ship wrecks and such. I’m willing to consider a possible single triton and races from other official, published sources on a case by case basis- PM me if you’d like to pitch an idea for a character of a more exotic race! Gender: Female/Male Alignment: Your character's alignment. Class: Again, fairly straightforward. If you choose a subclass or plan to choose a subclass provide it here. Any official, published class/subclass is all right, and I'll consider UA on a case-by-case basis- once again, PM me if you have an idea you'd like to try! Description: Describe your character’s appearance and personality! What do they look like? How do they act? Do they have any particular habits or customs? How do they dress and talk? Personality:This is where you have the chance to really bring your character to life, and make them a real person with their own motivations, desires, traits, and quirks! Background: Provide several paragraphs detailing your characters , I am looking for good story hooks that can result in game, be they good or bad. Quality is more important than quantity you are free to write as long of a background as you desire, if it exceeds a few paragraphs though please place it in a spoiler button. If you do I promise to put in the effort to read it. I’m really looking for is some opportunities to bring in people, decisions, and events from your character’s past. Background Selection: Personality Traits: Ideal: Bond: Flaw: Roleplaying Sample: I would like each of you to provide a couple paragraph sample of your writing in relation to the character you are creating for this game.

Starting Location Characters will begin play in Porta on the following map. However you may be from any location on the map. There will be additional maps as the party sets forth on their explorations that will be added later.

Questions? Feel free to ask any questions you like! You're welcome to post questions in this thread, or PM me. I'll add whatever you all ask in this section so others can see it!   A: My preference is that the party be neutral or good. That said I am happy to allow possible evil intended characters on a case by case basis.   A: We'll be using a 32-point buy. No stat higher than 16 prior to racial bonuses.   A: I'm prepared to run a long-term game here, but I fully understand that life happens. If a player decides they need to drop out, then I'll help them make an exit while looking for a new player to take their place at an appropriate time for that to happen and new adventurers to join the group.

User	Character	Race and Class	Status
Drachenspirit	Kathwed Rheiha	Human Sorceress - Sea Sorcery	Complete
Herb	Valignant	Lizardfolk Monk - Pyrokine Tradition	Complete
Shaede	Ellesh	Wizard - Abjurer	Complete
Penbeast0	Dagoo "Stubb" Tashtego	Human (Variant) - Barbarian - Totem	Complete
Selini	Aleah	Shifter (Swiftstrider) - Druid (Circle of Dreams)	Complete
Reliq0770	Tinn-Tinn aka Teddy	Bugbear - Arcane Trikster	Complete
mjb	Martin Brodrickson	Protector Aasimar - Cleric - Life	Complete
Dirty Magic	Apsidee Shaninjer (Tzinwar)	Half Elf - Rogue (probably swashbuckler	Complete
Kaylara	Princess Mira	Water GEnasi - Cleric	Complete
GoombaJosh	Joseph Rogerson	Human (Variant) - Fighter (Eldritch Knight)	Complete
Swangrace	Aila Xyrsalor	Elf Wizard - Bladesinger	Complete
Alemar	Durenal "Ren" Coppervein	Dwarf Bard - Valor	Complete
Saratek	Clio	Merfolk Warlock - Celestial	Complete

[Drachenspirit]

Application Name: Kathwed Rheiha Race: Human Gender: Female Alignment: CG Class: Sorcerer -Sea Sorcery Background Selection: Sailor/Pirate Personality Traits: 1) I work hard so that I can play hard when the work is done. 2) I begin or end my day with small traditional rituals that are unfamiliar to those around me. Ideal: The sea is freedom - the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Bond: I was cheated out of my fair share of the profits, and I want to get my due. Flaw: I can't help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets I come across. Background/History: You could say that Kath loves the sea, but she'd say the Sea loves her; "Touched by it", is actually what she'd say if serious. She has been sailing since an early age and the sea has been speaking to her as long as she can remember. What does it say? Here I am, adventure awaits. And so, that's what drives her, adventure on and off the sea, though she prefers the latter. She was born near Jaras where her family are part owners in a orchard and winery cooperative. Always looking to establish new markets for their grapes and wine, she went along on voyages to do just that from an early age. There's no story of loss and tragedy between then and now, merely one young lady's delve into a life on the sea and taking up with Pirates. What few know is that the Goddess of the sea, or so she believes, reached out to her, showing her things of an Arcane nature, opening her mind to sorcery and its intertwining ways with the sea. She has stopped waiting on any demands from said Goddess, believing its just the way of things and her respect for the sea is what got her noticed in the first place. Description: Kathwed, or "Kath", is 5'9" tall and weighs around 140 lbs. She's got that "terminally pretty" look of charm and sailor's grace. With black hair, and sea-tanned skin, she definitely dresses the part of one who has her sea legs. Personality: Kath's driving force is improving her means, standing, and knowledge of the ways of the world and them what's in it. She fully understands that it takes a crew to run a ship, the same as it does to complete a task or adventure. She believes she is on a journey and how she gets there is more important than where she's going. Gain her trust, and you've got a friend for life. Lose her trust, or cross her, and you've got an enemy of the same. Like many sailors, she's cut from the sail cloth of working hard so she can play hard when the work is done. She firmly believes that the sea is freedom - the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Not long ago, she was cheated out of her fair share of the profits from a certain enterprise, so she wants to get what's due her. This may be why she can't help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets she come across. Problem is, "loose" is a word often debated over. Roleplaying Sample: Lying on some rolled up sail on the fore deck, her feet up on a small cask of oil, she was casting minor spells of the spray that was coming up over the bow as they sailed into a strong wind, tacking often. If the spray was substantial enough, she merely wave a hand at it, and a good portion of it would instantly freeze and turn into ice of any color she could think of. She was currently into shades of purple. The ice would crash onto the deck and fracture into dozens of pieces, eventually starting to melt and then slide back into the sea. The Captain approached, and watched the display for a moment and then said, "The men 'ave been wonderin' jest 'ow ye do that, Kath. Kinda like t'know ma'self." He didn't ask if she minded telling him, or if she wanted to. He didn't have to ask. He was the Captain. Raised a proper young lady for as long as they could until she left home on her own, Kathwed didn't have the Sailor's tongue or manner of speech. Sure she understood it, and could curse with the best of them, but she was fine with who she was, so she didn't need to pretend. It helped that she'd proven herself as a member of the crew, especially with her okay navigating skills and persuasive manner with dock workers. It helped that she had a bit of Arcane knowledge and was officially signed on as the Ship's mage. Only, she was no wizard and few thought her even capable of weaving spells. Much to their chagrin, and sometimes peril. "It's the sea, Captain. She speaks to me and gives me leave to pull some of her power and kind of ball it up if you will, or coil it and tie it in different ways like that rope there. Then, I let it go and all those coils and knots all line up to do things like this. Kinda like without rope, our sails would be useless. Don't know any other way to describe it really, not having gone to an Academy or anything. Just makes sense to me." She left it at that, and so did he. Then someone yelled out 'Sail on the port quarter', and she went to the rail like most everyone else to have a look.

[Herb]

Valignant Name: Valignant Race: Lizardfolk Gender: Male Alignment: Neutral Class: Monk (Pyrokine Tradition) Baackground: Criminal Personality Traits: Always have a plan Ideal: Redemption Bond: Guilty of a Crime Flaw: Noticeable 'Tell' when he's lying.   Background: Val was part of a Lizardfolk caravan that traveled around doing business, until one morning Val woke up and they were gone. Finding himself in an unfamiliar city, by himself, ending up as part of a small street gang, they quickly found ways to hide his distinctive shape. Picking up the street hustle mostly as the one who acted the distraction, as money to him was a pretty foreign concept. Eventually he got into a scuffle with another street gang, and was beaten to a pulp, only surviving because an elderly man stepped in and turned the ruffians away. Waking up several days later, to a strange site of the monastery walls, and an old man tending his battered and bruised body. Master Sren took Val into his temple, and taught him a better way, the way of honing ones mind as well as body. Spending the next couple of years living in both worlds, eventually he settled into the life of a student, acting as Master Sren's chief student, until a break-in at the temple and Master Sren was killed, before the place was robber. Val ended up shouldering the blame, as he was the only 'non-human' student, so he left looking for a way to atone to for his perceived failure. Description: Always standing with a slight hunch when working, wearing either very little showing off his vibrant green scales, or clothed in a thick dark grey or black wool set, including a hood, quaterstaff rarely far from his reach. His manner of speech takes some getting used to, as it is very blunt and to the point. Personality: Val has the emotional capacity of a dead frog, or that is often how people view him, in truth he simple doesn't understand most jokes, or the meaning behind them. To him they are simply there, not since Master Sren has he felt any form of bond or connection to another person. Though if you could make him laugh, you'll likely have a friend for life....If you save his life...you'll like likely never get rid of him. Sample: The crows nest was often is usual haunt, somewhere away from the soft fleshy people. They were alright for the most part, but kept away from him as much as possible. Sat cross legged on top of the nest, keeping his eyes out to the horizon when a small smudge appeared. Spending a few moments to let it edge closer, eyes widening ''Pirates!, long distance, To our left!'' his voice falling on the lounging sailors below, who quickly bolted to action. ''Ow'big be she Val?'' bellowed up the captain from the bridge, standing up in the nest and straining his eyes to the incoming ship. ''Big...Bigger then us'' Val called down, ''More guns, slower''.. The ship lurched to starboard as all the sails unfurled...Shouts from the main deck of orders, and the noise of people following them, the wind thundering against Val's face as he turned to keep the trailing ship in sight as his own ship quickly picked up speed. The echo of cannon fire caught on the breeze followed by the nearby splash of a narrow miss.

[Shaede]

Application Status - Submitted for Consideration

Ellesh Name: Ellesh Race: V. Human Alignment: True Neutral Class: Wizard - School of Abjuration Background: Sage Personality Traits: I’m willing to listen to every side of an argument before I make my own judgment. There’s nothing I like more than a good mystery. Ideal: No Limits. Nothing should fetter the infinite possibility inherent in all existence. Bond: I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question. Flaw: I speak without really thinking through my words, invariably insulting others. Appearance: Ellesh is very tall For a human. He stands at a height of about 6'-4". His skin is a very pale, even though he spends the majority of his time outdoors. This could be attributed to a pigmentation gene that was passed down from his mother. He has small, pinned back ears, and a very broad, flat nose. From beneath the robes that he always wears, dark brown eyes are constantly evaluating all situations, whether it be people or places. His robes are dark blue in color, and they are adorned with various arcane symbols from where he draws his strength and power. Ellesh's feet are adorned with simple, leather boots that are meant to keep the seawater out and his feet always dry. Personality: Ellesh is a cool, calm, and collected individual. He is in search of knowledge and solving life's mysteries. More specifically, he is attempting to control the weave to draw greater and greater power from it. Though that may take a lifetime, he is not deterred. Therefore, he has taken up the life of a traveler and an adventurer. Seeing the unique places and people of the world fuel his thirst of information. He would be described as near emotionless, in fact, he is quite the opposite. Ellesh is an expert at hiding his true feelings, as he believes that the emotional center of his brain may run counter-intuitive to his rational thinking. It is something that he struggles with in social situations, but he'd rather have a justifiable response to someone than an emotional one. That's not to say that Ellesh is the 'silent type.' In fact, he is very talkative and will gladly discuss ideas, concepts, and other abstract concepts with anyone who may listen. However, when it comes to his personal life, he is a brick wall. History:   Ellesh had always been a wanderer and an explorer. Since the age of twelve, he knew that he had an innate ability to bend the weave to his will. His excelled at creating defensive spells which were very helpful as a young man. Born to a cartwright and a milkmaid, Ellesh lived in a small village on the outskirts of Shanrin, the regional capital. It was a simple life, but given his lanky, awkward size, Ellesh was often the butt of many jokes and general bullying from other kids his age. Very few children attended formal education in the village, however, his parents made it a point to spend whatever free money they had to pay for his schooling. He was not going to end up taking over the family business. So, his intellectual prowess combined with his awkward physical self made him ripe for being picked on. After an incident involving five other village kids, Ellesh was forced to leave the village. His father and mother hated to see him leave, but there was no way that the village elders would allow him to stay. Equipped with little more than the clothes on his back, he set off for exploration and knowledge. That was the key thing that drove Ellesh - knowledge. His power was untamed and weak, and he truly felt that if he could concentrate and focus his abilities, he would be able to understand who he was and what he was capable of doing. Though, for some, seventeen was too tender to be out on his own among the wilds of the world. He wound up in Shanrin and began looking for work to pay for his room and board. He took up with a local bookseller who bought and sold rare tomes covering all subject matters from devils and demons to proper agricultural techniques in arid climates. Nothing was off limits. Ellesh took up residence in a back room of the shop where he would spend his night reading and learning. More importantly, he practiced his skills with the help of certain books that came into his benefactor's possession. Ellesh spent five years working for the bookseller, and it was a wonderful relationship. He was never bullied, and his thirst for knowledge was welcomed. They would discuss the books he read, their content, and their view of the world. However, after a see RP sampleterrible fire one awful night, the store burned to the ground, taking his benefactor with it. Ellesh was heartbroken, as he deeply loved the man, and appreciated all that was done for him. But, when one door closes, another opens. After the fire, he found a flyer on a noticeboard calling for all those who would join on an expedition to the Jarin Isles. It seemed these were the unexplored, tropical isles in and around Porta. With nothing keeping him in Shanrin, he joined up with the rag tag group, and set sail as soon as he could. Ellesh was eager to explore the unknown. It was as if a fictional story had come to life, and instead of exploring an unknown land through the pages of a book, his very own eyes would be the pen and paper. He was excited to see what this new world held. Roleplay Example: The End of a Chapter   The day was profitable for Gharem. He managed to sell three books to various customers, but most importantly, one of them happened to be a rare tome on the burial and preservation methods of people in the remote Varrilla region. There were only two in existence, and Gharem happened to have one of them. He happened to sell the book for nearly three times what he originally paid to a very strange, pale looking man that randomly came into the shop that day. The man gave him an uneasy feeling, but with what he made on the sale, he could live a whole month. Money overruled his own concern. After the customer left, the boy, Ellesh came over to him. "What did he want?" Ellesh asked. "Why, that man right there has just made our whole month. You know that book about the dead in Varilla?" Ellesh nodded. "Well, I just sold it to him, and for nearly three times what I paid! It's time to celebrate," he said very excitedly. Ellesh smiled and congratulated Gharem on the sale. If his supervisor was happy, that meant that Ellesh would likely share in the profits, as well. He had already read the book in question, and managed to memorize most of the techniques. It was too macabre for his taste, but to each their own. Gharem instructed Ellesh to close the door and lock it. They were going to have big night of food and merriment. The pair closed up shop and wandered over the local watering hole. While there, they ordered up four bottles of very nice, red wine. They ate high off the hog for hours with a mixture of bread, cheeses, fruit, and salted meats. The meal was amazing, and the wine went down smoothly. By the end of the evening, they were both well into their cups and decided to head back home. Stumbling down the road, the two managed to find their shop and home. Ellesh excused himself and immediately turned in for the night. He collapsed in a heap on his cot in the back room, while Gharem went upstairs to his apartment above the shop. The last thing he said to Ellesh was "Goodnight son. I'm so happy you're with me, and I am proud to see the man that you've become." Those were the last words Gharem ever said to Ellesh. About four hours later, Ellesh awoke to the acrid smell of smoke, and the heat of a fire over his head. Through the small slits in his eyes, he saw the entire ceiling of his room engulfed in the red, orange blanket of flame burning everything in its wake. Tendrils of evil looking tendrils spread across the ceiling to the walls and engulfed anything and everything that was flammable. Ellesh rushed to the stairs and looked up into Gharem's apartment. The entire upper floor was being consumed by the unthinking beast of the house fire. He tried to cast a simple spell to protect him as he charged into the licking tongues of flame. However, his magic was not strong enough, and Ellesh was burned as he moved up the stairs. With no choice but to retreat, Ellesh had to leave before the smoke and fire consumed him also. Out in the street, he could only watch as everything he had known for five years was gone. All of it...the books, the bed, the familiar smell of old paper, Gharem....they were all gone. All he could do was sob in the street as people attempted to console the man. His tears were not enough to extinguish the burning in his gut. Posting Rate: Maximum: Many times per workday (M-F CST). Only once or twice on weekends; Minimum: once per day during workday, none on weekends.

[JaredSyn]

Hey Gang I added updated information requested please include Background Selected, Personality Traits, Ideal, Bond, and Flaw

[SnakeOilCharmer]

I don't have time to add another campaign, but I just want to say this looks incredible and I will likely be stalking your progress.

[penbeast0]

Stubb ] Name: Dagoo "Stubb" Tashtego, nicknamed by one of his companions because he is anything but stubby, it stuck. The last name comes from his mentor. Gender: Male Race: Variant Human Class: Barbarian (Totem) Alignment: Neutral Background: Sailor (Harpooner) Age: 19   Personality Traits: I pray daily to three icons that I carved myself. I speak in halting phrases that I think out one word at a time. Ideal: Survival is the first imperative, for myself, then for my companions. Bond: The sea is my mother, my mistress, my home. Flaw: I see everyone and everything as a threat first, only after the threat is assessed do I look for anything else Personality: Today, we might call it clinical paranoia as a result of childhood trauma. He sees everyone as a potential threat. Fortunately, he is also highly intelligent and understands that his chance of survival is appreciably greater when allied than alone. His presence in the crew is based on his calculation that their company gives him a stronger chance of survival than being alone. He's done that, it's hard, dangerous. While he doesn't talk a great deal, he does carry on a continuing interior monologue, talking to his totems (dolphin, whale, shark). Dolphin for assessment, understanding the environment around him, movement. Whale for defense, survival. Shark for attack and the potential to do harm. Appearance: Dagoo is tall, with a muscular, powerful build. Scarred, both from the teeth of sea creatures and the scars of the cat of nine tails, he is not self conscious about them and rarely wear shirts or shoes. Oddly enough, for a sailor born with no interest in gardening, his tattoos tend to be of flowers and plants. History: Dagoo grew up alone. No family, no companions, feral. He has no clear memories of a family, a mother, a father. Only the island, survival. Then came the galley. Galleys always need rowers and aren't too picky about where they get them. Chained to an oar, the skinny boy became strong and scarred. He also learned to speak, though never that well. During a raid, the rowers got a break, literally, as another ship stove in the side of the galley. It also broke the chain free and though most drowned, Dagoo did not. He and another rower, Tashtego, escaped to the shore and made their way to the city. Tashtego, a skilled warrior, took Dagoo under his wing and taught him the way of the spear. With Tashtego, they signed aboard a vessel hunting sea leviathans. A sailing ship rather than a galley, at first it seemed paradise for the young man. On the recommendation of Tashtego, Dagoo was made the junior harpooner, sailing out in small boats to set the hooks into the great leviathans. But, the Captain grew more and more obsessed with his prey, sailing past the limits of food, water, safety. And eventually, the great leviathan he chased smashed the ship to pieces. The survivors eventually were picked up and deposited here in Porta where Dagoo has come to the ship to sign on with another crew, another voyage, another chance to go back to the only place he feels at home, on the sea.   Duegen wandered out of the bar late, very late. Typical waterfront tavern, typical night, typical heavy drinking. Dagoo watched from the shadows as the bearded cleric stumbled toward their lodgings. Information was the key to survival. He had to depend on his crewmates with his life on the line and while none had let him down in the time they had traveled, you never knew what people were actually thinking, you could only assess probabilities based on experience and knowledge. And knowledge was hard to find. The dwarf didn't know it but there were others lurking in the shadows here and a drunken lush was a likely target. Sure enough, two moved into the street to cut him off, two moved in behind, two others stayed in darkened doorways. "Hello Dwarf. It looks like it's not your night," one of those facing the dwarf smirked. Time seemed to slow. Dagoo opened his senses to Dolphin. 6 targets, two doorways too dark to be sure if there was a 7th. 5 of the 7 within a single movement. Escape possible down the streets forward or backward, possibly climbable window and vines on near side. Dolphin was on his side tonight, he had seen them gather and set their ambush, normally the darkness of the false dawn would be a significant disadvantage. He would set fresh entrails before Dolphin in the morning. Whale. Light weapons, daggers and shortswords, one crossbow. Two seemed likely to attempt backstab. Highest threat potential, the crossbow, as others seemed likely to provide distraction giving him advantage from a shot in the back. Shark. One of those behind the dwarf was within reach, no armor, pre-teen so unlikely to delay him much. Second thinks self hidden but still within reach, could butt strike backward and bring him into melee. Voices had been full of bravado, a mask for fear. Setup had been careless. They could be intimidated into fleeing. Dagoo stepped into a brutal strike on the young . . . girl it seemed . . . in front of him, slicing her back open and knocking her too the ground. "Duegan, front, door right," He then continued his strike thrusting back with the butt of the pike, smashing into her crouching companion. Within moments, three of the attackers were dead, three fled. Dagoo turned to go. "Ay, ya tattooed menace, what in blazes was that? They were kids!" Duergen seemed upset. Dagoo had just saved his life, and yet he was complaining. Looking around quickly, Dolphin confirmed that Duegen was alone, only lightly injured. No companions within sensory range; no one had come to investigate. The attackers had moved off quickly and were unlikely to return. Dagoo noted to Whale that while Duegen had a drawn weapon, the bigger threat was likely spells remaining and Dagoo was out of rage and vulnerable. Shark chimed in that Duegen was lightly injured but he was a dwarf, tough and wearing armor. The alcohol had worn off, hard target. Dagoo could take him if no outside factors entered the equation but it would be a difficult fight and take more time than this shoddy ambush had. Talking was indicated. "You were attacked. Companion. Save life." The dwarf sputtered a bit but it wore down. Threat remote. Time sped up again. The dwarf was still talking and offered him a flask. Dagoo sniffed it. It seems to be alcohol, Dolphin. Alcohol is counter productive, Dagoo'd never seen the point of drinking so he poured a bit on the gash he had taken in his thigh and handed it back. The dwarf sputtered a bit more about wasting good alcohol but it was just noise, not a threat. To ensure that they returned safely, Dagoo accompanied the dwarf back to their lodgings. He wasn't sure what he'd learned but the cost was small and now the dwarf owed him a life. That was to the good.

 

https://www.rpgcrossing.com/profiler/view.php?id=78367

[Selini]

Hello~ I am interested as well. I have a pitch for an exotic race to play, which I would have loved to PM you about instead but I am brand new to this site and it looks like I need to make a few more posts to unlock the ability to PM, so I hope it's okay if I ask here instead. When I hear sailing themed campaign, the first thing that comes to mind is wharf rats, which I could build up using the Shifter (Swiftstrider) race from Eberron, depending on how you'd like varying degrees of werecritters to work in your world here. If at all.

[JaredSyn]

Was thinking a barbarian harpooner. Do you allow harpoons as say, barbed javelin with a cord/line attached that can pull in or hook a target. Maybe allowing a ranged grapple check after a hit?

@penbeast Here are some acceptable rules for a harpoon.
Harpoon
The harpoon is a broad-bladed spear forged with cruel barbs. The shaft of the harpoon has a trailing rope attached to control harpooned opponents. Though intended to be used in hunting whales and other large sea creatures, the harpoon can be used on dry land. Even if an Exotic Weapon Proficiency is taken for the Harpoon, creatures of less than Medium-size suffer a -2 penalty to their attack rolls due to the weapon's weight.

If you inflict damage on your opponent, the harpoon may lodge in the victim if the victim fails a Reflex saving throw against a DC equal to 10 plus the damage you inflicted. The harpooned creature moves at only half speed and cannot charge or run. If you control the trailing rope by succeeding at an opposed Strength check while holding it, the harpooned creature can only move within the limits that the rope allows (the trailing rope is 30 feet long). If the harpooned creature attempts to cast a spell, it must succeed at a Concentration check (DC 15) or fail, losing the spell.

The harpooned creature can pull the harpoon from its wound if it has two free hands and it takes a full-round action to do so, but in so doing it inflicts damage on itself equal to the initial damage the harpoon caused. If you hit with a harpoon and do 8 points of damage and the target removes the harpoon, it takes another 8 points of damage.

Exotic Weapon - Ranged
Cost 15 gp
Dmg(S) 1d8
Dmg(M) 1d10
Crit x2
Range Inc 30 ft.
Weight 10 lb.
Type Piercing

[JaredSyn]

When I hear sailing themed campaign, the first thing that comes to mind is wharf rats, which I could build up using the Shifter (Swiftstrider) race from Eberron, depending on how you'd like varying degrees of werecritters to work in your world here.

@Selini Lets say at this point I will heavily consider it, please put together an application with all the details, I do not see a main reason to deny the request off the top of my head. Shifters are technically not werecritters, but I see your point. I thought swiftstriders were generally feline though not Rodents. LOL

[Auron3991]

Some Questions (partially because I follow the policy of taking nothing for granted):

1) Are infections from damage curable by anything that specifically includes disease removal in it's effect?
2) Are feats allowed? And if so, are varient humans allowed?
3) On islands with no cities, are there small villages?
4) Being some of the most powerful of spells (and highly unlikely to come up until far later anyways), can the likes of Wish and True Resurrection deal with the Constitution drain from dying?

As an aside, I do find it a little humorous that by trying to avoid the healing surge idea, you managed to create almost exactly what I would have house-ruled for short rests in 4e (in 4e it would have been one second wind usage, but close enough).

[mjb]

I would like to post interest
I'll get an app up sometime tomorrow.

[Hiruma Kohaku]

I am posting my interest in playing a human variant bard as the ship’s cook. Character application to come, but I wanted to pass by you a UA feat that normally would be passed over, but seems very fitting for your sea faring campaign.

Gourmand feat: https://media.wizards.com/2016/downl...a-feats-v1.pdf

[Saratek]

This looks very interesting...

[Selini]

Originally Posted by JaredSyn

@Selini Lets say at this point I will heavily consider it, please put together an application with all the details, I do not see a main reason to deny the request off the top of my head. Shifters are technically not werecritters, but I see your point. I thought swiftstriders were generally feline though not Rodents. LOL

Funny enough, the book actually specifically mentions rats for swiftstriders. Tis what sparked this idea in the first place.

Originally Posted by Eberron -Rising from the Last War

Swiftstride are often predatory and feline, but a swiftstride could also be a cunning rat who darts through the shadows.

Application Name: Aleah Race: Shifter (Swiftstrider) Gender: Female Alignment: Chaotic Good Class: Druid (Circle of Dreams) Description: In the rare instance she can be seen standing, Aleah stands a dimunitive 4'4" and a breezy 80lbs. Her build is light to match, lithe, almost unnaturally flexible, and perhaps even malnourished. Two pinkish red eyes sit abnormally large upon her little button face, accented all the more by a broad almost rodent-like nose (complete with what may even be whiskers). Most mistake her for an albino, with short-cut messy silver-white hair and skin as pale as fallen snow, but a closer inspection reveals that pale hue to be a result of the layer of white fur covering most of her body. An equally close inspection might reveal her well hidden tail, pink and hairless, idential in appearance if not necessarily size to any common rat. When she shifts these 'maybe's and 'perhaps' go far out the window. Her ears grow wide and furred, whiskers and fur thicken visibly, face and body elongate (especially her limbs), nails harden to little claws, and her front two teeth extend to reflect her true rodent heritage. Personality: Life on the streets is hard, but build character. If somewhat quirky character. Aleah always found herself stuck halway between civilization and nature just as much as between dreams and sobriety, and her personality matches this conflict. She is, in a word, awkward. Social interactions are difficult for her; the wilderness wildlife, the feywild, and civil society all have very different rules and sometimes they get a little mixed up or mashed together in her head. She has the wisdom to know when to hold her tongue, even if that happens to be mid-sentence, but not the charisma to know how to get it started back up again. At least when she's sober. When intoxicated or "dreaming" she has far less reservations about sharing the abnormal or abstract ideas and visions that pass through her mind. With animals, she is much better versed. She speaks with them as often as they are inclined to listen, watches them for context and survival clues, and uses her druidic abilities to mingle with them as often as she can manage. Despite all this she is not incapable of forming bonds with more civilized company, and when she does she is generally considered to be compassionate and loyal, with a skewed but generally "Good" sense of morals, if not necessarily any sense of civilized laws (except the "don't steal" one, but only due to how many times she's been beaten for it). Despite her mousy outward appearances however, she is a Shifter with the blood of a wererat still coursing strong through her shady lineage, and no meek soul ever shared a body with the Beast. When push comes to shove and flight comes to fight, she is decisive and fearless. Background:   When folk think of the Feywild they imagine lush forests, eldrich nature in colors beyond mortal comprehension, haughty arcane lords of otherworldly courts stealing babies, little fluttering pixies leading mortals into untimely (or overtimely) deaths, and all manner of greenery-based horror and wonder stories. Few think of the water, fewer still have even heard the word Fuath. But along the Angel Bay the presence of these malevolet spirits can be felt from time to time. The darker the depths, the harder it is to tell when the border of the natural and the Fey is thin. Aleah has no memories of her parents, but she knows the Fuath as well as any child knows their mother. At least, if that mother was playfully, twistedly abusive. Her childhood was filled with these drowned caretakers, never fully tending to her needs, occasionally pulling her out to sea and putting her back in an entirely new place, but always giving her just enough to live on if ever she struggled to find it herself. The school of hard knocks were well learned, and at a young age she grew to take care of herself whether on the beach or on the streets. Companionship was hard to come by. The Fuath were more likely to sink her possessions and drown her friends than provide guidance or companionship (and many... many of her friends were drowned), and when they did speak it was in a Fey tongue that took her much longer to learn than most children. But as she grew older and wilder, relying on animals to show her how to live, companionship eventually came. An old hermit found Aleah foraging in her garden, and immediately recognized her for what she was. It took some wildling taming and patience, but eventually the wizened druid earned the little Shifter's trust and took her under her wing. Under this tutelage she learned the full scope of her connection to nature, greater control over the Beast that raged within, and at least a respectable level of table manners. This continued through her teenage years, until she was finally inducted into the Circle of Dreams. Though she knew her mentor could fend for herself against the Fey that haunted her, no small part of her worried that the fate to befall all other friends in her life would catch up. This combined with her natural wanderlust, finally compelled her to leave her mentor upon reaching young adulthood. She would travel the lands in search of self discovery, growth, and maybe even darker answers. And that journey would begin in the nearby city of Porta. Background Selection: Haunted One Harrowing Event: The monsters that slaughtered dozens of innocent people spared your life, and you don’t know why. Personality Traits: I like to squeeze into small places where no one else can get to me. Ideal: Selflessness. I try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. Bond: I owe a debt I can never repay to the person who took pity on me. Flaw: I have an addiction. Roleplaying Sample:   "Did ye say Druid? Ave no need fer trees 'er wolves on mah ship, lass. Ye might be better suited t'a job on land." the surley dwarf began, a skeptical look upon the harriest eyes Aleah had ever seen - and that was a hard competition to win. Though it didn't cow her own gaze, fervant with youthful vigor and newfound purpose. It wasn't every day you just stumbled upon an expedition recuitment... or maybe it was? She didn't know, but still wasn't ready to let this opportunity drop her under steel wool eyebrows. "You have... fish... birds... mice? The sea, beaches, seaweed, fish... Lots more nature out there than trees. Land, sea... it's all the same to me." she chirped back, the puzzle of words fitting poorly in her mouth and that wooly look growing ever sterner. She could tell this line of reasoning wasn't getting through, but luckily her mentor had taught her a trump card. "Ah-... I can heal. Ships need medics right? Adventuring parties double so." "Well why didn't ye START wit that? Aye lookin' at this mottley crew, a medic's 'xactly what we need. Yer hired. But maybe let the big boys do the fightin'. Ye look like a stiff breeze'd bowl ya overboard." He didn't look much less skeptical, but at least those were the right words this time. Hired! Yay! And yikes! Yaykes! Her mind was racing, but she managed to keep herself composed aside from a big smile. "I'm good at staying on my feet, don't worry about that. Ye- uh... thank you. You won't regret this." she beamed, ready to get going right that instant, only to slowly realize that there was a lot more waiting still left to do. "Aye, aye, time will tell lass... time will tell. Get yer things an' meet me at the 3rd Pier in two days, first light. Not a moment later or ye'll be left behind without a coin t'yer name."