[D&D-5e] Chronicles of Jôrd: Troubled Lands

[Thorsten]

Game Name Chronicles of Jôrd: Troubled Lands

Game System DnD 5e

Theme Sandbox Adventures in a Homebrew World

Flavour Mid to Low Fantasy, Sandbox, Gritty, Damsels and Knights in Distress, Intrigue and Politics(?), Music to set the Mood

Applications closed. Thank you to everyone that applied or considered doing so! “Before the world was created there existed only the sullen glare of the Maker’s eternal forge. For eons it hung alone on the sky, home to the Maker as they attempted different creations only to throw them away and start over, unsatisfied with the result. Time and time again the Maker’s hammer would rise and fall, only to have the creation fall short of the Maker’s divine standard. Frustrated at their lack of progress, the Maker turned to their first creation – a gleaming raven made of the darkest onyx – for inspiration. The raven, devious and cunning, suggested that the Maker’s creations lacked a thing to evoke true feelings in those that beheld them. The creations, because they were made by the Maker, were perfection. And because they were perfection, they lacked those little impurities and flaws that set each creation aside and turned them into something unique. The Maker was stunned by this revelation but found in the raven words the inspiration they had been missing, and immediately set out to design their biggest creation so far. They would craft a globe to serve as a home for their many creations, and all things on the globe would be made with minor imperfections, minor flaws so as to ensure the uniqueness of every single creation. The Maker took up their hammer and set to their task with renewed vigor and purpose. And then, upon the Anvil of Creation they brought forth Jôrd and all existence on it. It was the ideal creation that the Maker had envisioned, each minute detail painstakingly handcrafted at their forge, each crack and crevasse, each tall mountain or sloping valley brought into existence with bold blows of their hammer – all made according to their overall design. As the Maker swung their hammer again and again, bent over the anvil and bathed in the heat and red glow of their forge, sweat poured from their brow and fell down to merge with their creation, forming vast oceans where they pooled together. And when every last pebble had been placed, every leaf of grass angled just right the Maker sat back and breathed a sigh of joy – and their breath flew across the plains of Jôrd, swept through the trees caressing each valley and kissing each mountain tops. And for a while the Maker sat and marveled at their creation. Such was their joy at what they had wrought, so great their jubilance at the work they had done, that a single large tear formed and majestically rolled down a golden cheek to drop down onto their creation. And when it struck against Jôrd it burst into the many rivers and lakes and streams that spread out across the earth. And one by one the Maker populated their new creation. First, they brought forth the Trolls, pulled from the roots of the mountains, then the Fae, who spread to the deep forests and snow filled tundras. The Dwarves came next, bound to fire and the places on Jôrd closest to the Maker’s forge and finally they made Humans. Built upon the skeleton of the other races, a mixture of Troll, Fae and Dwarf and able to breach the divide between all. For a time, all was good. Jôrd was everything the Maker had hoped it would be, and for the first time since the Beginning, the Maker put down their hammer and was content simply to watch events unfold on their finest creation. But the raven had a different design. For too long it had sat at the forge with nothing to do but cater to the Maker’s will. And now the Maker had crafted a world – a place the raven could inhabit and explore and mold after its own design. And so, when the Maker was distracted, the raven took flight and left the forge, hiding itself on the dark side of the world, away from the burning glare of the Maker’s fire…”

Explanation of Intent Jôrd is a small pet project of mine that I’ve been on and off working on for a few years now. I made the world and setting with the goal of running a tabletop group in something I had complete creative freedom over, would know by heart (or be able to fake it until I figured out where to go with things) and that would allow my players relatively free reigns to invent themselves and help build up the world, its lore and mythology. My tabletop group is now hard at work exploring Jôrd, and Great Things ™ have already been created as a result. But Jôrd is huge, and I couldn’t help but wonder if running a PbP game alongside my regular group wouldn’t be a great way to explore different parts of the world. Or even revisit things my tabletop group already did, just to allow myself another crack at fleshing out events or areas even more. So that is what I am going to do. And I invite you to join me in exploring the strange places in my mind that have made it into the world of Jôrd and help expand on the setting by taking me places I never knew existed until they suddenly did.

Information This is intended as a sandbox game. That means, I provide the overall framework, but it is up to you to decide what we do with it. As a result there are also a LOT of blank areas in Jôrd. And that is deliberate. I am leaving space for you (yes, *you*, reading right now) to fill Jôrd with everything you feel would help make a great setting and an even greater story. I reserve the right to nudge you in any direction, but I am generally open to most things - or at least open to using your ideas as a groundwork for a bit of brainstorming and spitballing until we figure something out we both think could work. Slap me silly with your creativity and I'll see how we make it stick and where! We will begin the game in the Eastmark, the easternmost province of the Kingdom of Caldaria. It is an area that up until some 100-years ago belonged to the people of the Cwyll, and before that, other nations and tribes called it home. A short but brutal invasion followed by decades of occupation has left Eastmark as a backwater place. A frontier somewhat reminiscent of the Wild West, where local lords reign like kings and tyrants and the long arm of the Royal lawmen can seem far away. That does not necessarily mean a society of outlaws and ne’er-do-wells – just that this is the fringes of civilization, where things are a bit more wild and rough and tumble, than in the cradle of civilization that is the Caldarian capital of Caerdon, weeks worth of travel away. For one reason or another, your characters are in Eastmark. You need not want to be here, and might desire to leave as quickly as circumstances would allow it – but for the foreseeable future, this is the area we will be playing in, so, for better or worse, your character needs to be somewhat invested in it. Characters: I'm aiming for four-five characters. New players and veterans alike are welcome to apply. All I ask is a willingness to adapt to a new world and a desire to fill it with great tales of legends and wonder. Language and mood: I tend to go for a bit grittier stories. I enjoy exploring moral grey zones, and placing players in positions where they will have to choose between rocks and hard places. Not everything will be sunshine and rainbows and though I'll of course abide by the PG-13 rating, expect foul language and fouler npc's. Timeframe: It is the 12th of April now. Let's set a tentative deadline for applications for May 3nd. That is three weeks away, which should be ample time to get something down in writing. I will answer questions as they pup up and try to gather everything into a FAQ kept on the first page of this thread. As time and mood allow it, I may prompt you with questions or suggestions to help you sharpen your applications up and make your characters crisp and strong and able to fit in to the world and setting. Rate of posting: I will not attempt to set a pace I cannot hope to keep, so I am expecting once a week at max. As a rule, I'll attempt to update when everyone has gotten at least one post in and I have an open window to write something coherent, so if the pace increases, I will do my best to follow along but I do not want to set unrealistic expectations. IRL gets in the way sometimes, and we need to adapt to that. Creating your character Races: We’ll be playing in what is known as the Eastmark or Lower Cwyll (depending on who you ask). It is the easternmost province of Caldaria and is predominantly human. As a low fantasy setting, humans will consist of at least 80% (if not more) of the people you will meet and only by traveling far (far) away from your starting area is that likely going to change. That said, a few other homebrew races exist, namely Jerghalan dwarves, Trollkin, Watchers.   Humans Humans are the most numerous people of Talb, inhabiting almost every part of the continent. There are seven predominantly human nationalities or cultures: The Berou, the Caldarians, the Ceganastri, the Kaltranii, the Solnians, the Tornilans and the Vanathuli. There is no typical human. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. Occasionally there are humans who have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of trollkin, dwarf, or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century. Adventurers: Ambition alone drives countless humans, and for many, adventuring serves as a means to an end, whether it be wealth, acclaim, social status, or arcane knowledge. A few pursue adventuring careers simply for the thrill of danger. Humans hail from myriad regions and backgrounds, and as such can fill any role within an adventuring party. When creating a human, pick a heritage to determine the starting characteristics of your character. Ability Score Increase. One Ability Score of your choice increases by 2, and one other Ability Score of your choice increase by 1 or you increase three different scores by 1. Age. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century. Alignment. Humans tend toward no particular alignment. The best and the worst are found among them Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Choose one of the following to determine your cultural or regional upbringing. Each culture has a focus on specific elements, that shows itself in the benefits they grant. Caldarian You belong to the hardy folk from Caldaria ✦Skills. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice as well as with an artisan tool of your choice. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write Caldarii and speak one extra language of your choice. Female Names: Branwen, Bronwyn, Daere, Esylt, Ffiona, Ifanna, Mererid, Morwenna, Rhonwen, Sage, Saeth, Taewen, Talis Male Names: Alain, Arawn, Bradwen, Cadog, Geraint, Gofraidh, Leofric, Medyr, Irfon, Owin, Padrig, Rhain, Rhys, Roulf Beroulon You originate from among the dragon riders of Beroul. ✦Skills. You gain proficiency in Animal Handling as well as with a skill of your choice. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write Beroulon and speak one extra language of your choice. Female Names: Alana, Alienor, Annaig, Barbe, Bastienne, Blanche, Enora, Gaelle, Isabeau, Jehannette, Katell, Maelle, Peronelle, Robine, Rozenn, Yanna Male Names: Alixandre, Anseau, Arnaud, Baldwin, Eustace, Godefrey, Godemar, Gobert, Mercadier, Rauolet, Rennequin, Rostan, Tancred, Tristan, Simonet, Ceganastran Descendent of the lost people, you come from a nation that views the pursuit of knowledge and personal aspirations as above all else. ✦Skills. You gain proficiency in Persuasion and one skill of your choice. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write Ceganastran and speak two extra languages of your choice. Female Names: Aea, Amare, En-Hedu-Anna, Eulli, Delondra, Gemeshega, Inanna, Kisha, Ku-Aya, Liliah, Nisaba, Sharrat, Siliah, Tara, Tabni Male Names: Amar-Sin, Assur, Burrukam, Dagan, Ekur, Hanish, Kabid, Kush, Melem, Mushtal, Naram, Nergal, Sagil, Samum, Shulgi, Tuge, Warad, Yarlan Solnian You stem from the greatest Empire on Jôrd and know how to act accordingly. ✦Skills. You gain proficiency in Persuasion and one skill of your choice. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write Solnian and speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice. Female Names: Agnise, Casarea, Enneleyn, Florentia, Galeata, Helena, Honoria, Justinia, Katerina, Kirstan, Lucia, Natalia, Principia, Renata, Theresia, Veronica, Victoria Male Names: Armien, Anselm, Bartke, Berteram, Dantes, Greger, Haug, Herdan, Kuncz, Leupold, Janderke, Pawel, Reynhard, Sighard, Thankmar, Tullius, Warmund, Wolfker   Jerghalan dwarves Jerghalan or Southron dwarves are typically swarthy with gleaming teeth and dark beards and hair. They favour gold and brass jewelry and recent styles among the Jerghalan citizenry include thick braided beards adorned with heavy golden rings for men and golden nose rings, sometimes with fine link chains leading from nostril to ear for the females. When creating a Jerghalan dwarf, you recieve the Jerghalan heritage to help determine the starting characteristics of your character. Ability Score Increase: One Ability Score of your choice increases by 2, and one other Ability Score of your choice increase by 1 or you increase three different scores by 1. Age: Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they're considered young until they reach the age of 30. On average, they live about 120 years. Alignment: Most dwarves are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a well-ordered society. They tend toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of a just order. Size: Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium. Speed: Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor. Low-light Vision: You can see twice as far in dim light. You retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions. Dwarven Endurance: When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a Long Rest. Heritages Jerghalan You belong to the Realm of the Crimson Sea, living in gleaming white cities under a merciless sun. You have perhaps served as a fisherman or a merchant in the past, or done duty in the Shah's illustrious Imperishable Guard. Whatever the case, constant threats from beyond the dunes means you are ready to grab arms if the great horns sound and fight to defend your home and way of live. ✦Jerghalan Militia Training. Jerghala trains it citizens so they can always call upon them in times of war. You have proficiency with Shields and Spears. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write Jerghalan and speak one other language of your choice. Female Names: Ami, Bita, Fariba, Kira, Mozdeh, Nika, Rudaba, Shirin, Tahmina Male Names: Arslan, Bobak, Dilwar, Farbod, Gurgen, Jahan, Khorshid, Omid, Rostam, Salar   Trollkin Trollkin is the common name used for any member of the various tribes in the Troll kingdoms. Trollkin are generally taller and more physically robust than humans. They have skin of varying earthen colors (such as grey, brown, and ochre), wild manes of dark hair, pointed ears, long tufted tails and eyes with yellowish or dirty orange colors. Most trollkin have large curling horns like those of a ram that find use both for battle and as a means of showing status, but there are cases occasionally cases where a troll is born without horns. Hornless trolls are seen as special among the tribes and often find themselves elevated into roles of a more spiritual and intellectual bent in trollkin society. Lineage and heritage are a big deal for trolls and reciting the deeds of ancestors is a pastime around the grand bonfires in a trollkin denhouse. Ability Score Increase: One Ability Score of your choice increases by 2, and one other Ability Score of your choice increase by 1 or you increase three different scores by 1. Age: Trolls mature in their late teens and live to become around 120 years old. Alignment: Trollkin society is fiercely proud and independent with emphasis on martial prowess and the individuals skills and abilities. They usually put their tribe and family before all others and refuse to bow to foreign powers or laws – even if it is to their detriment. They are usually chaotic. Good and evil can be found in Trollkin society in equal measure. Size: Trolls are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium. Barely. Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Low-light Vision: You can see twice as far in dim light. You retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions. Trollblooded: You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. Horns: You have horns that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike Hammering Horns: Immediately after you hit a creature with a melee attack as part of the Attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to push that target with your horns. The target must be withing 4 feet of you and no more than one size larger than you. Unless it succeeds in a Strength saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency + your Strength modifier. you push it up to 10 feet away from you. Heritages Trollhemner You come from the frigid rocky peninsular of Trollhem to the north, where tribes fight with - and against one another on a regular basis. Perhaps you went of a raid against the meek human realms to the south once or perhaps you were a productive member of your tribal community, herding goats or trading fur and ivory for southern luxuries. Whatever the case, you take great pride in your people and hope to prove your worth to the ancestors one day. ✦Languages: You speak Trolltunga as well as one other language of your choice. Female Names: Aldis, Bera, Bothild, Drifa, Gerd, Gjaflaug, Hallkatla, Hervor, Katla, Luta, Melkorka, Nafni, Rannveig, Runa, Salbjorg, Skurfa, Slothi, Thraslaug, Torunn Male Names: Aurn, Baugi, Bergelmir, Bjorn, Greip, Gangr, Hallad, Hrarn, Hreirn, Jomar, Kadal, Kodran, Naddod, Odd, Skallagrim, Skopti, Stein, Thrain, Volgr, Urreimr   Watchers Though they do not exist in great numbers, the watchers are a unique existence on Jôrd. Belonging to the guardians the Divine Maker created to watch over and keep a guard on his first creations, watchers, as the name suggests, have spent the majority of their existence doing just that. When the Crow rebelled against the Maker and brought the first creations to Jôrd to spread chaos and ruin, the watchers followed to act as a natural counterforce. They have been walking among the people of Jôrd ever since. Not two watcher looks the same, as each has found its own way to adapt to centuries on Jôrd’s surface. Aberrant head shapes, animal characteristics, oaken skin – all set watchers from the rest of the creatures of Jôrd. Because of their unusual nature and origin and their inability to reproduce, watchers are often viewed with fear and wonder. Ability Score Increase. One Ability Score of your choice increases by 2, and one other Ability Score of your choice increase by 1 or you increase three different scores by 1. Age. Watchers have predetermined lifespans of 500 years, after which they will go inert. They may die of unnatural causes before that but will not visibly age or get sick. After the Maker’s sudden silence, no new watchers have been created, meaning they are growing ever fewer in number unless a method for them to bolster their numbers are found. Alignment. As people who follow the rhythm of nature and see themselves as its caretakers, Watchers are typically neutral good. The laws of man mean little to them, but they do stand in natural opposition to the First Creations. Evil watchers are almost unheard of and are likely the sworn enemies of the rest of their kind (and even the rest of creation). Size. Watchers are lithe beings between 6 and 7 feet tall and weigh between 140 and 200 pounds. Your size is Medium. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Watcher Magic. You can cast Detect Magic and Disguise Self with this trait, using Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for them. Once you cast either spell, you can't cast it again with this trait until you finish a short or long rest. When you use this version of disguise self, you can seem up to 3 feet shorter than normal, allowing you to more easily blend in with the various races and cultures of Jôrd. Divine Sight. Created as wardens of the dark and watchers of the void, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Divine Blood. The blood that runs through your veins is a golden ichor. You are resistant to necrotic damage and radiant damage. Vigil. Watchers don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “Vigil.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises to sort through the impressions of a day that have become reflexive through years of practice. Speech of Beast and Leaf. You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with beasts and plants. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them. Heritages Watchers do not have a heritage. As someone originating outside of Jôrd, they are meant to preserve it, not make a cultural mark on it. That said, over time a Watcher may adopt cultural practices from among the people the reside with or near to help facilitate peaceful interactions with them or move among them unseen. ✦Languages. You can speak, read, and write two languages of your choice. Female/Male Names: Watcher names are chosen by the individual watcher the moment they are brought to Jôrd. It can be a name common to the area they usually safeguard or a virtue name meant to embody a wish, goal or other life path they strife to embody or achieve. The Watchers of Jôrd Watchers have taken on the singular task of defending Jôrd and its creatures against the children of the First Creations. That is their sole assignment and charge, and they will not waiver from it to pursue other, more mundane, goals. As such, the only class available to watchers is druid – and watchers are the only race able to play this class. On Jôrd a druid and a watcher are an interchangeable entity. Classes: Everything official works. In some cases, a simple reskin of a class to make it more thematically fitting may be a great way to get to play something you love, while also have it fit into a world a lot less magical and steampunk than seems to be the norm of today’s DnD. There is only one true restriction: in order to play a druid you *must* be a Watcher, and to be a Watcher you *must* play a druid. That race and class is meshed into one single entity in Jôrd. Jôrd is a low magic world. What that means is that while you can play everything you want, playing a spellcaster makes you a rarity. Then again, you *are* burgeoning heroes, so you should feel special. Alignment: I don’t really do alignments. Feel free to include or not as you see fit. Starting Level: 1 – and future leveling will be by Milestone. Starting Equipment: Standard starting equipment. If something feels out of place and you want to swap it with something else, let me know and we’ll figure something out. Ability Score Selection: Standard Array. Be aware that every race – including humans – have gotten an overhaul in this setting, meaning that every race gets to assign either +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 stat points wherever they chose (on the downside, no variant humans with feats, but you can’t have it all, can you?) Hit Points: Max at first level. Roll for each subsequent level (you get to reroll each roll once, but must abide by the second result) Application Format Name: Character name Gender Identity: Race: See above for a bit more on races. Age: Randomly rolled or chosen Class: Description: Your character's physical description and mannerisms. A picture is awesome, but words is why we are here. Personality: What lies beneath the surface? Background: Talk about yourself. Who are you? Where are you from? Do you have family/friends? Are they alive? What persuaded you to head to Eastmark? What are your goals in life? Feel free to secret things if needed (if, for example, you are more – or less – than you say you are and don’t want others to know), but the more there is for me to work with here, the better. A good background allows me to flavor the game with things that your character can work into their RP – a great background allows me to build entire adventure arcs! Background Archetype: Personality Traits x2/Ideal/Bond/Flaw: Remember that the ones provided are not necessarily final and can be used for inspiration. Or feel free to mix and match from different backgrounds if that works for you as well (if so, please let me know from where). Contacts: Please come up with 3-5 people that are somehow connected to your character. This can be anything from family to rivals or people you owe money. At least one of the five needs to be friendly, and one hostile. Writing Sample: Optional

Setting Info Anyone interested in looking a bit deeper into the setting can go to the game forum and dig around. Stuff will be regularly be added as I go through my various notes and get it typed in, but at least theres a bit to get started in terms of religion and geographical locations. Link

[Thorsten]

Q&A Q: Is Critical Roll's Blood Hunter class available? A: Sure. We can work the concept into this world in one way or another. Q: What pantheon are you using in Jord? As it's homebrew I don't want to assume any of the standard. A:   You can read a segment about religion in Jôrd here. In short, there is but one god. The Divine Maker. They created this world and everything in it. They also created some other stuff that was a bit too... perfect. Those are called the First Creations, and they were never intended to exist on Jôrd in the first place, but one of their number tricked the Maker and lured them down here. It is from their loins a lot of the monsters that roam the world originate. And they are the reason the Watchers came here as well, as a sort of counter-measure. Everyone has faith (or not) in the Maker. But there are as many churches, temples or gospels of that faith as there are stars in the sky, so there's plenty of room for some good ol' fashion theological dispute if that's your poison. In Caldaria the main faith is called simply the Church of Caldaria, while Soln, to take another example, has the Imperial Following. If you are planning on playing a religious character, feel free to make up your own branch of Talhaernite faith with its own particular doctrine, or a subdivision of some already existing doctrine, and lo and behold there'll be another star on that dotted sky Q: What are the typical physical attributes of each human race? e.g. skin tone, hair, eyes, build. A:   In terms of physical attributes, I can tell you what historical cultures and people served as the background for each playable culture here. I'll add this to the first page as well, for future reference. Caldaria: Caldaria is envisioned as a mixture of medieval England and Brittany with a hint of Nordic influences. Beroul: France, but with people flying and breeding drakes and wyverns. Soln: Is Mid/late Denmark/Holy Roman Empire. They, without out a doubt are the biggest military power on the continent. Ceganastra: Was originally inspired by the Babylonians, especially with their hanging gardens, though I think in my head I have them pushed more into Egypt or Libya by now. They used to be one of the most advanced civilizations, before they where, quite literally, sent into a hell of their own making. Continuing with the other races Jerghala: Was inspired heavily by Persia and Phoenicia. Instead of the Scottish vikings I wanted my dwarves to be seafarers, caravaners and clad in silk and gleaming armor. The City of Djeb Sherik is also one I am personally looking forward to exploring, as that has by far been one of the most exciting places for me to flesh out. Trollkin: Come from a heavy Norse background. And Trollkin raiders in longboats most certainly are a thing (and likely something that makes most Caldarians a bit wobbly at the knees). I hope that helps in creating some form of imagery of the different people. That doesn't mean you should feel forced to go with anything in terms of physical look or build, it is just where I drew inspiration from, both in terms of their regional climate but also in what they dress themselves in, how their architecture looks and how they have managed to carve out kingdoms and empires for themselves. Q: Is there any type of map to accompany the continent lore? A:   Not at the moment, no. For my tabletop game, we made a map of Eastmark out of 3d-printed hex tiles (the players each took turns placing a tile until the entire province was fleshed out) that I am mounting on the wall, and I am contemplating how I can best transfer that into something visual for the boards here, but I am not in the homestretch there quite yet. If I can figure out a solution to that, then yes, there will be. At least for Eastmark. Q: Couple of Questions: 1st, is Multiclassing a thing? And 2nd, is there an expected end level to this game (no sense in planning out a progression to level 10 if we're stopping around level 4) ? A:   1st: Sure, within the parameters of a setting (you cannot multiclass to or from druid). The setting may be different and the races not what you are used to, but mechanics-wise this is still 5th ed. 2nd: No, there isn't an expected end level. That said, this is pbp, and the longest still-living game I've been in has seen me go from lvl 3 to 6 in a period of about 4 actual years. As is always my suggestion when playing PbP's, don't create a character you would want to play in 10 levels. Play a character you would want to play right now. Q: Any Druid circle restriction in Jôrd? A: No circle restrictions.

Player	Character	Race and Heritage	Class	Status
JohnStone	Valisha Nightengale	Human (Ceganastran)	Warlock (Hexblade)	Done - 1st feedback given
tomplum	Kinya	Human (Ceganastran)	Sorcerer	Done - 1st feedback given
Effete	Jaquin Almauld	Human (Beroulon)	Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)	Done - 1st feedback given
Anea	Garmr Farbanti	Trollkin (Trollhemner)	Barbarian	WIP
Begon Ugo	Thomman Aggamor	Human (Caldarian)	Rune Knight	Done - 1st feedback given
MercurialJack	Jakob Brandonbain	Human (Caldarian)	Cleric	Done - 1st feedback given
Onward	Natholomew Shagettio	Human (Beroulon)	Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline)	Done - 1st feedback given
delpinator	daggen	Human (Ceganastran)	Artificer (Armorer)	WIP
XQbitor	Roskva The Curseling	Trollkin (Trollhemner)	Blood Hunter (reflavored)	Done - 1st feedback given
Jrod	Gore Shaleskin	Trollkin (Trollhemner)	Paladin	Done - 1st feedback given
Alemar	Alestair Camden	Human (Caldarian)	Fighter	Done - 1st feedback given
DiceGoblin	Callum Allerion	Human (Caldarian)	Ranger	Done - 1st feedback given
cappucina	Radeljost	Watcher	Druid	Done - 1st feedback given
Silent Rain	Rathe Collin	Human (Caldarian)	Bard	Done - 1st feedback given
Togot	Morholt Caster	Human (Ceganastran)	Wizard	Done - 1st feedback given
FatherDondo	Saskia	Human (Ceganastran)	Cleric	Done - 1st feedback given
Alatere	Eli 'Gravetouched'	Human (Caldarian)	Warlock	Done - 1st feedback given
Drifter One	Skarn Blackwater	Human (?)	Fighter	Done - 1st feedback given
Pig Man	Dreigr	Trollkin (Trollhemner)	Fighter (Battlemaster)	WIP
GeneT	NkumeKamenGur	Watcher	Druid	Done - 1st feedback given
Nasrith	Jahan Balaskas	Dwarf (Jerghalan)	Rogue (Inquisitive)	Done - 1st feedback given
Talissen70	Neran Tovuu	Dwarf (Jerghalan)	Cleric	Done - 1st feedback given
Elanir	Adelbard of House Reyngaard	Human (Solnian)	Cleric (Order)	Done - 1st feedback given

Note: I will not mark anyone as complete until they explicitly state it.

[MercurialJack]

Definitely interested in this. I'll try and put together an application in the next few days! Already have a couple ideas for potential characters, so it may be seeing who else applies with what and what may fit best.

[JohnStone]

introduction Victoria Sterling Human, Female (19) (I went back and forth on this but I think Solnian fits well with the Sterlings, plus it gives us something to do in Soln eventually.Solnian) Swashbuckler for sure. I hope to play up the classic trope with a feminine twist.Rogue Background: Performance and Persuasion, her noble influence wont hold much weight in Eastmark but her reputation as a scoundrel might. She does have friendly criminal contacts after all. Noble Personality Trait: Charm- I take great pains to always look my best, flirtation is my preferred trick for getting what I want. Personality Trait: Guile- I am carefully aware of my surroundings, always with a plan for what to do when things go wrong. Ideal: Aspiration- I'm determined to make something of myself, through any means necessary. Bond: Nobility- I come from a noble family that I can not return to. However that wont stop me from reclaiming the respect I deserve. Flaw: Greed- When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money.

Description Appearance: Victoria is an attractive young woman with a petite frame. Her black hair and light complexion contrast nicely, accentuated by silvery blue eyes. She prefers to wear nice things and has a sense for the latest styles. Most often she is seen wearing tight leather pants, high boots and a loose dress shirt that probably displays more skin than is necessary. A black leather coat serves as both protection and means of storing the tools of her trade. Victoria will often avoid a fight if possible, but she is more than capable of combat if necessary. With several daggers strapped to her belt, another in her boot and a deadly blade concealed within the lords cane she carries this rogue is well equipped for battle. a mix of Catwoman and Zorro with a little Paris HiltonPersonality: Victoria can be rather full of herself, though she merely sees it as confidence. She is usually optimistic and pleasant but can be an annoying bitch when she wants. An incorrigible flirt, she is often the life of the party. Born to a noble house she knows how to carry herself with poise and dignity. She is however completely self absorbed, caring little for anything but her own ambitions. Those ambitions center around attaining the wealth and favor that she believes in due to her.

Backstory History: Victoria was born to the noble house of Lord and Lady Sterling of the Solnian city of Argent. A region known for its clear skies and vast silver mines. The Sterlings are an old family that has been in Soln for centuries. One of the wealthiest as well, though the mines aren't producing like they used to and darker times have fallen onto the city. At the time of the girl's birth her parents were aged beyond their prime and unfortunately her mother did not survive the delivery. Devastated Lord Sterling fell into a deep depression that he never truly recovered from. As a result Valeera was left to grow up without her parents guidance, an orphan in a luxurious home. To make matters worse her elder brother Varian despised his sister blaming her for his mother's death and the hardships that followed. She found herself more at home with the urchin children of the streets. She grew up learning how to steal and swindle in the seedier parts of the city. She didn't need to steal but she enjoyed the thrill of the game. As time went on she gained a reputation with the local guard, her name kept her out of trouble with the law but not without repercussions at home. As her father's Health worsened and her brother began to take on the responsibilities of rulership Victoria became more alienated and more rebellious. Eventually her adolescent logic led to the decision that it would be best to leave Argent and make a life for herself. Issabella was a friend with connections in Eastmark and the two of them crafted a plan to escape with as much of the sterling wealth as they could. It wasnt as much as they hoped but Victoria managed to snag a few choice items and they made it out by ship and the open sea.

People Contacts: Lord Victor Sterling: Victoria's father used to be a jovial man. He and his wife may not have been the greatest of nobility but they were deeply in love. After her death he fell apart, drinking himself half to death and ignoring his responsibilities to his lands, his people and his family. In recent years he has been ill and his daughters self exile saddened him to sobriety. Though his influence may be waning he is still the Lord of Argent and may help Valeera should she return to Soln. (Friendly) Probably a Paldin or Sorcadin designed to be a late game threat.Varian Sterling: Victoria's older brother is a powerful force in Soln. A talented general and ruthless dictator. His ambition is only usurped by his anger and narcissism. He is sure to cause problems for Victoria and her friends should they ever set foot in Soln. (Hostile) Our Damsel in distress, I can see a love affair growing between these two characters as time goes onIssabella Pyke: Vicky's friend from Argent, the two have been inseparable for years. Issabella is a shy and intellectual counter to Val's extroverted flair. A shrewd fence and resourceful thief she has connections to criminal and other enterprises here in Eastmark. (Friendly) Think Gaston from beauty and the beast. I figure he could lead to a villain or adventure hook in the early game.Bastion Yourne: A hedge knight in favor of the Marcher Lords Bastion has done well in Eastmark, even holding a small castle and lands. A handsome capable and truly arrogant man he and Victoria had a brief affair. Unfortunately that ended when Valeera made off with a pile of coin and half of his silverware. Still enamored by the young beauty but not one to be humiliated Bastion is on the hunt for Victoria. Truth be told she is rather attracted to him as well or at least his position. (Complicated)

[Hal Hammerhand]

 

WIP: Name: Gaelle Faedwin Gender: Female Race: Beroulon Human Age: 18 years old Class: Cleric (Tempest) Personality: Appearance: Backstory: Background Archetype: Soldier Personality traits: - - Ideal: Bond: Flaw: Contacts: Writing Sample:

[tomplum]

Application Name: Kinya (means little/small/young in Ceganastran) Gender Identity: Female Race: Human, Ceganastran Age: Young, under 20 Class: Sorcerer Description: Sun-kissed Olive skin and long dark brown hair had once tumbled down to Kinya's lower back. She had always been tall, standing at a full six feet and working on her family's farm had honed a musculature that many men would have been jealous of. A hard worker, she had kept the farm going even as her father's ability to keep up had waned in his later years. That was...until its emergence. The night of the bandit attack changed all that. At the onset of her powers, a third eye opened upon her forehead and strange ridges formed radiating out from her nasal bridge. In the months since, she has been unable to eat more than a scant portion as anything more will reduce her to violent vomiting as if the entity within her abhors nourishment. Her full frame has wasted away to a sickly skeletal thinness that looks no more robust than a desiccated corpse and her once brilliant olive skin has grown pale and tinged with a yellow as one with jaundice. She now keeps a hood low over her face at all times to hide the adherent eye on her face and wears a billowing cape and loose robes to hide her withered frame. Personality: Once optimistic and outgoing, Kinya has become quiet and anxious as her appearance has rendered her afraid to reveal herself to others or to ask for help. While her kind heart remains, she has gone from a strapping farm girl to a timid mouse. Background: Born in a forest on the outskirts of Eastmark to an afflicted Ceganastran woman who had been able to portal herself back home to have her baby on Talb, Kinya was rescued by a watcher who kept her alive until she was old enough to be left with a nearby farmer and his wife to adopted her as their own. However, the taint of the otherworld the Ceganastran were taken to manifested itself upon Kinya and has left her disfigured, unable to eat to fulfillment and possessed with strange powers that she can scarcely control. Her father's dying word, "Empathy" was a tantalizing clue but one Kinya knows not the true meaning of. She finds herself hunted by a sheriff who was tracking the prisoners who attacked her family the night of her emergence and the horizon walker who is determined she is an other-worldly threat that must be put down. Background Archetype: Aberrant Mind Personality Traits: I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer. If someone is in trouble, I'm always ready to lend help. Ideal: I’ll stop the spirit that haunt me or die trying. Bond: My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy. Flaw: The entity in my soul harbors dark, bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell. Mixed Folk Hero, Hermit and Haunted One Contacts: Empathy: A watcher that came across a young Ceganastran infant in the wilds of Eastmark. He coaxed a wolf mother to nurse the babe and kept her alive in the months after finding her before taking her to the outskirts of a village where he left the babe with a farmer. He alone knows the truth of Kinya's birth, he witnessed it. Lord Durban: Local sheriff who was tracking the escaped convicts who attacked Kinya's farmhouse the night of her emergence. He witnessed one figure leave the cottage and found his dead prisoners plus the farmer's and his wife's deceased bodies. He has been tracking this mysterious figure who left alive. Althea Dian: Horizon Walker ranger who tracked a portal to the location that Empathy found the baby. Empathy hid Kinya from the ranger that day but Althea would be very interested to learn of Kinya's physical description and her proximity to place she had found a portal seventeen years earlier. Whatever creature came through that portal must be destroyed. Writing Sample: Excerpt from a recent game post. Something for this character. Night had come early over the farmhouse as a thick cover of fog obscured what little light was provided by the waning moon and rain had softly begun falling creating a droning pitter patter upon the thatched roof. Harvest was in and the small family of three was settled around a table to savor some of the fruits of their labor before taking a large portion of their pickings into town to sate the lord's taxes and sell what little would be left for coin that would hopefully see them through the winter months. His back aching, father stood and held up his wooden cup filled with cider and addressed the two women at the table. "To my loving wife, who sacrificed a life of comfort and plenty to join a simple fool with a green thumb and naught else." Shaking her head and smiling, mother gripped father's hand and simply responded, "I love you." Father then looked to his daughter and said, "Without you, I'd have never gotten the wagon loaded...or the fields planted...or the horses fed...or the water fetched." He shook his head and added, "We've gone and gotten too old for this and I fear I've kept you here longer than you should have been." He had been about to continue when an arrow flew through the open window, piercing his shoulder blade. The door was kicked in and three men forced their way into the cottage. They were dirty and looked to be starving, likely escaped prisoners or wanted men. "Food!" The first man said with a dagger in his hand. "And whatever coin you have!" Kinya's mother must have hesitated just a moment too long, for the raving man lunged at her, stabbing her in the chest with his blade. "I said food!" Crying out in terror, Kinya's voice drove disorienting spikes of psychic energy into the minds of everyone in the cottage who covered their ears and moaned in agony. Then dark tendrils of horrible energy erupted from the girl, lashing out at both robber and family. When Kinya's shouting had died down, she was alone in a broken house with dead bodies strewn about the small house. Her father, however, stirred on the ground. She cradled his head in her lap and as he took his dying breathes, he said one word, "Empathy."

[DiceGoblin]

Throwing in my interest. I'll have a character up in the next couple of days.

[XQbitor]

Interested in playing a Trollkin. Is Critical Roll's Blood Hunter class available?

[BlackDragon0]

Name: Deamon

Race: Drow

Gender: Male

Age: 30

Alignment: CN

Appearance: 6ft young drow male dressed in black. With death in his eyes.

Class: Fighter(eldtitch Knight)

Background: soldier

Personality traits: I can stare down a hell hound.
I face problems head-on.

Ideal: Independence

Bond: none at this time.

Flaws: I leave little respect for those who aren't proven warriors.
I'd rather eat my armor than admit I was wrong.

Backstory: Deamon was born in Demoncraft. A drow city in which demon and deamon summoning is normal. And at some point all males are sacrificed to do this. His was second in the 23 house city.
He was bred and raised to be the best fighter in the city so as to train both male and female drow (of course he was beaten each time he won against a female). As such he's stronger and bigger than the average drow.
But as all males are sacrificed no matter rank he was still seen and treated as property, slave, trash... A life he neither liked or wanted. He was taught to believe all from the young to old, weak to strong must be able to fight. And so see those who can't as weak and useless. As even those like him are considered nothing. He excelled at all weapons especially 2 weapons fighting. Blind fighting. And as magic and demons were constantly used fighting and using magic. He would be a powerful eldritch knight if he lived long enough.
As house weapons master he was also in charge of the house soldiers. His house and rank insignia could be tracked at all times, so both those under his command and all females could find him. His rank marked him as both general and house Lord... but still lower than the lowest female in the city.
His life was not good. better than most males but torture pain and enslavement was his lot. And the best he could hope for was a quick death in battle, rather than a sacrifice to lloth.
At age 20 that's exactly what his house matriarch wanted to sacrifice him . As they were about to wage war on a moon elf city . His house figured that the best way to gain favor of lloth was to sacrifice the best they had. But they had him trains Deamon ( named such cause he fights like one) to well. And when they came to kill him he took the sacrifice dagger from the matriarch,s hand and killed her with it. He then killed everyone else of his house. In a fierce battle, which.the dagger was not made for. So somewhere along the way it broke. But he stopped by the armory for surface armor and weapons. Once he killed everyone he set the house on fire and tossed his insignia in. So as to give the impression that he was killed with the rest by a rival house.
It took him 2 years to make his way to the surface alone. And 2 more to get used to the light. Now he travels as a sellsword/ mercenary. He hated the drow life but has as yet to learn surface life well. He is mostly cold. shelf concerned killing machine. Who wants a better life a is slowly learning. As no one is actually teaching him that killing for killing sake isn't good. It seems he is expected to know this.... And if ever his racial heritage is discovered( by forgetting a glove, or slip of his hood) he is chased and hunted. So far the surface hasn't been any better in his 6 years here than drow life was in the underdark.
Deamon has no home friends or family. And is always traveling.

Goal: To learn how to be better than his kin. And to make a name for himself so he isn't hated everywhere.


5 people. hmmm Well there's his dead family that's way more than 5. Hate him easy his dead family... and any drow Most people that know what a drow is.

1 friendly hasn't met a friendly yet....

[/fieldset]

[Effete]

COMPLETE
(but I might tweak a few more things)

Jaquin Almauld Name: Jaquin Almauld Gender: Male Race: Human (Beroulon) Age: Thirty-One Class: Paladin - Oath of Conquest (XGtE) Description: Jaquin is in great physical condition, a testament to his many years spent as a drake-rider. He stands nearly six feet tall, with broad shoulders and well-toned arms. His strength is only matched by his wit and cunning. He has a chisled handsomeness, though his grim eyes and stern set of jaw often turn women away. Jaquin is often seen in his burnished mail armor, with the blue & gold tabard bearing his rank and insignia, sporting gauntlets emblazoned with his personal holy symbol. When not in armor, Jaquin prefers comfortable, practical attire unbecoming of the expectations of his position. Personality: Jaquin has internalized the teachings of the Orthodoxy, moulding them into his own personal set of beliefs. Raised on the stories of conquest and victory, Jaquin believes the Maker has placed his creations on Jôrd as a test; a trial against adversity in order to gain a seat at the Great Table in the afterlife. He views others as either competition or companions in this struggle. This gives off the impression of a somber, serious man, with little room for mirth or enjoyment. Nevertheless, he exudes the confidence of a leader, and others often find themselves carrying out his wishes before they realize it. Description: Jaquin took his conscription into the Beroulon military enthusiastically. From the time he was a young boy, he wanted to be a dragon rider. He would watch them soar high over his village, and imagined the exhilaration of what it must be like to look down upon the world. How much closer could one get to seeing what the Maker sees as He travels across the sky? As soon as his sixteenth winter had passed, Jaquin did not wait for the conscription officer to collect him; he sought out the local garrison with zeal. But the military was not entirely like the stories. There were no more wars to fight, and no battle-glory to be gained. Instead, there were roads to build, and roads to guard. Most of the time was spent standing in one place, just hoping for action. The most action came at shift change, when a soldier can finally run to the loo and take a piss. But Jaquin persevered. However mundane and trivial the task, he tackled it with pride, always giving his best effort. His dedication was rewarded when he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and began his mounted training on a A cold drake is a wingless, non-fire-breathing lizard, slightly larger than a warhorse. This is a working name and can change.cold drake. Believing this to be his first steps toward actually being able to ride upon a flying lizard, Jaquin doubled his effort, going above and beyond what his duties required. Once again, this earned him recognition, but not in the way he had hoped. Instead of being promoted to an airborn division, he was seen as indispensible to the The Lance Froëde, or "Cold Lances," is the name given to a mounted division of the Beroulon military. Mounted exclusively on cold drakes, the Lances serve as shock cavalry, striking the enemy hard and fast... or at least that's what they train for. There hasn't been a conflict large enough to mobilize them in many years.Lance Froëde. His own pursuit to escape his position has only cemented him further into it. Over the years, Jaquin had come to accept his fate. Through the teachings of the Maker, he has learned to overcome any resentment he had previously felt, redirecting it into anything he perceives as a foe. Though he has reinterpreted the teachings to serve his own endeavors, the tangible results of his faith are all the validation he needs to confirm that he is on the right path. Professionally, Jaquin has climbed through the ranks of the Lance Froëde, now serving as elite honor guard for high ranking military or political ambassadors. Duty has led him north, to the Eastmark, as entourage and security for a diplomatic envoy. Background Archetype: Soldier (cavalry) Personality Traits x2: "I have won the annual jousting tournament twice consecutively, an honor held by only four others." ; "I have completed the illuminations required of Talhaernite priests without the guidance of the Synod." (Custom) Ideal: "Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well." (Acolyte) Bond: "The Maker has presented all of us with a challenge, and I have never backed down from a challenge before." (Custom) Flaw: "I view everything as a competition, even people." (Custom) Contacts: 1). Alberot (closest friend): Jaquin and Alberot met when Jaquin was first promoted to the Lances. Alberot never had quite the drive that Jaquin did, and remained relatively low rank, though this never bothered him. Often smiling and joking, he seems a polar opposite to Jaquin, though he is one of the few who can break through the paladin's tough exterior. The two have remained close friends for more than a decade, and Jaquin would often call in favors to keep Alberot stationed closeby. 2). Captain Beufon (ally by duty, not choice): Jaquin's immediate supervisor and commander of the Lance Froëde, Captain Beufon has a reputation as a strict, no-nonsense officer, but he has soft heart for those who confide in him. He runs the Lances with ruthless efficiency, knowing that sometimes breaking protocol is necessary to keep morale high. To Beufon, maintaining a peak fighting force is paramount. He can be bent, but never broken. Small allowances can be made, but any dereliction of duty is met with severe punishment. 3). Trisel (childhood sweetheart): The last time he saw her, Trisel had blue ribbons in her soft amber hair, perfectly complimenting the floral pattern on her blouse. Her plain, beige skirt was pleated and threadbare at the hem. Thin eyes, tight with indignation, peered over her small, up-turned nose as she watched a young Jaquin amble down the road. The two had known each other nearly since birth, and had all but been promised to each other. Since leaving the village to join the military, Jaquin has not been back, duty and ambition keeping him away. Still, to this day, the sight of blue ribbons evokes thoughts of a life that may have been. 4). Saul & Monique Almauld: Jaquin's parents were simple folk; father was a shoemaker and mother a seamstress. They ran a small shop out of the front of the house, and were well-liked by the community. Jaquin had little relationship with his parents; they were always busy with the shop, and he was always running off into the hills pretending to be a dragon-rider. It's been 15 years since he's seen them, nearly half his entire life. 5). Rauolet (jealous rival): Rauolet is a young firebrand, as ambitious as Jaquin had been when he was that age. Like Jaquin, Rauolet moved up through the ranks of the Lances fairly quickly. Their rivalry began two years ago at the jousting tournament, when Jaquin unseated Rauolet in the final, fracturing his ribs in the process. Writing Sample:   The air inside the helmet was stuffy, but Jaquin maintained his deep, even breathing: in through the nose, out through the mouth. It was almost a ritual. The sound of it echoed within the steel shell, drowning out most of the hum from the crowd ringing the arena. The narrow eyeslit served as a blinder, obscuring the crowd from the man's vision as well, helping him focus on his target. Down the length of the court his target sat upon a large beast, reptilian in appearance, but with a form and shape of a feline. It was a particular breed of lizard known as a cold drake, related distantly to the fire-breathing variety. Though powerfully built, the beast could keep pace with a horse. Here in Beroul, men rode them as others do horses. Jaquin's own drake scratched at the ground, anxious for the signal. "Soon, my friend," Jaquin assured his mount in his native Beroulon, patting the beast on the neck. Just then, the preparation flag was raised, signaling the riders to hoist lance and shield. As Jaquin adjusted the straps on his shield, he muttered, "Maker preserve me. Allow my strike to be true. Show mercy on my opponent." It was a simply prayer, no magic behind it, or the Minor mages tasked with canvassing the arena with detect spells to ensure the games remain fair.surety-men would be blowing their whistles. In through the nose, out through the mouth. The signal flag was dropped! Spurring his mount, Jaquin held his lance straight out in front of him. His opponent, he saw was already beginning to angle his in. Positioning his shield to catch the blunted tip, Jaquin also sought an opening. There! Swinging his lance in almost at the last moment, the tip caught the edge of his opponent's shield deflecting inside, rather than outside. A fraction of a moment after he felt his opponent's lance stress under the impact, but then skitter away without shattering, his own lance struck home, driving hard into the other rider's chest and knocking him off his mount. Reeling around to canter to the winner's circle, the cheer of the crowd was deafening. Dismounting, Jaquin removed his helm, holding it in the crook of his arm, and took his bows; first to the Royal box, then the rest of the spectators. Flowers rained down from the stands. As was customary, Jaquin gathered together a bouquet to present to one lucky maiden. Some champions were bold enough to court a royal princess, and this has led to at least two executions in the past. Instead, as Jaquin walked the perimeter of the arena, smiling at the pleading offers from many awestruck women, one in particular caught his eye. A shy girl, not clammering like the others, with a soft plumpness and blue ribbons in her hair. Passing through the arch that led to the contestant quarters, Jaquin was met by Alberot, his closest friend and compatriot. "Ho, Ho! Champion, twice over. How does it feel to have that honor? And what about that "recipient," of the flowersdesiniteur, you wish to bed her, eh?" Alberot gave a wry chuckle and a playful shove. "No," Jaquin replied stoically, "she merely seemed the least desperate for the recognition, and therefore the most deserving of it. As for the honor, it has not struck me yet. There will be time for that later; first I must find Rauolet. I saw he was carried out on a plank. I pray his pride took the more grievous injury." Rauolet lay on a firm cot with a soft pillow beneath his head. His armor had been removed, but he was still clothed. His eyes were shut but he was not asleep, evidenced by agitated movements. "Hail brother! Is there pain? I may help to relieve it if you but allow me to—" Rauolet's eyes snapped open at the first sound of Jaquin's voice, staring daggers at the man. When Jaquin reached out a hand to lift Rauolet's shirt, the injured man batted it away with a wince. "I do not need, nor do I want you're help! You are a hound! It wasn't enough for you to win, you needed to have me carried off, like a babe in swaddling clothes. My body will heal and my pride will temper, but you have sullied my reputation, and that is not so easily repaired." "Your reputation will spread far and wide as the youngest man to enter final and almost defeat a champion." "Almost? Ha! I should have won! You played a dirty trick!" "I used a tactic to exploit an opening. If you wish, I can instruct you on how you may—" "Bah! Why would I take your advice? So you can embarress me again next year? Begone from my sight, champion!" As he walked away, Jaquin shook his head. Rauolet was a promising youth, full of determination and ambition, but he lacked the humility to learn from his mistakes. Such brashness has gotten men killed before. Perhaps when his emotions cool, the two can speak again. But that must wait. There is a day of celebration to be had!   Jaquin suppressed a yawn, cracked the joints in his neck, then scratched an itch on his ankle with the butt of his spear. The sun had just moved passed high, and he had been guarding this bridge since dawn. Bright greens and reds of new growth peppered the landscape, but a winter chill still hung in the air that the sun did little to dispel. Jaquin looked over at Miccol, who was leaning against a slender tree with his eyes practically closed. He envied the man's lax repose, but his own sense of pride and honor kept him from copying it. Instead, he peered back over the bridge, hoping to see some of the training exercises that were being conducted back there, but a crest in the road prevented any sight of them. Miccol chose that moment to speak. "Sit down. Relax. No one is watching us. This isn't a test. Just a stupid assignment for greenhorns. Please, you're making me tired just looking at you." Jaquin did not respond. He had not met Miccol before this morning, and he wasn't sure he liked the man. It was almost a year since he joined the military and last week he was transferred to a new company. At first he was excited, hearing that he'd be working more closely with dragons, but all he's done was muck stables and guard roads. As he was doing now. Presently, a lone figure appeared on the road. As it got closer, Jaquin could see it was a frail-looking man in a tattered grey cloak. He had an unhealthy appearance to him, with cataracted eyes, bad teeth, and strange white blemish across his face. As the man approached, he smiled and nodded incessently. Jaquin stood more erect and stepped to the center of the road, blocking the bridge. Miccol, he noticed, had not moved, but was watching the old man intently. "Halt!" Jaquin intoned, with more confidence than he felt. "This road is closed by order of the Beroulon Dragoons." The man stopped about fifteen feet away, still smiling and nodding, his arms spread in an inviting gesture as his eyes darted from one guard to the other. Then he spoke. The language was not one Jaquin had ever heard before, with clipped vowel sounds and drawn out sibilants, juxtaposed by the man's dry, raspy voice. It sounded like a snake slithering through dead leaves. As he spoke, he gestured flamboyantly, like a taleteller reciting an epic. Suddenly, he flourished, and two glints of metal flashed from his sleeves. Instinctively, Jaquin tucked his chin and dropped his head. A sharp screech pierced his left ear as a dagger skimmed his helmet, landing with a plunk into the river behind. Had he not moved, the dagger would have buried itself in his throat. With an incoherent shout, Jaquin lunged foward, the tip of his spear slamming into the man's chest. The madman staggered and toppled backward under Jaquin's continued assault, finally getting pinned to the ground as his life leeched away. He made no cry of anguish or winge of pain, and that disconcerting smile never left his face. In the midst of the shock of taking his first life, Jaquin suddenly noticed the absence of Miccol. That's when he heard the faint gurgling-mewling sound, and turned to see the guard on the ground with a blade in his neck. As Jaquin crouched over his companion, Miccol's wide eyes pleaded with him: "help me!" But it was too late. Miccol was soon dead. Grasping the black handle of the blade, Jaquin eased it gently out of Miccol's lifeless body, then forced the man's eyes closed and said a prayer for his spirit. Duty returned to him then, and standing up, he retrieved the horn from his hip, giving the three short bursts that would signal the battalion gathered on the other side of the bridge. While he waited for a response, he inspected the dagger. It was dark and sleek, with almost no hilt and made of pitch-black steel. Like the madman's strange language, it was completely foreign to Jaquin. He vowed to keep the blade on him at all times. Not as a trophy of his first kill, but as a reminder to remain ever vigilant for evil, and to be suspicious of anything strange.   Ability Score Array Finalized Modifier Strength 14 14 +2 Dexterity 8 8 -1 Constitution 12 14 +2 Wisdom 13 13 +1 Intelligence 10 10 +0 Charisma 15 16 +3 Proficiencies Armor All armor & shield Weapons All simple & martial Tools Dice, vehicles (land) Skills Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, Religion Languages Beroulon, Caldarii Equipment Warhammer & shield Dagger (trophy from a foe) Five javelins Explorer's pack Chain mail & holy symbol Rank insignia, dice, 10 gp

Questions

[MercurialJack]

Question, which might be useful for others thinking of applying - what pantheon are you using in Jord? As it's homebrew I don't want to assume any of the standard.

[Anea]

Withdrawn

While the game looks really exciting, I am unfortunately feeling the drive to fully flesh out this character so I will go ahead and withdraw my application. Good luck everyone!

 

The Maker's Hellhound Name: Garmr Farbanti Gender Identity: Masculine, He/Him Race: Trollkin Age: 42 Class: Barbarian Description: Garmr cuts an imposing figure standing at nearly eight feet tall while his pale blue skin covers coil upon coil of muscle. Well accustomed to the cold winds of Trollhem, he tends to only don a comfy pair of boots and breeches on his sojurns away from home. Eyes sharp & glowing in the low light, the barbarian's hands are well callused from clearing rock from the mountainsides near his pasture. Garmr will retrieve his ancestral greatsword Skofnung to enhance the already deadly arsenal of his fists and horns should words be traded for blows. Personality: Garmr tends to have a quiet demeanor, speaking only when he has to while getting by on grunts and shrugs if he can. Generally calm and pensive, he will listen to those around him and is slow to trust those who were not raised in his small hamlet. He always will rally to the defense of nature and preservation of animals, and is a staunch ally of those who do the same. Even when he is deep in his cups, the Trollkin is always up beat and good natured, smiling and laughing with the rest of his companions. All manner of kindness is erased from his personality once he is roused to furious anger however, and he will seek his foes without hesitation or mercy. He has recently begun to focus his rage into a more controlled state, a tool to use when he must take the final option in a situation. Background: WIP Born on the high mountains near Trollhem, Garmr had always been straddling the edge between civilization and the call of the wilds. He performed various duties for the tribe but found his calling tending to their livestock. He could track wandering animals quite well and kept mountain passes clear for travelers to arrive in their wintery home. One of his charges, a goat named Sverre, was his constant companion in the wilds. They were nearly inseparable traversing the highlands and serving the tribe. Background Archetype: Outlander Personality Traits x2/Ideal/Bond/Flaw: WIP Contacts: WIP Writing Sample: WIP

[Thorsten]

Originally Posted by XQbitor

Interested in playing a Trollkin. Is Critical Roll's Blood Hunter class available?

Sure. We can work the concept into this world in one way or another. As part of your background I'd love to hear any ideas you might have as to what a monster slaying order might look like in this setting. Is it a Trollkin thing? Or was your Trollkin recruited into something run by humans, and, if so, how does that affect his relationship to his kith and kin?

Originally Posted by MercurialJack

Question, which might be useful for others thinking of applying - what pantheon are you using in Jord? As it's homebrew I don't want to assume any of the standard.

You can read a segment about religion in Jôrd here. In short, there is but one god. The Divine Maker. They created this world and everything in it. They also created some other stuff that was a bit too... perfect. Those are called the First Creations, and they were never intended to exist on Jôrd in the first place, but one of their number tricked the Maker and lured them down here. It is from their loins a lot of the monsters that roam the world originate. And they are the reason the Watchers came here as well, as a sort of counter-measure.

Everyone has faith (or not) in the Maker. But there are as many churches, temples or gospels of that faith as there are stars in the sky, so there's plenty of room for some good ol' fashion theological dispute if that's your poison. In Caldaria the main faith is called simply the Church of Caldaria, while Soln, to take another example, has the Imperial Following.

If you are planning on playing a religious character, feel free to make up your own branch of Talhaernite faith with its own particular doctrine, or a subdivision of some already existing doctrine, and lo and behold there'll be another star on that dotted sky

[Effete]

Is there any type of map to accompany the continent lore?
I'm more of a visual learner, so maps are extremely helpful to me. If there isn't one, that's fine... I'll just have to read everything two or three times.

[Thorsten]

Originally Posted by Effete

Is there any type of map to accompany the continent lore?
I'm more of a visual learner, so maps are extremely helpful to me. If there isn't one, that's fine... I'll just have to read everything two or three times.

Not at the moment, no.

For my tabletop game, we made a map of Eastmark out of 3d-printed hex tiles (the players each took turns placing a tile until the entire province was fleshed out) that I am mounting on the wall, and I am contemplating how I can best transfer that into something visual for the boards here, but I am not in the homestretch there quite yet.

If I can figure out a solution to that, then yes, there will be. At least for Eastmark.