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

[Silent Rain]

Hey, Thorsten. Rathe is ready for review.

[Jrod]

My application should be mostly complete

[JohnStone]

Ive made some revisions to Valeera. Her story is a bit more flushed out concept streamlined and I included some notes.

[Togot]

Name: Morholt Caster
Race: human Ceganastran
Gender: male
Class: wizard
Age: 17
Background: sage
Personality Traits: I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick
I love a good mystery

Ideal: Knowledge, knowledge is the key to making the world a better place

Bond: One day I will prove that I my magic is a gift and not a curse

Flaw: My curiosity trumps my common sense.

Theme song: Force of Nature

Appearance: Morholt is a small scrawny young man standing at 5’2 and weighing 105 pounds. He often makes himself appear even smaller by shrining in on himself and lowering his head to those who confront him. He wears black robes and often keeps his hood up to hide his skin which is covered in strange writing that even he can’t decipher. He carries around a staff with him and a large ancient tome. When casting magic, his eyes turn completely black and even seem to emit wafts of smoke.

Personality: Morholt is an odd mix of irrepressible curiosity, naïve optimism, and subdued timidness depending on the situation. At his core he wants to learn everything he can and help everyone he meets, but when challenged by others he is quick be to become submissive and withdrawn as he is acutely aware of how small and weak he is compared to most men. Morholt is extremely reluctant to hurt anyone he considered a person, but if a person demonstrates unremorseful cruelty, he unpersons them and considers them monsters which he is all to happy to exterminate.

Morholts favorite activities include exploring tombs, uncovering mysteries, reading books, and helping people.

Backstory:
Morholt was born in a town called Baynock which was a relatively small frontier village that was something of a mixing pot of cultures. His family was of Ceganastran descent and were well off which afforded him the privilege of an education, and he soon expressed a lust for learning which took precedence over any physical activities resulting in his stunted development. Morholt read everything he could get his hands on from history to fantasy, and his mind soaked it all up like a sponge.

Unfortunately, his academic interests made him no friends with the other boys his age in the village, who were more traditionally masculine in nature. One Caldarian boy in particular named Helrato seemed to delight in bullying and abusing the smaller, weaker boy. This caused Morholt to become depressed, withdrawn, and unsocial. He spent more and more time inside studying and less time trying to make friends.

Then one day when he was sixteen, Morholt was exploring the attic when he discovered a hidden compartment containing his great grandfather’s journal. In it he learned that the origin of his family’s name was from an ancestor who was a magic caster named Gish. His great grandfather Mealegant had found his resting place but died before being able to explore it.

Filled with dreams of adventure and discovery, Morholt gathered his two friends friends the twin sisters, Mira and Millet. Mira was a tomboy who was the brawn of the group. She liked to tease Morholt but would often defend him from his bullies. Milla was more feminine and acted as the diplomat while Morholt was the brains. The three of them set out on an adventure to find the tomb which was only a few miles away from the town.

It took them a full day to find the tomb hidden within the side of a cliff with a magical illusion which amazed the three friends and confirmed to Morholt that his ancestor was indeed a spell caster. They explored the tomb discovering many fascinating things, but the biggest surprise came when they found a throne instead of a sarcophagus with Gish sitting atop it.

Even more surprising was when Gish lifted his head and greeted his guests.

The three friends were terrified, but Gish recognized Morholt as one of his blood and so promised their safety. The two had a long conversation which ended with Gish gifting his descended a spellbook in order for the boy to continue his work, hoping a fresh perspective might lead to a break through on understanding the secrets of the world and beyond. Overjoyed, Morholt returned to Baynock with his two friends, all of which agreed to keep their exploits a secret.

Morholt spent the next year studying Gish’s book, trying to translate it and practice the spells that he could. Every time he successfully learned one he became ecstatic and showed off to the girls. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm led to complacency, and one day Helrato saw Morholt cast a spell. The bully immediately confronted Morholt about it, and despite Mira’s efforts to defend Morholt, a fight broke out. In the midst of it, anger overtook Morholt, and his eyes turned black as script from the book came to life and covered his body. Morholt used his chill touch spell creating a skeletal spectral hand which grabbed the bigger boy by the throat. Everyone watched in horror as Morholt nearly killed Helrato until Millet begged him to stop. Regaining his senses, Morholt ceased his attack, but the damage was done.

Word spread fast through the town, and it wasn’t long before Morholt was labeled a witch and chased out. Mira and Millet helped him escape but could not go with him. they bid a tearful farewell, and Morholt head out into the world.

Now he arrives in Eastmark trying to make his way in the world. his travels have shown him how dangerous the road is, and so he seeks kindred spirits to be his companion as he continues to unravel the secrets of Gish’s tome and the writing that now covers his skin.

Contacts:
Camden: 37 years old male father and merchant. He supports his son as much as he can while being careful not to lead any enemies to him.
Mira : 17 year old female tomboy and childhood friend. she is protective of the smaller weaker boy and her twin sister Millet. after Morholt left, she and her sister became adventurers to try and find Morholt in order to help him.
Millet: 17 year old female and childhood friend. after Morholt left, she and her sister became adventurers to try and find Morholt in order to help him.
Helrato: 18 year old boy and bully. Morholt almost killed him with magic. After the incident, Helrato went insane having his foundation of reality broken. the strong dominate the weak. someone weak like Morholt shouldn't be able to beat someone strong like him. he became obsessed with hunting Morholt and other witches like him down and joined a fanatical group seeking to purge magic users. he became a paladin in this order and has been trained by the groups leader, a master swordsman named Escaldos.
Gish: A 600 year old lich who is bound to his tomb. he gave Morholt his spell book to carry out his work.

RP Sample:

 

“According to Mealegant’s journal, the entrance should be around here somewhere,” Morholt said as he raised his eyes from the open book he held in his right hand. He looked at the sheer wall of grey stone that made up the large cliff before him. he wore black robes that matched his short, straight hair. “That symbol on the stone is supposed to mark it.”

“Well I don’t see it,” Mira said as she came up behind him, her long golden hair pulled back into a ponytail behind her back. She wore tan form-fitting leather armor and held a spear in her hand. As the muscle of the group, it was her job to fight any beasts they came across. Fortunately, none had appeared.

“Maybe it’s hidden?” Millet suggested. She wore a red dress that her golden curls spilled over.

“Hidden how?” Mira asked as she reached down and picked up a stone. “It’s just a wall of rock.” She tossed the stone at the wall, but rather than bounce off, it passed through the rock as though it were air.

The three youths shared shocked expressions before Morholt stepped forward and tentatively touched the spot the rock had vanished. His hand passed through the stone as if it weren’t there. “My great grandfather was right,” Morholt said, his voice filled with wonder and excitement. He glanced back at his companions with overjoyed eyes. “It’s magic!”

Morholt boldly stepped through the illusion while Millet called after him with concern as she and her sister were left behind. On the other side, Morholt found a long, dusty hall penetrating into the cliff. He turned around to find he could see Mira and Millet clear as day. There was no sign of the stone illusion he had stepped through. “Come on, you two, it’s safe.”

“That remains to be seen,” Mira said grimly, though she did as she was bidden and stepped through, pointing her spear forward as she did so. Millet followed immediately afterwards, and the three of them looked down the foreboding hallway vanishing into the darkness ahead.

“Good thing I thought ahead,” Millet said as she took out a torch and lit it with a flint and steel. She held it in the back as Morholt and her sister took the lead. They began exploring the tombs main hall which was lined with rooms. The three of them searched each one systematically. They found all manner of strange and wonderous things. Shelved filled with jars of unusual contents. Tables with corpses laid out on them. an alchemical lab with all manner of potions. The small library was of particular interest to Morholt, and the girls practically had to drag him out of it.

At the end of the hallway was a large stone door with a number of strange engravings on it depicting a skeletal figure standing over kneeling people who appeared to be worshiping him. It was a very unsettling sight.

“I think this is Gish’s burial chamber.” Morholt whispered almost reverently.

“His taste in art is pleasant,” Mira remarked sarcastically.

Morholt placed a hand on the right door and pushed, but it didn’t budge. He put his shoulder against it and pushed with all of his minuscule strength but got the same result.

“Step back, hero, let me do it,” Mira said as she pushed against the door. She grunted with effort as she exerted herself, and a loud metallic groan echoed down the hall as the door slowly gave way. She pushed it open enough for the three to pass through, but when she looked into the room, she froze. “Guys, I don’t like this.”

“Something finally scared you, butch?” Morholt said. While he was slightly worried about what could make the strong young girl voice reservations, he believed that there was nothing living in the tomb after so many years of being hidden. He squeezed past her and saw what caused her to feel fear.
He had expected a burial chamber, but instead what he beheld was more akin to a throne room, and sitting on the throne was a desiccated corpse wearing tattered robes with a golden circlet on its head like a crown. Morholt stared at the sight in awe and whispered, "Gish.”

The three crept closer to the throne, looking around at the surroundings. when Morholt was five feet away, something utterly unexpected happened. the skeleton lifted its head, looked at them, and spoke. "I sense one of my blood."

Morholt stared at the corpse in stunned silence, his horror overwhelmed by his curiosity. How was this possible? "We're leaving!" Mira ordered as she grabbed Morholt's arm and desperately pulled him back towards the door, but before they took three steps, the portal slammed shut. trapped, the three of them slowly turned to face the corpse.

"No need to be afraid," Gish said calmly. "I don't bite. it's been ages since i had guests, and one of my descendants no less. let us talk."

Quote: knowledge is power

[XQbitor]

Okay, Roskva's app is (almost) done and ready for a review.

I'm refluffing Blood Hunter in two ways: One, is the normal level progression, and the other is the curse that is cast upon her. At first, they are only dreams (1-2 lvl), but manifest itself when she reaches lvl 3 and picks Order of the Lycan. This won't be a werewolf she transforms into, but into a troll-crow hybrid ala this (or this if we are feeling particular nasty). Tell me what you think

Oh, haven't I asked you before if you're danish?

[Togot]

morholt is ready for review

[Thorsten]

Originally Posted by XQbitor

Okay, Roskva's app is (almost) done and ready for a review.

I'm refluffing Blood Hunter in two ways: One, is the normal level progression, and the other is the curse that is cast upon her. At first, they are only dreams (1-2 lvl), but manifest itself when she reaches lvl 3 and picks Order of the Lycan. This won't be a werewolf she transforms into, but into a troll-crow hybrid ala this (or this if we are feeling particular nasty). Tell me what you think

Oh, haven't I asked you before if you're danish?

I am. Born and bred

I could see that refluffing work. I'll go a bit in-depth about that when I find some time to give some feedback.

[cappucina]

Thorsten, I am ready for feedback at this point. I have some specific questions to you in the application.

[XQbitor]

[FatherDondo]

Saskia (1)
HP: 9/9 | AC 18 | PP: 15 | Prof: +2 | Status: Normal
HD: 1/1d8 | STR 8(-1), DEX 14(+2), CON 12(+1), INT 10(+0), WIS 17(+3), CHA 14(+2)Stats
Race: ASI: +2 WIS, +1 CHA
Skills: Persuasion and one other skill (History)
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Ceganastran and speak two extra languages of your choice (Jerghalan, Trolltunga).Ceganastran Class:
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons
Skills: Arcana, Insight
Acolyte of Nature: At 1st level, you learn one druid cantrip of your choice (Shillelagh). This cantrip counts as a cleric cantrip for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of cleric cantrips you know. You also gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, (Nature), or Survival.Nature Cleric | Background: Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Religion
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit
Languages: One of your choice (Primordial)Hermit | Background Feature: The quiet seclusion of your extended hermitage gave you access to a unique and powerful discovery. The exact nature of this revelation depends on the nature of your seclusion. It might be a great truth about the cosmos, the deities, the powerful beings of the outer planes, or the forces of nature. It could be a site that no one else has ever seen. You might have uncovered a fact that has long been forgotten, or unearthed some relic of the past that could rewrite history. It might be information that would be damaging to the people who consigned you to exile, and hence the reason for your return to society.

Work with your DM to determine the details of your discovery and its impact on the campaign.Discovery | You can speak, read, and write Ceganastran, Jerghalan, and Trolltunga.Languages


Application
Name: Saskia

Gender Identity: Female

Race: Ceganastran

Age: 29

Class: Cleric

Description: Saskia is a human woman with green eyes and black hair to her shoulders, garbed in bulky robes.

Personality: She can come across as har hara little cold, but that is partially from a non-expressive face and partially from her commitment to the cycle of nature that speaks to her.

Trait:	I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster.
Trait:	I connect everything that happens to me to a grand, cosmic plan.
Ideal:	Logic. Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking. (Lawful)
Bond:	I’m still seeking the enlightenment I pursued in my seclusion, and it still eludes me.
Flaw:	I am dogmatic in my thoughts and philosophy.

Background: Saskia is a cleric of the order of St. Hoth, which focused on stewardship of the Maker's creation, and had gone into seclusion to get in touch with nature and to better attune to her chosen saint, who was deemed a passion bearer after having frozen to death in the far north. She left her hermitage as the abbot had sent her on a pilgrimage to other institutions, to broaden her understanding of nature before returning to Hoth's. She's traveling through Eastmark on her way, stopping to rest a while before continuing.


Contacts: Abbot Carmichael: head of the hermitage. Sister Freya: introduced her to the order. Hilda: older girl who enjoyed tormenting her when they were kids, would likely try to start trouble if she recognized Saskia.

[Thorsten]

A bit of feedback for a few characters. More to come later.

[Thorsten]

[Silent Rain]

[Jrod]

[Alatere]

Application Format Name: Eli 'Gravetouched' <Surname unknown to him>Nordwin Gender Identity: Male Race: Human- Caldarian Age: 19 Class: Warlock Description: Eli is a rather unfortunate looking individual with rather pallid pale looking skin, his face is rather on the skinny side having an underfed and malnourished look and his cheek bones are rather apparent beneath his thin pale skin giving him an appearance that some would call gaunt or even skeletal. If this was not enough to make Eli stand out in a crowd his hair is an unnatural looking bleached white colour, his eyes a striking amber with almost a glow to them and his face has been marred by a scar down the entire length of one side of his face. If one were able to look past the pale complexion and the malnourished flesh there is the slightest hint of nobility to Eli's appearance and if the young man could ever recover to full health his appearance would be much improved. Eli most often dresses in raggedy, mismatched and ill fighting clothing that has been stained or faded in the sun from years of use. His clothes are often heavily patched and stitched back together and lack any sense of style or cohesion whatsoever. It is rather easy to mistake Eli for a vagabond or a beggar. Eli's outfit will often include a hood so that the young man can easily hide his face from those around him. Eli has a slight limping gait and a cough or a slight wheeze are the young man's constant companions. He has a number of nervous ticks including fiddling with his clothing or constantly messing up his hair, nibbling on his lip or inanely whispering to himself. In addition to this Eli's innate powers have a tendency to manifest at unexpected times particularly when he is feeling strong emotions, it is not unusual to find Eli shrouded in a small cloud of personal darkness that wraps around him like a cloak or to find him being pestered by bugs that are not actually there and even sometimes the voices that Eli can hear can be heard by all around him. Personality: Eli is a haunted soul that is troubled by the whispers from the beyond. He has trouble focusing on anything in particular due to what he describes as voices constantly whispering in his ears. He is paranoid and highly superstitious reading meaning in to everything that he sees. Eli comes across as a rather timid and meek individual avoiding conflict with other people whenever possible. This is not due to Eli being a coward as many mistake Eli for but due to the fact that under the surface a deep growing rage for those who have wronged him over the years has been steadily growing and Eli fears that if ever let himself give in to the rage he would not be able to control himself and hold himself back. It also does not help that some of the voices that Eli constantly hears urge him to do just that and give in to the rage and unleash vengeance upon the world. For someone suffering from a number of dark emotions Eli can be rather naïve at times, he has grown up for much of his life in seclusion so at times can have trouble understanding others. Eli's deepest heartfelt desire is to merely be accepted and to find a place to call home however he fears opening himself up to the possibility of being rejected. Despite the voices that often tell him to do bad things, Eli believes in doing what is right. He does not want to hurt anyone and he hates violence but on some level he has accepted that he will never be free of it. Background: Eli's parent's were a Lord and Lady of Caldaria who had tried for years to have a child but with little success. There were rumors that Lady Nordwin had had a number of miscarriages before Eli was born. In their desperation it is rumored that they tried everything from herbalists concoctions to the blessings of the priesthood before eventually turning to darker methods. Some say that the Lord and his wife made a pact with an old crone or a servant of the Crow itself before they were finally able to produce a child. Eli however was not the child they had been hoping for, he was sickly from birth and marked by a rather strange appearance being both pale of skin and pale of hair. The pair kept the birth a secret and had servants raise the child behind closed doors. As Eli grew older his parents began to grow more and more concerned. The young infant would act strangely and mutter to himself in a strange voice and often in a strange tongue. Eventually deciding that they had made a grave mistake in having the child they abandoned the boy and had him sent away as an orphan to a distant piece of land that the family owned. Eli then spent his youth as a farm hand a job he was never very good at given his frail body and constant ill health. The boy's strange appearance and unusual behavior also meant that he was shunned by most of the other workers and bullied by a few. As Eli grew older his treatment at the farm eventually grew so bad that he ran away and fled. For the next few years Eli survived on his own in the wilderness only returning to civilisation when he needed supplies or had little other choice. Eastmark proved to be a constant haunt of Eli and while the young man rarely stayed in one place he would often appear in the smaller towns and villages of the mark. Background Archetype: Currently a combination of Hermit / Outlander / Urchin Personality Trait: I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. (Hermit) Personality Trait: I see omens in every event and action. The spirits are trying to speak to us we just need to listen. (Acolyte) Ideal: Aspiration I'm going to prove that I am worthy of a better life. (Urchin) Bond: No one else should have to endure the hardships I've been through. (Urchin) Flaw: I harbour dark bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation failed to quell. (Hermit) Contacts: Lord Alfon Nordwin (of House Nordwin): Lord Alfon is the the head of house Nordwin a noble family in Caldaria that currently holds lands around the city of Taragus. Much of the land owned by House Nordwin is agricultural land and Lord Nordwin maintains a small army loyal to his family. Alfon is also the biological father of Eli. Alfon kept the birth of his son a secret due to his strange appearance and eventually disowned him and sent him away to work on a farm on the edge of Nordwin lands. Lord Alfon now acts as though Eli had never been born. Lady Dalia Nordwin (of House Nordwin): Lady Dalia is the Wife of Lord Alfon Nordwin and Eli's biological mother. Though a little more reluctant Lady Dalia kept the birth of Eli secret and eventually agreed for the boy to be sent away. Aral Ger: A young Caldarian priest from the small village of Prutt. Aral has taken pity on Eli on a number of occasions and has provided Eli with food or shelter for the night in the church or tended to his wounds. Writing Sample: Sample Posts: Average Post Link 1 Average Post Link 2 Average Post Link 3 In Character Sample:   Eli With a rather erratic series of twitches Eli slowly returned to consciousness, their was a strong aching sensation in the pale skinned young man's back and as he slowly opened his eyes he was greeted by the sight of long grasping limbs reaching for him from above. Instantly Eli began to panic and both his heart and his breathing began to race. As he struggled on the spot Eli felt the sharp claw like hands raking at his sides and strange rustling sounds all around him. "Begone foul spirits leave me be, it is not my time, it is not my time!" Eli cried out in a panic as he threw his arms outwards and released an uncontrolled blast of dark malevolent energy. Eli's ears were then greeted by a loud crack as the blast of dark magic obliterated a couple of the branches of the bush that Eli had been sleeping under. Realising that he was not infact under attack (or if he had been the spirits had been chased off) Eli calmed down somewhat and stared at the early morning sky for a few moments as his breathing began to slow and return to normal. Slowly climbing to his feet the young man then carefully brushed off the pieces of dirt and bush from his well worn patchwork clothing. It was at this point that the young man's stomach asserted itself and with loud rumble it announced that it had been some time since Eli had last eaten. Licking at his parched and cracked lips the wanderer began to look around and take in his surroundings. He was currently standing in a small clearing in a fairly nondescript wood, the trees were neither large enough or numerous enough to count as a true forest but it had served as an acceptable spot to sleep the night before. "Night has faded but mortal thirst and hunger remains..." Eli muttered to himself as his eyes darted back and fourth. "The woods bring life but to linger and be discovered brings death... I cannot remain here..." Eli continued to mutter as his gaze shifted from point to point. "The hunter comes!" Eli then declared dramatically with wide eyes before he threw up his hood and began to stride out of the woods with a slightly awkward gait. A short while later a second figure clad in cloak and leather armour arrived and bent down to inspect the marks left behind by Eli. Eli stumbled out of treeline with his hood pulled high over his head. Most of the young man’s features were concealed but it was rather hard to hide his rather thin frame or the raggedy clothes that he wore. Eli stumbled towards the outskirts of a small village slightly dragging his left leg as he walked. Already flies had begun to buzz around the young man’s head pestering him and making an absolute annoyance of themselves, that in itself would not have been too strange was it not for the fact that the insects had been conjured by the very person that they were pestering. The few villagers that were out and about so early in the morning glanced in the young man’s direction but almost universally they seemed to back away, avert their gazes or pull their children back. Few after all wanted to catch the eye of a beggar and Eli certainly had the look of a beggar about him. Eli therefore was practically left alone as he slowly made his way in to the village. ”Clouds from the east and a dry wind blows… Many eyes watch but few truly see…” Eli muttered to himself as he absentmindedly swatted at the flies that were not truly there. Slowly making his way to the village square Eli finally laid eyes on what he had been seeking... a simple well. There were villagers in the square but still they did seem to pay too much attention to Eli as he stumbled forwards... that was until Eli reached the well and began to crank the handle pulling the bucket up from below... A shadow suddenly fell over Eli and for once it was not one of Eli's own making. A figure stood tall behind Eli looming over the young man and then in the next instant Eli felt a strong powerful hand clamping down on his shoulder. "This well is not for the unclean!" A deep voice boomed from behind Eli as the grip tightened. "Begone filth!" the man then spat. In response Eli froze and hardly moved a muscle however the innate magic stirred deep within Eli due to the man's contact. The folds of Eli's clothes shifted and suddenly two great cockroaches scuttled out of Eli's clothing and scuttled straight up the man's arms as they clicked their mandibles together and waved their antenna about. The man instantly recoiled in surprise and released his grip upon Eli. The hooded youth took that moment to spin round and face the man. "All must drink the life giving waters, those who do not whither away and perish. Do you mean to deny me of my life?" Eli questioned in a slightly wheezy voice. Unfortunately in that moment a rather unfortunate gust caught the young man's hood and blew it back. Suddenly Eli's face was revealed for all to see. A pair of bright amber eyes set in an all to pale almost skeletal face stared back at the large man and without even releasing it the man took a step back. "Though it finds me often I seek neither trouble nor conflict. It would be a mistake to trouble me further..." Eli declared in a soft voice barely above a whisper. It was at this point however the whispers started though it was not clear where exactly they were coming from though the seemed to surround both Eli and the man. 'An insult for an insult, blood for blood, a wound for a wound. If this mortal denies you life then you should take his....' the voices whispered barely audible. 'Fools and cowards, traitors and betrayers, ' A second voice whispered out of sync with the first. 'Blood, the great cleanser... all shall be cleansed' A third voice whispered quietest of all. Eli seemed to ignore the words though his gaze grew a little unfocused for a moment. The man however took a second step backwards and then a third as his eyes grew wide. "Witch! Demon!" the man called in alarm. "Someone fetch the guard. Fetch a Watcher!" the man called out as he backed away. Eli however merely sighed and turned back to the well as he quickly began to crank the handle. 'I will have to make this quick my welcome will not last...' Eli thought to himself with resignation.