DnD5e Really fun game by Drachenspirit

Drachenspirit · #1 Jun 5th, 2020, 10:16 PM

Game NameRace Against Lycanthropes

Game SystemDnD 5e

ThemeHigh Level Survival and Reward. A straightforward dungeon crawl with high risk and high reward

FlavourExplore a long forgotten Wizard's lair with classic Dungeons & Dragons puzzles, traps and monsters; and they are prepared.

Plot Summary

Warning:

" This adventure was designed to be challenging and potentially lethal. Disclaimer: I did not design this adventure."

SettingPlayer Hook - - Hundreds of years ago, a powerful archmage built a number of tremendously powerful magic items. Most of these items are lost, as are his laboratories. Gnomish spies, at great cost of life, have discovered notes and sketches that might indicate the location of a home of sorts for the historical mage. They also suspect another powerful agency knows of this discovery since several of the infiltrators were captured and it is possible further notes remained unfound.

While this Wizard has been gone for hundreds of years, he was sure to have laid deadly traps and left powerful guardians, not to mention the possibility of a lycanthropic troop poking around. The local consortium of Arcane Magists request that you and a trio of well regarded adventures who recently slay a Green Dragon and cleared out his lair undertake this quest, and in return they may keep the minor items not listed upon the scraps of paper bought in gnomish blood.

InfoWhat am I looking for?

Playerwise - Excitement.

How's that? Yes, excitement, or more to the point a "want" to be in the game and genuine interest to RP the depths of your character as well as RPing with the other characters in the game. So, that's all I ask of you as the player. Be excited, and be invested. You do that, and I'll do that, and we'll have an awesome game.

Also, be nice. Life is short, and we all get enough ugliness from others out in the real world. Site rules apply on conduct.

DMwise - I want to continue to learn all the "ins and outs" of 5E, especially at higher levels and this game will continue to do just that. I want to get more familiar with the system, and aside from following "the rulebooks" you, the player can teach me as well. If I'm wrong on a ruling, I want to know. How else am I going to get experience in the system? If I think you're wrong with something, it means I'll let you know, especially if I'm not sure, and it will be a learning experience for one or both of us as we figure it out.
In the end, a rule may be bent or ignored for the greater good of the story. But, that will be my call.

Details

Setting: Forgotten Realms
Starting Level: 13
Classes needed: Looking one or two Players with Classes that don't overlap too much with the current three of the group.
Allowed Sources: Player's HandbookPHB, Dungeon Master's GuideDMG, Xanthar's Guide to EverythingXGtE, Tasha's Cauldron of EverythingTasha's, and Sword Coast Adventurer's GuideSCAG. No other sources, don't ask.
Attribute Scores: We will be doing 4d6 drop lowest at creation. Or, you can take the 27 point route. Once the choice is made, there's no changing. Then advance from there at level one as you see fit up to level 13. Please do not roll here. Roll HERE! In the Game Forum. Note: I’ll allow rerolling only the second 1 in 4d6. You may reroll that "second" one if it comes up a one again until it doesn't. If you get a third or fourth one on the 3rd and fourth 4d6, that's fate and you're stuck with them.
HP:Max at first level of Class, then Average or roll every level thereafter. You can alternate if you like as you level the character up, but it must be clearly stated when you do so, or you take the lowest.
Alignments: Neutral or Good, but not true neutral
Gear: Straight from DMG - 5,000 gp plus 1d10 x 250 gp, three uncommon magic items, one rare item, normal starting equipment. You may spend your gp at normal PHB prices for mundane items and common magic items at 100 gp per, including Healing Potions at 50 gp per.
Pantheon: Forgotten Realms
Multi-classing: Is allowed but limited to one. Main Class + Secondary Class. Also make it believable/PC-background relevant.
Post Rate: Minimum of 1 a week as long as the "1" isn't consistent or stretched. This is very important as PbP is a LONG process. I am available most days during the week, and some on weekends.
Party Size: Currently 3, looking to add 1-2 more.
Resources: We will use RPGX for most everything including posts, sheets, and rolls. Will also be using Roll20 for maps. You don't need to really know how to use Roll20 so much, except to see enemies and understand the layout and mapping of the "dungeon."

ApplicationsWhat do I want in your app?

Your typical app; Name, class, race, appearance, 5e background, two personality traits, ideal, bond, flaw.
Post a pic of reasonable size, and be sure to add it again after you resize it to at least 250x250px, please so I can use it as a token on Roll20.
A backstory that includes a few things:
- Their story, of course
- Their hometown/origin here in Faerun
- Why has your character decided to do this adventuring thing and how do they find themselves somewhere along the Sword Coast when called for?
- What is their over-arching goal? {Their goal does not need to be within the confines of this adventure, this can easily be a stepping stone in their journey. But having a driving force often brings more life into the character, I find.note}

Q&AQuestion: I'm not all too familiar with the DnD Lore; apart from the pantheon, is there lore associated with Faerun that I need to be caught up on?
Answer:You don't have to know much about the Forgotten realms lore for this game really. There will be references, and should travel go to a place your character is from or may have been, it will affect what they know. So it's really the regional stuff. In the PHB, it mentions different ethnicities and how they'd look, and names and such. That's all you'd really need to be generally familiar with. Any questions you have on this front, I'd be more than happy to give you links and info.

TimelineApplication Deadline - November 25th (10 PM CST)
Yes, that's a week away. I may extend the deadline if the interest is low.

Note: Character death is a possibility, and if it happens to your character, you will have the opportunity to either roll up another character, or step away and let someone else come in who put an app in before game start. Or... stay dead and read along waiting for your fellow adventurers to see if they can resurrect your character.

CURRENT PLAYERS/CHARACTERS
[table]RPGX Member| Name |Class| Beginning Background |Race
WhovianBeast | Khyba | Paladin, Oath of Conquest | Mercenary Veteran | Half-Orc
The Rat Queen | Helja Balderk | Cleric - Life Domain| Acolyte| Gold Dwarf
Ghost6442 | Frulr, Bear of Narfell | Barbarian 10 / Rogue 3| Outlander | Human

WhovianBeast · #2 Jun 5th, 2020, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drachenspirit

So, what I'd like is for you to write up two scenarios that your character has been in that answer the above question in two of three ways. One scenario for one way they would answer, and one for another.

Is there the 'Eeyore' way, the 'Deadpool' way, and the 'Wash' way, or did you just happen to provide three examples?

Are you asking us to write up two different scenarios for how our characters drew the interest of a silver dragon, or two different scenarios where the character asks themselves 'how did I get into this'?

I'm not all too familiar with the DnD Lore; apart from the pantheon, is there lore associated with Faerun that I need to be caught up on?

I'm generally interested, though, so consider this Posting Interest.

Drachenspirit · #3 Jun 5th, 2020, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhovianBeast

Is there the 'Eeyore' way, the 'Deadpool' way, and the 'Wash' way, or did you just happen to provide three examples?

Are you asking us to write up two different scenarios for how our characters drew the interest of a silver dragon, or two different scenarios where the character asks themselves 'how did I get into this'?

I'm not all too familiar with the DnD Lore; apart from the pantheon, is there lore associated with Faerun that I need to be caught up on?

I'm generally interested, though, so consider this Posting Interest.

You don't have to know much about the Forgotten realms lore for this game really. There will be references, and should travel go to a place your character is from or may have been, it will affect what they know. So it's really the regional stuff. In the PHB, it mentions different ethnicities and how they'd look, and names and such. That's all you'd really need to be generally familiar with. Any questions you have on this front, I'd be more than happy to give you links and info.
For the the scenarios, I'm looking for two different scenarios wherein the character is asking themselves the question. Choose two of the three "ways", and script as you see fit. As long as they are different, I don't care if you chose the "Wash" way and it sounds like the Eeyore way. I'm just looking for creativity and writing styles.

The Rat Queen · #4 Jun 6th, 2020, 03:11 AM

Character Application

Name: Helja Balderk
Class: Life Cleric
Race: Gold Dwarf
Appearance: A determined-looking female dwarf standing a little over four feet tall, perhaps slightly less stocky than many of her kin. Long brown hair in a carefully plaited braids and bright amber eyes, with dusky, light tan skin. A silver amulet around her neck shows two simple rings interlaced visible over the finely-crafted chain mail armor fitting comfortably over her body. A warhammer and a throwing axe hang from her belt, and a shield slung over her shoulder shows the same two-ring image as her amulet. Despite her fierce expression, her eyes show a great depth of emotion and kindness, and the corner of her lip curves upward slightly in a slight smile.
Background: Acolyte
Personality trait 1: I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other gods.
Personality trait 2: I face problems head-on. A simple direct solution is the best path to success.
Ideal: Charity. I always try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost.
Bond: I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.
Flaw: My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.
Backstory:
Helja originally hails from the Giant's Run Mountains, west of the Vilhon Reach in the Shining Plains. Growing up in the Iltkazar Range, she saw strife from a young age, as her people battled goblins, ogres, denizens of the Underdark, and lived under the constant threat of dragon attack. She has a twin sister, Ilde, thanks to Moradin's Thunder Blessing upon the dwarven people, and both sisters had a fierce determination to help their people, and the world. But while Ilde chose the martial path of the warrior, Helja herself entered service to The Revered Mother, becoming one of the faenor in service to Berronar Truesilver.
One night, she had a powerful dream featuring a silver dragon being imprisoned by ogres, begging for freedom. Upon waking the next morning, she immediately confided in her superiors, who advised her that the dream was a message from Berronar, and that she must quest to find the silver dragon, whatever it may be, and release it. They also forbade her from speaking to anyone about the quest, especially her sister, though they would not explain why she would forgo such useful aid. Without questioning the wisdom of her leaders, she packed her belongings and slipped out of her home, letting her instincts guide her.
Why has your character decided to do this? She follows the instructions of her church leadership to complete a quest given from Berronar. On a more personal level, she believes the dream was indeed granted by her goddess, but may in fact be more of a metaphor than literal. While a silver dragon is purportedly a powerful ally of good, the presence of the ogres, long-time foes of her people, and the silver of the dragon to match her symbol, makes her suspect that there is more to this than it would seem.
What is their over-arching goal? Aid and protect the dwarven people, and spread the word of Berronar Truesilver. Deep within her heart, though, she is one of a growing percentage of dwarves who find the current church a bit too conservative and restrictive, though she is not yet harboring thoughts of abandoning her faith or her people. This schism disturbs her deeply, though she is not yet aware of how to deal with the issue. She hopes her current quest will provide insight as to how she should proceed.
"How did I get myself into this" writing sample 1:

"How did I get myself into this" writing sample 2.

buzzlitebeer · #5 Jun 6th, 2020, 04:03 AM

I'm afraid I have to withdraw for now. Can't muster enough headspace recently to get into character.

WhovianBeast · #6 Jun 6th, 2020, 11:59 AM

Application for Khyba

Character Sheet
Name: Khyba
Race:Half-Orc
Class: Paladin - Oath of Conquest
Alignment: Lawful Good
Background: Mercenary Veteran
Deity: Tyr
Personality traits: Being an orc and a seasoned warrior, it takes a lot to frighten me; I can stare down a hellhound without flinching. I judge people by their actions, not their words.
Ideal: As Tyr commands, so it should be; I do what I must, and obey just authority.
Bond: To betray a soldier in arms is to betray yourself; I will never leave a friend behind.
Flaw: An orc is proud, a soldier is true, a paladin is sure; I'd rather eat my armor than admit when I'm wrong.

Khyba was born to the daughter of an orcish chieftain and a particularly bold mercenary captain; her father abandoned her to the tribe shortly before she was born, and she was the target of much adolescent malice for being the mutt child of a coward. These rumors lasted for as long as it took Khyba to learn to swing a weapon, taught by her mother Gursha to worship Tyr in secret. Not long before her sixteenth birthday, her father Tullian returned; wounded, grizzled, and alone, his mercenary band cut to shreds in an ambush, the orcs his only chance to hide from his enemies.

Tullian's wounds healed with time and what passed for orcish medicine, bought at a steep price from passing traders, but his gamble paid off. He was reunited with his daughter, at least in theory; tensions were high and feelings were cold, until the once-captain walked in on her private weekly ritual sacrifice to Tyr. It was an awkward conversation, but Tullian and Gursha had first come to love one another over their mutual deity, and father and daughter were soon in daily weapons' practice; the father to recover his skills, the daughter to train new ones.

Years passed and skills grew sharper than the steel they trained with. The father's longing to once again roam the realms grew, and the daughter tolerated many and many a story about his much-embellished adventures as a younger man. Finally, Tullian's second chance came with a trader. The merchant brought news of a call to arms in a far off land, gold available to those who would aid. Tullian leapt at the chance for gold, Khyba at her chance to finally put into practice the long-cherished beliefs of the old war god.

The call to arms was no ruse, and their pockets were soon heavy with gold. Ever the schemer, Tullian sent for posters, advertising that the old mercenary captain of the much-acclaimed Black Dogs was once again recruiting, with a cash bounty to any applicant worthy of acceptance. The line nearly wrapped around the block for days, Tullian testing their experience and Khyba their skills, the band of fifty setting off with their captain and is daughter at the head.

Over the next decade, the mercs had quite the long list of jobs; Daggerford, a success. Whitefalls, a success. Bleak Creek, a failure (but only just; they had won the battle, but the contract fell through and there was a deficit of 15 gold per head after equipment charges). Hellhound's Tooth, a success. The assassins had returned for Tullian, and had met with Khyba, the adult half-orcess more than a match for assassins sent after the aging foxlike man. And so it went, the band held to constant standards of discipline by their captain and his daughter.

Turnover was low, loyalty was high, and Khyba felt a stirring in her heart during her weekly rites. A call to action, beyond what they had been doing here, beyond what she could do in the company of her father. It was a difficult decision, but she felt her father understood; he had been much the same in his younger days, and could hardly complain that his daughter was leaving him when he had left her so many years before. A celebration was held, Khyba was toasted, and she set off across the land in search of Tyr's calling, to root out corruption, anarchy, and evil alike.

Black Dogs forever!

The cry still rang in Khyba's ears as she urged her steed onward, the horse doing its best to gallop at top speed while carrying the heavily armored figure. She stared at her father's back as his horse edged forward, glanced left and right at her brothers in arms. There was no hope for conversation, not even a yelled order; the thunder of horses' hooves, the clanking of armor, and more than anything, the demented cries of the massive gnoll pack pursuing them, mounted on worgs.

'The horses won't last,' she realized grimly, noting the lather already worked up on their flanks. 'They know that once we fall, it's over.'

She flinches as an arrow passes by her ear, severed black hairs whipped away in the wind... and notes that her comrades aren't so lucky as the arrows rain down; and like that, she's made her decision. 'My life for all of us. It's a good trade.'

She raises her greatsword high, a fiercely guttural roar screamed to the skies as her eyes blaze..
"Lok-tar Ogar!"
Her father turns to look at her, a cry lost on his lips as she tugs the reins and turns to face the warband, buying time for her father and friends to escape; the horse is urged forward into the lead of the gnolls' charge, and the long grass combines with the curve of the hill to hide the scrum formed as the half-orc takes on the largest gnoll pack in the plains.
.
.
The mercenaries returned for her body hours later, finding her propped on her sword over her horse's body, gnoll corpses piled high around her; the only sign of life is the steady drip-drip-drip of orc blood into the pool beneath her from the multitude of ragged wounds wrought by the hyenalike opponents, her ragged breathing so faint as to be hardly audible. Off in the distance, a gnoll cries out in pain as one of the remaining worgs feasts on the wounded. Tullian is the first to her, forcing a healing potion past her lips. Her eyelids twitch, a groan issuing from her mouth as she forces herself to look up; the scarred face of her father relaxes in plain relief, and she coughs, mumbling a nice summary: "Lok-tar, Tullian... bloody hell, I won."

With that, she fall flat on her back and begins to snore as only the daughter of an orc can.

Application for Lyweth Snaketongue

Name: Lyweth Snaketongue
Race: Dark Elf
Class: Bard (singing) - College of Whispers
Alignment: Neutral good
Background: Criminal - Blackmailer
Deity: Eilistraee
Physical Description: Blessed by her orcish mother's stature, Khyba stands a fairly imposing six feet tall, ten years of active life as a mercenary hardening orcish muscles to steel. Her head is held high, her armor is useful, and she can have your head off in a tick. She's now just past the age of thirty, in the prime of life and faith alike.

Personality traits: I always have a plan for when things go wrong, the best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't do it
Ideal: Freedom: chains (and webs!) are meant to be broken, as are those who forge them
Bond: (borrowed from Folk Hero) A proud noble once gave me a horrible beating, and I will take my revenge on any bully I encounter.
Flaw: (borrow from Entertainer) A scandal prevents me from ever going home; that sort of trouble seems to follow me around.

Lyweth was born to the usual drowish parents; aloof, but caring for their own spawn. He was educated to his limits, but found his true calling in the adaptation of a true drowish tradition: lies. He spun tales of everything he could think of, and was soon doing so before the ears of first one noble, than another, than the cave's court. He did his best, but was dissatisfied with his own progress... after years, decades of performing for tips, begging for a pass to the surface, and practically starving himself, he was finally allowed to attend the Bardic College.

His dreams deflated within the first week of attending; the only drow in the history of the backwater College, the nearest one to the cave's exit, he was mocked relentlessly, driven out of the classes meant for 'surface dwellers'. Weeks, months of this discrimination forced introspection... it wasn't an easy conclusion, but Lyweth realized drow were reviled and distrusted for good reason; days in the darkest corner of the library opened his eyes to how their practices were viewed, and it wasn't a difficult leap to realize it all stemmed from Lolth. Few alternatives were available, and he shuddered at the thought of facing a centuries long life without divine reassurance, but the cult of Eilistraee soon drew his eye. It was from them that he learned of the Whispers course through the college, a secretive, little-studied path of magic.

He returned after years of work to drow society; charming, dapper, and full of songs and yet more fanciful tales. But even as he continued his life as a performing monkey, schemes began to grow; nobody bothered considering that the bard might be listening as they schemed, lied, plotted, cheated... but he was, and before long, he had amassed an array of secrets large enough to make even other drow shudder in fear. The next years of his life were spent ruthlessly dogging the drow nobles, nipping at their heels, staying their hand and emptying their purses, ensuring their power to abuse others was contained by their own wrongdoing.

Yet, all good things must come to an end, and Lyweth soon found himself holding a tiger by the tail, dragged into its den and mauled by its cubs; he barely escaped from the Underdark with his life, fleeing for the caves nearer the surface. It was a miserable existence, floating amongst adventuring parties who ventured to the Underdark, practicing in hopes of one day being able to return to his home without fear and overthrow the worship of Lolth, grinding the hated nobles down into the dust, bringing the light of the surface down into the bowels of the earth.

Writing Samples:

Mythrandil · #7 Jun 6th, 2020, 03:39 PM

Application

Name: Aust Falone
Class: Bard 12 (College of Lore)
Race: Half-elf (Drow heritage variant from SCAG)
Appearance: At first glance, Aust appears as a prime example of his Turami heritage - dark skin tending toward midnight hues, deep eyes with an intriguing hint of violet, tall and well-toned physique. To most foreigners, his shock of white hair can be excused as an oddity; to his own people, it marks him instantly as an outsider. Further distinctions betray his mixed ancestry - preternatural grace, slightly pointed ears, far slimmer than is quite natural.
Background: Faction Agent (The Harpers)

Trait 1: I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.
Trait 2: Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
Ideal: Change. We must help bring about Reworded from Acolyte, as suggested by SCAGchanges for good in the world (Chaotic).
Bond: I owe my life to the faction agent who took me in when my mother died.
Flaw: My zeal sometimes leads me to blindly trust those who are fellow members of my faction.

Image

Resized Image
Backstory: Details are so unimportant. Suffice it to say, I've had adventures that would make your hair curl. Find out more in my upcoming autobiography, In a Nutshell: The Life and Times of Aust Falone. Oh, but I must give you a sample - the highlights! My no-good Drow of a father left my mother before I was even born. We were happy, Ma and I, until the Emerald Enclave sacked our hometown of Ironcloak. She died, and I only survived when one of the Harpers found me. Since then it's been daring adventures, hair-raising heists, tense negotiations. That's right, high court politics! Surprisingly dramatic, not to mention perilous. I even promise that at least half the stories are true! Erm, rounded up that is. Anyway, besides all the altruism of being a Harper, what I really want is to find dear ole dad and give him a piece of Turmish iron right up his jacksy! Or have a friend Fireball him from a safe distance. Depends on what he's like in real life. Now, enjoy some more scintillating details, including excerpts from the story of how I recovered the Canaith Mandolin.

Hometown: According to the wiki, Ironcloak was ravaged by the Emerald Enclave, another faction. If we fudge the dates, this would be a good reason why another faction took Aust in.Ironcloak, in central Turmish.
Why has Aust decided to do this? I'm pretty sure my father is some dread lord of the Underdark, overthrowing the traditional Drow matriarchy and ruling with an iron fist. Or he's absolutely, irrevocably, stupendously dead. Those are the only two reasons I can believe that I - a bard of immense natural talent and prodigious experience - have been unable to find hide nor hair of him! That's why I'm humoring this dragon. Given how the scaly lizards are as slippery as eels when it comes to giving out favors (at least the ones which don't end up with a personal introduction to stomach fluids), freeing one from an arcane prison is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! What I really want from this adventure is A) Hard information about where my father is or B) Access to the magical secrets (or the wealth to acquire such) so that I can resurrect my father no matter how dead he is, so I can have the pleasure of killing him myself.
What is Aust's overarching goal? Find his father, and kill him. Well, maybe some interrogation before the killing. Then, I don't know, save the world through the implementation of progressive self-enlightenment? Yeah, that sounds good - remind me to put it in my memoirs!

How did I get myself into this I - the Deadpool"...and thus, if you answer rightly these riddles three, you may pass me. Answer wrongly, and I shall devour you and be sated for a hundred years." The chimeric Sphinx licks her bloodred lips in anticipation.

Aust wakes up with a start. "Wha- who? Ah, you're done then?" he glances at an hourglass. "Wait, your riddles took over half an hour to say! I tried to get a word in edgewise, could have saved your voice!" He shakes himself as he rises, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "Pardon me, I have not had much opportunity to sleep of late. Ah, but that is beside the point. Now, you see my dear lady, I came not to pass you, but to ask you to dinner."

The Sphinx blinks slowly in stupefaction. "Dinner."

"Yes, dinner! You were just saying how hungry you get, and I know this little waterfront joint that serves whole roast lambs, you'd love it!"

The Sphinx growls, menacingly. "I am bound to my post by ancient magic and cruel sorcery. I can no more leave than you can separate your head from your shoulders."

"Ah, but that would be a trick! Fortunately for you, my grand plan requires you to be bound by magics and oaths as you have described." He says this last very loudly and clearly, face screwed up in determination to believe his own words.

Mid-pounce - for the Sphinx had lost all patience - she suddenly halts, hair bristling. "My chains, they are broken! How have you done this!!" Her breath, hot and musky, billows over Aust like a miasma of death.

"Oh, that would be a long story, far too detailed to get into. Let me simply say that every magical protection runs out of energy eventually. Shall we find some more improbable events to cause as I try to steal an inaccessible artifact, my dear? I did offer you dinner, after all..."

How did I get myself into this II - the EeyoreWater drips in milky drops from the ceiling, forming wan, pointy formations on the ceiling and floor. An inconsistent lava tube nearby makes the cell alternative between searing hot and bone-breaking cold. Moans, shrieks, and insane laughter echo through the hall beyond the bone-barred door. In other words, Aust has had a LOT of time for self-reflection lately.

"It all started so well" he complains to his cell-mate, a long-dead skeleton of undefinable racial origin. "Our crew had the entire fortress scouted via divination, down to the servant's privy. It was the perfect heist."

The idea to rob a Grand Marquis had been his idea, of course. Given the noble's ties to Drow slave dealers, it hadn't been hard to find suitable co-conspirators. "It all went wrong, of course. Every single part of the plan. Unexpected hires on the staff and guards, a change in shift rotations, a visiting dignitary. Our thief caught a cold, our cleric had an unexpected death in the family. It was like we were cursed."

Aust closes his eyes. "We were, of course. The original owner of the artifact - we never found out the nature of it - was apparently paranoid, placing a preemptive hex on would-be thieves. A pox on foresight..." he adjusts uncomfortably, sure that the spikes are growing from beneath rather than above. Bits of crem drip on his once-luscious, once-white hair. "So, here we are. My crew dead or worse, all hope for myself lost."

His eyes open, mad violet almost glowing in the gloom. "Yet, why should I give up? Every spell has its counter, every lock its key, every trap its escape." He looks with feverish intensity at the skeleton. "I have a new plan to steal the artifact." Mad conviction steels his voice, touched with resolve. "AND THE FIRST STEP IN MY PLAN IS TO STAY IN THIS CELL!"

Silence, except for the dripping. The lava begins to recede, leaving Aust shivering. Just as his eyes threaten to close forever in despair, sounds from the corridor reach him. Not daring to look, Aust holds his breath. "Here now, back away from the bars. It's time for your, heh, 'interrogation'"

The cell door creaks open, nearly sealed shut with the dripping, mineral-soaked water. Aust turns, head creaking as a helm of cremwater breaks in broad plates. His voice is almost a whisper, with a tinge of sanity returning for the first time in days. "The next step of my plan requires me to remain in custody here. It also requires the guard to never become my fast and loyal friend..."

Rolls

Character Sheet

Additional Information

Choice

Notes

STR	10
DEX	13
CON	17
INT	12
WIS	12
CHA	18

Initial Stat Block

Link for rolls

Half-elf, +2 CHA, +1 CON, +1 DEX, +2 skills (any)[/STRIKE]]Replaced with Drow Heritage (Dancing Lights cantrip, Darkness and Faerie Fire once/day)[STRIKE, +1 language (any)

Race, with

STR	10
DEX	14
CON	18
INT	12
WIS	12
CHA	20

new stat block, language and skills chosen later

+6 DEX

Ability Score Increases at levels 4, 8, 12.

STR	10
DEX	20
CON	18
INT	12
WIS	12
CHA	20

new stat block

Average HP at all levels

111 HP 8 at first level, 5 for 11 levels, 4 from CON for 12 levelstotal

17 AC, totalStudded Leather

Trade up from starting Leather for -35 gp difference

Faction Agent, The Harpers, Investigation, +2 languages

Background choice, languages chosen below

Rapier, Lute, Entertainer's Kit

Starting equipment choices

Mandolin, Lyre, Lute

Musical Instrument Proficiencies

College of Lore, +3 skills

Subclass choice, skills chosen below

Infernal, Giant, Draconic

Language choices (in addition to Elvish, Common from background)

Acrobatics, Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion, Perception

Skill choices (in addition to Insight, Investigation from background)

Persuasion Deception Perception Performance

Expertise choices

Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Vicious Mockery

Cantrips known (4 total)

Charm Person, Detect Magic, Healing Word, Silent Image, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Crown of Madness, Heat Metal, Hypnotic Pattern, Tongues, Charm Monster, Greater Invisibility, Dominate Person, Otto's Irresistible Dance

Spells Known (15 total)

Bigby's Hand, Greater Restoration

Magical secrets choices (appended to Spells Known)

Counterspell, Eldritch Blast

College of Lore, Additional Magical Secrets (not included in Spells Known)

AttunedCanaith Mandolin

Rare item choice (Instrument of the Bards)

Gloves of Thievery, AttunedLuckstone, AttunedCloak of Protection

Uncommon item choices

Clockwork Amulet, Horn of Silent Alarm, Lock of Trickery, Mystery Key, 2 Healing Potions

Common item choices, -500 gp

Hand Crossbow, Light Crossbow

Additional weapon purchases, total -100 gp

Acid Vial, Alchemist's Fire Flask, Antitoxin Vial, Holy Water Flask, 10 feet of chain, manacles, Climber's kit, Crowbar, Grappling hook, 50 feet of silk rope, Hunting Trap, Shovel, Miner's Pick, Sledge HammerSundry bits and bobs

Additional adventuring equipment purchases, total -207 gp

Kshnik · #8 Jun 6th, 2020, 11:51 PM

UA ranger?

Mythrandil · #9 Jun 7th, 2020, 11:39 AM

Artificer allowed?

Silim · #10 Jun 7th, 2020, 09:27 PM

Kurzin

Name: Kurzin
Race: Ghostwise Halfling
Class: Monk - Open Palm
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: Urchin
Personality Traits:I always have a smile on my face, even in the face of death.
I can't shut up when I'm scared.
Ideal: Respect. All people, rich and poor, deserve respect. (Good)
Bond: I owe a debt I can never repay to the person who took pity on me.
Flaw: I'm stingy with the things I own, even to my own and other's detriment.
Deity: Tymora
Backstory: Kurzin has no memory of where he came from. His earliest actual memories are of living in the streets of Waterdeep, one of many orphans and urchins, living beneath the sight of normal people and struggling to get by. As a halfling stuck mostly among tall-folk, he had it both worse and better than others - he was quicker and nimbler, and harder to spot when he stole food or money, but if others muscled in on him he had no choice but to share and give away most of what he earned.

Life on the street like that toughened him. His minor gifts he inherited from his parents proved exceptionally helpful for smaller thieving operations with others, and though he never stole more than he needed to survive, he still hated it. Yet he was never caught, not even once. Apparently, in exchange for his bad start in life, Lady Luck herself had blessed him - guards got tangled up in a loose net, a shingle broke right as someone was chasing him up a roof, they sprinted right past barrels he hid in.

Until one day, when his increasing daring he used to dull the feeling of worthlessness his style of life gave him caused him to go after a Tortle adventurer returning to Waterdeep from an expedition. Caught by the aging master and his party, the older monk apparently saw something in Kurzin. Talent, drive, or simply cheap labor, but he got the option of not getting handed in to the guards in exchange for being a hired hand with the party. Immediately, Kurzin accepted.

Leaving Waterdeep for the first time in his life, he traveled all across the Sword Coast as a hireling, all while learning and studying as much of his benefactor's fighting style as he could while keeping his head out of the reach of any errant swords. One day in the middle of an ambush by Orcish raiders, Kurzin suddenly had no such luxury of being able to simply duck into the cart he helped drive to wait out a fight. Instead, he put to use what little he picked up, and pummeled two raiders into the ground when they tried to steal the party's loot with a quarterstaff he snatched up in the confusion.

Leaving the services of the party that had changed his life soon after, Kurzin sought out his own companions to continue on. Fighting threats all on his own with accompanying beginner adventurers was hair-raising and far more difficult, yet his luck prevailed. Where others got seriously injured, he ducked just at the right time and returned the favor to his opponents with an unforeseen fury and speed. At this point, he also started to shave his head in emulation of his old master's style, and he began following a path of pure martial excellence to eventually surpass any weapon with just his body.

His travels took him far beyond the Sword Coast now, deeper into Faerun, his prayers to Lady Luck always on his lips so she wouldn't forsake him at his most critical moments. He saved villages, ran from necromantic armies, challenged knights to single combat. When his way finally lead away from his latest group of allies back into Waterdeep, he barely recognized his old 'home' anymore. Sleeping in the same Inn where he tried to steal so many years ago now - a bed he couldn't have even dreamed about affording in the past - he suddenly realized that in all his travels, he had never found a real home - or a party that he'd stick with for more than an adventure or two. Wondering what his old master was up to now, and if he had retired, sleep came to Kurzin, and he dreamt of a silver dragon, asking for his help.

The hero's work is never done, and so Kurzin set out. Belt tightened around his Gi, head shaved clean in the morning and polished to sparkle, it was time to test the limits of Lady Luck's blessing once again!
Writing Samples:

The Eeyore
Kurzin winced, adjusting his hurt shoulder as he crouched behind the nearly-collapsed wall of the crumbling ruin they were in. From the constant hard impact sounds, the undead horde was still firing salvo after salvo from their longbows and crossbows at the last bit of cover they had. Not much longer, and the aging stone would crumble, he thought darkly. A glance to his side just made his stomach sink even lower.

Bartok was barely even breathing, and only really kept alive by the soothing, warm golden light around Myra's hands, but the cleric herself looked like she was about ready to collapse, too. The last time any of them had seen their leader had been right before those huge double doors had burst open, and the tide of skeletal warriors had swallowed and brought him to ground. Kurzin didn't want to imagine just how awful an end like that had to have been...

Myra nearly collapsed forward onto the injured barbarian, her magic spent. If he ran for it... yeah, he could make it. They were both slow, which meant he'd have to move especially well, but he'd be able to do it. Grasping the nicked staff next to him, the halfling shifted his position, now kneeling with one leg, and the other foot braced against the cold stone floor. His eyes met the cleric's for a moment, and the pale monk smiled a thin smile.

"See you back in town, I've got a body to grab." speaking to her in her mind only, Kurzin darted to the side, arrows immediately shifting aim and clattering into the ground behind him, splintering. Back in the ruined courtyard, he began to dart from cover to cover, whirling between two archers and spinning his staff. Wood cracked against bone, cracked, and broke. Tossing the useless weapon aside, a backflip was all that saved the monk from a sticky end. Sinking behind another piece of rubble, now slowly getting surrounded, he knew that this was it.

Nobody could escape this horde alive, he was sure of it. He was as good as dead. With a smile still on his face, Kurzin leapt over the massive hammer of the skeletal champion that smashed his cover, before delivering a powerful and quick kick to the head of the undead creature.

Crumbling to dust, the monster fell. Flicking his wrist to the side, Kurzin stared into his enemies, and into his death coming for him.

All in all, today really wasn't worth the meager fifty gold per person they were supposed to get for this job. But Kurzin wasn't one to complain, even when he really should and felt like it.

"One down. Fifty-seven to go."

The Wash
Kurzin pulled a chair over to climb up on, and peered at the map with the others. Well, that seemed bad, but not unsalvageable! Everyone had dire expressions on their faces, which wasn't entirely surprising. The small valley village they were in was completely cut off by the robber baron's forces at every possible exit.

"Hey, its not all bad! Look at it this way, we know their signal to attack, and we know which group is smaller. So if we trick them into staggering their attacks, we'll only be outnumbered one-to-three and one-to-five in two back to back fights for our lives." Taking a not very well paid job to guard this village from ruthless bandits had perhaps not been their best idea ever, but now that they were here, it was time to act like heroes!

"Also, we heard about their boss still having some chivalry, right? So when the second fight's about to start, challenge to a duel! Of course they'll break any agreement, but we'll be ready for that. Really, I don't see how this is any trouble at all."

Silk · #11 Jun 8th, 2020, 01:03 AM

While I should have my head checked for trying to get into another game that will start the end of the first round of Outplay, I really enjoyed your Serenity game Drachenspirit, and while reading the add for this game, a concept grabbed my attention and won't let go. So I post my interest, though I really should get over to Outplay and make my character there I suppose.

Concept: Rogue(Arcane Trickster) with the Urban Bounty Hunter background from SCAG.

He is good at his job. So good that he can not find a challenge anymore. Steel a rare jewel? "Boring!" Break into a prison to have a chat with a friend/contact "Done that." Con a prince out of hundreds of gold pieces? "Done that too. A few times in fact." Use an illusion/bluff to slip past guards? "Yawn!" Enter a dungeon and evade all it's traps to plunder it to the very last copper? "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzz"

In short, he is bored with life and no longer feels the spark of fire that he did when he was a youth. Then, along comes a dragon knocking on his unconscious mind..."Finnaly! A REAL challenge!"

Superstrength79 · #12 Jun 8th, 2020, 09:57 AM

Posting interest. I'll think about what to apply with later today.

Drachenspirit · #13 Jun 8th, 2020, 10:39 AM

@ Kshnik - Are you referring to one of the Archetypes? If something else, please provide the link.

@ Mythrandil - Probably. Have you RP'd an Artificier before? If so, are you comfortable enough with the subclass and it's "mechanics?"

@All - I added some more information to one of the Q&A questions, the one regarding the writing samples. Hope that makes it a bit clearer.

WhovianBeast · #14 Jun 8th, 2020, 11:34 AM

JaredSyn · #15 Jun 8th, 2020, 01:28 PM

Character Application

Character Name: Keyleth Moonbrook
Race: Wood Elf
Class: Druid (Circle of Spores)
Description: Keyleth is not your typical elf, having a more reserved and less charismatic presence than most of her kind. This primarily the result of her dis-figuration when she was a child and a fire broke out burning her face quite badly. Even with the elven healing her face is still marred by scarring from the injury. It is one reason she almost always wears barkskin. She is average height at 5'7" and weighs in at a lithe 107 pounds.

Background: Hermit
2 Personality Traits:
I judge people by their actions, not their words.
When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
1 Ideal:
Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling.
1 Bond:
I protect those who cannot protect themselves.
1 Flaw:
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.

Fear: Keyleth's greatest fear is that she will forever be alone. She fears a life without friend or companion. Her scarring on her face has made her self conscious to the point she rarely her face in view of others, preferring instead to do so in private if at all. This self consciousness affects her in interactions with others to the point of fearing trusting others.

Birthplace: Haven a small community of humans just North of Cormanthor and West of Hillsfar

Character History:

Keyleth lived in a small elven village as a young girl in the northern most parts of Cormanthor. Her people rarely leaving the safety of their village, too afraid of raiders from Hillsfar looking for slaves to throw into the arena for their pleasure and profit. As such growing up Keyleth knew little about the other races except for the rare times when they passed to closely to their protected lands. From the time she was old enough to move around on her own he began her training learning about the forest and all it had to offer.

Her childhood was a good one for the most part until her 97th year. She was out gathering food for the village when she came across an injured man in the woods, not wishing to see the man die, she carried him back to the village to be treated by the healers. Her elders and parents were furious with her for doing so, but treated the man nonetheless. Once the man had recovered enough to be on his way, he was taken from the village blindfolded and released pointed in the direction of Hillsfar.

Everything went on fine, in time her parents forgiving her kind nature. That is until the raiders came the man who she had helped among them. He had been injured during a raid on another group of elves and left for dead unbeknownst to Keyleth. Having been the village he was able to retrace his direction enough to find them and lay siege upon their village at night. The attack was swift and brutal and the screams filled the night air, as those who fought back were slain. As homes were cleared they were set aflame.

Keyleth and her sister Sariel had been hidden in their home, by their parents as they went to try and help in the fight against the raiders. One of the raiders came into the small home and seeing nothing set it ablaze. Unable to leave the house through the door where the fire was started Keyleth had to help her younger sister try and flee through a window. The wood was burning quickly in the house and just as Keyleth was getting her sister through the window the roof above collapsed atop of Sariel, as well as knocking Keyleth back into the house unconscious.

When she next woke she was being tended by an elder elf. Sitting upright quickly she looked around. "Sariel, where is Sariel?" The elf pushed her back down, telling her to rest. Keyleth unable to resist laid down her body weak still from her own injury. A few days passed with her in and out of consciousness before she finally awoke fully. The left side of her face and neck and shoulder bandaged.

Again Keyleth asked about Sariel only to learn that she had been crushed and burned in the fire, his mother as well killed and her father taken to the arena in Hillsfar. She was left alone the village was destroyed and only a few had managed to escape capture or death. Shocked and enraged, she made her way to what remained of her home. Gathering what she could including her staff and her armor, she crafted a mask designed to cover her scars and strike fear into her enemies.

Leaving her village behind she made her way to Hillsfar, hunting the man who had destroyed her family and home. It took several years before she found the man responsible, the man she had shown kindness too. When she did there was no kindness left in her heart for the man. Tracking him and following as the man set out to scout the forest once more in hopes of finding more slaves. Keyleth moved through the forest like a ghost, and once she was ready she attacked from behind striking the mans leg at the knee, driving him to the ground.

Leaping forward she moved quickly striking the mans hand as the man attempted to draw his weapon, forcing him to drop the weapon in agony. Moving before the man Keyleth removed her mask before raising her staff high overhead. Looking him in the eye Keyleth saw the recognition in his eyes and released brought her staff down crushing the man's skull, killing him almost instantly. Putting her mask back on Keyleth left the man for the animals to feast upon after taking anything of value she might use.

Her vengeance found Keyleth was aimless so she stayed deep in the forest learning the way of the Circle of spores. she did this for years before one night as she lay sleeping in the forest she was visited by a silver dragon. The dragon pleaded for her aid along with others to free him from his prison giving her glimpses of his captors. When Keyleth woke she knew she had to do what she could to help the dragon. Her parents had spoken of the great creatures speaking of the metallic dragons as benefactors and guardians while the colored dragons were evil and cruel. Leaving behind her home she traveled to the location she had dreamed of to meet the others who would accompany her on this worthy quest.

Writing Sample:

Keyleth moved through the forest like Ghost tracking her prey. She had been commissioned to tract down and retrieve alive or dead a man who had taken advantage of a woman and left her for dead. She had been on the trail for several days before finding a good lead. As she moved into position she looked down into the small camp where her quarry waited. Thinking to herself as she did.

"Do we just kill him and drag his corpse back to town, or give him cause to suffer for his crime first to ensure he never hurts another woman if he lives to have the chance outside of prison."
Back and forth she went with herself trying to think of ways to make sure the man paid a price worthy of his crime. Finally whistling loud enough for the man to hear.

Looking around the man frantically picked up his sword uncertain of where the whistle had come from. Her mask in place she through the tree she was in directly behind the man silently at a short distance her staff in hand.
"Clearing her throat." The man turned in surprise looking at the figure that stood before him.

"Who, Who are you I don't want any trouble I'm just passing through." he stammered bringing his sword up in front in a defensive position.

Keyleth looked to the man smiling behind her mask. It was obvious the man was a coward like most who hurt women to make themselves feel better. "Me? I am just the piper, and its come time for you to pay up. We can do this the hard way or the easy way, the choice is yours truth be told I hope you choose the hard way. It will be so much more fun. I am the one who was sent to track you down to pay for your crime. The woman you took advantage of and left for dead survived lucky for you and they gave me a choice alive or dead the bounty pays either way."

The man suddenly realizing who Keyleth was and why she was there did what most fools did and charged forward screaming with his blade. A swift motion and Keyleth swung her staff striking the man squarely in the groin, dropping the man to the ground instantly as he cried out in pain. Moving forward Keyleth kicked his blade away and squatted down beside the man placing the end of her staff on his groin, eliciting another cry of agony from the man. "Ooohh that's probably going to leave a mark, or worse leave you sitting down to use the bathroom going forward."

Looking at the man as he writhed on the ground Keyleth drove her staff down as hard as she could crushing anything beneath it. Looking down at the man she sighed. "Oh and the woman who sent me told me to ensure I delivered this to you before you died or were brought back to prison. What can I say I take my work seriously for the most part." That said Keyleth pulled back one leg and kicked the man square in the groin, cringing as she did, and feigning she herself was the one kicked. The man on the ground let out a scream before passing out entirely.

Keyleth was working with another group of bounty hunters pursuing a group of orcs that had raided a village. The villagers lost most everything they had but offered the the hunters all the gold that remained to track down the orcs and retrieve their children. Talking as the group walked following the trail Keyleth looked back. "You know we are probably greatly outnumbered and doing this for very little pay in total among the four of us. We don't even know how big this orc raiding party truly is. Does this bother anyone else? I mean I am all for helping out but we don't even know the odds based on these tracks there are quite a few."
"The way that village looked they were lucky they had anything left at all, so I doubt we are getting paid in much more than vegetables and coppers. We are probably vastly outnumbered. Look here I count at least twenty large tracks meaning orcs, and a half dozen smaller ones most likely the children. Not the best odds but then again don't tell me the odds."

Going silent as she saw the tracks and heard movement ahead she stopped in her tracks as orcs burst from the bushes and from behind trees charging the group from every direction. "Well I guess they knew we were coming."

The others in the group reacted with surprise frantically drawing their weapons, as Keyleth simply let loose her spores and those who came close enough caught a hard thwap from her shillelagh. Tumbling under a blade only to crouch and swing again dropping yet another orc. One by one they fell Keyleth moving like it was rehearsed with perfect clam. The battle to her seemed to almost move in slow motion.

As the last orc fell Keyleth was standing in the center of at least a dozen orc bodies laying around her. "Well I guess that's that, they probably should have had a few more friends to back them up." Chuckling she reached into her pocket pulling out a wooden carving of a pony and prancing it around in a circle as if trotting over the dead orcs bodies. Stopping and looking at the tracks she started to move once more. "The kids they will be up here it seems." Leading the way she led the remaining bounty hunter that had survived to the children where they had been tied up. Releasing them and tossling at least ones hair. "Alright lets get you all back home, I think there's pie waiting for us all."

OOC Changed up the class I want to try a new Druid Circle that caught my attention sorry Drach. Oh and the prancing pony part was related to Wash and his dinosaurs he kept on the console of Firefly.

Character Sheet

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