[D&D-5e] Dragonlance: The Shadow of the Dragon Queen

[Arkanis]

Originally Posted by HexCursed

DM Arkanis: What would you like to see included in our RP sample? Some guidelines would be greatly appreciated.

Preferably a post from the character's perspective at some point in their past. Something ideally that will give me an idea of the character's personality or how the character will play.

[HexCursed]

Originally Posted by Arkanis

Preferably a post from the character's perspective at some point in their past. Something ideally that will give me an idea of the character's personality or how the character will play.

I don't know. I haven't played them before. Haha! Okay. I'll work on it.

[Arkanis]

Lol no worries, looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[The Rat Queen]

Dragonlance!! *dancedancedancedancedancedance*

Application Valira Zan Name: Valira Zan Race: Human (Variant) Class: Fighter Personality Traits: I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale. My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. Bond: I'll always remember my first ship. Ideal: Freedom. The sea is freedom—the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Flaw: Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation. Background: Sailor Appearance: Valira is a tall, wiry, dark-skinned Ergothian woman. Her long hair is jet black; her eyes nearly as dark and glint with mischief, if not malice. Her clothing is a colorful mish-mash of items from many ports across the Sirrion Sea, decorated with mismatched jewelry. She avoids heavy equipment, armor, or weaponry, as befitting one who makes her living on a ship, particularly considering the nature of her particular duties. Personality: Valira is a free spirit, but she does have a sense of responsibility and a moral compass. Growing up without rules or guidelines gave her a desire for freedom, and to her, the sea is freedom. True, there are duties for those aboard, and the work is hard. The captain gives orders that must be obeyed and everyone must act in accord. Fortunately, Valira was quick rather than strong, so many of her tasks were less of the backbreaking variety and more of the "you'd have to be crazy to do that" sort. Valira was the one to scramble aloft in the rigging, even during the worst storms, to get their bearing. She was the one to be dangled by a rope over the side of the rail to nail a damaged board back into place. She avoided lashing herself to the deck during storms to run supplies and orders to the secured sailors. And she loved every minute of it. Valira works hard and plays hard. She curses like the sailor she is, drinks men twice her size under the table, and is probably only one or two bad decisions away from being a full pirate. But she's also forthright, loyal, and honest about her feelings and perceptions (if not her intentions or activities), almost to a fault. If life in Gulfport and on the ocean has taught her one thing, it's that nothing is guaranteed, especially the next dawn. Live life to the fullest. Backstory: Valira is from the Northern Ergothian town of Gulfport, exposed at an early age to the many cultures and people of Krynn. Her father was a sailor, and though he was gone most of the time, Valira always looked forward to his return with tales of places he had seen and adventures he had experienced. Her father always had some trinket or other from some faraway port that he'd managed to bring home, and Valira treasured her gifts. Her mother was a fishmonger who worked the docks, in all senses of the word, but Valira didn't concern herself with her mother much. Valira was raised by Gulfport, and she ran free through the district like a wild thing. They were dirt poor, since both her parents drank away any coin they made, but Valira neither noticed nor cared. Eventually, her father failed to return home. The ship he'd sailed out on returned, damaged and missing half its crew, and she heard the story of her father's death at the hands of minotaurs from his crewmates. Valira was devastated, and one of her father's crewmates became a bit of a surrogate uncle to her, ensuring she didn't starve to death or go completely feral. In a few years, Valira was old enough to join a ship's crew, and her 'uncle' ensured that she found a berth on the ship he was on. Between her adopted uncle's belaying pin and her quickness, she was able to avoid the more unsavory types aboard ship and begin learning the ropes - literally. After a couple of years, she became recognized as an able-bodied sailor, earning a full place on ship and the respect of her crew. RP Sample: Valira read the message again, a little puzzled. Of course she remembered Greenshield; the bard was hard to forget, after all. He had certainly caught Val's attention while she was visiting the port of Kalaman, hearing his singing and tales of adventure. Despite being older than Val's father, Ispin always seemed to have more vigor than men half his age. She had exchanged stories with the man for hours, though she lacked his flair and talent for the telling. Valira was a bit sad to find that the old man had died, as well as a bit surprised. He'd seemed so full of life, she assumed he would live for decades more. She didn't know this self-proclaimed 'Knight of the Crown', though, and her suspicions were aroused. Even in Solamnia...hell, especially in Solamnia...there was little love for the Order of Knights. Val herself wasn't too fond of the idea of a life of slavish devotion to the Codes and the Measurements, or whatever it was. The Knights represented order for the sake of order and tradition, rather than accomplishing a specific goal, pretty much the antithesis of everything she herself stood for. Flipping the page back and forth, not that there was any writing on the back, she tapped the rim of her mug thoughtfully while considering. "What's your angle, Old Man?" she asked the letter, a slight smirk curling at the corner of her mouth. "Did you decide to fake your own death just to throw yourself a funeral?" Standing, she lifted the mug and drained the contents in one gulp, tossing it on the table and adding a coin for the barmaid. Shouldering her pack and sauntering out of the tavern, she strolled down the docks, enjoying the familiar sounds, sights, and smells of the wharf while she scanned the ships at dock. Checking destinations, she presented herself to a sailor sitting behind a ledger book, who squinted up at her with beady eyes. "Headed to Solamnia?" she asked, with a nod toward the ship. "Aye," the sailor nodded. "By way of Palanthas." Close enough, Valira decided. "Taking on crew?" After a bit of discussion on her past voyages and qualifications, the sailor indicated where she would sign, and she shifted the pack on her shoulder before heading up the gangplank to find a berth. 1) What is it you would like to get out of the game? What kind of things appeal to you in a PbP game? Fun, character development, storytelling, and revisiting one of my favorite settings! 2) What sort of things do you not want to see in a PbP game? No OOC drama. I'd like everyone to be open about anything bothering them, rather than rage quitting or arguing in chat. Also, nothing too graphic, though site rules pretty much cover that. 3) What is it that made you want to apply to this game? You're kidding, right? Dragonlance + Arkanis = yes please! 4) Do you prefer PbP games that are predominantly focused on combat, or predominantly focused on role-play? Or a mixture of the two? Mixture, but if either gets priority, I'd rather weight more toward roleplay.

[keylan]

DM Arkanis Damaris is ready for review if that is something your interested in doing.

[lydklein]

I'm sure I missed it somewhere, but when is the deadline?

[The Rat Queen]

@Arkanis - Valira is ready for review!

[Arkanis]

Originally Posted by lydklein

I'm sure I missed it somewhere, but when is the deadline?

I haven't specified a deadline yet, it will probably be at some point in the next 2 weeks.

[Alemar]

I believe Kallion Nightwind is complete for your perusal

[HexCursed]

Okay! I got that writing sample included. I'm tempted to leave it as a first draft because I wouldn't often go back and rewrite an in-game post. IDK With 2 weeks, I might go back since I have the time. Feedback is welcome. Is there anything that Sarabeth's application is missing?

[Remorazz]

App mostly completed, might expand a bit on the secrets in the next days. HERE!!

Also up for some feedback, in case I missed something.

[Grouchy]

Bergen is now complete. RP sample doesn't quite show his wacky kender side, but it's close to what I want for him.

[Seekr34]

Haven't forgotten about the secrets, still trying to come up with something.

[Elanir]

My application is ready. Fliparin “Flip” Squiggledraw is ready to explore and experience Krynn! Poor Krynn…

[Mitsubachi]

Application Name: Taela Sparrowswift Race: Wood Elf Class: Ranger Alignment: Chaotic Good Personality: Traits: I’m driven by a wanderlust that led me far away from home. I am ruled by my emotions, which change like the fickle winds. Ideal: Nature; the natural world is more important than all the constructs of civilisation. Bond: An injury to the unspoiled wilderness of my home is an injury to me. Flaw: There is no room for caution in a life lived to the fullest. Background: Outlander Appearance: Taela is a Silvanesti elf with lissom, agile limbs, and long flaxen hair. Her features are fine and delicately pointed, as is typical of the Silvanesti. Though she has lived sixty summers, those who are familiar with elves will spot that she is still but a juvenile. Personality: Taela is driven by a childlike curiosity and strong passions. She is as fickle as the changing winds, like a force of nature; at times as gentle as a breeze, at others as furious as a storm. Her one constant is a deep commitment to nature. Mechanical Details:   Abilities (27pt buy): STR (2 pts)10 DEX (7pts: 14 base +2 from wood elf)16 CON (2 pts)10 WIS (9pts: 15 base +1 from wood elf)16 CHA (7pts)14 Hit Points: 10 (1d10) Speed: (fleet of foot; wood elf)35ft AC: (11 from leather armour + DEX mod +3)14 Skills: (elf)Perception, (from Ranger)Athletics, Stealth, Animal Handling, (from Outlander)Acrobatics, Survival Feats: Darkvision, (proficiency in Perception)Keen Sense, (Advantage against being charmed)Fey Ancestry, (4 hours rest instead of 8 sleep)Trance, (can hide when only lightly obscured)Mask of the Wild, Favoured enemy (orcs), (difficult terrain does not slow travel of group if you lead, cannot become lost except by magical means, alert to danger while on other activities like foraging, if alone can move stealthily at full pace, twice as much found while foraging, when tracking can determine number and size of enemy and how long ago they passed)Natural Explorer (Forest), (Outlander: excellent memory of terrain and area around you, also can forage for food and water for yourself and up to five others provided the land can offer this)Wanderer Languages: Common, Elvish, (language of the tree spirits)Sylvan Proficiencies: Weapons: longsword, shortsword, longbow, shortbow, simple weapons, martial weapons Armour: light armour, medium armour, shields Tools: flute (from Background) Saving Throws: STR/DEX Equipment: Leather armour, (d6+3 damage)two shortswords, flute, (backpack, bedroll, mess kit, tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days of rations, waterskin, 10ft of hempen rope)explorer’s pack, longbow and 20 arrows, traveller’s clothes, animal trophy (a swift feather in her hair), 10gp Backstory:   The ancient kingdom of the Silvanesti is a shadow of its former glory; the wonderful towers woven from the trees themselves now silent and sparsely populated by a fraction of the former population. Isolated from the world and locked in its hierarchical society, the Silvanesti are slowly fading from existence with barely a whisper. Children are rare. Born into the great empty echoing halls of Silvanost, Taela grew up yearning for excitement, adventure and stimulation. So as soon as she was old enough, she left to train with the Rangers of the Waywatcher kindred that guarded the border forests. And for their part, the Elders were happy to let her go, for Taela’s antics were a disturbance and nuisance to their tranquil lives. Living amongst the forests, Taela learned the craft of the Rangers and developed a deep appreciation for nature. The Waywatchers use a system of “Earned-names” in place of kin-names, like the Kagonesti to whom they are related. And so they named Taela Sparrowswift, for she proved a proficient scout, quick through the woods to bring warning of approaching raiders. Taela also encountered members of other races. Repressed by her secluded upbringing, she was curious about the funny kender, the doughty dwarfs and the virile, excitable humans. She wandered further and further, spying on the villages of other races and occasionally stealing things that took her fancy. The rumours of war spread like a shadow from the north. There is whisper of a dark army that will lay waste to everything – even Silvanesti. And so now Taela must perform a scouting mission on a scale she has never before known. RP Sample: Taela Taela springs barefoot from one stepping stone to the next. The white waters of the river rush and roar around her. The svelte wood elf carefully misses the fifth rune-marked boulder; for that is the one their party's wizard had warned her was trapped. At the seventh, a salmon leaps across her path, fighting its way upstream. Alarmed and then intrigued, Taela drops to her knees to watch the progress of the fish. Her eyes gleam, captivated by the travails that the heroic silver animal is braving. A marvel of nature! It is only when her hollering friends recall her attention to the task at hand that she manages to drag her gaze away from the salmon. She glances ahead. Only three more stepping stones to go. With a graceful pirouette just for sheer joy, she bounces the final steps and lands on the far bank from the party. "See! It is safe," she calls out. The others line up ready to make the same journey in turn. But then, Taela's nose twitches. The elf has caught a scent. She whirls and faces the dark woods beyond the river bank. A moment of stillness. The river roars behind her, but she hears the whispers of the trees. A warning. Taela draws her twinned longdaggers from their sheaths across her back. The hiss of metal sliding against leather is like a challenge as the weapons are unleashed. A cackle of brutish voices whoop in reply. The goblins rush out from their hiding places behind the thick dark tree trunks. Taela screams like a wildcat and charges into battle, her daggers flashing in the sunlight, like claws... OOC Successful pretend this is a link to the dice rollsagility and perception rolls. Secrets:

Extra Bit 1) What is it you would like to get out of the game? What kind of things appeal to you in a PbP game? I would love to take part in telling an epic tale of fantasy and adventure, with a strong cast of personalities facing awesome perils. 2) What sort of things do you not want to see in a PbP game? Just keep it PG13 please. 3) What is it that made you want to apply to this game? The GM is great. Also, the deeply detailed background and some really inspiring fellow applicants make me feel this one may hit my primary objective (see 1, above). 4) Do you prefer PbP games that are predominantly focussed on combat, or predominantly focussed on role-play? Or a mixture of the two? It has to be a mixture. Pure combat without emotional context is without meaning. An epic quest where there is no fighting or danger, is no fun.