[D&D-5e] The City at the Heart of Yesterday

[Trashking]

Unfortunately I will be withdrawing my application. Best of luck to everyone!

[Demandredd]

Approximately 24 hours to go until I close this.

[Snicker]

My submission is complete!

[Flying Fox]

Originally Posted by Snicker

My submission is complete!

[Maya Conti]

I finally completed Dorann's RP sample.

[Demandredd]

This is certainly a collection of eclectic and well-thought out bunch of characters. I'm going to close this to new applications and am starting to go over my final reviews and picks. For any applications still in-flight you have a few hours left to complete before I announce final picks.

[Elanir]

Just in the nick of time! I couldn’t resist in the end.

Erian Dinev, the Fated One Name: Erian Dinev Race: Chondathan of Cormyrean descentHuman Class: Order of ScribesWizard Description: Erian is a young man in his early twenties. His eyes and hair are as black as the raven’s wing and his skin has a slightly tanned tone, contrasting with the paleness of most of the human inhabitants of the Ten Towns. He has high cheekbones, eyebrows that tend to frown a lot and slightly protruding ears that are accentuated by the fact that he keeps his hair short, so that the icy winds of the Dale won’t play havoc with them. His looks are much like those of any other young man from the south, but in order to distinguish himself from the hoi polloi, Erian takes pride in the finer things in life. Luxury goods, rich fabrics and imported foods and drinks have been provided by his mother ever since he was a boy and now that the passes to the south are blocked and the merchants have stopped arriving with the wonders of the lands beyond the Spine of the World, he realizes that his days have grown dull and insufferable without them. Though he often appears impatient and brusque, in truth he lacks confidence in himself, having been controlled his whole life by his domineering mother. Despite his conviction about his own exalted destiny, he is more child than man and has never actually had to take care of himself. Character Overview: A “utility” wizard and “Intelligence skill monkey”, focusing mainly on things that can be observed, studied and deduced, though he should be able to make himself useful in a fight. From a roleplaying point of view, this is an immature character, lacking strong personal convictions, on a journey of self-discovery. There is no predetermined path, on the contrary he is going to be shaped by the events in the story. Backstory: Every single person in Icewind Dale has heard of the Dinev and if they haven’t, they should have. It is believed that this noble family of Cormyr, the founders of Caer-Dineval, the first of the Ten Towns, died out hundreds of years ago. This may be true for the male members of the original family, but the bloodline persists to this day via the youngest daughter of the Dinev patriarch. She and her children managed to survive the harsh climate and the plentiful dangers of the Icewind Dale through the ages, leaving Caer-Dineval and settling in the better defended Bryn Shander. Erian Dinev is the latest descendant of this illustrious family. He never knew his father, for his mother either drove him away, not considering him a suitable role model for her son, or chose a visitor to the Ten Towns to sire her progeny. A strong character and a most determined woman, she raised the boy herself, making sure that he would want for nothing. It is uncertain how she came by her sizable fortune, since only a few years ago she possessed nothing to her name. Whatever her secret, she goes to great lengths to keep her business private from all and especially her son. The boy was tutored by the best teachers gold could buy and those willing to brave the blizzards of the Icewind Dale were compensated very well for their services. Erian received one of the best academic educations in the Ten Towns, though the message his mother wanted him to take to heart was another. As the last of the Dinev family line, he is fated for greatness. His ancestors were meant to become kings of frost and ice. Orc raiders robbed them of this destiny, but now the day has come for Erian to claim what should have been his all along. The young man has heard these words almost every single day of his life and still he refuses to believe them. Not that he would dare admit such a thing to his mother. He tries to be the perfect heir to the legacy of his forefathers and will keep on pretending until either he is truly placed on a throne or his mother’s ambition costs him his life. Whatever the case, it would mean his freedom, one way or the other.   "What are you still doing in these robes? You should have been ready an hour ago." Erian didn’t have to look up to know that it was his mother that had entered the room and that she wasn’t pleased with him. No one in their large house would ever dare talk to him in such a way but the Dinev matriarch. "I am almost done, Mother. I will be getting dressed in a minute." A sharp intake of breath behind him made the young man realize his mistake. Clenching his fist, he braced himself to endure the storm of his mother’s wrath. "A minute!? You are already several minutes late as it is and by the time we are able to join the celebration at the Speaker’s house, it will be an hour. The Speaker is bound to take offense and if not her, then Lord Jardeth. You know how much he and his daughter value duty - and punctuality. You are not some servant, returning late from his errands and coming up with excuses so that he won’t be flogged by his master. You are the future king of this land! Such behavior is inexcusable." The future king of this land… This land never had a king, mother, and it never will. Even if it did, he would have sooner abandoned his domain rather than spend a life chilled to the bone upon a throne of ice. Turning to face his mother, resplendent in her dark purple dress and a riot of furs, Erian tried to keep his visage apologetic and his tone respectful. "You are right of course, Mother. It’s just that I was carried away by what I have been reading in this journal. Do you recognize it? It is the very one that a worker found in the basement of Caer-Dineval. You know, inside that small secret room that was discovered after the wall separating it from the main chamber was knocked down." The raising of an eyebrow signified his mother’s interest. The Speaker of Caer-Dineval was renovating the caer’s cellar and Erian’s mother had secretly paid several of the workers to bring her anything “of interest” they might find there. From a collection of moth-eaten flags bearing the Dinev coat of arms, a few personal belongings like cups and combs and a few pieces of cloth that no longer resembled clothes, this journal had been the most promising of the heirlooms brought to them. "Of course!" Even if she hadn’t remembered, his mother would never have admitted it, not that Erian had any cause to doubt her memory or the rest of her mental faculties. She remained as sharp as a woman half her age. Probably sharper than her son would ever be. "Have you discovered something?" The young man smiled inwardly, though he was careful not to show it. There! His mother was hooked. "I have." Taking his time to enjoy this little victory over her, Erian picked up the ancient book, very carefully so as not to damage its fragile pages. "It is written in Cormyrean and must have belonged to one of the members of the original Dinev family, though I have not yet been able to decipher to whom exactly. Listen to this." Taking a deep breath, Erian first read out loud the original passage and then translated it into the common tongue. Though it lost some of its beauty, a translation was necessary, for his mother, despite her allusions of grandeur, didn’t speak the language of her forefathers. From the sunless world, Your mirror is black, your spirit looks back, As a slave of the dark world, By a carrion, Lost in the maze, The real and human feel, Feast your eyes on the black mirror, Feed the beast, join the gathering, tell a tale, Feast of fears is drawing nearer, Beyond the human horizon, Something terrifying sleeps, It awakens, it calls to you, The dark beast draws you in, It swallows you whole, It will never let you go. Letting a few moments pass, Erian looked at his mother expectedly. She appeared skeptical. The silence started to feel strained when she finally gave in. It was one of the very few times that she did so. "It sounds ominous. What does it mean exactly?" The young man returned the book to his desk, placed his hands behind his back and smiled, obviously content. "It’s a reference to the Lost City." "The Lost City! Are you sure, Erian?" The woman’s excitement mirrored that of her son. The mysterious Lost City and the secrets it contained were legendary. It was rumored to contain unimaginable power, power enough to turn commoners to kings and to make the sun return to Icewind Dale. "I believe so. In fact, it is my conviction that our ancestors didn’t choose this land only to bring civilization to the wilds and become kings of frost and ice. They came here hoping to locate the Lost City and discover its secrets…" "Fascinating! And…?" Erian shook his head slowly. "The journal is in poor shape and I must be extra careful not to finish what time has begun. It takes great effort to read this - and requires the utmost concentration." He almost added the word “uninterrupted”, but he had learnt his lesson. He wasn’t a fool to make the same mistake twice on the same day. "Do you think I could be excused from attending the Speaker’s birthday celebration in order to study the journal further?" "Absolutely not!" Anger and determination returned to his mother’s eyes. "We have the bloodright and we have the gold, but we lack the loyalty of the people. Until we obtain it, we need these she means the Speakersfalse nobles and the respect they command." Erian sighed in resignation. If an ancient Dinev manuscript was unable to keep him from going to another meeting of the most boorish and self-important people in Bryn Shander, nothing could. "Yes, Mother. I will make myself presentable at once." His mother nodded, her look that of one who was always getting their way and knew it. "I want you to be especially charming towards Lord Jardeth’s daughter, Tara, tonight. He is a valuable ally and she a fitting pair for a young man." Erian almost dropped the vest of green brocade he was about to wear and turned to look at his mother with trepidation. What did she mean by that? Had she already been talking to Lord Jardeth? Was he supposed to marry Tara Jardeth? "The girl is pretty enough, this doesn’t have to be true of coursebut she only speaks about swords, armor and duty. Do you think her the equal of the future king of ice and frost?", Erian asked, hoping that his mother’s pride would be enough to sabotage this marriage. "No", his mother replied smugly. "But every king needs a queen. If she can keep the rabble away from you, so much the better. Swords, armor and duty are essential for building and maintaining a kingdom after all, aren’t they?" "Yes, Mother." What more was there to say?

[Elanir]

Even though I am 1 minute too late, I hope I will still be considered.

[Demandredd]

Haha cutting it very fine but yes that's ok, I've not selected all of the slots yet

[Flying Fox]

Originally Posted by Elanir

Even though I am 1 minute too late, I hope I will still be considered.

Oh no, I used my Indiana Jones gif too soon!

[Elanir]

Originally Posted by Flying Fox

Oh no, I used my Indiana Jones gif too soon!

Indeed!

[Snicker]

Originally Posted by Flying Fox

Thank you! I was considering leaving the RP sample until the morning, but I'm glad I didn't!

[Demandredd]

Ok, that's officially a wrap. I'll announce selected participants in due course. Thank you for the time and consideration of this game everyone, there are some truly excellent applications for me to go through here.

[Demandredd]

All invitations have now been sent out via PM. I have to say up front that this was a difficult choice to make and if you did not get in, it was by no means because I found your applications lacking in any way. In the end though, I can't take on everybody and as much as I would have liked to, an overlarge or multiple parties I feel would have been too much for me.

Again though, thank you sincerely for your time and efforts in terms of applications to the game.

[Treble83]

Alana Name: Alana Race: Human (Variant) Class: Rogue Alignment: Chaotic Good Background: Criminal Personality: Traits - The first thing I do in a new place is to note the locations of everything valuable, or where such things could be hidden. - I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. Ideals Redemption: There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good) Bond - I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family. Flaw - By my words and actions, I often bring shame to my family. Appearance: Alana is a young human woman with a fair complexion. Her long dark auburn hair falls down in cascading waves when she lets it down but it is more often tied back with a ribbon or string, showcasing her big bright green eyes. As a lifelong inhabitant of the Frozenfar, she is always dressed in a mixture of fur and leather to protect against the weather and wildlife alike. At 5'7" and approximately 140 lbsten stones she doesn't look very imposing but, generally, that works in her favor. Backstory: Icewind Dale is the only home that Alana has ever known. Originally, she was born in the small fishing and timber village of Lonelywood. Her father was a fisherman that had settled down there after meeting her mother, a local artist, and craftswoman. Life in Lonelywood was difficult but Alana absolutely adored it. Everyone worked together for the common goal of survival, without intruding too much into one another personal affairs. When Alana was ten years old, her parents decided to pick up stakes and move to the walled town of Bryn Shander. Apparently, the only thing about Lonelywood that her father had ever liked was that he met her mother there. Together, her parents saved every copper they could until they had enough to move somewhere "more suitable for raising a family..." Every extra copper was deposited into a secret trunk, buried just below the surface under the floor boards of their modest two-bedroom cabin. Knowing better than to mention their efforts to save and being smart enough to spend just enough to cast off suspicion, they were eventually able to set aside enough to begin their "new life." With their life savings, the Pike family was able to afford a smaller one-bedroom home, just outside of the town's walls. Additionally, they were able to pay for her father's carpentry tools and buy her mother a cart and necessary supplies to sell her scrimshaw art. Finally, they spent almost down to the last copper to buy one new set of clothing for each family member. "Be patient, soon we'll make enough coin to move to a much larger home with chests full of furs" her mother had promised. Sadly, life in the big(ger) town was somehow even harsher than it had been living in the middle of nowhere. The people of Bryn Shander cared very little for one another and would seemingly step over one another in an instant if it meant getting just one more copper or another ounce of food for themselves. Quickly realizing that she was practically invisible in this new place, that she hated, Alana began seeing how much she could get away with. Starting small, she would swipe a piece of food or a bobble from the edge of merchants' stands when they weren't looking. Usually, if they had even noticed the missing item, she was long gone before they could look for the culprit. Eventually, as the girl grew older, she began to take bigger risks with the hopes for bigger rewards and a bigger rush. When she was eighteen, she finally decided that it was time to let her parents in on her activities. She had hoped that they would be proud of her for finding a way to make a better life for them all. Instead, her parents were racked with despair and grief. "I knew we should have gotten you out of the awful place sooner!" her father insisted. "We didn't want you to become a common criminal like so many others in this region. We wanted you to learn a trade, or marry a wealthy merchant and find your way far away from here!" Although his words were not meant to hurt her, that was the effect they'd had. Alana quickly promised to stop her amateur life of crime and apologized profusely to her parents. However, she knew that she had no intention of keeping that promise. She had no intention of working her fingers to the bone for a meager living and she'd be damned if she put her fate in the hands of another. No, she would just have to be smarter about keeping her ill-gotten gains a secret and avoid being caught... Role-Playing Sample: Studying the sheriff's door carefully, Alana worried that she might be overplaying her hand. Whispers had begun circulating about the fact that she had often, "coincidentally," been in near proximity to traders and merchants that had reported missing goods or coins. Nothing could be proven and folks in the region were slow to trust or cooperate with law enforcement, so no outright accusation had been made just yet. Still, she knew that waltzing into the man's office may be the equivalent of handing herself over if he had so much as one witness that was willing to testify against her. Deciding it was a calculated risk, she willed herself to step inside. "Afternoon Sherrif! I hear that you're looking for able-bodied fools to help deal with predators that've been gettin' too close to town. Well I'm good with a bow and I could certainly use the coin, so I'm your girl!" The truth was, she had hidden away a fair amount of money already. However, she quickly began to realize that she couldn't very well start spending that money without drawing unwanted attention or getting asked questions that she couldn't answer. Now that trade from outside of the region had been cut off and conditions were worsening, there was a big need for the adventuring type and a small pool to select from. Alana figured that that meant she could easily earn at least some of the smaller rewards and draw almost equally from her stash. If she was smart, she could spend double what she was legitimately bringing in without raising suspicion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pushing through the blizzard, Alana could barely see the other contractors ahead of her. Had the rope around her waist not still had tension on it, she might not believe that they were still there. Maybe my folks were right! I could be sitting in front of a fire right now, carving scrimshaw and listening to my mother tell stories... Strange sounds ahead snapped the girl from her daydreaming. Creeping forward, she felt the rope lose tension and finally saw the next man ahead of her on the line holding his hand out toward her to indicate that she should stop next to him. As She did so, the large woman leading the group worked her way back to him as well. It was the woman who spoke first. "It's our Polar Bear alright... He's hurt and he's angry. That must be why he attacked the hunters... Untie yourselves from the line, stay close, and stay quiet. We've seen him but, thankfully, he hasn't seen us." Following the woman's lead, Alana and the man drew their weapons and moved quietly, covered by the same blizzard that had been harassing them for the majority of their journey. The large woman's name was Saara, and she was the most experienced fighter in their little group. Apparently, she had been a member of some "adventuring" guild somewhere far to the south. It was unclear what had brought her here and Alana knew better than to ask... The man was far less of a mystery, as he was a fairly familiar face in Bryn Shander. Before everything had gone to hell, he had been a hunter. His name was Bjorn and he was doing "what he must" to keep food on his family's table. However, he did mention before leaving town that he tried to stick to things no larger (or more aggressive) than a reindeer. All of them were out of their element but they each had their own reason for taking such risks. "At least until this storm passes..." Drawing closer, it was Bjorn who halted the group this time. After studying the terrain ahead for what seemed like a long time, the two women finally saw what he had spotted. Although mostly dried, the red blood on the bear's hind quarter stood out against the white snow blowing through. As Bjorn and Alana drew back their bows, Saara raised her javelin. With a rehearsed click of his tongue, Bjorn triggered the simultaneous attack. The initial strike was beautiful, almost as if it had been rehearsed. Unfortunately, it was not enough to take down the large beast. Instead, it came lumbering toward them with a look of raw hate in its eyes. The fight that ensued was almost too much for the three adventurers but, with each of them playing to their strengths, they were eventually able to bring it down without losing anyone. Proudly, they loaded the bear onto a sled and dragged it back into town and through the streets of the market as if they were heroes returning triumphantly from some far-off war...