[PF-1e] The Forsaken Plane: The Plane of The Elder Evils

[suburbanplankton]

Name: Marcius Laparix
Race: Dhampir
Class: Magus
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Place of Origin: Golarian, Taldor, a minor duchy between the Fog Peaks and the Verudan Forest

Why was Marcius chosen?: Marcius stands at a tipping point; his upbringing and ideals steering him toward a good and righteous path, but his circumstances and his heritage drawing him toward a path of evil. It seems that some force within the Forsaken Plane wishes to aid him in making that choice.

Background Concept Elements: Marcius' mother was royalty, heiress to a small duchy; she was seduced by a vampire, and died giving birth to Marcius. His grandmother, the matriarch of the family, claimed that the baby died as well, and arranged to have him raised by a merchant family in the town outside the castle, in order to hide his heritage and bastard nature from his father. His grandmother arranged to have him educated in Magic and Arms, until she died and her influence in the town was no longer available to shield him, at which point he was spirited away to protect him from his father. Marcius has no idea who his true parents are; he believes that he was raised by his mother's sister, and has no idea who his father was. He is generally distrustful of new acquaintances, but when he chooses to befriend a person that commitment is absolute; he would do anything to protect and help a friend. He has a soft spot for the oppressed and downtrodden, and a contempt for government and authority figures, due to his life as an outcast. He has no use for 'family ties', and sees little value for Guilds, Clans, Legions...his trust must be earned on an individual basis, not based on circumstance of birth or membership of a group. Goals: PC: Marcius's goal is to overthrow the tyrannical Duke that is oppressing the people of his land, and systematically killing all of its 'undesriable' inhabitants. Player: I would like to see Marcius become fully aware of his heritage, to meet his father, and to choose an ultimate path of good (taking his place as Duke) or evil (becoming a full-blooded vampire) Secrets: Known:After his mother's death, her husband was named heir to the duchy, and eventually became the Duke. He was a despotic ruler, and his descendants have continued his iron-fisted rule. Marcius is a member of a rebel group seeking to overthrow the current ruling family. Unknown:His true father has always been aware of his existence. While Marcius was safely hidden away in the town, he could not contact the boy, but ever since Marcius departed, his father has been seeking to find him and bring him into his flock. People: Friendly Eleana - The one love of his life: Another dhampir, they found each other by chance many years ago, and formed a relationship based on their shared nature as outcasts, but their lives took different paths. They still share a close bond, however; their lives seem somehow intertwined, and seem to cross often when one of the other is in need. Kisaan - His mentor and former magic teacher: A sylph, he fled the town at the same time as Marcius. He still serves as Marcius' mentor, and helps to keep Marcius hidden from his father, and to make certain he guides Marcius along the proper path, so that he does not succumb to his vampiric nature. Hostile Marcellus Lustarion III - The Duke (grandson of his mother's husband): Once he became aware of Marcus' existence, and the circumstances of his conception, Marcius' 'father' Marcellus sought to have the boy killed, but Marcius was spirited away to safety. After he became Duke, Marcellus directed his personal guard to rid his land of all vampires, dhampir, and any other 'half-breeds' and undesirables that could be found...and the current Duke continues the work continues the work begun by his grandfather. Unclear (Identity Unknown) - His true father: A vampire, who seeks to find Marcius, make him a full-blooded vampire, and bring him into his flock. Memories, Mannerisms and Quirks: When he was a boy he was raised as a human, with great efforts being taken to hide his vampiric heritage. As a result of this upbringing, he is conflicted about his nature - he denies and seeks to suppress his vampire side, trying to appear as human as possible; at the same time yearns to learn more about his vampiric heritage, and to learn and embrace the secrets of its powers. His fondest childhood memories are of sparring with Henrik Strongbear, who had been his mother's man-at-arms, and was assigned to be his personal protector and martial teacher. He still carries the rapier that Henrik gave him on his twelfth birthday, as a reminder of the man, the closest thing to a father that he ever knew. When he was secreted out of the town following his grandmother's death, he was hidden in a wine barrel, where he remained for three days. As a result, he has a severe case of claustrophobia.

Sample Post: "They've found us! Scatter!" Kaggan sprang down from his post, waving his arms as if to sweep the others away by the force of his gestures alone. The Oread ran through the camp, raising the alarm and waking the several sleeping figures from their slumber, "Eight, maybe ten riders, coming hard up the pass! They know we're here...run!!" Marcius leapt from his cot, quickly clearing his head...How did they find us again so soon? It had been only three days before that the group had been forced to abandon their last camp...but that time they had advanced notice. One of the local farmers, sympathetic to their cause, had warned them that the Duke's men were in the area asking the locals about rebels in the woods; they were able to flee the area under cover of darkness, unseen...or so they thought... The rest of the camp was already on the move, gathering what belongings they could and scattering into the rocks hills surrounding the hollow. Marcius crept up the a nearby outcropping, from where he could see down into the narrow pass that provided the only easy access. The situation was worse than Kaggan had warned of; well more than a dozen mail-clad soldiers were closing in...and they were only a few seconds from the camp! There was no time to coordinate a retreat; it was every man for himself now, those who escaped would try to regroup in the days to come. Marcius scrambled up the rocks and over a small wall, hoping to lose himself in the scrub brush beyond. An arrow, missing his head by a few feet, told him that he had been spotted, but he reached the cover of the brush before the first soldier made it to the camp, giving him hope that he might yet escape. As he half-ran/half-crawled through the scrub, he could hear the shouts of the soldiers as they fanned out in search of his band; of his companions he neither saw no heard any trace - months of being on the run had taught them all well. After ten or so minutes of careful movement, it seemed he was in the clear. He had seen a couple of the pursuers, but they had gone off in a different direction, and for five minutes the hills had been totally silent. Feeling a bit more confident, but still wary, he made his way up a game trail leading away from what had been their camp. Pausing for a moment where the trail bent around a large boulder, he heard a voice call out from behind him, "Marcius, at last we meet" Marcius whipped his head round, drawing his rapier and assuming a defensive stance. How did they get behind me? How did I not hear? But instead of the Duke's Men, before him stood a single tall figure, dressed in a plain, though finely crafter black cloak, unarmed, standing at ease in the center of the trail, smiling at him. "I have wanted for so long to meet you" "What...who are you?!?" "Come with me, Marcius. I have much to tell you." The man stretched out his hand and stepped toward him. Marcius raised his sword, but stepped back, trying to maintain distance. "Do not fear, Marcius. I can help you." Another step forward; Marcius felt rooted to the ground, unable to move his feet. All that Marcius could do was to scream out "No! Stay away from me!" As the man reached out to touch his cheek, there was a loud rustle from up the hillside, then a shout, "Here! We got some!" A heartbeat later, a crossbow bolt slammed into a tree directly behind where the man had just been standing, but he was not there...he had simply vanished before Marcius' eyes. Free from the force that had held him immobilized, Marcius ducked and ran headlong down the hillside, desperately trying to keep his feet - how tragic it would be to escape the Duke's Men only to die from a broken neck or impaling himself on a tree branch. Arrows flew past him, but the soldiers were having as much trouble navigating the terrain as he, and slowly he began to gain some distance. Then for the second time in as many minutes, he hears his name spoken...but this time the voice is familiar; it's Kissan! The old sylph is crouching next to an uprooted tree just a few yards away, motioning to him, "Quickly! I can get us out of here!" As Marcius runs toward him, Kissan gestures, and she sees the faint shimmer that indicates a Dimension Door. Kissan points to the spot, and Marcius jumps through... ~~~~~~~~~~ ...and exists the door onto a vast, flat plain. Rocks and boulders litter the landscape, with a few stunted trees the only things rising above eye level. The sky is dark and rust colored, with heavy clouds obscuring a setting sun. There is a metallic taste to the warm air, a slight breeze stirs up the dust, causing his eyes to water. Marcius looks behind him, but there is no sign of Kissan, no sign of the Dimension Door, nothing that looks in any way familiar. "Kissan! Are you there?!?" Nothing but silence answers him. Marcius can do nothing but stand and stare...in all directions there is nothing but the plain. Looking toward the setting sun, he spots a line of hills near the horizon; it is already growing too dark to make out much in the other directions. After a few minutes it becomes clear that wherever he is, he is here alone. Gripping his rapier tightly, he picks out a point in the faraway hills and begins walking...

[Digorig]

Xman, is there an application deadline yet?

[MalchiorTheForgotten]

Yeah, so I posted two apps because I wasn't sure which would be better. I'm sort of leaning towards my second one because I feel it's stronger, but I'd play either, obviously. Let me know your thoughts.

[Xian]

Team,

I appreciate the great interest in my little project here and apologize up front for the length of this particular post, but been getting lots of feedback that indicates that I needed to clarify some things. Instead of posting it here, I have got a lot of traffic on PM side of the house in regards to this game so I would like to share some themes and to clarify what kind of world I am trying to create.

Many of the questions revolve on race or mechanic, or class feature. To me, mechanics support the character and not the other way around. This is why I want to de-emphasize the build aspect and focus in the application on the central themes of your character for this initial portion.

This leads to the world that I am crafting and the one you are applying to enter. In all but name and geography, the Forsaken Plane is Ravenloft. I chose not to call it that because I did not want to be tied to the source material, but the concept and the ideas central to Ravenloft are the core of this world. At the center of that is the theme of horror and of normal (relatively normal) people battling against that horror.

Fair warning: One of the key aspects of the world is its impact on magic, divine and arcane. As much as arcane opens up doors, it also leaves the practitioner vulnerable to things that their mundane counterparts are not. Clerics not from the Forsaken Plane will be limited in their spells and only being able to cast the most basic of divine magic as they are cut off from their deity. As a mentioned in the ad, the irony is that the more strength the PC has to defeat enemies (generically) the more vulnerable they become. It is almost like a reverse tier concept.

So for your characters, they will not have extensive planar knowledge and the true nature of the plane itself may never be known to the players even at campaign's close and most certainly nothing close to understanding will be known in the beginning. To illustrate, it is like having the protagonist / watcher being knowledgeable about the monster that is about to stalk them and know a way of defeating it. The unknown is scary.

Many of the chapters, the characters will be spending their time trying to figure out what is terrorizing them and the people that they are defending and THEN find a way to defeat.

As far as race goes, like Ravenloft, the population of the Forsaken Plane is nearly entirely human. Non-humans, even Core races such as elves and dwarves, are a rarity . Thus, the more non-human you appear the more difficult it will be for the characters in the general setting and more importantly it will make things challenging for the party. From an RP sense this is good, but also remember selections are also based on how well the party would function together, not just in terms of class. Please be mindful in developing your characters.

Finally, alignment the much maligned concept, but I use it. Don't think of it as a constraint on behavior, but as way of communicating to me your character's fundamental tendencies, so therefore be as clear and possible. With that said, I don't believe in True Neutral. Characters have a tendencies on the law/chaos and good/evil axes.

If you say your character is Neutral with good and chaotic tendencies it means that your are Chaotic Good.

For those that want to challenge themselves with evil characters, it is fine and it will be challenging to play in this world. Be warned, if your character reaches a point that they taken by the Dark Powers because of their actions (perhaps even becoming a dark lord), they will become NPCs. No action is without consequence.

Hopefully, that helps to clarify some things.

[Xian]

Originally Posted by Digorig

Xman, is there an application deadline yet?

Digs/Team,

I have not set one officially yet. I was going to make an assessment on where we are with applications this weekend and then make an official determination. Tentative plan is to close initial applications here at midnight of 22 January and to provide feedback on apps weekly on Saturday. Finding the right mix is paramount to me. If I have not found it at that time, I will extend it and vice versa.

For those that have finished early, not to worry, you won't be just waiting around tweaking your app until 22 January. All those with apps that I determined complete will be given a PM and then you will be taken to phase 2 of my unorthodox application process. I believe that interaction is the key to a character's development, so that is why I wanted to de-emphasize trying to pin down and flesh out a lengthy history and personality for your character here, so you could do it there. Phase 2 is where you can bring out the tidbits of your character and share them with me and other players in writing. It will also show me who interacts well with who. Like I said, it is about finding the right mix.

The primary benefit for me is I get to see who works well with whom and how you contribute to the collaborative narrative of this story because ultimately we build it together. Here is the incentive/benefit for those that submit/complete early, you will have more time in the RPGX version of the crockpot that I am setting up to interact and flesh out your character. (More on that when you get there!) I will make my evaluation and decision based on this app and the whole of what you have in the crockpot.

Onward!

Cheers, Xian

[Xian]

Originally Posted by MalchiorTheForgotten

Yeah, so I posted two apps because I wasn't sure which would be better. I'm sort of leaning towards my second one because I feel it's stronger, but I'd play either, obviously. Let me know your thoughts.

@Melchior, you pick the app and that is the one that I will evaluate. They both could fit into the world with no issues... they are fairly equal in my opinion, but finding their IC voice will be key. Please see my note above.

@Team, appreciate all of the hard work that is being put into this, but also wanted to say for those with larger than required apps, save it for Phase 2! In all seriousness, please don't write a novel for your app here. I would love to see that detail and narrative shared with us as part of Phase 2. Reveal things in the person's personality and history and more be ready to shoe how they respond and interact with other characters. (read: get to know the other characters, not just your own).

Final note, I have approved the selective use of psionics from Dreamscarred Press, but I refer you to my rule, character before mechanics.

Onward!

Cheers, Xian

[Ratpigeon]

Is my apps one of those larger than required? *sweatdrop*

I'm very much looking forwards to phase 2 - I don't quite have faux-russian diminutives, because when will I get a better chance than a Ravenloft UstalavKadya's voice yet, and need to play him off things outside my head to clarify it. (Otherwise 'Introvert' might turn into 'Passive' which is not at all what I want for him as a character, or what I want to be doing as a member of a team).

[GeoAvanti]

I hate figuring out character voices. I find that they almost always change into something else over, oh, the first chapter of a story. Often into something I never really expected.

I've a couple things I'm considering. Right now, I'm trying to determine if I want to embrace the bleakness of the setting, or if I want a character who is going to fight tooth and nail against it. I have ideas for both. Now I'm just trying to determine which one I like better.

Also. Psionics. You just had to do it, Xian, didn't you?

[OneDarkness]

So many games coming up recently for pathfinder which is fantastic but sadly only so much time, still when up against so many good players in the games I am applying for I feel the need to increase my odds by applying to more games so I will see if I can come up with an inspired idea to apply with

[Xian]

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

So many games coming up recently for pathfinder which is fantastic but sadly only so much time, still when up against so many good players in the games I am applying for I feel the need to increase my odds by applying to more games so I will see if I can come up with an inspired idea to apply with

Based on what I have seen from you, I am sure that it be awesome, but I know what you mean in terms of the talent here. I implemented phase 2 as like a RPGX version of a steel cage match... always wanted to see what would happen when you throw all of that talent in one place at one time...

Ravenloft also has a track record for a high mortality rate... but nothing bad will happen. It will totally be legit.

Cheers, Xian

[suburbanplankton]

I have my app for Marcius completed. I fear mine may be one of the excessively verbose entries...if that's a problem then I will gladly accept the constructive criticism.

The character creation process has always been one of my favorite parts of the game, so I do tend to throw myself rather deeply into it; just like a DM spends hours and hours creating their world to be 'just right'...then DM and players get together and each completely ruins the others hard work by interacting with it

[OneDarkness]

Raven
Human, Female, Twenties, Lawful Neutral
On path towards ShadowdancerInquisitor of Dou-Bral/Zon-Kuthon


"I've lived in darkness a long time. Over the years my eyes adjusted, until the dark became my world and I could see.

Appearance and Personality

Whether she is part of the darkness or it a part of her is immaterial for she embraces it and is where she finds herself truly free, for there is no judgement in the dark as the light which seeks out flaws making them plain for all to see is denied. She stays tightly clothed and even in layers if possible exposing only her face which can been seen to varying degrees depending on the amount of light she is exposed too, now and then small portions of raven black hair escape her hooded cowl and when she lays back the cowl it is often exposed as short cut a little above the shoulders but straight as can be. Pale skin, blue eyes and reddish lips all stand in stark contrast against each other but not other features can be seen about her except for her build which is very much that of a dancer lithe, long and graceful.

Why was she taken...

Being a tortured soul with many dark events in her life that she has managed to survive and still find some moments of joy is probably a minor miracle in itself, but the moments of rage, fear and anger mean there is still a chance for her to slip across to the other end of the spectrum and they wanted a front row seat to watch it happen and delight in tormenting her further.

Place of Origin: Absalom, City at the Center of the World

Character Concept, Background Concept Elements She is horribly burned and scarred over almost her entire body stopping just below the neck, taking great pains for them not to be seen. She spent many years in the care of a temple of Shelyn never seeing the light of day Dancing is a form of release for her whether its fear, stress or joy and he movements mimic such emotions. She believes that Dou-Bral is a part of Zon-Kuthon and that by following aspects of both one day Dou-Bral might once again gain control. She still has fears over fire and those who use it in a combative way and depending on the user and threat to her it can invoke violent tendencies or just simply fear. Goals As a player I have always wanted to try out a shadowdancer from my 3.0/3.5 days and never did, so hopefully she makes it to that point. Somehow discover some sign that Dou-Bral knows she exists. Secrets Her burns and scarring are a result of life of slavery and abuse of her master whatever company he kept over the years, though she denies to any of who ask about nothing anything of her history before the temple. Her birth was arranged and purchased by her old master, though she was raised away from his house till she had reached the age of twelve. People Master, resents the loss of her after those many years of waiting and despite the years of abuse feels he is owed more. Sister Treble, the priestess of Shelyn who found her on the temple grounds that night has been the closest thing to family she has experienced and is more like an older sister. Sway Stokes, the only other initiate at the same time she was at the temple, she is boisterous and pretty and perhaps what Raven could have been and who frequently attempted to drag Raven out of her shell. Memories, Mannerisms and Quirks Raven frequently has nightmares, sometimes short sometimes long enough to wake her from her sleep where she relieves her abuse. Raven instinctively shies away from open flame, hot metal, burning coals or the like. Raven is obsessed about staying covered as much as humanly possible for she fears her wounds are too horrendous for others to see, so she is constantly checking to see that she is covered.

Initial Sample Post - still a WIP She woke with a sudden intake of breath like that of someone gasping there last, her skin was slick with sweat and she could feel the burning sensation all over her skin as if the flames were licking her very skin at this moment, and yet it passed quickly as she realized she was still within the safety of her temple cell safely in the darkness with no sign of the Master in sight. She relaxed back in her bed as she caught her breath, taking deep breaths she could feel the beat of her heart slowing back into its normal rhythm and the her muscles relaxed one more in cool darkness. Finally she swung her legs off the side of the bed and by the barest amount of light that snuck past the heavy fabric over the small window and from the hallway beyond the door she made her way to the small wardrobe along the opposite wall and proceeded to clothe herself in her blueish black form fitting attire before attaching the hood cowl that she left pushed back. Before kneeling in the darkest cornor of her cell facing a wooden stand where she made her heartfelt devotions to Dou-Bral for the grace of darkness which within she ultimately found peace, by all accounts an odd activity within the walls of a temple of Shelyn but given Shelyn's devotion to her lost brother maybe not so much. "Dou-Bral, the beauty within the darkness, help guide me this day that I might through your love find relief from my pain and experience joy once again through your movements...." Raven continued through her service in a quiet voice, grateful in its tone without a doubt and calm despite having not long ago having woken in fresh pain and agony. Once done she reached a gloved hand out to gently lift the spiked chain from where it hung upon the worn wooded stand, though it was more a tool of Zon-Kuthon than Dou-Bral it was the dominate facet of the two and it felt comfortable within her hand. It was at that moment that she became aware of the mists swirling about the room where there had never been any before and she felt panic as she thought of smoke and fire before the mists obscured all vision and she became lost within in them. Then there was nothingness, only mist, and her initial fears of fire evaporated as there was no smell of smoke or burning just mists that obscured her vision in every direction, it was incredibly disorienting until she closed her eyes shutting out the mist and acting like it was simply the darkness of night that surrounded her instead. Moving blindly in what felt like a forward direction she begun to wonder if she was not still in a dream for if she had still been in the temple cell she would have walked into a wall by now but she seemed to be able to walk far past where the wall should have been and she came to a stop when she felt the slight give of ground beneath her feet and opened her eyes to find herself on the edge of a forest looking down over a village by the side of a river with a castle overlooking it all. "I don't understand......what is this place and how did I get here?" Her question was meaningless in the face that there was nobody around in sight to answer her question, and she still was not entirely sure if she was awake or in some powerful dream but if it was a dream it was more intense than any she had ever experienced before. "I am not going to find any answers standing here." Walking away from the forest's edge she approached the town below wondering what she would find.

[OneDarkness]

In our initial arrival post for those of us from other realms would you like us to appear somewhere specific, or will any place in ravenloft do and if we are lucky enough to be accepted we change as needed?

[Xian]

Originally Posted by Ratpigeon

Is my apps one of those larger than required? *sweatdrop*

I'm very much looking forwards to phase 2 - I don't quite have faux-russian diminutives, because when will I get a better chance than a Ravenloft UstalavKadya's voice yet, and need to play him off things outside my head to clarify it. (Otherwise 'Introvert' might turn into 'Passive' which is not at all what I want for him as a character, or what I want to be doing as a member of a team).

No worries, you won't be penalized for length. (much... ) What my intent is to relieve the people of the expectation to create a novel around their character without seeing if it works first and to allow those that may not have the expendable time to write such novels. By interacting with others tends to spark creativity and new ideas... and as a DM I can get an idea of how and which characters will work together. As a residual benefit it also allows he players to adjust to fit the group dynamic so it is to the benefit of all.

Anyway, I will do my first round of assessments and if we get enough people complete then the first round of PMs should also go out as well. Keep up the great work!

Cheers, Xian

[Xian]

Originally Posted by OneDarkness

In our initial arrival post for those of us from other realms would you like us to appear somewhere specific, or will any place in ravenloft do and if we are lucky enough to be accepted we change as needed?

Pick any location for your arrival. By the game's start it will be immaterial as it will be some time in the character's past. My intent is not so much the location, but how you think your character would react to being a stranger in a strange, but sort of familiar land.

Anyway, since I am discussing and I have notice a large number of divine casters and non-native characters, just wanted to put a quick disclaimer so no one is surprised by it. Divine magic, spells, and and abilities will operate differently, if at all, for you in the plane. As you recall, even gods trapped here were severed from their divine powers and eventually became mortal... the rest well that is something that will be cool to find out....

I will post the general mechanical this has in the campaign folder when we begin play, but for now just know your characters will feel a "separated from their deities or patrons... so I don't to get too far ahead of myself.

Onward!

Cheers, Xian