[D&D-5e] Ptolus: City By The Spire And The Curse of The Dying

[Gath]

Game Name Ptolus: City By The Spire And The Curse of The Dying

Game System DnD 5e

Theme City Life, Spelunking, Plague

Flavour Mystery, Adventure

Plot Summary click to expand Some say that the first reported case of the dying was found to the east in Saar. Naturally, people being the panicking, uncreative lot that they are, settled on the descriptive moniker after witnessing people’s reactions to the affliction. It started small. Most thought it was just a pox or a parasite, and maybe it is a bit of both. Initial symptoms are a red rash of raised welts, which crust over and flake off leaving exposed layers of bloody dermis behind. These areas of exposed dermis get infected and form pustules on the remaining flesh, which ultimately sloughs off over time. A curious aspect of the disorder is the characteristic larvae swimming around in the eyes. Ultimately, the larvae hatch into multi-tentacled mono-eyed creatures, which attach to the brain and act as symbionts as they become the eyes for the rotting vessel. At this stage, the host becomes quite feral as it appears that the tentacle eye creatures labeled, perhaps inappropriately, Squids grow hungry for the flesh of other sentient beings. In particular, they are opportunistic about consuming vital organs. To date, no one has been able to capture a squid without falling victim of these awful creatures. The clerics of Lothian who tried to cure the initial outbreak were unsuccessful, succumbing to the infection themselves. Seeing their leaders falling to the awful pox, there was panic and many fled Saar taking with them a very serious infection. Days later, in Tarsis first, the oldest and largest city in the world, then Devost, people arrived in need of medical attention. The clerics of Lothian being a confident, benevolent lot, welcomed the sick into their temples for treatment. Once again confounded by the resilience of the disorder, the clerics took ill as well as much of the population of the city. Those who did not fall ill were attacked and consumed as the feral forces began to mount. Continuing down the River Sorenth and following the coast made it easy for the dying to get to Rieges and up the Maquent River to Kartare, which were similarly overrun. By this time the ones who had continued on land from Devost had sacked Paelinth and were on their way to Phinothae. As word of the entire Prustan Peninsula being consumed by the dying was spreading, the gates of Ptolus were crowded with people wanting to get into the fortified city. It was rumored that the emperor had taken refuge here along with other important nobles and figureheads who were trying to figure out what to do with the outbreak. You stand amidst a writhing mass of panicked people of all shapes and sizes. Entry to Ptolus is a very slow process on a good day, it being a fairly bureaucratic city, but facing such a calamity, things were even more tense. There were clerics and druids at the gates inspecting people who were looking to enter. What they were looking for was widely discussed but ultimately unclear, other than to gauge, somehow, the health and wellness of each and every person wanting to come into the city. What was normally a beautiful lawn in Tent City with a dirt road winding from the gate along the city wall had turned quite unpleasant. There had been sporadic rain showers which had turned the lawn to mud, and the masses of people had nowhere else to go to relieve themselves while they stood in line for hours and days. Neither did you. If you wanted to get inside, you’d just have to endure. Some were fortunate enough to have magics for cleaning, but the filth was hard to keep up with and to lose your place in line seemed daunting. One thing was certain, if you wanted to enter the sanctuary of Ptolus you needed two things: identification papers or citizenship, and a clean bill of health. Ordinarily, people had to pay for papers at the gate, but there were people in Tent City who were peddling forged copies for those who could afford it and were brave enough to attempt to enter as pre-existing citizens. Under these conditions, however, scrutiny was sure to be at an all time high. It was certain that everyone was being inspected, but for someone who didn’t want their real name to be known, or their hometown registered, perhaps there was a chance for them to create a new life. Whatever the circumstance, Ptolus was perhaps most famous for its opportunity. Adventurers flocked from all over to scour its depths for fortune and glory and were often well rewarded. Scholars seeking knowledge from all occupations congregated to the many guilds within, be they men or women of the cloth, neophytes seeking the path of magic, or guildsman and women seeking to perfect their craft, Ptolus had a venue for advancement. ↠∞↞ As people stand at the gates waiting to get inside there is plenty of chatter about what goes on in Ptolus. Some people are fretting over the various rules of this very lawful city, such as what spells are illegal, like charms and compulsions and spells that create undead or spread plague. That it’s very important to keep track of your identification papers and if you aren’t a citizen, you’re vulnerable to unfavorable treatment. Thieves, fire, and plague seem to be chief concerns within the city walls. Otherwise, it sounds like quite a comfortable life. Most buildings have indoor plumbing that pumps wastewater into the city sewers. It’s rumored that Ratmen live in the sewers. There are various cults within the city, and even though there are protections in place against undeath and plague, they still have the occasional problem stemming from the Necropolis. There has been lots of talk about the Spire, an ominous monolith that shoots up from the ground like a massive stalagmite some three thousand feet tall adjacent to the city. The spire is nearly always in the clouds or outlined by the sun’s corona. Its shadow has been used to mark the time of day and some even fear the shadow like a curse should they be touched by it. These skeptics walk around the city daily plying their trade in various areas as they work to avoid the dark of the spire. The erratic weather in Ptolus is said to be caused by the spire itself; whether they are referring to magical or natural means is unclear. What goes on inside this natural phenomenon is completely speculatory. People are both curious and afraid of the goings on surrounding the spire, inferring conclusions that some lich king controls everything from their towering fortress. Some even think that the emperor, the true emperor, resides within and is, in fact, the very lich king that people fear. Most simply let such rumormongering fall by the wayside, either too caught up in their own lives to care, or believing other, more altruistic things. Ptolus may have its dark underbelly, but on the whole, it’s too tenacious to become corrupt on such a scale. Emperor of the Church, Reheboth Ylestos, who has largely ascended beyond the rule of Tarsis or Palastan as the religious leader of the Lothian church, has officially declared an emergency and ordered the city gates to close within the hour… ↠∞↞ Game Notes Ptolus is a setting created by Monte Cook and other top Dungeons and Dragons Designers. It was used to playtest all of third edition before being released as a campaign setting in 2006. I had the pleasure of playing a live Ptolus game in Canada from 2006 to 2007. It is a very complex, rich environment created by some of the brightest minds in the industry. It has recently been reprinted to be compatible with both 5th edition d&d as well as Monte Cook's Cypher system. We will be using 5th edition d&d. I hope that you will be as excited to delve into the material as I am. Creation You may download a free copy of the Player’s Guide to Ptolus Here. You start at Level 1 // 30pb (Max 16). You may be from anywhere on the map (except Ptolus) You may be any Race. You may be any Class. *Please list your sources* [Keep it Official] (I’ve a fairly comprehensive library, but do not have it memorized) Application Format Name: Age: Gender Identity: Race: Class: Description: Talk about your physical appearance and personality. Character Background: Talk about yourself. Where are you from? Do you have family/friends? Are they alive? Where were you when you got wind of the dying? What has your journey to Ptolus been like? What have you been working on recently? What are your goals in Ptolus? What are your goals in life? Background Archetype: Personality Traits x2/Ideal/Bond/Flaw Please be creative. The ones provided are for inspiration.

[Gath]

Applicant Status

Applicants

# Player Character Class Race BG Archetype Status 1 Dyerdon Damin Orkbett Fighter Amethyst Dragonborn City Watch Complete 2 PorjectLazarus Bullwark (Bull) Fighter Warforged Soldier WIP 3 Girlplay Grace Smith Barbarian Fire Genasi Courier Complete 4 Seekr34 Mason Ashford Shadow Sorcerer Dhampir Scholar Complete 5 Stormhammer Doiri Stoneheart Thief Dwarf ? Complete 6 Dylan Scott Malmenos Karxikas Sorcerer (Aberrant Mind) Tiefling Student of Magic Complete 7 delpinator Mazaren Druid (Circle of Stars) Half Elf Sailor WIP 8 neverknew Karpikhas Tajo Wizard WIP WIP WIP 9 GallupsMirror Dochrud of Salvus Warlock (Fiend) Reborn Rakdos Cultist Complete 10 Gramthar Lianthorn Caidi Cleric (War) Firbolg Outlander Complete 11 Onward Serena Moonsung Sorcerer (Divine Soul) Human (Variant) Noble Complete 12 BlackDragon0 Deathblade Fighter Dragonborn (silver) Champion Complete 13 Grouchy Reivald Copperpot Sorcerer (Clockwork Soul) Rock Gnome Guild Artisan Complete 14 DemonSlayer Kravek Munakanathi Paladin (Oath of Glory) Goliath Guild Merchant Complete 15 GeneT Iokua Malko Cleric of the Grave Owlin Hermit Complete 16 Sprite Daria Vahlen Paladin (Oath of Devotion) Human Knight Complete 17 The Dark Star Dir Hytha Warlock (Fathomless) Verdanm Sailor Mostly Complete 18 Battledchaser The Pale Lady Warlock (Fathomless) Reborn Tiefling Haunted One Complete

[Gath]

Frequently Asked Questions
↠∞↞
Applications Close February 14th, Valentine's Day
↠∞↞
Posting Rate Should Be A Comfortable 1/week (More Or Less During Combat)
↠∞↞

• I think that I will skip Tasha’s Origins. It will be crazy enough with all races open. Being able to switch stats and proficiencies around seems like cherry picking to me and I am not sure how to maintain balance for that.
  
• Special Consideration for Stranger Races? I’m not sure that I understand your question here. The way the game is designed is that Ptolus is a fairly open minded city, but this is a unique situation due to the plague and lots of different people are showing up to be let in. Those wilder, crazier, more niche races will likely receive some glares and stares and even some open discrimination. Being a Citizen will possibly help to mitigate some of that, but probably not all. It depends on your actions in the city as well. If you become a murderer, then people will certainly not like you one bit. People tend to loathe thieves once they are discovered pilfering from citizens’ coffers. Etc. Do unto others and all that.
  
• Artificers, YES! … Firearms, YES!
  
• Tone: Mostly Heroic with a slightly darker backdrop to the world, but obviously there’s a lot of swing in that.
  
• Making up Places and Organizations: Give me some ideas and I will be happy to talk to you about them. There are already tons and tons of these, so I would prefer that you draw from what’s already available.
  
• They Dying is a very new phenomenon and people are trying to figure out how to deal with it. Places are being overrun, cities are collapsing, and people are dying. It’s pretty wild and intense as everyone is trying to adjust and make sense of what is going on. It will be a major issue until resolved.
  

[ProjectLazarus]

Ah! So many amazing games coming up, just as I find myself signing up for this site. I'm nervous that I'll be selected for too many, but I just can't help throwing my hat in the ring for this one too. I'll be sure to have an application up sometime in the next few days!

An initial question, are Warforged an acceptable Race in this particular game?

[Gath]

Welcome, and thank you for inquiring!

I hope that your applications bear fruit in all the best ways.

As to this game, I'd already declared that all races are available and I'm going to suck o to that. Go ahead and write up your warforged if that's what you want.

[Dyerdon]

Application Format Name: Damin Orkbett (Pronounced Dah-Men Ork-beh) Age: 35 Gender Identity: Male Race: Amethyst Dragonborn* (Fizban's Treasury of Dragons) Class: Fighter* (Player's Handbook) eventually to subclass into an Echo Knight* (Explorer's Guide to Wildemount) Description: His body is covered in a purple, crystalline, sheen. Two gem-like horns rise up from the back of his head, and his eyes shine like translucent stones. He stands at about 5'10", and is muscular from a long career filled with extensive training. Often wearing a simple coat of chains, he no longer wears his tabard denoting his former position. Fierce, determined, and stubborn are all words that could easily describe Damin, though he often comes across as quiet and reserved, he does have a rage that is only matched by the barbarians. Kind and compassionate, Damin has a strong sense of justice and will rush headlong into most problems, if only to keep the innocent safe. Character Background: Damin was born into a lesser noble house within the city of Tarsis, but often chafed beneath the expectations of his overbearing, legacy-driven father, who expected him to continue striving to better the family name. At least that was something Damin could agree upon. His ancestors had been heroes, yet as time went on, the name became synonymous with oppression. He saw what it did to the people, and swore to protect them, even from those who shared his blood. He sought to join the city guard, in as much an act of defiance as it was to help the less fortunate, but his father had some pull. He hadn't wanted his son to be a simple guard, so he tried to have him made an officer. He would have probably been in a better position to help others, but the position would be tainted with corruption from the start, had he accepted. He refused. Life was not easy, but he hadn't expected it to be. The training was harder on him, as his leadership knew who he was and knew of his defiance, but he persevered. Only breaking when his orders would have forced him to take a woman and separate her from her child, so both could be interrogated. Instead of following orders, he helped them evade arrest, turning himself into a fugitive. In his attempts to escape, he felt as though he was pulling apart... and for a moment, even his guards were surprised to see a phantom figure appear to fight for Damin, allowing him to escape capture. A feat he had yet learned how to repeat. A fugitive of the laws he swore to uphold, he could only listen to rumors of his father's attempt at covering up his supposed crime, not wanting it to sully the family name. Disgusted, Damin attempted to leave the city. Unsure as to where he could head next. He came across several refugees, looking to leave the city out of fear of a disease that had sprung up in the slums, supposedly driving people mad. He offered to assist them as a guard in their travels. Unfortunately, it required preparation, so he was forced to wait. Keeping his head low to avoid arrest. His father's attempt at covering up his crime had failed. He took some smug satisfaction in that, even if it meant he'd have to continue to lay low. That would become a problem, later, however. As the disease ravaged the slums and began to plague the rest of the city, Damin informed the other refugees to finish their preparations now, as the flames began to reach them... they needed to leave and head toward Ptolus, hoping that they'd be let in. And hoping his past didn't catch up with him... With sword in hand, he'd protect those who could not defend themselves against the monstrosities that people were becoming. Background Archetype: City Watch/Investigator *(Player's Handbook) Personality Traits: Damin is always polite and respectful. Speaking titles or using honorifics. Even in his rage, he sees no need to lower himself to vulgarity or name calling. His insults would come from his blade... Damin is unflinching in battle, though he will often try to avoid a fight, he will not hesitate to throw himself into one, even against a Hellhound. Ideal: Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) Despite his former position as a lawman, Damin is, very much, chaotic good. He has seen what following orders blindly can lead to. His oath is to protect the people... if the law has a problem with that, then he has a problem with the law. Bond: The people are the reason Damin has continued along his path. While his main desire is to be out of his father's shadow, his true calling is to help the people. Protect them and bring those who have done wrong to justice. Flaw: Damin has an impressive rage involving those who commit horrid acts of crime, such as murder, kidnapping... or any crime involving a child, will show the world Damin's anger... He is unreasonable and blind when those he deem his enemies ... he won't rest until the corruption he had the displeasure of working alongside

[BlackDragon0]

interested.

[Gath]

I dig this character, Dyerdon! The heart of a priest, rage of a barbarian, conviction of a paladin. And noble born but rejected the boons of he title. Lots to work with here!

I would like to challenge you to find a city outside of ptolus to hail from. Tarsis, for example, one of the oldest and largest cities might do nicely.

The part that I'm referring to is that people should be from out of town and in particular, on the run from the dying. So there you are, Noble born and watchman from Tarsis, standing in line to be checked out for entry to ptolus.

This should be somehow worked into your story. Different details perhaps. But the concept of being from out of town and on the run from the dying. Which is like a plague, kind of, that turns people feral. Maybe someone in your family died from it? Or some people you worked with in Tarsis or wherever?

Think about it! Great job!

[Stormhammer]

I'm definitely going to put in an app for this one!

[BlackDragon0]

thinking I'm a try a dragonborn fighter or human fighter.

[Dyerdon]

So, I wrote that last night, half asleep, lol. That said, I usually keep locations pretty vague as I'm more knowledgeable in the Forgotten Realm setting. That said, I edited Damin a bit. I left it with Damin being a guard for people running from the plague, caught up in the chaos of everything. Tell me what you think!

[ProjectLazarus]

I think I'm starting to see a pattern here but I had this idea last night and didn't have time to post so...

Application Name: Bulwark (or Bull) Age: TBD Gender Identity: gender neutral (he/they) Race: Warforged Class: Fighter Description: Bull is large, built wide as well as tall. Standing exactly 2 meters tall (just over 6'6") and broad in the chest and shoulders. They have a chainmail jerkin over the chest that is secured by special rivets that seem to grow out of the wooden underlay of their 'skin'. Their skull is made up of a single piece of metal that looks like steel, a high broad brow, wide set large eyes that glow -- usually green but can change colour depending on his mood. The mouth is a small recess which doesn't open or close or change at all, which can make it difficult for strangers to read them. They carry a steel longsword, and a shield made up of a steel plate over a wooden back, the steel being polished bright. Character Background: W.I.P -- This is a call out to other applicants. The idea behind Bull is that they are a protector. A 'born' bodyguard. I would like to create some synergy between potential characters with the idea that Bull and a less hearty character have approached Ptolus together with Bull being a bodyguard of sorts. If anyone is interested please let me know. Background Archetype: Soldier -- open to change, based on if background is created with someone else. Personality: Bull is usually calm and thoughtful, but not unemotional. They can certainly be roused when the situation calls. They like to analyze locations and situations for potential danger, thinking ahead about what they might have to guard against. They would rather do what is right -- but will follow their charge whatever the moral consequences. Bull's charge is the most important person to them. It is in their makeup that they simply wish to protect that special someone. Bull has a habit of stating the kind of phrase they are about to use. It makes them sound even more like an automaton, which can be both to their detriment and that of the people around them -- and sometimes to the people they interact with if they're underestimated.

[Dylan Scott]

I'd like to put my hat into the ring for this one, if you'll accept this as a placeholder for an application.
going to get the Players guide and have a read up, see what it inspires, thinking of a mage of some kind for a change of pace - now thinking Tiefling Sorceror - Bloodline of Dispater and Aberrant Mind. wizard apprentice background from Kem, fleeing because his aberrant mind power was accessed by breaking the rules and studying an ancient book he wasnt suppose too, giving access to "something" to his mind, which has left something in his mind to grant the aberrant mind powers..Enchantment school focus maybe, that and cantrip use to hide his nature and appear higher status than he is

would definitely benefit from a bodyguard if your offering and dont mind protecting a "devil"

[girlplay]

Application Name: Grace Smith Age: 20 Gender Identity: femme Race: Genasi (fire) Class: Barbarian Description: Grace was named ironically. She has always had a fiery spirit and temper, even compared to most Fire Genasi. She is talkative, boisterous, and opinionated. What she is feeling and thinking is obvious. If her words or body language doesn't tell you, then the flame in her hair probably will. She is small and beautiful (and knows it) and with a different personality, she would be considered quite a catch. What she comes off as is "hard to handle"... but maybe worth it. She's never worn armor (out of pride) and is not ashamed of her body or herself. Confidence and passion roll off of her like a heat wave. Character Background: Grace worked as a courier between the cities of Paelinth, Phinothae, and Sarinth. It was not the traditional family trade, who were smiths, but it was a good way of getting her away from people for a while to give her time to reflect and calm down. Her father's idea. It didn't really work. However, for a while, it made a decent living and she got to see some of the world. She would often dream of far-off places and the things that she could experience there. Everywhere other than home (Phionthae) seemed somehow more exotic and wonderous. As it turned out, Grace was in Sarinth when she heard of the Dying. Actually, she was just outside of it and ran into a group of refugees heading west. Then a man came out of Sarinth telling stories of how the plague was already in the city, so the refugees decided to bypass the city and head for Ptolus instead. What Grace quickly realized is that very few of the refugees were actually prepared for the trip. The largest deficit seemed to be in people who owned arms and know how to use them. She basically got guilted into protecting them along the journey, which was slow and rough, and they were constantly in fear of being found by some unsavory beast with a hunger. In fact, they lost 2 people that were out searching for deadfall for the fire. A brief search revealed no trace of them. Goals: Short-term: Grace knows that she left her beloved family behind. And once she has gotten her footing in the city, she hopes to get word to them about where she is so that they don't worry about her. Maybe, she can even pay for passage to bring them to Ptolus. To her, the city represents safety and security. Long-term: Ultimately, Grace wants a noble title. Why? Why wouldn't she? Nobles are wealthy, get to live where and how they want, and get tons of privileges, including acting however they want and having people serve them. Maybe then, she won't get talked to about her behavior. Background Archetype: courier / messenger (custom background) Personality characteristics Trait 1: Passionate. Don't say "fiery". I know who I am and what I want, and I'm not going to apologize for saying it. You'll know if I like you. You'll know if I don't. Trait 2: I love finery and luxuries: pretty dresses, perfumes, fine food and drink, and soft bedding. Ideal: I want to raise my station in life. I shall become more than I currently am - wealthy, respected, and admired. Bond: Grace loves her family. Despite being a little Her father is strong and tough. Her mother is very intelligent. Her older sister is well-liked and popular.envious of them, she wants them to be safe, happy, and secure. Flaw: Temper. I get angry easily. I can't control it. Sorry, not sorry. Family: Grace may have a love-hate relationship with her family at times but it leans heavily towards "love". In spite of everything, she respects and admires them each in their own way. Kiln: Age: 55 (m). Grace's father is a large, stoic man. Strong, tough, and loyal, he's a "man's-man" that garners respect through action and trustworthiness. He was a strict father, to no real benefit in the end. Kiln has always been a better at business than craftmanship, so he sticks to the large, simple commissions. He was the disciplinarian of the family and tried in several ways to curb Grace's natural impulses and correct her course towards something more beneficial than getting into fights. He never gave up on her, however. Ember: Age: 47 (f). The family matriarch is wicked smart and has done the family proud by seeing to their finances and partnering with other local businesses. She has studied a wide variety of subjects, including trade law and business contracts. She oversees the fine details while her husband makes the major decisions. Secretly - only she and Grace know this - Ember has been unfaithful several times mostly just for the thrill of having something for herself. She's good at keeping secrets and exposing them. Grace didn't get away with much with her mother around. Flicker: Age: 24 (f) Grace's older sister draws people to her like moths to a flame. She is witty and charming, and pleasant to be around. She has many friends and 3 worthy suitors - A Fire Genasi (Coal the Jeweler), an Earth Genasi (Ditch the Horse-Breeder), and a Human (Meritus the Ship's Captain). Oh, what a sweet dilemma to have to make such a 'difficult' choice. Grace and Flicker are different as night and day but they have a respect for each other earned over 2 decades of looking out for each other. Inferno: Age: 70 (m). Grandfather Inferno is the success behind the family story. He apprenticed himself to a blacksmith in his youth and built his own business from the ground up, along with his bride, Glow, who died 20 years ago. He is officially retired but likes to pick up a hammer from time to time and pound away at one project or another. He says that he's going to forge a sturdy weapon one day, though he can never seem to settle on a design. He always found Grace hilarious because her wild spirit reminds him of his wife. Grace always liked hearing the wild stories about her grandmother; A few of them were undoubtedly true.

[Seekr34]

Name: Mason Ashford
Age: 40 but looks 20
Gender Identity: Male
Race: Dhampir (Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft)
Class: Sorcerer - Sorcerous Origin: Shadow Magic (Xanathar's Guide To Everything)
Description: Standing at 6 feet even, medium build, he looks like a very handsome young human male. Sandy hair down to his mid neck with a matching goatee and green eyes. He is dressed in black leather, with a bow at his back and a dagger sheathed at each thigh.

Personality: He's a Moody person, sometimes he seems easy going and friendly, other times he's quiet. When he is busy, or his mind is elsewhere, he seems like one of the guys, but during quiet times, it gives him time to think of his life and he becomes quiet, not really wanting to be bothered.

Character Background:

 

In the city of Slune, a young lady woke up in in her dorm, in a cold sweat, although she felt warm. Her window was open again and she looked under the sheet, she was naked again as well. She couldn't understand what was going on. Rachel was afraid to tell anyone, she heard the stories. Women being seduced during the night in their dreams. She got up, shut the window and looked into the mirror and found couple of small cuts on her neck. Now she was terrified, she heard of vampires but who would she know that could be one? Her family were not close by, they were home, the only one she knew she could trust here in college, was her professor. The next day after class, she approached him.

"Professor, I think I am in trouble." she says as she lightly bit her lip.

He turned to her from his books. "Nonsense, you will do well on the test, you have the potential to be the best scholar of the class." he smiled.

"Nnn no,nothing about class, it's..."

"Well my dear, spit it out." he smiled at her, putting her at ease, making her feel warm and fuzzy each time he smiles at her.

"It's this." she took off her scarf and showed him her neck.

He stood up and looked at the neck and his eyes on hers. "I see..." his hand roamed to her belly and slowly moving up. Any other time, she would refuse the advances, but she was memorized by him, so charming and so nice to her. She felt his hand softly cupping her breast and find herself kissing him passionately....

Rachel woke up middle of the night, a bit sweating but warm feeling but very tired as well. She noticed her window was open again, as well as being naked under the sheets. Scared and confused, she doesn't sleep in the nude and always has her window closed but it’s been 7 weeks now. She gotten up to close it and walked by her mirror. She noticed her neck's cuts, they looked fresh. Strange, she put on her nightgown and seemed a bit tight. She went back to the mirror and stared open mouthed in shock. Her belly had swelled. How, she thought? She hasn't been with anyone. She was really frightened now. She told her professor, scared and not wanting others to know her condition because she had no answer. Once again, with a charming smile, he put her at ease, talked her into staying with him at his home, he would tutor her at his mansion and his servants would wait on her while he was out during the day, teaching classes. Her belly swelled with the coming months and during her eighth month, Professor Warrick had an emergency and had to leave town for a few weeks.

A month later she gave birth to a healthy boy, and she saw no choice but to quit her studies and go home. She written to her sister about her situation and had her promise not say anything until she found out how she had become pregnant. It would be two days before her sister would arrive and take her home when the Professor came back, he appeared in her room.

"I’m heading home professor, I need to take care of my child."

"Forget about the child my dear, I have better plans for you.”

"What? but, I can’t just leave him, and I don’t even know how I got impregnated.” She always felt concerned about him always but yet, at the same time, looking into his eyes, she felt safe with him. It was just a weird mixed feeling.

"Because my dear, I am the father and you and I will live forever as lovers. Do not worry about the child." He turned around to face her with a smile as he looked into her eyes. She felt frozen as he leaned down, his teeth pointed and sharp. She screamed as he bit into her and fell into a pleasant dream...

Mason’s aunt Robyn had come, finding her sister gone without a trace. She learned of a baby was sent to the orphanage and she went there, and they put Mason in her arms. The babe looked like his mother, but no one seem to know what happened to her. Robyn then went to look for the professor that Rachel wrote about, but he disappeared without a trace as well. So the young lady took the baby home with her and tell her family the terrible news.

The family was well to do, well, more than well. They were a well known established noble family. The next two years, life had gone well for the baby boy, being well taken care of. However, a month after his second birthday, things changed, the terrible twos. The boy would bite into flesh to eat, a person, pet, didn’t matter. He seemed to like raw meat as well. They took him to the doctor and a priest was there as well. The boy was upset at what was going on and his fangs came out bit the doctor’s hand. The priest had heard rumors of dhampir existing but didn’t believe the stories, but after seeing Mason, he was now a believer. Needless to say, the Ashford family didn’t want him and gave him a different name, the father was not going to have his family name tarnished. The priest took the child and traveled far to a city called Trolone, that had a home for misfit children. The priest could not bear to harm an innocent and thought the home would be best for it had all types of unwanted children, half-elves, half-orcs, and other types. So, he dropped the boy off and mistakenly given the boy’s real name.

As he grew up, he slowly began to control his urges, not showing his fangs, especially when his emotions ran high. In his late teens, with better control of himself, the home sent him to collage to better his life. He quickly devoted all his time studying. Mostly magic and the undead. He wanted to know how a vampire could impregnate the living, plus he was always fascinated with magic when he was able to conjure a bit of magic himself. It was on the day he traveled with his friend, Ghuan, a half surface elf, and half drow. They were in a cave during a heavy downpour when Mason saw something move and Ghuan asked how he could see that far. Mason then realized that his darkvision was twice as far as it used to be.

He would stay at the college for five years and he had to leave and look for another school. There were people buzzing about him, looking so young while others were aging. It was different for some races like elves, but he looked totally human. He couldn’t even pass for a half-elf. So, he would spent a few years at one school, then leave to register at another. Ghuan would join him, they were close as brothers could be. He never did find out about his family. He had been told his mother was dead and his murderous father had disappeared. He had grown to hate the undead, especially vampires.

The last city he and Ghuan had went to was Carper's Bay. What a city it was. Besides school, on occasion, they would join other adventurers to gain riches and artifacts. Mason had taken to history besides magic. They were in the deep in the sewers with three others. Halor and Talor, they were twins, human fighters. Then there was Lissa, an half-elven cleric. Then Ghuan, the thief, and Mason, providing magic. All the bases were covered, but they lacked luck and skill. While they did alright, at first, taking care of various creatures and bandits, they came upon the drow. Talor was killed, Ghuan, though, the drow slaughtered, they had wounded Lissa and taken her captive. Mason was out of spells, so he went to his last resort. His incisors came out and he jumped on the wall in the tunnels. The drow was obviously surprised and backed away. Halor, already in deep distraught over his brother’s death, then seeing Ghuan and Lissa fall, thinking Lissa dead as well, but when he saw Mason baring his fangs and scoot up the wall, the poor man lost his mind and ran for the exit. Speaking of exit, there seem to be another tunnel high above and Mason made his way to it and escaped, finding a manhole. He sought out a guard and told them what happened. He called Mason an idiot for going down there and even though they will look, the odds are, the drow will be gone with their captive.

He had gone back to school and stayed. He had enough of adventuring. Lissa was still on his mind, he knew he couldn’t have done anything to save her, but he still felt guilty in leaving her. Of course, there was Ghuan, they were close, he could trust the elf with his life. He went to search for Halor and eventually found him, the man was not the same. He was at the inn, drinking the night away, looking half the man he once was. Mason sat at the table and joined him. Halor looked up and his eyes went wild.
“You! Get away from me!”

“Easy Hal, it’s me, Mason.”
“Vampire!” Halor yelled to him.

“Shh, you fool, I’m a not a vampire, otherwise the sun would have killed me long ago, think man, think!”

“But I saw…your fangs, you…climbed the walls.”

“Yes, I did, but that's a story itself, but think, if I was a vampire, the time we were out in the sun, I would be dead already.”

Halor didn’t say anything, and he started drinking again. Mason shook his head and left the man. The next morning, he had his things and left the city, it was time. If he stayed any longer, he would create an unwanted attention. He was now forty years old, but he looked barely twenty. He didn’t know how long he would live or begin to show his age. All the researching he done on dhampir, no one seem to know how long they lived. Some information said a thousand years, while others said they were immortal. He couldn’t see living forever, how would that feel? Whatever friends he would make, he would see them die off. Even a thousand years was long, very long. He could live with the elves, but he couldn’t see himself living in the forest all that time. He wasn’t sure if the elves would accept him anyway. Beyond a few years, they would wonder why he wasn’t aging like other humans. What would he say? No, he was alone and that’s the way life has played it out for him. If he ever came across a vampire, especially that professor, that took his mother, he would take great delight in killing him.

While traveling, he came across other travelers and heard about the dying. It was strange to hear, and frightening as well. The travelers and merchants were heading to Ptolus for safety. He was close, the city was on the other side of the Moonsilver Forest. He joined the caravan and headed the city. He could always enrolled in college there, then after...well, then after, he'll have to decide his next move, but that can wait. He also need to figure out what to do with his life, he can't just read and study forever. Well, actually he could, he knew there was other things out there besides books. Perhaps the city of Ptolus will give him the answer.

Background Archetype: Cloistered Scholar (Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Personality Trait#1: I've read every book in the world’s greatest libraries—or I like to boast that I have. (One can never have enough info)
Personalty Trait#2: I’m willing to listen to every side of an argument before I make my own judgment. (Learned long ago to listen to everyone's opinion to get the best solution)
Ideal: The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. Knowledge is power, there isn't enough knowledge in the word to be satisfied in life, there is always something new and important to know)
Bond: I've been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question. (What's my purpose inl ife?)
Flaw: Most people scream and run when they see a demon. I stop and take notes on its anatomy. (It's ok to run and to find safety, but at the same time, need to learn their weakness so to defeat them)