[D&D-5e] The Closing Calamity in the Crags

[Drachenspirit]

Due to the slow in applications, I am moving the deadline to tonight - 3/18/24 10 PM CST.

[Togot]

no complaints here

[TheOneTrueClone]

Bummer. Was kinda relying on the extra days before the deadline. I finally got a character idea I liked, but there's no way I can finish everything required in the next 15 minutes.

[Drachenspirit]

Still reviewing applicants for which will be the best fit for both the group and the adventure.

Should have final decision before the day is out.
Thanks for your patience.
- D

[Drachenspirit]

After careful consideration of many factors we have decided to only extend an invitation to one player/character.
That is:

Player	Character	Race	Class	Status
Double or Nothing	Morgun Marren	Human	Tempest Cleric	Complete

A PM has been sent and we'll go from there.
Thanks to everyone else who dropped an app in and we wish you good gaming and a great rest of your day.
- D

[Clawsome]

Congrats Double. Good luck with game.

[Drachenspirit]

Game Name Dragon Heist - Forgotten Tales

Game System DnD 5e 2014

Theme Forgotten Realms

Flavour Dungeons and Dragons Classic Adventure type

Plot Summary This game takes characters through the official Game Module Companion Supplement - Dragon Heist: Forgotten Tales. It is a treasure hunt set against an urban backdrop. Characters start at level one and if they survive will be at level five come the end.

THE HOOK Welcome to Waterdeep, the Crown of the north, where a wondrous tale of urban adventure is about to unfold. You've recently joined a party of new adventurer job seekers and are enjoying a morning stroll in the Trades Ward as you discuss what kind of job/adventure to take on first. Are you a new visitor to Waterdeep, or did you grow up in the City of Splendors—or a mix of the two? Whichever the case, you've been drawn here to make a name for yourself, or earn some coin, or both. And so it begins.

Details Character Builds: Setting: Forgotten Realms Equipment: Per class and Background + 1 common magic item. Starting Hit points: Max for first level. Allowed Sources for Classes, Backgrounds, Equipment: Player's HandbookPHB, Dungeon Master's GuideDMG, Xanthar's Guide to EverythingXGtE, Tasha's and Sword Coast Adventurer's GuideSCAG, Fizban's Treasure of DragonsFTD, Wayfarer Guide to EberronWGE. UA material only at DM's discretion. NO OTHERS! DON'T ASK! Alignments: restricted to: NG, CG, LN, N, CN, LE. Starting Level: 1 Races allowed: Any from sources listed above, plus Aasimar, Goliath, Lizardfolk, and Tabaxi as listed in Chapter 2 of Volo's Guide to Monsters. Warforged would be difficult to pull off as constructs, even "sentient" ones have no rights in Waterdeep, I may allow it if the app sells it. NO OTHERS! DON'T ASK! Ability Scores: Roll only in the game Forum HERE. NO ROLLING IN THIS FORUM PER SITE RULES. You can either roll 4d6 drop lowest, rerolling any "ones" if two or more of them appear in this method - but you may only reroll that 2nd, 3rd, and/or 4th (if you should be so unlucky to roll 4 natural ones) die. In other words, if 3 of the die are not ones, you can't reroll. An easier way to say this is to say that you should use this rolling method - 4d6kh3mod - as it does the same thing. Or, you can chose the 27 point buy. Instead of doing the 27 point buy, in the event that your die roll totals are way below the 27 point buy, you may give up your allotted magic item(s) and take the 27 point buy. Pantheon: Forgotten Realms only Multi-classing: Is allowed but limited to one. Main Class + Secondary Class. Also make it believable/PC-background relevant. Post Rate: Minimum of 1-3/wk as long as the "1" isn't consistent. This is very important as PbP is a LONG process. I am available most days during the week, and some on weekends. Party Size: 6 Resources: We will use RPGX for most everything including posts, sheets, and rolls. Will also be using Roll20 for maps. You don't need to really know how to use Roll20 so much, except to see enemies and understand the layout and mapping of the "dungeon." Character Sheet: Create a character sheet based on the above information and link it to your application. I want to see how you view the logistics of your character. Info What will help me be a better DM for you. Excitement. How's that? Yes, excitement, or more to the point a "want" to be in the game and genuine interest to get to know your own character, and the other characters in the game; both from a character standpoint and a player standpoint. What you should include in your character Bio Your typical app; Name, class, race, appearance, 5e background, two personality traits, ideal, bond, flaw. A backstory that includes a few things: Relationships: Between players is up to you, but this will be a "family", or "kinship", or that "bond" that keeps you together. Not saying one won't steal from all the others and spend it all in one night (this would make for interesting RP, and there would be 'repercussions in group'), but they'd stick together and there would at least be a sense of remorse at doing another "kin/pack mate/friend" or whatever wrong. Character Mechanical Background: Any from any of the above sources, bonus advantage from DM if your background has a Sword Coast, or Forgotten Realms History associated with it. Also, will need to "fit" the premise and are at DM approval. Character Image: Though an image isn't necessary, one would be appreciated. Their story, of course Their hometown/origin here in Faerun Why is your character doing this currently; what is their motivation? What is their over-arching goal? {Their goal does not need to be within the confines of this adventure, this can easily be a stepping stone in their journey. But having a driving force often brings more life into the character. At least that's what I have found to be the case.note} NOTES ON SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION I've ran three groups through Waterdeep Dragon Heist so far. One tabletop group all the way through, and 2 groups here on the site - both of these are still in it. That said, this is a different take on the Heist that will go a different route and visit different places while confronting different NPCs and foes. So, even if you're in a Waterdeep Dragon Heist game now, you could still be considered as you won't revisit anything that would give you inside information. New site members and/or those who are new to DnD 5e 2014 will be considered first for game entry, though I usually chose one application from a "seasoned" member of the site to give some mix of experience to the group Anyone who has submitted an application for one of my previous dnd games and didn't make the cut will move to the top of the list for selection consideration - please mention this in your application. Lone Wolf or quite/reserved type characters who only speak a word a day will more than likely not be chosen. This is RP, and in this play-by-post format, it doesn't relate well. Play what you want. What does this mean? Race, Class, Background, all up to you. I will be choosing solely on application merit and not trying to get a well-rounded group. That said, one character will definitely be chosen that has thief type skills due to the nature of the game. To make the cut, your character build needs to make sense. I don't mean best race/species fit for a class, I mean the origin/history of your character needs to line up with the chosen class and mechanical background. If you always wanted to play a Goliath thief with a non-traditional thief background like a Noble, go for it. If your description/story sells it, I'm all in. Questions? Ask. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/28/24 at 12 noon, CST.

Applications

Player	Character	Race	Class	Status
Togot	Skurvin Blackmane	Variant Human	Fiendish Warlock	Completed
The Rat Queen	Chali Eltorchul	Half-elf	Fighter	Incomplete - Needs Character Sheet
Kshnik	WIP	Variant Human	Death Cleric	Incomplete - Needs a lot
Double or Nothing	Zeren Damkrach	Variant Human	Rogue	Completed

[Togot]

Name: Skurvin Blackmane
Race: Variant human
Class: Fiendish warlock
Alignment: lawful evil
Background: Noble
Personality traits: I will think before I act, and listen before I think
I don’t want friends like me, I want friends who are noble and honorable and just. Friends like those I can trust
Bond: Kria is the only being that I have ever loved and I will do anything for her
Ideal: the only thing that matters in life is power, and it comes in many forms
Flaw: My pride and arrogance often cause me to overestimate myself and underestimate my enemies

Description: Skurvin is on the shorter side at five six and does not have an athletic build. He prefers to wear well-made clothes and tasteful jewelry to display his wealth and nobility. He meticulously grooms himself; his short dark hair is always well combed and his goatee short and trimmed. He has sharp dark eyes that pierce through those they gaze upon and a tight serpentine smile.

Personality: Skurvin is a cold and calculating manipulator who is always seeking to improve his position. He sees other people as useful tools to win over, or dangerous obstacles to be removed. While he will always put his own interests first, he is not a fool. He will help his allies in order to keep their loyalty and will not betray them unless the reward is worth it, and the risk is low. He understands that he is not a strong person, and so he seeks to use the strength of others to achieve his goals. Those who insult him get put on his mental list and often meet unpleasant ends.

Background: born the third son in a minor noble family in Balder’s Gate, Skurvin was the spare of a spare and as such was given the scraps his two elder brothers didn’t want. Seen as the runt of the family, young Skurvin was often bullied by his brothers and the other high-born children. Skurvin made the mistake of trying to fight them only once. The beating he received taught him a valuable lesson; he couldn’t win playing their way, so he resolved himself to win by playing his own way.

He focused on academic studies, spending most of his time in the family library with his nose in books. He perfected his social skills with the staff and learned the value of a favor. He learned how to lie, and how to threaten, not with violence, but with the revealing of their secrets, for he found that everyone had one. The maid who pocketed neglected coins to pay for her sick son’s medicine. The stable hand who had a drug addiction. The butler who had stolen his sister’s undergarments. Soon all became puppets dancing at the end of Skurvin’s strings. But it wasn’t enough. Despite having his minions, Skurvin was still nothing more than the third son of a minor noble. Skurvin longed for freedom and yearned for companionship. That’s when he heard the voice.

She whispered in his ears when he was alone in his bed drifting off to slip. She told him her name was Kria and she had chosen him because he was worthy. She made many pretty promises of power and love. Skurvin wondered if he was losing his mind, but he answered her, and she began to teach him such secrets. He learned to cast magic. He learned to summon monsters to do his bidding. And finally, when she had earned Skurvin’s trust, she taught him how to perfume the ritual. The spell gave the voice form, and what a beautiful form it was. Blue skin, powerful claws, red hair, she was otherworldly. The two were together at last, and Skurvin wasted no time. Unleashing Kria on his family, he delighted in watching her slaughter them, following his every command. In one night, he went from the spare of a spare to the sole survivor of his family.

It wasn’t hard to stage the entire attack as an assassination. A few fake tears and a heartbreaking story were all it took to convince the authorities that Skurvin was a lucky yet tragic survivor. There were many who approached the young man after that, some hoping to help, others to exploit, all seeking to gain. One such man was a noble by the name of Escaldos. Skurvin though to use the old man, but the old noble knew the game far better than the boy, and Skurvin wound up losing his inheritance.

Seeking to regain his fortune and exact his revenge, Skurvin disappeared from the world to escape the watchful gaze of his enemies. After years of training and tutelage under Kria, he is ready to work towards building a name for himself. To that end, he has come to water deep and become an adventurer. This will not only provide the chance for him to gain wealth quickly, but also allow him an opportunity to make powerful allies. He had little trouble finding a group of potential. Now to find a job and put them to the test.

[Drachenspirit]

SKURVIN!!!! I knew he had a side gig... lol.
Nice App, Togot.

[The Rat Queen]

Application Name: Chali Eltorchul Race: Half-elf Class: Fighter Alignment: Lawful Good Background: Soldier Personality traits: I'm always polite and respectful. I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. Bond: Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. Ideal: Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. Flaw: I'd rather eat my armor than admit when I'm wrong. Description: Chali is 5'9" with mid-length, straight black hair framing a face with features that speak of elven blood. Green, almond-shaped eyes shine with intelligence and a little arrogance. Her form is slender but athletic, adorned with clothing, arms, and armor that come from wealth. Her armor and rapier are high-quality and well cared for, and her shield is emblazoned with the crest of House Eltorchul, matching the signet ring on her finger. Personality: Chali is not a warm person, coming across as somewhat aloof to most. Even those that know her well accept that she tends to be withdrawn and introverted. Coming from an ennobled house, she believes in the superiority of her rank, even if her branch of the family does not carry a strong claim to the heirship. However, she doesn't believe in flaunting her advantage, and works hard to use her privileged background to care for and protect those she feels are beneath her. Despite having studied arms and combat, she also studies magic and spellcraft, and is learning spellcasting alongside martial prowess. She believes that a strong mind and strong body must work in accord. History: Chali lives in Eltorchul Villa with the rest of her House in the Sea Ward. As a daughter of a less important branch of the family, her marriage prospects were less desirable than the family had hoped. Additionally, being of mixed blood - her mother is a sun elf from the High Forest - is considered a disadvantage among some of the more prominent houses with a mind for pure bloodlines. Thus, Chali found purpose and advancement as a soldier in the military, serving with distinction, though she never fought in any major battles. Through her service, she received training and practical experience as a fighter, and when she finished, she enrolled in Eltorchul Academy, ran by her House. However, her experience with the military has given her a bit of a taste for something more exciting than attending classes and learning about magic. While she is interested in spellcraft, she also wishes to do some knight-erranting, go on adventures, and explore the world before she's saddled with responsibilities, family, and obligation. And if she happens to stumble upon a fortune or a powerful artifact, more the better!

[Kshnik]

App Name: Jigis Roundstone Race: V. Human Background: Urchin Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Class: Cleric (Death) Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard) Personality Trait: I sleep with my back to a wall or tree, with everything I own wrapped in a bundle in my arms. My town or city is my home, and I'll fight to defend it. Ideals: The low are lifted up, and the high and mighty are brought down. Change is the nature of things. I help the people who help me-that's what keeps us alive. Bond: I escaped my life of poverty by robbing an important person, and I'm wanted for it. Flaw: It's not stealing if I need it more than someone else. Backstory Jigis moves slowly but confidently through the alleyway taking a shortcut that only a few know within Waterdeep. Subconsciously his right hand goes to the round stone hanging off a leather strap. The round stone is the only reminder he has of his parents and the reasoning for his surname. Jigis peeks around the corner. A corner he has been to many times within Waterdeep; close to the docks. The docks were his first home. The rooftops, the carts, the alleys and even some of the ships were his bedrooms. Jigis was alone for the first few months of his parents death. Eventually he joined a gang of other children in the area. This gang ‘merged’ with a thieves guild known as the Plague Rats. The Plague Rats charged the children for everything, putting each one in debt. A couple years in and heavily in debt, Jigis and a few of the crew from the original gang had devised a con on a young noble. The four in disguise, at the appointed time, in the appointed place ran the con. It did not go as planned and Jigis, injured, bleeding, alone, the others dead, ran for his life holding a Blackmane’s family heirloom in his hand. The only thing that saved Jigis was his knowledge of the streets of Waterdeep. Jigis collapsed. Near death, Jigis in a dream state, believed he was approached and chosen by Kelemvor to represent him. A few days later, fully healthy, Jigis had gained some divine power to support his belief. Jigis used the proceeds, after selling the heirloom, to pay out what he owed to the guild to be free, plus extra that kept him living over the past few months. However, the coins in his pocket are few and in another ten days he won't be able to pay rent. Jigis steps out from around the corner and heads towards a building. He raises his hand and whistles. A dark owl, his eyes in the sky, comes flying down and settles on his arm. This tavern is a well known location to find jobs; jobs most folks weren’t interested or skilled enough to do.

[Double or Nothing]

I realize I'm already in one of your campaigns, but I should easily be able to keep up the posting rate in both. I'm able to do almost daily posts as long as there's something to respond to. I haven't played Dragon Heist before and I've been wanting to play for a while.

Character Sheet: https://www.rpgcrossing.com/profiler/view.php?id=95139

Name: Zeren Damkrach
Race: Variant Human
Class: Rogue (with plans to take the Swashbuckler subclass)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Background: Faction Agent (Zhentarim)

Personality traits:
I am not afraid to get my hands dirty if it means getting what I want.
I enjoy proving I'm a cut above the rest.
Ideal: Ambition. I’m going to prove that I deserve only the best — of everything.
Bond: The Zhentarim offer power, security, and wealth and in exchange I give them my loyalty.
Flaw: I would kill to acquire a noble title.

Description: Unless he needs to be stealthy Zeren dresses as flamboyantly as he acts, favoring fine clothing with capes he can make billow dramatically. Tall, pale, and with a fencer's athletic body Zeren could easily pass as the noble he seeks to become. He takes pride in his handsome features and has a habit of checking out his reflection in mirrors or other reflective surfaces to ensure he looks his best.


Personality: Zeren is ambitious, flamboyant, and quick to seize opportunities. He prefers to talking things out to fighting, but if combat does result he'll ruthlessly cut down his enemies.

Resentful of those he sees as having unearned privilege, Zeren craves a noble title. He’s seen the uselessness of the nobility and believes himself to be far more deserving of that station than the entitled wastes of space currently living in the North Ward. Not that that would stop him from working with a noble if he stood to gain from it, Zeren isn't one to let his antipathy towards nobles get in the way of his own self-interest. And he'd likely be able to put his dislike of nobles to the side if he actually found one who actually used their power and wealth to help people.

Although Zeren is entirely willing to break the law for his own benefit he still has a strict code he abides by. He won't harm innocents, tries to ensure his actions are proportionate (in his eyes at least), and will keep his word if he believes the other person has upheld their side of the bargain. He's not malicious, but the influences of the Black Network and Levistus are guiding him down a dark path.

Backstory: Born the son of a professional witness (barristers being banned from Waterdeep) and a fencing instructor Zeren proved to have the intellectual and athletic prowess to excel in either career. In his teenage years, still unsure of what he wanted to do with his life Zeren began hanging out with a group of nobles who took fencing lessons with his mother.

Feeling like an outsider because of his family's 'common' ancestry Zeren's interest in his friends began to turn to resentment. The feeling turned out to be mutual when one of the other students made a crude comment about Zeren's mother and Zeren challenged the offender to a duel. Zeren won the duel, but his opponent got revenge by having him blacklisted. With both his preferred careers blocked Zeren fell in with a bad crowd, using his dueling skills as part of a gang until he received an employment offer from the Zhentarim.

His membership in the Zhentarim has gotten Zeren both gold and perks that money can't buy, but Zeren is still keeping an ear open for opportunities.

In terms of relationships I can easily expand Zeren's backstory to include connections with any other party members.

[Drachenspirit]

What we've got so far...

Applications

Player	Character	Race	Class	Status
Togot	Skurvin Blackmane	Variant Human	Fiendish Warlock	Completed
The Rat Queen	Chali Eltorchul	Half-elf	Fighter	Incomplete - Needs Character Sheet
Kshnik	WIP	Variant Human	Death Cleric	Incomplete - Needs a lot
Double or Nothing	Zeren Damkrach	Variant Human	Rogue	Completed

[Togot]

added link to character sheet

[Azathool]

I would thoroughly recommend applying for a game run by @Drachenspirit (Aster and Lyricus thank you!) If not for them I would apply for this, but I'll give others a chance.