January POTM

[Admin Dirk]

It's a fresh start, a new year. Why not make a new resolution... to recognize someone who's writing was stellar?

Keep your eyes open in January, and when all your other resolutions are forgotten, remember this one. Nominate someone. It's easy, and it's simple, and it will be one resolution you can keep, all year long.

[Atrayn]

Nominee: lostcheerio
Game: Rime of the Frostmaiden
System: DND 5th Edition
GM: lostcheerio
Post Link: https://www.rpgcrossing.com/showthre...66#post9020266

Reason for Nomination: Lostcheerio is running Rime of the Frostmaiden for a pretty large group and mixing up a true blend of horror and light and bizarre humor that I think keeps us all on our toes. I'm not sure I'd be able to run a sandbox like she is. This particular post is a great example of how she's keeping a few different story threads moving at once, but more impressive, I think, is the horrible vision she concocts for my barbarian sorcerer Falfen at a seance. He's already had dreams of this spirit earlier in the chapter and now she visits full force.

There are a lot of excellent characters with depth at play in this game, and I'd encourage anyone with time on their hands to follow along.

[Retry]

Nominee: Mushroomslice
Game: New Player Solo Game - The Tower of Newby
System: D&D 5e
GM: Retry
Post Link: Note- This game is private, only reds and NPSG DMs can see. I will post a quote of it below.

Reason: One of my favorite things about being a NPSG DM is I get to see all these budding pbp-players bloom by the end of the module. Mushroomslice is a fantastic story-teller and knows how to keep to what their character might do even when the outcome is less than desired. His rouge, Albascal, was a greenhorned adventurer with a cheery naive outlook on life and was just trying to help out a town in need as his mentor would've wanted. Yet, a tough decision was placed before him and lives were lost because of it. This post shows how his character handled the consequences of his action and lost some of that innocence he held earlier in the adventure.

Post:

 

WARNING:
This post contains elements from RPGx's renown NPSG. If you are new to the site and are in queue, please be advised that there are some elements that can be deem spoilers.

 

Originally Posted by mushroomslice

[Sassafrass]

Nominee: In the MIx
Game: Planescape: Tales from the Outlands
Nominator: C'est moi
Link:
Reason: The PCs have gone to the paradigm-driven city of Automata, just at the edge of the Outlands and on the border to the Nirvana of Mechanus. They decided to ignore the suggestion of their companion and subjected themselves to literally hours of interrogation for the most mundane things, and each player rolled a Skill Challenge to see how well they did. Venicka, a former member of the Cult of the Dragon, was utterly humiliated during her interrogation and this post is the aftermath of that and is wonderfully done. I think so anyway, and now you do too. It's magic.

 

Originally Posted by In the Mix

 

Movement: ~
Action: ~
Bonus Action: ~
Reaction: ~

OoC: ~

 

Venicka Ondler, Half-Ork Level 3Ranger HP: 19/21, AC: Studded Leather Armor14
Initiative: +2, Speed: 30 ft.
Prof. Bonus: +2 Passive Perception: 13
Saving Throws prof-Str +4, prof-Dex +4, Con +3, Int -1, Wis +1, Cha +0
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 10

Languages: Common, Orkish (Bulgarian), Elven (Welsh)

Long Bow: Attack: +6, Damage: 1d8+2 {Heavy, Two-Handed}
___Arrows 20/20: Range: 150/600 ft.
Maul: Attack: +4, Damage: 2d6+2 {Heavy, Two-Handed}
Mace: Attack: +4, Damage: 1d6+2
Handaxes (2): Attack: +4 (+6, if Thrown), Damage: 1d6+2, Range: 20/60 {Light, Thrown}

 

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.Dark Vision
When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.Relentless Endurance 1/1
When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.Savage Attacks
You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. In addition, you can find food and fresh water for yourself and up to five other people each day, provided that the land offers berries, small game, water, and so forth.Wanderer
You have significant experience studying, tracking, and hunting, and even talking to Beasts.

You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.

When you gain this feature, you also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all.

You choose one additional favored enemy, as well as an associated language, at 6th and 14th level. As you gain levels, your choices should reflect the types of monsters you have encountered on your adventures.Favored Enemy: Beasts
You are particularly familiar with Forests and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to forests, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in.

While traveling for an hour or more in forests, you gain the following benefits:

* Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.
* Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.
* Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking), you remain alert to danger.
* If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.
* When you forage, you find twice as much food as you normally would.
* While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area.Natural Explorer: Forests
Fighting Style: You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.Archery
Beginning at 3rd level, you can use your action and expend one ranger spell slot to focus your awareness on the region around you. For 1 minute per level of the spell slot you expend, you can sense whether the following types of creatures are present within 1 mile of you (or within up to 6 miles if you are in your favored terrain): aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. This feature doesn’t reveal the creatures’ location or number.Primeval Awareness
Ranger Archetype: Horizon Walker
You learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels of mastery. The spell counts as a ranger spell for you, but it doesn't count against the number of ranger spells you know.Horizon Walker Magic
You've gained the ability to magically sense the presence of a planar portal. As an action, you detect the distance and direction to the closest planar portal within 1 mile of you.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.Detect Portal 0/1
You've learned to draw upon the energy of the multiverse to augment your attacks.

As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The next time you hit that creature on this turn with a weapon attack, all damage dealt by the attack becomes force damage, and the creature takes an extra 1d8 force damage from the attack. When you reach 11th level in this class, the extra damage increases to 2d8.Planar Warrior

 

Spell Save DC: 11, Spell Attack Bonus: +3

~ Level 1 ~ 3/3

Horizon Walker Spell
Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can’t be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If the target is already charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, the target has advantage on any new saving throw against the
relevant effect.Protection from Evil & Good

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Duration: Instantaneous

A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.Cure Wounds {V= "?", S}
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

The next time you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack before the spell ends, this spell creates a rain of thorns that sprouts from your ranged weapon or ammunition. In addition to the normal effect of the attack, the target of the attack and each creature within 5 feet of it must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 1d10 piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

At Higher Levels: If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 1st (to a maximum of 6d10).Hail of Thorns{V= "?"}
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: 90 feet
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You choose a creature you can see within range and mystically mark it as your quarry. Until the spell ends, you deal an extra 1d6 damage to the target whenever you hit it with a weapon attack, and you have advantage on any Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check you make to find it. If the target drops to 0 hit points before this spell ends, you can use a bonus action on a subsequent turn of yours to mark a new creature.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd or 4th level, you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 8 hours. When you use a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can maintain your concentration on the spell for up to 24 hours.Hunter's Mark {V= "There!"}

[pianoman90]

Nominee: Ziether
Game: Carrion Crown (Whispering Light)
GM: Myself
Link: Here
Reason: The legalistic halfling that Ziether portrays has been a stellar contributor through diplomatic and RP-heavy scenes already. Sometimes RP can get heavy, mired in detail or dialogue that ends up being too one-sided, Ziether brings Finneaous Facklebar to life spectacularly with his writing. This post stood out due to the mouth-watering combination of legalities pertinent to the situation and the Golarion lore immersion that Ziether is able to add into his post. Well worthy of recognition!

 

Wills. The legal formality of such documents was almost intoxicating to the obsessive Abadaran. Finneaous was more than familiar with the expected verbiage and the sorts of situations that would lead a man of such prestige to have established an expected process for the handling of his assets both in Ravengro and at the university. It was part of the ordination paperwork of the Church of Abadar that all clergy file a last will and testament with the Church, leaving at least a double tithe to the Church itself, though it was something of a fashion statement to bequeath an overwhelming majority of one’s assets to the Church in acknowledgement of the importance of its mission. Sixty-forty. All liquidated. Finneaous was sentimental about the church, but practicality was a concern. His parents would be well-served by any funds received as a result of his untimely death, and would undoubtedly tithe from it in his memory. All as it should be. What the Professor had in his intricate mind for the six outsiders who stood assembled in his home was a baffling consideration for the tiny scholar. He would not have summoned such folk for the mere inheritance of property. He just wasn’t the type. No, there was something more to this day. As Councilman Vashian read the contents aloud, Finneaous’ suspicions were confirmed quickly. Entire estate to Kendra. As to be expected for a non-Abadaran. The lack of a tithe to any church stung, but only so much. Not all of the people of Avistan were as concerned with their deities as he was, and he knew it well. The admonition to deal with the Professor’s material effects was even more pragmatic than the halfling expected. If you had given me another decade, I could have made an Abadaran of you. The councilman’s words then came to the names of the people summoned to Ravengro. Finneaous swallowed hard. Impose upon you. There was indeed more to their presence. Tomes. Evil tomes. No wonder the people of Ravengro thought him a necromancer. The things the common folk of Ustalav would assume were logical after a fashion, but bereft of proof, were no more than vile rumors. Even transporting these things could be problematic. If only I could contact the Church for guidance. Nothing obligated the halfling to return to Andoran anytime soon, and so long as he sent regular messages to the Church apprising them of his whereabouts and purpose, no complications should arise. And then the hammer dropped. Payment on arrival. Care for Kendra. One month. Finneaous fought to keep an uncouth oath from erupting from his lips, a battle he won with little willpower to spare. As much as he wanted to better understand Canterwall, the encounter with the townsfolk in the Restlands had put the general populace of Ravengro in a certain category within the priest’s mind, and one he had no real intention of exposing himself to more than absolutely necessary. He kept his peace, though, and patiently awaited the departure of the Councilman. Silence was difficult. Finneaous wanted nothing more than to engage with the grieving woman, but he needed to allow her the chance to process the day one moment at a time. He waited for her return with the chest, then looked to the others. "Might it be prudent to ascertain the security of performing such an action before exposing ourselves to any potential hazards the good professor’s tomes might unwittingly possess? I am no master of the arcane, and cannot identify the properties of such items, but I do believe that proceeding deliberately might be warranted due to the nature of the research the man was undertaking. Better safe than cursed and all." Full of nervous energy, the halfling stepped away from the chest and circled around to approach Kendra, politely indicating that he would like to speak to her while the others engaged with the books. "Kendra, I am legitimately concerned by the events earlier. I do believe that a subset of the populace here is convinced that your father’s activities were not aboveboard. I have genuine worry that his resting place may be disturbed, or that actions might be taken against you for your familial association with him." While the clergyman’s words were as multiple as ever, his eyes locked on with the human woman’s, a caring expression on his face. "I am no warrior. My skills lie not in physical conflict, but in the battlefield of the mind. I can stand before the hateful and the fearful, but only so much as you allow, and only if armed with all the knowledge available. If I am to speak to those who are misinformed about your father’s life, I need to be equipped with the truth. I have no desire to divulge secrets or ruin your future, but I would need to craft a fitting narrative that remains true. My god demands that much." His eyes flicked to the motley band around him. "For what it is worth, I intend to remain here as long as is necessary. Please, use me for what I am trained. Your father was a good man, and I count his promise of coin in Lepidstadt as a commission. As long as payment is so contracted, I am your servant until such time as the constraints of the contract are fulfilled."

Mechanics/OOC   Finneaous F. Facklebar, Esq Vital Statistics HP: 8/8 Armor Class 14 Strength 8 Speed 20 ft Touch AC 14 Dexterity 16 Initiative +3 Flat-Footed 11 Constitution 10 Fortitude +3 BAB +0 Intelligence 14 Reflex +4 CMB -2 Wisdom 16 Will +6 CMD 11 Charisma 16 Melee Dagger at +4 1d3-1 (19-20/x2) Ranged Light Crossbow at +4 1d6 (19-20/x2) Magic Spell Slots: Orisons (4 at will), 1st Level: 2 Orisons Known (DC 13): Guidance, Light, Read Magic, Stabilize 1st-Level Spells Known (DC 14): Cure Light Wounds, Sanctuary Miscellaneous Senses Perception +7 Languages Common, Halfling, Elven, Goblin Feats InquisitorLight Armor Proficiency, InquisitorMedium Armor Proficiency, InquisitorShield Proficiency, InquisitorSimple Weapon Proficiency, InquisitorWeapon Proficiency (hand crossbow, longbow, repeating crossbow, shortbow), Level 1Precise Shot Skills Bluff +10, Craft (calligraphy) +6, Diplomacy +10, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Knowledge (Religion) +6, Perception +7, Profession (barrister) +11, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +6, Stealth +11, Use Magic Device +8 Class Abilities: Command (Su) 6/day (DC 13 Will), Judgment (Su) 1/day Status Effects: None Consumables: None

[Menzo]

Nominee: cottontailwind
Game: Uncaged: Found Family
GM: Wynamoinen
Link: Here
Reason: Wynamoinen's game is what I'd call a 'perfect storm' of roleplaying. Great premise, great DM-ing, and a group of like-minded players pushing themselves to write better and better posts. This came to a head recently, with a series of five posts, any of which could have been nominated for PotM. In the end I chose cottontailwind's post, because of its sheer inventiveness. Cottontailwind created interesting detail for several cultures within the setting, and also created several new NPCs (with the DM's consent, of course).

 

Dunyazad Tends to Ismene "Wanting to know the tales of our peoples...? Now that is interesting. Perhaps no better way to learn more about the girl than to keep close and observe her daily life..." And so Dunyazad spent the remainder of the first day with Ismene, and between the daily chores of a Domantine noblewoman's handmaid, she recounted the tales of Anykhet. Old Anykhet. The true Anykhet, before the Domantine pantheon kidnapped their morals for its own. "We shall begin with Story of Nisa, the story of a young and educated highborn maiden (oh, it would seem not entirely unlike yourself, Miss...) and her journey into the vast world," The little half-orc began, steeping the noblewoman's tea. "She is the royal lexicologist, you see, and is charged with finding only the very best word beginning with each letter of the alphabet..." In truth, there was no "Story of Nisa." She'd made up a new protagonist entirely and had been piecemealing together various tales across different tribes and clans. And so Dunyazad went on for the next day and a half, tending to Lady Ismene as any of her other handmaids while sharing this amalgam that was Nisa's Epic. She prodded for insights into Ismene's reactions and asked about what she would be doing at that particular hour of the day, had they not been telling stories, but... it was strange. Was that hesitance in Lady Ismene's reactions? Was she disinterested in Dunyazad's tales? Or could she tell that Dunyazad had patchworked together a number of differing tales together to form one just for her? Perhaps, as someone educated and curious, Lady Ismene already knew some of the stories of Old Anykhet, and took Dunyazad's liberties as patronizing...

Dunyazad Appeals to the Servants It was on the second day of their employ in the Dukas Estate that Dunyazad decided she needed another source of information on Lady Ismene than her ladyship herself. In the brief time there, there were only three servants with whom Lady Ismene regularly interacted: Spodumene, who assisted with meals and errands; Lobelia, who tended to the rooms, and; Irsha, the Housekeeper, who oversaw the servants' daily chores. Spodumene? No: she was a human of Domantine descent. Less likely to break her mistress' confidence for a child of Anykhet from the outside. Especially not a fellow servant that was to be treated as an honored guest. Irsha? Not likely: she was a lizardfolk and too much reminded Dunyazad of her previous Housekeeper, infamously stern and unyielding. That left Lobelia. A meek river elf, likely from far to the northeast, on the other side of the Domantine Empire. How she'd come this far south at such a young age must have been quite the story. So when Ismene left to take breakfast, Dunyazad excused herself and remained in the aristocrat's quarters. There, Lobelia was changing her mistress' linens for the day. Dunyazad joined in the chore, quietly, until... "You are mawja-tifl, yes? River elf? A sacred peoples here: in the land of sand and stone, water is life. And your peoples are blessed to be of the water," Dunyazad began, pressing the air out from under the first of many newly laid sheets. Lobelia glanced in her direction but didn't make eye contact. "Yes, Miss. River elf," she said quietly in broken Domantine. "Ah, but I believe Miss is reserved for your mistress, Lady Ismene, yes? As a guest, you would call me Madam Dunyazad. Though I have not fully attained my manumissio, so I am not entirely sure what you'd call me..." The look of confusion across Lobelia's face was telling enough. The girl was either too new to know anything, too young to know when to safely break confidence, or too new to the Domantine language to eavesdrop. "Oh, nevermind it, dear. You are doing a wonderful job," Dunyazad smiled wide -- sometimes an alien thing in the world of servants -- and they returned to their chores together in silence. That left Irsha the Housekeeper. A quick check on Lady Ismene found her preferring a book at the empty breakfast table to any more of Dunyazad's stories. The old Leutakimah went off in search of Housekeeper Irsha. The stones that made the hallway floors were perfectly even and well polished, easy enough to navigate, but these corridors were so long and winding that she had to rely on the walls to keep steady every now and then. Housekeeper Irsha and several other servants were preparing for the day in one of the kitchens. Dunyazad approached and began to help clean off a pale bulb of a vegetable she'd never seen before, casually, as if she'd done it every day for the past half century. She and Irsha made eye contact then, pleasantly enough, but the silent look from the head maid was clear enough: what are you doing in my kitchens? Housekeeper Irsha, teal-scaled and wearing an extra apron over her uniform, had the other servants leave the room. "We are graced by your presence, Madam Dunyazad," the lizardfolk began in the typical, paced speech of a lizardfolk. That she didn't stop in her preparation of the vegetables could have been the slightest breach of etiquette to any other guest, but Dunyazad appreciated the complexity of their situation. She was, after all, still technically a servant. "Housekeeper Yusk, of the Balbii. That is your missus, correct? You must be quite special to not only survive under her watch but also to be sent here on such a mission." "You are most generous and knowledgeable, Mrs. Irsha," Dunyazad bowed her head in turn, still cleaning vegetables. "Irsha is short for Irshareeshii, yes? The lizardfolk name meaning the ripple that reflects the sun... if the empire tongue had a palette for so many syllables..." They shared a smile at the jab towards the Domantine. Good. An amicable beginning. But Housekeeper Irsha was as direct as Housekeeper Yusk was stern: "Why are you here, Dunyazad? Not here, preparing our stews, but here, assisting with this investigation?" The older woman paused in her chore, then, thinking of what to say next. She decided to be similarly direct, and explained that, in truth, she cared little for the glory of the empire. Three things motivated her here: the Domantine children she'd reared that went missing; the children of Anykhet that have and could go missing in the future, and; her own freedom. "I am truly Blessed by the Mountains to have seen my homeland in my youth, and to be able to see it again, one last time, before I die. It is for the children of our peoples that I fear, to be born in the empire without ever having seen the mighty mountains catch the rolling storms. Or the last sands settle after a duststorm. Or hear the chorus of the valley swamps at night... You've seen them with your own eyes, haven't you? In your youth, before you came to be here," she gestured widely to the room around them. The estate. The entire city. "I can show you those swamps again, if you desire it..." Housekeeper Irsha didn't have to say it. The longing was in her eyes. In her silence. In her consent to even hear out such an offer, that might otherwise be damning to her role at the estate. Dunyazad moved to sit at the small working table, directly across from the housekeeper. "Close your eyes. You will feel a slight... presence, in your mind. Accept it. But be warned, for seeing what one desires can indeed enliven the heart. But so too can it can damper the heart, at seeing what it has lost, and drift into despair... Is to see your homeland again truly what you desire?" Suddenly, she felt like a true aimra'at hakima, a wise-woman, making an offer laden with warning. Irsha nodded at that offer all the same. And so Dunyazad Dunyazad casts Phantasmal Force on Housekeeper Irsha, creating the illusion of a (non-harmful) swamp in a 10'x10' cube around her! Dunyazad rolled an unnatural 20 on a History check to re-create the swamps!called upon her old magicks, that which she often only remembered in dreams and so rarely summoned into this drab world of empty Domantine rituals and hierarchies. At least, she hoped she could conjure up the lizardfolk's homeland. The Sunsalt Swamps. She'd never seen it herself, but she'd seen the leaves of the looming Raincatcher trees in a noblewoman's transplanted garden some years ago. She'd glimpsed the rendition of those swamps once, but they were done by a Domantine painter. Other than that, she was piecing it together from various fine details of stories she'd heard. "Now open your eyes. Can you smell the waters of the Sunsalt Lake? Do you see its sands and stones churning beneath the surface? Do you see the broad leaves hanging overhead, catching droplets from the fading rain? Do you hear them, the chorus of chirps and buzzes and whirrs, crying out to the sun as one?" Irsha didn't say anything. She didn't have to. The tears coming from her eyes, as they darted around at invisible plants and bugs and shorelines, told Dunyazad well enough that the illusion had taken hold. She held onto the spell, sitting quietly across from the tearful lizardfolk, until the magic faded. "This is why I am searching to unravel this mystery, Irshareeshii of the Sunsalt Swamps. Our children have been robbed of the the homelands we have known ourselves, and now they are taken from our arms. We must see them safe, and tell them the stories of these places in our hearts. Do you see as I see, now? Whatever misfortune has come upon this land now threatens Lady Ismene as well. Any secrets you may keep of her -- of her hobbies, her desires, of the hallways in which she walks in this estate -- please, entrust them to me, so that we might see this tragedy ended."

OOC   Dunyazad's first goal is to keep Ismene entertained with tales of Old Anykhet enough to learn more about her daily life: her routine, her regular contacts, etc. Dunyazad made a Performance check to tell a series of stories that kept Ismene's attention, rolling a 6! Dunyazad's second goal is to befriend a member of Ismene's closest attendants and ply information from them regarding secrets pertaining to Ismene: any compromising information, secret hobbies, romances, secret passages in or out of the grounds. Dunyazad made a History check to accurately sculpt the Sunsalt Swamps with a Phantasmal Force spell for Housekeeper Irsha's nostalgia, rolling an unnatural 20! 1. Action: 2. Item Interaction: 3: Movement: 4: Bonus: 5: Reaction: Spells and abilities in effect: None Statblock Dunyazad | Regional Half-OrcLeutakimah | Size: Medium | Level 3 Lore Bard HP: 18/18 | AC: 10 base + 2 DEX + 2 Studded Leather Armor14 | Speed: 30 ft. | Hit Dice: 3/3 (d8) | Prof. Bonus: +2 Left Hand: Empty | Right Hand: Empty STR: 10 (+/-0) | DEX: 14 (+2) | CON: 11 (+/-0) | INT: 12 (+1) | WIS: 14 (+2) | CHA: 14 (+2) Proficient Skills: Deception (+4) | History (+5) | Insight (+6) | Intimidation (+4) | Perception (+4) | Performance (+4) | Persuasion (+4) | Religion (+3) | Stealth (+4) Languages: Leutakimah, Common, Anykhet, Dulamah | Other Proficiencies: Light Armor, Simple Weapons, Lyre, Shawma, Drums Spell Save DC: 12 | Spell Attack Modifier: +4 | 1st Level Spell Slots: 4/4 | 2nd Level Spell Slots: 1/2 Known Spells: Source: Player's Handbook Enchantment cantrip Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet Components: V Duration: Instantaneous You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle enchantments at a creature you can see within range. If the target can hear you (though it need not understand you), it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn. At Higher Levels. This spell’s damage increases by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4), 11th level (3d4), and 17th level (4d4). Spell Lists. BardVicious Mockery | Source: Player's Handbook Illusion cantrip Casting Time: 1 action Range: 30 feet Components: S, M (a bit of fleece) Duration: 1 minute You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for the duration. The illusion also ends if you dismiss it as an action or cast this spell again. If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream. It can be your voice, someone else’s voice, a lion’s roar, a beating of drums, or any other sound you choose. The sound continues unabated throughout the duration, or you can make discrete sounds at different times before the spell ends. If you create an image of an object—such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest—it must be no larger than a 5-foot cube. The image can’t create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. If a creature uses its action to examine the sound or image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the illusion becomes faint to the creature. Spell Lists. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, WizardMinor Illusion | Source: Player's Handbook 1st-level evocation Casting Time: 1 action Range: Touch Components: V, S Duration: Instantaneous A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st. Spell Lists. Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, RangerCure Wounds | Source: Player's Handbook 1st-level enchantment Casting Time: 1 action Range: 90 feet Components: V, S, M (a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket) Duration: 1 minute This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8, the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of a point you choose within range are affected in ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring unconscious creatures). Starting with the creature that has the lowest current hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the sleeper awake. Subtract each creature’s hit points from the total before moving on to the creature with the next lowest hit points. A creature’s hit points must be equal to or less than the remaining total for that creature to be affected. Undead and creatures immune to being charmed aren’t affected by this spell. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for each slot level above 1st. Spell Lists. Bard, Sorcerer, WizardSleep | Source: Player's Handbook 1st-level evocation Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self (15-foot cube) Components: V, S Duration: Instantaneous A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 thunder damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t pushed. In addition, unsecured objects that are completely within the area of effect are automatically pushed 10 feet away from you by the spell’s effect, and the spell emits a thunderous boom audible out to 300 feet. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st. Spell Lists. Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, WizardThunderwave | Source: Player's Handbook 1st-level conjuration (ritual) Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet Components: V, S, M (a piece of string and a bit of wood) Duration: 1 hour This spell creates an invisible, mindless, shapeless, Medium force that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends. The servant springs into existence in an unoccupied space on the ground within range. It has AC 10, 1 hit point, and a Strength of 2, and it can’t attack. If it drops to 0 hit points, the spell ends. Once on each of your turns as a bonus action, you can mentally command the servant to move up to 15 feet and interact with an object. The servant can perform simple tasks that a human servant could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring wine. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command. If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 60 feet away from you, the spell ends. Spell Lists. Bard, Warlock, WizardUnseen Servant | Source: Player's Handbook 2nd-level illusion Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet Components: V, S, M (a bit of fleece) Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute You craft an illusion that takes root in the mind of a creature that you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, you create a phantasmal object, creature, or other visible phenomenon of your choice that is no larger than a 10-foot cube and that is perceivable only to the target for the duration. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. The phantasm includes sound, temperature, and other stimuli, also evident only to the creature. The target can use its action to examine the phantasm with an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If the check succeeds, the target realizes that the phantasm is an illusion, and the spell ends. While a target is affected by the spell, the target treats the phantasm as if it were real. The target rationalizes any illogical outcomes from interacting with the phantasm. For example, a target attempting to walk across a phantasmal bridge that spans a chasm falls once it steps onto the bridge. If the target survives the fall, it still believes that the bridge exists and comes up with some other explanation for its fall—it was pushed, it slipped, or a strong wind might have knocked it off. An affected target is so convinced of the phantasm’s reality that it can even take damage from the illusion. A phantasm created to appear as a creature can attack the target. Similarly, a phantasm created to appear as fire, a pool of acid, or lava can burn the target. Each round on your turn, the phantasm can deal 1d6 psychic damage to the target if it is in the phantasm’s area or within 5 feet of the phantasm, provided that the illusion is of a creature or hazard that could logically deal damage, such as by attacking. The target perceives the damage as a type appropriate to the illusion. Spell Lists. Bard, Sorcerer, WizardPhantasmal Force | Source: Player's Handbook 2nd-level enchantment Casting Time: 1 action Range: 30 feet Components: V, M (a snake’s tongue and either a bit of honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil) Duration: Concentration, up to 8 hours You suggest a course of activity (limited to a sentence or two) and magically influence a creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you. Creatures that can’t be charmed are immune to this effect. The suggestion must be worded in such a manner as to make the course of action sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act ends the spell. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it purses the course of action you described to the best of its ability. The suggested course of action can continue for the entire duration. If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends when the subject finishes what it was asked to do. You can also specify conditions that will trigger a special activity during the duration. For example, you might suggest that a knight give her warhorse to the first beggar she meets. If the condition isn’t met before the spell expires, the activity isn’t preformed. If you or any of your companions damage the target, the spell ends. Spell Lists. Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, WizardSuggestion Funds: 33gp, 5sp | Weapons: Re-skinned quarterstaff: 1d6 B | 4 lbs | Versatile (1d8)Gnarled Walking Cane | 1d4 P | 1 lbs | Finesse | Light | Thrown (20/60)Dagger | 1d6 P | 3 lbs | Ammunition | Range (30/120) | Light | LoadingHand Crossbow | Equipment: WornStudded Leather Armor | Reliquary of the 72 Rock SpiritsHoly Symbol | Prayers of the Domantine PantheonPrayer Book | Adventuring Gear (Wondrous Item) Category: Items Item Rarity: Uncommon Weight: 2 This stoppered flask sloshes when shaken, as if it contains water. The decanter weighs 2 pounds. You can use an action to remove the stopper and speak one of three Command words, whereupon an amount of fresh water or salt water (your choice) pours out of the flask. The water stops pouring out at the start of your next turn. Choose from the following options: • "Stream" produces 1 gallon of water. • "Fountain" produces 5 gallons of water. • "Geyser" produces 30 gallons of water that gushes forth in a geyser 30 feet long and 1 foot wide. As a Bonus Action while holding the decanter, you can aim the geyser at a creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or take 1d4 bludgeoning damage and fall prone. Instead of a creature, you can target an object that isn't being worn or carried and that weighs no more than 200 pounds. The object is either knocked over or pushed up to 15 feet away from you.Decanter of Endless Water | Worn at beltHand Drums | Domantine servants' robes, wornCommon Clothes | Quantity: 2, worn at belt Type: Adventuring Gear Weight: 2 lbs As an action, you can spread a bag of caltrops to cover a square area that is 5 feet on a side. Any creature that enters the area must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or stop moving this turn and take 1 piercing damage. Taking this damage reduces the creature's walking speed by 10 feet until the creature regains at least 1 hit point. A creature moving through the area at half speed doesn't need to make the save.Caltrops | Quantity: 2, worn at belt Type: Adventuring Gear Weight: 2 lbs As an action, you can spill these tiny metal balls from their pouch to cover a level, square area that is 10 feet on a side. A creature moving across the covered area must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. A creature moving through the area at half speed doesn't need to make the save.Ball Bearings | Quantity: 2, worn at belt Type: Adventuring Gear Weight: 1 lb As an action, you can splash the contents of this vial onto a creature within 5 feet of you or throw the vial up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. In either case, make a ranged attack against a creature or object, treating the acid as an improvised weapon. On a hit, the target takes 2d6 acid damage.Flask of Acid | Quantity: 4, kept in chest Type: Adventuring Gear Weight: 1 lb Oil usually comes in a clay flask that holds 1 pint. As an action, you can splash the oil in this flask onto a creature within 5 feet of you or throw it up to 20 feet, shattering it on impact. Make a ranged attack against a target creature or object, treating the oil as an improvised weapon. On a hit, the target is covered in oil. If the target takes any fire damage before the oil dries (after 1 minute), the target takes an additional 5 fire damage from the burning oil. You can also pour a flask of oil on the ground to cover a 5-foot-square area, provided that the surface is level. If lit, the oil burns for 2 rounds and deals 5 fire damage to any creature that enters the area or ends its turn in the area. A creature can take this damage only once per turn.Vial of Oil | Containing all other belongingsChest Racial Traits: Strength +2, Constitution +1Ability Scores | Thanks to your orc blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.Darkvision 60' | You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.Menacing | When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.Relentless Endurance | When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.Savage Attacks Class Traits: You can cast any bard spell you know as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.Ritual Casting | You can use a musical instrument (found in chapter 5) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.Spellcasting Focus | You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6. Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest. Your Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.Bardic Inspiration (d6, 2/2) | Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include your proficiency bonus.Jack of All Trades | Beginning at 2nd level, you can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance spend one or more Hit Dice to regain hit points at the end of the short rest, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.Song of Rest | When you join the College of Lore at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with three skills of your choice.Bard College: Lore | At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies. At 10th level, you can choose another two skill proficiencies to gain this benefit.Expertise | Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of others. When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, an ability check, or a damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend one of your uses of Bardic Inspiration, rolling a Bardic Inspiration die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature's roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature makes its roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll or ability check succeeds or fails, or before the creature deals its damage. The creature is immune if it can't hear you or if it's immune to being charmed.Cutting Words

[kdtompos]

Nominee: Still_Pond
Game: Bulldogs - Scavenging the Back Forty
GM: kdtompos
Link: Here
Reason/Context: This is a slightly silly space-opera game, in which the crew has crash landed on an alien moon. There ship is about to be eaten by a leviathan creature that tunnels through the earth, while everyone else runs around trying not to sink into the soil in the process. Anything even slightly curious I throw at this player they have a plausible way of explaining into the fiction, and I'm perpetually impressed by the way they roll with punches and come up with creative ideas.

I nominate this post, above all the other brilliant displays of playing off of others and quirky characterization, because there's so much here at once. Science that I never explained in game is being analyzed and called out. Creative and fun solutions like creating an emetic out of the shuttle that's about to be devoured are proposed, right alongside the robot character pretending to be a ship to be devoured as well or setting self-destruct. And finally, the references to other planets and their environments is made up here entirely whole-cloth.

Glorkuvian didn't exist until this moment. But it will be back.

[Jon]

Nominee: Jennifer
Game: Giants and Beyond
Nominator: Jon

Link: https://www.rpgcrossing.com/showthre...35#post9022835

Reason: Endings are difficult things. Particularly in published models in PBP – you can lose months mopping up those last rooms. In this game – the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief - we decided to montage the end sequence … and Jennifer rose to the occasion. There was one pesky room full of manticores left. I had expected some hand-waved sequence of shooting with arrows and magics until the poor souls were dead – but Jennifer brought her trademarked engagement with the detail of the worlds she lived in and empathy for creatures her characters encountered to have her otherworldly elf-druid to tame the beasts and recruit them to guard her forest while she ventures onwards to the Glacial Rift!

The post earned her Inspiration … I hope you agree it’s a good candidate for POTM.

 

A member of the pack Chutakki hurried back and hailed Nokomis. It appeared he had discovered a secret hole, and within that hole was quite a large portion of coins and precious items protected by a few lion headed, scorpion tailed, winged beasts. He wasn't quite sure what they were, but given they were animal in nature, and given Nokomis seemed to be a mistress of nature, he figured maybe she knew how to get around them. The manticore. It was a rare species, sentient in the most rudimentary aspects. That is, you could converse with a manticore - but said conversation almost always revolved around pleading for a quick death, or giving an offering then pleading for a quick death. As with all such creatures, they were much maligned by those who misunderstood. Like a bear defending her cub, or a lion on the hunt - manticore were quick to kill. Yet was it fair to call them ruthless, evil, murderers? Of course not! Man hunted and killed, but since man also saw man in a non-murderous light, man did not have the same aura. However, introduce said men into a grove filled with bunny rabbits and squirrels and watch as the beasts of the field flee the murderous and evil humans. Nature was a balance of life and death. It didn't matter if that death came from plants or animals, all beasts needed something to eat to live. Even plants themselves took nutrients from dead beasts as they drew them out of the soil. This, in conjunction with the above, was why Nokomis feared not as she slowly approached the manticores. As she did so, she noticed two of them were significantly bigger than the third. A female, evidenced by the subdued feathering, tawny skin, and missing mane prowled back and forth in front of the littlest one. Her tail twitching to unleash her spines of deadly poison, and a larger one with gold, red, and orange feathers loudly proclaiming his majesty and warning others to begone before they are noticed hunched and growled at her. The trio were keenly aware of their cage, and that Nokomis was the only one to approach them in a long time - yet they suspected she could easily leave them in their cage, unfed, and exposed. Nokomis laid down her staff and extended her hands. She made herself small as she approached the manticore family. The female backed up closer to her cub, while the male snarled and twitched like a cat ready to pounce. "Easy precious ones. My you look hungry, when was the last time anyone fed you? Easy... I am not armed, but I am still dangerous, ease yourselves. Easy... I just want to see why you are in there." Despite their instinctual desire to hunt and kill, they were sentient enough to realize even if they did kill this harmless looking elf, there would be no way to get to the meat, and thus, it was a waste of effort. Still, the parents remained on guard, protecting the cub. "Is he hurt? Why have you not yet escaped?" She was getting closer now. Certainly she could be stung by up to 30 spines from each of them with no chance to get out of the way, not crouched over and this close, but she was there. It looked like the young cub had a collar on it's neck, with a long chain to the wall. Evidence of fresh wounds and scars were on its neck from where it had tried to pull free. Nokomis knew the viciousness of giant, orc, goblin, man, you name it. However she was incredibly upset. Her core, usually a passive lake of sereneness even in battle, was rumbling like a volcano and her eyes began to smolder. Someone had chained this poor creature to a wall! She could see it in her mind's eye - inflicting pain and suffering on the child by one person, and feeding the parents meat by another - the two actions twisting and turning the creatures into even more mentally stressed beings than normal. She found the release for the cage. It was to be tripped when someone moved this satchel of coins unleashing the manticores whom, it was supposed and assumed, would immediately murder and eat whomever the thief was. "I am going to open the cage. If you let me, I will see to your food and health, but I need to look at that monstrous collar on your child first. I cannot set him, and you, free if it is trapped unless I look at it, will that be okay?" She waited. Manticores were intelligent, they could understand her smell, her body language, her tone of voice, even her words. She could do the same. The female stiffened before nodding to the male, who in turn backed up - he could still pounce upon Nokomis which would most likely prove fatal, but it was a clear sign that he was willing to take a risk on the druidess. She moved the satchel, and the cage sprung open. The manticores had seen this trap sprung before and were not surprised by it in the least. Nokomis, for her part, flinched instinctually, but the only result of that was a smile on the male's face. From there it was a matter of moving slowly, letting the father flank her and track her while the mother shifted uneasily in front of her child. Nokomis had known this would happen, it was a normal hunting strategy for manticore, so she let it happen. She slowly approached the child and ran her fingers along the color. Glittering purple wafts glided off her fingers as she healed the wounds on its neck. She stepped back for the moment, letting mommy inspect what had been done so far. She could see her beginning to relax a little - not a lot, as betrayal was not soon forgotten nor forgiven. Someone had abused these creatures and now, these who already viewed bipeds as food, were even more untrustworthy. "It's okay. See, I healed your cub. Now I am going to unlatch the collar. If you wish to be on your way when this is over, I will not move to stop you. However, I ask, once I demonstrate my nature, that you will listen to an offer I wish to present." She looked at the male. He was still ready to pounce, but he did nod his head. That was as good as she was going to get. She walked up to the cub. The collar was quite simple really - manticore teeth and claws were not very dexterous. As such, a simple pin with a clasp was all that was needed to keep their child chained to the wall. She slid the clasp off the pin, then gently lifted the pin out of the collar - then immediately backed off about fifteen feet. The three manticore roved and circled amongst each other, like snakes almost. To the average person this would be horrifyingly scary - to Nokomis this was a beautiful union of family. She waited patiently as they ensured each other were safe and healthy. They were hungry, but Nokomis had a plan for that. "I know of a forest to the south and east of here. The men in the neighboring town are often pushing incursions in and cutting down some of my ancient trees - trees whom have seen the births and deaths of generations of care takers. Likewise, goblin and orc ransack the lands. The forest is very temperate, it does not grow overly cold, nor overly warm. You would be most pleased there with plenty to eat - both manmeat, elfmeat, goblinmeat, or orcmeat. Whatever your hearts desired and was available. I care not, so long as you protect the forest from all but me and yourselves. In exchange, I will lay my blessings upon you as champions of my grove. You will not go hungry, nor will you be want for food or shelter. No other creatures would dare assault ones as powerful as yourselves, and should you again be confronted by those who would use your child to enslave you, I will defend you just as I would a dryad or nymph of my own. Will this be acceptable to you?" If not, well they could fly off. She was confident the trio would leave her alone now. She had done them immense good and they were sentient creatures. A starving pack of wolves might attack anyway, but manticore - manticore could reason. The trio conversed in their manner, with grunts and growls. Nokomis was tired. The battle had been long and she had expended much of her power for the day. Otherwise, she would have taken form so as to speak with them in their same language. She did, of course, still have defensive magics - of which she suspected the manticores could smell, but not fully understand. The female approached her, head lowered - but now bowed. As one female to another. Nokomis took the queue and took to a knee herself so the foreheads of the two could meet. The scent glands of a manticore, like those of a cat, were located on the head. By rubbing against each other, the female manticore had marked Nokomis as kin, family. They were not friends, they were not enemies. They were in accord. One day, Nokomis reckoned, one day they would be friends. Nokomis was friends with all of the creatures of nature, the benevolent, the malevolent, all served a purpose to maintain order. She smiled as the three manticores left. One day, only the father and mother would remain, or maybe they would have more cubs. That was fine with her. The forest was large, and with a family of manticore protecting it, she was free to explore other injustices on the land. She left and beckoned the rest of the team in to loot the spoils of the castle, so to speak. She wondered if Parnassica (named after the plant which was her life source) would understand the introduction of these winged lions with tails as deadly as scorpions? Or if Clandestina (also named for her life-source plant; this was the way of dryad naming convention) would continue trying to sneak in her human friends? Dryads could be quite mischievous. Either way, she knew her grove was safe for now - and if it should become unsafe, she knew the noses on the manticores would be able to find her anywhere on the surface world and beckon her home if needed. The others were digging through the loot, but she noticed Raackma standing back - almost like the father of that manticore cub, watching over his charges. "You call yourselves the irregulars. What does this mean? Where are you going next, and would you have need of my services further? After all, I was summoned to help get rid of this threat by a druid friend, this threat is no more. It seems my own grove is safe for the time being." Speaking with bipeds was not her forte, she was far more comfortable with the panthers, bears, squirrels, and dryads. Though it wasn't that she disliked bipeds, these bipeds seemed okay enough - though a bit of the cavalier 'do good' style. One day the manticore father and mother will grace her with their names. First they needed to get their cub home safe, feed, and become comfortable with their surroundings. In a few years, Nokomis would return and learn their names and their stories.

Actions Okay, I took some liberties, but I am assuming Jon's okay with that? Also hoping I didn't step on anyone toes when I mentioned y'all.

Character Stuff   Nokomis Silvan (wood elf) Circle of the Moon, Druid (11) Attribute Mod Str -1 Dex +2 Con +2 Int +0 Wis +5 Cha +1 Sheet HP 60/80 AC 16 Inspiration 0 Prof Bonus 4 Passive Percep 19 Initiative 14 Spell Save DC 17 Spell Attack 9 Key Skills Deception 5 Nature 4 Perception 9 Stealth 6 Survival 5 Languages Common Senses Darkvision 120 Homeland TBD Equipment Spear (+1)   Heward's Handy Haversack   Circlet of Comprehend Languages   4x Acid Vials   2x Vials Anti-Toxin   Equipment Spells Readied Cantrips: Guidance, Shillelagh, Druidcraft   L1 Spells: Faerie Fire (C), Entangle (C), Thunderwave (I)   L2 Spells: Flaming Sphere (C), Barkskin (I), Hold Person (C)   L3 Spells: Call Lightning (C), Water Walk (I), Wind Wall (C)   L4 Spells: Ice Storm (I), Wall of Fire (C), Ice Storm (I)   L5 Spells: Insect Plague (C), Contagion (I)   L6 Spells: Sunbeam (C)   Spells Elf: Advantage on Charm Effects Druid (moon): Wildshape Feat: War Caster Combat Abilities One: NA Two: NA Associates

[bananabadger]

Nominee: Horseman
Game: Reluctant Heroes
System: Homebrew
GM: Horseman/Rasgorn/Gibbon
Link: The Hero's Return

Background: Reluctant Heroes is an alternative 13th century Europe where more than a dozen RPGx players are developing several storyline threads across the continent with a shared history and lore. In this thread, Horseman is creating the context for characters connected to the Germanic Slav tribes who face pressure from Teutonic Knights, rival tribes and the looming presence of a large empire in the southeast. But amid all these geopolitical forces, life continues, and in this post a 13-year-old boy's entire world revolves around how the tribe and his family will receive him after he stole out with a young friend to hunt the eggs of the gigantic geese who have nested near their village.

Reason: I love the concept of "funnel" adventures ... those often deadly scenarios for zero-level characters who have no skills and must hope that their pluck and their luck will see them through. Narratively, this funnel-adventure ending post beautifully captures the exaltation of a young boy who has lived through his first independent challenge. Mechanically, the post highlights the skills and attributes that this character used in the scenario and that will likely shape how his ability scores will be distributed and what class he will be assigned. The post is a coming-of-age ending; it elevates the tale of a boy and a goose to the dramatic level of a knight and a dragon; it captures the drama of everyday life for simple peasants. You can write a back story, or you can adventure it ... Horseman shows us how fun and rewarding adventuring your backstory can be.

 

Originally Posted by Horseman

Boromil got his first really good look at a Garganorn egg. While he'd seen them at a distance, and seen a hunter come back with a couple in the village oncem he'd never held one. They were very heavy, and large. About 6 inches long and over 3 inches around. They were tan in color, with black spots. The eggs were carefully packed away, and the pair started to head toward home.

Boromil had finally calmed down from the incidence, and now his body was beginning to ache, and hurt. He noticed his left arm was tingling. As they walked and talked of their success, the tingling became aching. More miles and it became dull numbness and pain. To add to his discomfort his back was hurting. But the conversation with Borisu, and his excitement was intoxicating and made him push the pain to the back of his mind.

By the time they walked into the village it was mid-day and Borisu had the Garganorns 10 feet tall, with fangs and flaming wings. Upon entering villagers started to look at the boys, wondering if they were successful. Boromil sees Militsa, Radana and Slava just returning from the forest with bundles of twigs and small branches for the fire. The young girls spot Boromil, drop their bundles and start to break away, but they are stopped with a soft voice.

Girls, we must not disturb men who are hunting, we shall know soon enough. The girls dejected, return and retrieve their bundles, and follow Militsa to the house. Boromils grandmother smiles a little as she heads for the house.

The first to approach them is Ladislav, the local Volkhv, who presided over religious rites and could foretell the future from watching and communicating with horses. Ladislav greets the boys, he is dressed in a grey tunic, brown pants and weathered boots. His face nearly matches his worn boots, and is covered in a long beard. His voice is rugged You were successful, and you have brought me something.

After Boromil gives one of the eggs to Ladislav, and two to Borisu, the pair finally part ways. Boromil approaches the home. His mother is weaving Garlic into ropes for drying and storage. The girls, and Sobislav are standing by the door quietly. Boromil presents the eggs to his mother. Slavista smiles proudly. We cannot wait to hear your story at dinner, girls take the eggs carefully and wash them. We will eat one tonight. Then she turns back to Boromil. Since you are already dirty, go clean the swine pens. When you are done, you can get cleaned up for dinner.

Boromil could see his father and older brother Dragan scything hay in the fields. Each pass their blades a smooth rythym, small blades of grass flying in the air. They were covered in it. This was the first day of cutting. Boromil knew that he and the rest of his family would in the fields tomorrow bundling the hay, which would be left in the fields to dry. The next 3-4 weeks was going to be all about the haying. If he had been unsuccessful today, he would have had to wait an entire year to get a fresh Garganorn egg.

Boromil's body hurt all the way through his afternoon chores, but the day passed quickly. While he washed the grime of the day away he started to smell wonderful things from his home. Sitting up to the table with the family his mother presented the family with a special treat. On a large round wooden platter was the egg, cooked gently, it's yoke bright amber, surrounded by white, taking up half the platter. Surrounding the platter were small sausages, fried potatoes with onions, tomatoes, freshly sliced bread and roast garlic. A prayer was said to the Leshi, the forest spirits and to their master Svyatobor who provided for hunters and those in need. Then the feast began.



Boromil recounted the tale of his hunt to his family, all listened, rejoiced and giggled. As the meal wound down, and the family sipped their tea and your father his vodka. He looked to Boromil. You did well today son. You assessed the problem, gathered allies and achieved your goal. Upon your return, you payed proper tribute to our people by giving a portion to Ladislav to dedicate.

You have proven you can hunt......................... tomorrow you shall start your training as a Warrior.


OOC
Boromil took 3 hp subdual damage from the Garganorn attack.