General Information: A PbP 5E D&D campaign for 3-4 players, new players and veterans are welcome. New characters begin at first level. Race and class options are restricted only to the Player's Handbook (dragonborn are not available for this campaign). Ability scores can be determined by using standard array or point buy. Advancement will be achieved through milestones. If you are interested, please post a character concept including name, race, class, and background. Furthermore, please include a brief answer to the question: Why are you a guardian? Please consider the information in the Campaign Setting Information section below. This thread will be open for about 48 hours and then close. Final invitations will be sent via a PM.
How I Roll: I like structure and organization. Generally, I want people to take turns and detail their actions only for their own character. Hopefully this creates a flow of character actions followed by a post by me that summarizes the events and the results. This tends to mean that players need to commit to posting regularly enough that the group doesn't have to wait a long time for their turn. Usually, we'll establish a rule for how long we'll wait for one person before just moving on. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. This is my first time doing a PbP on D&D Beyond, but I have played in several PbP games in the past.
Campaign Setting Information: Something dark and alien emerged from the Gridori Forest. Caught unawares, the elves of the forest were devastated by a sudden quake and shadow creatures captured their children. Desperate for help, the elves summoned you, the Guardians, heroes from lands far and near. Uniting against this darkness will turn rivals into allies, and the power of dormant gods will be sought to fight the corruption of the land.
Lands and Peoples
Gridori Forest: A lush and vibrant forest that stretches across the central parts of the continent. Some parts are dark and void while other parts teaming with life. The northern forests are home to the sun elves, and their kin, the moon elves live in the distant southern forest. The wood elves belong to the central parts of the Gridori forest. Forest gnomes live in harmony with the northern sun elves, both share a keen interest in magic. Tetna Riverlands: In the south-east region of the continent, where the land meets the sea, lies the fertile river lands of Tetna. Humans have settled this region. They've built cities, farming communities, and trading posts all throughout the land. Many other races have come to live in the comfort of the river lands including halflings and hill dwarves. Maha Islands: In the southernmost reaches of the continent are a chain of islands called Maha. These islands are sparsely populated by tribes of half-orc seafarers. Gopmara Swamp: Many are wary of the southwestern swamp of Gopmara. It is the home of the secluded and suspicious dark elves. Koatel Desert: The shifting sand dunes and constant heat of the far west make up the Koatel Desert. A clan of outcast nomads called Tieflings reside here. Aerith Tundra: The white winds and snow of the north are home to few. Some brawny tribes of mountain dwarves and humans live here. Ximesi Mountains: The north east is a place of high mountains and rocky valleys. It is the homeland of the mountain dwarves and rock gnomes who live in their grand halls of stone.
Humans: Most prevalent in the Tetna Riverlands, scattered tribes live in all other regions. Humans tend to enjoy commerce, politics, and independent thinking. Elves: Reside in the forests. Sun elves in the north; Moon elves in the south; Wood elves in the center; Dark Elves in the Gopmara Swamp. Elves tend to have a powerful reverence for nature and knowledge. Dwarves: Mountain dwarves mostly stay in the Ximesi Mountains, but have many settlements in the Aerith Tundra. Mountain dwarves have a strong appreciation for stonework, old traditions, and communal thinking. Halflings: Halflings tend to live in Riverland communities alongside humans. There are some halfling villages in the forests as well. Halflings are much like humans in that they enjoy commerce and independent thinking, but don't care much for politics. Half-Elves: Half-Elves tend to live in either their elven home place or in small human communities that have ties to the elves. Half-Orcs: Orcs are from the coastal and regions of the south. Some orc tribes have mixed with the human settlements there thus producing a breed of strong seafaring folk. Tieflings: Nomadic desert dwelling people, Tieflings tend to stick together and rarely leave their desert tribes. Gnomes: Forest gnomes covet knowledge and nature and get along well with elves and thus live in the forests alongside them. Rock gnomes like to tinker and craft; thus, they desire the natural resources found inside the mountains and have grown closely tied to mountain dwarves.
Deities
Gridori, sage of the forests. Deity of Life and Air. Takes the form of a unicorn. Ximesi, sage of mountains. Deity of Light and Fire. Takes the form of a phoenix. Maha, sage of islands. Deity of Tempest and Water. Takes the form of a giant fish. Gopmara, sage of swamps. Deity of Trickery and Shadow. Takes the form of a giant toad. Koatel, sage of deserts. Deity of Knowledge and Time. Takes the form of a sphinx. Tetna, sage of riverlands. Deity of War and Earth. Takes the form of a lyger. Aerith, sage of tundras. Deity of Death and Ice. Takes the form of a dragon.
Thanks for considering joining the game!
INTRODUCTION:
The elf known as Lore stands amid a crowd of restless wood elf villagers. He’s heavy for a wood elf, stalky and broad shouldered with a large forehead, balled head and squinty glowing green eyes. A cream-colored cloak covers his body, one hand protruding from it only slightly to lean on a cane made of redwood. Even as the Guardians arrive, and the crowd of wood elves churn, murmur, and cheer Lore is silent and stoic.
Some guards usher the present guardians into a chamber, they’re each offered a seat at a finely crafted long wood table. After being served a cup of cold dew tea to fight the summer heat, the wood elf servants vacate the room leaving the guardians alone with Lore. A beat of silence builds tension, and Lore speaks “Guardians. Let us begin.” His voice is soothing, yet grave. “First, questions. Second, plans. Third, action.” He leans forward to listen.
Class: Paladin of Ximesi, sage of mountains deity of light and fire!
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: The mountains filled with her family and people hold great ties to Lucinda but the call of adventure became too loud to ignore. The young paladin of Ximesi, sage of mountains deity of light and fire, inspired her to look beyond her mountain to offer her strength and aid to others.
Why are you a guardian? Having only recently left her clan and joined the Guardians she is eager to prove herself and rid the land of the rising evil!
Link to character sheet via the builder. I used point buy but will roll if necessary! Jinx
My name is Grimshade. I know what you're thinking; a half-orc rogue who grew up an urchin, fighting and stealing on the streets of a human city, is an unlikely candidate for a hero. Don't let my brutish appearance and gruff terseness fool you. I'm smarter than many assume. And, though I made my way as a thief, living in the shadows, using brawn and intimidation as much as stealth, I owe much to a priest of Gridori who saw good in me. He gave me guidance and mercy when I needed it most. Mine was not an easy life, but I became determined to channel my natural orcish rage into something good, if not lawful. I became a protector of the poor, mistreated, and forgotten children of the streets against the abuses of the powerful. To become a guardian is to answer an even higher calling.
Background: (Former Noble) Faral has never truly fit in with the others of her village. Born weak and frail, her skin a sickly white, it was believed that the poor child would never survive through the winter. Yet, she did. As she aged, color came to the pale child, though she always seemed muted compared to the others of her village. She was quite and polite and never caused much of a fuss about anything. The girl instead tended quietly observe rather then act, head tilted to the side as if something was whispering in her ear. With her strange appearance and odd behavior, she was quickly made an outcast. Leading quite a lonely life, she embraced the strange voice as a friend. It was a constant companion always with her through most of her life. She would later make a pact with the voice eager to be accepted by the other elves who could use magic. Her parents however were horrified to learn what the girl had done and when she refused to break the pact they exiled her.
Why am I a guardian? After not gaining the love she sought from her family after she made her pact. Faral and the voice wandered around and took to protecting the outcasts and the downtrodden of the world. Hearing of the Guardians, Faral decided to try to join the group to protect the weak and prove, even if only to herself, that her powers are a gift not a mistake.
Backstory: Dmitrei grew up in the harsh snowy climate of the Aerith Tundra. His family was the local villages leathermaker. His dad would hunt the animals with his older brothers and then come home where his mom would turn it into shields, armor, clothing, whatever was needed. It was a simple life but Dmitrei always knew he was destined to do more. One day, when Dmitrei was older, he was outside helping his mom prepare the latest catch for leatherwork when he saw a great Snow Owl. He didn't know it at the time but this Snow Owl was actually a Druid who told Dmitrei that one day he would be called upon to fight against the darkness. This Snow Owl; who never reviled its true form taught Dmitrei how to call upon the power of the land to help fight against the darkness. When news reached the Aerith Tundra that the darkness has risen Dmitrei knew it was his time. He left home to fulfill his destiny.
Why are you a guardian: From a young age he was told that he was destined to help fight against the darkness. As soon as he heard there was trouble with the Darkness he rushed down to help the elves and fulfill his destiny.
Background: (Pirate). "Born into a bad life is no excuse to follow it." That's what Thokk heard as he walked to the noose, but that comes later in his story. Not the end, but later. Thokk was born into the life of pirates. His mother being the most feared pirate captain that has come to live. His father was an honest fisher man that his mother had fallen for, he never knew the man, he died. That death was the one that pushed a desperate mother to piracy, but boy did she have a knack for it. In a matter of years she had amassed a fleet of 5 ships and a steadfast loyal crew, all of which where considered family. Thokk's childhood was.......different to say the least. While other children played games like tag, he learned to tie knots. While others went to school, he wrestled with his many cousins. His Aunts and Uncles taught him lots of things since his mother was the captain, though his mother was still his mother, and always made some time form him to read stories. He loved story time, so much he would often wonder the ship at night, going into cabins that where still awake to have them tell stories. They would always put what they where doing aside and tell him stories until he fell asleep, then carry him to his bed. He had an amazing childhood, full of learning, fun, and a big family. When he came of age, he fought alongside with his family. Capturing ships, looting them, and finding treasure. His mother wanted as little violence as possible, wanting to save others from the pain she endured. Over the years his family grew, he did loose some though, and the amount of ships increased to eight. That's when betrayal struck them in the back, when they went to their hideout, one of his cousins had turned out to be a pirate hunter, and he brought hell fire upon them. A wall of ships firing unto the hideout, killing anything they could. Thokk was one of 10 survivors, one being his mother. They killed her right in front of him. Then came the waiting, then the march, the thrown food and rock, and seeing the last of his family being hanged. When his turn came, the mayor stepped forward. He said I was to be spared and let my families death be a warning to all other pirates. Thokk later found out why he lived, they couldn't find where the treasure was hidden and needed his directions.
Why is Thokk a gaurdian: If you ask Thokk why he became a guardian, he'd probably say, "Someone had too". Thokk had wandered for a few years and in those wanderings he had seen many things. Unhonorable people that killed because they loved the pain it brought others. People that stole other people and sold them. People that stole in broad daylight, and threatened death to the children of anyone that tried to stop them. He saw these things and sought to fix them. Those that killed for pleasure soon found that the receiving end wasn't so fun. Those that sold people where soon sold into a fighting ring against many horrors. Those that tried to control people by fear, soon felt true fear on a deep level. Thokk will continue this, thought that doesn't mean Thokk wont sometimes take a sew apples or try to get a few drinks for free, it is how was raised after all.
Thanks, i enjoy writing and it gets a little out of hand with my characters. This one was made up on the spot, you should see the ones that have a week of thought behind them. Multiple pages. Yours is really unique and interesting, especially with a bard using a maul, not even i could conceive that.
Sitting down at the wood-carved table the human stands out for two reasons. One, he is the only human guardian here; the others being a dwarf, half-orc, and an elf. Two, despite it being summer he is wearing a heavy leather and fur jacket, some snow boots with fur trimming, and you can see some heavy leather gloves sticking out of his pocket. The only noticeable weapons on his is a shortbow strapped to his back and a dagger sheathed around his waist. Dmitrei Snowhunter comes from the Aerith Tundra; a place of eternal cold and snow. He is not used to this heat; he hates this heat. When offered the cool drink he gladly takes it and swallows almost all of it in one swig
"Ahhhh... Thanks, I needed that. I guess introductions are in order. I'm Dmitrei Snowhunter from Aerith. My family owns a leather shop up there and it has always been my destiny to be a Guardian. So, let us begin to fight the darkness."
Dmitrei says with an excited smile on his face as he turns to his fellow Guardians, who he doesn't know too well yet, and waits for them to introduce themselves.
I glance around the table at the others. 'Another half-orc, nice not be the only one. The man in thick clothing said something about his destiny, great another one of those people.' After seeing those two a feeling of panic fell over him, the rest were female, all of them attractive, and two of them carrying large weapons. 'What was it Aunt Marie said.....shit. Treat with respect, don't hit, buy nice things, run errands, wait no that was for her. Welp, time to wing it.' I stand up from my seat and hope my kilt doesn't have any tares.
"I am Thokk" I say, then I sit. I start to fumble with the leather straps that hold my weapons, making sure there tight, and freaking out in my mind.
Faen sat quietly at the table, a light crossbow was slung over the back of her chair. She is staring intently at the table as she moves her hands from the table to her lap and back to the table again, unsure of what to do with them. Her short black hair is a stark contrast to her milky white skin, that itself was covered in freckles. She wears plain leather armor over soft gray robes. Her attention is shifted to the drink that is set in front of her. She blinks, staring at the dark liquid for a few seconds before tilting her head to the side. 'Drink it' A voice within her mind says, snapping her out of the daze. She quickly picks up the drink and takes a large gulp, before coughing and sputtering as the unfamiliar bitter liquid burns her throat. 'Ha ha ha, oh dear Faen you never fail to amuse me.' The voice chuckles. 'Bastion.' she whines. Her attention is then drawn away once more, this time by the group of people she is sitting with. Introductions. She waits until the large half-orc is finished and then stands herself.
"Hello. Good morrow, or noon, or eve, or whatever time of day it is. My name is Faral Hanali, but I much prefer to be called Faen. I am- uh- well you see-um," She begins to stutter, her wide green eyes begin darting back and forth.
"Well I like to read, and write, and I can do magic." She says the last part a little to loudly, drawing a bit more attention to herself. Blushing she sits back down, fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves.
"Its nice to meet you all." She mumbles, wincing slightly as the voice cackles.
"Hello friends! My name is Lucinda Brightwell faithful servant of Ximesi. You can call me Jinx a nickname you'll soon find out is fitting for our enemies luck," says the firey red haired mountain dwarf. Jinx is tall for a dwarf with fair freckled skin and large green eyes. The young dwarf is wearing new armour but beams with a battle ready confidence that's contagious. "Please Lore do go on," she adds smiling at the wood elf before looking at her new companions with a curiously lifted eyebrow as she sips the elvish tea.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Lore’s gaze never lifts as the Guardians speak. He merely listens and contemplates. To some it may be obvious that the wood elf is stricken with grief. To others, he’s a contemplative ancient. Regardless, Lore pursues his position of questions, plan, and then action. The hand resting near his redwood cane comes up to brush away a loose strand of gray hair from his face. Similar to many of the wood elves in his village, he has long shoulder-length hair.
“Darkness,” he begins “What is it? Each of you bares the mark of the Guardian, you’ve faced darkness before. What did you do?”
For a moment, we flashback in time. There was a moment in each of your character’s lives when they “faced the darkness.” This was a critical moment for him or her, a grave trial of some kind. Being a Guardian means your character has been chosen by a deity to fight against darkness. Maybe your character isn’t sure why she or he was chosen, or maybe they don’t even know which deity gave them their Guardian mark. The mark can be literal (like a tattoo or scar) or figurative. Feel free to respond briefly or in detail.
Hearing Lore ask about his mark Dmitrei audibly shivers just that memory is enough to make him cold; not an easy thing to make someone from the Tundra do. When everyone notices his audible shiver Dmitrei will speak up.
"Simply put. I had to survive. I was 20 at the time. I was sent into the Tundra to do some hunting for my mother. Normally my Dad and brothers go but they left to sell some of our goods in the closest big town. It started as a clear day, I even used some magic to predict the weather before I left, but that didn't matter. A couple hours into the hunt and I found myself in the worst blizzard I've ever seen. I was able to find and hide away in a cave. I used what little magic I learned from my mentor to stay alive and stave off the cold. The fire was no match for this cold. It felt like death itself was trying to steal away all source of heat and light from me. It felt like I had been trapped in this blizzard for days. Just as I was about to pass out from the sheer exhaustion of trying to stave off the cold I swear I saw something. It looked almost like a dragon. When I came to I was back home. My mom said that when I didn't come back before my Dad and brothers they went out searching for me. They found me passed out in the snow bank something clutched in my hand."
Dmitrei will then pull out his Druidic Totem.
"It's a totem carved out of Ice that never melts. It depicts a Dragon overseeing a Polar Bear; the animal of my family. However, that's not the mark simply a gift."
Dmitrei will then close his eyes and when he reopens them they are no longer the Steel Gray they normally are but instead an Icy Blue.
"This is the mark that Aerith gave me."
Dmitrei will then give a big laugh at the end of the story
"Of course, I knew I was going to survive. My mentor always told me I was destined to help fight against the darkness."
Still without looking at the northerner, Lore replies "Aerith blesses the isolated and the independent. Your resourcefulness, perseverance, and wisdom will prove most necessary in the coming journey, Guardian Snowhunter." The wood elf leans forward, picks up his cold dew tea and takes a light sip. Even in the summer heat his patience is unwavering as he awaits the other guardian's stories.
Faen rubs her left shoulder,where underneath her clothes is a strange symbol scarred to her flesh.
"I'm not to sure honestly. I was wandering through the forest after I left my old village when I came across a man. He was dressed in so many robes it was a wonder he could walk through the undergrowth. It was so strange, he spoke in riddles and he kinda smelt like mushrooms that used to grow near the little swamp by my old house. Anyway when I came upon him, he asked me to play a game of dragonchess with he. What a strange place to play a game, but for some reason I felt that I couldn't deny him. So we played and we talked. I won, surprisingly and he gave me one of the chess pieces." She reaches into her pouch and pulls out an glass chess piece, setting it on the table. The piece gleams in to light, a closer look would reveal it to be a pawn piece shaped in the visage of a toad.
"He disappeared the second I took my eyes off him. The next morning I woke to searing pain in my left shoulder and found a strange symbol had been carved into it. Bastion told me that it meant I was chosen and to seek out others like myself."
Thokk leaves his face emotionless, "I found a child being kidnapped. It was during my travels. I found out the child had been sold, so I found the man that sold the child, and sold him. Remember, in a fight of man vs basalisk, it's good to put money on basalisk." As Thokk says this a small smile grows on his face, "I will bring this Justice to all who cross the line."
"Traveling near the swamps always invites... interesting company." Lore replies to the moon elf, the faintest hint of humor in his wizened voice. "The kin of the great toad are unpredictable and cunning. A trait certainly necessary for driving back the ever growing darkness." The wood elf pauses to listen to Thokk's story. As the half-orc finishes, there is but a moment of silence before he speaks. "Justice. A noble pursuit under the right cause. I hope this ideal grants you strength in the days to come, Guardian Thokk. A sage has surely granted you its blessing." The old elf nods, and all wait for the dwarven guardian to tell her story.
"The darkness," Jinx begins with a heavy sigh and she loses the smile that seemed permanently among her pretty dwarven features. The confidence too seems to ebb as she continues to speak her tone low. "The darkness came in the form of a sickness to my mountain turning many of our elders against us," she adds with yet another sigh smoothing the braided mass of fiery red hair. "Although this happened long before I was born I grew up under the shadow of this calamity and by the grace of Ximesi I studied to be a warrior against the darkness. Ximesi has plans for me as I know for all of us within our faiths to help rid our lands of this darkness,” she finishes.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Setting his tea gently on the table, Lore nods as Jinx finishes her story. "The phoenix burns bright in your soul, guardian. Keep the fire lit, and Ximesi's blessing will endure." For the first time since the Guardians arrival, Lore looks up. His squinting eyes scan the faces before him. There is something enchanting about them. A soft green that seems to see beyond the immediate world.
"Ages ago, I was tasked with this same quest. Gridori, the sage of the forest, granted me a power to fight against the darkness. I was a guardian. My eyes are my mark." The wood elf brings a hand to his strong chin and rests it there. "Our world is no stranger to darkness. Stories of heroes have been told in every culture across the land since time immemorial. At some point darkness always comes, and the Guardians face it. Darkness is a powerful and terrible foe. Can the four of you face it all alone? There are others like you, other Guardians. Perhaps you should seek them out, there is strength in numbers. I have some contacts who can direct you to them. Furthermore, the gods of old hold much influence over this world, but many of their ancient temples have been abandoned and lost for some time. Many old and magical artifacts remain deep within them. I've kept an old map that details where the forest temple is, should you wish to visit it. I'm afraid that's about all I can offer."
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Guardians of Gridori
[Recruitment Closed]
General Information: A PbP 5E D&D campaign for 3-4 players, new players and veterans are welcome. New characters begin at first level. Race and class options are restricted only to the Player's Handbook (dragonborn are not available for this campaign). Ability scores can be determined by using standard array or point buy. Advancement will be achieved through milestones. If you are interested, please post a character concept including name, race, class, and background. Furthermore, please include a brief answer to the question: Why are you a guardian? Please consider the information in the Campaign Setting Information section below. This thread will be open for about 48 hours and then close. Final invitations will be sent via a PM.
How I Roll: I like structure and organization. Generally, I want people to take turns and detail their actions only for their own character. Hopefully this creates a flow of character actions followed by a post by me that summarizes the events and the results. This tends to mean that players need to commit to posting regularly enough that the group doesn't have to wait a long time for their turn. Usually, we'll establish a rule for how long we'll wait for one person before just moving on. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. This is my first time doing a PbP on D&D Beyond, but I have played in several PbP games in the past.
Campaign Setting Information: Something dark and alien emerged from the Gridori Forest. Caught unawares, the elves of the forest were devastated by a sudden quake and shadow creatures captured their children. Desperate for help, the elves summoned you, the Guardians, heroes from lands far and near. Uniting against this darkness will turn rivals into allies, and the power of dormant gods will be sought to fight the corruption of the land.
Lands and Peoples
Gridori Forest: A lush and vibrant forest that stretches across the central parts of the continent. Some parts are dark and void while other parts teaming with life. The northern forests are home to the sun elves, and their kin, the moon elves live in the distant southern forest. The wood elves belong to the central parts of the Gridori forest. Forest gnomes live in harmony with the northern sun elves, both share a keen interest in magic.
Tetna Riverlands: In the south-east region of the continent, where the land meets the sea, lies the fertile river lands of Tetna. Humans have settled this region. They've built cities, farming communities, and trading posts all throughout the land. Many other races have come to live in the comfort of the river lands including halflings and hill dwarves.
Maha Islands: In the southernmost reaches of the continent are a chain of islands called Maha. These islands are sparsely populated by tribes of half-orc seafarers.
Gopmara Swamp: Many are wary of the southwestern swamp of Gopmara. It is the home of the secluded and suspicious dark elves.
Koatel Desert: The shifting sand dunes and constant heat of the far west make up the Koatel Desert. A clan of outcast nomads called Tieflings reside here.
Aerith Tundra: The white winds and snow of the north are home to few. Some brawny tribes of mountain dwarves and humans live here.
Ximesi Mountains: The north east is a place of high mountains and rocky valleys. It is the homeland of the mountain dwarves and rock gnomes who live in their grand halls of stone.
Humans: Most prevalent in the Tetna Riverlands, scattered tribes live in all other regions. Humans tend to enjoy commerce, politics, and independent thinking.
Elves: Reside in the forests. Sun elves in the north; Moon elves in the south; Wood elves in the center; Dark Elves in the Gopmara Swamp. Elves tend to have a powerful reverence for nature and knowledge.
Dwarves: Mountain dwarves mostly stay in the Ximesi Mountains, but have many settlements in the Aerith Tundra. Mountain dwarves have a strong appreciation for stonework, old traditions, and communal thinking.
Halflings: Halflings tend to live in Riverland communities alongside humans. There are some halfling villages in the forests as well. Halflings are much like humans in that they enjoy commerce and independent thinking, but don't care much for politics.
Half-Elves: Half-Elves tend to live in either their elven home place or in small human communities that have ties to the elves.
Half-Orcs: Orcs are from the coastal and regions of the south. Some orc tribes have mixed with the human settlements there thus producing a breed of strong seafaring folk.
Tieflings: Nomadic desert dwelling people, Tieflings tend to stick together and rarely leave their desert tribes.
Gnomes: Forest gnomes covet knowledge and nature and get along well with elves and thus live in the forests alongside them. Rock gnomes like to tinker and craft; thus, they desire the natural resources found inside the mountains and have grown closely tied to mountain dwarves.
Deities
Gridori, sage of the forests. Deity of Life and Air. Takes the form of a unicorn.
Ximesi, sage of mountains. Deity of Light and Fire. Takes the form of a phoenix.
Maha, sage of islands. Deity of Tempest and Water. Takes the form of a giant fish.
Gopmara, sage of swamps. Deity of Trickery and Shadow. Takes the form of a giant toad.
Koatel, sage of deserts. Deity of Knowledge and Time. Takes the form of a sphinx.
Tetna, sage of riverlands. Deity of War and Earth. Takes the form of a lyger.
Aerith, sage of tundras. Deity of Death and Ice. Takes the form of a dragon.
Thanks for considering joining the game!
INTRODUCTION:
The elf known as Lore stands amid a crowd of restless wood elf villagers. He’s heavy for a wood elf, stalky and broad shouldered with a large forehead, balled head and squinty glowing green eyes. A cream-colored cloak covers his body, one hand protruding from it only slightly to lean on a cane made of redwood. Even as the Guardians arrive, and the crowd of wood elves churn, murmur, and cheer Lore is silent and stoic.
Some guards usher the present guardians into a chamber, they’re each offered a seat at a finely crafted long wood table. After being served a cup of cold dew tea to fight the summer heat, the wood elf servants vacate the room leaving the guardians alone with Lore. A beat of silence builds tension, and Lore speaks “Guardians. Let us begin.” His voice is soothing, yet grave. “First, questions. Second, plans. Third, action.” He leans forward to listen.
Name: Lucinda "Jinx" Brightwell
Race: Mountain Dwarf
Class: Paladin of Ximesi, sage of mountains deity of light and fire!
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: The mountains filled with her family and people hold great ties to Lucinda but the call of adventure became too loud to ignore. The young paladin of Ximesi, sage of mountains deity of light and fire, inspired her to look beyond her mountain to offer her strength and aid to others.
Why are you a guardian? Having only recently left her clan and joined the Guardians she is eager to prove herself and rid the land of the rising evil!
Link to character sheet via the builder. I used point buy but will roll if necessary! Jinx
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
My name is Grimshade. I know what you're thinking; a half-orc rogue who grew up an urchin, fighting and stealing on the streets of a human city, is an unlikely candidate for a hero. Don't let my brutish appearance and gruff terseness fool you. I'm smarter than many assume. And, though I made my way as a thief, living in the shadows, using brawn and intimidation as much as stealth, I owe much to a priest of Gridori who saw good in me. He gave me guidance and mercy when I needed it most. Mine was not an easy life, but I became determined to channel my natural orcish rage into something good, if not lawful. I became a protector of the poor, mistreated, and forgotten children of the streets against the abuses of the powerful. To become a guardian is to answer an even higher calling.
Character Sheet
Name: Faral "Faen" Hanali
Race: Moon elf
Class: Warlock(The Fiend)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Background: (Former Noble) Faral has never truly fit in with the others of her village. Born weak and frail, her skin a sickly white, it was believed that the poor child would never survive through the winter. Yet, she did. As she aged, color came to the pale child, though she always seemed muted compared to the others of her village. She was quite and polite and never caused much of a fuss about anything. The girl instead tended quietly observe rather then act, head tilted to the side as if something was whispering in her ear. With her strange appearance and odd behavior, she was quickly made an outcast. Leading quite a lonely life, she embraced the strange voice as a friend. It was a constant companion always with her through most of her life. She would later make a pact with the voice eager to be accepted by the other elves who could use magic. Her parents however were horrified to learn what the girl had done and when she refused to break the pact they exiled her.
Why am I a guardian? After not gaining the love she sought from her family after she made her pact. Faral and the voice wandered around and took to protecting the outcasts and the downtrodden of the world. Hearing of the Guardians, Faral decided to try to join the group to protect the weak and prove, even if only to herself, that her powers are a gift not a mistake.
Avery Highdale-Halfling Rogue(Thief) Lv.3
Penelope Skyshatter-Dragonborn Sorcerer(Draconic Bloodline) Lv.2
Red Skies in Mourning: DM
Volqelli Ryxu- Drow Wizard(Conjuration School)/Rogue Lv. 13
Name: Dmitrei Snowhunter
Race: Human
Class: Druid
Alignment: Neutral
Background: Folk Hero
Backstory: Dmitrei grew up in the harsh snowy climate of the Aerith Tundra. His family was the local villages leathermaker. His dad would hunt the animals with his older brothers and then come home where his mom would turn it into shields, armor, clothing, whatever was needed. It was a simple life but Dmitrei always knew he was destined to do more. One day, when Dmitrei was older, he was outside helping his mom prepare the latest catch for leatherwork when he saw a great Snow Owl. He didn't know it at the time but this Snow Owl was actually a Druid who told Dmitrei that one day he would be called upon to fight against the darkness. This Snow Owl; who never reviled its true form taught Dmitrei how to call upon the power of the land to help fight against the darkness. When news reached the Aerith Tundra that the darkness has risen Dmitrei knew it was his time. He left home to fulfill his destiny.
Why are you a guardian: From a young age he was told that he was destined to help fight against the darkness. As soon as he heard there was trouble with the Darkness he rushed down to help the elves and fulfill his destiny.
Link to PDF Character Sheet (Spells Approved): Dmitrei Snowhunter
(sorry for the novel, i hope you let me join)
Name: Thokk
Race: Half-Orc
Class: Barbarian
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Background: (Pirate). "Born into a bad life is no excuse to follow it." That's what Thokk heard as he walked to the noose, but that comes later in his story. Not the end, but later. Thokk was born into the life of pirates. His mother being the most feared pirate captain that has come to live. His father was an honest fisher man that his mother had fallen for, he never knew the man, he died. That death was the one that pushed a desperate mother to piracy, but boy did she have a knack for it. In a matter of years she had amassed a fleet of 5 ships and a steadfast loyal crew, all of which where considered family. Thokk's childhood was.......different to say the least. While other children played games like tag, he learned to tie knots. While others went to school, he wrestled with his many cousins. His Aunts and Uncles taught him lots of things since his mother was the captain, though his mother was still his mother, and always made some time form him to read stories. He loved story time, so much he would often wonder the ship at night, going into cabins that where still awake to have them tell stories. They would always put what they where doing aside and tell him stories until he fell asleep, then carry him to his bed. He had an amazing childhood, full of learning, fun, and a big family. When he came of age, he fought alongside with his family. Capturing ships, looting them, and finding treasure. His mother wanted as little violence as possible, wanting to save others from the pain she endured. Over the years his family grew, he did loose some though, and the amount of ships increased to eight. That's when betrayal struck them in the back, when they went to their hideout, one of his cousins had turned out to be a pirate hunter, and he brought hell fire upon them. A wall of ships firing unto the hideout, killing anything they could. Thokk was one of 10 survivors, one being his mother. They killed her right in front of him. Then came the waiting, then the march, the thrown food and rock, and seeing the last of his family being hanged. When his turn came, the mayor stepped forward. He said I was to be spared and let my families death be a warning to all other pirates. Thokk later found out why he lived, they couldn't find where the treasure was hidden and needed his directions.
Why is Thokk a gaurdian: If you ask Thokk why he became a guardian, he'd probably say, "Someone had too". Thokk had wandered for a few years and in those wanderings he had seen many things. Unhonorable people that killed because they loved the pain it brought others. People that stole other people and sold them. People that stole in broad daylight, and threatened death to the children of anyone that tried to stop them. He saw these things and sought to fix them. Those that killed for pleasure soon found that the receiving end wasn't so fun. Those that sold people where soon sold into a fighting ring against many horrors. Those that tried to control people by fear, soon felt true fear on a deep level. Thokk will continue this, thought that doesn't mean Thokk wont sometimes take a sew apples or try to get a few drinks for free, it is how was raised after all.
Myron Craw- Isles of Famine
Thanks, i enjoy writing and it gets a little out of hand with my characters. This one was made up on the spot, you should see the ones that have a week of thought behind them. Multiple pages. Yours is really unique and interesting, especially with a bard using a maul, not even i could conceive that.
Myron Craw- Isles of Famine
I just realized that three secounds ago. Rad. *some one sees this and makes dnd batman.*
Myron Craw- Isles of Famine
Sitting down at the wood-carved table the human stands out for two reasons. One, he is the only human guardian here; the others being a dwarf, half-orc, and an elf. Two, despite it being summer he is wearing a heavy leather and fur jacket, some snow boots with fur trimming, and you can see some heavy leather gloves sticking out of his pocket. The only noticeable weapons on his is a shortbow strapped to his back and a dagger sheathed around his waist. Dmitrei Snowhunter comes from the Aerith Tundra; a place of eternal cold and snow. He is not used to this heat; he hates this heat. When offered the cool drink he gladly takes it and swallows almost all of it in one swig
"Ahhhh... Thanks, I needed that. I guess introductions are in order. I'm Dmitrei Snowhunter from Aerith. My family owns a leather shop up there and it has always been my destiny to be a Guardian. So, let us begin to fight the darkness."
Dmitrei says with an excited smile on his face as he turns to his fellow Guardians, who he doesn't know too well yet, and waits for them to introduce themselves.
I glance around the table at the others. 'Another half-orc, nice not be the only one. The man in thick clothing said something about his destiny, great another one of those people.' After seeing those two a feeling of panic fell over him, the rest were female, all of them attractive, and two of them carrying large weapons. 'What was it Aunt Marie said.....shit. Treat with respect, don't hit, buy nice things, run errands, wait no that was for her. Welp, time to wing it.' I stand up from my seat and hope my kilt doesn't have any tares.
"I am Thokk" I say, then I sit. I start to fumble with the leather straps that hold my weapons, making sure there tight, and freaking out in my mind.
Myron Craw- Isles of Famine
Faen sat quietly at the table, a light crossbow was slung over the back of her chair. She is staring intently at the table as she moves her hands from the table to her lap and back to the table again, unsure of what to do with them. Her short black hair is a stark contrast to her milky white skin, that itself was covered in freckles. She wears plain leather armor over soft gray robes. Her attention is shifted to the drink that is set in front of her. She blinks, staring at the dark liquid for a few seconds before tilting her head to the side. 'Drink it' A voice within her mind says, snapping her out of the daze. She quickly picks up the drink and takes a large gulp, before coughing and sputtering as the unfamiliar bitter liquid burns her throat. 'Ha ha ha, oh dear Faen you never fail to amuse me.' The voice chuckles. 'Bastion.' she whines. Her attention is then drawn away once more, this time by the group of people she is sitting with. Introductions. She waits until the large half-orc is finished and then stands herself.
"Hello. Good morrow, or noon, or eve, or whatever time of day it is. My name is Faral Hanali, but I much prefer to be called Faen. I am- uh- well you see-um," She begins to stutter, her wide green eyes begin darting back and forth.
"Well I like to read, and write, and I can do magic." She says the last part a little to loudly, drawing a bit more attention to herself. Blushing she sits back down, fidgeting with the ends of her sleeves.
"Its nice to meet you all." She mumbles, wincing slightly as the voice cackles.
Avery Highdale-Halfling Rogue(Thief) Lv.3
Penelope Skyshatter-Dragonborn Sorcerer(Draconic Bloodline) Lv.2
Red Skies in Mourning: DM
Volqelli Ryxu- Drow Wizard(Conjuration School)/Rogue Lv. 13
"Hello friends! My name is Lucinda Brightwell faithful servant of Ximesi. You can call me Jinx a nickname you'll soon find out is fitting for our enemies luck," says the firey red haired mountain dwarf. Jinx is tall for a dwarf with fair freckled skin and large green eyes. The young dwarf is wearing new armour but beams with a battle ready confidence that's contagious. "Please Lore do go on," she adds smiling at the wood elf before looking at her new companions with a curiously lifted eyebrow as she sips the elvish tea.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Lore’s gaze never lifts as the Guardians speak. He merely listens and contemplates. To some it may be obvious that the wood elf is stricken with grief. To others, he’s a contemplative ancient. Regardless, Lore pursues his position of questions, plan, and then action. The hand resting near his redwood cane comes up to brush away a loose strand of gray hair from his face. Similar to many of the wood elves in his village, he has long shoulder-length hair.
“Darkness,” he begins “What is it? Each of you bares the mark of the Guardian, you’ve faced darkness before. What did you do?”
For a moment, we flashback in time. There was a moment in each of your character’s lives when they “faced the darkness.” This was a critical moment for him or her, a grave trial of some kind. Being a Guardian means your character has been chosen by a deity to fight against darkness. Maybe your character isn’t sure why she or he was chosen, or maybe they don’t even know which deity gave them their Guardian mark. The mark can be literal (like a tattoo or scar) or figurative. Feel free to respond briefly or in detail.
Hearing Lore ask about his mark Dmitrei audibly shivers just that memory is enough to make him cold; not an easy thing to make someone from the Tundra do. When everyone notices his audible shiver Dmitrei will speak up.
"Simply put. I had to survive. I was 20 at the time. I was sent into the Tundra to do some hunting for my mother. Normally my Dad and brothers go but they left to sell some of our goods in the closest big town. It started as a clear day, I even used some magic to predict the weather before I left, but that didn't matter. A couple hours into the hunt and I found myself in the worst blizzard I've ever seen. I was able to find and hide away in a cave. I used what little magic I learned from my mentor to stay alive and stave off the cold. The fire was no match for this cold. It felt like death itself was trying to steal away all source of heat and light from me. It felt like I had been trapped in this blizzard for days. Just as I was about to pass out from the sheer exhaustion of trying to stave off the cold I swear I saw something. It looked almost like a dragon. When I came to I was back home. My mom said that when I didn't come back before my Dad and brothers they went out searching for me. They found me passed out in the snow bank something clutched in my hand."
Dmitrei will then pull out his Druidic Totem.
"It's a totem carved out of Ice that never melts. It depicts a Dragon overseeing a Polar Bear; the animal of my family. However, that's not the mark simply a gift."
Dmitrei will then close his eyes and when he reopens them they are no longer the Steel Gray they normally are but instead an Icy Blue.
"This is the mark that Aerith gave me."
Dmitrei will then give a big laugh at the end of the story
"Of course, I knew I was going to survive. My mentor always told me I was destined to help fight against the darkness."
Still without looking at the northerner, Lore replies "Aerith blesses the isolated and the independent. Your resourcefulness, perseverance, and wisdom will prove most necessary in the coming journey, Guardian Snowhunter." The wood elf leans forward, picks up his cold dew tea and takes a light sip. Even in the summer heat his patience is unwavering as he awaits the other guardian's stories.
Faen rubs her left shoulder,where underneath her clothes is a strange symbol scarred to her flesh.
"I'm not to sure honestly. I was wandering through the forest after I left my old village when I came across a man. He was dressed in so many robes it was a wonder he could walk through the undergrowth. It was so strange, he spoke in riddles and he kinda smelt like mushrooms that used to grow near the little swamp by my old house. Anyway when I came upon him, he asked me to play a game of dragonchess with he. What a strange place to play a game, but for some reason I felt that I couldn't deny him. So we played and we talked. I won, surprisingly and he gave me one of the chess pieces." She reaches into her pouch and pulls out an glass chess piece, setting it on the table. The piece gleams in to light, a closer look would reveal it to be a pawn piece shaped in the visage of a toad.
"He disappeared the second I took my eyes off him. The next morning I woke to searing pain in my left shoulder and found a strange symbol had been carved into it. Bastion told me that it meant I was chosen and to seek out others like myself."
Avery Highdale-Halfling Rogue(Thief) Lv.3
Penelope Skyshatter-Dragonborn Sorcerer(Draconic Bloodline) Lv.2
Red Skies in Mourning: DM
Volqelli Ryxu- Drow Wizard(Conjuration School)/Rogue Lv. 13
Thokk leaves his face emotionless, "I found a child being kidnapped. It was during my travels. I found out the child had been sold, so I found the man that sold the child, and sold him. Remember, in a fight of man vs basalisk, it's good to put money on basalisk." As Thokk says this a small smile grows on his face, "I will bring this Justice to all who cross the line."
Myron Craw- Isles of Famine
"Traveling near the swamps always invites... interesting company." Lore replies to the moon elf, the faintest hint of humor in his wizened voice. "The kin of the great toad are unpredictable and cunning. A trait certainly necessary for driving back the ever growing darkness." The wood elf pauses to listen to Thokk's story. As the half-orc finishes, there is but a moment of silence before he speaks. "Justice. A noble pursuit under the right cause. I hope this ideal grants you strength in the days to come, Guardian Thokk. A sage has surely granted you its blessing." The old elf nods, and all wait for the dwarven guardian to tell her story.
"The darkness," Jinx begins with a heavy sigh and she loses the smile that seemed permanently among her pretty dwarven features. The confidence too seems to ebb as she continues to speak her tone low. "The darkness came in the form of a sickness to my mountain turning many of our elders against us," she adds with yet another sigh smoothing the braided mass of fiery red hair. "Although this happened long before I was born I grew up under the shadow of this calamity and by the grace of Ximesi I studied to be a warrior against the darkness. Ximesi has plans for me as I know for all of us within our faiths to help rid our lands of this darkness,” she finishes.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Setting his tea gently on the table, Lore nods as Jinx finishes her story. "The phoenix burns bright in your soul, guardian. Keep the fire lit, and Ximesi's blessing will endure." For the first time since the Guardians arrival, Lore looks up. His squinting eyes scan the faces before him. There is something enchanting about them. A soft green that seems to see beyond the immediate world.
"Ages ago, I was tasked with this same quest. Gridori, the sage of the forest, granted me a power to fight against the darkness. I was a guardian. My eyes are my mark." The wood elf brings a hand to his strong chin and rests it there. "Our world is no stranger to darkness. Stories of heroes have been told in every culture across the land since time immemorial. At some point darkness always comes, and the Guardians face it. Darkness is a powerful and terrible foe. Can the four of you face it all alone? There are others like you, other Guardians. Perhaps you should seek them out, there is strength in numbers. I have some contacts who can direct you to them. Furthermore, the gods of old hold much influence over this world, but many of their ancient temples have been abandoned and lost for some time. Many old and magical artifacts remain deep within them. I've kept an old map that details where the forest temple is, should you wish to visit it. I'm afraid that's about all I can offer."