Perhaps you won it in a pile of treasure in a game of chance. Perhaps it lay, dry and dusty, at the bottom of a bugbear's treasure-chest. Perhaps you finally got around to a long neglected spring cleaning. In any case, a certain document has come into your possession - a deed of ownership to a long-abandoned keep in distant Elsir Vale. Apparently passed down through several increasingly tenuous family connections, nonetheless the legality seems perfectly clear: you are the new owner of Vraath Keep, it's estate, overlooking the quaint town of Drellin's Ferry in Elsir vale, and it's reportedly expansive and secret vault of treasure. Who would you be, you who call yourself an adventurer, to refuse such a call?
Half a world away, you and your three boon companions have traveled many long months by land and sea and arrived at last, safe and a little wiser in the ways of the Forgotten Realms, at the Western edge of Elsir Vale. But a day or two more, and you shall claim your rightful inheritance! Yet, all is not yet well, it seems. Dry smoke above the Wyrmsmokes speak of the movement of the foul and barbarous goblin tribes dwelling therein to the north, and the haggard and worried glances of the few travelers you have seen on the Dawn Way in the last month do little to assuage your doubts. One or more of you in the party are further beset by troubling dreams, so clear and vicious as to be thought prescient, though yet unproven. The dry hilltops danced with fire. In smoke and flame they wove with shadows, and a tide of red and black blood sweeping across the land to swallow even the light of the sun and the stars.
So close now to your goal, it seems, what choice do you have but to press on?
I am looking for 4 PC's at 5th level for this adventure! The campaign should take the party from 5th to 10th level, at a fairly rapid pace, so it should make for a lovely summer's game by post, assuming that all can post at least once per day barring irregularities. As a further part of the campaign, since we are starting in the middle of an ongoing story in which the four of you will have already been traveling for about a year, I would like everyone to come prepared with suggestions for small scale adventures (with appropriate and thematic loot!) that you (and the party) will have already completed by the start of our play-by-post. If you are intrigued, drop a character below! I would very much like to see the following things in all applications who wish to be considered first (though all applicants shall be considered in due time)!
A Name - every hero needs a great name!
Race, class, subclass, background - all that mechanical stuff. Multiclassing and feats are allowed, roll 4d6droplowest for ability scores or use point buy.
A Backstory - this is where things get a bit more technical. Since I would like to have our party already be familiar with one another, when you apply, your backstory will fit into one of four "roles." The roles are not meant to be rigid (as in, your backstory might encompass more than one) but it should favor one over the others as you conceive of it. Role 1 (The Inheritor): Whatever your past, the legal deed and title to Vraath Keep is now in your possession and in your name. It's up to you to explain how that came to be! Role 2 (The Old Friend): You've known Role 1's character for a long, long time, so when you heard of his/her upcoming adventure, you didn't hesitate to leave behind your other plans to watch your friend's back. It's up to you to explain what your relationship with Role 1's character is, exactly, but it should be a constructive one. Role 3 (The Guide): A friend in need is a friend indeed, as the old saying goes. You encountered Roles 1 and 2 somewhat early on in their adventure, perhaps helping to get them out of one trouble or another, and you decided to accompany them on their journey, much to your profit, for rarely before have you ever felt such camaraderie and true sense of family as with these two rascals. You have the uncommon experience of having once traveled through Elsir Vale, passing through the well-ordered vale's Dawn Way, an ancient highway running the length of the valley and enjoying it's gentle countryside and decent inhabitants. It's up to you to decide just why you agreed to take them back there now, however. Perhaps something was left unfinished on your last journey. Role 4 (The Mercenary): There comes a time in anyone's story when opportunity knocks, and you found it. Perhaps you overheard Roles 1 and 2 drunkenly discussing their fortunate, though as of yet unrealized gains, in some dusty taproom in Neverwinter, or in a sailor's dive off Chult, but you heard Fate's knock echoing in your skull, and you acted accordingly. You've secured an arrangement with The Inheritor - a hefty sum for protection services, full payment on release of duties, which shall occur once the Inheritor's property has been secured against immediate and future threats. Some might say it's a bad deal, but you've never seen the number of gold pieces offered to you on that contract in one place before, and you'd very much like to have that sight in your memory before you die. It's up to you to decide the terms of the contract, the disposition of your character towards the rest of the party, though by the start of our story you will likely have come a ways towards respecting, and even liking, those others in the group, even if in spite of yourself. If you made it this far in reading, congratulations! For first considerations in character applications, send me a PM titled with the last name of your favorite fiction author.
There will be some other steps to character creation once we get the whole "roles" thing settled. In case you're interested, I'm hoping to replicate some of the (presumed) success from this DM tips video by the illustrious Zhee Bashew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKQv4GC0N9Q
You can expect to have 1-2 magic items per PC to start off the game with, so you might want to start thinking about that as well.
Recruitment should be open for a few days. Thanks for your time!
Background: Inheritor ( but not the Inheritor of the keep)
Abilities: Ability scores: 131216121015
Bakcstory: The Role 3 seems to suit him. His family could have come from Elsir Vale or its proximities in a distant past, before they joined the Retreat of the Elves. He was going back in search of an item that belonged to his family and was lost when he met the other two members of the party and offered himself to help.
Talon, (She/her), Aasimar Far Traveler Warlock 1/Paladin 4.
Backstory: Mercenary. Talon wandered far from the Shou lands she was born in, pressured to leave her village by those unstrusting of her gifts. Running across the inheritor when they ran afoul of some brigands Talon was pursuing. After aiding in the battle, the inheritor offered her a job and the contract for the securing of the keep. The relationship has changed as they've worked together, and Talon is no longer charging for day to day services, but intends on fulfilling the contract.
I assumed by level 5 I could afford Breastplate, a long sword, and a shield, as Warlock starting equipment is bizarre for hexblades. If you'd prefer I'd have a cheaper medium armor, or think she would have Half-plate by now, let me know.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God Adewild: Shadows and Light 2 Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Name:Valeria Moonstar Race: Human (Variant) Class: Sorcerer (Divine Soul) Background: Noble Backstory: Valeria was born into the prominent Waterdhavian Moonstar family with a sheltered upbringing and destined for a negotiated marriage, but Valeria wanted more and one night in the family garden under the full moon praying for answers she was blessed by the goddess Selûne to wield divine powers in her name. Seeing their daughter would not be content with their plans her parents finally gave in and allowed her to leave Waterdeep with a close friend and with the legal deed and title to something called Vraath Keep in Elsir Vale, where she is hoping to bring order and prosperity.
Background: Anthropologist; I'm a bit of a tomb raider. My parents were legit Anthropologist and I traveled all around with my parents learning all about different cultures. I fell into the wrong crowds and my old friend would bail me out after everyone else gave up on me.
Role: Old Friend; Known 'em for years. They've helped my out so many times, there was no doubt I'd be there to watch their back.
So you did! Apologies that I missed that - great, we have an inheritor applicant! I think I'll leave things open a little while longer yet, but so far I'm seeing some great applications!
Kiersa was born to a minor noble family. She saw learning martial skills as a path to slightly greater prestige for her and her family. And as the third of the siblings, she was not destined to play a large role in her family's lineage. She was however a part of the court. Giving her the opportunity to make aquaintences with many different people.
She has known the Inheritor from a very young age - as long as she can remember. They've always been close friends and confidant.
I imagine one of the first tastes of adventure the pair had was a chance encounter with a small band of orcs attacking a trading village the two had been visiting for the day. They helped the town guard out in repelling the group.
NOTE: The specifics are geared more toward Valeria Moonstar being her friend (Inheritor) as a fellow noble. But I suppose could be adjusted.
Ability scores: Will use point buy system if selected to generate scores (if you want to know ahead of time I can do that)
Name: Maelva
Class: Bard (college of creation)
Race: Aasimar (variant or could do Tasha's revamp)
Background: Entertainer
Role: 3, The Guide
Story: Maelva, or Mae, had been traveling for some years by now, across the length and breadth of the land, after her status as the "golden child" in her hometown was challenged by both bitter rivals and unrequited lovers. In a fortuitous meeting some time ago, she helped the Inheritor and their friend escape a nasty situation that they would all rather not speak of nowadays. Unfortunately, times and people are catching up to Mae, and so when meeting the Inheritor again and learning about the return to Elsir Vale she quite happy to pass that way again, either to elude her pursuers once more, or perhaps find another means to be rid of them.
Tane joined the military simply because he had nothing better to do with himself. He was part of a squadron tasked with scouting and spying on enemy bases. Eventually, his squadron was ambushed leaving him the only survivor. At this point he decided that the military wasn’t for him, (he wasn’t gaining anything from it) and left he army without checking with his superiors. So as far as they know, he is dead. After this he lived on his own in the woods for a while acting as a body guard for traveling folk. Eventually he got bored of this and became a bounty hunter.
Perhaps you won it in a pile of treasure in a game of chance. Perhaps it lay, dry and dusty, at the bottom of a bugbear's treasure-chest. Perhaps you finally got around to a long neglected spring cleaning. In any case, a certain document has come into your possession - a deed of ownership to a long-abandoned keep in distant Elsir Vale. Apparently passed down through several increasingly tenuous family connections, nonetheless the legality seems perfectly clear: you are the new owner of Vraath Keep, it's estate, overlooking the quaint town of Drellin's Ferry in Elsir vale, and it's reportedly expansive and secret vault of treasure. Who would you be, you who call yourself an adventurer, to refuse such a call?
Half a world away, you and your three boon companions have traveled many long months by land and sea and arrived at last, safe and a little wiser in the ways of the Forgotten Realms, at the Western edge of Elsir Vale. But a day or two more, and you shall claim your rightful inheritance! Yet, all is not yet well, it seems. Dry smoke above the Wyrmsmokes speak of the movement of the foul and barbarous goblin tribes dwelling therein to the north, and the haggard and worried glances of the few travelers you have seen on the Dawn Way in the last month do little to assuage your doubts. One or more of you in the party are further beset by troubling dreams, so clear and vicious as to be thought prescient, though yet unproven. The dry hilltops danced with fire. In smoke and flame they wove with shadows, and a tide of red and black blood sweeping across the land to swallow even the light of the sun and the stars.
So close now to your goal, it seems, what choice do you have but to press on?
_____________________________________________________
Greetings, noble adventurers.
I am looking for 4 PC's at 5th level for this adventure! The campaign should take the party from 5th to 10th level, at a fairly rapid pace, so it should make for a lovely summer's game by post, assuming that all can post at least once per day barring irregularities. As a further part of the campaign, since we are starting in the middle of an ongoing story in which the four of you will have already been traveling for about a year, I would like everyone to come prepared with suggestions for small scale adventures (with appropriate and thematic loot!) that you (and the party) will have already completed by the start of our play-by-post. If you are intrigued, drop a character below! I would very much like to see the following things in all applications who wish to be considered first (though all applicants shall be considered in due time)!
A Name - every hero needs a great name!
Race, class, subclass, background - all that mechanical stuff. Multiclassing and feats are allowed, roll 4d6droplowest for ability scores or use point buy.
A Backstory - this is where things get a bit more technical. Since I would like to have our party already be familiar with one another, when you apply, your backstory will fit into one of four "roles." The roles are not meant to be rigid (as in, your backstory might encompass more than one) but it should favor one over the others as you conceive of it. Role 1 (The Inheritor): Whatever your past, the legal deed and title to Vraath Keep is now in your possession and in your name. It's up to you to explain how that came to be! Role 2 (The Old Friend): You've known Role 1's character for a long, long time, so when you heard of his/her upcoming adventure, you didn't hesitate to leave behind your other plans to watch your friend's back. It's up to you to explain what your relationship with Role 1's character is, exactly, but it should be a constructive one. Role 3 (The Guide): A friend in need is a friend indeed, as the old saying goes. You encountered Roles 1 and 2 somewhat early on in their adventure, perhaps helping to get them out of one trouble or another, and you decided to accompany them on their journey, much to your profit, for rarely before have you ever felt such camaraderie and true sense of family as with these two rascals. You have the uncommon experience of having once traveled through Elsir Vale, passing through the well-ordered vale's Dawn Way, an ancient highway running the length of the valley and enjoying it's gentle countryside and decent inhabitants. It's up to you to decide just why you agreed to take them back there now, however. Perhaps something was left unfinished on your last journey. Role 4 (The Mercenary): There comes a time in anyone's story when opportunity knocks, and you found it. Perhaps you overheard Roles 1 and 2 drunkenly discussing their fortunate, though as of yet unrealized gains, in some dusty taproom in Neverwinter, or in a sailor's dive off Chult, but you heard Fate's knock echoing in your skull, and you acted accordingly. You've secured an arrangement with The Inheritor - a hefty sum for protection services, full payment on release of duties, which shall occur once the Inheritor's property has been secured against immediate and future threats. Some might say it's a bad deal, but you've never seen the number of gold pieces offered to you on that contract in one place before, and you'd very much like to have that sight in your memory before you die. It's up to you to decide the terms of the contract, the disposition of your character towards the rest of the party, though by the start of our story you will likely have come a ways towards respecting, and even liking, those others in the group, even if in spite of yourself. If you made it this far in reading, congratulations! For first considerations in character applications, send me a PM titled with the last name of your favorite fiction author.
There will be some other steps to character creation once we get the whole "roles" thing settled. In case you're interested, I'm hoping to replicate some of the (presumed) success from this DM tips video by the illustrious Zhee Bashew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKQv4GC0N9Q
You can expect to have 1-2 magic items per PC to start off the game with, so you might want to start thinking about that as well.
Recruitment should be open for a few days. Thanks for your time!
- TheGreatWyrm
Character Name: Frenevir Silverblade
Race: High Elf
Class: Fighter 3 (Eldritch Knight) / Wizard 2 (Bladesinger)
Background: Inheritor ( but not the Inheritor of the keep)
Abilities: Ability scores: 13 12 16 12 10 15
Bakcstory: The Role 3 seems to suit him. His family could have come from Elsir Vale or its proximities in a distant past, before they joined the Retreat of the Elves. He was going back in search of an item that belonged to his family and was lost when he met the other two members of the party and offered himself to help.
PbP Character: A few ;)
PM incoming.
Ability scores: 12 16 12 11 16 12
Just Rolling, I'll be back with a character.
I like your use of loose story roles for backstories, I did something similar in a campaign I'm starting up.
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
https://ddb.ac/characters/75491487/BgXX6f
Talon, (She/her), Aasimar Far Traveler Warlock 1/Paladin 4.
Backstory: Mercenary. Talon wandered far from the Shou lands she was born in, pressured to leave her village by those unstrusting of her gifts. Running across the inheritor when they ran afoul of some brigands Talon was pursuing. After aiding in the battle, the inheritor offered her a job and the contract for the securing of the keep. The relationship has changed as they've worked together, and Talon is no longer charging for day to day services, but intends on fulfilling the contract.
I assumed by level 5 I could afford Breastplate, a long sword, and a shield, as Warlock starting equipment is bizarre for hexblades. If you'd prefer I'd have a cheaper medium armor, or think she would have Half-plate by now, let me know.
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Ability scores: 11 9 11 12 15 14
Name: Valeria Moonstar
Race: Human (Variant)
Class: Sorcerer (Divine Soul)
Background: Noble
Backstory: Valeria was born into the prominent Waterdhavian Moonstar family with a sheltered upbringing and destined for a negotiated marriage, but Valeria wanted more and one night in the family garden under the full moon praying for answers she was blessed by the goddess Selûne to wield divine powers in her name. Seeing their daughter would not be content with their plans her parents finally gave in and allowed her to leave Waterdeep with a close friend and with the legal deed and title to something called Vraath Keep in Elsir Vale, where she is hoping to bring order and prosperity.
Valeria Moonstar
Ability scores: 17 7 12 18 12 15
D&D since 1984
Name: Elron
Race: Half-Elf
Class / subclass: Rouge/Soulknife
Background: Anthropologist; I'm a bit of a tomb raider. My parents were legit Anthropologist and I traveled all around with my parents learning all about different cultures. I fell into the wrong crowds and my old friend would bail me out after everyone else gave up on me.
Role: Old Friend; Known 'em for years. They've helped my out so many times, there was no doubt I'd be there to watch their back.
Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/75496693/cDuk3k
D&D since 1984
Ability scores: 11 16 15 13 14 11
No applications for the Inheritor yet!
Well, I meant to apply as the inheritor, perhaps it was a bit unclear.
I'm interested. Are there any rules for race/class?
So you did! Apologies that I missed that - great, we have an inheritor applicant! I think I'll leave things open a little while longer yet, but so far I'm seeing some great applications!
Ability scores: 18 14 10 13 14 4
Ability scores: 18 14 13 15 13 13
Name: Kiersa Wildrock
Race: Human (variant)
Class: Fighter/ Battle Master
Background: Noble
Backstory:
Role 2 (The Old Friend)
Kiersa was born to a minor noble family. She saw learning martial skills as a path to slightly greater prestige for her and her family. And as the third of the siblings, she was not destined to play a large role in her family's lineage. She was however a part of the court. Giving her the opportunity to make aquaintences with many different people.
She has known the Inheritor from a very young age - as long as she can remember. They've always been close friends and confidant.
I imagine one of the first tastes of adventure the pair had was a chance encounter with a small band of orcs attacking a trading village the two had been visiting for the day. They helped the town guard out in repelling the group.
NOTE: The specifics are geared more toward Valeria Moonstar being her friend (Inheritor) as a fellow noble. But I suppose could be adjusted.
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
Sorry, think it said 4d6 drop lowest. I think I re-rolled 1's, so generating new scores to fix:
Ability scores: 12 12 12 13 8 11
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Rylia Lionrage | Roxana Raincrest | Janek Whitmor | Lokilia Vaelphin
Ability scores : 7, 14, 14, 10, 12, 11
Applying for Role 4, the mercenary.
Yikes, with that my merc couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag!
Ability scores: Will use point buy system if selected to generate scores (if you want to know ahead of time I can do that)
Name: Maelva
Class: Bard (college of creation)
Race: Aasimar (variant or could do Tasha's revamp)
Background: Entertainer
Role: 3, The Guide
Story: Maelva, or Mae, had been traveling for some years by now, across the length and breadth of the land, after her status as the "golden child" in her hometown was challenged by both bitter rivals and unrequited lovers. In a fortuitous meeting some time ago, she helped the Inheritor and their friend escape a nasty situation that they would all rather not speak of nowadays. Unfortunately, times and people are catching up to Mae, and so when meeting the Inheritor again and learning about the return to Elsir Vale she quite happy to pass that way again, either to elude her pursuers once more, or perhaps find another means to be rid of them.
(will send a pm soon)
Name: Tane Alylwood
Race: Wood Elf
Class: Ranger/Hunter
Background: Soldier
Role 3: Guide and/or Role 4 mercenary
Backstory:
Tane joined the military simply because he had nothing better to do with himself. He was part of a squadron tasked with scouting and spying on enemy bases. Eventually, his squadron was ambushed leaving him the only survivor. At this point he decided that the military wasn’t for him, (he wasn’t gaining anything from it) and left he army without checking with his superiors. So as far as they know, he is dead.
After this he lived on his own in the woods for a while acting as a body guard for traveling folk. Eventually he got bored of this and became a bounty hunter.