In the southernmost region of the Artean continent, nestled deep in the peninsular land of Lashar lies the Kingdom of High Shore. For centuries it has stood defiant against the crashing waves of the Nephus Sea, as well as the enemies which lurk beyond it. Founded during the age of Emperor Martelus Falerom I, High Shore was the first southern settlement established by the Ardalan Empire and officiated by the Holy Church of Eshra. Due to its advantageous position, the once small settlement grew rapidly into one of the largest naval ports and most important trade cities in the known world. Three hundred years since its founding, High Shore remains a prosperous kingdom in the Artean continent.
The city itself remains a hub for traders and merchants of all sorts, as well as a home to its hundreds of thousands of citizens. High Shore houses a number of different people, sorted into twelve distinct districts and divided typically by class or trade; from the nobles that reside within their lavish homes in The Gardens, or the craftsmen which labor in their life's work in the Silkroad. Aleport where the trade goods come in and Spicecliff where tradesmen and marketers go to sell their wares. As with every major city their are place of poverty and crime and sheer oddities, Woad Town which harbors the dangerous thieves and killers of the Umbra and The Silver Lawn where the Spire of the mages stands ominously in isolation.
First, a brief introduction and a disclaimer.
Hello everyone and thank you for taking a look at my PBP campaign, you may refer to me by my D&D Beyond username and I will play the role of DM for this campaign. I am entirely new to DMing and have very minimal experience playing D&D in general. (Played some Curse of Strahd and Mines of Phandelver.) With that out of the way, I decided to try my hand at a PBP session based in a conjured up City to practice a bit of DMing and test my creative abilities. High Shore is a homebrew medieval setting based on a coastal Kingdom city with your typical fantasy elements. My hope with this campaign is to let you, the players, explore the nooks and crannies of High Shore and interact with a number of different npcs in ways you find interesting. I will be allowing homebrew characters in this campaign, my only request is that they fit in some fashion with the fantasy theme.
Updates:
08/28/2022 - Currently checking for interest and recruiting 5 Players to try this out. Also please note the below is a work in progress and is subject to change.
08/31/2022
- All five players have been selected for the campaign and the thread status has been changed to private. Thank you to all who applied!
- Some information has been added below before we begin.
1. To begin playing this campaign I ask that all of you please submit your introductory posts to official campaign thread, the post should ideally include a brief description of your character as they are now and what endeavors they are currently undertaking. Please take some liberties to outline what this looks like and if you have any questions regarding role play or mechanics, I ask that you reach out to me either through PM or discord or add an OOC comment in the post itself. Once you have all introduced your characters to the story I will respond to each individual storyline and take it from there.
2. I live in the United States and operate in EST time, I work 8-5 and have some obligations until about 8:30PM, after which I typically will have the time review this thread and any post you make and respond accordingly. On Saturdays and Sundays I have large chunks of free time where I will be at my most active. I will make an effort to review this thread one hour of every day at a minimum, alternatively if you want to get a quicker response from me for any questions you can reach out to me at my discord. (See below)
3. Please note that the world will not remain a static environment so long as a player interacts with it. Meaning, if any player goes an extended period of time without playing, please be aware that things may look different when you get back depending on how long you have been away.
4. This campaign may touch on some darker themes like murder, kidnapping, assassination, slavery etc. If anyone feels uncomfortable with these topics I need you to reach out and make it known so we as a party can address any concerns you have. Additionally some of these darker topics will not involve the players unless expressly stated by them that they are interested in pursuing darker themed content for characters.
Heather Steps: During its early settlement this region was said to be where Saint Heather the Winged prostrated herself on the land and blessed it in the name of the church.
(j.) Church of St. Heather: Created in the honor of St. Heather the Winged within the Heather Steps district, the Church of St. Heather houses the local clergymen and nuns of High Shore.
Notable People:
Sister Amelia
Father Edgar
2.Brise Forte: Brise Forte is the political and administrative center of High Shore, located atop the acropolis at the center of the kingdom. The castle is an imposing structure made of large stones that give it a sturdy and secure appearance, and it is considered to be one of the most important buildings in the kingdom.
Brise Forte was originally built during the reign of King Anthone Harlough I, who recognized the need for a centralized location where the king and his council could carry out their political and municipal obligations. Over time, the castle has undergone several renovations and expansions to accommodate the growing needs of the kingdom and the changing times.
King Anthone Harlough II, the current ruler of High Shore, resides in Brise Forte with his family and closest advisors. He is known for his wisdom and fairness, and is highly respected by the people of High Shore. His council is made up of some of the most influential and powerful people in the kingdom, including the High Priestess of the Holy Church of Eshra, the Commander of the Royal Guard, and the Master of Trade.
The castle is also home to a number of important institutions and facilities. The Royal Library, located within the castle's walls, houses a vast collection of books and manuscripts on a wide range of subjects, from history and politics to religion and the arts. The castle also contains a grand hall where important events and ceremonies are held, including royal weddings, coronations, and banquets.
Despite its imposing appearance and the serious business that goes on within its walls, Brise Forte is also a place of beauty and artistry. The castle's gardens are renowned throughout the kingdom for their beauty and tranquility, and are open to the public during certain hours of the day.
In conclusion, Brise Forte is the heart of High Shore's political and administrative affairs, and is a symbol of the kingdom's strength and stability. King Anthone Harlough II and his council work tirelessly to ensure the prosperity and well-being of their people, and the castle serves as a reminder of the kingdom's rich history and enduring legacy.
3. Whiteport: Port where all the naval ships are berthed and military cargo is stored.
4. The Gardens: Housing district of the upper class.
5. Aleport: Primary port where all trade shipments are imported and exported, sector in which warehouses with food supplies and other trade goods are stored.
(b.) The Mermaid’s Teat: Portside tavern where the local fishermen and seafarers go to drown in a flagon of ale.
Barman: An overweight male human named Fingoli. He speaks vulgarly and is always in a rush.
Menu:
Stewed Pork and Hard Cheese, Tankard of Ale (8 cp)
Boiled Eggs and Curd Cheese, Tankard of Cider (9 cp)
Fried Whitefish and Carrot, Tankard of Ale (9 cp)
Biscuits and Whey Cheese, Mug of Cider (4 cp)
Pickled Duck and Dried Carrot, Tankard of Bitter (9 cp)
6.Silklane: Craftsman's district where clothiers, jewelers, shoemakers and the like work their trades and vendor their goods.
7. The Brume: Housing district of the upper-middle class.
(c.) The Misty Chateau: Near a major crossroads. The street outside is lined with carved stone columns. The inn is a two-story half-timbered building painted a fresh white, with finely-crafted tables and chairs. Accomodations consist of several large rooms with beds and woolen mattresses.
Inkeeper: A tall elegant human named Stefan, his black hair is combed back and is dressed in a finely tailored doublet.
Menu:
Braised Oxen with Saffron and Dried Cherry, Glass of Wine (3 sp)
Steamed Shrimp with Clove and Barley Biscuits, Glass of Wine (3 sp)
Steamed Duck with Mace and Artichoke, Glass of Wine (2 sp)
Steamed Hare and Blueberry Tart, Glass of Rum (2 sp)
Salted Veal and Dried Artichoke, Tankard of Stout (10 cp)
8. The Silver Lawn: Plot of land with silver grass where the mage’s tower, The Spire, is located. During a strange accident by one of the mages, the grassy lot where the tower was built had all its blades turned from green to a shining silver. The locals believing it to be true silver began plucking the blades.
(m.) The Spire: The newly erected tower where the college mages dwell and test their magical affinities.
9.Short Walk: Housing district for the lower middle class.
10. Woad Town: Housing district for the lower class. Overrun with crime and thievery.
(a.) The Woad Toad: (Inn, Woad Town district) The inn is a small wooden building with a blue toad emblem hanging from its sign, it has several shuttered windows and worn wood flooring. A large cauldron sits in the center of the common room near the hearth. Accommodations consist of small rooms with simple bedding.
Innkeeper: A short female elf named Cora.
Menu:
Oat Porridge, Mug of Perry (2 cp)
Rye Porridge, Mug of Cider (2 cp)
Pottage, Mug of Ale (3 cp)
Wheat Biscuits and Soft Cheese, Mug of Cider (3 cp)
Stewed Beetroot, Mug of Stout (2 cp)
Stewed Mushrooms, Mug of Beer (4 cp)
11. Baron’s Gate: Military district where The Tempest Order is located.
(e.) The Tempest Order: Headquarters of the City Watch, where Lord Commander Gauwyn Endhelm and the blue cloaks preside.
12.Spicecliff: Easternmost district seated by the cliff sides of High Shore, home to the fishmongers and fruit vendors all scurrying about to sell their supplies. Markets of all kinds can be found in this part of town.
(i.) Merey’s Supplies - Merey Wylcey: Female Human Merchant, LG. Str 13, Dex 6, Con 9, Int 8, Wis 7, Cha 15. Merey has long red hair and light grey eyes, and a pattern of unusual marks on her arm. She wears well-made clothing and a bronze amulet. Merey is optimistic and driven
(h.) The Smith's Guild: Rone is a burly tall man, with white hair and green eyes. He wears modest garments and a wooden holy symbol. Rone is blind in his right eye.
Hello, I am very much a d&d beginner looking to join a campaign to practice before playing with friends. I'm interested in joining, but not sure how to proceed.
About: Calsipher is a creature of the deep and serves the nameless entity that made and gave him power. His purpose is to spread the reach of his master and ensnare minds into the endless dream with his disarming charm and the promise of power.
Every lord and lady has heard of you (even if they pretend they haven't). Your name and your employer open even the most stubborn door. You have unrequited access to most noble houses and estates, excluding those who break the city's rules. Being on the wrong side of the law is bad for business. You also have access to locations deemed off-limits or illegal due to your knowledge of guardsmen's habits or their superior's interesting tastes. If you need money, men and women of any noble house will gladly grant you money in their pocket; either out of the kindness of their hearts, the promise of an owed favor, or special services only you can provide.
Organization: The Nightingale Order --//--The Order of Secrets
The Nightingale Order or the Order of Secrets... often shortened to the Order, or merely the Sisterhood. No matter what name is used the Nightingale Order is an ancient nearly extinct holdover from the days of old empires as a sort of pseudo-religious organization comprised of all-women known as Nightingales. The Nightingales themselves are an elite class of beautiful highly trained courtesans made up of the bastard daughters of the various noble and sometimes even royal houses. Such daughters are given up to the Order when they are still swaddling babes for protection and preserving anonymity. Such girls are given the same surname, Nightingale to set them apart from others and as a secondary measure to ensure that their true parentage is never known or revealed. The Order then provides each girl with a distinctive common first name but later when are of age (18) each Nightingale also chooses a professional nickname for herself... flowers and gemstones often being the most commonly used for this purpose.
The full origins of the Order are somewhat murky and not widely known but there are of course whispers and rumors that circulate. The one thing that is clear and universally agreed upon is that the Nightingales arose during a time of great political turmoil that followed a great civil war which allowed the Order to establish itself as an influential political force as both courtesans and diplomats often with no one knowing where one thing ends and other begins. For millennia now the Sisterhood tends to act hidden in the background of imperial and court politics as they ply their trade.
It is widely known that Nightingale processes an Expertise in Performance and/or the art of Persuasion as well as being required to learn at least one musical instrument as well as the art of Silent Speak. Fewer still know that Nightingales are also trained in Sleight-of-hand and the use of Thieves Tools which is often explained that sometimes they find it necessary to use extraordinary means in order to avoid jealous wives/husbands... or scenes that might otherwise cause a client potential embarrassment.
Backstory: Prudence Nightingale is of the Order of Secrets... born of an unknown noble house and parentage. Her first and only memory as a child is that of the Order... the Reverend Mother(s) and the Sisters who make up her family. Raised and trained extensively to perform in the combined role of courtesans and diplomats. At 18 years of age, Prudence was sponsored by a Warlock Patroness and anointed with the professional name Mimzy as she was deemed of sufficient skill and quality to be tattooed and embraced as a Dhampir... an exceedingly rare gift and a great honor given in order to extend one's existence and preserve physical beauty. Now that Prudence has graduated from the Order she is at an age where she is now required to seek out her own way as an independent agent for the most part while still bound by her oaths to serve and protect the Order and her Patroness as her sacred duty.
Appearance: Prudence Nightingale also known as Mimzy to her customers, close friends, and associates is an extremely attractive female with fair butterfly tattooed skin. Tall and slender, her most striking features are her haunting pale-blue eyes, ruby-red lips, and golden-blonde hair with rainbow highlights. Her haughty demeanor... expensive, fashionable, and sophisticated gossamer silk attire confirm her profession and status as a true Nightingale.
Hello, I am very much a d&d beginner looking to join a campaign to practice before playing with friends. I'm interested in joining, but not sure how to proceed.
Hey there, thanks for your reply. If you have a character you want to role play just go ahead and link them here with a bit of backstory so I can get a feel for them. I want my players to begin at level 3. I am also new to this so no worries, we can learn together.
About: Calsipher is a creature of the deep and serves the nameless entity that made and gave him power. His purpose is to spread the reach of his master and ensnare minds into the endless dream with his disarming charm and the promise of power.
Thank you for the reply, your character will definitely fit within this campaign.
Sort of has a Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon type of feel with some of the descriptions. I like that and am most definitely interested!
Thank you! I appreciate you saying so, I would like the story to have a political element to it. Please send a link any level 3 character you want to use.
Hey Antaleon! For a new DM, this is a great piece of homebrew you've got going, and I"m definitely interested! Here's my character idea--
Calliope | Water Genasi Bard / College of Eloquence At 16, Calliope was charged with the murder of a prominent noble in High Shore. Captured and imprisoned, her sentence included the loss of her singing voice, deemed a weapon by the courts and given to the nobleman’s family as restitution. Released after 10 years, she's returned to the city to reclaim her voice, but struggles to adjust to life after prison. With few friends and resources, she does what she can to scrape by, selling her services as a charmer and busker - all the while battling guilt, grief, and the hard search for answers to what happened the night she and her lover were supposed to live happily ever after.
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DM: The Sunless Citadel, Candlekeep Mysteries, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot) Player:B'Etor(Lost Mine of Phandelver), Sunfyre Fields (Tide of Retribution), Annika Fedorovna(Inustwaith - Blizzard's Fury)
Backstory: Titus learned his skills fighting in the arena. He achieved some fame as a gladiator for his flashy fighting style. Now he's looking for glory outside of the ring.
Sort of has a Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon type of feel with some of the descriptions. I like that and am most definitely interested!
Thank you! I appreciate you saying so, I would like the story to have a political element to it. Please send a link any level 3 character you want to use.
Thank you very much! I went ahead and posted my character Prudence 'Mimzy' Nightingale information and link to my first/original comment #4 here on this thread... the link below should take you right to it. If you need something more or anything changed or clarified just let me know... There is a little homebrewing mostly in regard to her Background which I hope fits in where there is a political element, etc. Again I can always make changes for a better fit.
Growing up in a small sea side town, Torach enjoyed the stories of the older fishermen, fantasizing about the lore, superstitions and adventures at seas, he dreamt of one day being a swashbuckling seafarer himself.
How ever he was a prodigy at the divine arts and was enrolled at a young age in the military medic unit, the elders of his clan thinking that being a simple fisherman was below someone of Torach’s skills, and Torach not wanting to disappoint his clan he followed their wishes. Training along aside the holy soldiers on a daily basis honed his ability with a blade, and how to call down the power of the divine if needed.
Acting as an envoy of his holy order, Torach was selected due to his excelling in training, his following of chain of command and his background in marine history and lore. His mission is to help High Shore and to take any orders given buy the Holy Church of Eshra, and to keep a log and report back any of his findings.
Torach can’t help but think that the all mother is smiling upon him to be offered such a mission, he thinks about his youth and how he wanted to sail the high seas, maybe he can live out that dream, while still focusing on his task at hand. Being in a seaside city while spreading the word of his holy order and doing honorable deeds seems to be too good to be true for the young Paladin
Backstory: Like many orphans in the streets of Woad Town, Gust was picked up by a notorious crime gang to become a recruit. Training was tough, but Gust discovered that he had a knack for this line of work. He’d participate in cons, robbery, shakedowns. However, all of it changed during one job.
Before that, Gust was able to get in and out of places unnoticed. But during this one job, a guard caught him. He would have been arrested if not for one of his companions who murdered the guard. This shocked the young thief. He knew they stole things, and he was okay with it, but killing innocents was not something he could get behind. But then, Gust realized that there was a bigger picture. He wasn’t just helping people get by in the most impoverished part of the city, he was helping criminals get their way.
That’s when he decided to leave. He abandoned those he once thought of as family. But it wasn’t enough. He had to atone for what he had done. So from that day forward, he decided to fight his former companions and hinder their plans wherever they could.
This is a rough draft, but if you still have place in your game and would have me, I’d be happy to develop this further.
Hey everyone! Happy to be aboard. My tag for gaming is Menelear (or Men for short).
I sent Antaleon a couple of notes about Calliope that they OK'd for the most part, but repeating them here in case anyone sees an issue--
I originally built her for a different game that used a higher value point-buy system, so she has higher stats than the normal standard array or point-buy.
She also has some additional gold from that game (more than what's given with the starting eq), but I think that could be explained through story.
She has an uncommon magic item (a Pearl of Power) from that game.
Let me know if anyone feels like her stats / status is overweighted. I'm happy to make changes.
Lines / Veils:
I'm generally comfortable with all dark themes, including prostitution and slavery.
Romance and fade-to-black sex is fine, but not interested in ERP.
My hard limits are hardcore torture, gore, and sexual violence. Implied and / or aftermath is OK.
A final Line for me is IRL racial slurs or race-based shenanigans OOC.
Excited to play in this world and get to know everyone! Give me a shout with any questions.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: The Sunless Citadel, Candlekeep Mysteries, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot) Player:B'Etor(Lost Mine of Phandelver), Sunfyre Fields (Tide of Retribution), Annika Fedorovna(Inustwaith - Blizzard's Fury)
Hi, Menelear nice to meet you and YC Calliope I've got no problems with the way you did YC and I wouldn't worry about stats as there are other characters with some pretty impressive stats. I just always use point buy when there are no clear or specific DM instructions regarding rolling. Everyone is different with their own preferences as long as falls within what the DM allows then it's fine by me. And I've got no problem with her Pearl of Power, etc. either. For myself, I bent things and gave MC Prudence a starting Background Feat: Skill Expert (Performance) so she's not 100% regulation either. And I'm always ready to remove something like that as the DM decides what's too far, etc. The new playtest stuff is moving towards background feats anyway so I'm just getting a head start, lol. and there is always the 'rule of cool'!
About your Lines/Veils, no problems there from me as well. I was discussing with Antaleon about themes and mentioned I think DnD Beyond because teens and such under 18 use this site it has rules regarding keeping the language at around a PG-13 level so while mature themes can be explored I think the thing is being careful about the language and how graphic things get so fade to black and implied stuff, etc. is pretty much the gold standard on the site given threads are public. Even though MC Prudence is a courtesan posts with her are going to be PG-13 and not wade into graphic language and descriptions.
My thing is it's a game, a story, etc. so I don't get uptight or judgy about people or things. You read stuff in books and see things on TV/movies that can be rather gritty or problematic. For me, it's real life that you gotta worry or be concerned with but it's a fantasy world that's all it is. I keep em separate but that's just me everyone is different. I'm not looking to insult or offend anyone but I'm not going tip-toe about either, my main thing is a belief in the US Constitution and freedom of speech balanced with just trying to make some sort an effort to be as respectful and polite as much as possible.
High Shore
-A Medieval Campaign -
In the southernmost region of the Artean continent, nestled deep in the peninsular land of Lashar lies the Kingdom of High Shore. For centuries it has stood defiant against the crashing waves of the Nephus Sea, as well as the enemies which lurk beyond it. Founded during the age of Emperor Martelus Falerom I, High Shore was the first southern settlement established by the Ardalan Empire and officiated by the Holy Church of Eshra. Due to its advantageous position, the once small settlement grew rapidly into one of the largest naval ports and most important trade cities in the known world. Three hundred years since its founding, High Shore remains a prosperous kingdom in the Artean continent.
The city itself remains a hub for traders and merchants of all sorts, as well as a home to its hundreds of thousands of citizens. High Shore houses a number of different people, sorted into twelve distinct districts and divided typically by class or trade; from the nobles that reside within their lavish homes in The Gardens, or the craftsmen which labor in their life's work in the Silkroad. Aleport where the trade goods come in and Spicecliff where tradesmen and marketers go to sell their wares. As with every major city their are place of poverty and crime and sheer oddities, Woad Town which harbors the dangerous thieves and killers of the Umbra and The Silver Lawn where the Spire of the mages stands ominously in isolation.
First, a brief introduction and a disclaimer.
Hello everyone and thank you for taking a look at my PBP campaign, you may refer to me by my D&D Beyond username and I will play the role of DM for this campaign. I am entirely new to DMing and have very minimal experience playing D&D in general. (Played some Curse of Strahd and Mines of Phandelver.) With that out of the way, I decided to try my hand at a PBP session based in a conjured up City to practice a bit of DMing and test my creative abilities. High Shore is a homebrew medieval setting based on a coastal Kingdom city with your typical fantasy elements. My hope with this campaign is to let you, the players, explore the nooks and crannies of High Shore and interact with a number of different npcs in ways you find interesting. I will be allowing homebrew characters in this campaign, my only request is that they fit in some fashion with the fantasy theme.
Updates:
08/28/2022 - Currently checking for interest and recruiting 5 Players to try this out. Also please note the below is a work in progress and is subject to change.
08/31/2022
- All five players have been selected for the campaign and the thread status has been changed to private. Thank you to all who applied!
- Some information has been added below before we begin.
- Official Campaign thread is up: Link to Campaign Thread
Getting started:
1. To begin playing this campaign I ask that all of you please submit your introductory posts to official campaign thread, the post should ideally include a brief description of your character as they are now and what endeavors they are currently undertaking. Please take some liberties to outline what this looks like and if you have any questions regarding role play or mechanics, I ask that you reach out to me either through PM or discord or add an OOC comment in the post itself. Once you have all introduced your characters to the story I will respond to each individual storyline and take it from there.
2. I live in the United States and operate in EST time, I work 8-5 and have some obligations until about 8:30PM, after which I typically will have the time review this thread and any post you make and respond accordingly. On Saturdays and Sundays I have large chunks of free time where I will be at my most active. I will make an effort to review this thread one hour of every day at a minimum, alternatively if you want to get a quicker response from me for any questions you can reach out to me at my discord. (See below)
3. Please note that the world will not remain a static environment so long as a player interacts with it. Meaning, if any player goes an extended period of time without playing, please be aware that things may look different when you get back depending on how long you have been away.
4. This campaign may touch on some darker themes like murder, kidnapping, assassination, slavery etc. If anyone feels uncomfortable with these topics I need you to reach out and make it known so we as a party can address any concerns you have. Additionally some of these darker topics will not involve the players unless expressly stated by them that they are interested in pursuing darker themed content for characters.
Discord: Hesius#9299
Link to interactive map courtesy of Oddlot: Map
Districts:
(j.) Church of St. Heather: Created in the honor of St. Heather the Winged within the Heather Steps district, the Church of St. Heather houses the local clergymen and nuns of High Shore.
Notable People:
Sister Amelia
Father Edgar
2. Brise Forte: Brise Forte is the political and administrative center of High Shore, located atop the acropolis at the center of the kingdom. The castle is an imposing structure made of large stones that give it a sturdy and secure appearance, and it is considered to be one of the most important buildings in the kingdom.
Brise Forte was originally built during the reign of King Anthone Harlough I, who recognized the need for a centralized location where the king and his council could carry out their political and municipal obligations. Over time, the castle has undergone several renovations and expansions to accommodate the growing needs of the kingdom and the changing times.
King Anthone Harlough II, the current ruler of High Shore, resides in Brise Forte with his family and closest advisors. He is known for his wisdom and fairness, and is highly respected by the people of High Shore. His council is made up of some of the most influential and powerful people in the kingdom, including the High Priestess of the Holy Church of Eshra, the Commander of the Royal Guard, and the Master of Trade.
The castle is also home to a number of important institutions and facilities. The Royal Library, located within the castle's walls, houses a vast collection of books and manuscripts on a wide range of subjects, from history and politics to religion and the arts. The castle also contains a grand hall where important events and ceremonies are held, including royal weddings, coronations, and banquets.
Despite its imposing appearance and the serious business that goes on within its walls, Brise Forte is also a place of beauty and artistry. The castle's gardens are renowned throughout the kingdom for their beauty and tranquility, and are open to the public during certain hours of the day.
In conclusion, Brise Forte is the heart of High Shore's political and administrative affairs, and is a symbol of the kingdom's strength and stability. King Anthone Harlough II and his council work tirelessly to ensure the prosperity and well-being of their people, and the castle serves as a reminder of the kingdom's rich history and enduring legacy.
3. Whiteport: Port where all the naval ships are berthed and military cargo is stored.
4. The Gardens: Housing district of the upper class.
5. Aleport: Primary port where all trade shipments are imported and exported, sector in which warehouses with food supplies and other trade goods are stored.
(b.) The Mermaid’s Teat: Portside tavern where the local fishermen and seafarers go to drown in a flagon of ale.
Barman: An overweight male human named Fingoli. He speaks vulgarly and is always in a rush.
Menu:
Stewed Pork and Hard Cheese, Tankard of Ale (8 cp)
Boiled Eggs and Curd Cheese, Tankard of Cider (9 cp)
Fried Whitefish and Carrot, Tankard of Ale (9 cp)
Biscuits and Whey Cheese, Mug of Cider (4 cp)
Pickled Duck and Dried Carrot, Tankard of Bitter (9 cp)
6. Silklane: Craftsman's district where clothiers, jewelers, shoemakers and the like work their trades and vendor their goods.
7. The Brume: Housing district of the upper-middle class.
(c.) The Misty Chateau: Near a major crossroads. The street outside is lined with carved stone columns. The inn is a two-story half-timbered building painted a fresh white, with finely-crafted tables and chairs. Accomodations consist of several large rooms with beds and woolen mattresses.
Inkeeper: A tall elegant human named Stefan, his black hair is combed back and is dressed in a finely tailored doublet.
Menu:
Braised Oxen with Saffron and Dried Cherry, Glass of Wine (3 sp)
Steamed Shrimp with Clove and Barley Biscuits, Glass of Wine (3 sp)
Steamed Duck with Mace and Artichoke, Glass of Wine (2 sp)
Steamed Hare and Blueberry Tart, Glass of Rum (2 sp)
Salted Veal and Dried Artichoke, Tankard of Stout (10 cp)
8. The Silver Lawn: Plot of land with silver grass where the mage’s tower, The Spire, is located. During a strange accident by one of the mages, the grassy lot where the tower was built had all its blades turned from green to a shining silver. The locals believing it to be true silver began plucking the blades.
(m.) The Spire: The newly erected tower where the college mages dwell and test their magical affinities.
9. Short Walk: Housing district for the lower middle class.
10. Woad Town: Housing district for the lower class. Overrun with crime and thievery.
(a.) The Woad Toad: (Inn, Woad Town district) The inn is a small wooden building with a blue toad emblem hanging from its sign, it has several shuttered windows and worn wood flooring. A large cauldron sits in the center of the common room near the hearth. Accommodations consist of small rooms with simple bedding.
Innkeeper: A short female elf named Cora.
Menu:
Oat Porridge, Mug of Perry (2 cp)
Rye Porridge, Mug of Cider (2 cp)
Pottage, Mug of Ale (3 cp)
Wheat Biscuits and Soft Cheese, Mug of Cider (3 cp)
Stewed Beetroot, Mug of Stout (2 cp)
Stewed Mushrooms, Mug of Beer (4 cp)
11. Baron’s Gate: Military district where The Tempest Order is located.
(e.) The Tempest Order: Headquarters of the City Watch, where Lord Commander Gauwyn Endhelm and the blue cloaks preside.
12. Spicecliff: Easternmost district seated by the cliff sides of High Shore, home to the fishmongers and fruit vendors all scurrying about to sell their supplies. Markets of all kinds can be found in this part of town.
(i.) Merey’s Supplies - Merey Wylcey: Female Human Merchant, LG. Str 13, Dex 6, Con 9, Int 8, Wis 7, Cha 15. Merey has long red hair and light grey eyes, and a pattern of unusual marks on her arm. She wears well-made clothing and a bronze amulet. Merey is optimistic and driven
(h.) The Smith's Guild: Rone is a burly tall man, with white hair and green eyes. He wears modest garments and a wooden holy symbol. Rone is blind in his right eye.
Hello, I am very much a d&d beginner looking to join a campaign to practice before playing with friends. I'm interested in joining, but not sure how to proceed.
Hello,
I'd like to apply, below I'll write a small detailed post of my character and link his page.
Character Name: Calsipher the Dawn Flower.
Class: Aberrant Mind Sorcerer.
Race: Elf, Half-Elf, or Changeling.
About: Calsipher is a creature of the deep and serves the nameless entity that made and gave him power. His purpose is to spread the reach of his master and ensnare minds into the endless dream with his disarming charm and the promise of power.
Sort of has a Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon type of feel with some of the descriptions. I like that and am most definitely interested!
Character Sheet Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/82263974/rfOntX
Name: Prudence 'Mimzy' Nightingale
Race: Dhampir
Ability Scores: (Point Buy) Str: 10 Dex: 16 Con: 12 Int: 10 Wis: 10 Cha: 17
Alignment: Neutral
Class(es): Sorcerer (Aberrant Mind) Lvl: 1 -//- Warlock (Celestial Patron) Lvl: 2
Background (Homebrew) Title: Nightingale (Courtesan)
Background Feat: Skill Expert (Performance)
Background Feature: Connected
Every lord and lady has heard of you (even if they pretend they haven't). Your name and your employer open even the most stubborn door. You have unrequited access to most noble houses and estates, excluding those who break the city's rules. Being on the wrong side of the law is bad for business. You also have access to locations deemed off-limits or illegal due to your knowledge of guardsmen's habits or their superior's interesting tastes. If you need money, men and women of any noble house will gladly grant you money in their pocket; either out of the kindness of their hearts, the promise of an owed favor, or special services only you can provide.
Organization: The Nightingale Order --//-- The Order of Secrets
The Nightingale Order or the Order of Secrets... often shortened to the Order, or merely the Sisterhood. No matter what name is used the Nightingale Order is an ancient nearly extinct holdover from the days of old empires as a sort of pseudo-religious organization comprised of all-women known as Nightingales. The Nightingales themselves are an elite class of beautiful highly trained courtesans made up of the bastard daughters of the various noble and sometimes even royal houses. Such daughters are given up to the Order when they are still swaddling babes for protection and preserving anonymity. Such girls are given the same surname, Nightingale to set them apart from others and as a secondary measure to ensure that their true parentage is never known or revealed. The Order then provides each girl with a distinctive common first name but later when are of age (18) each Nightingale also chooses a professional nickname for herself... flowers and gemstones often being the most commonly used for this purpose.
The full origins of the Order are somewhat murky and not widely known but there are of course whispers and rumors that circulate. The one thing that is clear and universally agreed upon is that the Nightingales arose during a time of great political turmoil that followed a great civil war which allowed the Order to establish itself as an influential political force as both courtesans and diplomats often with no one knowing where one thing ends and other begins. For millennia now the Sisterhood tends to act hidden in the background of imperial and court politics as they ply their trade.
It is widely known that Nightingale processes an Expertise in Performance and/or the art of Persuasion as well as being required to learn at least one musical instrument as well as the art of Silent Speak. Fewer still know that Nightingales are also trained in Sleight-of-hand and the use of Thieves Tools which is often explained that sometimes they find it necessary to use extraordinary means in order to avoid jealous wives/husbands... or scenes that might otherwise cause a client potential embarrassment.
Backstory: Prudence Nightingale is of the Order of Secrets... born of an unknown noble house and parentage. Her first and only memory as a child is that of the Order... the Reverend Mother(s) and the Sisters who make up her family. Raised and trained extensively to perform in the combined role of courtesans and diplomats. At 18 years of age, Prudence was sponsored by a Warlock Patroness and anointed with the professional name Mimzy as she was deemed of sufficient skill and quality to be tattooed and embraced as a Dhampir... an exceedingly rare gift and a great honor given in order to extend one's existence and preserve physical beauty. Now that Prudence has graduated from the Order she is at an age where she is now required to seek out her own way as an independent agent for the most part while still bound by her oaths to serve and protect the Order and her Patroness as her sacred duty.
Appearance: Prudence Nightingale also known as Mimzy to her customers, close friends, and associates is an extremely attractive female with fair butterfly tattooed skin. Tall and slender, her most striking features are her haunting pale-blue eyes, ruby-red lips, and golden-blonde hair with rainbow highlights. Her haughty demeanor... expensive, fashionable, and sophisticated gossamer silk attire confirm her profession and status as a true Nightingale.
If you are interested in joining please send a link to the character you want to use, a brief description and make sure they are level 3.
Hey there, thanks for your reply. If you have a character you want to role play just go ahead and link them here with a bit of backstory so I can get a feel for them. I want my players to begin at level 3. I am also new to this so no worries, we can learn together.
Thank you for the reply, your character will definitely fit within this campaign.
Thank you! I appreciate you saying so, I would like the story to have a political element to it. Please send a link any level 3 character you want to use.
Hey Antaleon! For a new DM, this is a great piece of homebrew you've got going, and I"m definitely interested! Here's my character idea--
Calliope | Water Genasi Bard / College of Eloquence
At 16, Calliope was charged with the murder of a prominent noble in High Shore. Captured and imprisoned, her sentence included the loss of her singing voice, deemed a weapon by the courts and given to the nobleman’s family as restitution. Released after 10 years, she's returned to the city to reclaim her voice, but struggles to adjust to life after prison. With few friends and resources, she does what she can to scrape by, selling her services as a charmer and busker - all the while battling guilt, grief, and the hard search for answers to what happened the night she and her lover were supposed to live happily ever after.
DM: The Sunless Citadel, Candlekeep Mysteries, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot)
Player: B'Etor (Lost Mine of Phandelver), Sunfyre Fields (Tide of Retribution), Annika Fedorovna (Inustwaith - Blizzard's Fury)
I've been told I am a Hobbit.
Character Name: Titus Argonius
Class: Battle Master Barbarian
Race: Red Dragonborn
Backstory: Titus learned his skills fighting in the arena. He achieved some fame as a gladiator for his flashy fighting style. Now he's looking for glory outside of the ring.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/82261648
Real Life Healbot
Thank you very much! I went ahead and posted my character Prudence 'Mimzy' Nightingale information and link to my first/original comment #4 here on this thread... the link below should take you right to it. If you need something more or anything changed or clarified just let me know... There is a little homebrewing mostly in regard to her Background which I hope fits in where there is a political element, etc. Again I can always make changes for a better fit.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/150879-high-shore-a-medieval-campaign-homebrew?comment=4
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/82285555
Class: Paladin
Race: Dragonborn
Backstory:
Growing up in a small sea side town, Torach enjoyed the stories of the older fishermen, fantasizing about the lore, superstitions and adventures at seas, he dreamt of one day being a swashbuckling seafarer himself.
How ever he was a prodigy at the divine arts and was enrolled at a young age in the military medic unit, the elders of his clan thinking that being a simple fisherman was below someone of Torach’s skills, and Torach not wanting to disappoint his clan he followed their wishes. Training along aside the holy soldiers on a daily basis honed his ability with a blade, and how to call down the power of the divine if needed.
Acting as an envoy of his holy order, Torach was selected due to his excelling in training, his following of chain of command and his background in marine history and lore. His mission is to help High Shore and to take any orders given buy the Holy Church of Eshra, and to keep a log and report back any of his findings.
Torach can’t help but think that the all mother is smiling upon him to be offered such a mission, he thinks about his youth and how he wanted to sail the high seas, maybe he can live out that dream, while still focusing on his task at hand. Being in a seaside city while spreading the word of his holy order and doing honorable deeds seems to be too good to be true for the young Paladin
Looks like you have 5. I'll check back in to see if you have an opening.
First character choice: Fairy cleric or divine soul sorcerer.
2nd choice: Gnome artifice
Details when I find out if I have a chance.
If there’s still room, I’d be very interested in tossing my hat into the ring.
Here’s the character I would like to propose:
Name:Gust (link here)
Class: Rogue (thief)
Race: Air Genasi
Backstory: Like many orphans in the streets of Woad Town, Gust was picked up by a notorious crime gang to become a recruit. Training was tough, but Gust discovered that he had a knack for this line of work. He’d participate in cons, robbery, shakedowns. However, all of it changed during one job.
Before that, Gust was able to get in and out of places unnoticed. But during this one job, a guard caught him. He would have been arrested if not for one of his companions who murdered the guard. This shocked the young thief. He knew they stole things, and he was okay with it, but killing innocents was not something he could get behind. But then, Gust realized that there was a bigger picture. He wasn’t just helping people get by in the most impoverished part of the city, he was helping criminals get their way.
That’s when he decided to leave. He abandoned those he once thought of as family. But it wasn’t enough. He had to atone for what he had done. So from that day forward, he decided to fight his former companions and hinder their plans wherever they could.
This is a rough draft, but if you still have place in your game and would have me, I’d be happy to develop this further.
Note my character introduction post titled Secrets and Lies has been moved to the new campaign thread so you'll find it there now.
Hey everyone! Happy to be aboard. My tag for gaming is Menelear (or Men for short).
I sent Antaleon a couple of notes about Calliope that they OK'd for the most part, but repeating them here in case anyone sees an issue--
Let me know if anyone feels like her stats / status is overweighted. I'm happy to make changes.
Lines / Veils:
Excited to play in this world and get to know everyone! Give me a shout with any questions.
DM: The Sunless Citadel, Candlekeep Mysteries, Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Death House (One-Shot)
Player: B'Etor (Lost Mine of Phandelver), Sunfyre Fields (Tide of Retribution), Annika Fedorovna (Inustwaith - Blizzard's Fury)
I've been told I am a Hobbit.
Hi, Menelear nice to meet you and YC Calliope I've got no problems with the way you did YC and I wouldn't worry about stats as there are other characters with some pretty impressive stats. I just always use point buy when there are no clear or specific DM instructions regarding rolling. Everyone is different with their own preferences as long as falls within what the DM allows then it's fine by me. And I've got no problem with her Pearl of Power, etc. either. For myself, I bent things and gave MC Prudence a starting Background Feat: Skill Expert (Performance) so she's not 100% regulation either. And I'm always ready to remove something like that as the DM decides what's too far, etc. The new playtest stuff is moving towards background feats anyway so I'm just getting a head start, lol. and there is always the 'rule of cool'!
About your Lines/Veils, no problems there from me as well. I was discussing with Antaleon about themes and mentioned I think DnD Beyond because teens and such under 18 use this site it has rules regarding keeping the language at around a PG-13 level so while mature themes can be explored I think the thing is being careful about the language and how graphic things get so fade to black and implied stuff, etc. is pretty much the gold standard on the site given threads are public. Even though MC Prudence is a courtesan posts with her are going to be PG-13 and not wade into graphic language and descriptions.
My thing is it's a game, a story, etc. so I don't get uptight or judgy about people or things. You read stuff in books and see things on TV/movies that can be rather gritty or problematic. For me, it's real life that you gotta worry or be concerned with but it's a fantasy world that's all it is. I keep em separate but that's just me everyone is different. I'm not looking to insult or offend anyone but I'm not going tip-toe about either, my main thing is a belief in the US Constitution and freedom of speech balanced with just trying to make some sort an effort to be as respectful and polite as much as possible.