Never played CoS, but have played and DMd other modules before.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish?
Never played CoS.
What interests you about CoS?
I'm interested in the horror fantasy. Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of my favorites, and I've been wanting to get into this module for quite some time now.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Larek Jorvyn
Race: Human
Class:Bard
Background: Entertainer
Personality: Very confident person who believes that the right words can get you out of anything. Always has a cheeky smile that makes you think he's hiding a secret that you just must know.
Biggest Fear: His biggest fear is that one day he will be forgotten. He has a fearful image of himself standing on a stage facing an empty room, with no one to hear his music and lyrics.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
1- He has a mole on his left butt cheek that is in the shape of a lute.
2- He has a well known song, titled "Eye of the Beholder" that he once played during a brawling match. The song is now played by bards far and wide at many other brawling matches.
3- Both his parents are alive, happy and quite comfortable.. A rarity in these parts. He decided to become a traveling bard simply because he felt a calling to spread the joy of the finer arts.
Appearance (including Dress): Dressed in fine, bright red garments with leather strappings. He has shoulder length curly brown hair, and a well groomed short beard. He stands at 6'3" and beneath his larger than life personality, is a pretty average physical build.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He tends to his musical instruments when nervous or anxious. He also has a tendency to always pick out the wrong person in the room to speak to.
Core Beliefs: Larek believes that a smile can take you a long way, even in your darkest moments. A quick smile in the mirror can start your day the right way. A quick smile to a stranger may have just saved their day if not their lives. The bigger the smile, the bigger the party.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?: Well this one's easy... Larek is the perfect fit no matter where he is. To bring music and magic to the darkest corner of the world, to bring light and joy to the most dreadful towns, well that's pretty much his job description. Oh and he's pretty good at taking out the trash while at it.
I have never played or ran a CoS session but would love to play in one! I’ve heard a lot about it but haven’t gotten around to buying the book yet but I love creepy Halloween themes!
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish?
Same as above never played it. I’ve played LMoP and run it to its end but not much other than the one setting.
What interests you about CoS?
The best holiday is Halloween let’s be honest it’s just more fun than any of the others with jump scares, cool costumes, hay rides, candy! I means what’s not to love but wait there’s a creepy vampire D&d setting yes please!
Character Name: Ogras Azh’Rezak
Race: Tiefling
Class: Fighter:2 Sorcerer:1
Background: Investigator
Personality: Ogras takes a very cynical no nonsense attitude towards life. He respects power above all for those with the most call the shots.He boasts a sharp tongue with an even sharper blade.
Biggest Fear: Confinement/Weakness
Three Interesting Details About Them:
His clan Azh’Rezak is well know as mercenaries with great fighting prowess and brutality valuing power above all else.
He is a clean freak
He lost three brothers by so called accidents.
Appearance (including Dress): Ogras has midnight black hair with plaid grey skin and horns that look from afar like a crown of ash and fire. Ogras dresses in fine suits and well tailored clothing preferring to look his bests at all times. Though for practical adventure attire he dons his black leather armor along with a black glaive.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He compulsively seeks to collect trophies of his travels and victories.
Core Beliefs: The ends always justify the means and secrets/mysteries are just yet to be revealed by those with intelligence.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Ogras is to put it simply the button pusher doesn’t matter if its people, doors, traps he going to be the one uncovering them. He likes to learn what makes people tick and just how firm their ideals are.
You probably want to choose a different Sorcerer subclass. The DM's only allowing PHB races, classes, and subclasses.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? I have not played CoS, but have tried DMing it, but the party stopped playing after a while and I stopped the campaign. I have played the original Ravenloft back in the day, and loved the books about Strahd and the Knight of the Black Rose Soth.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? Only from a DM perspective, and no
What interests you about CoS? I like the Gothic horror setting that is different than the normal dungeon campaign setting. There is more you can do with it, based on the old Grimms Fairy Tales genre.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Rodani
Race: Human
Class: Rogue/Assassin
Background: Faction Agent
Personality: Reserved, quiet. Does much top not draw attention to himself.
Biggest Fear: Failure, not meeting what is expected of him, not completing a mission
Three Interesting Details About Them: Grew up an orphan in Neverwinter, learned survival on the streets and alleys. Selected by the Harpers as a faction agent, first to gather information, then the subtle art of assassination. Serves the greater good, though may be looked down upon because of his line of work.
Appearance (including Dress): Drab and subdues clothes. Soft boots that make little to no sound. A drab brown pants that are stuffed into the tops of his boots where one of his daggers are kept. A dark brown leather armor he wears under a modest and plain shirt. A subdued cloak around his shoulders with a deep hood. A rapier hangs at his side, a short bow and quiver with his pack on his back. Standing around 6 foot tall, 180 pounds, brown hair pulled back into a ponytail tied behind his head. Tanned skin from being outdoors, with aqua blue eyes that can peer into one's soul.
Unique Hobby or Habit: Generous to a fault, recalling growing up an orphan and alone on the street. Donates and helps when he can.
Core Beliefs: He will complete his task, while being a team member. He will aide those he works with until the task is done.
Why is this a good character for this campaign? He will bring the combined abilities of a rogue: find traps, pick locks, as well as stealth and attacking from the shadows. It may take an individual with a unique set of skills to bring Strahd and his minions down
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? I've never played CoS.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? Nope, but I have participated in several PbPs
What interests you about CoS?
CoS is a campaign that I've been interested in playing for quite a while now. I've heard a lot about it, and the setting is really interesting to me. I've also heard nothing but good things about it. On top of this, I've been waiting for a more RP heavy PbP for a while, so this one seems to fit the bill pretty well. :)
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Raylan Brinestone
Race: Tiefling
Class: Warlock 1 (Fiend)/ Paladin 2
Background: Solder (Even though I chose this class because it makes the most sense for the character out of the options that I have. Even though he never actually became a solder, he did start training at a rather young age. The rank that he carries belonged to his mother.)
Personality: Definitely not the sharpest sword on the rack. Can be offended rather easily. He won't hesitate to put himself in harms way to protect a friend. Can come off as a bit rude at times, but he usually has good intentions. Has a short attention span.
Biggest Fear: I've re-flavored the Warlock class a bit. He did not willingly make a pact with his patron, rather he was bonded to it at birth. Because of this, he's in constant fear that it will somehow take control of him, and potentially harm someone. He's also afraid of not being strong enough to protect the people around him.
Backstory: (I just realized that you didn't ask for this. lol But I wrote one so here it is!)
The child of two humans residing in a small town, Ray was considered cursed from birth. Many of the villagers believe the curse to be the result of actions from his mother. Perhaps she broke her oath as a paladin in order to be with his father, if this is true Alastor will never know. Either way, his birth caused many of the superstitious villagers to avoid his family. At first, he didn’t care, but as time went on he started becoming bitter.
Though his parents did their best to care for him, young Ray had trouble making friends due to his appearance, and the fact that he seemed to talk to himself at times. For as long as he can remember, another…entity…seems to be living behind his mind. A voice seeming to offer advice, ways to find power, or to deal with those who dislike him.
Despite the fact that he was disliked for the most part, the young tiefling has always had a good heart…even if he’s not great at showing it. Over the years, the seclusion started getting to him. He slacked off in school, and couldn’t hold down a job. Even though his mother tried to train him as a paladin, he never really took it seriously. What was the point? No one would trust him to protect them anyways. Despite this ideal, Raylan did his best to stay positive. Even if it was just an act. Best not to let anyone get to him.
One day, his little village was attacked by a red dragon….and no one stood up against it. No one but his mother. While the retired paladin did her best to fend of the beast, her husband tried to aid in an evacuation.
While all of this happened, Raylan was in the woods trying to catch something for dinner. Seeing the smoke, he rushed home as fast as he could only to find the town in ruins, his father burned to ash, and his mother on the brink of death. She smiled at him, and he held her hand as she passed on. At that moment, he vowed to become a paladin. As a paladin he could protect people…all people no matter who they were. He would prove that he is capable of doing good in this world, and prevent as many people from suffering in this way as he possibly could.
From then on, he does his best to block out the fiends words and not rely on the power it granted him. Though occasionally, if he gets angry or scared enough he tends to fall back on it.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
His warlock patron (though he does not consider it a patron) occasionally pesters him, trying to get him to do things to gain more power. This causes Ray to get irritated and sometimes talk(or yell) to himself.
Most of his paladin abilities are somewhat self taught...which means they are a bit sloppy. He relies a lot on his natural brute strength and agility rather than technique or "brains". He is extremely impulsive...tends to act before thinking...(he's actually pretty young! Only about 20)
He really doesn't like dragons or anything that looks like a dragon..but he loves dogs.
Appearance (including Dress): Ray has dark red skin which fades to black on his limbs and tail. His short black horns curve back over his head and end in an upward pointed tip. His pointed ears are long enough to poke out of his messy black hair, and his yellow eyes flash brightly under his bangs. Despite his strength, he has a rather slender build.
He is dressed in a long dark blue and grey tunic, with his obviously used chain mail over it, covered only in a leather jacket. His pants are a faded black, and his boots are made of black leather. He carries his longsword at his hip, with two quivers on his back, on for arrows and one for javelins. He also carries a small pack which holds various things including his mother's broken blade.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He loves food and is actually not a bad cook. He also has a habit of underrating almost everything. Nothing's to big for him to handle! He does have an extremely short attention span...sooo he might fall asleep during important conversations.
Core Beliefs: Protect those weaker than you...even if they are jerks. ...though protecting doesn't mean caring for their every need. There is good in everyone...well almost everyone. Anyone has the potential to be good!
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Once someone accepts him as a friend, Raylan will do everything in his power to protect them. He will also jump at any chance to be the hero. He's pretty overconfident so perhaps after a few beatings in Barovia he'll figure out that he can't always play that role...and maybe he should use his brain a little.
He's a pretty light-hearted fella, but he can get pretty serious. I think this will add some interesting conversations in this game.
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? No, I have never had the opportunity.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? No, I’ve never played CoS.
What interests you about CoS? As much as I like the usual Dnd Epic fantasy tropes, I absolutely love the possibilities that horror bring. Gothic horror is one of my all time favorite genres so CoS has always been at the top of the Dnd campaigns I’ve wanted to be in. I find horror can pack a punch and make you feel things like no other genres and I often find it underutilized in DnD campaigns.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Ismira ‘Mimi’ Greenbriar
Race: Stout Halfling
Class: Monk (Way of the Shadows)
Background: Guild Artisan (Apothecary)
Personality: When you first meet her, Mimi is easy to overlook as your typical halfling: she loves good food, a good laugh and exchanging anecdotes and funny stories. She seems warm, even tempered and is great at anticipating needs and taking care of people, almost like a second mother.
However, as you get to know her, you realize that as seemingly open as she is, she never says anything important about herself. She also has very dark and cutting humour for a halfling. Turns out that as happy-go-lucky as she seems, she is a complete cynic who tends to anticipate the worst of everything and everyone. However, being from a prominent halfling family, her manners are impeccable, and so you would never know how she truly thinks of people. As a result, she can have trouble letting other people take over or truly connecting with others.
Biggest Fear: She is terrified of failure because in her world, failing usually means someone ends up dead. She is also terrified of losing everyone she loves were they to find out what she really is as violence is viewed as uncouth in her community.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
She is missing the finger on her left hand where a wedding ring would usually sit.
She has always had an interest in plants and their interactions, especially poisonous ones. As a result, she has developed an extensive collection of both lethal and nonlethal poisons as well as herbal remedies recipes. (I would if possible exchange the Alchemist’s kit that comes with the Guild Artisan background for a Herbalism kit as it would be a better fit for an Apothecarist, however if not possible it is not a big deal).
She strongly dislikes (read: fears) large canines after being attacked by a wolf as a child.
Appearance (including Dress): Ismira is of fairly diminutive size even for a halfling, being barely 3’5 on a good day. Her wide hazel eyes, round freckled cheeks and her curly dark auburn hair usually swept up in a braided crown might make you believe her a child at first glance. The only hints that she is not one are the small streaks of silver at her temples, thin laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and the thin, pale scar that curves along her right lower jaw and neck. She usually wears peasant clothes made of great quality, durable fabric: a long sleeved white linen shift, a maroon laced vest and matching overskirt as well as thick, good quality boots. Her garb is complete with a thick brown belt and a warm, dark colored cape.
Unique Hobby or Habit: When stressed or lost in thoughts, she tends to rub the nub where her finger used to be.
Core Beliefs: As possible future leader and Guardian of her village, it is her sacred duty to lead by example and protect her people at all costs. She also lives by the creed of her Order: ‘A few have to be merciless so that the rest can be merciful.’
More background details:
Ismira is the second daughter of her settlement’s Eldest and Chieftain, Elijah. Thus, she learned how to lead like her father as well as the Apothecarist trade like her mother. More importantly, she was raised by her Uncle Severin to become a Guardian, which is the order of protectors of the Shire.
The Greenbriar Shire is not rich but it is plentiful so that bounty sometimes leads to untoward attention from outsiders. This is where the Guardians come in. As the land’s inhabitants are peaceful to a fault, believing violence an unforgivable sin worthy of expulsion and also because historically broadcasting violence only brings more violence, the Guardians’ existence is kept a secret from everyone in the Shire (and outside of it) except the Chieftain and the Guardians themselves.
Because the Shire doesn’t have much metalworking, Guardians are taught how to be very discrete and how to fight mostly with their hands. The origin of their order is unknown but it is said they were chosen by their Goddess for this purpose. Their only real metal weapon, which is used as a last resort, is a bracer concealed in their sleeve on their dominant arm, which is why they lose their finger because it gets in the way. (If possible, for storytelling purposes could I use this instead of a dagger while keeping dagger mechanics?) This is also how they recognize each other.
Mimi left her lands because a halfling girl, Aster Thistlehill, disappeared. From the looks of it, she believes it might have been taken by a band of mercenaries but has not yet been able to find more information about the situation.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Mimi would be great for this party in four ways: 1) Halflings are known to be friendly, peacekeepers and overall the life of the party. Mimi is a prime example of her race so in a gloomy situation she would be there to support the others. 2) Halflings like Mimi are also great at fitting in because of their small size, especially in places others cannot go. 3) She feels at home in the shadows because of the way she was trained and she has an even temper so she will not easily be ruffled by whatever horrors Ravenloft contains. 4) She is easily underestimated but is in reality pretty quick and ruthless so it makes for a deadly combination.
Hi. I would love to join. I hope I am still on time!
To answer your questions:
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? (combing the two together, as the same answer for both)
Both questions: Never played it. I'm currently DM'ing a PBP Strahd campaign, just because I love the idea of the campaign and it's the closest I've been able to get to playing, but I would love to actually play myself too.
What interests you about CoS?
I think it's a very compelling campaign with a proper story, deep background, real developments and progression, character motivations (even for NPCs and Villains), secrets to uncover, etc. As opposed to some campaigns that are really just weak excuses to link together multiple combat encounters. CoS is much closer to collectively writing a gothic novel - rather than just doing a dungeon crawl with random encounters and little narrative.
Idovon is a cheerful personality and always tries to lighten up those around him. This is what led him to become a Bard
Biggest Fear:
Loneliness. The worst thing for Idovon would be to be imprisoned in solitary confinement for an extended period. He craves company and companionship. This may be the result of growing up in a very large family, and now he always craves having friends and companions around as a sort of substitute family.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
Idovon prefers talking over fighting. He is reasonably skilled in fighting - having had to learn the hard way over time, as travelers (and particularly Bards) are often set upon, but he would much rather talk his way out of trouble than fight his way out. He is physically weak, but very quick and athletic. Idovon often finds that a bit of acrobatics (e.g. running away and scaling a wall) is far more effective than trying to punch out whomever tries to pick on him. He is by no means a coward, but considers that sheer violence should always be the very last choice.
Unlike some of his fellow Bards, Idovon has absolutely no interest in seducing anyone. He longs after his childhood sweat-heart, who lives at home - but rejected his proposal of marriage and told him that she would only marry him once he became famous. Having little enough skill as a trader, fighter, or mage, he decided that being a Bard would be his best chance of achieving fame - and that is why he has set out on adventures. Idovon might well do a little bit of flirting if it is absolutely necessary (e.g. to convince someone to book him as a stage performer), but he would never take it any further as in his mind this would break his vows to his beloved at home.
He has a very large family back at home, and if you carelessly ask him about them you might well have to listen to several hours worth of stories about various cousins and uncles.
Appearance (including Dress):
He dresses well and spends a fair amount of money on clothes. He is not wealthy, but tries to dress to a good standards (going to merchants that the successful middle classes might use). He typically wears traveler's clothes, but always adds a dash of colour or something extravagant, currently favouring a bright blue cape over the top of his outfit, and a puffy silky necktie in contrasting bright red.
Unique Hobby or Habit:
When setting camp or otherwise idle, Idovon will try to spin recent events into song or verse as an idle pasttime - and sometimes comes up with catchy enough tunes to add to his repertoire.
Core Beliefs:
No matter how bad you think the situation is, you can always make the best of it and try to be cheerful.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
I think a Bard provides an interesting juxtaposition to the relatively dark nature of the campaign. Just to be clear, he will not be playing the stereotypical 'horny' bard. His approach to life is to help people where he can, and to brighten their days if possible. Although generally good-natured and usually law-abiding, he is not beyond a bit of trickery and thievery if he thinks that overall it's all in a good cause, or that the victim deserves it. His view is that you have to break eggs to make an omlet. I gameplay terms, I find Bards are quite fun and versatile and certainly lend themselves well to a narrative-heavy campaign. I like narrative and role-play heavy campaigns and agree that PbP really lends itself to this. I can give you some examples from other PbP campaigns on DDB if you want to see some examples.
Well... That's four (4!?!) College of Lore Bards, so I'm going to thin the herd and withdraw Kit. May submit something else instead, but probably won't have the time before the deadline. Best of luck to everyone, have a great campaign!
That's awfully kind of you but, as someone who swapped out one great idea for another one because there was already another life cleric in the mix, I'm sure you understand!
I totally understand, part of it was that they had already done one, the other part was I've never played a Ranger and figured I'd explore them a bit. Try to broaden my horizons. Best of luck, no matter what you choose.
That's a shame! Kit was one of the most memorable characters out of all of them for sure! If you don't have time to submit another character, I'd say keep him in as you definitely have a chance to get picked. Better a smaller chance than no chance right?
Well... That's four (4!?!) College of Lore Bards, so I'm going to thin the herd and withdraw Kit. May submit something else instead, but probably won't have the time before the deadline. Best of luck to everyone, have a great campaign!
Bards can be fun. Also, college of Lore is pretty much the default choice as the guidance was to limit to PHB. Could we expand the list of acceptable sources for character creation?
Ugh, reread this and realized that it comes off as arrogant. What I meant to say here is that I've played bards before (a lot) and Kit in particular, so I think its time to try something new and give the other bards less competition.
It's less about my chances than everyone else's. I've been lucky enough to play variants of Kit in three other campaigns. Better to give some new ideas a chance to grow. But again, thank you for the kindness!
In the final stretch. Please get in submissions (or make changes) by midnight CST tonight (I won't look until the morning, so you really have until tomorrow morning around 7am).
Could definitely use some alternate Cleric options (I think I'd open up Grave domain as it is a perfect fit). Also no straight Wizards, which I've read might be important. I will also caution that choices will have consequences. Keep in mind this is a gothic horror game, so flavor is important. Most important.
I also will likely allow options from Van Richten's guide, so if that alters some previously submitted characters, feel free to edit submission.
I'm really looking forward to running this. It is going to be a commitment, which is hard for PBP, but hopefully we'll somehow make it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
Made an adjustment, somehow overlooked that Gnomesftw had already submitted a life cleric, so I switched to a Ranger.
Here’s what I want to know about you:
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish?
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish?
What interests you about CoS?
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Larek Jorvyn
Race: Human
Class: Bard
Background: Entertainer
Personality: Very confident person who believes that the right words can get you out of anything. Always has a cheeky smile that makes you think he's hiding a secret that you just must know.
Biggest Fear: His biggest fear is that one day he will be forgotten. He has a fearful image of himself standing on a stage facing an empty room, with no one to hear his music and lyrics.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
Appearance (including Dress): Dressed in fine, bright red garments with leather strappings. He has shoulder length curly brown hair, and a well groomed short beard. He stands at 6'3" and beneath his larger than life personality, is a pretty average physical build.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He tends to his musical instruments when nervous or anxious. He also has a tendency to always pick out the wrong person in the room to speak to.
Core Beliefs: Larek believes that a smile can take you a long way, even in your darkest moments. A quick smile in the mirror can start your day the right way. A quick smile to a stranger may have just saved their day if not their lives. The bigger the smile, the bigger the party.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?: Well this one's easy... Larek is the perfect fit no matter where he is. To bring music and magic to the darkest corner of the world, to bring light and joy to the most dreadful towns, well that's pretty much his job description. Oh and he's pretty good at taking out the trash while at it.
DM - Beyond the Veil
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish?
I have never played or ran a CoS session but would love to play in one! I’ve heard a lot about it but haven’t gotten around to buying the book yet but I love creepy Halloween themes!
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish?
Same as above never played it. I’ve played LMoP and run it to its end but not much other than the one setting.
What interests you about CoS?
The best holiday is Halloween let’s be honest it’s just more fun than any of the others with jump scares, cool costumes, hay rides, candy! I means what’s not to love but wait there’s a creepy vampire D&d setting yes please!
Character Name: Ogras Azh’Rezak
Race: Tiefling
Class: Fighter:2 Sorcerer:1
Background: Investigator
Personality: Ogras takes a very cynical no nonsense attitude towards life. He respects power above all for those with the most call the shots.He boasts a sharp tongue with an even sharper blade.
Biggest Fear: Confinement/Weakness
Three Interesting Details About Them:
Appearance (including Dress): Ogras has midnight black hair with plaid grey skin and horns that look from afar like a crown of ash and fire. Ogras dresses in fine suits and well tailored clothing preferring to look his bests at all times. Though for practical adventure attire he dons his black leather armor along with a black glaive.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He compulsively seeks to collect trophies of his travels and victories.
Core Beliefs: The ends always justify the means and secrets/mysteries are just yet to be revealed by those with intelligence.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Ogras is to put it simply the button pusher doesn’t matter if its people, doors, traps he going to be the one uncovering them. He likes to learn what makes people tick and just how firm their ideals are.
You probably want to choose a different Sorcerer subclass. The DM's only allowing PHB races, classes, and subclasses.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? I have not played CoS, but have tried DMing it, but the party stopped playing after a while and I stopped the campaign. I have played the original Ravenloft back in the day, and loved the books about Strahd and the Knight of the Black Rose Soth.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? Only from a DM perspective, and no
What interests you about CoS? I like the Gothic horror setting that is different than the normal dungeon campaign setting. There is more you can do with it, based on the old Grimms Fairy Tales genre.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Rodani
Race: Human
Class: Rogue/Assassin
Background: Faction Agent
Personality: Reserved, quiet. Does much top not draw attention to himself.
Biggest Fear: Failure, not meeting what is expected of him, not completing a mission
Three Interesting Details About Them: Grew up an orphan in Neverwinter, learned survival on the streets and alleys. Selected by the Harpers as a faction agent, first to gather information, then the subtle art of assassination. Serves the greater good, though may be looked down upon because of his line of work.
Appearance (including Dress): Drab and subdues clothes. Soft boots that make little to no sound. A drab brown pants that are stuffed into the tops of his boots where one of his daggers are kept. A dark brown leather armor he wears under a modest and plain shirt. A subdued cloak around his shoulders with a deep hood. A rapier hangs at his side, a short bow and quiver with his pack on his back. Standing around 6 foot tall, 180 pounds, brown hair pulled back into a ponytail tied behind his head. Tanned skin from being outdoors, with aqua blue eyes that can peer into one's soul.
Unique Hobby or Habit: Generous to a fault, recalling growing up an orphan and alone on the street. Donates and helps when he can.
Core Beliefs: He will complete his task, while being a team member. He will aide those he works with until the task is done.
Why is this a good character for this campaign? He will bring the combined abilities of a rogue: find traps, pick locks, as well as stealth and attacking from the shadows. It may take an individual with a unique set of skills to bring Strahd and his minions down
Ya sorry was a copy from my notes on my phone had classes I wanted to play just missed removing the sub.
Here’s what I want to know about you:
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? I've never played CoS.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish?
Nope, but I have participated in several PbPs
What interests you about CoS?
CoS is a campaign that I've been interested in playing for quite a while now. I've heard a lot about it, and the setting is really interesting to me. I've also heard nothing but good things about it. On top of this, I've been waiting for a more RP heavy PbP for a while, so this one seems to fit the bill pretty well. :)
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Raylan Brinestone
Race: Tiefling
Class: Warlock 1 (Fiend)/ Paladin 2
Background: Solder (Even though I chose this class because it makes the most sense for the character out of the options that I have. Even though he never actually became a solder, he did start training at a rather young age. The rank that he carries belonged to his mother.)
Personality: Definitely not the sharpest sword on the rack. Can be offended rather easily. He won't hesitate to put himself in harms way to protect a friend. Can come off as a bit rude at times, but he usually has good intentions. Has a short attention span.
Biggest Fear: I've re-flavored the Warlock class a bit. He did not willingly make a pact with his patron, rather he was bonded to it at birth. Because of this, he's in constant fear that it will somehow take control of him, and potentially harm someone. He's also afraid of not being strong enough to protect the people around him.
Backstory: (I just realized that you didn't ask for this. lol But I wrote one so here it is!)
The child of two humans residing in a small town, Ray was considered cursed from birth. Many of the villagers believe the curse to be the result of actions from his mother. Perhaps she broke her oath as a paladin in order to be with his father, if this is true Alastor will never know. Either way, his birth caused many of the superstitious villagers to avoid his family. At first, he didn’t care, but as time went on he started becoming bitter.
Though his parents did their best to care for him, young Ray had trouble making friends due to his appearance, and the fact that he seemed to talk to himself at times. For as long as he can remember, another…entity…seems to be living behind his mind. A voice seeming to offer advice, ways to find power, or to deal with those who dislike him.
Despite the fact that he was disliked for the most part, the young tiefling has always had a good heart…even if he’s not great at showing it. Over the years, the seclusion started getting to him. He slacked off in school, and couldn’t hold down a job. Even though his mother tried to train him as a paladin, he never really took it seriously. What was the point? No one would trust him to protect them anyways. Despite this ideal, Raylan did his best to stay positive. Even if it was just an act. Best not to let anyone get to him.
One day, his little village was attacked by a red dragon….and no one stood up against it. No one but his mother. While the retired paladin did her best to fend of the beast, her husband tried to aid in an evacuation.
While all of this happened, Raylan was in the woods trying to catch something for dinner. Seeing the smoke, he rushed home as fast as he could only to find the town in ruins, his father burned to ash, and his mother on the brink of death. She smiled at him, and he held her hand as she passed on. At that moment, he vowed to become a paladin. As a paladin he could protect people…all people no matter who they were. He would prove that he is capable of doing good in this world, and prevent as many people from suffering in this way as he possibly could.
From then on, he does his best to block out the fiends words and not rely on the power it granted him. Though occasionally, if he gets angry or scared enough he tends to fall back on it.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
His warlock patron (though he does not consider it a patron) occasionally pesters him, trying to get him to do things to gain more power. This causes Ray to get irritated and sometimes talk(or yell) to himself.
Most of his paladin abilities are somewhat self taught...which means they are a bit sloppy. He relies a lot on his natural brute strength and agility rather than technique or "brains". He is extremely impulsive...tends to act before thinking...(he's actually pretty young! Only about 20)
He really doesn't like dragons or anything that looks like a dragon..but he loves dogs.
Appearance (including Dress): Ray has dark red skin which fades to black on his limbs and tail. His short black horns curve back over his head and end in an upward pointed tip. His pointed ears are long enough to poke out of his messy black hair, and his yellow eyes flash brightly under his bangs. Despite his strength, he has a rather slender build.
He is dressed in a long dark blue and grey tunic, with his obviously used chain mail over it, covered only in a leather jacket. His pants are a faded black, and his boots are made of black leather. He carries his longsword at his hip, with two quivers on his back, on for arrows and one for javelins. He also carries a small pack which holds various things including his mother's broken blade.
Unique Hobby or Habit: He loves food and is actually not a bad cook. He also has a habit of underrating almost everything. Nothing's to big for him to handle! He does have an extremely short attention span...sooo he might fall asleep during important conversations.
Core Beliefs: Protect those weaker than you...even if they are jerks. ...though protecting doesn't mean caring for their every need. There is good in everyone...well almost everyone. Anyone has the potential to be good!
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Once someone accepts him as a friend, Raylan will do everything in his power to protect them. He will also jump at any chance to be the hero. He's pretty overconfident so perhaps after a few beatings in Barovia he'll figure out that he can't always play that role...and maybe he should use his brain a little.
He's a pretty light-hearted fella, but he can get pretty serious. I think this will add some interesting conversations in this game.
CoS will also REALLY test his Core Beliefs.
Character Sheet: Raylan
Hello!
Here is my application:
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? No, I have never had the opportunity.
Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? No, I’ve never played CoS.
What interests you about CoS? As much as I like the usual Dnd Epic fantasy tropes, I absolutely love the possibilities that horror bring. Gothic horror is one of my all time favorite genres so CoS has always been at the top of the Dnd campaigns I’ve wanted to be in. I find horror can pack a punch and make you feel things like no other genres and I often find it underutilized in DnD campaigns.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Character Name: Ismira ‘Mimi’ Greenbriar
Race: Stout Halfling
Class: Monk (Way of the Shadows)
Background: Guild Artisan (Apothecary)
Personality: When you first meet her, Mimi is easy to overlook as your typical halfling: she loves good food, a good laugh and exchanging anecdotes and funny stories. She seems warm, even tempered and is great at anticipating needs and taking care of people, almost like a second mother.
However, as you get to know her, you realize that as seemingly open as she is, she never says anything important about herself. She also has very dark and cutting humour for a halfling. Turns out that as happy-go-lucky as she seems, she is a complete cynic who tends to anticipate the worst of everything and everyone. However, being from a prominent halfling family, her manners are impeccable, and so you would never know how she truly thinks of people. As a result, she can have trouble letting other people take over or truly connecting with others.
Biggest Fear: She is terrified of failure because in her world, failing usually means someone ends up dead. She is also terrified of losing everyone she loves were they to find out what she really is as violence is viewed as uncouth in her community.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
Appearance (including Dress): Ismira is of fairly diminutive size even for a halfling, being barely 3’5 on a good day. Her wide hazel eyes, round freckled cheeks and her curly dark auburn hair usually swept up in a braided crown might make you believe her a child at first glance. The only hints that she is not one are the small streaks of silver at her temples, thin laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and the thin, pale scar that curves along her right lower jaw and neck. She usually wears peasant clothes made of great quality, durable fabric: a long sleeved white linen shift, a maroon laced vest and matching overskirt as well as thick, good quality boots. Her garb is complete with a thick brown belt and a warm, dark colored cape.
Unique Hobby or Habit: When stressed or lost in thoughts, she tends to rub the nub where her finger used to be.
Core Beliefs: As possible future leader and Guardian of her village, it is her sacred duty to lead by example and protect her people at all costs. She also lives by the creed of her Order: ‘A few have to be merciless so that the rest can be merciful.’
More background details:
Ismira is the second daughter of her settlement’s Eldest and Chieftain, Elijah. Thus, she learned how to lead like her father as well as the Apothecarist trade like her mother. More importantly, she was raised by her Uncle Severin to become a Guardian, which is the order of protectors of the Shire.
The Greenbriar Shire is not rich but it is plentiful so that bounty sometimes leads to untoward attention from outsiders. This is where the Guardians come in. As the land’s inhabitants are peaceful to a fault, believing violence an unforgivable sin worthy of expulsion and also because historically broadcasting violence only brings more violence, the Guardians’ existence is kept a secret from everyone in the Shire (and outside of it) except the Chieftain and the Guardians themselves.
Because the Shire doesn’t have much metalworking, Guardians are taught how to be very discrete and how to fight mostly with their hands. The origin of their order is unknown but it is said they were chosen by their Goddess for this purpose. Their only real metal weapon, which is used as a last resort, is a bracer concealed in their sleeve on their dominant arm, which is why they lose their finger because it gets in the way. (If possible, for storytelling purposes could I use this instead of a dagger while keeping dagger mechanics?) This is also how they recognize each other.
Mimi left her lands because a halfling girl, Aster Thistlehill, disappeared. From the looks of it, she believes it might have been taken by a band of mercenaries but has not yet been able to find more information about the situation.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
Mimi would be great for this party in four ways: 1) Halflings are known to be friendly, peacekeepers and overall the life of the party. Mimi is a prime example of her race so in a gloomy situation she would be there to support the others. 2) Halflings like Mimi are also great at fitting in because of their small size, especially in places others cannot go. 3) She feels at home in the shadows because of the way she was trained and she has an even temper so she will not easily be ruffled by whatever horrors Ravenloft contains. 4) She is easily underestimated but is in reality pretty quick and ruthless so it makes for a deadly combination.
Hi. I would love to join. I hope I am still on time!
To answer your questions:
Have you ever played CoS? Did you finish? Have you played CoS in a PbP setting? Did you finish? (combing the two together, as the same answer for both)
Both questions: Never played it. I'm currently DM'ing a PBP Strahd campaign, just because I love the idea of the campaign and it's the closest I've been able to get to playing, but I would love to actually play myself too.
What interests you about CoS?
I think it's a very compelling campaign with a proper story, deep background, real developments and progression, character motivations (even for NPCs and Villains), secrets to uncover, etc. As opposed to some campaigns that are really just weak excuses to link together multiple combat encounters. CoS is much closer to collectively writing a gothic novel - rather than just doing a dungeon crawl with random encounters and little narrative.
Here’s what I want to know about your character:
Link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/106100645/f3V4dN
Character Name: Idovon Lonewater
Race: Lightfoot Halfling
Class: Bard (College of Lore)
Background: Entertainer
Personality:
Idovon is a cheerful personality and always tries to lighten up those around him. This is what led him to become a Bard
Biggest Fear:
Loneliness. The worst thing for Idovon would be to be imprisoned in solitary confinement for an extended period. He craves company and companionship. This may be the result of growing up in a very large family, and now he always craves having friends and companions around as a sort of substitute family.
Three Interesting Details About Them:
Appearance (including Dress):
He dresses well and spends a fair amount of money on clothes. He is not wealthy, but tries to dress to a good standards (going to merchants that the successful middle classes might use). He typically wears traveler's clothes, but always adds a dash of colour or something extravagant, currently favouring a bright blue cape over the top of his outfit, and a puffy silky necktie in contrasting bright red.
Unique Hobby or Habit:
When setting camp or otherwise idle, Idovon will try to spin recent events into song or verse as an idle pasttime - and sometimes comes up with catchy enough tunes to add to his repertoire.
Core Beliefs:
No matter how bad you think the situation is, you can always make the best of it and try to be cheerful.
Why is this a good character for this campaign?
I think a Bard provides an interesting juxtaposition to the relatively dark nature of the campaign. Just to be clear, he will not be playing the stereotypical 'horny' bard. His approach to life is to help people where he can, and to brighten their days if possible. Although generally good-natured and usually law-abiding, he is not beyond a bit of trickery and thievery if he thinks that overall it's all in a good cause, or that the victim deserves it. His view is that you have to break eggs to make an omlet. I gameplay terms, I find Bards are quite fun and versatile and certainly lend themselves well to a narrative-heavy campaign. I like narrative and role-play heavy campaigns and agree that PbP really lends itself to this. I can give you some examples from other PbP campaigns on DDB if you want to see some examples.
Well... That's four (4!?!) College of Lore Bards, so I'm going to thin the herd and withdraw Kit. May submit something else instead, but probably won't have the time before the deadline. Best of luck to everyone, have a great campaign!
Noooo! Stay in, Kit is great. Maybe the DM will go with an all Bard party.
That's awfully kind of you but, as someone who swapped out one great idea for another one because there was already another life cleric in the mix, I'm sure you understand!
I totally understand, part of it was that they had already done one, the other part was I've never played a Ranger and figured I'd explore them a bit. Try to broaden my horizons. Best of luck, no matter what you choose.
Good point! I've never played a sorcerer and last time I looked there wasn't one, so maybe that.
That's a shame! Kit was one of the most memorable characters out of all of them for sure! If you don't have time to submit another character, I'd say keep him in as you definitely have a chance to get picked. Better a smaller chance than no chance right?
Bards can be fun. Also, college of Lore is pretty much the default choice as the guidance was to limit to PHB. Could we expand the list of acceptable sources for character creation?
Ugh, reread this and realized that it comes off as arrogant. What I meant to say here is that I've played bards before (a lot) and Kit in particular, so I think its time to try something new and give the other bards less competition.
It's less about my chances than everyone else's. I've been lucky enough to play variants of Kit in three other campaigns. Better to give some new ideas a chance to grow. But again, thank you for the kindness!I do, indeed, have an all bard campaign in the works. It is pretty awesome!
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
In the final stretch. Please get in submissions (or make changes) by midnight CST tonight (I won't look until the morning, so you really have until tomorrow morning around 7am).
Current count (not counting some multiclassers): Cleric 1, Druid 1, Bard 4, Rogue 3, fighter 2, barbarian 1, paladin 2, warlock 2, ranger 1, sorcerer 1, monk 1
Could definitely use some alternate Cleric options (I think I'd open up Grave domain as it is a perfect fit). Also no straight Wizards, which I've read might be important. I will also caution that choices will have consequences. Keep in mind this is a gothic horror game, so flavor is important. Most important.
I also will likely allow options from Van Richten's guide, so if that alters some previously submitted characters, feel free to edit submission.
I'm really looking forward to running this. It is going to be a commitment, which is hard for PBP, but hopefully we'll somehow make it.
Writer • Podcaster • Professional Gamemaster
playing Jin Wei, human (Kara-tur) way of the Four Elements Monk in the Princes of the Apocalypse
Disregard my entry. Have fun.
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop