Ability scores: 13 18 16 16 13 13

Reminder that recruitment will end tomorrow! If you want to get an application in, please go ahead and do so now!

Name: Gairynzyl
Race: Dark angel (Winged tiefling)
Class: Shadow Sorcerer
Background: Monster hunter (Urban bounty hunter)
Backstory: Long ago Gairynzyl was sent from Mount Celestia to hunt down a corrupted spy for the nether planes, a pursuit that brought him to the plane of shadows where he lost his way both in body and in spirit. As he reemerged he found himself changed and unfit to resume his service as a celestial, still thirsting for the thrill of the hunt, searching for the most dangerous and elusive prey the land of mortals could offer, one day hearing about the mysterious Balowang. Perhaps this would be the final hunt that would bring him back on the true path.
Magic Item: Bloodwell Vial

Gairynzyl

Shame I only just saw this. It looks like a very cool campaign with a lot of familiar faces applying. I don't have time for a fully fleshed application but I will do a quick one.

Character Name: Wendell Honeypot
Class and Subclass: Wizard (Diviner)
Stats: 13 10 14 16 12 15
Race: 2024 Halfling 
Two Common Magic Items or One Uncommon Magic Item of your choice: (I will review these though I'll be happy with nearly all!): Either Headband of Intellect or Robe of Useful Items (depending on if I get a high roll for stats or not. Will be reflected on the sheet linked below. If I have the Robe of Useful Items, we can discuss what is on it if I am chosen)
Backstory (Consider whether you come from Ilkalith or from outside, this will make a difference, and mention anything about your sighting of the Balowang!): Wendell does not come from Ilkalith. In fact, he only recently arrived there, having spent most of his life seeking knowledge, first mundane and then magical, at various libraries, before more recently becomming a teacher at one of the magical universities (Happy to define where but don't know the world details). He had travelled to most places in the world, and read a lot of books and therefore considered himself to be knowledgeable on practically any subject, so when one of his students from Ilkalith mentioned the Balowang he dismissed it as nonsense. Surely if it were real he would have read something about it.... Well that night he had a vision of the future. A group of adventurers, himself not included, were hunting the Balowang when it appeared for a second, snatching one of them away with him. Now convinced of the existence, he had to find it. Both to be the first person to publish a book about it, with proof, but also to save the life of the adventurer who got taken in the possible future. Unfortunately the vision was hazy, being only a possible future and not the future, so he couldn't make out enough detail on the Balowang, and also couldn't see exactly where they were when it appeared. His only lead was Ilkalith. 
Character Sheet (Only if you have one ready!): 
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/137307325/LZOV0R
Any other information you want to include!: As you have probably noticed in our other shared campaigns, I am often less available at weekends. Additionally I might not be around loads between Christmas and new year but I will try to post at least every other day (if not every day), just I will be on mobile only so formatting might not always happen. Also, probably was included already, but fixed hp or rolled?

My apologies if this has already been addressed, but is multiclassing permitted?

Ability scores: 15 15 13 12 12 13

Quote from groverbloom >>

Ability scores: 15 15 13 12 12 13

 Character Name: Coenen "Nik" Cole

Class and Subclass: Barbarian 1 / Champion Fighter 6

Stats: See Above

Race: Standard Human 

Two Common Magic Items or One Uncommon Magic Item of your choice: TBD (most likely Armor)

Backstory:

"Me? Yeah I used to be an Ilkalith girl from way back. My Pa ran the forge over on the east end of town before the fever took him and Ma. Taught me the trade too. Had to, the gods didn't see fit to give him any sons."

She finishes her ale and slams the mug down harder than necessary.

"Anyway, landlord evicted us after my parents passed. Said a girl got no business being a blacksmith. Told me I should find a nice boy and get married," she snorts. "Fortunately there was a caravan passing through with a more enlightened fella running the show. He give me work tending to the animals and I've been knocking around the country-side ever since. When I heard there was a group getting together was gonna try and nab themselves the Balowang, I figured it was time for me to come back and see if I couldn't earn my name a place among the other local heros."

Character Sheet (Only if you have one ready!): WiP

Quote from groverbloom >>

My apologies if this has already been addressed, but is multiclassing permitted?

 Yep, multi-classing is fine! 

Ability scores: 14 13 14 15 13 12

let’s see who wants to go hunting…

Quote from Metaphorce >>

Ability scores: 10 13 15 11 14 15

 

let’s see who wants to go hunting…

Quote from Metaphorce >>

Ability scores: 10 13 15 11 14 15

let’s see who wants to go hunting…

Character Name: Sshatunah CobraHood
Class and Subclass: Barbarian 1 Paladin 6 (Watcher)
Stats: above
Race: Yuan-ti
One Uncommon Magic Item of your choice: Gloves of Ogre Might
Backstory: the city of Sshatunah’s (Ssha) birthplace was far from  Ilkalith, far enough to only a legend in the tongue tips and in the ears of the local population… yuanti lived in large underground clusters, and only those almost human in form ventured out, the honorable staying their whole life in worship of their idols and gods. But Ssha was different, build different, with conviction. The old stories of bringing about the world’s end had birthed in him dreams of bringing about the end of the material world made him toss and turn in his youth, after years coming to a different conclusion. The world was precious, though temporary, and Ssha felt a duty to awaken the unknowing within each individual, which required him not to seek their destruction, but foster their growth… and so Ssha went in search of cultured lands, With stories and monuments worthy of preserving…

the Balowang… Ssha knew not that was what it was called… to him it was but the darkness that almost took him along… that late autumn eve, on a moonless night, suddenly the temperature dropped, and it seemed as if the winds stilled but in a small area around him. Nothing moved, even the local bugs frozen by the luring energy passing by… but shadows on a shadowless night, Ssha tried to track it the next day, but his brutish nature prevented much success, except finally meeting a band of fellow travelers, seeking to know more of this being even to frightful for bedside stories: it was the only creature to make ssha shiver into his spine, a Brutish and beastly yuanti who normally didn’t scare easily. 

Character Sheet (Only if you have one ready!)

Any other information you want to include!: 

Recruitment is now closed! 

It was very difficult to narrow down applications to create a party as I would have gladly taken every one of these characters on the hunt, but those who have been chosen have been PMed, so if you haven't received a PM, unfortunately you did not make it in. Thank you all for applying!

CAMPAIGN START

Each of you have been in varying levels of conference with each other over the past few months, making arrangements to begin your hunt for the Balowang. To begin your quest, you have made contact with Brimbul Caravatch, a well-known noble in the town of Alkton who is highly fascinated with the Balowang, and has sold multiple books, talks, and travel brochures about the creature. He has agreed to act as a guide of sorts, and has also taken on the role of receiving possible leads from the public on the Balowang's features, potential location and other sightings. He claims that through his enormous social influence that he'll be able to gather so many clues for you that you should get lead straight to the beast, though some of you are more skeptical of this than others, and will rather believe that when you see it.

However, before you can meet up with Brimbul in Alkton, you first have to meet with each other. You all eventually came to agreement that you should meet in the rural village of Walping; the first, northernmost settlement on the string of towns and villages that stretches down the spine of Ilkalith. For the majority of you, who are coming from outside Ilkalith to begin this quest, this is a straightforward and natural first step, and it's even fairly easy to meet here for Silvosh, as although they live within Ilkalith they can easily roam. However, for Aralia, it's a bit more of a trek up from her hometown of Melwarth all the way in the south.

One by one, you reach your meeting point within Walping which you'll head out from. You agreed on meeting at the town square, though on arrival, it isn't what you quite expected. In fact, it's just a four way crossroad in the middle of the village, where the main trail that goes through the county intersects with the small country lanes spidering out into the farmsteads and avenues of the village. The road is made up of just simple dirt and grit; you stand on a grassy verge to the side, near a white-stone waypoint marking the miles till the next town, to let the farmers and their carts pass, and altogether, it's a pretty humble start location for adventurers of your skill and renown. 

Please feel free to say what order you arrive in, introduce yourselves and say how you'd react to the environment and quest ahead! 

This moment—the gathering of hunters, the start of their journey—feels like a culmination of years of waiting, questioning, and obsessing over the one memory that has haunted Aralia since childhood: the Balowang’s shadow, moving with unnatural intent.

Despite having traveled the farthest, she is one of the first to arrive, a testament to her tireless preparation and determination. She had left her hometown of Melwarth days earlier, her ring humming faintly with dark energy, a constant reminder of the pact she forged to bring her closer to the truth. Now, as she stands beneath the waypoint marker, watching as carts rumble by and villagers cast her wary glances, she allows herself a small moment of reflection. The humble setting feels at odds with the weight of her mission, but Aralia isn’t here for grandeur—she’s here to finish what began so many years ago.

Before the others began to arrive, she took time to prepare, kneeling in the grass by the white-stone waypoint to methodically cast two rituals. First, Comprehend Languages and then Detect Magic, her crimson eyes briefly glowing brighter as she attunes herself to the presence of magical auras. With these spells in place, she rises, her sharp mind as prepared as her body for what lies ahead. With a measured breath, she straightens, ready to meet the others who share her singular purpose: uncovering the Balowang and ending its hold on their lives.

She cuts a striking figure at the crossroads, her luminous, entirely red eyes seeming to glow faintly in the misty morning light. Her long, wavy hair cascades down her back in deep, dark purple waves, contrasting sharply with her smooth bluish-purple skin. Her mismatched curved horns—one thicker and sweeping backward, the other thinner and curling slightly inward—mark her unmistakably as a Tiefling. Despite her chthonic lineage, she appears healthy and robust, her athletic frame a testament to years of rigorous training for the moment she has long anticipated: facing the Balowang.

Her attire is practical and efficient, a finely crafted chain shirt providing protection while allowing mobility. A longsword hangs confidently at her hip, its dark blade faintly etched with incomprehensible runes—a testament to her pact—and her shield rests securely on her back. As the others begin to arrive, Aralia takes a moment to glance down at her hand, where the faint shimmer of her Ring of Mind Shielding briefly catches her eye. With a subtle gesture, she wills it to become imperceptible, hiding its presence before stepping forward to meet the group. Her greeting is stoic, her tone even, but her sharp eyes dart to each newcomer, sizing them up with quiet intensity. Aralia wastes no time on pleasantries; she’s here to get the job done.

"Aralia Nightshade, local investigator. Glad to meet others brave enough to hunt the beast."

Abishai had been walking for quite some time, following the road south. Eventually, he found himself in the small farming community of Walping. Playing his lute, Abishai is trying to recreate the interesting song he remembered hearing when he encountered the Balowang. This tune intrigued him and suits his personality perfectly. Arriving to town, he wondered if he had missed the meeting. However, after seeing an interesting looking Tiefling standing intensely on the roadside, he knew he was right on time. He posts up next to Aralia. After a quick introduction on the side of the road, Abishai begins playing a somber tune while waiting for the remaining companions to arrive. All the while, surveying his surroundings and giving a sly wink to a few of the farmers daughters as they walked past. 

Abishai thinks to himself, "It's too bad we didn't agree to meet at a tavern. I could sure use a good ale right about now."

Abishai is a charismatic person who always seems to be alert for danger. Almost as if he expects it around every corner. Even when performing he is able to take in the details of his surroundings and is always looking for an exit should the need arise. If any farmers pass him by that look like they need assistance, he gladly offers his aid and mends their wagons or tools as best he can using his magical prowess. While he doesn't outright ask for payment, he does overtly hint that anything is expected and appreciated. Though he knows these farmers likely don't have much in the way of coin to offer.

[[ OOC: Abishai casts [mending on any wagons or tools for farmers that agree to Abishai's assistance. Aralia would see a magical aura emanating from Abishai's doss lute. ]]

Wendell turns up looking around for the group. Seeing two people standing at the agreed meeting point he goes over, his robe with patches sewn on radiating magic to Aralia. His short stature doesn't slow him down as he power walks over to them before speaking in a calm and slow manner. "Good afternoon (or whatever time of day it actually is), I hope I am not too late. Are you the people hunting the Balowang? I must make sure I have a chance to save the centaur from the fate I foresaw. Oh and where are my manners, I am Wendell. Wendell Honeypot at your service."

Image is in spoiler

Aralia nods when the halfling asks if they are the hunters. A bard with a magic lute and a...hm, probably wizard with a magic robe. Seems promising so far. "I'm Aralia. We haven't seen a centaur yet. Did your vision involve the creature?"

"It did. I didn't get a good look at it but the centaur didn't stand a chance." He looks up and down Aralia. "Your horns look familiar. Sorry if that causes offence. But it does mean you were there too so that is good. I must have found the right group and so that future can be changed for I was not in my vision"

A tall wide shouldered Man approaches the others… he cuts a figure almost uncomfortable to the locals; as if cut and pasted from another realm… 

though humanoid, Sshaturah’s proportions give away, to those looking closely, a very different set of experiences to farmers and merchants, barmaids and acolytes… that of a warrior or brute, but certainly that of a killer. Adorned with multiple choices of weaponry hanging off his back, their luster outshined only but a peculiar sheen to his alibaster aquamarine black blue pearl like skin… the material they remind one of isn’t at first obvious, Ssha seeming to be from a land of moonshine or such, a variant in luminosity to most daywalkers. 

The letters had brought him here, and the assurances that they all had a mutual goal kept him from worrying too much of persecution… though it always festered in the deep recesses of his mind.

As he sees the others, he gives himself away, with a chunk in his perfectly chiseled visage, that of an upturned curling corner of his mouth… he seems not to be such a stone wall of a barbarian after all… something softer there under the surface.

”a fine day…” he looks at each of them, instinctually sizing them up physically and in the divine and arcane senses.

”… Sshaturah, but if you don’t wanna butcher it, you may each call me Ssha.”

He lowers his head and give a neck bending bow to each, showing he does not see anyone in the group as a natural enemy… he was here to satisfy a deep curiosity… th know what IT was… and if they were able, to end its reign of torment on the people of this realm. 

"Ssha, welcome. I'm Aralia." The man's appearance is enough to make Aralia curious. She knows well enough how painful it is to be judged simply for how you look. He seems friendly enough and will certainly make a strong addition to their hunting party.

"No offense taken, Wendell. If your vision comes true, we'll be facing the Balowang even sooner than I'd hoped."

She goes ahead and casts false life on herself just in case (+10 temp HP).

"It's a fine day indeed." Agrees Abishai before continuing. "Ssha it is then." As Abishai slaps the warriors shoulder in a friendly manner. Only afterwards thinking Ssha might not appreciate the gesture. "Abishai at your service." As Abishai goes back to playing his lute and thinks to himself, Interesting group thus far.