I'm just going to get this out there first to avoid any further questions. This is a private campaign and I already have a set group of people that I'm going to play this with. If you are not in this group, you may PM me but please do not post in this thread.
Additionally, I am a relatively new DM and I've never run a full campaign before so please bear with me here.
More things I want to outline quickly. I will not be posting on weekends and holidays. I will try to make sure to let you guys know what days I won't be able to post. Other than that, I should be posting pretty much every week day.
With those things said, here are some game rules I'm going to follow:
1. Posting Rules. So the campaign moves along faster, I expect everyone to post at least 3-4 days per week. In combat, I hope everyone can post once a day, excluding weekends and holidays (the days when I won't be posting).
2. Group Initiative and Combat. Whoever sees me ask for an initiative roll first should roll. The whole party will follow that person's initiative. I will roll for all NPCs. This means that you will all share a turn in combat. You may attack in any order. If someone does not post in combat by the time I post again (1 or more days later), I will just skip their action so we don't have to wait on one person to post. Hope all that makes sense.
3. Game Tone. This might not be a real rule, but I thought it was important to communicate. I'm trying to run this campaign in a more adventurous genre. While the focus is mainly on story and character development, I want to make sure there are times for general goofiness. However, I just wanted to let you guys know so you don't make mega-goofy characters and stuff like that.
Characters:
Level 1 characters, no restriction on classes. Core 4 species only (makes lore easier). I’d prefer if you use the new 2024 roles. If you are using homebrew content, please PM me about it beforehand.
Please send me your character sheet, as well as your background and any relations you may have with other characters. For players, I should have already sent you the campaign link, but if you don't have it just PM me.
Campaign backstory!!!
Before the brothers Romulus and Remus supposedly founded what is now known as the city of Rome, there was another civilization, even greater than the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana. Rome was the first human civilization to discover the magical secrets of the elves and dwarves, and for this reason it flourished, surpassing all other nations and civilizations in military, economy, and technology. This was the true Pax Romana; a time when all species lived harmoniously; a time when those who learned and practiced magic had no fear; a time before Dwarves and Elves were wiped off the face of the planet.
821 BCE; Rome. Cassius Piscius, commander of the Roman army, rides through the city gates, clothes torn and battered. As aids rush to his side, he utters four fateful words: "The Emperor has fallen." Not many days later, Cassius appoints himself the new Emperor of Rome, subsequently destroying the Roman senate and seizing all power for his own. Some may argue that Cassius killed the emperor in cold blood to ascend to the throne. However, one thing was for certain: Rome was doomed from the moment Cassius seized power.
Emperor Cassius brought the end of the Pax Romana. Through a series of orders, Cassius tightened his grip on Rome and its people. Few vocally opposed him, for all who did would meet the executioner's axe. In Rome itself, there was an execution almost every day. Cassius, himself learnt in the magical arts, destroyed all schools of magic across his empire. All who taught magic were executed. Cassius then went to war against the Dwarvish and Elvish nations of the east, seeking to suppress them and steal their natural arcane power and secrets. Even whilst waging war within and outside of his empire, Emperor Cassius continued to bend the world at his will. Men, Dwarves, and Elves alike were forced to bow down to him on bended knee, helpless against the torment of the age.
798 BCE. Your story begins in Athens, Greece, in the midst of Emperor Cassius Piscius' reign of terror over the known world. Athens is a coastal city in the east of Greece. While it may not be as central as Rome, Athens is still heavily controlled by Cassius and very few dare to speak their mind regarding the Emperor. One spring day, many strange travellers and citizens met in an old tavern named "Taberna Oliva". This is where our story starts. Who are you and why are you there?
Marcus Quillius Arcade, or Quil for short, grew up in a good life. He's that one rich kid who always brags about it. His father being a Venetian merchant, he spent his childhood in lavish places among important people. And, like others do, he got accustomed to this. However, it turns out that his father got into a bad place...
When Quil was thirteen, he began to realize that his father wasn't as popular as everyone thought. His father, upon acquiring some object of power, had given it to the leader of an infamous guild, or so went the talk on the streets and canals. Quil didn't care. As long as they could keep their lifestyle going, why should he? They were just making money, the same as they'd always done. It turns out, that they wouldn't be making money much longer...
On the thirteenth night of the last month of the year (Quil didn't care much for days, he preferred sparring with his trainer), the king's men came for them. Strange murders had been occurring in the upper echelons of the aristocracy, and the royals figured that his father was to blame. Their house, their gardens, his father...all were burned down, as Quil stood and watched in horror. Eventually, he ran, so as not to be caught, gripping a few coins in his palms.
It turns out the gang, a strange group called the Aiutanti (the Helpers), was rather happy with the sale, and quickly found and recruited him off of the streets. For years, he worked there, mastering the arts of burglary, poison, murder, and general skullduggery. For years, he toiled, remembering that these people caused his father's death. He rose in fame as he killed and stole, becoming notorious--and wanted. Once he left the gang, citing "memories", they called him "One Hundred" -- his 'job' count, higher than anyone else in the guild's history.
He now is an adventurer who can finally execute his own wants and needs--he's been searching for some new ones. He came to this "Taberna Oliva" in search of something strange, some news he could use as a jumping-off point. Something to steal, someone to kill. He sits quietly at the edge of the tavern, just listening to the ebb and flow of the conversation, sipping a drink. Athens is a city of secrets, after all, and he was hoping to receive his share.
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
Very Interested. Character sheet inbound later today. Sounds fantastic!
Awesome, I have a maximum number of people I want to run this campaign with and I want to prioritize letting my friends play. I’ll PM you in a few days if there’s a spot open. Hope that’s okay with you.
Weapons are banned without a permit throughout the Roman empire. This is heavily enforced in places near the center of the empire, such as Athens. If you have weapon(s) please explain how you got them.
For example, I see Quil was once a legendary gang member.
Quil received weapons from the gang (who illegally smuggled them into the empire), and he has kept them ever since (obviously, because weapons are hard to get).
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
Kevinus Panio was once a peaceful resident of the island of Sicily. He had a loving family and three great kids, and they all lived in a beach-side house. Then, one fateful day, the Romans came. (Don't check the dates. The Romans didn't invade for another 534 years.) They raided the fields of grain, slaughtered the cattle, and imposed heavy taxes on the natives.Then, Cassius appointed himself emperor. Before long, jobs were scarce and good paying ones were almost non-existent. Before long, the Sicilian Mafia saw that Kevinus was angry at the oppressors, and helpless to do anything about it; a perfect recruit. Kevinus went on and made a living by imposing debts, and then collecting them. In the beginning, he was perpetually guilty and could not stop thinking of those he had wronged. Over time though, he became more and more calloused, and recently he hasn't even remembered the faces of those he had robbed. Except for one.
It was a big day for the Sicilian Mafia. Cassius Piscius himself was coming to Sicily to oversee the construction of the new port. Kevinus and a few other of the most talented mobsters were tasked with "snagging" something from Cassius. The night of the visit though, several of the other agents came down with the flutus, an infectious disease, and couldn't be part of the mission. So, Kevinus went solo. As he was approaching the private house that Cassius was staying in, Kevinus heard strange incantations. Suddenly, as he climbed onto the roof using a grappling hook, there was a flash of brilliant purple light, and he was thrown off the roof by some unseen force. Only cat-like reflexes and years of training allowed Kevinus to land on his feet, but when he tried to walk around, he felt dizzy. Kevinus hadn't seen or heard of anything like that before, but he knew something wasn't right. Determined to not let some strange force abort his mission, Kevinus doggedly climbed back onto the roof and was scouting out a possible skylight to drop through, when a harsh voice rang out from beneath him. "I know who you are. I know what you want. You can't get it, so you might as well get out of here before I call the guards on you." Kevinus had no idea how Cassius had found out so much about him, but he decided that now now would be finest moment he would ever get to kill two birds with one stone: it was an opportune time to end the entire empire's misery, and he could collect the money to provide for his family. So, after a few moments of contemplation, Kevinus dropped down from the roof, and turned to face this new opponent with a newfound determination. But, before he could move or speak, a silhouette from the front porch emitted another wave of blindingly bright energy, knocking Kevinus off his feet. "Well well well, who do we have here?" the shadow sneered. "I would assume you're the one from the Mafia?" Kevinus glared at the figure, watching its hands intently. "You made a big mistake. Not heeding the warning of your superior? Not gladly receiving the mercy I offered you? Unheard of! You dirty lowlife! You and your illegal friends decided to try to steal from this empire's emperor? You greedy pilfering unworthy unimportant stupid wretch!" With that, Cassius unleashed a mighty blast of fire, incinerating the gardens behind, and illuminating the sky with flickering flames of dread. Kevinus, who had been watching Cassius' every move, had predicted the blast, and as soon as Cassius tried to fry him, Kevinus rolled onto his feet, and threw three of his four daggers in quick succession. Cassius however somehow leaped into the air, above the daggers, and in the blink of an eye, was grappling Kevinus to the ground. Soon, Cassius had Kevinus pinned to the ground, one foot triumphantly set atop Kevinus' head. "Don't worry, I will never bow down to the likes of you!" Kevinus spat. Then a fist came out of nowhere and all was dark for Kevinus.
When he next woke up, Kevinus had a swollen jaw, and his head was throbbing. As soon as he gathered enough energy to look around, he realized that he was tied to a stake in the city square of Palermo. It was early morning, and from what he could tell from his limited range of vision, the square was deserted. Then, Kevinus remembered the series of events that had occurred the night before, and silently swore an oath to personally eliminate Cassius for the empire and for himself. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of a blade being sharpened. "Oh no." Kevinus thought to himself as he realized what Cassius' plan was for him. As the morning turned into midday, a few people began to gather around Kevinus, then, by early afternoon, there was a whole crowd of murmuring passersby. Then, the executioner came out. The chatter died down, and then the executioner spoke, "By the order of the emperor this man is to be publicly executed for assaulting the emperor himself, being affiliated with a Mafia, and attempting to thieve the emperor's royal possessions. Any last words?" "Yes," Kevinus replied, "DOWN WITH ROME!!!" With that, the executioner raised his axe above his head, the sun glinting off the razor sharp blade, and viciously swung it towards the Kevinus. In the spot of a moment, a dart came out from the crowd, and pierced the executioner's shoulder. Then, mysterious persons, who Kevinus recognized as fellow Mafia members, quickly unbound Kevinus, and brought him to the Mafia HQ. Once he was safely in the underground bunker, the Big Boss sat him down and briefed him on his next mission. He was to go behind the enemy's lines and personally end Cassius' reign of terror. After spending one last evening with his family, Kevinus set off, armed with some daggers, a crossbow, a precious Morningstar, and fierce determination to end Cassius. After a fortnight of travel, Kevinus arrived in Athens. Once in Athens, he decided to bide his time, find some allies, and then strike like lightning.
OOC: Sorry for the yap, I got distracted. Updated the backstory.
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
Iraneus the Valiant is better known as Iraneus the Disgraced around Athens. Once a revered priest of Apollo, Iraneus was outcast from his church when discovered to be drinking alcohol in secret (Dwarves can't help it!). He now has vowed to redeem himself to the church by destroying the churches' main enemy: Cassius. After destroying temples of Apollo and other greek gods, acolytes of the church have been forced into hiding while statues of Cassius are erected where places of worship once stood. Now Iraneus plans to destroy Cassius and rebuild these holy sanctuaries to prove himself to the church.
Iraneus relies prominently on magic that he learned as a priest but carries a mace on him that he claims 'is a holy relic of Apollo' if confronted about it. He is currently in the Taberna Oliva, drinking his sorrows away as he mumbles prayers to Apollo.
Pyrius was in Cassius' army but got kicked out because of his impulsiveness. Now he wants revenge and to retake the respect and approval of his parents. He is very insecure and threatens anyone who asks him about his past. He is trained in combat and has weapons from his time in the army.
He is at Taberna Oliva to hear some of the rumors circulating through the nation and to forget his past with the euphoric fog of alcohol.
The Taverna Oliva, a hub for local residents, is having a usual Friday afternoon. The tavern is at relative peace, with the occasional laugh or shout coming from a table. You are all sitting at the same table, drinking and laughing. Suddenly, three Roman soldiers bust through the tavern door, two wielding spears and one, appearing to be the commander, carrying a shield and sword. They walk up to the bartender, a stout looking Dwarf. The soldier who appears to be the commander pulls out a scroll and unrolls it, showing it to the bartender.
"We have a search warrant here,"he says. "By order of the Governor."
"You'd better start searching then," chuckles the bartender.
"No time for your jokes, Dwarf," says one of the soldiers.
The soldiers push past the bartender, yanking open all the drawers and cupboards and other odd containers. After finding nothing, the soldiers seem to take a different, more Roman approach. One of the soldiers grabs the bartender by the neck, lifting him up to eye level. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Where are you hiding your weapons?"
"Are you crazy? You think a bartender like me would be hiding weapons."
One of the soldiers jams the butt of his spear into the bartender, who cries out in pain. "You'd better tell us, little man."
You watch this interaction unfold from your table as soft mumbling carries around the room.
Quil notices this and stands up, moving his hand closer to his shortsword.
"Is this what the world has come to? Cassius, our 'beloved' emperor, shaking down bartenders in fear of revolution? Marcus Quillius Arcade at your service, wanted criminal. If you're looking for weapons, I have plenty to harm you with."
He stands there, hand on the hilt of his blade, ready to attack (or defend himself if necessary).
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
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Hi everyone,
I'm just going to get this out there first to avoid any further questions. This is a private campaign and I already have a set group of people that I'm going to play this with. If you are not in this group, you may PM me but please do not post in this thread.
Additionally, I am a relatively new DM and I've never run a full campaign before so please bear with me here.
More things I want to outline quickly. I will not be posting on weekends and holidays. I will try to make sure to let you guys know what days I won't be able to post. Other than that, I should be posting pretty much every week day.
With those things said, here are some game rules I'm going to follow:
1. Posting Rules. So the campaign moves along faster, I expect everyone to post at least 3-4 days per week. In combat, I hope everyone can post once a day, excluding weekends and holidays (the days when I won't be posting).
2. Group Initiative and Combat. Whoever sees me ask for an initiative roll first should roll. The whole party will follow that person's initiative. I will roll for all NPCs. This means that you will all share a turn in combat. You may attack in any order. If someone does not post in combat by the time I post again (1 or more days later), I will just skip their action so we don't have to wait on one person to post. Hope all that makes sense.
3. Game Tone. This might not be a real rule, but I thought it was important to communicate. I'm trying to run this campaign in a more adventurous genre. While the focus is mainly on story and character development, I want to make sure there are times for general goofiness. However, I just wanted to let you guys know so you don't make mega-goofy characters and stuff like that.
Characters:
Level 1 characters, no restriction on classes. Core 4 species only (makes lore easier). I’d prefer if you use the new 2024 roles. If you are using homebrew content, please PM me about it beforehand.
Please send me your character sheet, as well as your background and any relations you may have with other characters. For players, I should have already sent you the campaign link, but if you don't have it just PM me.
Campaign backstory!!!
Before the brothers Romulus and Remus supposedly founded what is now known as the city of Rome, there was another civilization, even greater than the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana. Rome was the first human civilization to discover the magical secrets of the elves and dwarves, and for this reason it flourished, surpassing all other nations and civilizations in military, economy, and technology. This was the true Pax Romana; a time when all species lived harmoniously; a time when those who learned and practiced magic had no fear; a time before Dwarves and Elves were wiped off the face of the planet.
821 BCE; Rome. Cassius Piscius, commander of the Roman army, rides through the city gates, clothes torn and battered. As aids rush to his side, he utters four fateful words: "The Emperor has fallen." Not many days later, Cassius appoints himself the new Emperor of Rome, subsequently destroying the Roman senate and seizing all power for his own. Some may argue that Cassius killed the emperor in cold blood to ascend to the throne. However, one thing was for certain: Rome was doomed from the moment Cassius seized power.
Emperor Cassius brought the end of the Pax Romana. Through a series of orders, Cassius tightened his grip on Rome and its people. Few vocally opposed him, for all who did would meet the executioner's axe. In Rome itself, there was an execution almost every day. Cassius, himself learnt in the magical arts, destroyed all schools of magic across his empire. All who taught magic were executed. Cassius then went to war against the Dwarvish and Elvish nations of the east, seeking to suppress them and steal their natural arcane power and secrets. Even whilst waging war within and outside of his empire, Emperor Cassius continued to bend the world at his will. Men, Dwarves, and Elves alike were forced to bow down to him on bended knee, helpless against the torment of the age.
798 BCE. Your story begins in Athens, Greece, in the midst of Emperor Cassius Piscius' reign of terror over the known world. Athens is a coastal city in the east of Greece. While it may not be as central as Rome, Athens is still heavily controlled by Cassius and very few dare to speak their mind regarding the Emperor. One spring day, many strange travellers and citizens met in an old tavern named "Taberna Oliva". This is where our story starts. Who are you and why are you there?
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Very Interested. Character sheet inbound later today. Sounds fantastic!
(OOC: Wow, what a campaign intro! Also edited my backstory a bit so it makes more sense)
Character sheet link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/142341648
Class/Species: Human Rogue
Marcus Quillius Arcade, or Quil for short, grew up in a good life. He's that one rich kid who always brags about it. His father being a Venetian merchant, he spent his childhood in lavish places among important people. And, like others do, he got accustomed to this. However, it turns out that his father got into a bad place...
When Quil was thirteen, he began to realize that his father wasn't as popular as everyone thought. His father, upon acquiring some object of power, had given it to the leader of an infamous guild, or so went the talk on the streets and canals. Quil didn't care. As long as they could keep their lifestyle going, why should he? They were just making money, the same as they'd always done. It turns out, that they wouldn't be making money much longer...
On the thirteenth night of the last month of the year (Quil didn't care much for days, he preferred sparring with his trainer), the king's men came for them. Strange murders had been occurring in the upper echelons of the aristocracy, and the royals figured that his father was to blame. Their house, their gardens, his father...all were burned down, as Quil stood and watched in horror. Eventually, he ran, so as not to be caught, gripping a few coins in his palms.
It turns out the gang, a strange group called the Aiutanti (the Helpers), was rather happy with the sale, and quickly found and recruited him off of the streets. For years, he worked there, mastering the arts of burglary, poison, murder, and general skullduggery. For years, he toiled, remembering that these people caused his father's death. He rose in fame as he killed and stole, becoming notorious--and wanted. Once he left the gang, citing "memories", they called him "One Hundred" -- his 'job' count, higher than anyone else in the guild's history.
He now is an adventurer who can finally execute his own wants and needs--he's been searching for some new ones. He came to this "Taberna Oliva" in search of something strange, some news he could use as a jumping-off point. Something to steal, someone to kill. He sits quietly at the edge of the tavern, just listening to the ebb and flow of the conversation, sipping a drink. Athens is a city of secrets, after all, and he was hoping to receive his share.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Nocturne - A(nother) Homebrew D&D Campaign
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
Awesome, I have a maximum number of people I want to run this campaign with and I want to prioritize letting my friends play. I’ll PM you in a few days if there’s a spot open. Hope that’s okay with you.
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
I'll try to finish my character tonight!
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/142353651
FYI I forgot to write this in the backstory:
Weapons are banned without a permit throughout the Roman empire. This is heavily enforced in places near the center of the empire, such as Athens. If you have weapon(s) please explain how you got them.
For example, I see Quil was once a legendary gang member.
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Quil received weapons from the gang (who illegally smuggled them into the empire), and he has kept them ever since (obviously, because weapons are hard to get).
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Nocturne - A(nother) Homebrew D&D Campaign
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
Background in progress.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/142353651
Background:
Kevinus Panio was once a peaceful resident of the island of Sicily. He had a loving family and three great kids, and they all lived in a beach-side house. Then, one fateful day, the Romans came. (Don't check the dates. The Romans didn't invade for another 534 years.) They raided the fields of grain, slaughtered the cattle, and imposed heavy taxes on the natives.Then, Cassius appointed himself emperor. Before long, jobs were scarce and good paying ones were almost non-existent. Before long, the Sicilian Mafia saw that Kevinus was angry at the oppressors, and helpless to do anything about it; a perfect recruit. Kevinus went on and made a living by imposing debts, and then collecting them. In the beginning, he was perpetually guilty and could not stop thinking of those he had wronged. Over time though, he became more and more calloused, and recently he hasn't even remembered the faces of those he had robbed. Except for one.
It was a big day for the Sicilian Mafia. Cassius Piscius himself was coming to Sicily to oversee the construction of the new port. Kevinus and a few other of the most talented mobsters were tasked with "snagging" something from Cassius. The night of the visit though, several of the other agents came down with the flutus, an infectious disease, and couldn't be part of the mission. So, Kevinus went solo. As he was approaching the private house that Cassius was staying in, Kevinus heard strange incantations. Suddenly, as he climbed onto the roof using a grappling hook, there was a flash of brilliant purple light, and he was thrown off the roof by some unseen force. Only cat-like reflexes and years of training allowed Kevinus to land on his feet, but when he tried to walk around, he felt dizzy. Kevinus hadn't seen or heard of anything like that before, but he knew something wasn't right. Determined to not let some strange force abort his mission, Kevinus doggedly climbed back onto the roof and was scouting out a possible skylight to drop through, when a harsh voice rang out from beneath him. "I know who you are. I know what you want. You can't get it, so you might as well get out of here before I call the guards on you." Kevinus had no idea how Cassius had found out so much about him, but he decided that now now would be finest moment he would ever get to kill two birds with one stone: it was an opportune time to end the entire empire's misery, and he could collect the money to provide for his family. So, after a few moments of contemplation, Kevinus dropped down from the roof, and turned to face this new opponent with a newfound determination. But, before he could move or speak, a silhouette from the front porch emitted another wave of blindingly bright energy, knocking Kevinus off his feet. "Well well well, who do we have here?" the shadow sneered. "I would assume you're the one from the Mafia?" Kevinus glared at the figure, watching its hands intently. "You made a big mistake. Not heeding the warning of your superior? Not gladly receiving the mercy I offered you? Unheard of! You dirty lowlife! You and your illegal friends decided to try to steal from this empire's emperor? You greedy pilfering unworthy unimportant stupid wretch!" With that, Cassius unleashed a mighty blast of fire, incinerating the gardens behind, and illuminating the sky with flickering flames of dread. Kevinus, who had been watching Cassius' every move, had predicted the blast, and as soon as Cassius tried to fry him, Kevinus rolled onto his feet, and threw three of his four daggers in quick succession. Cassius however somehow leaped into the air, above the daggers, and in the blink of an eye, was grappling Kevinus to the ground. Soon, Cassius had Kevinus pinned to the ground, one foot triumphantly set atop Kevinus' head. "Don't worry, I will never bow down to the likes of you!" Kevinus spat. Then a fist came out of nowhere and all was dark for Kevinus.
When he next woke up, Kevinus had a swollen jaw, and his head was throbbing. As soon as he gathered enough energy to look around, he realized that he was tied to a stake in the city square of Palermo. It was early morning, and from what he could tell from his limited range of vision, the square was deserted. Then, Kevinus remembered the series of events that had occurred the night before, and silently swore an oath to personally eliminate Cassius for the empire and for himself. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of a blade being sharpened. "Oh no." Kevinus thought to himself as he realized what Cassius' plan was for him. As the morning turned into midday, a few people began to gather around Kevinus, then, by early afternoon, there was a whole crowd of murmuring passersby. Then, the executioner came out. The chatter died down, and then the executioner spoke, "By the order of the emperor this man is to be publicly executed for assaulting the emperor himself, being affiliated with a Mafia, and attempting to thieve the emperor's royal possessions. Any last words?" "Yes," Kevinus replied, "DOWN WITH ROME!!!" With that, the executioner raised his axe above his head, the sun glinting off the razor sharp blade, and viciously swung it towards the Kevinus. In the spot of a moment, a dart came out from the crowd, and pierced the executioner's shoulder. Then, mysterious persons, who Kevinus recognized as fellow Mafia members, quickly unbound Kevinus, and brought him to the Mafia HQ. Once he was safely in the underground bunker, the Big Boss sat him down and briefed him on his next mission. He was to go behind the enemy's lines and personally end Cassius' reign of terror. After spending one last evening with his family, Kevinus set off, armed with some daggers, a crossbow, a precious Morningstar, and fierce determination to end Cassius. After a fortnight of travel, Kevinus arrived in Athens. Once in Athens, he decided to bide his time, find some allies, and then strike like lightning.
OOC: Sorry for the yap, I got distracted. Updated the backstory.
I got my weapons from the Sicilian Mafia.
(OOC: Mafia pals! Maybe we could do a rival mafia thing...)
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Nocturne - A(nother) Homebrew D&D Campaign
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else." - Gary Gygax
"If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better." - Johan Cruyff
I'm getting the last two people to send in their character sheets and we can start on Monday next week.
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Character sheet link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/142392322
Full backstory incoming, but heres a sneak peek:
Iraneus the Valiant is better known as Iraneus the Disgraced around Athens. Once a revered priest of Apollo, Iraneus was outcast from his church when discovered to be drinking alcohol in secret (Dwarves can't help it!). He now has vowed to redeem himself to the church by destroying the churches' main enemy: Cassius. After destroying temples of Apollo and other greek gods, acolytes of the church have been forced into hiding while statues of Cassius are erected where places of worship once stood. Now Iraneus plans to destroy Cassius and rebuild these holy sanctuaries to prove himself to the church.
Iraneus relies prominently on magic that he learned as a priest but carries a mace on him that he claims 'is a holy relic of Apollo' if confronted about it. He is currently in the Taberna Oliva, drinking his sorrows away as he mumbles prayers to Apollo.
Pyrius was in Cassius' army but got kicked out because of his impulsiveness. Now he wants revenge and to retake the respect and approval of his parents. He is very insecure and threatens anyone who asks him about his past. He is trained in combat and has weapons from his time in the army.
He is at Taberna Oliva to hear some of the rumors circulating through the nation and to forget his past with the euphoric fog of alcohol.
Character summary:
Marcus “Quil” Quillius Arcade: Human Rogue - Legendary ex-member of a Greek gang
Kevinus Panio: Halfling Blood Hunter - Member of the Sicilian Mafia
Iraneus the Valiant “Iraneus the Disgraced”: Dwarven Cleric - Outcast priest of the church of Apollo.
Pyrius Flamius: Human Sorcerer - Banished captain of Cassius’ army and son of a high ranking general.
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Remember:
Please post at least 3 days per week
5 days per week during combat
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Okay let's begin!
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
The Taverna Oliva, a hub for local residents, is having a usual Friday afternoon. The tavern is at relative peace, with the occasional laugh or shout coming from a table. You are all sitting at the same table, drinking and laughing. Suddenly, three Roman soldiers bust through the tavern door, two wielding spears and one, appearing to be the commander, carrying a shield and sword. They walk up to the bartender, a stout looking Dwarf. The soldier who appears to be the commander pulls out a scroll and unrolls it, showing it to the bartender.
"We have a search warrant here," he says. "By order of the Governor."
"You'd better start searching then," chuckles the bartender.
"No time for your jokes, Dwarf," says one of the soldiers.
The soldiers push past the bartender, yanking open all the drawers and cupboards and other odd containers. After finding nothing, the soldiers seem to take a different, more Roman approach. One of the soldiers grabs the bartender by the neck, lifting him up to eye level. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Where are you hiding your weapons?"
"Are you crazy? You think a bartender like me would be hiding weapons."
One of the soldiers jams the butt of his spear into the bartender, who cries out in pain. "You'd better tell us, little man."
You watch this interaction unfold from your table as soft mumbling carries around the room.
ducks are cool
DM: Pax Romana - A Historical Homebrew Campaign
Quil notices this and stands up, moving his hand closer to his shortsword.
"Is this what the world has come to? Cassius, our 'beloved' emperor, shaking down bartenders in fear of revolution? Marcus Quillius Arcade at your service, wanted criminal. If you're looking for weapons, I have plenty to harm you with."
He stands there, hand on the hilt of his blade, ready to attack (or defend himself if necessary).
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Nocturne - A(nother) Homebrew D&D Campaign
Player: Marcus Quillius Arcade - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
Please use with caution. Batteries not included.
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