This will be a "dungeon under the town" style game heavy on the dungeons and dragons but lighter on the travel and NPC interaction than most modern campaigns. The idea is to delve deep into the classic dungeon crawl aspects on which D&D was built and have some casual fun without taking "the world", its politics, or anything at all outside the scope of the party and their dungeon, too seriously. The dungeons should be the most fascinating elements of a D&D game and, as the game has grown larger, I think that idea has lost some focus - let's fix that!
RECRUITMENT
I'm looking for 4 solid players who like, and are interested in contributing to, character development and vivid storytelling. At this time, I am starting recruitment with known players and referrals thereof. If that changes and I need to recruit from the public at large, I'll mark the thread as "Recruiting".
CHARACTER BUILD
Citadel Adbar is deadly, let alone the dungeon beneath! Only the stoutest heroes need apply! Thereby, I'm opening things up a little. Characters should be built using a 31-point buy system and all fully tested and officially published WotC content is allowed. I'm restricting UA content because the purpose of this game is not to play-test new material. If interested, PM me to discuss character. We'll post finished PCs to the thread when ready.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PBP "Beregost Blues" - Dungeon Master of Gnome Slaying +5
Kjørynreis' roots are dark. Born into a clan of raiders who plundered the northern parts of the Sword Coast, he grew up in the cold, hostile environment of the north, spending his youth and adulthood on the long raiderships that they used to pillage the coastal villages and towns. Known as the Black Ravens, him and his clanmates were ruthless, taking whatever it was that they pleased, and charging into battle viciously. This was the life that he knew, and he reveled in it.
It wasn't until they came across a monastery to Ilmater did he realize just how wicked and wrong him and his comrade's actions were. He always believed in fighting only those who could fend for themselves, but as he watched his clanmates hack down the priests and acolytes who had prostrated themselves in a sign of submission, something broke within him, and he couldn't bring himself to do it. But neither could he bring himself to fight against his clanmates. He could only stand, paralyzed, as the works of death and carnage swirled around him. When it ended, his boots were soaked in the blood of the innocent.
The event scarred him, and he ran. He ran through the snow, from his clan, until he collapsed on the ground and passed out. When he awoke, he was next to a warm fire, with animal hides over him, and next to several strangers. As he began to get up, some of the strangers stood up, and drew their weapons. The clear, soothing voice of a woman from behind him stopped them, and they sheathed their weapons in obedience. Introducing her and her companions, he discovered she was a priest of Ilmater on a pilgrimage to the very sight he and his people had ransacked, plundered, and slaughtered everyone within. She watched him from a cliff as he ran, and saw a chance for redemption for his soul.
Kjørynreis stayed with the woman, serving her as best he could as he learned of the error of his ways. While his past haunted him, he saw that there was much good he could still do in the world, and made a vow to become an Ilmatari, a paladin of Ilmater. He learned to focus the rage in his raider-heart towards those who would inflict suffering on the innocent and defenseless. By doing so, he felt that he had found a way to make a positive mark on the world, and hopefully redeem his soul for the actions of his past.
Languages: Common, Elvish, Gnomish and Thieves Cant.
Combat:
Rapier - melee weapon attack +5 to hit (finesse), reach 5 ft., damage 1d8+5 piercing; Dagger - melee/ranged weapon attack +5 to hit (finesse, reach 5 ft range 20/60 ft.., damage 1d4+5 piercing damage; Hand Crossbow - ranged weapon attack +5 to hit, reach 5 ft range 30/120 ft., damage 1d6+5 piercing damage;
Sneak Attack: add 1d6 when successfully hit with advantage;
Traits: Half Elf (+2 Chrisma, any two others at +1 - Dexterity, Intelligence);
Equipment:
Bedroll, Dark Common Clothes with Hood, Bone Dice, Belt Pouch with 15 gold pieces, Rapier, 2 Daggers, Hand Crossbow w/ 20 bolts, thieves tools
Burglar’s Pack - Includes a backpack, a bag of 1,000 ball bearings, 10 feet of string, a bell, 5 candles, a crowbar, a hammer, 10 pitons, a hooded lantern, 2 flasks of oil, 5 days rations, a tinderbox, and a waterskin. The pack also has 50 feet of hempen rope strapped to the side of it.
She will leave the lantern and all but one flask of oil if someone else has light source for a long trip. If just doing things in the city she will only bring what she needs for the job. Mostly due to not being able to haul around great amounts of weight and usually goes for small easy, to carry things when stealing.
Weight Carried varies based on if in city or out and what she has to do , Encumbered 40 lb Heavily Encumbered 80 lb Max Carrying 120 lb. Push/Drag/Lift 240 lb.
Background:
Criminal - You are an experienced crim inal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot of time among other criminals and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. You’re far closer than m ost people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.
Specialty - Burglar
Personality Trait - I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.
Ideals - Redemption - everyone has a little bit of good in them.
Bonds - I'm trying to pay off an old debt to a generous benefactor.
Flaw - I have a "tell" that reveals when I'm lying. (I have to decide what this is and how well the party knows each other for how I share it.)
Backstory:
Cliste has a family but left home pretty early due to the family being quite poor. She was young enough to fall in with some urchins and wound up in a gang where she learned to be a burglar.
A gnome, Orryn Scheppen, caught her in the act of trying to steal a book from his library. It is a book he would have missed, but would not have had issues replacing. She affirmed the title caught her eye, so he made her prove she could read it. When she proved she could read, it was in common, he made a deal with her. He would teach her greater things if she in turn acquired items for him. This is where she learned gnomish and will work on learning magic abilities of the wizardly kind to become an arcane trickster (3rd level Roguish Archtype I'll use). ((This can be changed if the DM doesn't like this backstory to explain her bond of owing a generous benefactor and having to at least throw in something now and then for her to find. =D ))
Even though she has a list of burglaries a mile long and has some decent connections in Silvermoon, she is good of heart. She believes even the worse person has a little spark of good that can be found. This gets her in trouble at times assuming she might find it, but she usually figures out when it is not worth her time. She likes giving food and trinkets to the street urchins in hopes it helps them last a little longer before they wind up in a gang.
Now she was off to find an artifact from a vision only because Orryn had said so. It turned out it was his son Lerikyn she had to accompany to a dungeon under a citadel. She just gave him a cool look when he obviously analyzed her to wonder what kind of apprentice she really was to his father.
Traits: Gnome Cunning: Advantage on all Int, Wis, Cha saves vs. magic Artificer’s Lore: Int (History) Checks for magic items, alchemical, or mechanical devices have double prof. bonus Tinker: 1 hour + 10gp will create minor item for 24 hours Arcane Initiate: Choose 2 Wizard Cantrips; you can cast them as Cleric Cantrips
Equipment: A holy symbol, a prayer book, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, a pouch containing 15 gp, Explorers Pack (Backpack, Bedroll, Mess Kit, Tinderbox, 10 Torches, 10 Days Rations, Waterskin, 50’ hemp rope)
Background
Acolyte
Feature: Shelter of the Faithful - Free healing and care at temples/shrines of Mystra Personality: Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude and I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other gods. Ideal: Aspiration - I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. Bond: I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago. Flaw: Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.
Backstory
Lerikyn grew up in a family of Wizards. His father, Orryn Scheppen, was very well-known in Silverymoon as a master of illusions. At a young age Lerikyn grew more fond of the Goddess of Magic and her tie to all things that manipulate and use the weave under Her supervision. As his family learned how to manipulate the art, Lerikyn devoted himself to learning how to be given the art through understanding the origin of the weave itself. Lerikyn devoted his time to studying in The Tower of Balance - Mystra's Silverymoon Temple.
While studying there he received something that he could only describe as a vision. Upon waking from meditation he felt the urge to travel North to explore the depths of Citadel Adbar and to retrieve the artifact from his vision. There was great urgency in the vision, and upon explaining it to his father he was assigned an apprentice to accompany him. Lerikyn wasn't sure what this apprentice's specialty was, as she seemed much more prone to using bladed weapons than magic.
Martial Arts: You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your unarmed strikes and monk weapons. You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or monk weapon. When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. For example, if you take the Attack action and attack with a quarterstaff, you can also make an unarmed strike as a bonus action, assuming you haven’t already taken a bonus action this turn.
Sentinel: When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature’s speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn. Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach. When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn’t have this feat), you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.
Background:
Acolyte
Personality Trait: Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
Ideal: I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will turn out well.
Bond: I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
Flaw: Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.
Backstory:
Rea was born with her umbilical chord wrapped around her neck, and she very nearly died before she even took her first breath. Her parents saw the object that had very nearly killed their new daughter as a sign from the gods, as the thing wrapped around her neck looked like a red chord. The midwife, a cleric of Ilmater named Tsava, immediately recognized the sign. Her parents, Brynea and Leon, raised her to be a devout follower of Ilmater in a happy home. While not rich, the Windhaven's were comfortable, and by the Broken God's grace, they never went hungry. Rea was a lively youth, who often found herself accidentally falling into near death situations. She always seemed to escape with hardly a scratch, further proving her parent's theory that she was fate-touched. Tsava continued to visit her throughout her youth, sharing stories to the future monk.
Upon her tenth birthday, Rea's parents decided to send their only daughter with Tsava to the Monastery of the Yellow Rose. Rea was incredibly excited to finally have a chance to give back to the god that she had looked up to her whole life. The people at the monastery soon learned that avid pupil had no magical gifts whatsoever, but was small and fast and good at dodging punches. Throughout her entire training, she continued to write weekly, happy letters to her mum and dad. Although the training was hard, she relished in becoming more in tune with Ilmater's ways. She served the God of suffering and perseverance, after all, so every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears was worth it.
After nine years of training, Rea volunteered to help escort Tsava to another monastery of Ilmater on a pilgrimage. Along with a few other budding monks and clerics, she traveled into the mountains. Unfortunately, when they arrived, they found the monastery had been ravaged by barbarians. For some reason, Tsava took pity on one of the barbarians, and offered him redemption. The barbarian, named Kjorynreis, joined their group as they began to travel back home. Rea was the only initiate to even talk to Reis, but she had always seen the best in people, so she decided to make him her project. The fledgling monk offered him kindness and meditation lessons. While he didn't really take to the meditation, the two eventually became friends.
Over the course of a year, Reis became Rea's closest friend. While the once-barbarian did not take to being a monk, he became a powerful paladin. Eventually, the two decided to venture out into the world in order to spread Ilmater's will...
Kjorynreis (Imoxator) - The wayward raider turned paladin, forever in search of redemption.
Cliste (Briseadh) - The steady-handed burglar whose good heart is overmatched only by her rebellious streak.
Lerikyn (subsistcyber) - The ambitious gnome from Silverymoon, ever toiling in the realms of the divine and arcane.
Rea (DungeonMaya) - The wise and patient servant of Ilmater and master of unarmed conflict.
Sooty (Lorathorn) - The gawky and unpolished, though charming, elf with smoking fingers.
BACKGROUND
(Each player should consider how and when this works into their backstory. It is entirely possible this occurred to them at very different times, and some may have been living in Citadel Adbar for some time before our game begins, but this occurred with each PC at some point in their history...)
You were going about your routine on a typical day when you became aware of someone watching you. Looking about, you saw no one, so you continued on your merry way. But the feeling persisted until later that evening when it faded as suddenly as it had come.
That night, you dreamed of a frosty, windswept mountaintop and a dwarven fortress at its peak. Unlike anything you'd previously seen or imagined, this fortress was equal parts built and carved, its architecture perfectly melded with the natural stone. You found yourself walking through its entrenched streets, recessed into the mountain as protection from the wind, in the company of a tall, thin figure in silver robes.
"This is Citadel Adbar," he told you in a smooth blend of many voices. "A relic of bygone centuries, a jewel in a broken crown, a crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet."
He laughed and the strange sound of it, equal parts amusement and fury laced with the conjoined memories of a dozen lifetimes, clawed at your courage like a raven digging for worms.
"And this is your new home."
He turned toward a house carved in the mountainside and opened the door of stone and oak, beckoning you to enter. While your heart beckoned you to run, your feet carried you inside as if compelled. Passing through the archway, you entered an expansive sitting room full of fine animal furs and a huge central hearth over which the meat of several large creatures was crackling and crisping.
"Everything will be provided for you. You will live as royals with the best of food, drink, and finery at your fingertips. And nothing will be asked of you."
He lead you across the sitting room and down a long stone stair into a cellar filled with wine and ale casks. At the far end of the cellar, you saw a bronze door inset into a solid wall of black granite and flanked by two iron statues.
"Until that door opens."
He waved his hand, first right then left, and the iron statues moved aside as the door swung outward. You walked to the door and saw the edge of another stone stair, this one steep and cruel.
"After the door has opened," he said, "you will spend your days down there, in the old forgotten ways underneath the citadel. They have been corrupted and overrun. Without your help, the citadel with fall."
Your vision began to fade, but his voice echoed a moment longer.
"Look for the door's opening not long after the fifth brave soul arrives. And good luck."
When you awoke, you were lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Through a large, round window of thick glass, you saw the mountaintop from your dream...
Kjørynreis, who refers to himself as Reis due to the southerners inability to properly pronounce Kjøryn, awoke in a haze. He never liked waking up. It always reminded him of the difficulties of life. But his sleeping was usually plagued by nightmares, ones that were only recently subsiding. He was stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place: sleep brought nightmares, but the waking hours brought hardship. It was only through Ilmater's grace and the kind companionship of Rea that he was able to carry on.
Rea.
He awoke with a jolt, realizing his location was completely unfamiliar. Tearing himself out of the comfortable bed, he gathered his bearing as quickly as able, taking in the situation. No ambush. A room? How... He looked out the window, and saw the mountain's face. He was somewhere completely unknown.
Lerikyn yawns and stretches after that lovely dream. He was sure his actual arrival at Citadel Adbar would not be nearly as welcoming as the dream portrayed it to be, but who knows! The world was full of mysteries. He and Cliste had already been travelling for nearly two weeks, and the journey was getting quite rough. The biting Northern chill had nearly caused his toes to freeze. Every night he would have to warm himself by the fire to prevent frostbite - his little legs could only go so fast! But now that they've reached an Inn, he had nothing to worry about.
"Oh my," he says as he watches the clouds pass by the mountaintop, "It looks like a nice day for Citadel Adbar." He rolls over in the soft covers of the bed, "Maybe just a few more hours..."
His eyes popped open and he shot forward from the bed, "How!?"
His mind worked quickly to figure out how he went from camping in the cold North to the city beneath Citadel Adbar in such a short time - they still had at least another month of travel to go! Had he passed out and Cliste found a way to transport him the rest of the way? He checks his pulse, placing his fingers at his neck to determine if maybe he'd been in a coma. He waited and counted, but his pulse was regular. A bit elevated due to the elevation and the sudden realization that he had been transported a month's journey in the matter of one night, but it'd have been much slower if he had been waking from a coma.
Realization suddenly dawns on him and a large smile spreads across his face. "My Lady of Mysteries," he whispers, "You've blessed this quest once again."
Lerikyn begins to dress in his adventuring gear, taking his time and turning the process into a sort of ritual. All of his belongings were there as if placed 'just so', which was nothing sort of miraculous! After dressing in his scale mail and donning his cloak, he places his shield on the floor in front of him and drops to his knees in prayer. He is sure to thank Mystra for the quick and safe transportation and asks for Her blessing in the coming days.
What is this foul magic? And why has it brought us to such a place? Wearing only his tunic and cloth pants, he grabs his axe and shield, noticing that all of his items and supplies are stacked against the wall, as if he'd been living in this place for sometime. Confused, he grabs his battleaxe and shield, and sprints through the door in search of Rea. The hallway he now stood in was dark, but he stumbled through in search of his dearest friend. He opened up door after door, revealing an empty room until one of them had an occupant.
A small gnome, easily recognizable as praying on his knees. He almost stopped, admiring the devoutness of the tiny creature. Realizing though he was intruding on communication with the divine, he apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry, little one. Let me just..." He closes the door quickly.
Opening the door next to the gnome's room, he found her, Rae. "Rae! Praise Ilmater, you're alive."
Cliste woke up warm and in a soft bed. In a swift, quiet move she was standing in the middle of the room noting all her stuff neatly organized. No one else was with her. The window provided a view of a mountain. She arched a brow as she took it in.
She shrugged her shoulders upon noting she didn't have much on at all other than the tight fitting shirt and pants she wore under her leather armor. She looked around again knowing the last time she went to sleep it was a by a sheltered fire and it hadn't been all that warm either. Lerikyn was having a lot of issues with keeping his feet warm during the trudging all day. If he wasn't here she had a few choice words for whomever she did find.
Once fully outfitted with her armor and weapons she reached to open the door, but paused as she heard someone running down the hall opening doors. Upon hearing a man say sorry to a little one she opened her door and stepped out. It was dimly lit, but everything was pretty clear to her. A man with a battleaxe and shield opened the door next to her's just as loudly as all the others and exclaims with relief at finding a friend.
While he was standing in the doorway with his back to her, she moved by without a sound and opened the next closed door noting the ones further in the hallway all stood open still. Obviously, no one had been found in them. She opened the door to find Lerikyn in prayer. She smiled as she moved to lean on the wall comfortably to one side of the door letting him finish his prayers.
No doubt there was a huge bronze door to be found in the basement and at least four people of five were here already. She was not a religious person, but thank Mystra they got here. For some reason that seemed the most appropriate to praise for how this worked out and not due to her little friend's faith.
The last thing Rea remembered, she and Reis had made camp alongside the road. They had left the monastery months ago, and had quickly fallen into an easy routine in their travels. It was hard to set up a watch schedule with only two people, so they had to rely on the fact that Rea was a particularly light sleeper. They had fallen asleep on the hard ground inches apart, which was exactly how the young monk planned on waking up.
Rea had been praying and meditating for her entire life in an attempt to receive some kind of vision from Ilmater, but her attempts were always unsuccessful. The most vivid vision she had ever had was about a succulent meat pie, which was probably a side effect of one of her fasts. So she was in complete shock when a very real looking man clad in silver appeared in her dreams. "Good luck," the words reverberated in Rea's mind as she awoke with a start.
She wasn't in their camp. She was alone, in a strange bed in a strange room. Panic gripped the young woman. "REIS!" she cried out, looking around frantically. A small voice in the back of her head, that Rea liked to imagine was Ilmater, reminded her to breathe. The monk began to take deep breaths, in and out, sinking to the floor. She assumed her normal meditation position, trying her hardest to calm herself. There would be no use for her to tear wherever she was apart in a panic; Rea would have to be logical and composed.
In, and out. She was ok. Reis was probably ok too. She would find Reis. They would both be ok.
"Rae!" a familiar voice called out to her as her door slammed open. In an instant, Rea was at her feet, running over to wrap her arms around her best friend. "Praise Ilmater, you're alive."
"I was so worried," she squeezed Reis tightly. At the start of their friendship, the paladin hadn't been very keen on hugs. However, one could not be friends with Rea Windhaven and not expect to receive several bear hugs a day. "I woke up and you weren't there. Thank Ilmater, you're here."
As Lerikyn raises his head from his prayer and his eyes land on that of Cliste leaning against the wall, he beams with joy.
"And she has answered my prayers once again!" He yells, "For here you are, standing in front of me! I had feared she only sent me forward to the Citadel and overlooked you." He waggles his finger at Cliste, "Happy Day! Do you doubt my vision now? Do you!?" He's nearly mad with laughter as he stands, strapping his shield on his forearm.
"The Lady of Mysteries provides, my dear. She provides, indeed!"
He stomps out of the room, pulling Cliste along with him, "We must see what else we've been gifted with, my dear. Come! Come!" He leads her out into the hallway and spots two other people deep in a loving embrace.
He coughs sharply into his shield before saying, "I am so sorry to interrupt two love-birds in their morning embrace, but do you know what day it is?"
"I was so worried," Rea squeezed him with one of her bear hugs. While he was beginning to enjoy them, he couldn't let her know. He couldn't show such weakness. As usual, he squirmed, acting visibly uncomfortable. "I woke up and you weren't there. Thank Ilmater, you're here."
"Yeah, yeah..." He pushed her off of him, trying to be gentle. "The question remains though... What is this place? We were off the side of a road up north, near Everlund. And now we're here?" He scratched his head, looking around her room. Rae has all of her belongings too.
The praying gnome appears from out of nowhere, "I am so sorry to interrupt two love-birds in their morning embrace, but do you know what day it is?"
Love-birds? Reis put as much distance as he could, stumbling over a stool in the dark hallway and falling over [He is the only one without Darkvision]. "We aren't in love!" he cries out after landing on the ground with a large "THUD". "We're just friends." he pleads, as he gets up off the ground, rubbing his head.
"Perhaps you can answer our questions, little one?" he requests. "We were on the road near Everlund, and after falling asleep we've suddenly arrived in this strange place. I would think we're still in Faerun..."
"Hello, my name is Rea, and this is my best friend Kjornreis," the monk said sunnily as soon as she was sure Reis was alright. The fall brought back memories of when they had first met, and when he was terrible at all of the maneuvers she tried to teach him. She began to approach the two shadowy figures, her hand outstretched. "Who are you? I'm sorry, but I don't know much at all. I had a weird dream, and then I woke up here."
"Why hello Rea and Kjørynreis." The gnome seems to pronounce the name perfectly. "This is Citadel Adbar," says the gnome. "A relic of bygone centuries, a jewel in a broken crown, a crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet."
The gnome's words are exactly as they were in his dreams.
"I am Lerikyn and this is my companion Cliste. We've come on a mission to retrieve an artifact for the Lady of Mysteries, Mystra. 'Tis said to be beneath the Citadel," He adds pointedly.
"I assume this is our new home!" He smiles as he gestures, blowing the windows open one by one to let the light into the hallway and revealing an expansive sitting room full of fine animal furs and a huge central hearth.
"If I remember correctly, we're to wait for one more. Shall we have a drink to warm our souls!?" He seems much too excited at the prospect of a dream come true.
He said my name right. Not even Rea says my name right.The proper pronunciation had earned the little one a small amount of respect, but Kjørynreis was still cautious on everything that was going on.
"Citadel Adbar? A relic? A jewel? A shield? These words sound so familiar..." he seemed to speak to himself, and the dream came forth to him once again. A crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet.Those were the words of the silver man... Did he bring them here? Were they meant to be this last bastion of defense again a tide of evil? "If such words are true, then it is our duty and obligation to remain." He spoke stoutly, heaving his massive shield and battleaxe from the ground. "IF." he emphasized. "I'd be careful trusting wanton dreams over the reality in front you."
The half-elf, Cliste, was a beauty to behold. A carnal beauty. A temptress. He wouldn't let her curves sway his mind from Ilmater's grace. He kept all of his attention on her eyes, to the point of straining them from examining her below further. "And who are you? This gnome's wife?" he questions, bursting out into a boisterious laughter. "What are the chances of such a union?!"
Lerikyn bursts out laughing, "My wife!" He looks over at Cliste and is met with another burst of laughter.
"You and I are going to get along well my friend," he pulls Kjørynreis along with his hand on his back. "She is not my wife... she's my burglar. You can't go robbing a tomb without a burglar. She's also a bit of an apprentice to Mystra's arts." He plops himself down on a furred pillow and gestures for Kjørynreis to join him.
"If I remember correctly from that very vivid dream, there should be wine and ale and whiskey in the basement below."
She lets Lerikyn pull her into the hallway letting him exude his enthusiasm even as he talked to the strangers she had already passed. She appeared totally unbothered by any of this as she let the gnome introduce her. The first thing any of them heard from her since arriving here was a musical laugh as the big guy thought she was the gnome's wife. She calms down as they all move into the sitting room further.
"Ah, all the fine stuff will be available until the fifth shows up and the door opens. When the door opens the hospitality ends and we must proceed. I'm going to go see if there are any useful items that we can take along. Maybe a variety of rations that won't bore us to tears by the time we are done. I can check the choice of drinks when I get to the basement."
She hated sitting around chit chatting. Lerikyn could do that. She wanted to be sure of what was here before it went poof. If she suddenly wound up here, then she could literally take the Silver Man word for word. When the door opened, they were to go! Praise Mystra they didn't have to walk another month. She chuckled at herself. The dang gnome was infectious.
She plucked an apple from a bowl as she walked by it and bit in to find it very juicy despite it not being the season for apples. "Not bad." She took her time savoring the bite as she put some of the apples in a sack. "Well, Silver Man, we shall see if you let me take what I put in this sack along or not." She continued the search while eating her apple.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
Rea had to fight the urge to say 'wait for me!' as she followed Reis and his new friend. She made her way over to the fire, helping herself to a turkey leg. "So if we all had the same dream, it probably wasn't Ilmater," she said between bites of meat. The monk was admittedly disappointed that she wasn't having her first ever vision. She pinched herself, but remained exactly where she was. "Does anyone have a book? I want to check something. I read somewhere that trying to read is a good way to check if it's dream."
The gnome seemed mad at best, but his mention of Mystra calmed her a bit. Mystra was not an evil god, so no follower of her could be evil, obviously. "You know this place, Lerikyn?" she asked, sitting down on a pillow beside Reis. Rea wanted nothing more than to run to a place of solitude and meditate until she could sort out this mess, but one look at her friend and she knew that wasn't an option. Unraveling this mystery first, meditation later.
LOCATION
CITADEL ADBAR
SUMMARY
This will be a "dungeon under the town" style game heavy on the dungeons and dragons but lighter on the travel and NPC interaction than most modern campaigns. The idea is to delve deep into the classic dungeon crawl aspects on which D&D was built and have some casual fun without taking "the world", its politics, or anything at all outside the scope of the party and their dungeon, too seriously. The dungeons should be the most fascinating elements of a D&D game and, as the game has grown larger, I think that idea has lost some focus - let's fix that!
RECRUITMENT
I'm looking for 4 solid players who like, and are interested in contributing to, character development and vivid storytelling. At this time, I am starting recruitment with known players and referrals thereof. If that changes and I need to recruit from the public at large, I'll mark the thread as "Recruiting".
CHARACTER BUILD
Citadel Adbar is deadly, let alone the dungeon beneath! Only the stoutest heroes need apply! Thereby, I'm opening things up a little. Characters should be built using a 31-point buy system and all fully tested and officially published WotC content is allowed. I'm restricting UA content because the purpose of this game is not to play-test new material. If interested, PM me to discuss character. We'll post finished PCs to the thread when ready.
Kjørynreis Durnehviir - Born-Again Ilmatari Paladin from the Northlands
BIO:
Kjørynreis' roots are dark. Born into a clan of raiders who plundered the northern parts of the Sword Coast, he grew up in the cold, hostile environment of the north, spending his youth and adulthood on the long raiderships that they used to pillage the coastal villages and towns. Known as the Black Ravens, him and his clanmates were ruthless, taking whatever it was that they pleased, and charging into battle viciously. This was the life that he knew, and he reveled in it.
It wasn't until they came across a monastery to Ilmater did he realize just how wicked and wrong him and his comrade's actions were. He always believed in fighting only those who could fend for themselves, but as he watched his clanmates hack down the priests and acolytes who had prostrated themselves in a sign of submission, something broke within him, and he couldn't bring himself to do it. But neither could he bring himself to fight against his clanmates. He could only stand, paralyzed, as the works of death and carnage swirled around him. When it ended, his boots were soaked in the blood of the innocent.
The event scarred him, and he ran. He ran through the snow, from his clan, until he collapsed on the ground and passed out. When he awoke, he was next to a warm fire, with animal hides over him, and next to several strangers. As he began to get up, some of the strangers stood up, and drew their weapons. The clear, soothing voice of a woman from behind him stopped them, and they sheathed their weapons in obedience. Introducing her and her companions, he discovered she was a priest of Ilmater on a pilgrimage to the very sight he and his people had ransacked, plundered, and slaughtered everyone within. She watched him from a cliff as he ran, and saw a chance for redemption for his soul.
Kjørynreis stayed with the woman, serving her as best he could as he learned of the error of his ways. While his past haunted him, he saw that there was much good he could still do in the world, and made a vow to become an Ilmatari, a paladin of Ilmater. He learned to focus the rage in his raider-heart towards those who would inflict suffering on the innocent and defenseless. By doing so, he felt that he had found a way to make a positive mark on the world, and hopefully redeem his soul for the actions of his past.
Character sheet:
Cliste Chaotic Good Half Elf Rogue (at 3rd Level - Arcane Trickster)
STR 10 DEX 16 CON 10 INT 16 WIS 12 CHA 16 (Saves DEX & INT)
Resistances: Cannot be put to sleep with magic
Armor Class: 14 (10+dex+leather)
Skills: Thieves Tools +4, Stealth +7, Sleight of Hand +5, Persuasion +4, Investigation +4, Deception +4, Acrobatics +5 (Expertise in Thieves Tools and Stealth)
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.
Proficiencies: Light Armor, Simple Weapons, Rapier, Hand Crossbow, Longsword, Shortsword, Gaming Dice, Thieves Tools.
Languages: Common, Elvish, Gnomish and Thieves Cant.
Combat:
Rapier - melee weapon attack +5 to hit (finesse), reach 5 ft., damage 1d8+5 piercing;
Dagger - melee/ranged weapon attack +5 to hit (finesse, reach 5 ft range 20/60 ft.., damage 1d4+5 piercing damage;
Hand Crossbow - ranged weapon attack +5 to hit, reach 5 ft range 30/120 ft., damage 1d6+5 piercing damage;
Sneak Attack: add 1d6 when successfully hit with advantage;
Traits:
Half Elf (+2 Chrisma, any two others at +1 - Dexterity, Intelligence);
Equipment:
Bedroll, Dark Common Clothes with Hood, Bone Dice, Belt Pouch with 15 gold pieces, Rapier, 2 Daggers, Hand Crossbow w/ 20 bolts, thieves tools
Burglar’s Pack - Includes a backpack, a bag of 1,000 ball bearings, 10 feet of string, a bell, 5 candles, a crowbar, a hammer, 10 pitons, a hooded lantern, 2 flasks of oil, 5 days rations, a tinderbox, and a waterskin. The pack also has 50 feet of hempen rope strapped to the side of it.
She will leave the lantern and all but one flask of oil if someone else has light source for a long trip. If just doing things in the city she will only bring what she needs for the job. Mostly due to not being able to haul around great amounts of weight and usually goes for small easy, to carry things when stealing.
Weight Carried varies based on if in city or out and what she has to do , Encumbered 40 lb Heavily Encumbered 80 lb Max Carrying 120 lb. Push/Drag/Lift 240 lb.
Background:
Criminal - You are an experienced crim inal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot of time among other criminals and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. You’re far closer than m ost people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.
Specialty - Burglar
Personality Trait - I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.
Ideals - Redemption - everyone has a little bit of good in them.
Bonds - I'm trying to pay off an old debt to a generous benefactor.
Flaw - I have a "tell" that reveals when I'm lying. (I have to decide what this is and how well the party knows each other for how I share it.)
Backstory:
Cliste has a family but left home pretty early due to the family being quite poor. She was young enough to fall in with some urchins and wound up in a gang where she learned to be a burglar.
A gnome, Orryn Scheppen, caught her in the act of trying to steal a book from his library. It is a book he would have missed, but would not have had issues replacing. She affirmed the title caught her eye, so he made her prove she could read it. When she proved she could read, it was in common, he made a deal with her. He would teach her greater things if she in turn acquired items for him. This is where she learned gnomish and will work on learning magic abilities of the wizardly kind to become an arcane trickster (3rd level Roguish Archtype I'll use). ((This can be changed if the DM doesn't like this backstory to explain her bond of owing a generous benefactor and having to at least throw in something now and then for her to find. =D ))
Even though she has a list of burglaries a mile long and has some decent connections in Silvermoon, she is good of heart. She believes even the worse person has a little spark of good that can be found. This gets her in trouble at times assuming she might find it, but she usually figures out when it is not worth her time. She likes giving food and trinkets to the street urchins in hopes it helps them last a little longer before they wind up in a gang.
Now she was off to find an artifact from a vision only because Orryn had said so. It turned out it was his son Lerikyn she had to accompany to a dungeon under a citadel. She just gave him a cool look when he obviously analyzed her to wonder what kind of apprentice she really was to his father.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
Lerikyn Scheppen - Neutral Good – Rock Gnome - Cleric (Arcana) – Acolyte
Lerikyn Scheppen - Neutral Good – Rock Gnome - Cleric (Arcana) – Acolyte
STR 12 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 14 WIS 15 CHA 10 (Saves WIS & CHA)
HP: 10 Armor Class: 16 (18) (Scale Mail (Shield))
Darkvision 60’
Speed 25’
Skills: Religion +4, Insight +4, Arcana +4, History +4, Medicine +4
Proficiencies: Light and Medium Armor, Shields, Simple Weapons, Tinker Tools
Languages: Common, Gnomish, Dwarven, Draconic
Combat:
Light Hammer +4, 1d4+2 (Light, Thrown 20/60) (B)
Sling +4, 1D4+2 (Ranged 30/120) (B)
Shocking Grasp +4, 1d8 (Touch, Lightening, Adv vs. Metal Armor, Target can't take Reactions)
Inflict Wounds +4, 3d10 (Touch, Necrotic)
Traits:
Gnome Cunning: Advantage on all Int, Wis, Cha saves vs. magic
Artificer’s Lore: Int (History) Checks for magic items, alchemical, or mechanical devices have double prof. bonus
Tinker: 1 hour + 10gp will create minor item for 24 hours
Arcane Initiate: Choose 2 Wizard Cantrips; you can cast them as Cleric Cantrips
Spells: Save DC 12, Spell Att. Modifier +4
Spell Slots: (3) Cantrips, (2) 1st
Prepared: (Wis+lvl) 3 Spells + Detect Magic, Magic Missile (1st lvl Arcana Domain)
Spell List (AD = Arcana Domain):
Cantrips: Thaumaturgy, Sacred Flame, Mending, Shocking Grasp (AD), True Strike (AD)
1st Level (2): Detect Magic (AD), Magic Missile (AD), Cure Wounds, Inflict Wounds, Shield of Faith
Equipment: A holy symbol, a prayer book, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, a pouch containing 15 gp, Explorers Pack (Backpack, Bedroll, Mess Kit, Tinderbox, 10 Torches, 10 Days Rations, Waterskin, 50’ hemp rope)
Background
Acolyte
Feature: Shelter of the Faithful - Free healing and care at temples/shrines of Mystra
Personality: Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude and I am tolerant of other faiths and respect the worship of other gods.
Ideal: Aspiration - I seek to prove myself worthy of my god’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings.
Bond: I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
Flaw: Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.
Backstory
Lerikyn grew up in a family of Wizards. His father, Orryn Scheppen, was very well-known in Silverymoon as a master of illusions. At a young age Lerikyn grew more fond of the Goddess of Magic and her tie to all things that manipulate and use the weave under Her supervision. As his family learned how to manipulate the art, Lerikyn devoted himself to learning how to be given the art through understanding the origin of the weave itself. Lerikyn devoted his time to studying in The Tower of Balance - Mystra's Silverymoon Temple.
While studying there he received something that he could only describe as a vision. Upon waking from meditation he felt the urge to travel North to explore the depths of Citadel Adbar and to retrieve the artifact from his vision. There was great urgency in the vision, and upon explaining it to his father he was assigned an apprentice to accompany him. Lerikyn wasn't sure what this apprentice's specialty was, as she seemed much more prone to using bladed weapons than magic.
Site Rules & Guidelines --- Focused Feedback Mega Threads --- Staff Quotes --- Homebrew Tutorial --- Pricing FAQ
Please feel free to message either Sorce or another moderator if you have any concerns.
Rea Windhaven the Human (variant) Monk
Character Sheet:
STR: 10 (0), DEX: 16 (+3), CON: 14 (+2), INT: 10 (0), WIS: 16 (+3), CHA: 10 (0)
HP: 10, AC: 17
Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth, Perception, Insight, Religion
Equipment: dungeoneer's pack, ten darts,
Languages: Common, Abyssal, Dwarvish, draconic
Features:
Background:
Acolyte
Personality Trait: Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
Ideal: I trust that my deity will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, things will turn out well.
Bond: I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
Flaw: Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.
Backstory:
Rea was born with her umbilical chord wrapped around her neck, and she very nearly died before she even took her first breath. Her parents saw the object that had very nearly killed their new daughter as a sign from the gods, as the thing wrapped around her neck looked like a red chord. The midwife, a cleric of Ilmater named Tsava, immediately recognized the sign. Her parents, Brynea and Leon, raised her to be a devout follower of Ilmater in a happy home. While not rich, the Windhaven's were comfortable, and by the Broken God's grace, they never went hungry. Rea was a lively youth, who often found herself accidentally falling into near death situations. She always seemed to escape with hardly a scratch, further proving her parent's theory that she was fate-touched. Tsava continued to visit her throughout her youth, sharing stories to the future monk.
Upon her tenth birthday, Rea's parents decided to send their only daughter with Tsava to the Monastery of the Yellow Rose. Rea was incredibly excited to finally have a chance to give back to the god that she had looked up to her whole life. The people at the monastery soon learned that avid pupil had no magical gifts whatsoever, but was small and fast and good at dodging punches. Throughout her entire training, she continued to write weekly, happy letters to her mum and dad. Although the training was hard, she relished in becoming more in tune with Ilmater's ways. She served the God of suffering and perseverance, after all, so every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears was worth it.
After nine years of training, Rea volunteered to help escort Tsava to another monastery of Ilmater on a pilgrimage. Along with a few other budding monks and clerics, she traveled into the mountains. Unfortunately, when they arrived, they found the monastery had been ravaged by barbarians. For some reason, Tsava took pity on one of the barbarians, and offered him redemption. The barbarian, named Kjorynreis, joined their group as they began to travel back home. Rea was the only initiate to even talk to Reis, but she had always seen the best in people, so she decided to make him her project. The fledgling monk offered him kindness and meditation lessons. While he didn't really take to the meditation, the two eventually became friends.
Over the course of a year, Reis became Rea's closest friend. While the once-barbarian did not take to being a monk, he became a powerful paladin. Eventually, the two decided to venture out into the world in order to spread Ilmater's will...
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
ADVENTURERS
BACKGROUND
(Each player should consider how and when this works into their backstory. It is entirely possible this occurred to them at very different times, and some may have been living in Citadel Adbar for some time before our game begins, but this occurred with each PC at some point in their history...)
You were going about your routine on a typical day when you became aware of someone watching you. Looking about, you saw no one, so you continued on your merry way. But the feeling persisted until later that evening when it faded as suddenly as it had come.
That night, you dreamed of a frosty, windswept mountaintop and a dwarven fortress at its peak. Unlike anything you'd previously seen or imagined, this fortress was equal parts built and carved, its architecture perfectly melded with the natural stone. You found yourself walking through its entrenched streets, recessed into the mountain as protection from the wind, in the company of a tall, thin figure in silver robes.
"This is Citadel Adbar," he told you in a smooth blend of many voices. "A relic of bygone centuries, a jewel in a broken crown, a crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet."
He laughed and the strange sound of it, equal parts amusement and fury laced with the conjoined memories of a dozen lifetimes, clawed at your courage like a raven digging for worms.
"And this is your new home."
He turned toward a house carved in the mountainside and opened the door of stone and oak, beckoning you to enter. While your heart beckoned you to run, your feet carried you inside as if compelled. Passing through the archway, you entered an expansive sitting room full of fine animal furs and a huge central hearth over which the meat of several large creatures was crackling and crisping.
"Everything will be provided for you. You will live as royals with the best of food, drink, and finery at your fingertips. And nothing will be asked of you."
He lead you across the sitting room and down a long stone stair into a cellar filled with wine and ale casks. At the far end of the cellar, you saw a bronze door inset into a solid wall of black granite and flanked by two iron statues.
"Until that door opens."
He waved his hand, first right then left, and the iron statues moved aside as the door swung outward. You walked to the door and saw the edge of another stone stair, this one steep and cruel.
"After the door has opened," he said, "you will spend your days down there, in the old forgotten ways underneath the citadel. They have been corrupted and overrun. Without your help, the citadel with fall."
Your vision began to fade, but his voice echoed a moment longer.
"Look for the door's opening not long after the fifth brave soul arrives. And good luck."
When you awoke, you were lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Through a large, round window of thick glass, you saw the mountaintop from your dream...
Kjørynreis, who refers to himself as Reis due to the southerners inability to properly pronounce Kjøryn, awoke in a haze. He never liked waking up. It always reminded him of the difficulties of life. But his sleeping was usually plagued by nightmares, ones that were only recently subsiding. He was stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place: sleep brought nightmares, but the waking hours brought hardship. It was only through Ilmater's grace and the kind companionship of Rea that he was able to carry on.
Rea.
He awoke with a jolt, realizing his location was completely unfamiliar. Tearing himself out of the comfortable bed, he gathered his bearing as quickly as able, taking in the situation. No ambush. A room? How... He looked out the window, and saw the mountain's face. He was somewhere completely unknown.
Lerikyn yawns and stretches after that lovely dream. He was sure his actual arrival at Citadel Adbar would not be nearly as welcoming as the dream portrayed it to be, but who knows! The world was full of mysteries. He and Cliste had already been travelling for nearly two weeks, and the journey was getting quite rough. The biting Northern chill had nearly caused his toes to freeze. Every night he would have to warm himself by the fire to prevent frostbite - his little legs could only go so fast! But now that they've reached an Inn, he had nothing to worry about.
"Oh my," he says as he watches the clouds pass by the mountaintop, "It looks like a nice day for Citadel Adbar." He rolls over in the soft covers of the bed, "Maybe just a few more hours..."
His eyes popped open and he shot forward from the bed, "How!?"
His mind worked quickly to figure out how he went from camping in the cold North to the city beneath Citadel Adbar in such a short time - they still had at least another month of travel to go! Had he passed out and Cliste found a way to transport him the rest of the way? He checks his pulse, placing his fingers at his neck to determine if maybe he'd been in a coma. He waited and counted, but his pulse was regular. A bit elevated due to the elevation and the sudden realization that he had been transported a month's journey in the matter of one night, but it'd have been much slower if he had been waking from a coma.
Realization suddenly dawns on him and a large smile spreads across his face. "My Lady of Mysteries," he whispers, "You've blessed this quest once again."
Lerikyn begins to dress in his adventuring gear, taking his time and turning the process into a sort of ritual. All of his belongings were there as if placed 'just so', which was nothing sort of miraculous! After dressing in his scale mail and donning his cloak, he places his shield on the floor in front of him and drops to his knees in prayer. He is sure to thank Mystra for the quick and safe transportation and asks for Her blessing in the coming days.
Site Rules & Guidelines --- Focused Feedback Mega Threads --- Staff Quotes --- Homebrew Tutorial --- Pricing FAQ
Please feel free to message either Sorce or another moderator if you have any concerns.
What is this foul magic? And why has it brought us to such a place? Wearing only his tunic and cloth pants, he grabs his axe and shield, noticing that all of his items and supplies are stacked against the wall, as if he'd been living in this place for sometime. Confused, he grabs his battleaxe and shield, and sprints through the door in search of Rea. The hallway he now stood in was dark, but he stumbled through in search of his dearest friend. He opened up door after door, revealing an empty room until one of them had an occupant.
A small gnome, easily recognizable as praying on his knees. He almost stopped, admiring the devoutness of the tiny creature. Realizing though he was intruding on communication with the divine, he apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry, little one. Let me just..." He closes the door quickly.
Opening the door next to the gnome's room, he found her, Rae. "Rae! Praise Ilmater, you're alive."
Cliste woke up warm and in a soft bed. In a swift, quiet move she was standing in the middle of the room noting all her stuff neatly organized. No one else was with her. The window provided a view of a mountain. She arched a brow as she took it in.
She shrugged her shoulders upon noting she didn't have much on at all other than the tight fitting shirt and pants she wore under her leather armor. She looked around again knowing the last time she went to sleep it was a by a sheltered fire and it hadn't been all that warm either. Lerikyn was having a lot of issues with keeping his feet warm during the trudging all day. If he wasn't here she had a few choice words for whomever she did find.
Once fully outfitted with her armor and weapons she reached to open the door, but paused as she heard someone running down the hall opening doors. Upon hearing a man say sorry to a little one she opened her door and stepped out. It was dimly lit, but everything was pretty clear to her. A man with a battleaxe and shield opened the door next to her's just as loudly as all the others and exclaims with relief at finding a friend.
While he was standing in the doorway with his back to her, she moved by without a sound and opened the next closed door noting the ones further in the hallway all stood open still. Obviously, no one had been found in them. She opened the door to find Lerikyn in prayer. She smiled as she moved to lean on the wall comfortably to one side of the door letting him finish his prayers.
No doubt there was a huge bronze door to be found in the basement and at least four people of five were here already. She was not a religious person, but thank Mystra they got here. For some reason that seemed the most appropriate to praise for how this worked out and not due to her little friend's faith.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
The last thing Rea remembered, she and Reis had made camp alongside the road. They had left the monastery months ago, and had quickly fallen into an easy routine in their travels. It was hard to set up a watch schedule with only two people, so they had to rely on the fact that Rea was a particularly light sleeper. They had fallen asleep on the hard ground inches apart, which was exactly how the young monk planned on waking up.
Rea had been praying and meditating for her entire life in an attempt to receive some kind of vision from Ilmater, but her attempts were always unsuccessful. The most vivid vision she had ever had was about a succulent meat pie, which was probably a side effect of one of her fasts. So she was in complete shock when a very real looking man clad in silver appeared in her dreams. "Good luck," the words reverberated in Rea's mind as she awoke with a start.
She wasn't in their camp. She was alone, in a strange bed in a strange room. Panic gripped the young woman. "REIS!" she cried out, looking around frantically. A small voice in the back of her head, that Rea liked to imagine was Ilmater, reminded her to breathe. The monk began to take deep breaths, in and out, sinking to the floor. She assumed her normal meditation position, trying her hardest to calm herself. There would be no use for her to tear wherever she was apart in a panic; Rea would have to be logical and composed.
In, and out. She was ok. Reis was probably ok too. She would find Reis. They would both be ok.
"Rae!" a familiar voice called out to her as her door slammed open. In an instant, Rea was at her feet, running over to wrap her arms around her best friend. "Praise Ilmater, you're alive."
"I was so worried," she squeezed Reis tightly. At the start of their friendship, the paladin hadn't been very keen on hugs. However, one could not be friends with Rea Windhaven and not expect to receive several bear hugs a day. "I woke up and you weren't there. Thank Ilmater, you're here."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
As Lerikyn raises his head from his prayer and his eyes land on that of Cliste leaning against the wall, he beams with joy.
"And she has answered my prayers once again!" He yells, "For here you are, standing in front of me! I had feared she only sent me forward to the Citadel and overlooked you." He waggles his finger at Cliste, "Happy Day! Do you doubt my vision now? Do you!?" He's nearly mad with laughter as he stands, strapping his shield on his forearm.
"The Lady of Mysteries provides, my dear. She provides, indeed!"
He stomps out of the room, pulling Cliste along with him, "We must see what else we've been gifted with, my dear. Come! Come!" He leads her out into the hallway and spots two other people deep in a loving embrace.
He coughs sharply into his shield before saying, "I am so sorry to interrupt two love-birds in their morning embrace, but do you know what day it is?"
Site Rules & Guidelines --- Focused Feedback Mega Threads --- Staff Quotes --- Homebrew Tutorial --- Pricing FAQ
Please feel free to message either Sorce or another moderator if you have any concerns.
"I was so worried," Rea squeezed him with one of her bear hugs. While he was beginning to enjoy them, he couldn't let her know. He couldn't show such weakness. As usual, he squirmed, acting visibly uncomfortable. "I woke up and you weren't there. Thank Ilmater, you're here."
"Yeah, yeah..." He pushed her off of him, trying to be gentle. "The question remains though... What is this place? We were off the side of a road up north, near Everlund. And now we're here?" He scratched his head, looking around her room. Rae has all of her belongings too.
The praying gnome appears from out of nowhere, "I am so sorry to interrupt two love-birds in their morning embrace, but do you know what day it is?"
Love-birds? Reis put as much distance as he could, stumbling over a stool in the dark hallway and falling over [He is the only one without Darkvision]. "We aren't in love!" he cries out after landing on the ground with a large "THUD". "We're just friends." he pleads, as he gets up off the ground, rubbing his head.
"Perhaps you can answer our questions, little one?" he requests. "We were on the road near Everlund, and after falling asleep we've suddenly arrived in this strange place. I would think we're still in Faerun..."
"Hello, my name is Rea, and this is my best friend Kjornreis," the monk said sunnily as soon as she was sure Reis was alright. The fall brought back memories of when they had first met, and when he was terrible at all of the maneuvers she tried to teach him. She began to approach the two shadowy figures, her hand outstretched. "Who are you? I'm sorry, but I don't know much at all. I had a weird dream, and then I woke up here."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"Why hello Rea and Kjørynreis." The gnome seems to pronounce the name perfectly. "This is Citadel Adbar," says the gnome. "A relic of bygone centuries, a jewel in a broken crown, a crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet."
The gnome's words are exactly as they were in his dreams.
"I am Lerikyn and this is my companion Cliste. We've come on a mission to retrieve an artifact for the Lady of Mysteries, Mystra. 'Tis said to be beneath the Citadel," He adds pointedly.
"I assume this is our new home!" He smiles as he gestures, blowing the windows open one by one to let the light into the hallway and revealing an expansive sitting room full of fine animal furs and a huge central hearth.
"If I remember correctly, we're to wait for one more. Shall we have a drink to warm our souls!?" He seems much too excited at the prospect of a dream come true.
Site Rules & Guidelines --- Focused Feedback Mega Threads --- Staff Quotes --- Homebrew Tutorial --- Pricing FAQ
Please feel free to message either Sorce or another moderator if you have any concerns.
He said my name right. Not even Rea says my name right. The proper pronunciation had earned the little one a small amount of respect, but Kjørynreis was still cautious on everything that was going on.
"Citadel Adbar? A relic? A jewel? A shield? These words sound so familiar..." he seemed to speak to himself, and the dream came forth to him once again. A crumbling shield against the tide of evil ready to spill from the mountains underneath your feet. Those were the words of the silver man... Did he bring them here? Were they meant to be this last bastion of defense again a tide of evil? "If such words are true, then it is our duty and obligation to remain." He spoke stoutly, heaving his massive shield and battleaxe from the ground. "IF." he emphasized. "I'd be careful trusting wanton dreams over the reality in front you."
The half-elf, Cliste, was a beauty to behold. A carnal beauty. A temptress. He wouldn't let her curves sway his mind from Ilmater's grace. He kept all of his attention on her eyes, to the point of straining them from examining her below further. "And who are you? This gnome's wife?" he questions, bursting out into a boisterious laughter. "What are the chances of such a union?!"
Lerikyn bursts out laughing, "My wife!" He looks over at Cliste and is met with another burst of laughter.
"You and I are going to get along well my friend," he pulls Kjørynreis along with his hand on his back. "She is not my wife... she's my burglar. You can't go robbing a tomb without a burglar. She's also a bit of an apprentice to Mystra's arts." He plops himself down on a furred pillow and gestures for Kjørynreis to join him.
"If I remember correctly from that very vivid dream, there should be wine and ale and whiskey in the basement below."
Site Rules & Guidelines --- Focused Feedback Mega Threads --- Staff Quotes --- Homebrew Tutorial --- Pricing FAQ
Please feel free to message either Sorce or another moderator if you have any concerns.
Introducing "Sooty" the Elven Wizard
She lets Lerikyn pull her into the hallway letting him exude his enthusiasm even as he talked to the strangers she had already passed. She appeared totally unbothered by any of this as she let the gnome introduce her. The first thing any of them heard from her since arriving here was a musical laugh as the big guy thought she was the gnome's wife. She calms down as they all move into the sitting room further.
"Ah, all the fine stuff will be available until the fifth shows up and the door opens. When the door opens the hospitality ends and we must proceed. I'm going to go see if there are any useful items that we can take along. Maybe a variety of rations that won't bore us to tears by the time we are done. I can check the choice of drinks when I get to the basement."
She hated sitting around chit chatting. Lerikyn could do that. She wanted to be sure of what was here before it went poof. If she suddenly wound up here, then she could literally take the Silver Man word for word. When the door opened, they were to go! Praise Mystra they didn't have to walk another month. She chuckled at herself. The dang gnome was infectious.
She plucked an apple from a bowl as she walked by it and bit in to find it very juicy despite it not being the season for apples. "Not bad." She took her time savoring the bite as she put some of the apples in a sack. "Well, Silver Man, we shall see if you let me take what I put in this sack along or not." She continued the search while eating her apple.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
Rea had to fight the urge to say 'wait for me!' as she followed Reis and his new friend. She made her way over to the fire, helping herself to a turkey leg. "So if we all had the same dream, it probably wasn't Ilmater," she said between bites of meat. The monk was admittedly disappointed that she wasn't having her first ever vision. She pinched herself, but remained exactly where she was. "Does anyone have a book? I want to check something. I read somewhere that trying to read is a good way to check if it's dream."
The gnome seemed mad at best, but his mention of Mystra calmed her a bit. Mystra was not an evil god, so no follower of her could be evil, obviously. "You know this place, Lerikyn?" she asked, sitting down on a pillow beside Reis. Rea wanted nothing more than to run to a place of solitude and meditate until she could sort out this mess, but one look at her friend and she knew that wasn't an option. Unraveling this mystery first, meditation later.
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation