For all who are creating characters to join the campaign, you can come here to discuss backgrounds and character options.
I have updated the description and the public notes. When you have time look over them and the backgrounds posted below. As everyone is working with me some details may change.
There will end up being some spoilers in this thread. Listed above the spoiler will be who it is for. If it is not for you don't read it. It will make the game more interesting if you don't know everything that is going on.
Hughestes Furchtbar, Hughes for short, is a Bohemian looking guy with a steel drum strapped to his back with long dreadlocks and a pair of matching boomerangs strapped to his chest. (Think Jason Mamoa but not as buff.) Wearing a very nice set of clothing in purple hues with some baggy black pants and black boot, he has a purple long tail leather jacket (leather armor) with hardened strips of leather sewn into the chest and back and down each tail to protect the legs.
As a young lad Hughestes found he had a nack for talking his way out of trouble. He found a sense of purpose with a band of traveling bards where he learned his craft as a drummer, juggler, and all around entertainer After traveling with them for several years meeting many famous bards and earning some popularity in his own right. Hughes became bored with the group of entertainers all seeking the lime light and decided to seek his own way. He even played, composed and acted as the show producer for the most famous Annabelle Lee for a time. He eventually headed off in the direction of Stalia.
He eventually found a friend and traveling companion in a barbarian dwarf named Urghh. Urghh the muscle bound dwarf turned out to be a wonderful bouncer to travel with and joined him for some fun adventures and a little mischief. When not entertaining, drinking or playing games in taverns, the two often get into bits of trouble of some sort or another.
Making their way toward the capital, Hughes stopped off at a gravesite looking for mushrooms and the two of them came across an odd man named Frankie Stein who was talking to himself. Along with a shadowed figure who's glare could melt the soul of any who care to cross her path leaned against a tree watching the odd man. So Hughes offered her a joint and she too decided to tag along.
While talking at the stoic, shadowed human Hughes noticed a little statue of a halfling that looked interesting. So, Hughes went and put the joint in its mouth for safe keeping. Hughes was startled when the statue spit out the blunt and after picking it up he fussed at the statue for wasting good bud. The group carried on en route to Stalia and along the way, the group took a rest at a tavern.
While there Hughes got into a drinking game with a stout human female named Gen-something or another. He forgot the rest of her name, but after drinking Hughes under the table she joined the band of adventures as they carried on to Stalia.
(The tale of a Hughestes told in secret to his closest friends and alies)
When I was about 12 living on the streets of Mugh Lodur I found talking to people guards and merchants went a long way in keeping them in good spirits with me and the more I made them laugh or the better story I could entertain them with could ingratiate them to overlook some of the trouble I might get into. Granted that didn't work if I was caught first as was the case when I was about 14 and met Jostus who would become my teacher and mentor. He didn't so much mind my sneaking into the show nor the sneaking into the bard's carriage but when I found the little ring that played music at my behest he seemed a bit irritated. He took the ring and offered me a chance to earn it by proving myself a true bard as was his mentor, who the ring had belonged to. I joined his band of traveling bards to prove myself. Learning over the next several years how to play a variety of instruments , song and dance, how to perform and my natural talent I found lay in the spinning of tales and stories true or false it didnt matter to my listeners. And this is how I made my mark. Yet performing in the troop was always necessary and I found I could tap out a beat that could make the patrons dance or sway. As time went on I found my abilities would grow in every aspect of the entertainment of people. And I even found a bit of magic in my craft. So did Jostus who after watching a performance one night Came up to me and placed the small box with the ring in it before me. Saying I was a true bard and told me how if I wanted to grow as a performer I should travel to Stalia and could learn from the college library or the other true bards for there was nothing left that he could teach me. I took his advise and traveled abroad. Finding a dwarf named Uurgh who became my friend , traveling companion, body guard ,and a decent bouncer. We would return to Stalia ever so often to study at the college. We kept close to the darker side of the cities ,we went to, and with most of the underbelly and darkness I found inspiration in the form of various drugs. However, I also found the limits of drugs and how to much of some things can dramatically harm your performance. I found that many of the merchant and noble class would not even deal with A bard who dealt with the substances. Leading me to a need of access. On the outskirts of mugh Lodur I found a small cottage nessled deep in the woods one would be hard pressed to find it unless they new exactly where to look. Here I forged some documents and created the Jaberwalky family tree. I found the act so useful I developed it for a time in mugh lodur making some contacts and building the story. It gained me access to more prestigious people and that is how I met her, Annabelle Lee. A very talented singer butat the time I met her a nobody just another noble daughter who would eventually be married off to further family goals. However, after doing some clever convincing with her mother I was granted permission and I made arrangements for her first performance and I had found a golden goose. I escorted her several place as Lord Tristan Jaberwalky and Uurgh the dwarven bodyguard. We built her status and molded her into the perfect song bird until she was so famous people would forget everything else just to hear her sing . Yet as all thing they come to an end. She disappeared from her last performance without a word. Perhaps it was the stress her family put on her to marry some shmuck Lord or just the pressure of performing I don't know. After the news finally spread that Annabelle had been brutally slain I found that that knowledge would return me to the darker side of the cities back into the pit of substance and drink and down a path thirsting for revenge.
Urghh was orphan. Shield only thing Urghh have of family in orphanage. Urghh try other shields but Urghh's shield is best shield. Urghh stronger than others with shield of shielding. Urghh take his stuff from orphanage when old enough. Shield of shielding, necklace of Bearpaw, kilt of free movement, staff of confusion, and all Urghh's weapons of hurting. Urghh find drummer. Urghh also like drums. Urghh now have friend of drumming. Others follow Urghh because Urghh is strong. Urghh has many great things.
Urghh meet Frankie. Frankie sad. Frankie miss Annabelle. Urghh strong so Urghh help Frankie hurt people who hurt Annabelle, then Frankie be happy. Urghh no like sad.
Callie Stonebridge is a sturdy little halfling with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who grew up among a nomadic herd of hunters. She has been taught how to live, survive, and hunt in almost any climate. The herd was a tight-knit community and had always worked well together by learning to identify and nurture every individual for their own set of abilities, gifts, and talents. Not that they weren't all taught how to survive on their own for periods of time if they needed to, but as a whole they lived and worked side-by-side. Callie showed both interest and aptitude for archery at a very young age and so, she was trained and taught by the best marksmen and hunters within her community and quickly became one of the best archers and hunters among her peers. She went on hunts, learned to stand watch, and even helped teach and train the younger archers within the herd. The outlander herd was often hired and well payed for their discretion and hunting prowess. Unfortunately more than half of her herd was slaughtered while aiding in the search for Annabelle Lee. Callie had never before seen the type of violent crimes she fell witness to. She had only ever lost loved ones due to old age or a fever of some sort or another. The things she had seen still give her nightmares. Callie is so shaken, disturbed, and devestated by the loss of her family and traveling companions and their utter failure to rescue the beloved singer that she felt an oddly strong urge to avenge their deaths. So when asked if she would go along with Frankie to avenge his love, Annabelle, she goes with him and Umbrielle and quickly finds herself in a very different type of company than she's ever known before.
The completed story of how Frankie Stein went from a subpar Medical student to the necromancer he wishes to become now.
Frankie Stein was a young idealistic man of noble birth. As the youngest of his family, he was not afforded the benefit of a Title or Lands. Instead, he was allowed to take up his own goals and ambitions so long as those did not bring dishonor upon the family. This was when he decided to pursue a tradition of the Healing Arts, such a profession is widely respected even among the nobility and would allow him to continue benefiting from the status of his family.
Frankie was childhood friends with several other noble children, two, in particular, were sisters, Annabelle Lee and Umbrielle. Frankie was the oldest where Umbrielle was older than Annabelle. It was rumored Umbrielle was an illegitimate daughter from an affair, despite or perhaps in spite of this salacious rumor the three of them were very close as children. Unfortunately, as with many things childhood was a fleeting experience. Frankie grew up and was forced to pursue his goals outside of house Stein and away from the influence of his parents. Annabelle reached womanhood and was promised in marriage to Lord Byron of the Eastern Kingdom. While Umbrielle was similarly tossed aside by her adopted family and told to pursue her own goals.
Some years later while studying Medicine at the Scientiam Hall, a branch of the official scientiam from the capital. Frankie happened to stumble across a flyer advertising a one night only appearance of “Annabelle Lee”, who had apparently made quite a name for herself as a Songstress. In an act of nostalgia, Frankie decided he would visit Annabelle and see her performance. He didn’t have any memories of her singing as a child so this seemed sort of novel to consider a former friend has reached such a level.
There are moments in an individual’s life where things sort of shift and little factors have a tremendous effect, this was one of those moments for Frankie. Getting to see Annabelle was not difficult. Frankie merely had to tell the guards at her hotel who he was and that he wished to speak with her since it had been so long he did not really know what to expect but in short order one of the guards disappeared upstairs. Returning sometime later the Guard informed Frankie that Miss Lee would be glad to have dinner with him. Frankie didn’t know for sure where he stood on the deciding factor but figured Dinner would be a good setting to catch up on the years which have passed since they last spoke.
The evening was a blur, Annabelle was amazing. It didn’t take long before the two were inseparable, spending more time together than either could rightly afford. The medical studies which Frankie had pursued began to suffer, but he didn’t care enough to notice all that much. The musical tour which Annabelle had started and committed to as a sort of the last foray before her arranged marriage to Lord Byron began to notice a difference in her behavior. Showing up late to scheduled events, missing appointments, failing to meet with local dignitaries entirely.
All in all, the two were very enamored with one another. Love was on their minds. This was when Annabelle’s Mother first took notice, someone had sent a missive to inform her of the odd behavior her daughter seemed to be behaving in, and as an extension questioned the family’s commitment to the arranged marriage. The response from Annabelle’s mother was quick and decisive. She publicly revoked her daughters’ expenditure and demanded Annabelle return home to prepare for her wedding day. Annabelle’s response though was not that public. She simply moved in with Frankie. The two were happy and blissful for several months, Annabelle would find work singing at some of the local Taverns and she was building quite a local following in addition to her already well-received reputation in the upper class. Until one night she never returned back to the home she was sharing with Frankie. Beside himself, Frankie set out on the town the next morning looking for her and after being unable to discover where she could have gone, Frankie went to the city Guards and attempted to file a missing persons’ report.
The Guards were unwilling to search for Annabelle, assuming she had simply tired of what they thought was assuredly a summer tryst. After a few hours of despair, Frankie rallied his spirits, withdrew from school and began searching for Annabelle. The hardest part of those early periods was the message he penned to Annabelle’s mother, asking for confirmation that she had simply returned home instead of the dark worries which rested on his mind.
As the days turned to a week it became clear something nefarious was afoot. There was no return letter from Annabelle’s mother, but that was half expected. As a matter of fact, it was so expected that Frankie had written a letter home at the same time as the one to Annabelle’s mother. Asking his brother to check in on the Lee household and see if there was any evidence Annabelle had been in touch with her mother.
A few weeks went by while Frankie was frequenting every Pub and concert hall Annabelle was known to have visited. No-one seemed to have any idea what could have happened to her. Frankie had received confirmation that she was coming home that evening when she disappeared. There was a florist who Annabelle frequently visited that said she had stopped in and purchased her usual Calla Lillies for the entryway. The flowers never made it to their apartment. Heartbroken Frankie bought a dozen of the flowers for sentimental sake.
On his walk back to his small apartment that evening Frankie reached a decision. His family had continued to send gold to cover his tuition and expenses while at school despite the fact he had withdrawn during this semester. There was no use for the coin, so Frankie decided he would offer it all up as a bounty for information leading to the location of Annabelle. Throwing the Calla Lillies into the vase Annabelle always used Frankie quickly wrote a small letter telling his family what he intended to do.
The letter was quick and succinct. After all, it wasn’t as if he were asking permission. In total, he had about 1200 platinum available not including his meager holdings from the previous terms. His letter in hand and a plan to finally move his search forward Frankie rushed out the door. Sending the letter was first, then he went to the city center to hire the town barkers. There was no going back once the letter was sent, he was committed. The town barkers usually finished their shifts about dusk and he knew where to reach them. It didn’t take much to explain the issue and the fact that he wanted to make a public announcement regarding a reward for information leading to her return.
The barker Captain assured him that the news would be spread far and wide. Using his savings from previous semesters he secured the barker services for a substantial amount of time and even employed their flier service as well. This would work he told himself. This would get something moving. That evening he went to the pub where Annabelle last sang at. Her voice dancing in his memories Frankie succumbed to sorrow and drank himself into a minor stupor before returning to his Apartment.
The following two weeks were a blur as false claim after false claim was delivered to Frankie, and he had to expertly search for what he was sure would be the one needle in the haystack of despair. There was little to save him from utter depression until a group of Halflings sent an emissary offering to assist in the hunt for his missing Love. Of course, they were here for the reward but they were very well regarded in the searching and hunting community. At this point Frankie would take any help he could get and their offer was as good as any other.
The rest of that week continued at an obsessed pace of frantic action. The letter from Annabelle’s mother was completely unexpected at this point, but it was simultaneously a welcome and unwelcome piece of news, Annabelle had not, in fact, attempted to return home. Her mother had contacted the Eastern Kingdom and requested as much information and assistance as they could afford. It was now that the Royal Guard began an investigation. Frankie informed them of everything he had so far found, which sadly wasn’t much. Frankie immediately began working hand in hand with the Police, though for them it was a job, for Frankie it was his life at this point. Everyone in the city was aware of Frankie, his expensive reward and the personal crusade he seemed to be embarking upon.
In the weeks that followed the official involvement of the Guards Frankie was heartened to see others truly helping even if only out of obligation and duty. Annabelle’s Mother increased the bounty by adding her own funds to the amount Frankie had already offered. His own family was strangely silent on the issue. There had not even been a single letter of well-wishing from them at this point. Though that was odd Frankie never really took the time to inquire as to the reason. It was a separate problem he would deal with after this was over.
The enormous amount of funds and kingdom-wide focus which seemed to be spreading regarding the disappearance of Annabelle had reached a completely unprecedented level when the Empress herself dispatched Imperial Barkers to spread the word of her desire for Annabelle’s return if not to Frankie then to her loving family. The disappearance of Annabelle Lee seemed to have captured the focus of the entire Empire. At this point however most everyone had come to the conclusion that the poor girl was not going to return alive, the Police literally changed the status of their investigation from a missing person case to one of suspicion of death. The claims of information had slowed substantially once the police were involved, no one wanted to be accused of making a fraudulent claim to the Authorities.
Then came the day. It was a brisk day almost a year after Annabelle had first gone missing. A young Sergeant at arms rushed into Frankie’s’ apartment still littered with different pieces of information regarding the case of Annabelle’s’ disappearance. Frankie was the one person who would die before he gave up looking for Annabelle.
“They found her” the Sergeant barely managed to force out between sucking gasps of air. He had evidently run the entire way to Frankie’s apartment at the first mention of the news. Frankie hearing the words didn’t even stop to look for suitable clothes. Forcing the Sergeant out the door back and rushing into the street. The two of them ran as quickly as possible to the gate where the sergeant said to meet the returning group. As he approached the gate, Frankie immediately saw the somber manner of everyone around. There were random citizens on foot who had stopped their work and/or travel to allow a shrouded cart to pass. At the sight of the Police and Guardsmen escorting the shrouded cart, Frankie froze mid-run and stopped. His feet like anchors slamming him into the ground. There was a young female Cleric in the party walking behind the cart, offering last rites.
Standing silently in disbelief Frankie couldn’t bring himself even to breath as the cart angled to pass him by on the road. Everything had just completely collapsed on itself. Annabelle Lee, the only reason for his love of life was no more. As the cart slowly sauntered in the direction of the Police Station Frankie launched himself at the sheet, jerking it back. The sheet falling to the ground revealed a pale thin face which was clearly that of Annabelle. She was paler than normal and a bit thinner than he remembered but the image of her nude corpse was burned into his mind. The large gash from her stomach to her chest seemed precise but heavy-handed. The blood, there had to have been blood, was apparently missing or had been washed away somehow. When it comes to corpses Frankie had learned that some pass into the afterlife with little fuss while others seem to fight death until the very last moment. Annabelle it appeared had struggled to avoid her death, the strain was present in her muscles and face, it had not been a peaceful transition into the world of the dead.
The details of the death of Annabelle were circulated throughout the kingdom almost as quickly as news of the reward. It seemed to some that the entire Empire took a collective sigh as news of the outcome was absorbed into the populace. Frankie, devastated by the loss, didn’t speak a word to a single person for the full week before her funeral. The female Cleric that escorted Annabelle’s body back to the City came by for a visit and spoke of the final moments and the harrowing attempts to save Annabelle after she had been found. Grief-stricken by her own inability to save Annabelle, the Cleric Mori Melius, had decided to take a sabbatical from the church and her studies as a healer.
The week before the funeral, Frankie was speaking with the Sergeant from that dreaded day. It appeared to Frankie from the conversation that the kidnappers had died in a struggle with the Police and Guards and Annabelle’s death was meant to be more of a distraction. There were a trap and all sorts of attempts to draw the attention of the Guards but sadly it just didn’t seem to go the right way. Annabelle had been left tied to a table in a clock tower while a sharpened pendulum increasingly dipped toward her. The Police and Guards were split between reaching her and trying to capture her kidnappers. It wasn’t until after the kidnappers escaped that their goal was revealed during the cleanup. Evidently, these men had kidnapped Annabelle and were attempting to extort a ransom out of her Mother, but Annabelle’s mother had made no attempts to pay the requested amount. As a result, the kidnappers resorted to simply holding her hostage and were trying to decide what to do with her when they became trapped by the investigation. Through the explanation of events, Frankie seemed to find a sort of peace, it wasn’t the ending he had wanted but at least he was certain he knew who to blame.
It had been Annabelle’s Mother all along. She did not approve of Annabelle and him in the first place. Whether it was because of the damage done to the family reputation if Annabelle refused to go forward with the arranged marriage, or some sort of financial issue left over from the loss of her father, Frankie didn’t care. Her family was responsible for not doing enough. They would pay. They would experience every ounce of pain and fear Annabelle felt in those harrowing final moments.
The evening before the funeral, Frankie answered his door to discover Umbrielle standing at his door. It had been years since they had seen each other but today Frankie felt it was only right that she would be here. The two spent the entire night talking of their childhood and their lives since. The conversation over Annabelle was devastating for both but cathartic for Frankie because it was in this moment he decided he would find a way to BRING HER BACK no matter the cost. His world was empty without her, but to bring her back into this world which so ruthlessly ripped her from his existence without first dealing with the forces that destroyed the possibility of her happiness in the first place would simply be an insult. First, though he had to tell Annabelle of his plans, after all, she needed to know, he was planning on bringing her back.
The funeral was a large event, with more pomposity than Frankie was up for. In that regard, it was a good thing Annabelle’s Mother had decided not to invite him to the event. Not that he would have been a very friendly guest to the woman he now considered his nemesis. It was one of the largest funerals in living memory. People from all over the Empire had come to commiserate with the family and friends of the woman the Empress called her favorite Songbird, Annabelle Lee. There was still a sizable crowd at the Graveyard when Frankie walked in. Some of the people meandering out started whispering to each other as he walked past. His countenance displaying the death he felt within himself for the world to see. Several people recognizing him from around the city gave him a wide berth to travel as he pleased. There was a tree directly across from her headstone and Frankie stopped there for a few moments to gaze at the headstone as if trying to see Annabelle below the carved Marble that was her headstone. The whole thing seemed even more of an insult Annabelle wasn’t even buried in her family tombs, was that because of some sort of disappointment from her mother? Had her mother been that displeased with Annabelle?
As the calmness came over him again, Frankie walked toward the headstone and began speaking. “Annabelle, my darling I ask only that you do not leave this plane, I will find a way to bring you back My Love. I swear it, in the meantime my love know those who wronged you in this life will be punished if I have to travel to the pits of hell myself, they will feel the sting of vengeance in the lonely hours of their days.” Many people speak to their recently deceased loved ones, so no one really took special notice of this behavior, but in the case of Frankie, he was literally speaking to her spirit. Billowing and glowing white in form he could feel it was the spirit of his beloved, floating in his vision just above the headstone. She did not speak but he could feel her impression toward him, commiserating with him. Mourning with, and for him, because the Frankie Stein of her childhood was gone now, his body lived but he would never be the same carefree person again.
Once the spirit left, dissipated of its own accord Frankie bid goodbye to the Ghost of his beloved and turned back toward the tree. Standing quietly beneath its branches was Umbrielle, a look of sadness resting on her face. Close by was the Cleric girl Mori, and a Halfling he recognized as the envoy from the hunter group involved in the search for Annabelle. They were all looking at him strangely, not quite like they were afraid but more like they were expecting something from him. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and motioned for them to come closer. Umbrielle was the closest so he met her under the tree as the others approached.
When the others were close enough to hear without straining Frankie said, “My family has disowned me because of what they say is my part in all of this. I do not have much in the way of coinage or wealth; my reward was contractually paid out to the farmer who gave the final tip. That said, I fully intend to find and hold those responsible for this horrendous act, to count. Retribution will be mine, and if you would like to come with me, for your parts in this I will promise anything I gain will be yours as well. The decision is of course yours. I will leave soon, come with me or not” With that he turned back to face and approach the headstone. Mumbling something to the spirit of Annabelle.
Umbrielle has always been a loner and lurking type. By all means her name means “one in the shadow” and to that she has always felt a certain level of reverence. She became a bounty hunter shortly after being cast out of the house of Lee. She had one sibling Annabelle which was her younger sister. Later on she found out that she was her father’s illegitimate child because he had an affair with the maid. Apparently her mother which she never knew. This woman died when she was born. Her father felt responsible and took care of her but boy did her step mom make it known she wasn’t welcome. Annabelle and her were inseparable they loved each other. Then Annabelle met this Frankie guy, he was okay. They all did stuff together until her father passed away when she was 17. That was hard on everyone. But then my step mother kicked her out and told her, she was no longer a Lee and to never come back. She was so angry and hurt that she turned that into a good business according to the people she first ran into. They trained her to do the business she does today. When she chooses her bounty’s she makes sure it says “Dead or Alive”. She grew tired very quickly of having to keep people alive on the journey back and their incessant babbling. So all she brings back is a head. Now all she might have to listen to is them asking for mercy if she didn’t catch them on surprise and kill them on the spot. She figures it is out of mercy she kills them but they themselves want to live she doesn’t care. She lighten the load and gets her rewards faster this way. A year ago, everyone heard about the disappearance of her sister. Made her curious how a popular singer could be just plucked out off the stage light with no one noticing. She was intrigued because it followed her line of work. Without anyone knowing she did her own investigation of finding her sister. Not too successful because in the end the people who had Annabelle, killed her. A little while after her sister’s death, Umbrielle ran into Frankie. He made a proposal that interested her they would mutually gain and get even for the death of Annabelle. Frankie paid Umbrielle for hunting these bastards and killing them. They both would reap in the reward of vengeance.
okay so continuing with this conversation. While the above was character history what follows is information about the quest. Which Frankie wants to share.
Frankie was told by the guards that the band responsible for Annabelle's kidnapping was a group called The Spiders. They have a silver web tattoo to show membership. Most of the dozen or so band were killed in the guards raid on the hideout. They know three got away and they headed west.
Stalia is located near the center of the continent. Urrgghh, Hugh, and Gen originate from the Western Kingdom. Frankie, Callie, Mori, and Umbrielle originate from the Eastern Kingdom. Ozy was solo from the Southern Kingdom. Depending on your mode and speed of travel to Stalia you will have 8 -10 months in the city before the campaign starts.
Sorry about not catching this earlier. So the part about Frankie's group and Hugh's group meeting "in route" to Stalia will have to be adjusted slightly. Geographic restrictions. Ozy's background is still good though we still need to flesh out some details.
I don't know if you have a map system that you like to use or that you have looked at but I bought a year membership to this one because it came with a commercial distribution license (relevant to some other projects) so if you want to look at it I will attach a link. If you like it I can send you the Log in info offline. Just let me know.
Mathew if you move Anna's grave to the capital our story still works. Then all we have to do is range the order of meetings. I have already adjust my story.
Genevieve Wolfwing is a black headed, green-eyed, human fighter who was orphaned at an age to young for her to remember. She was passed around from one abusive home to the next and at some point started defending herself using whatever means possible. When she ran away at the age of sixteen, she quickly found a way to support herself by hustling bar patrons out of their money playing dice games, arm wrestling, or bar brawling. After traveling around for a number of years, she found a bard named Hugh in a bar that got her high on pot and began traveling with him and his strange barbarian friend.
Shortly after your arrival in Stalia you were in the merchant quarter buying some goods. A very large wolf was in the quarter that day as well. The wolf apparently mistook you for a lively chew toy. After a short but lively flight through several open air stalls the chase ended. Guards were on the scene as was the companion of the energetic wolf. Luckily Resronyn Daebella (a.k.a. Res) and Luris are known to some of the guards. Apologies were given and drinks offered. Upon hearing your tale of what brought you here Luris (and maybe Res) took you under his wing. Res explains her role in scouting the norther wilds for the expanding empire and how it keeps her sane. Luris was insistent about not leaving the city for the next scouting trip without the new chew toy (you). Now from time to time you will join Res and Luris in the northern wilds for "training".
A week after you reach Stalia you attempt to commune with Annabelle. Annabelle (your familiar) suddenly became alert and seemed to be searching for something. She quickly takes off and moves through several back alley in the run down distract know as The Slums. In a tiny abandoned hut she leads you into what appears to be a forgotten section of the tombs beneath the city. After a seeming endless array of confusing twists and turns ascents and descents Annabelle walks through a wall. When you follow you find you are in an arcane laboratory of some sort. It is not only filled with arcane instruments but also bodies of all sorts. On the far side of the room a human in black robes is working while muttering to himself. An imp fly's about back and forth. Sometimes it helps with what the man is doing. Annabelle has climbed onto one of the tables near the middle of the room where what seems to be an over sized winged hairless squirrel with a large mouth is displayed. Annabelle looked closely at the immobile creature and thumps it on the head. A scuffle breaks out between the two as the creature bites Annabelle on the face. They tumble through several stacks of books and other arcane instruments. Without any apparent care for the chaos the two pint sized combatants are making the man walks by where you stand. He is holding a book in front of his face and still talking to himself... you think.
"Good Vexius The Wraith needs assistance. Here take these and get to work on that bench over there."
You recognize the writing on the sheets of paper he hands you. It is Necromantic formulas and not simple ones either.
You were raised in an orphanage. This was not a normal orphanage though. It was dedicated to the War God Tempus. You were beaten, occasionally starved and forced to live a life of constant struggle. Everything was a competition with only the strong as survivors. Eventually, you earned the mantle of Priest of the War God. This following spans the empire. Only those ordained may address another Priest of the War God as Brother or Sister. Any others to address you as Sister will be taken as a challenge. A statement that they want to join the ranks of the War God in the most direct manner. Immediate and single combat. Most of the time to the death. Few are ever foolish enough to take this challenge and even fewer succeed. You go where there is war and conflict. Often Brothers and Sisters will find each other on opposite sides of the same battle. It makes no difference to them. A glorious death from a Brother or Sister is considered an honor.
When you reached Stalia a Brother from your order noticed you. He has made it his personal mission to ensure your strength in any conflict you face.
Both of you have heard tales of the Colosseum. Petitioning to join the matches held there you both meet Rath. One of the Ringmasters responsible for recruiting talent and managing fights. Rath is an older human barbarian tribesman. If you choose to fight in the Colosseum you will have access to the training halls underneath. The only rule in the Colosseum is there are no rules. All matches are no holds barred. Funding from the Empire and priests and acolyte's on hand mean few die in the matches. There are several ranks First rank through Fifth rank with Fifth rank being the highest rank. This is reserved for only the strongest of champions and most entertaining.
When competing in the Colosseum winners will be awarded points depending on the number of wins they accumulate. If you win your first match you will get 1 point. If you win your second match you will get 2 points. Your total points will be 3. If you lose you get no points and you next win only earns you 1 point. If you win after that you get 2 points. At times the ringmasters will reset the "season" and all points are set to 0. When you move from one class the next your points are set at 0. You can compete in up to 2 fights per day. You have register with Rath the day before the fights and be at the Colosseum at noon the next day.
In your quest for power you broke your oath to the Southern Kingdom. You sought out a powerful warlock known as Cora Ripper. After weeks of mental and spiritual torture you finally received the touch of your patron. At the end of the final ritual your body and mind were flooded with power that seemed to be limitless. The feeling quickly abated leaving a faint trace behind. Cora's eyes glazed over a solid black and she spoke with a voice made of bones grinding together.
"Four will come from the Eastern Kingdom. Half a hunter, a sensuous blade, another's chosen and a crazed intellect. Seek them out and gain their trust. We will be watching you champion."
The next day a traveling band of Bards were leaving. You signed on as a guard for their caravan which was heading toward the Eastern Kingdom. One of them, Hughestes Furchtbar, has a strange dwarf friend and has tried to get you high multiple times during the trip. During the trip in the Eastern Kingdom the troupe comes across Franki, Mori, Umbrielle and Callie. You believe them to be the ones you were directed to. Hearing Frankie's tale you have offered your services to the group and accompany them to Stalia.
Reaching out to the local thieves guild has been difficult. It has taken time but you have made a contact. Eston 'Honestly' Stanford is a blatant flirt and has the moral fortitude of a wet noodle. Unfortunately for you, he is the only one to respond to your thieves cant inquiries. Any others you have seen in Stalia using signals goes silent and stops using it if they notice you. Before leaving for this latest Adventurer's Guild mission Eston let you know to see him when you return. An "opportunity" has come up.
During your time in Stalia you have made rounds to many of the drinking establishments. Some of the owners have been open to having a performer help bring in customers. Buying and selling your "products" has not been a problem. You can openly buy and sell them but they are looked at as dishonorable. The more elite will look down on you and treat you poorly if your reputation is entrenched with these deals. The owner of The Deranged Mole has mentioned that he sells and buys many different kinds of product.
Merchant Quarter:
The Voiceless Dwarf Bar
The Dynamic Pig
The Bloody Apples - The local guard hang out. The owner is not sure if you are the type that would perform here. The tavern and inn is well made and three stories. All the better spirits are locked behind sturdy cabinets. The tables and stools are all really cheap and shabby. All the mugs are cheap wood instead of clay fired like most of the other merchant quarter. The owner thinks this place is a little rough for you.
The Filthy Child Pub - When they don't have entertainment booked they will let you perform.
The Fuzzy Mosquito Bar - When they don't have entertainment booked they will let you perform.
The Fragile Nugget Tavern
Common Quarter:
The Sleeping Huntress - Performing here will earn you a room and a meal.
The Deranged Mole (Slums) - The owner claims you will get room and board...you're not sure about that though.
The Next Hamsters Inn - There is no stage but the owner doesn't care if you stand on a table as long as people buy more drinks you will get a room and a meal.
The Snoring Lettuce Pub - The gruff dwarf owner just shook his head and grunted. When you started performing anyway as way to hopefully persuade him he just kept throwing rocks at you till you left.
Noble Quarter
The Secret Forest Inn - The bouncers did not let you in.
The Double Horse - The bouncers did not let you in.
I forgot an important part. Everyone will have to pick a name for the group. This will be registered with the Adventurer's Guild and you will have to pick a leader/captain.
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The start of a new campaign.
For all who are creating characters to join the campaign, you can come here to discuss backgrounds and character options.
I have updated the description and the public notes. When you have time look over them and the backgrounds posted below. As everyone is working with me some details may change.
There will end up being some spoilers in this thread. Listed above the spoiler will be who it is for. If it is not for you don't read it. It will make the game more interesting if you don't know everything that is going on.
As a young lad Hughestes found he had a nack for talking his way out of trouble. He found a sense of purpose with a band of traveling bards where he learned his craft as a drummer, juggler, and all around entertainer After traveling with them for several years meeting many famous bards and earning some popularity in his own right. Hughes became bored with the group of entertainers all seeking the lime light and decided to seek his own way. He even played, composed and acted as the show producer for the most famous Annabelle Lee for a time. He eventually headed off in the direction of Stalia.
He eventually found a friend and traveling companion in a barbarian dwarf named Urghh. Urghh the muscle bound dwarf turned out to be a wonderful bouncer to travel with and joined him for some fun adventures and a little mischief. When not entertaining, drinking or playing games in taverns, the two often get into bits of trouble of some sort or another.
Making their way toward the capital, Hughes stopped off at a gravesite looking for mushrooms and the two of them came across an odd man named Frankie Stein who was talking to himself. Along with a shadowed figure who's glare could melt the soul of any who care to cross her path leaned against a tree watching the odd man. So Hughes offered her a joint and she too decided to tag along.
While talking at the stoic, shadowed human Hughes noticed a little statue of a halfling that looked interesting. So, Hughes went and put the joint in its mouth for safe keeping. Hughes was startled when the statue spit out the blunt and after picking it up he fussed at the statue for wasting good bud. The group carried on en route to Stalia and along the way, the group took a rest at a tavern.
While there Hughes got into a drinking game with a stout human female named Gen-something or another. He forgot the rest of her name, but after drinking Hughes under the table she joined the band of adventures as they carried on to Stalia.
(The tale of a Hughestes told in secret to his closest friends and alies)
When I was about 12 living on the streets of Mugh Lodur I found talking to people guards and merchants went a long way in keeping them in good spirits with me and the more I made them laugh or the better story I could entertain them with could ingratiate them to overlook some of the trouble I might get into. Granted that didn't work if I was caught first as was the case when I was about 14 and met Jostus who would become my teacher and mentor. He didn't so much mind my sneaking into the show nor the sneaking into the bard's carriage but when I found the little ring that played music at my behest he seemed a bit irritated. He took the ring and offered me a chance to earn it by proving myself a true bard as was his mentor, who the ring had belonged to. I joined his band of traveling bards to prove myself. Learning over the next several years how to play a variety of instruments , song and dance, how to perform and my natural talent I found lay in the spinning of tales and stories true or false it didnt matter to my listeners. And this is how I made my mark. Yet performing in the troop was always necessary and I found I could tap out a beat that could make the patrons dance or sway. As time went on I found my abilities would grow in every aspect of the entertainment of people. And I even found a bit of magic in my craft. So did Jostus who after watching a performance one night Came up to me and placed the small box with the ring in it before me. Saying I was a true bard and told me how if I wanted to grow as a performer I should travel to Stalia and could learn from the college library or the other true bards for there was nothing left that he could teach me. I took his advise and traveled abroad. Finding a dwarf named Uurgh who became my friend , traveling companion, body guard ,and a decent bouncer. We would return to Stalia ever so often to study at the college. We kept close to the darker side of the cities ,we went to, and with most of the underbelly and darkness I found inspiration in the form of various drugs. However, I also found the limits of drugs and how to much of some things can dramatically harm your performance. I found that many of the merchant and noble class would not even deal with A bard who dealt with the substances. Leading me to a need of access. On the outskirts of mugh Lodur I found a small cottage nessled deep in the woods one would be hard pressed to find it unless they new exactly where to look. Here I forged some documents and created the Jaberwalky family tree. I found the act so useful I developed it for a time in mugh lodur making some contacts and building the story. It gained me access to more prestigious people and that is how I met her, Annabelle Lee. A very talented singer butat the time I met her a nobody just another noble daughter who would eventually be married off to further family goals. However, after doing some clever convincing with her mother I was granted permission and I made arrangements for her first performance and I had found a golden goose. I escorted her several place as Lord Tristan Jaberwalky and Uurgh the dwarven bodyguard. We built her status and molded her into the perfect song bird until she was so famous people would forget everything else just to hear her sing . Yet as all thing they come to an end. She disappeared from her last performance without a word. Perhaps it was the stress her family put on her to marry some shmuck Lord or just the pressure of performing I don't know. After the news finally spread that Annabelle had been brutally slain I found that that knowledge would return me to the darker side of the cities back into the pit of substance and drink and down a path thirsting for revenge.
Urghh was orphan. Shield only thing Urghh have of family in orphanage. Urghh try other shields but Urghh's shield is best shield. Urghh stronger than others with shield of shielding. Urghh take his stuff from orphanage when old enough. Shield of shielding, necklace of Bearpaw, kilt of free movement, staff of confusion, and all Urghh's weapons of hurting. Urghh find drummer. Urghh also like drums. Urghh now have friend of drumming. Others follow Urghh because Urghh is strong. Urghh has many great things.
Urghh meet Frankie. Frankie sad. Frankie miss Annabelle. Urghh strong so Urghh help Frankie hurt people who hurt Annabelle, then Frankie be happy. Urghh no like sad.
Callie Stonebridge is a sturdy little halfling with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who grew up among a nomadic herd of hunters. She has been taught how to live, survive, and hunt in almost any climate. The herd was a tight-knit community and had always worked well together by learning to identify and nurture every individual for their own set of abilities, gifts, and talents. Not that they weren't all taught how to survive on their own for periods of time if they needed to, but as a whole they lived and worked side-by-side. Callie showed both interest and aptitude for archery at a very young age and so, she was trained and taught by the best marksmen and hunters within her community and quickly became one of the best archers and hunters among her peers. She went on hunts, learned to stand watch, and even helped teach and train the younger archers within the herd. The outlander herd was often hired and well payed for their discretion and hunting prowess. Unfortunately more than half of her herd was slaughtered while aiding in the search for Annabelle Lee. Callie had never before seen the type of violent crimes she fell witness to. She had only ever lost loved ones due to old age or a fever of some sort or another. The things she had seen still give her nightmares. Callie is so shaken, disturbed, and devestated by the loss of her family and traveling companions and their utter failure to rescue the beloved singer that she felt an oddly strong urge to avenge their deaths. So when asked if she would go along with Frankie to avenge his love, Annabelle, she goes with him and Umbrielle and quickly finds herself in a very different type of company than she's ever known before.
The completed story of how Frankie Stein went from a subpar Medical student to the necromancer he wishes to become now.
Frankie Stein was a young idealistic man of noble birth. As the youngest of his family, he was not afforded the benefit of a Title or Lands. Instead, he was allowed to take up his own goals and ambitions so long as those did not bring dishonor upon the family. This was when he decided to pursue a tradition of the Healing Arts, such a profession is widely respected even among the nobility and would allow him to continue benefiting from the status of his family.
Frankie was childhood friends with several other noble children, two, in particular, were sisters, Annabelle Lee and Umbrielle. Frankie was the oldest where Umbrielle was older than Annabelle. It was rumored Umbrielle was an illegitimate daughter from an affair, despite or perhaps in spite of this salacious rumor the three of them were very close as children. Unfortunately, as with many things childhood was a fleeting experience. Frankie grew up and was forced to pursue his goals outside of house Stein and away from the influence of his parents. Annabelle reached womanhood and was promised in marriage to Lord Byron of the Eastern Kingdom. While Umbrielle was similarly tossed aside by her adopted family and told to pursue her own goals.
Some years later while studying Medicine at the Scientiam Hall, a branch of the official scientiam from the capital. Frankie happened to stumble across a flyer advertising a one night only appearance of “Annabelle Lee”, who had apparently made quite a name for herself as a Songstress. In an act of nostalgia, Frankie decided he would visit Annabelle and see her performance. He didn’t have any memories of her singing as a child so this seemed sort of novel to consider a former friend has reached such a level.
There are moments in an individual’s life where things sort of shift and little factors have a tremendous effect, this was one of those moments for Frankie. Getting to see Annabelle was not difficult. Frankie merely had to tell the guards at her hotel who he was and that he wished to speak with her since it had been so long he did not really know what to expect but in short order one of the guards disappeared upstairs. Returning sometime later the Guard informed Frankie that Miss Lee would be glad to have dinner with him. Frankie didn’t know for sure where he stood on the deciding factor but figured Dinner would be a good setting to catch up on the years which have passed since they last spoke.
The evening was a blur, Annabelle was amazing. It didn’t take long before the two were inseparable, spending more time together than either could rightly afford. The medical studies which Frankie had pursued began to suffer, but he didn’t care enough to notice all that much. The musical tour which Annabelle had started and committed to as a sort of the last foray before her arranged marriage to Lord Byron began to notice a difference in her behavior. Showing up late to scheduled events, missing appointments, failing to meet with local dignitaries entirely.
All in all, the two were very enamored with one another. Love was on their minds. This was when Annabelle’s Mother first took notice, someone had sent a missive to inform her of the odd behavior her daughter seemed to be behaving in, and as an extension questioned the family’s commitment to the arranged marriage. The response from Annabelle’s mother was quick and decisive. She publicly revoked her daughters’ expenditure and demanded Annabelle return home to prepare for her wedding day. Annabelle’s response though was not that public. She simply moved in with Frankie. The two were happy and blissful for several months, Annabelle would find work singing at some of the local Taverns and she was building quite a local following in addition to her already well-received reputation in the upper class. Until one night she never returned back to the home she was sharing with Frankie. Beside himself, Frankie set out on the town the next morning looking for her and after being unable to discover where she could have gone, Frankie went to the city Guards and attempted to file a missing persons’ report.
The Guards were unwilling to search for Annabelle, assuming she had simply tired of what they thought was assuredly a summer tryst. After a few hours of despair, Frankie rallied his spirits, withdrew from school and began searching for Annabelle. The hardest part of those early periods was the message he penned to Annabelle’s mother, asking for confirmation that she had simply returned home instead of the dark worries which rested on his mind.
As the days turned to a week it became clear something nefarious was afoot. There was no return letter from Annabelle’s mother, but that was half expected. As a matter of fact, it was so expected that Frankie had written a letter home at the same time as the one to Annabelle’s mother. Asking his brother to check in on the Lee household and see if there was any evidence Annabelle had been in touch with her mother.
A few weeks went by while Frankie was frequenting every Pub and concert hall Annabelle was known to have visited. No-one seemed to have any idea what could have happened to her. Frankie had received confirmation that she was coming home that evening when she disappeared. There was a florist who Annabelle frequently visited that said she had stopped in and purchased her usual Calla Lillies for the entryway. The flowers never made it to their apartment. Heartbroken Frankie bought a dozen of the flowers for sentimental sake.
On his walk back to his small apartment that evening Frankie reached a decision. His family had continued to send gold to cover his tuition and expenses while at school despite the fact he had withdrawn during this semester. There was no use for the coin, so Frankie decided he would offer it all up as a bounty for information leading to the location of Annabelle. Throwing the Calla Lillies into the vase Annabelle always used Frankie quickly wrote a small letter telling his family what he intended to do.
The letter was quick and succinct. After all, it wasn’t as if he were asking permission. In total, he had about 1200 platinum available not including his meager holdings from the previous terms. His letter in hand and a plan to finally move his search forward Frankie rushed out the door. Sending the letter was first, then he went to the city center to hire the town barkers. There was no going back once the letter was sent, he was committed. The town barkers usually finished their shifts about dusk and he knew where to reach them. It didn’t take much to explain the issue and the fact that he wanted to make a public announcement regarding a reward for information leading to her return.
The barker Captain assured him that the news would be spread far and wide. Using his savings from previous semesters he secured the barker services for a substantial amount of time and even employed their flier service as well. This would work he told himself. This would get something moving. That evening he went to the pub where Annabelle last sang at. Her voice dancing in his memories Frankie succumbed to sorrow and drank himself into a minor stupor before returning to his Apartment.
The following two weeks were a blur as false claim after false claim was delivered to Frankie, and he had to expertly search for what he was sure would be the one needle in the haystack of despair. There was little to save him from utter depression until a group of Halflings sent an emissary offering to assist in the hunt for his missing Love. Of course, they were here for the reward but they were very well regarded in the searching and hunting community. At this point Frankie would take any help he could get and their offer was as good as any other.
The rest of that week continued at an obsessed pace of frantic action. The letter from Annabelle’s mother was completely unexpected at this point, but it was simultaneously a welcome and unwelcome piece of news, Annabelle had not, in fact, attempted to return home. Her mother had contacted the Eastern Kingdom and requested as much information and assistance as they could afford. It was now that the Royal Guard began an investigation. Frankie informed them of everything he had so far found, which sadly wasn’t much. Frankie immediately began working hand in hand with the Police, though for them it was a job, for Frankie it was his life at this point. Everyone in the city was aware of Frankie, his expensive reward and the personal crusade he seemed to be embarking upon.
In the weeks that followed the official involvement of the Guards Frankie was heartened to see others truly helping even if only out of obligation and duty. Annabelle’s Mother increased the bounty by adding her own funds to the amount Frankie had already offered. His own family was strangely silent on the issue. There had not even been a single letter of well-wishing from them at this point. Though that was odd Frankie never really took the time to inquire as to the reason. It was a separate problem he would deal with after this was over.
The enormous amount of funds and kingdom-wide focus which seemed to be spreading regarding the disappearance of Annabelle had reached a completely unprecedented level when the Empress herself dispatched Imperial Barkers to spread the word of her desire for Annabelle’s return if not to Frankie then to her loving family. The disappearance of Annabelle Lee seemed to have captured the focus of the entire Empire. At this point however most everyone had come to the conclusion that the poor girl was not going to return alive, the Police literally changed the status of their investigation from a missing person case to one of suspicion of death. The claims of information had slowed substantially once the police were involved, no one wanted to be accused of making a fraudulent claim to the Authorities.
Then came the day. It was a brisk day almost a year after Annabelle had first gone missing. A young Sergeant at arms rushed into Frankie’s’ apartment still littered with different pieces of information regarding the case of Annabelle’s’ disappearance. Frankie was the one person who would die before he gave up looking for Annabelle.
“They found her” the Sergeant barely managed to force out between sucking gasps of air. He had evidently run the entire way to Frankie’s apartment at the first mention of the news. Frankie hearing the words didn’t even stop to look for suitable clothes. Forcing the Sergeant out the door back and rushing into the street. The two of them ran as quickly as possible to the gate where the sergeant said to meet the returning group. As he approached the gate, Frankie immediately saw the somber manner of everyone around. There were random citizens on foot who had stopped their work and/or travel to allow a shrouded cart to pass. At the sight of the Police and Guardsmen escorting the shrouded cart, Frankie froze mid-run and stopped. His feet like anchors slamming him into the ground. There was a young female Cleric in the party walking behind the cart, offering last rites.
Standing silently in disbelief Frankie couldn’t bring himself even to breath as the cart angled to pass him by on the road. Everything had just completely collapsed on itself. Annabelle Lee, the only reason for his love of life was no more. As the cart slowly sauntered in the direction of the Police Station Frankie launched himself at the sheet, jerking it back. The sheet falling to the ground revealed a pale thin face which was clearly that of Annabelle. She was paler than normal and a bit thinner than he remembered but the image of her nude corpse was burned into his mind. The large gash from her stomach to her chest seemed precise but heavy-handed. The blood, there had to have been blood, was apparently missing or had been washed away somehow. When it comes to corpses Frankie had learned that some pass into the afterlife with little fuss while others seem to fight death until the very last moment. Annabelle it appeared had struggled to avoid her death, the strain was present in her muscles and face, it had not been a peaceful transition into the world of the dead.
The details of the death of Annabelle were circulated throughout the kingdom almost as quickly as news of the reward. It seemed to some that the entire Empire took a collective sigh as news of the outcome was absorbed into the populace. Frankie, devastated by the loss, didn’t speak a word to a single person for the full week before her funeral. The female Cleric that escorted Annabelle’s body back to the City came by for a visit and spoke of the final moments and the harrowing attempts to save Annabelle after she had been found. Grief-stricken by her own inability to save Annabelle, the Cleric Mori Melius, had decided to take a sabbatical from the church and her studies as a healer.
The week before the funeral, Frankie was speaking with the Sergeant from that dreaded day. It appeared to Frankie from the conversation that the kidnappers had died in a struggle with the Police and Guards and Annabelle’s death was meant to be more of a distraction. There were a trap and all sorts of attempts to draw the attention of the Guards but sadly it just didn’t seem to go the right way. Annabelle had been left tied to a table in a clock tower while a sharpened pendulum increasingly dipped toward her. The Police and Guards were split between reaching her and trying to capture her kidnappers. It wasn’t until after the kidnappers escaped that their goal was revealed during the cleanup. Evidently, these men had kidnapped Annabelle and were attempting to extort a ransom out of her Mother, but Annabelle’s mother had made no attempts to pay the requested amount. As a result, the kidnappers resorted to simply holding her hostage and were trying to decide what to do with her when they became trapped by the investigation. Through the explanation of events, Frankie seemed to find a sort of peace, it wasn’t the ending he had wanted but at least he was certain he knew who to blame.
It had been Annabelle’s Mother all along. She did not approve of Annabelle and him in the first place. Whether it was because of the damage done to the family reputation if Annabelle refused to go forward with the arranged marriage, or some sort of financial issue left over from the loss of her father, Frankie didn’t care. Her family was responsible for not doing enough. They would pay. They would experience every ounce of pain and fear Annabelle felt in those harrowing final moments.
The evening before the funeral, Frankie answered his door to discover Umbrielle standing at his door. It had been years since they had seen each other but today Frankie felt it was only right that she would be here. The two spent the entire night talking of their childhood and their lives since. The conversation over Annabelle was devastating for both but cathartic for Frankie because it was in this moment he decided he would find a way to BRING HER BACK no matter the cost. His world was empty without her, but to bring her back into this world which so ruthlessly ripped her from his existence without first dealing with the forces that destroyed the possibility of her happiness in the first place would simply be an insult. First, though he had to tell Annabelle of his plans, after all, she needed to know, he was planning on bringing her back.
The funeral was a large event, with more pomposity than Frankie was up for. In that regard, it was a good thing Annabelle’s Mother had decided not to invite him to the event. Not that he would have been a very friendly guest to the woman he now considered his nemesis. It was one of the largest funerals in living memory. People from all over the Empire had come to commiserate with the family and friends of the woman the Empress called her favorite Songbird, Annabelle Lee. There was still a sizable crowd at the Graveyard when Frankie walked in. Some of the people meandering out started whispering to each other as he walked past. His countenance displaying the death he felt within himself for the world to see. Several people recognizing him from around the city gave him a wide berth to travel as he pleased. There was a tree directly across from her headstone and Frankie stopped there for a few moments to gaze at the headstone as if trying to see Annabelle below the carved Marble that was her headstone. The whole thing seemed even more of an insult Annabelle wasn’t even buried in her family tombs, was that because of some sort of disappointment from her mother? Had her mother been that displeased with Annabelle?
As the calmness came over him again, Frankie walked toward the headstone and began speaking. “Annabelle, my darling I ask only that you do not leave this plane, I will find a way to bring you back My Love. I swear it, in the meantime my love know those who wronged you in this life will be punished if I have to travel to the pits of hell myself, they will feel the sting of vengeance in the lonely hours of their days.” Many people speak to their recently deceased loved ones, so no one really took special notice of this behavior, but in the case of Frankie, he was literally speaking to her spirit. Billowing and glowing white in form he could feel it was the spirit of his beloved, floating in his vision just above the headstone. She did not speak but he could feel her impression toward him, commiserating with him. Mourning with, and for him, because the Frankie Stein of her childhood was gone now, his body lived but he would never be the same carefree person again.
Once the spirit left, dissipated of its own accord Frankie bid goodbye to the Ghost of his beloved and turned back toward the tree. Standing quietly beneath its branches was Umbrielle, a look of sadness resting on her face. Close by was the Cleric girl Mori, and a Halfling he recognized as the envoy from the hunter group involved in the search for Annabelle. They were all looking at him strangely, not quite like they were afraid but more like they were expecting something from him. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and motioned for them to come closer. Umbrielle was the closest so he met her under the tree as the others approached.
When the others were close enough to hear without straining Frankie said, “My family has disowned me because of what they say is my part in all of this. I do not have much in the way of coinage or wealth; my reward was contractually paid out to the farmer who gave the final tip. That said, I fully intend to find and hold those responsible for this horrendous act, to count. Retribution will be mine, and if you would like to come with me, for your parts in this I will promise anything I gain will be yours as well. The decision is of course yours. I will leave soon, come with me or not” With that he turned back to face and approach the headstone. Mumbling something to the spirit of Annabelle.
Umbrielle has always been a loner and lurking type. By all means her name means “one in the shadow” and to that she has always felt a certain level of reverence. She became a bounty hunter shortly after being cast out of the house of Lee. She had one sibling Annabelle which was her younger sister. Later on she found out that she was her father’s illegitimate child because he had an affair with the maid. Apparently her mother which she never knew. This woman died when she was born. Her father felt responsible and took care of her but boy did her step mom make it known she wasn’t welcome. Annabelle and her were inseparable they loved each other. Then Annabelle met this Frankie guy, he was okay. They all did stuff together until her father passed away when she was 17. That was hard on everyone. But then my step mother kicked her out and told her, she was no longer a Lee and to never come back. She was so angry and hurt that she turned that into a good business according to the people she first ran into. They trained her to do the business she does today. When she chooses her bounty’s she makes sure it says “Dead or Alive”. She grew tired very quickly of having to keep people alive on the journey back and their incessant babbling. So all she brings back is a head. Now all she might have to listen to is them asking for mercy if she didn’t catch them on surprise and kill them on the spot. She figures it is out of mercy she kills them but they themselves want to live she doesn’t care. She lighten the load and gets her rewards faster this way. A year ago, everyone heard about the disappearance of her sister. Made her curious how a popular singer could be just plucked out off the stage light with no one noticing. She was intrigued because it followed her line of work. Without anyone knowing she did her own investigation of finding her sister. Not too successful because in the end the people who had Annabelle, killed her. A little while after her sister’s death, Umbrielle ran into Frankie. He made a proposal that interested her they would mutually gain and get even for the death of Annabelle. Frankie paid Umbrielle for hunting these bastards and killing them. They both would reap in the reward of vengeance.
okay so continuing with this conversation. While the above was character history what follows is information about the quest. Which Frankie wants to share.
Frankie was told by the guards that the band responsible for Annabelle's kidnapping was a group called The Spiders. They have a silver web tattoo to show membership. Most of the dozen or so band were killed in the guards raid on the hideout. They know three got away and they headed west.
What direction is Stalia because me and uurgghh are coming from the west I believe.
Stalia is located near the center of the continent. Urrgghh, Hugh, and Gen originate from the Western Kingdom. Frankie, Callie, Mori, and Umbrielle originate from the Eastern Kingdom. Ozy was solo from the Southern Kingdom. Depending on your mode and speed of travel to Stalia you will have 8 -10 months in the city before the campaign starts.
Sorry about not catching this earlier. So the part about Frankie's group and Hugh's group meeting "in route" to Stalia will have to be adjusted slightly. Geographic restrictions. Ozy's background is still good though we still need to flesh out some details.
I should probably post a rough map somewhere.
I don't know if you have a map system that you like to use or that you have looked at but I bought a year membership to this one because it came with a commercial distribution license (relevant to some other projects) so if you want to look at it I will attach a link. If you like it I can send you the Log in info offline. Just let me know.
https://inkarnate.com
Mathew if you move Anna's grave to the capital our story still works. Then all we have to do is range the order of meetings. I have already adjust my story.
Genevieve Wolfwing is a black headed, green-eyed, human fighter who was orphaned at an age to young for her to remember. She was passed around from one abusive home to the next and at some point started defending herself using whatever means possible. When she ran away at the age of sixteen, she quickly found a way to support herself by hustling bar patrons out of their money playing dice games, arm wrestling, or bar brawling. After traveling around for a number of years, she found a bard named Hugh in a bar that got her high on pot and began traveling with him and his strange barbarian friend.
Spoiler for Callie Stonebridge.
Shortly after your arrival in Stalia you were in the merchant quarter buying some goods. A very large wolf was in the quarter that day as well. The wolf apparently mistook you for a lively chew toy. After a short but lively flight through several open air stalls the chase ended. Guards were on the scene as was the companion of the energetic wolf. Luckily Resronyn Daebella (a.k.a. Res) and Luris are known to some of the guards. Apologies were given and drinks offered. Upon hearing your tale of what brought you here Luris (and maybe Res) took you under his wing. Res explains her role in scouting the norther wilds for the expanding empire and how it keeps her sane. Luris was insistent about not leaving the city for the next scouting trip without the new chew toy (you). Now from time to time you will join Res and Luris in the northern wilds for "training".
Spoiler for Frankie Stein.
A week after you reach Stalia you attempt to commune with Annabelle. Annabelle (your familiar) suddenly became alert and seemed to be searching for something. She quickly takes off and moves through several back alley in the run down distract know as The Slums. In a tiny abandoned hut she leads you into what appears to be a forgotten section of the tombs beneath the city. After a seeming endless array of confusing twists and turns ascents and descents Annabelle walks through a wall. When you follow you find you are in an arcane laboratory of some sort. It is not only filled with arcane instruments but also bodies of all sorts. On the far side of the room a human in black robes is working while muttering to himself. An imp fly's about back and forth. Sometimes it helps with what the man is doing. Annabelle has climbed onto one of the tables near the middle of the room where what seems to be an over sized winged hairless squirrel with a large mouth is displayed. Annabelle looked closely at the immobile creature and thumps it on the head. A scuffle breaks out between the two as the creature bites Annabelle on the face. They tumble through several stacks of books and other arcane instruments. Without any apparent care for the chaos the two pint sized combatants are making the man walks by where you stand. He is holding a book in front of his face and still talking to himself... you think.
"Good Vexius The Wraith needs assistance. Here take these and get to work on that bench over there."
You recognize the writing on the sheets of paper he hands you. It is Necromantic formulas and not simple ones either.
Spoiler for Mori Melius.
You were raised in an orphanage. This was not a normal orphanage though. It was dedicated to the War God Tempus. You were beaten, occasionally starved and forced to live a life of constant struggle. Everything was a competition with only the strong as survivors. Eventually, you earned the mantle of Priest of the War God. This following spans the empire. Only those ordained may address another Priest of the War God as Brother or Sister. Any others to address you as Sister will be taken as a challenge. A statement that they want to join the ranks of the War God in the most direct manner. Immediate and single combat. Most of the time to the death. Few are ever foolish enough to take this challenge and even fewer succeed. You go where there is war and conflict. Often Brothers and Sisters will find each other on opposite sides of the same battle. It makes no difference to them. A glorious death from a Brother or Sister is considered an honor.
When you reached Stalia a Brother from your order noticed you. He has made it his personal mission to ensure your strength in any conflict you face.
Spoiler for Genevieve Wolfwing and Urghh.
Both of you have heard tales of the Colosseum. Petitioning to join the matches held there you both meet Rath. One of the Ringmasters responsible for recruiting talent and managing fights. Rath is an older human barbarian tribesman. If you choose to fight in the Colosseum you will have access to the training halls underneath. The only rule in the Colosseum is there are no rules. All matches are no holds barred. Funding from the Empire and priests and acolyte's on hand mean few die in the matches. There are several ranks First rank through Fifth rank with Fifth rank being the highest rank. This is reserved for only the strongest of champions and most entertaining.
When competing in the Colosseum winners will be awarded points depending on the number of wins they accumulate. If you win your first match you will get 1 point. If you win your second match you will get 2 points. Your total points will be 3. If you lose you get no points and you next win only earns you 1 point. If you win after that you get 2 points. At times the ringmasters will reset the "season" and all points are set to 0. When you move from one class the next your points are set at 0. You can compete in up to 2 fights per day. You have register with Rath the day before the fights and be at the Colosseum at noon the next day.
Spoiler for Ozymandias.
In your quest for power you broke your oath to the Southern Kingdom. You sought out a powerful warlock known as Cora Ripper. After weeks of mental and spiritual torture you finally received the touch of your patron. At the end of the final ritual your body and mind were flooded with power that seemed to be limitless. The feeling quickly abated leaving a faint trace behind. Cora's eyes glazed over a solid black and she spoke with a voice made of bones grinding together.
"Four will come from the Eastern Kingdom. Half a hunter, a sensuous blade, another's chosen and a crazed intellect. Seek them out and gain their trust. We will be watching you champion."
The next day a traveling band of Bards were leaving. You signed on as a guard for their caravan which was heading toward the Eastern Kingdom. One of them, Hughestes Furchtbar, has a strange dwarf friend and has tried to get you high multiple times during the trip. During the trip in the Eastern Kingdom the troupe comes across Franki, Mori, Umbrielle and Callie. You believe them to be the ones you were directed to. Hearing Frankie's tale you have offered your services to the group and accompany them to Stalia.
Spoiler for Umbrielle.
Reaching out to the local thieves guild has been difficult. It has taken time but you have made a contact. Eston 'Honestly' Stanford is a blatant flirt and has the moral fortitude of a wet noodle. Unfortunately for you, he is the only one to respond to your thieves cant inquiries. Any others you have seen in Stalia using signals goes silent and stops using it if they notice you. Before leaving for this latest Adventurer's Guild mission Eston let you know to see him when you return. An "opportunity" has come up.
Spoiler for Hughestes Furchtbar.
During your time in Stalia you have made rounds to many of the drinking establishments. Some of the owners have been open to having a performer help bring in customers. Buying and selling your "products" has not been a problem. You can openly buy and sell them but they are looked at as dishonorable. The more elite will look down on you and treat you poorly if your reputation is entrenched with these deals. The owner of The Deranged Mole has mentioned that he sells and buys many different kinds of product.
Merchant Quarter:
The Voiceless Dwarf Bar
The Dynamic Pig
The Bloody Apples - The local guard hang out. The owner is not sure if you are the type that would perform here. The tavern and inn is well made and three stories. All the better spirits are locked behind sturdy cabinets. The tables and stools are all really cheap and shabby. All the mugs are cheap wood instead of clay fired like most of the other merchant quarter. The owner thinks this place is a little rough for you.
The Filthy Child Pub - When they don't have entertainment booked they will let you perform.
The Fuzzy Mosquito Bar - When they don't have entertainment booked they will let you perform.
The Fragile Nugget Tavern
Common Quarter:
The Sleeping Huntress - Performing here will earn you a room and a meal.
The Deranged Mole (Slums) - The owner claims you will get room and board...you're not sure about that though.
The Next Hamsters Inn - There is no stage but the owner doesn't care if you stand on a table as long as people buy more drinks you will get a room and a meal.
The Snoring Lettuce Pub - The gruff dwarf owner just shook his head and grunted. When you started performing anyway as way to hopefully persuade him he just kept throwing rocks at you till you left.
Noble Quarter
The Secret Forest Inn - The bouncers did not let you in.
The Double Horse - The bouncers did not let you in.
I forgot an important part. Everyone will have to pick a name for the group. This will be registered with the Adventurer's Guild and you will have to pick a leader/captain.