INVASION OF HOUSE TOR is my second Pbp game here on D&D Beyond. My first one i'm currently DMing is LOST MINES OF PHANDELVER, check it out if you'd like.
This SHORT campaign will be for THREE LEVEL 1 characters of any variety, using standard array creation, nothing fancy.
If you'd like to join, please submit your request/character concept and I will pick the three best concepts.
I post at least once a day, sometimes more, so you have to be an active character on the posts.
These are characters I've had put together for various other PBPs that didn't get picked (which is why they are all currently flavored to Fallcrest). They can be changed up a little to suit your game once I know more information about it. If you are interested in having me play one of them in your game, just let me know.
Harmony grew up as a street urchin, ostensibly in the city of Fallcrest. Life was hard for an unwanted tiefling child, and she spent a lot of time roaming on the fringes of the other street children cliques, bouncing from one orphanage or beggar-house to the next. While sheltering at the church of Pelor, Harmony made friends with a young halfling priestess named Darleen. Darleen opened Hamony's eyes to the great works of Pelor and his charges of justice and charity. Over time, Harmony spent more time at the temple, eventually being taken in as a young acolyte, working hard to bring as much light and life into the world as she can.
Karst is strong. Karst knows this to be true. He has many pelts of the swamp wolf to sleep upon and many fangs of the mountain cat to adorn his victory band. But one thing Karst is not, is good with money. It has been several days since he has seen the human men who bought his strength for promised riches and brought him to Fallcrest. Few nights since what meager coins he already had ran out in the local tavern on what mush these soft-skins call food. Karst is not familiar with the ways of this "sit-tee" and its bustle of crowds. He needs to find some work and a way out, but nobody seems interested in dealing with what they consider be some some sort of deformed dragonborn, regardless of how big his sword may be. Karst is getting desperate.
Like most kenku, Kha-Trill had been part and parcel to one criminal enterprise or another for as long as he can remember. That all changed when his previous employers sent him and a group of thugs up into the north to raid a research exploration outpost near Winterhaven. Things went very poorly for the group and Kha-Trill, the designated messenger, was sent, rather haphazardly into the icy wastes in search of help. Instead he found someone greater. Out among the cold and carnage, Kha-trill crossed paths with the Winter Witch (of Dungeon #162 fame). Whether by luck, pity, or some unknowable fey reasoning, the Winter Witch formed a pact of power with Kha-Trill, forever marking him as one of her court. With this new power, Kha-Trill has returned to the nearby Fallcrest to make his own way in the world, probably in service to his new mistress.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
I can join, using a past PbP character that was in a thread that died. I'll be using Folwyn, a sun elf bard
Folwyn was very unlike the others of his race. The others were calm and emotionless, but Folwyn was energetic and very, very adventurous. He loved music (just about any wind instrument) and exploration. When he was young, he left his home to go explore a nearby cave his parents had said was "off-limits". While inside the cave, the ceiling above him collapsed, and he lost consciousness soon after. He woke up realizing his leg was missing, replaced by a wooden peg. He didn't let that stop him, though, and a decade later decided to become an adventurer, using his bardic skill to support his allies.
This is amazing stuff so far, guys, I encourage all to brainstorm, and for others to post, I will be picking the final three on SUNDAY 26th, after the holidays. Some people are out of town, so I want to give everyone a shot to post a concept before I chose.
Erevan is a high elf wizard that has been neglected and hated by his home community of elves by his natural appearance. this caused him to become very hateful of his own kind and lead to him running away as soon as he felt he could take on the world. He only was looking for a community that would accept him, but instead he found a goblin camp that took him as a prisoner to be a slave for the goblin's sick amusement. he became angry and after many years of planning and learning, he had freed himself with his magic... but his plan wasn't to run away. he slaughtered all the goblins and made the camp turn into ash. he soon loved the idea of killing others... his shattered heart turned black with malice to others; only hate fills him and he wants to take it out on everyone. That wont stop him partaking an adventure with others though... After all, what is the point of killing or doing evil if there are no witnesses; so he will be sure to protect and help his new "friends" so they can witness it all.
Hey, I'd like to participate :D If you'll have me >3>
Anyway, here's Landris Fig. A Human Wild Magic Sorcerer!
Landris is a Veteran. He was one of 9 siblings growing up dirt poor. It was just their mother and themselves. They did the best they could, helping as farm hands and such. When he came of age, Landris joined the Military. It was the quickest and most open path to getting out of poverty. Landris didn't have much in the way of amazing talents or brilliant smarts, but he figured he could hold a spear and shield! Not to mention he'd always had this uncanny luck about him. Always avoiding something grievous when everyone else fell victim. He was no fool, recognizing it as a sort of blessing. It has to be from Tymora, Lady Luck herself! He began carrying a token of hers. A holy symbol, really, even though he was far from some priest. Still, he carried it in honor of the Mistress of Fortunes.
Landris attributes his longevity to Tymora. He's lived to a ripe old age. The old man has seen and done just about everything. Still, his eyes yet hold that twinkle. That glimmer of wonder that pushes people on to explore great depths and delve into forbidden knowledge! He, himself, had delved a bit and found a couple of quick spells to keep him occupied. He works now as an assistant in a Library. His familiar and best friend, a weasel named Bo, is always with him.
Being a rock gnome, he was always one to tinker with stuff and he greatly enjoyed magic, having great skill with alchemy, something he felt was under represented in magic techings and could be developed more. He found the normal schools of magic boring, and wanted to cultivate both his passions into one art but his experiments failed and he didn't get support from his comrades, leading him to become a hermit. He went to a dwarven city where he used his alchemy to earn enough coin to spend most of his time alone studying. Due to the quality of his potions he wasn't bothered, and people even came to him in times of need as he was known for not charging for things people couldn't live properly without. It was during this time that he learned more about forging, and combining that with his investigation he figured out away to weave magic into mundane items (instead of using materials form magical beasts) and maybe create a magic construct like this. He realized he needed practice, materials and knowledge he wouldn't get staying in a city, particularly about animals, so he decided to take on adventuring with the hope of proving his detractors wrong, and maybe create the friend he always wanted.
Character Stuff: Name: Adalie Zaen Age: 23 Species: Half-Elf Sex: Male Class: Rogue Alignment: Neutral Good High Concept: "Either I'm gonna find him, or he's gonna find me." Trouble: "The best stories are always made up of lies." Short Bio: Adalie was born into a small farming family. His father, Dasenn, was a retired soldier who always invited tired and hungry travelers into their home. His mother, Aliesa, was an elven noble who had run away from her lands. When Dasenn found her cold and hungry, he brought her into his home and welcomed her to his table. They fell in love and along came Adalie and his younger sister Vesra. While Adalie was 5 years older than Vesra, they were inseparable. As soon as Vesra could walk, she would follow Adalie around the farm as he did his chores, and as they grew up they played together, worked together, and even began training with their parents together. For 14 years Adalie only knew happiness and peace, that was until his grandfather came to "visit" with his men. Adalie had never heard much of his Elven heritage and had only heard his mother talk about his grandfather once. It was long after Adalie was supposed to be in bed, but he heard his parents arguing, something that never happened. He only heard his father whisper, "No! Nindrol would never find us here. Your father doesn't know where you are, and he doesn't know where the kids are. We're safe here Aliesa." Adalie was only brave enough to hear that before he returned to bed in fear he would be caught.
On that day Dasenn strode out to confront Nindrol. He barely got a word out before Nindrol raised a hand and blasted him away. Adalie and Vesra heard the blast all the way out in the fields, they only gave each other a look before running back to their house. Their mother met them half-way, screaming for them to run. Before Adalie and Vesra could react, she was set upon by riders. They watched as she took down one, then 2, then 5. She was like a storm, but as the riders began to break off from her and ride towards her children, her focus faltered. Adalie and Vesra watched as a man drove a spear into their mothers back. Vesra screamed and Adalie just sank to his knees. The riders strung them up, and as Nindrol approached his eyes locked to the body of his daughter. When the soldier who killed her approached him with an explanation, Nindrol just looked at him, and the man was set ablaze. As the rest of the men recoiled in horror, Adalie shook his bonds and began running to the forest that surrounded their farm. He ran as Vesra called her help. He ran as he heard her crying and begging for him to come back. He ran into the forest and didn't even look back. It was here he stayed for 3 days hiding before he had the bravery to return to his home. His house had already been reduced to ash, and Vesra was gone. The only things left of his family was his sisters old cloth doll, and his mother's rapier that was set atop a shallow grave dug for her. As Adalie buried his father, he promised his parents that he would be brave. That he would find Nindrol, and kill him. That he would save his sister, no matter what.
(So what I tried to do was make the story shorter and more coherant, but what I did was the opposite.)
Something unresolved about his past: He still hasn't found his sister after 9 years of searching. Something from his present day: Adalie spends most of his days either going to Taverns and preaching legends about himself or looking for jobs that come with a good amount of glory. He doesn't care if he becomes famous or infamous, as long as he can get his name out there for Nindrol to find. Someone that doesn't really like him: Eliza Zilizo: An old traveling companion. Adalie and Eliza traveling together from the age of about 17 - 22. Adalie loved her, but when she suggested that they settle down somewhere, Adalie refused. He had to keep on searching for Vesra. He had to find her, and his quest would wait for no one. So, they parted ways. Someone that Adalie doesn't really like: (Besides his main antagonist) Hunter: Adalie knew Hunter from when he was a child, he was an elven hunter that frequented the woods near Adalie's farm. His name wasn't really Hunter, but that was what everyone called him. When Adalie fled to the woods on that fateful day, he found Hunter sitting on a tree branch. Adalie pleaded for him to come back and help his sister, but Hunter just shook his head and disappeared into the brush. Without Hunter's help, Adalie was not brave enough to go back and rescue Vesra. Adalie blames Hunter for Vesra's kidnapping to this day. A Dark Secret: Adalie doesn't really want to find Vesra anymore. He wants to kill Nindrol, for sure, but once he finds and saves Vesra, he doesn't know what he'll do. Family: Nindrol: Elven noble of some kind, Adalie's grandfather. Killed Adalie's parents and kidnapped his younger sister, or so Adalie thinks. Vesra: Adalie's younger sister, that was 9 when he last saw her. Took more after their Elven mother. Kidnapped by Nindrol or so Adalie thinks. Mentor: Talira Lari: A young bard and fellow Half-Elf, Tal took Adalie under her wing when she found him huddled in an alleyway outside the tavern she was performing at. For 2 years Adalie followed Tal around the world, learning how to tell stories and grip an audience. After Adalie had learned his craft and formulated his plan to find Nindrol, he and Tal parted ways. Rival/ Criminal Contact: Capt. Jean Bessette: A young smuggler that Adalie booked passage from one time. During this time, Jean taught Adalie how to use his mother's rapier properly. After their long voyage, Jean told Adalie that he would not accept his payment. He told Adalie, "Until you can defeat me with a blade, you are in my debt." Adalie has come across Jean a few more times in his travels, sometimes seeking him out, sometimes being sought out, and once just seeing him from across the bar. Everytime, they've crossed blades, Jean has beaten Adalie. Adalie knows that until he can defeat Jean, he is probably not strong enough to take down Nindrol. Visual Reference:https://img00.deviantart.net/bfab/i/2015/328/9/b/c...
Backstory: (This is my original concept for Adalie. I kinda did things in the wrong order, making a character then looking for a campaign to play him in. So, I hope I've captured enough of Adalie's original personality in the application.)
If you were to ask anyone of the legend of Adalie Zaen, almost no one would know who you are talking about. However, if you go the right taverns at the right time, you might find a storyteller in the back almost begging people to listen to his tale. He will tell you of a legendary figure. A champion to all. He will tell the very true tale of a man who challenged an entire clan of orcs to fight and killed them all with his bare hands. He will tell you of a man who skewer a fruity fly to a tree with an arrow from 300 meters away… without killing it. He will tell you of a man who's sword skills are so extraordinary, that men would rather cut off their own hands then clash blades with him. He will tell you of a man whose wit and beauty are indefinable, how anyone who gazes upon him are immediately infatuated and cannot contain their love. He will tell you of a man whose honor and compassion are uncomparable and how he single handedly carried a blind, deaf, crippled, elderly, baby, woman who had glass bones and paper skin from her home village to another 500 miles away and back just to pick up some milk. Yes, he will tell you the incredibly true story of the heroic, handsome, strong, brave and charismatic Adalie Zaen
If you don’t leave halfway through this tale, and you have a keen eye, you might notice that the man telling you this tale has some suspicious similarities to the legendary Adalie Zaen. You could make the assumption that this is the true legend, though his eyes don't "sparkle as bright as the sea" and his face doesn’t appear to be “Molded after the gods themselves”. If you buy this man a few drinks, you might get to know more about the man behind legend. You might learn of a small farming family who never bothered anyone. You would learn that the father, a human by the name of Dasenn was born and raised a farmer, and how his kindness and compassion left many beggars with food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. You would learn of his mother, Aliesa an elven noble who fell in love with this simple man and wanted to live a simple life with him, away from the corruption and persecution of her lands. You would learn that they had two children together, a boy named Adalie and girl name Vesra. This man would smile as he spoke of Vesra, how she was always there for Adalie and always knew what to say to cheer him up. How she and her small cloth doll would play doctor on him when he got hurt. His smile would turn to a grimace as he spoke about the father of Aliesa and how he was disgusted between the union of his only daughter and some human peasant. How he and some of his men ransacked their farm. How the elf killed his father in cold blood, and his mother when she fought back. You would learn how Adalie escaped his bonds and ran. How he ran as Vesra screamed for his help. How he ran like a coward and hid for three days before finally returning to farm. How when he returned, he didn’t find his sister. The only thing left of his family that he found was his sister's cloth doll, and his mother's rapier. As this man clutches on old worn doll in his hands, he might tell you of how as he buried his parents, he promised that he would find her and make things right. He would make sure nothing hurt her ever again.
Sorry for the wall of text! This is my first character that I've really intricately laid out, so that's why there are so many words.
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D&D is just creative writing with a little bit of math involved.
Congrats to all who applied to be in this PbP and got in! This was a very tough choice and I was bribed, threaten, coerced, and yelled at but I had to pick about 4 of you to go, even though I loved all of your concepts. =P If you didn't get picked, don't be sad/upset, there will be more games to play from me, I promise. =)
The game will begin on Sunday. Look out for the introductory post by me, and good luck to you all!
Message me if you have questions, and have an amazing Turkey Day!
Our story begins in the city of Salem. Salem is a large city run by its nobles. However, many of these nobles are corrupt...so you've heard. In the rule of these corrupt nobles, magic folk are being imprisoned, executed, and put to slavery for nobles. In addition to this, no house plays fair and in fighting between the houses is a constant as they vie for power over each other.
This adventures events take place in the keep of House Tor. You all have been contracted by Lord Aldor of House Tor to provide "extra security" during their ball for 150gp each.
Let us begin the adventure by taking a moment and introducing each other, seeing as, tonight you will all be on the job together. Do you all have something in common? Perhaps you know Lord Aldor, or House Tor? Why would the House hire you? If you're a magic user, why have you been given freedom? (Finally, whether you have ever been to House Tor, won't matter for this adventure.)
Karst and his traveling companion, Balarouse, were hired because one of the servants of House Tor that was tasked with bulking up the guard staff for the party ran across them and figured having pretty much the only two scaled folk in town working the party would add an exotic element to the festivities while also hopefully deterring ruffians from trying to crash the meal.
Balarouse had to step in and negotiate the pay after it was clear that Karst was almost just willing to work for leftovers and a bail of hay in the stables.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Balarouse Drelviip is a large dragonborn, standing at 6'3 ft she is easily recognizable when standing among the more common fleshy creatures. She has brilliant dark green scales though most can't appreciate them as she is often covered head to toe in black leather armor. Standing behind her friend Karst, she is currently posed in a crouch eager to sprint off away from the crowd, her large green tail swishing behind her. She is heavily armed with two short-swords resting at her sides, daggers sheathed in her chest harness, while a short bow rests on her back. Large yellow, curious eyes peer out from under a dark hood, as she takes in the others who have gathered here.
"Silly squishies, never seen a dragonborn before."She grunts at Karst, as another set of humans come up to stare at them. The party hasn't started and she already can't wait for it to be over so she can collect the gold they were promised.
Adalie Zaen is a young Half-Elf with a light build. Standing only 5' 9" and 160 lbs, he's not the most physically imposing adventurer. However, if you watched him close enough, you would see a surety and semblance of grace in his step. His hands are never far from his waist, at which rests a engraved rapier and oddly enough an old worn doll and a sly smile seems permanently etched on his face.
Adalie was hired after he entertained some of the servants of House Tor in a tavern. As Adalie was spinning his tales, he narrowly avoided a half-filled bottle of wine thrown onto the stage by a drunken swashbuckler. The degenerate claimed that Adalie's stories were farce, and that he didn't want to be told stories by a "lunatic who lugged around an old doll." The man quickly waddled onto the stage and grabbed at the old doll that hung from Adalie's waist. Adalie simply pushed the inebriated mans hands away, and kicked him off the stage, and continued his story.
Now, to a more analytical eye this small altercation might have seemed trivial. However, to the clouded minds of the servants of House Tor this seemed to be a battle of the ages, and the young storyteller seemed to be exactly the kind of man their master needed to guard his ball. Adalie graciously accepted as the most he's ever earned in a night as a storyteller was about 12 gp, 6 sp, and what appeared to be a bar of soap.
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D&D is just creative writing with a little bit of math involved.
Landris is a curious fellow. He is quite old and experienced. He's seen the world, yet still finds it fascinating! If asked, he would say that life surprises him every day! Oh and not just because of the senility! In his youth, he was a soldier. He's seen much battle and lived to tell the tale! Yet, he was never much of a warrior. No, his talent (and no doubt his longevity) came from his uncanny luck. Things just sort of happened around him. An arrow coming right for him sinks into another of the soldiers just as that soldier comes in to deliver a fatal sword swing. A tree root trips him just in time to have a flail swing wide over his head.
The same sort of fortune could be said for magic. It just sort of happened around him. It was a wild and free power that Landris experienced more than he honed and wielded. His innate magicness made him a prime target for the Noble Houses. It also made him entirely frustrating. Cell doors would be forgotten and left unlocked around him. Manacles, fastened to stone walls, would crumble with rusted hinges. More often than not, Landris simply wandered off from his captors. It eventually became too much trouble to keep up with him while this chaos just unfurled around him! It is said that Landris was blessed by Tymora, Mistress of Fortunes and Lady Luck herself. Perhaps it is the rumors of this blessing that inspired House Tor to bring on such an odd and unpredictable element.
If he can find a moment, Landris often enjoys regaling willing (and unwilling) listeners with stories of war and wit! He strings on personal experiences that are dotted with long pauses on trivial matters (such as the color of a person's scarf, or whether or not it was particularly windy that day). Still, he has a wealth of entertaining tales and somewhat useful knowledge for most situations. His most avid listener is Bo, his weasel familiar. Bo stays close to Landris at all times unless given some task. He often hides in the folds of the old man's robes.
((I was going to type some more description about Karst, but I was on mobile at the time and it was getting to be a pain to type while fighting auto-correct and predictive text.))
Karst is an impressive specimen of lizard-kind, standing at around 6'5", his crested brow just barely raising his height above that of his dragonborn companion. His scales, a mix of marshy greens, yellows , and browns stand out against the gray stone wall he stands before as he eyes attendees entering from the main promenade. Unlike his friend, Karst wears little armor to speak of and his thick, crocodile-like tail shifts behind him like a cat's in preparatory pounce. Within arms reach, leaning against the wall, a massive cleaver shaped sword, about as broad and nearly as long as the scaled champion that would wield it, glints faintly in the the light of the inner rooms.
"Never seen lizardfolk either. The last ones seemed to think us siblings as they gaped with their soft-skin faces." Karst replies, rolling his shoulder a little to catch a glimpse of the two of them in the mirror's edge of his sword. He really didn't understand how their differing heritage could be less obvious. The scale patterns between the two were all wrong. And the eye crests were nowhere near the same.
INVASION OF HOUSE TOR is my second Pbp game here on D&D Beyond. My first one i'm currently DMing is LOST MINES OF PHANDELVER, check it out if you'd like.
This SHORT campaign will be for THREE LEVEL 1 characters of any variety, using standard array creation, nothing fancy.
If you'd like to join, please submit your request/character concept and I will pick the three best concepts.
I post at least once a day, sometimes more, so you have to be an active character on the posts.
The setting will be in the Forgotten Realms.
These are characters I've had put together for various other PBPs that didn't get picked (which is why they are all currently flavored to Fallcrest). They can be changed up a little to suit your game once I know more information about it. If you are interested in having me play one of them in your game, just let me know.
I can join, using a past PbP character that was in a thread that died. I'll be using Folwyn, a sun elf bard
Folwyn was very unlike the others of his race. The others were calm and emotionless, but Folwyn was energetic and very, very adventurous. He loved music (just about any wind instrument) and exploration. When he was young, he left his home to go explore a nearby cave his parents had said was "off-limits". While inside the cave, the ceiling above him collapsed, and he lost consciousness soon after. He woke up realizing his leg was missing, replaced by a wooden peg. He didn't let that stop him, though, and a decade later decided to become an adventurer, using his bardic skill to support his allies.
This is amazing stuff so far, guys, I encourage all to brainstorm, and for others to post, I will be picking the final three on SUNDAY 26th, after the holidays. Some people are out of town, so I want to give everyone a shot to post a concept before I chose.
Hey Crispy! I'd like to join the campaign with my Dragonborn Rouge, Balarouse Drelviip.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-IGx3SNKU-2huxVj0fQlPiOWGyft4fZ/view?usp=sharing
Avery Highdale-Halfling Rogue(Thief) Lv.3
Penelope Skyshatter-Dragonborn Sorcerer(Draconic Bloodline) Lv.2
Red Skies in Mourning: DM
Volqelli Ryxu- Drow Wizard(Conjuration School)/Rogue Lv. 13
if there is still an open slot, i would totally love to join. i am a new player btw
Erevan Rothenel
Erevan is a high elf wizard that has been neglected and hated by his home community of elves by his natural appearance. this caused him to become very hateful of his own kind and lead to him running away as soon as he felt he could take on the world. He only was looking for a community that would accept him, but instead he found a goblin camp that took him as a prisoner to be a slave for the goblin's sick amusement. he became angry and after many years of planning and learning, he had freed himself with his magic... but his plan wasn't to run away. he slaughtered all the goblins and made the camp turn into ash. he soon loved the idea of killing others... his shattered heart turned black with malice to others; only hate fills him and he wants to take it out on everyone. That wont stop him partaking an adventure with others though... After all, what is the point of killing or doing evil if there are no witnesses; so he will be sure to protect and help his new "friends" so they can witness it all.
(he is neutral evil btw)
Hey, I'd like to participate :D If you'll have me >3>
Anyway, here's Landris Fig. A Human Wild Magic Sorcerer!
Landris is a Veteran. He was one of 9 siblings growing up dirt poor. It was just their mother and themselves. They did the best they could, helping as farm hands and such. When he came of age, Landris joined the Military. It was the quickest and most open path to getting out of poverty. Landris didn't have much in the way of amazing talents or brilliant smarts, but he figured he could hold a spear and shield! Not to mention he'd always had this uncanny luck about him. Always avoiding something grievous when everyone else fell victim. He was no fool, recognizing it as a sort of blessing. It has to be from Tymora, Lady Luck herself! He began carrying a token of hers. A holy symbol, really, even though he was far from some priest. Still, he carried it in honor of the Mistress of Fortunes.
Landris attributes his longevity to Tymora. He's lived to a ripe old age. The old man has seen and done just about everything. Still, his eyes yet hold that twinkle. That glimmer of wonder that pushes people on to explore great depths and delve into forbidden knowledge! He, himself, had delved a bit and found a couple of quick spells to keep him occupied. He works now as an assistant in a Library. His familiar and best friend, a weasel named Bo, is always with him.
If Unearthed Arcana is allowed, and if it doesn't break the game lore I have a character I have tried to play many times but never gets picked up.
Vladofshky the artificer rock gnome
Being a rock gnome, he was always one to tinker with stuff and he greatly enjoyed magic, having great skill with alchemy, something he felt was under represented in magic techings and could be developed more. He found the normal schools of magic boring, and wanted to cultivate both his passions into one art but his experiments failed and he didn't get support from his comrades, leading him to become a hermit. He went to a dwarven city where he used his alchemy to earn enough coin to spend most of his time alone studying. Due to the quality of his potions he wasn't bothered, and people even came to him in times of need as he was known for not charging for things people couldn't live properly without. It was during this time that he learned more about forging, and combining that with his investigation he figured out away to weave magic into mundane items (instead of using materials form magical beasts) and maybe create a magic construct like this. He realized he needed practice, materials and knowledge he wouldn't get staying in a city, particularly about animals, so he decided to take on adventuring with the hope of proving his detractors wrong, and maybe create the friend he always wanted.
Character Stuff:
Name: Adalie Zaen
Age: 23
Species: Half-Elf
Sex: Male
Class: Rogue
Alignment: Neutral Good
High Concept: "Either I'm gonna find him, or he's gonna find me."
Trouble: "The best stories are always made up of lies."
Short Bio:
Adalie was born into a small farming family. His father, Dasenn, was a retired soldier who always invited tired and hungry travelers into their home. His mother, Aliesa, was an elven noble who had run away from her lands. When Dasenn found her cold and hungry, he brought her into his home and welcomed her to his table. They fell in love and along came Adalie and his younger sister Vesra. While Adalie was 5 years older than Vesra, they were inseparable. As soon as Vesra could walk, she would follow Adalie around the farm as he did his chores, and as they grew up they played together, worked together, and even began training with their parents together. For 14 years Adalie only knew happiness and peace, that was until his grandfather came to "visit" with his men. Adalie had never heard much of his Elven heritage and had only heard his mother talk about his grandfather once. It was long after Adalie was supposed to be in bed, but he heard his parents arguing, something that never happened. He only heard his father whisper, "No! Nindrol would never find us here. Your father doesn't know where you are, and he doesn't know where the kids are. We're safe here Aliesa." Adalie was only brave enough to hear that before he returned to bed in fear he would be caught.
On that day Dasenn strode out to confront Nindrol. He barely got a word out before Nindrol raised a hand and blasted him away. Adalie and Vesra heard the blast all the way out in the fields, they only gave each other a look before running back to their house. Their mother met them half-way, screaming for them to run. Before Adalie and Vesra could react, she was set upon by riders. They watched as she took down one, then 2, then 5. She was like a storm, but as the riders began to break off from her and ride towards her children, her focus faltered. Adalie and Vesra watched as a man drove a spear into their mothers back. Vesra screamed and Adalie just sank to his knees. The riders strung them up, and as Nindrol approached his eyes locked to the body of his daughter. When the soldier who killed her approached him with an explanation, Nindrol just looked at him, and the man was set ablaze. As the rest of the men recoiled in horror, Adalie shook his bonds and began running to the forest that surrounded their farm. He ran as Vesra called her help. He ran as he heard her crying and begging for him to come back. He ran into the forest and didn't even look back. It was here he stayed for 3 days hiding before he had the bravery to return to his home. His house had already been reduced to ash, and Vesra was gone. The only things left of his family was his sisters old cloth doll, and his mother's rapier that was set atop a shallow grave dug for her. As Adalie buried his father, he promised his parents that he would be brave. That he would find Nindrol, and kill him. That he would save his sister, no matter what.
(So what I tried to do was make the story shorter and more coherant, but what I did was the opposite.)
Something unresolved about his past: He still hasn't found his sister after 9 years of searching.
Something from his present day: Adalie spends most of his days either going to Taverns and preaching legends about himself or looking for jobs that come with a good amount of glory. He doesn't care if he becomes famous or infamous, as long as he can get his name out there for Nindrol to find.
Someone that doesn't really like him: Eliza Zilizo: An old traveling companion. Adalie and Eliza traveling together from the age of about 17 - 22. Adalie loved her, but when she suggested that they settle down somewhere, Adalie refused. He had to keep on searching for Vesra. He had to find her, and his quest would wait for no one. So, they parted ways.
Someone that Adalie doesn't really like: (Besides his main antagonist) Hunter: Adalie knew Hunter from when he was a child, he was an elven hunter that frequented the woods near Adalie's farm. His name wasn't really Hunter, but that was what everyone called him. When Adalie fled to the woods on that fateful day, he found Hunter sitting on a tree branch. Adalie pleaded for him to come back and help his sister, but Hunter just shook his head and disappeared into the brush. Without Hunter's help, Adalie was not brave enough to go back and rescue Vesra. Adalie blames Hunter for Vesra's kidnapping to this day.
A Dark Secret: Adalie doesn't really want to find Vesra anymore. He wants to kill Nindrol, for sure, but once he finds and saves Vesra, he doesn't know what he'll do.
Family: Nindrol: Elven noble of some kind, Adalie's grandfather. Killed Adalie's parents and kidnapped his younger sister, or so Adalie thinks. Vesra: Adalie's younger sister, that was 9 when he last saw her. Took more after their Elven mother. Kidnapped by Nindrol or so Adalie thinks.
Mentor: Talira Lari: A young bard and fellow Half-Elf, Tal took Adalie under her wing when she found him huddled in an alleyway outside the tavern she was performing at. For 2 years Adalie followed Tal around the world, learning how to tell stories and grip an audience. After Adalie had learned his craft and formulated his plan to find Nindrol, he and Tal parted ways.
Rival/ Criminal Contact: Capt. Jean Bessette: A young smuggler that Adalie booked passage from one time. During this time, Jean taught Adalie how to use his mother's rapier properly. After their long voyage, Jean told Adalie that he would not accept his payment. He told Adalie, "Until you can defeat me with a blade, you are in my debt." Adalie has come across Jean a few more times in his travels, sometimes seeking him out, sometimes being sought out, and once just seeing him from across the bar. Everytime, they've crossed blades, Jean has beaten Adalie. Adalie knows that until he can defeat Jean, he is probably not strong enough to take down Nindrol.
Visual Reference: https://img00.deviantart.net/bfab/i/2015/328/9/b/c...
Backstory: (This is my original concept for Adalie. I kinda did things in the wrong order, making a character then looking for a campaign to play him in. So, I hope I've captured enough of Adalie's original personality in the application.)
If you were to ask anyone of the legend of Adalie Zaen, almost no one would know who you are talking about. However, if you go the right taverns at the right time, you might find a storyteller in the back almost begging people to listen to his tale. He will tell you of a legendary figure. A champion to all. He will tell the very true tale of a man who challenged an entire clan of orcs to fight and killed them all with his bare hands. He will tell you of a man who skewer a fruity fly to a tree with an arrow from 300 meters away… without killing it. He will tell you of a man who's sword skills are so extraordinary, that men would rather cut off their own hands then clash blades with him. He will tell you of a man whose wit and beauty are indefinable, how anyone who gazes upon him are immediately infatuated and cannot contain their love. He will tell you of a man whose honor and compassion are uncomparable and how he single handedly carried a blind, deaf, crippled, elderly, baby, woman who had glass bones and paper skin from her home village to another 500 miles away and back just to pick up some milk. Yes, he will tell you the incredibly true story of the heroic, handsome, strong, brave and charismatic Adalie Zaen
If you don’t leave halfway through this tale, and you have a keen eye, you might notice that the man telling you this tale has some suspicious similarities to the legendary Adalie Zaen. You could make the assumption that this is the true legend, though his eyes don't "sparkle as bright as the sea" and his face doesn’t appear to be “Molded after the gods themselves”. If you buy this man a few drinks, you might get to know more about the man behind legend. You might learn of a small farming family who never bothered anyone. You would learn that the father, a human by the name of Dasenn was born and raised a farmer, and how his kindness and compassion left many beggars with food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. You would learn of his mother, Aliesa an elven noble who fell in love with this simple man and wanted to live a simple life with him, away from the corruption and persecution of her lands. You would learn that they had two children together, a boy named Adalie and girl name Vesra. This man would smile as he spoke of Vesra, how she was always there for Adalie and always knew what to say to cheer him up. How she and her small cloth doll would play doctor on him when he got hurt. His smile would turn to a grimace as he spoke about the father of Aliesa and how he was disgusted between the union of his only daughter and some human peasant. How he and some of his men ransacked their farm. How the elf killed his father in cold blood, and his mother when she fought back. You would learn how Adalie escaped his bonds and ran. How he ran as Vesra screamed for his help. How he ran like a coward and hid for three days before finally returning to farm. How when he returned, he didn’t find his sister. The only thing left of his family that he found was his sister's cloth doll, and his mother's rapier. As this man clutches on old worn doll in his hands, he might tell you of how as he buried his parents, he promised that he would find her and make things right. He would make sure nothing hurt her ever again.
Sorry for the wall of text! This is my first character that I've really intricately laid out, so that's why there are so many words.
D&D is just creative writing with a little bit of math involved.
Congrats to all who applied to be in this PbP and got in! This was a very tough choice and I was bribed, threaten, coerced, and yelled at but I had to pick about 4 of you to go, even though I loved all of your concepts. =P If you didn't get picked, don't be sad/upset, there will be more games to play from me, I promise. =)
The game will begin on Sunday. Look out for the introductory post by me, and good luck to you all!
Message me if you have questions, and have an amazing Turkey Day!
EDIT: I have sent all of those chosen PMs.
Did you PM the people who did get in? Or will you announce it later?
So, besides me, who else got picked? I need to know so I can figure out which of my three characters I'm playing.
Message sent.
PROLOGUE
BEGINNINGS, 1486 DR, The city of Salem.
Our story begins in the city of Salem. Salem is a large city run by its nobles. However, many of these nobles are corrupt...so you've heard. In the rule of these corrupt nobles, magic folk are being imprisoned, executed, and put to slavery for nobles. In addition to this, no house plays fair and in fighting between the houses is a constant as they vie for power over each other.
This adventures events take place in the keep of House Tor. You all have been contracted by Lord Aldor of House Tor to provide "extra security" during their ball for 150gp each.
Let us begin the adventure by taking a moment and introducing each other, seeing as, tonight you will all be on the job together. Do you all have something in common? Perhaps you know Lord Aldor, or House Tor? Why would the House hire you? If you're a magic user, why have you been given freedom? (Finally, whether you have ever been to House Tor, won't matter for this adventure.)
Karst and his traveling companion, Balarouse, were hired because one of the servants of House Tor that was tasked with bulking up the guard staff for the party ran across them and figured having pretty much the only two scaled folk in town working the party would add an exotic element to the festivities while also hopefully deterring ruffians from trying to crash the meal.
Balarouse had to step in and negotiate the pay after it was clear that Karst was almost just willing to work for leftovers and a bail of hay in the stables.
Balarouse Drelviip is a large dragonborn, standing at 6'3 ft she is easily recognizable when standing among the more common fleshy creatures. She has brilliant dark green scales though most can't appreciate them as she is often covered head to toe in black leather armor. Standing behind her friend Karst, she is currently posed in a crouch eager to sprint off away from the crowd, her large green tail swishing behind her. She is heavily armed with two short-swords resting at her sides, daggers sheathed in her chest harness, while a short bow rests on her back. Large yellow, curious eyes peer out from under a dark hood, as she takes in the others who have gathered here.
"Silly squishies, never seen a dragonborn before." She grunts at Karst, as another set of humans come up to stare at them. The party hasn't started and she already can't wait for it to be over so she can collect the gold they were promised.
Avery Highdale-Halfling Rogue(Thief) Lv.3
Penelope Skyshatter-Dragonborn Sorcerer(Draconic Bloodline) Lv.2
Red Skies in Mourning: DM
Volqelli Ryxu- Drow Wizard(Conjuration School)/Rogue Lv. 13
Adalie Zaen is a young Half-Elf with a light build. Standing only 5' 9" and 160 lbs, he's not the most physically imposing adventurer. However, if you watched him close enough, you would see a surety and semblance of grace in his step. His hands are never far from his waist, at which rests a engraved rapier and oddly enough an old worn doll and a sly smile seems permanently etched on his face.
Adalie was hired after he entertained some of the servants of House Tor in a tavern. As Adalie was spinning his tales, he narrowly avoided a half-filled bottle of wine thrown onto the stage by a drunken swashbuckler. The degenerate claimed that Adalie's stories were farce, and that he didn't want to be told stories by a "lunatic who lugged around an old doll." The man quickly waddled onto the stage and grabbed at the old doll that hung from Adalie's waist. Adalie simply pushed the inebriated mans hands away, and kicked him off the stage, and continued his story.
Now, to a more analytical eye this small altercation might have seemed trivial. However, to the clouded minds of the servants of House Tor this seemed to be a battle of the ages, and the young storyteller seemed to be exactly the kind of man their master needed to guard his ball. Adalie graciously accepted as the most he's ever earned in a night as a storyteller was about 12 gp, 6 sp, and what appeared to be a bar of soap.
D&D is just creative writing with a little bit of math involved.
Landris is a curious fellow. He is quite old and experienced. He's seen the world, yet still finds it fascinating! If asked, he would say that life surprises him every day! Oh and not just because of the senility! In his youth, he was a soldier. He's seen much battle and lived to tell the tale! Yet, he was never much of a warrior. No, his talent (and no doubt his longevity) came from his uncanny luck. Things just sort of happened around him. An arrow coming right for him sinks into another of the soldiers just as that soldier comes in to deliver a fatal sword swing. A tree root trips him just in time to have a flail swing wide over his head.
The same sort of fortune could be said for magic. It just sort of happened around him. It was a wild and free power that Landris experienced more than he honed and wielded. His innate magicness made him a prime target for the Noble Houses. It also made him entirely frustrating. Cell doors would be forgotten and left unlocked around him. Manacles, fastened to stone walls, would crumble with rusted hinges. More often than not, Landris simply wandered off from his captors. It eventually became too much trouble to keep up with him while this chaos just unfurled around him! It is said that Landris was blessed by Tymora, Mistress of Fortunes and Lady Luck herself. Perhaps it is the rumors of this blessing that inspired House Tor to bring on such an odd and unpredictable element.
If he can find a moment, Landris often enjoys regaling willing (and unwilling) listeners with stories of war and wit! He strings on personal experiences that are dotted with long pauses on trivial matters (such as the color of a person's scarf, or whether or not it was particularly windy that day). Still, he has a wealth of entertaining tales and somewhat useful knowledge for most situations. His most avid listener is Bo, his weasel familiar. Bo stays close to Landris at all times unless given some task. He often hides in the folds of the old man's robes.
((I was going to type some more description about Karst, but I was on mobile at the time and it was getting to be a pain to type while fighting auto-correct and predictive text.))
Karst is an impressive specimen of lizard-kind, standing at around 6'5", his crested brow just barely raising his height above that of his dragonborn companion. His scales, a mix of marshy greens, yellows , and browns stand out against the gray stone wall he stands before as he eyes attendees entering from the main promenade. Unlike his friend, Karst wears little armor to speak of and his thick, crocodile-like tail shifts behind him like a cat's in preparatory pounce. Within arms reach, leaning against the wall, a massive cleaver shaped sword, about as broad and nearly as long as the scaled champion that would wield it, glints faintly in the the light of the inner rooms.
"Never seen lizardfolk either. The last ones seemed to think us siblings as they gaped with their soft-skin faces." Karst replies, rolling his shoulder a little to catch a glimpse of the two of them in the mirror's edge of his sword. He really didn't understand how their differing heritage could be less obvious. The scale patterns between the two were all wrong. And the eye crests were nowhere near the same.