A Shadow Ops based task force originally recommended by Shin Stronghold, but was put on ice after his sudden disappearance, and is now in the act of being revived. As a test run, you have been drafted. Your first assignment? Unknown. Location? Unknown. All you know is what the letter you got this morning said;
Attention agent (insert character name)
You have been chosen for team S-V as a part of the Shadow Initiative. Report to room I-16 at 14:00 hours for further instructions.
Welcome to M.E.T.A.L. (Magical Enforcement, Tracking, Analystics, and Location agency), an organization dedicated to the protection of the people. As an agent, you are dedicated to the cause of good and are willing to risk your life for it. Whether M.E.T.A.L. gave you a second chance, took you in at a young age, or saved you from the world, you are an agent, and this is a chance to do something great.
Starting level is 3, Homebrew is encouraged (however please ask first), and all official content + UA is allowed. Bonus points for uniqueness :) Point buy for stats
Normal starting equipment plus 250 GP to buy extra non-magical supplies and you each get three uncommon magic items.
To apply, I need;
Character Name
Race
Class (Plus subclass)
Character department (Detailed below. If it's anything other than Shadow Ops, why have you been considered for this? If it is Shadow Ops, why were you specifically chosen out of your department?)
Background
Backstory (I would like something between 1-3 paragraphs long, please)
One good rumor (could be either true complete gibberish, but must have a basis. For instance, if you are said to have defended a town from a monstrous beast, you may have just hunted down the fox that was stealing the eggs from the hens)
One bad rumor (Again, could be true or false, but must have a basis)
One dark secret (Something that your character is so ashamed of, so scared of, if it got out it could ruin them.)
I would like to have this be a espionage, high rp, moderate combat campaign, but play the way you like.
Departments:
R&D: This department was founded by Dimble Timbers, the Gnome Wizard, so that as dark magics evolved, so could the methods to fight them and track them. As a part of the R&D department, you adapt on the field, testing out new and experimental technologies for the betterment and protection of the lives of agents.
Dimble Timbers retired soon after Shin disappeared and appointed Tetch as his replacement.
Information Services:
Information Services was founded by Eltress the Connected, Elven Bard, so that they might stay connected for the purpose of gathering and collecting information on rumors of lost artifacts, ancient techniques, and lost secrets. As an agent of Information Services, you might be uncovering artifacts first-hand, learning secrets lost to time, or following up on rumors of magical anomalies.
Special Forces:
This Division was formed by Stronghold himself to train future generations to protect the lands and people. Having expanded into subsects, it has multiple divisions for the multiple threats.
Juggernauts:These specialized fighters are heavy hitters and make up for what they lack in speed in sheer force and power. Often wearing specialized suits and trained in many diversified fighting styles, these well named Juggernauts are a sight to behold on the battlefield.
Handlers:These trainers understand the power of nature and it's uses in battle. Training many beasts from messenger pigeons to battle wolves to assault Elephants, these trainers can raise an army from the wild.
Riders:Riders are trained in mounted combat ranging from horses to dire wolves to anything they can ride. Masters of moving combat, they have learned to hit and go while avoiding counter attacks.
Shadow Ops:
Founded by Jacob's brother, Shin Stronghold, who valued stealth and subterfuge over brute strength.
Jumpers:Jumpers wear special suits that allow them silent flight so they can access places higher up with minimal resistance.
Hijackers:Hijackers are well learned in the art of getting into places they shouldn't be able to and stealing liberating objects from those that would misuse them.
Hunters: Trained to find and eliminate troublemakers that the legal system won't take action against, these Hunters are renowned for their stealth and ability to track down their quarries to the ends of the earth.
Shin disappeared about five years ago, and his replacement was a high-level agent called AJ, known around the agency as "Cataract" for reasons nobody can actually remember.
(Looking forward to seeing the characters everyone comes up with)
Juggernaut. Gobert was considered for this position because of his skill in fighting, healing, and his useful recon and stealth magic.
Acolyte
Backstory (aeugh i dont have time right now for 3 paragraphs, i'll do it later) Gobert got bored of living in a monastery, so he left and joined METAL instead.
One good rumor: It is rumored that any glass of water he drinks from becomes holy water.
One bad rumor: It is rumored that he didn't leave his monastery, he was kicked out for misconduct.
One dark secret (DM ONLY)
The "bad rumor" is most likely true
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely. If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Sparks was born to a human mother and an elven father. They lived in a rundown shack, on the edges of some city or other. What she recalls of that time was how their father seemed displeased with them more often than not, and was not a nice person to be around when he was in one of his moods. Sparks does not recall a lot of that time, as she was barely old enough to remember her parents when her father left them. Her elder brother, Tavin, who was only a couple years older than herself, could not help their mom enough to even let the four of them break even on a daily basis. He resorted to stealing to make ends meat, and to aid their mother in keeping Sparks and her little brother Steven fed. That all changed though, when, a couple years after their father left, when their mother did not return to their shack. She had never not returned before, so Tavin went out looking for her. There was no sign though, she had simply disappeared.
Married halflings took the three of them in, and gave them a decent place to live. It was not much better than the house they had grown up in before, just another shack on the outskirts of the city. The halflings were quite different though. In place of their father's disdain, and their mother constantly working to put food on the table, these halflings were content, and lived easily. Herald, the husband, was an artisan, baking for one of the local inns, as well as being able to sell his wares in street stalls in town. His wife, Welma, was a pretty singer, who earned coin singing in taverns most nights. They were a happy couple, and tended to the three children as if they were their own. The two had not been able to have kids of their own, so saw this as a chance to do that now.
Sparks was a friendly person in general. she made friends easily, and was quite the beauty, so oftimes would sit in her adopted father's stall when he was selling his bakery goods, and that seemed to draw in more money than days when she was not there. Her younger brother took up bakery, learning from their adopted father. Tavin though stayed with his roguish pursuits, eventually joining an adventuring group. He stopped in now and then, even giving Sparks some training on pickpocketing and lockpicking from time to time. He always told her it never hurt to have some skills to fall back on in a pinch.
When Sparks was barely more than a girl, a young teenager, she fell for a member of the city's thieve's guild. He was one of the higher-level members of the guild, and was more than willing to spend time with the lovely Sparks. He talked her into leaving her adopted parent's home, and running away into the guild with him. Sparks quickly learned the ropes of thievery, using some of the skills Tavin had taught her. She found she enjoyed taking fancy things from those with them, and could say that a nice sack of coins felt better in her hand than on the belt of a fat merchant.
Her life as a criminal was quite fun. Sparks learned to sneak into homes, take what she could, and then get away without anyone knowing she had ever been there. She found it a challenge, and was more than willing to try to push the boundries of what she could do. One day she heard of a wizard's tower, and was warned away from it quite ogressively by her lover. He likely knew this was only going to push her more to attempting the tower. She did so, sneaking inside, and prowling the halls. She managed to notice several illusions for what they were, and managed to get out without getting captured. Little did she know the wizard had watched her the entire time and had been impressed with her ability to notice his illusions.
Not long after the wizard tower her lover was arested. He had been working a heist on a noble's estate and had gotten caught in the act. Sparks had not been along on that heist, but did get to watch the very public exicution of the man she had been with for the past several years. It hit her hard, and she dropped out of the guild's workings for the next while. Her adopted parents took her back in without a question, and she settled back into their loving home thankfully.
It was about this time that someone began to support Sparks through money given to the baker and his wife. The halflings would never say as to where the money came from, just that it was meant for Sparks and her brothers. as Tavin was seen less and less, it mostly went to Steven and Sparks. About this time the wizard, from the tower, came calling on the family. He asked Sparks if she wished to study magic, as he felt she had aptitude there. with the money, from the unknown sponsor, Sparks could afford the apprenticeship, and she agreed to do so.
Over the next few years the relationship with the wizard, a human named Beltin Hasbin, grew as Sparks grew to respect the man as much as the wizard. He was a powerful illusionist, and started her down that road in her studies. The two became lovers after some time, and Sparks learned what true love felt like. She was easily able to tell the difference from what she had with the Thieve's guild man, to what she now felt for Beltin.
As a member of METAL himself, Beltin eventually introduced Sparks to the agency. She showed herself as a valuable Hijacker, and moved up the ranks quite fast.
Good rumor: Sparks stole a powerful magic item from a wizard's tower. Bad rumor: Sparks double-crossed her old team and got the team leader exicuted. Dark secret:
Sparks father had a symbol he wore around his neck. It was the symbol of METALS arch rival. If anyone found out her father was one of their enemies...
Character Name: Nemo Race: Human (variant, actor feat) Class: Warlock (Great Old One) Department: Hijacker Background: Spy Backstory: Nemo has no recollection of his time before joining M.E.T.A.L. Hence he took the name Nemo (nobody). He is a dedicated and reliable infiltrator but is haunted by not knowing his past. His speciality is assuming other peoples identities and thereby accessing the objective of his assignment. One good rumor: According to rumor Nemo at his interview with M.E.T.A.L assumed the identity of Shin Stronghold and convinced the board that the real Shin Stronghold, chairing the interview, was an impostor. One bad rumor: According to rumor Nemo has done something terrible before his time with M.E.T.A.L, which has been classified. One dark secret:
Before Nemo joined M.E.T.A.L he meddled with unfathomable entities, sacrificing his young family to gain eldritch powers. The realization of what he had done brought him to the brink of insanity. To save himself his mind displaced all his memories. Ultimately the price he paid for his powers was his own identity. He will be destroyed if he ever gets access to those memories ever again.
Horses can instantly drop other horses dead with a single headshot.
No wonder Oryn is as messed up as he is... ouch
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely. If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
You have been chosen for team S-V as a part of the Shadow Initiative. Report to room I-16 at 14:00 hours for further instructions.
Welcome to M.E.T.A.L. (Magical Enforcement, Tracking, Analystics, and Location agency), an organization dedicated to the protection of the people. As an agent, you are dedicated to the cause of good and are willing to risk your life for it. Whether M.E.T.A.L. gave you a second chance, took you in at a young age, or saved you from the world, you are an agent, and this is a chance to do something great.
"Sticks"
(UA) Rabbitfolk
Bard, College of Creation
Character department: Hijacker ("Sticks" a very small Rabbitfolk, was a master escape artist. he could get out of pretty much anything, so one day, he thought why not do it backward?)
Urchin
stats: 11 13 13 10 12 15
Racial ASI: [DEX 1] [CON 1] [CHA 1]
Backstory: 'Sticks" led a humble life with his parents in (town name(?)) and he got his nickname because he would be constantly playing some homemade drums with a pair of twigs. one day though, he was forced to leave his home and start anew. he found that he could create small objects with his music and that he was very difficult to hold onto in one place.
One good rumor: Sticks apparently really likes biscuits, and he makes really tasty ones too. (this is true)
One bad rumor: Stick was the cause of death of a rather unimportant noble. (this is false, Sticks was just in the house at the time)
One dark secret:
Sticks ran away from his home, after grievously injuring his parents. he doesn't know if they are still alive.
Here's a WIP character. Just a couple questions: Is M.E.T.A.L. in a more modern setting? Kinda the vibe I was getting. And, what kind of pace will you be expecting from players?
Character Name: Tradrek Cragcrest
Race: Kobold, Unearthed Arcana version
Class: Artificer/Armorer, Lv. 3
Character Department: Information Services. Tradrek was considered due to having a knack for finding obscure information, as well as a tendency to try and resolve smaller yet sticky situations without waiting for orders or backup.
Background: Inheritor
Backstory:
Tradrek grew up as a more inquisitive kobold of the Cragcrest Tribe, a group of “city kobolds” living underneath a town they’d dug sewer tunnels for. After witnessing a visitor to town use artificer magic, he started making trips to the local library or a workshop to learn more about how magic and objects worked together. This eventually led to Tradrek and the Cragcrest sorcerer kobold discovering a spell scroll in a human sorcerer’s home; the Cragcrest sorcerer recognized it as a gate spell and decided the kobolds needed it more than the sorcerer did. Long story short, the scroll was stolen, despite Tradrek complaining that they didn’t even know what kind of gate it was or where it led; the Cragcrest warren was attacked by the human sorcerer and a few allies; and a gate somehow did get opened from within the warren, through which Tradrek and several other kobolds fled.
The gate dropped the kobolds at the doorstep of a fey lord in the Feywild; some of the kobolds ran away with the Cragcrest sorcerer before the fey lord found Tradrek and the remaining kobolds. Curious about the potential story behind kobolds opening a gate, the fey lord let Tradrek and his group live as long as they agreed to join his crew of servants. And learn to play dragonchess for his amusement. Tradrek was appointed as an assistant librarian, likely due to the disappearance of the previous assistant more than anything else; this was fine by him, since he could get a better look at books about magic and some science. Eventually, after a lot of tinkering with magic and objects in his free time and getting rather good at dragonchess, Tradrek seemed to impress his fey lord. Or perhaps it was something to do with the fey lord’s recent trips out of the household. Whatever the reason, Tradrek was entrusted with something special to keep and sent back to resume his life on the Material Plane.
Now on his own, Tradrek took this chance to travel to a city where he could find bigger libraries and bigger workshops, to work in or to sneak into, and become a proper artificer. Some time later, he had a run-in with M.E.T.A.L. agents while trying to investigate the disappearance of a gate-related artifact. To prove that he was more than just a kobold, Tradrek tracked down the missing artifact and its thieves, then leaked the information to one of the M.E.T.A.L. agents he’d met. Of course, he also almost died in trying to retrieve the artifact himself when he felt like M.E.T.A.L. was taking too long to show up, but show up they did. After talking with the agents about it, Tradrek was allowed to join the organization.
One good rumor: According to rumors, Tradrek singlehandedly tracked down and defeated a whole crime ring to retrieve the missing artifact, and he was just cleaning up when actual agents showed up.
One bad rumor: According to rumors, Tradrek had stolen the same artifact before having it stolen from him by other thieves.
One dark secret:
In a way, it was Tradrek's fault that the human sorcerer had learned about the kobolds stealing his gate scroll in the first place.
Here's my character. I don't have all the rulebooks online, so I wanted to check whether you'd be OK with me making my character on a Google docs and turning on link sharing (or whatever works for you). If not, I can run this same character as another of my thief rogues.
Character name : Emra Aranel
Race : Half-Elf
Class : Bard, College of Eloquence
Character Department : Information Services. Emra always had a lack for taking people round to get way of thinking. Her knack for going unnoticed on an empty street combined with this to make her excellent at sneezing into high security buildings and stealing important secrets (she does a lot of work with Hijackers too).
Background : Charlatan
Backstory : Born in the small town of (insert minor campaign setting town here) Emra was born to a poor family who worked for the town mayor as servants. Her parents were prayed so little that they feel into debt soon after Emra was born (the additional economic strain being to much for them) and Emra was sent away to live with her human auntie Meg Brinsdale in a nearby city. Though not unkind, Meg was a distant guardian, and Emra soon learnt that she could wander off for the day without so much as her auntie noticing.
As she grew older, her wanderings found her in more and more trouble and one day she picked the pocket of M.E.T.A.L member Barlin Ironrattle. Barlin found himself talked quickly out of taking a stem line with her since she was a good kid and there had obviously been some kind of misunderstanding. He even offered to put her in touch with his employers (in other words, he got played).
Emra enjoyed the work at M.E.T.A.L and when she turned 18, left her auntie Meg to work with them full time. Five years on, she has been invited to undertake some kind of Shadow Initiative and is looking forward to the prospect.
Good Rumour : Apparently, Emra once talked the boots off a red cap. She doesn't deny this.
Bad Rumour : There's a rumour going round Emra's colleagues that she recently went rogue on a mission. Something to do with a mayor in some little backwater town. She most certainly denies this.
Dark Secret : Emra's aunt recently died in a house fire. No one knows what caused the fire. Except Emra.
Backstory : Born from a Human slave and Drow, Gwathren was a second class citizen in Drow society, however he excelled even there fighting his way to the top of an order of assassins' and killers, able to draw on their internal magic (Ki) in service to Lolth. These killers are able to turn invisible, bring forth a shadow (darkness), teleport from shadow to shadow, and are deadly to the enemies of the Drow. Even so, he was never considered fully Drow, and abuse heaped on him he passed down to lower slaves. Finally in an act of mercy he allowed another wood elf slave to escape, and was forced to run. Desperate to escape and looking to redeem himself, he found the Hunted by the Drow, his right arm still bears a spider web tattoo from his hand to his right chest and back, a mark of his order.
Good Rumor: Gwathren freed slaves from the Drow (true)
Bad Rumor: Gwathren previously hunted escaped slaves and returned them to the Drow. (true)
One Dark Secret: Gwathren was involved in more than just capturing slaves and returning them, in some cases...murder or torture....A dark blot on his soul...
@Garret: Yes, this will be high magic/ tech, I will be expecting at least one post a day but completely understand if someone isn’t going to be able to post for a while.
@Garret: Yes, this will be high magic/ tech, I will be expecting at least one post a day but completely understand if someone isn’t going to be able to post for a while.
@Garret: Yes, this will be high magic/ tech, I will be expecting at least one post a day but completely understand if someone isn’t going to be able to post for a while.
Character Name: Nemo Race: Human (variant, actor feat) Class: Warlock (Great Old One) Department: Hijacker Background: Spy Backstory: Nemo has no recollection of his time before joining M.E.T.A.L. Hence he took the name Nemo (nobody). He is a dedicated and reliable infiltrator but is haunted by not knowing his past. His speciality is assuming other peoples identities and thereby accessing the objective of his assignment. One good rumor: According to rumor Nemo at his interview with M.E.T.A.L assumed the identity of Shin Stronghold and convinced the board that the real Shin Stronghold, chairing the interview, was an impostor. One bad rumor: According to rumor Nemo has done something terrible before his time with M.E.T.A.L, which has been classified. One dark secret:
Before Nemo joined M.E.T.A.L he meddled with unfathomable entities, sacrificing his young family to gain eldritch powers. The realization of what he had done brought him to the brink of insanity. To save himself his mind displaced all his memories. Ultimately the price he paid for his powers was his own identity. He will be destroyed if he ever gets access to those memories ever again.
Character Name: Nemo Race: Human (variant, actor feat) Class: Warlock (Great Old One) Department: Hijacker Background: Spy Backstory: Nemo has no recollection of his time before joining M.E.T.A.L. Hence he took the name Nemo (nobody). He is a dedicated and reliable infiltrator but is haunted by not knowing his past. His speciality is assuming other peoples identities and thereby accessing the objective of his assignment. One good rumor: According to rumor Nemo at his interview with M.E.T.A.L assumed the identity of Shin Stronghold and convinced the board that the real Shin Stronghold, chairing the interview, was an impostor. One bad rumor: According to rumor Nemo has done something terrible before his time with M.E.T.A.L, which has been classified. One dark secret:
Before Nemo joined M.E.T.A.L he meddled with unfathomable entities, sacrificing his young family to gain eldritch powers. The realization of what he had done brought him to the brink of insanity. To save himself his mind displaced all his memories. Ultimately the price he paid for his powers was his own identity. He will be destroyed if he ever gets access to those memories ever again.
@Garret: Yes, this will be high magic/ tech, I will be expecting at least one post a day but completely understand if someone isn’t going to be able to post for a while.
Last M.E.T.A.L. campaign for a while here we go!
Shadow Vipers
A Shadow Ops based task force originally recommended by Shin Stronghold, but was put on ice after his sudden disappearance, and is now in the act of being revived. As a test run, you have been drafted. Your first assignment? Unknown. Location? Unknown. All you know is what the letter you got this morning said;
Attention agent (insert character name)
You have been chosen for team S-V as a part of the Shadow Initiative. Report to room I-16 at 14:00 hours for further instructions.
Welcome to M.E.T.A.L. (Magical Enforcement, Tracking, Analystics, and Location agency), an organization dedicated to the protection of the people. As an agent, you are dedicated to the cause of good and are willing to risk your life for it. Whether M.E.T.A.L. gave you a second chance, took you in at a young age, or saved you from the world, you are an agent, and this is a chance to do something great.
Starting level is 3, Homebrew is encouraged (however please ask first), and all official content + UA is allowed. Bonus points for uniqueness :) Point buy for stats
Normal starting equipment plus 250 GP to buy extra non-magical supplies and you each get three uncommon magic items.
To apply, I need;
Character Name
Race
Class (Plus subclass)
Character department (Detailed below. If it's anything other than Shadow Ops, why have you been considered for this? If it is Shadow Ops, why were you specifically chosen out of your department?)
Background
Backstory (I would like something between 1-3 paragraphs long, please)
One good rumor (could be either true complete gibberish, but must have a basis. For instance, if you are said to have defended a town from a monstrous beast, you may have just hunted down the fox that was stealing the eggs from the hens)
One bad rumor (Again, could be true or false, but must have a basis)
One dark secret (Something that your character is so ashamed of, so scared of, if it got out it could ruin them.)
I would like to have this be a espionage, high rp, moderate combat campaign, but play the way you like.
Departments:
R&D: This department was founded by Dimble Timbers, the Gnome Wizard, so that as dark magics evolved, so could the methods to fight them and track them. As a part of the R&D department, you adapt on the field, testing out new and experimental technologies for the betterment and protection of the lives of agents.
Dimble Timbers retired soon after Shin disappeared and appointed Tetch as his replacement.
Information Services:
Information Services was founded by Eltress the Connected, Elven Bard, so that they might stay connected for the purpose of gathering and collecting information on rumors of lost artifacts, ancient techniques, and lost secrets. As an agent of Information Services, you might be uncovering artifacts first-hand, learning secrets lost to time, or following up on rumors of magical anomalies.
Special Forces:
This Division was formed by Stronghold himself to train future generations to protect the lands and people. Having expanded into subsects, it has multiple divisions for the multiple threats.
Juggernauts: These specialized fighters are heavy hitters and make up for what they lack in speed in sheer force and power. Often wearing specialized suits and trained in many diversified fighting styles, these well named Juggernauts are a sight to behold on the battlefield.
Handlers: These trainers understand the power of nature and it's uses in battle. Training many beasts from messenger pigeons to battle wolves to assault Elephants, these trainers can raise an army from the wild.
Riders: Riders are trained in mounted combat ranging from horses to dire wolves to anything they can ride. Masters of moving combat, they have learned to hit and go while avoiding counter attacks.
Shadow Ops:
Founded by Jacob's brother, Shin Stronghold, who valued stealth and subterfuge over brute strength.
Jumpers: Jumpers wear special suits that allow them silent flight so they can access places higher up with minimal resistance.
Hijackers: Hijackers are well learned in the art of getting into places they shouldn't be able to and
stealingliberating objects from those that would misuse them.Hunters: Trained to find and eliminate troublemakers that the legal system won't take action against, these Hunters are renowned for their stealth and ability to track down their quarries to the ends of the earth.
Shin disappeared about five years ago, and his replacement was a high-level agent called AJ, known around the agency as "Cataract" for reasons nobody can actually remember.
(Looking forward to seeing the characters everyone comes up with)
Farewell.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Great_AxeAlt/characters/50968587
Gobert Skelgrod
Firbolg
Cleric 2 (War domain) / Fighter 1
Juggernaut. Gobert was considered for this position because of his skill in fighting, healing, and his useful recon and stealth magic.
Acolyte
Backstory (aeugh i dont have time right now for 3 paragraphs, i'll do it later) Gobert got bored of living in a monastery, so he left and joined METAL instead.
One good rumor: It is rumored that any glass of water he drinks from becomes holy water.
One bad rumor: It is rumored that he didn't leave his monastery, he was kicked out for misconduct.
One dark secret (DM ONLY)
The "bad rumor" is most likely true
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely.
If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Homebrew races: ~Otterfolk! Play as a otter!~ Playable Dryad! (Literally just the monster sheet ported to player race)
Sauce Archpriest!- Join the Supreme Court of Sauces! Join the Cult of Cults! EXTENDED SIGNATURE Tooltips
Name: Sparks
Race: Half Elf
Class: Rogue 1 Wizard 2 (illusionist.)
Background: Criminal
Character department: Hijacker
Backstory:
Sparks was born to a human mother and an elven father. They lived in a rundown shack, on the edges of some city or other. What she recalls of that time was how their father seemed displeased with them more often than not, and was not a nice person to be around when he was in one of his moods. Sparks does not recall a lot of that time, as she was barely old enough to remember her parents when her father left them. Her elder brother, Tavin, who was only a couple years older than herself, could not help their mom enough to even let the four of them break even on a daily basis. He resorted to stealing to make ends meat, and to aid their mother in keeping Sparks and her little brother Steven fed. That all changed though, when, a couple years after their father left, when their mother did not return to their shack. She had never not returned before, so Tavin went out looking for her. There was no sign though, she had simply disappeared.
Married halflings took the three of them in, and gave them a decent place to live. It was not much better than the house they had grown up in before, just another shack on the outskirts of the city. The halflings were quite different though. In place of their father's disdain, and their mother constantly working to put food on the table, these halflings were content, and lived easily. Herald, the husband, was an artisan, baking for one of the local inns, as well as being able to sell his wares in street stalls in town. His wife, Welma, was a pretty singer, who earned coin singing in taverns most nights. They were a happy couple, and tended to the three children as if they were their own. The two had not been able to have kids of their own, so saw this as a chance to do that now.
Sparks was a friendly person in general. she made friends easily, and was quite the beauty, so oftimes would sit in her adopted father's stall when he was selling his bakery goods, and that seemed to draw in more money than days when she was not there. Her younger brother took up bakery, learning from their adopted father. Tavin though stayed with his roguish pursuits, eventually joining an adventuring group. He stopped in now and then, even giving Sparks some training on pickpocketing and lockpicking from time to time. He always told her it never hurt to have some skills to fall back on in a pinch.
When Sparks was barely more than a girl, a young teenager, she fell for a member of the city's thieve's guild. He was one of the higher-level members of the guild, and was more than willing to spend time with the lovely Sparks. He talked her into leaving her adopted parent's home, and running away into the guild with him. Sparks quickly learned the ropes of thievery, using some of the skills Tavin had taught her. She found she enjoyed taking fancy things from those with them, and could say that a nice sack of coins felt better in her hand than on the belt of a fat merchant.
Her life as a criminal was quite fun. Sparks learned to sneak into homes, take what she could, and then get away without anyone knowing she had ever been there. She found it a challenge, and was more than willing to try to push the boundries of what she could do. One day she heard of a wizard's tower, and was warned away from it quite ogressively by her lover. He likely knew this was only going to push her more to attempting the tower. She did so, sneaking inside, and prowling the halls. She managed to notice several illusions for what they were, and managed to get out without getting captured. Little did she know the wizard had watched her the entire time and had been impressed with her ability to notice his illusions.
Not long after the wizard tower her lover was arested. He had been working a heist on a noble's estate and had gotten caught in the act. Sparks had not been along on that heist, but did get to watch the very public exicution of the man she had been with for the past several years. It hit her hard, and she dropped out of the guild's workings for the next while. Her adopted parents took her back in without a question, and she settled back into their loving home thankfully.
It was about this time that someone began to support Sparks through money given to the baker and his wife. The halflings would never say as to where the money came from, just that it was meant for Sparks and her brothers. as Tavin was seen less and less, it mostly went to Steven and Sparks. About this time the wizard, from the tower, came calling on the family. He asked Sparks if she wished to study magic, as he felt she had aptitude there. with the money, from the unknown sponsor, Sparks could afford the apprenticeship, and she agreed to do so.
Over the next few years the relationship with the wizard, a human named Beltin Hasbin, grew as Sparks grew to respect the man as much as the wizard. He was a powerful illusionist, and started her down that road in her studies. The two became lovers after some time, and Sparks learned what true love felt like. She was easily able to tell the difference from what she had with the Thieve's guild man, to what she now felt for Beltin.
As a member of METAL himself, Beltin eventually introduced Sparks to the agency. She showed herself as a valuable Hijacker, and moved up the ranks quite fast.
Good rumor: Sparks stole a powerful magic item from a wizard's tower.
Bad rumor: Sparks double-crossed her old team and got the team leader exicuted.
Dark secret:
Sparks father had a symbol he wore around his neck. It was the symbol of METALS arch rival. If anyone found out her father was one of their enemies...
Character Name: Nemo
Race: Human (variant, actor feat)
Class: Warlock (Great Old One)
Department: Hijacker
Background: Spy
Backstory: Nemo has no recollection of his time before joining M.E.T.A.L. Hence he took the name Nemo (nobody). He is a dedicated and reliable infiltrator but is haunted by not knowing his past. His speciality is assuming other peoples identities and thereby accessing the objective of his assignment.
One good rumor: According to rumor Nemo at his interview with M.E.T.A.L assumed the identity of Shin Stronghold and convinced the board that the real Shin Stronghold, chairing the interview, was an impostor.
One bad rumor: According to rumor Nemo has done something terrible before his time with M.E.T.A.L, which has been classified.
One dark secret:
Before Nemo joined M.E.T.A.L he meddled with unfathomable entities, sacrificing his young family to gain eldritch powers. The realization of what he had done brought him to the brink of insanity. To save himself his mind displaced all his memories. Ultimately the price he paid for his powers was his own identity. He will be destroyed if he ever gets access to those memories ever again.
Nemo - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
Yes, thank you for reminding me.
Farewell.
Kicked in the head by a horse... yikes.
Horses can instantly drop other horses dead with a single headshot.
No wonder Oryn is as messed up as he is... ouch
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely.
If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Homebrew races: ~Otterfolk! Play as a otter!~ Playable Dryad! (Literally just the monster sheet ported to player race)
Sauce Archpriest!- Join the Supreme Court of Sauces! Join the Cult of Cults! EXTENDED SIGNATURE Tooltips
this still open?
Attention agent "Sticks"
You have been chosen for team S-V as a part of the Shadow Initiative. Report to room I-16 at 14:00 hours for further instructions.
Welcome to M.E.T.A.L. (Magical Enforcement, Tracking, Analystics, and Location agency), an organization dedicated to the protection of the people. As an agent, you are dedicated to the cause of good and are willing to risk your life for it. Whether M.E.T.A.L. gave you a second chance, took you in at a young age, or saved you from the world, you are an agent, and this is a chance to do something great.
"Sticks"
(UA) Rabbitfolk
Bard, College of Creation
Character department: Hijacker ("Sticks" a very small Rabbitfolk, was a master escape artist. he could get out of pretty much anything, so one day, he thought why not do it backward?)
Urchin
stats: 11 13 13 10 12 15
Racial ASI: [DEX 1] [CON 1] [CHA 1]
Backstory: 'Sticks" led a humble life with his parents in (town name(?)) and he got his nickname because he would be constantly playing some homemade drums with a pair of twigs. one day though, he was forced to leave his home and start anew. he found that he could create small objects with his music and that he was very difficult to hold onto in one place.
One good rumor: Sticks apparently really likes biscuits, and he makes really tasty ones too. (this is true)
One bad rumor: Stick was the cause of death of a rather unimportant noble. (this is false, Sticks was just in the house at the time)
One dark secret:
Sticks ran away from his home, after grievously injuring his parents. he doesn't know if they are still alive.
I am a conjurer, but the only thing I can summon is disappointment
Status: schools started, so weekday posting is limited.
I'm a member of the "oops I accidentally destroyed someone's brain cult"
I might be losing it at the rate of the heat death of the universe.
Extended Sig
Here's a WIP character. Just a couple questions: Is M.E.T.A.L. in a more modern setting? Kinda the vibe I was getting. And, what kind of pace will you be expecting from players?
Character Name: Tradrek Cragcrest
Race: Kobold, Unearthed Arcana version
Class: Artificer/Armorer, Lv. 3
Character Department: Information Services. Tradrek was considered due to having a knack for finding obscure information, as well as a tendency to try and resolve smaller yet sticky situations without waiting for orders or backup.
Background: Inheritor
Backstory:
Tradrek grew up as a more inquisitive kobold of the Cragcrest Tribe, a group of “city kobolds” living underneath a town they’d dug sewer tunnels for. After witnessing a visitor to town use artificer magic, he started making trips to the local library or a workshop to learn more about how magic and objects worked together. This eventually led to Tradrek and the Cragcrest sorcerer kobold discovering a spell scroll in a human sorcerer’s home; the Cragcrest sorcerer recognized it as a gate spell and decided the kobolds needed it more than the sorcerer did. Long story short, the scroll was stolen, despite Tradrek complaining that they didn’t even know what kind of gate it was or where it led; the Cragcrest warren was attacked by the human sorcerer and a few allies; and a gate somehow did get opened from within the warren, through which Tradrek and several other kobolds fled.
The gate dropped the kobolds at the doorstep of a fey lord in the Feywild; some of the kobolds ran away with the Cragcrest sorcerer before the fey lord found Tradrek and the remaining kobolds. Curious about the potential story behind kobolds opening a gate, the fey lord let Tradrek and his group live as long as they agreed to join his crew of servants. And learn to play dragonchess for his amusement. Tradrek was appointed as an assistant librarian, likely due to the disappearance of the previous assistant more than anything else; this was fine by him, since he could get a better look at books about magic and some science. Eventually, after a lot of tinkering with magic and objects in his free time and getting rather good at dragonchess, Tradrek seemed to impress his fey lord. Or perhaps it was something to do with the fey lord’s recent trips out of the household. Whatever the reason, Tradrek was entrusted with something special to keep and sent back to resume his life on the Material Plane.
Now on his own, Tradrek took this chance to travel to a city where he could find bigger libraries and bigger workshops, to work in or to sneak into, and become a proper artificer. Some time later, he had a run-in with M.E.T.A.L. agents while trying to investigate the disappearance of a gate-related artifact. To prove that he was more than just a kobold, Tradrek tracked down the missing artifact and its thieves, then leaked the information to one of the M.E.T.A.L. agents he’d met. Of course, he also almost died in trying to retrieve the artifact himself when he felt like M.E.T.A.L. was taking too long to show up, but show up they did. After talking with the agents about it, Tradrek was allowed to join the organization.
One good rumor: According to rumors, Tradrek singlehandedly tracked down and defeated a whole crime ring to retrieve the missing artifact, and he was just cleaning up when actual agents showed up.
One bad rumor: According to rumors, Tradrek had stolen the same artifact before having it stolen from him by other thieves.
One dark secret:
In a way, it was Tradrek's fault that the human sorcerer had learned about the kobolds stealing his gate scroll in the first place.
Here's my character. I don't have all the rulebooks online, so I wanted to check whether you'd be OK with me making my character on a Google docs and turning on link sharing (or whatever works for you). If not, I can run this same character as another of my thief rogues.
Character name : Emra Aranel
Race : Half-Elf
Class : Bard, College of Eloquence
Character Department : Information Services. Emra always had a lack for taking people round to get way of thinking. Her knack for going unnoticed on an empty street combined with this to make her excellent at sneezing into high security buildings and stealing important secrets (she does a lot of work with Hijackers too).
Background : Charlatan
Backstory : Born in the small town of (insert minor campaign setting town here) Emra was born to a poor family who worked for the town mayor as servants. Her parents were prayed so little that they feel into debt soon after Emra was born (the additional economic strain being to much for them) and Emra was sent away to live with her human auntie Meg Brinsdale in a nearby city. Though not unkind, Meg was a distant guardian, and Emra soon learnt that she could wander off for the day without so much as her auntie noticing.
As she grew older, her wanderings found her in more and more trouble and one day she picked the pocket of M.E.T.A.L member Barlin Ironrattle. Barlin found himself talked quickly out of taking a stem line with her since she was a good kid and there had obviously been some kind of misunderstanding. He even offered to put her in touch with his employers (in other words, he got played).
Emra enjoyed the work at M.E.T.A.L and when she turned 18, left her auntie Meg to work with them full time. Five years on, she has been invited to undertake some kind of Shadow Initiative and is looking forward to the prospect.
Good Rumour : Apparently, Emra once talked the boots off a red cap. She doesn't deny this.
Bad Rumour : There's a rumour going round Emra's colleagues that she recently went rogue on a mission. Something to do with a mayor in some little backwater town. She most certainly denies this.
Dark Secret : Emra's aunt recently died in a house fire. No one knows what caused the fire. Except Emra.
Chilling kinda vibe.
Character name : Gwathren
Race : Drow Half-Elf
Class : Fighter (1) / Shadow Monk (2)
Character Department : Shadow Ops (Jumper)
Background : Criminal / Spy
Backstory : Born from a Human slave and Drow, Gwathren was a second class citizen in Drow society, however he excelled even there fighting his way to the top of an order of assassins' and killers, able to draw on their internal magic (Ki) in service to Lolth. These killers are able to turn invisible, bring forth a shadow (darkness), teleport from shadow to shadow, and are deadly to the enemies of the Drow. Even so, he was never considered fully Drow, and abuse heaped on him he passed down to lower slaves. Finally in an act of mercy he allowed another wood elf slave to escape, and was forced to run. Desperate to escape and looking to redeem himself, he found the Hunted by the Drow, his right arm still bears a spider web tattoo from his hand to his right chest and back, a mark of his order.
Good Rumor: Gwathren freed slaves from the Drow (true)
Bad Rumor: Gwathren previously hunted escaped slaves and returned them to the Drow. (true)
One Dark Secret: Gwathren was involved in more than just capturing slaves and returning them, in some cases...murder or torture....A dark blot on his soul...
https://ddb.ac/characters/56079711/SfJITo
@Garret: Yes, this will be high magic/ tech, I will be expecting at least one post a day but completely understand if someone isn’t going to be able to post for a while.
@Stephanie: That’s absolutely fine, completely understand.
Farewell.
I’m in the same boat as @Stephanie but I’m on a paper sheet
I am a conjurer, but the only thing I can summon is disappointment
Status: schools started, so weekday posting is limited.
I'm a member of the "oops I accidentally destroyed someone's brain cult"
I might be losing it at the rate of the heat death of the universe.
Extended Sig
That’s fine too, since I have the basic details for your character
Farewell.
Oh, in that case I'll use a paper sheet too!
Chilling kinda vibe.
Gotta love a fellow Latin nerd. :-)
Chilling kinda vibe.
Gotta love names with meanings :-)
Farewell.
All right, thanks for the answer. Tradrek's done now and ready for consideration.
Well then, probably a good idea for me to close down recruitment now, will be back soon with the players!
Farewell.