Morax is a bounty hunter, though he would not call himself one, he would fancy himself an investigator, a hunter of items and frequently people, those who would wish to avoid detection. He has heard of a criminal who has boarded the Arcane railway in disguise, hoping to escape Huzuz after a rather lucrative heist of a necklace in the capital city. Paid (or rather promised) a lucrative commission by a branch of the Black Fist, Morax makes his way south to Huzuz in rather more refined clothing than what he is used to wearing. He has been given funds to purchase a ticket on the railway and travel as an ordinary passenger. He feels at home in the desert, in arid land, and he hopes to find the trail of the jewel thief and track them down through the course of the tour through the countryside. And so the hunt begins…
”Pardon me, good sir, is this seat taken?” The bronze skinned Dragonborn sits next to you and he appears to be wearing a respectable cloak, carrying a briefcase and a backpack with him. His gear is artfully stored, there are several well healed scars on his face, and his manner of walking, sitting, his posture belie an underlying aura of strength and force that lies contrary to his current businessman like manner. “A rather warm day, isn’t it? I really don’t mind it at all, but some on our trip may not enjoy it. I do hope the arcane cooling system is working, yes? Where do you hail from, if I might ask? Anywhere that you are especially excited to see?” He pulls out from his side a small notebook and quill, adjusting you in his gaze, perhaps looking at you… a little too closely? You feel slightly uncomfortable as he seems to be looking through you…
After growing up on the streets, Dinah found herself following a rogue's path into the crime underworld. She changed course after her teenage sweetheart was taken in and eventually killed by the local crime lord. Seeing first hand the effects of organised crime, she made it her life's work to hunt and bring down organised crime rings.
She is in Huzuz to track down a lead on Mantuan, a local drug lord who, as the rumours go, is heading out on the Arcane Railway. An eg:
Dinah stands at the train station, scanning the departure boards. She is bumped from the side as someone pushes past her diminutive form.
"Watch it, buddy, or you might find yourself tripping over a dagger's point." The words are biting, seeming at odds with the harmless-looking Dinah.
The passerby looks shocked and hurries on without pausing to check the board.
About me: I have experience as a player and DM in 3.5e and as a PbP player in 5e. This is my first shot as a PbP DM in 5e, so do not expect the story to be full of mindblowing twists and whatever, but I try to make it as fun as possible :)
I just realized that this is you admitting that your train campaign might be "on rails".
Also, I cannot for the life of me put dialogue in for my character by myself, so if you are interested in my character I would have to do a 'session 0' to figure it out
The archipelago nation of Kozakura is a land of traditions. Ancient tales of gods, Samurai, and emperors proliferated the complex political landscape, mixing truths and rumors into mysterious legends that govern the people. If one went against the flow of the waters, it was common for their own family to disown or even murder them. Nothing is emphasized more than pride and tradition, to do so is to forsake the sun and the moon that never change.
On this island of Kozakura, Ryuji was born as an illegitimate child when the family head of the Hikari clan, Kenzo, eloped with a human in his youth (as a rebellion against the strict rules and political marriages he's gone through). As a half-elf, his existence was naturally kept secret. Although Ryuji possessed noble blood, he spent his early life living in the slums and the red district, ingraining instincts for survival and intrigue.
Once Ryuji was twelve, his mother was discovered by the family and murdered, but he escaped with his life when Kenzo declared responsibility for Ryuji, taking him in as a son. As the only half-elf, Life in the noble clan led to discrimination, and his family relations worsened as Ryuji desired to leave all of them behind. He abandoned the traditional religion, Eight Millions God, for, ironically, the Way of Enlightenment. Denouncing everything related to tradition, Ryuji pursued all that was contemporary: fashions, trends, ideals, etc. He wishes for power, change, relationships, and most importantly, revenge on his siblings and the elders that mistreated him since childhood.
Naturally handsome and diplomatic, Ryuji has forged many connections with the other families in social events as well as gathering important information. In doing so, he fell in love with an intelligent heir of the Asuka clan, a beautiful human girl called Kaiya, worsening his relationships with his family even further as they mocked his rebellion against tradition.
This is the story of Ryuji, a half-elf, shinobi, and noble son that incites rebellion with his silver tongue.
Short Story:
The dripping water was a clock. Drip. Drip. Drip. Meditation enhances the senses to an uncomfortable sharpness. Meditation freezes time in the way the half-frozen streams wades forward in Spring. Almost subconsciously, Ryuji's thoughts submerge into his history, recalling the sharp tinge and taste of the fire and ash that ravaged the slums several hundred moons ago. He could still see his mother's flaming corpse in the blackened flamework of a house still caught in a fiery blaze. The tears flowing down his face did not resound like these drips of water do. The tears flowing down his mother's face made no sound as they dissolved in the heat of the fire.
Clack.
He hears a sound, the footstep of a light body entering the spirit cave. Opening his eyes, he observes the silhouette of a slender woman surrounded by the glowing pink and teal spirit crystals. The figure steps through the light mist with dance-like grace, creating ripples across the shallow, watery mirror. To the uninformed, Madame Kagami was simply a prostitute, but the underworld calls her the "Scarlet Lips," an informant that excels at extracting information from clients.
Ryuji leans back confidently, letting a smile flicker across his lips, obviously attempting to convey his authority, "Truly no one is as gorgeous as Madame Kagami. Even the crystals pale in comparison! I trust you found the location of that mysterious battle the Hikari elders so boast about?"
Silence
Ryuji briefly considered underpaying her, but he dispelled that thought. Treat your informants well... if you want to live. "Of course, that ten percent will come as soon as I come back from said destination. You know how much I value my business partners."
Madame Kagami gazed at him in silence for a moment before nodding, satisfied.
With her trained silken voice, she whispers, Zakhara.
As Ryuji walks the cities of Zakhara, he is struck by the differing vibrancy Huzuz has to offer. The towering spires of white marble with intricate gold mosaics present a complex outer beauty, quite different from the quiet, peaceful allure he was used to. The seamless blends of magic and technology expressed from enchanted fountains to clockwork golems inspired a sense of insignificance, even though he shone brightly in the Kozakuran islands. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the strangely dressed man that 'd been following him since he left the airship.
Name : Morax Grimblehist
Race : Metallic (brass) Dragonborn
Class : Ranger (going drakewarden)
Background : Investigator
Backstory :
Morax is a bounty hunter, though he would not call himself one, he would fancy himself an investigator, a hunter of items and frequently people, those who would wish to avoid detection. He has heard of a criminal who has boarded the Arcane railway in disguise, hoping to escape Huzuz after a rather lucrative heist of a necklace in the capital city. Paid (or rather promised) a lucrative commission by a branch of the Black Fist, Morax makes his way south to Huzuz in rather more refined clothing than what he is used to wearing. He has been given funds to purchase a ticket on the railway and travel as an ordinary passenger. He feels at home in the desert, in arid land, and he hopes to find the trail of the jewel thief and track them down through the course of the tour through the countryside. And so the hunt begins…
”Pardon me, good sir, is this seat taken?” The bronze skinned Dragonborn sits next to you and he appears to be wearing a respectable cloak, carrying a briefcase and a backpack with him. His gear is artfully stored, there are several well healed scars on his face, and his manner of walking, sitting, his posture belie an underlying aura of strength and force that lies contrary to his current businessman like manner. “A rather warm day, isn’t it? I really don’t mind it at all, but some on our trip may not enjoy it. I do hope the arcane cooling system is working, yes? Where do you hail from, if I might ask? Anywhere that you are especially excited to see?” He pulls out from his side a small notebook and quill, adjusting you in his gaze, perhaps looking at you… a little too closely? You feel slightly uncomfortable as he seems to be looking through you…
Character sheet : https://ddb.ac/characters/92401760/f9rV3P
Image of Morax Grimblehist :
The way he currently appears when he’s about to board the train :
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Hope I'm not too late!
Name: Dinah Smallfoot - ddb.ac/characters/84270275/onrw7C
Race: Halfling
Class - Rogue Urban Bounty Hunter
Backstory:
After growing up on the streets, Dinah found herself following a rogue's path into the crime underworld. She changed course after her teenage sweetheart was taken in and eventually killed by the local crime lord. Seeing first hand the effects of organised crime, she made it her life's work to hunt and bring down organised crime rings.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Bowing out. Too much going on
I just realized that this is you admitting that your train campaign might be "on rails".
Also, I cannot for the life of me put dialogue in for my character by myself, so if you are interested in my character I would have to do a 'session 0' to figure it out
Entries are closed! Thank you everyone for posting an entry! I will read through all posts and PM the chosen ones!
Player:
Snikkit Sparks - Gnome Artificier (Alchemist) 3 | Stranger Things: Hunt for the Thessalhydra
Theron Pyllae - Variant Human Fighter 1 | Shell Island
Riwakan Thioscale - Dragonborn Fighter (Battle Master) 5 | Adventures in the Sands: Lost Tomb of Meneptah (Group 2)
DM:
Derailed Dreams - Panic on the Zakhara Express
Hey everyone! Sorry if this is a bit rough or unsophisticated, I'm definitely not a writer by any means.
Name: Ryuji Hikari - Ryuji's Character Sheet - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
Race: Half-elf
Class: Rogue
Background: Aristocrat
Backstory:
The archipelago nation of Kozakura is a land of traditions. Ancient tales of gods, Samurai, and emperors proliferated the complex political landscape, mixing truths and rumors into mysterious legends that govern the people. If one went against the flow of the waters, it was common for their own family to disown or even murder them. Nothing is emphasized more than pride and tradition, to do so is to forsake the sun and the moon that never change.
On this island of Kozakura, Ryuji was born as an illegitimate child when the family head of the Hikari clan, Kenzo, eloped with a human in his youth (as a rebellion against the strict rules and political marriages he's gone through). As a half-elf, his existence was naturally kept secret. Although Ryuji possessed noble blood, he spent his early life living in the slums and the red district, ingraining instincts for survival and intrigue.
Once Ryuji was twelve, his mother was discovered by the family and murdered, but he escaped with his life when Kenzo declared responsibility for Ryuji, taking him in as a son. As the only half-elf, Life in the noble clan led to discrimination, and his family relations worsened as Ryuji desired to leave all of them behind. He abandoned the traditional religion, Eight Millions God, for, ironically, the Way of Enlightenment. Denouncing everything related to tradition, Ryuji pursued all that was contemporary: fashions, trends, ideals, etc. He wishes for power, change, relationships, and most importantly, revenge on his siblings and the elders that mistreated him since childhood.
Naturally handsome and diplomatic, Ryuji has forged many connections with the other families in social events as well as gathering important information. In doing so, he fell in love with an intelligent heir of the Asuka clan, a beautiful human girl called Kaiya, worsening his relationships with his family even further as they mocked his rebellion against tradition.
This is the story of Ryuji, a half-elf, shinobi, and noble son that incites rebellion with his silver tongue.
Short Story:
The dripping water was a clock. Drip. Drip. Drip. Meditation enhances the senses to an uncomfortable sharpness. Meditation freezes time in the way the half-frozen streams wades forward in Spring. Almost subconsciously, Ryuji's thoughts submerge into his history, recalling the sharp tinge and taste of the fire and ash that ravaged the slums several hundred moons ago. He could still see his mother's flaming corpse in the blackened flamework of a house still caught in a fiery blaze. The tears flowing down his face did not resound like these drips of water do. The tears flowing down his mother's face made no sound as they dissolved in the heat of the fire.
Clack.
He hears a sound, the footstep of a light body entering the spirit cave. Opening his eyes, he observes the silhouette of a slender woman surrounded by the glowing pink and teal spirit crystals. The figure steps through the light mist with dance-like grace, creating ripples across the shallow, watery mirror. To the uninformed, Madame Kagami was simply a prostitute, but the underworld calls her the "Scarlet Lips," an informant that excels at extracting information from clients.
Ryuji leans back confidently, letting a smile flicker across his lips, obviously attempting to convey his authority, "Truly no one is as gorgeous as Madame Kagami. Even the crystals pale in comparison! I trust you found the location of that mysterious battle the Hikari elders so boast about?"
Silence
Ryuji briefly considered underpaying her, but he dispelled that thought. Treat your informants well... if you want to live. "Of course, that ten percent will come as soon as I come back from said destination. You know how much I value my business partners."
Madame Kagami gazed at him in silence for a moment before nodding, satisfied.
With her trained silken voice, she whispers, Zakhara.
As Ryuji walks the cities of Zakhara, he is struck by the differing vibrancy Huzuz has to offer. The towering spires of white marble with intricate gold mosaics present a complex outer beauty, quite different from the quiet, peaceful allure he was used to. The seamless blends of magic and technology expressed from enchanted fountains to clockwork golems inspired a sense of insignificance, even though he shone brightly in the Kozakuran islands. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the strangely dressed man that 'd been following him since he left the airship.
A rookie, I'll lose him in the city square.
“Just pretend I'm not here, and you'll be much happier.”
PM's have been sent out, sorry for everyone who cannot join right now, I will try to start new campaigns in the future :)
Player:
Snikkit Sparks - Gnome Artificier (Alchemist) 3 | Stranger Things: Hunt for the Thessalhydra
Theron Pyllae - Variant Human Fighter 1 | Shell Island
Riwakan Thioscale - Dragonborn Fighter (Battle Master) 5 | Adventures in the Sands: Lost Tomb of Meneptah (Group 2)
DM:
Derailed Dreams - Panic on the Zakhara Express