I have Sir Alek Hazen (Paladin/Sorc), as an alternative to the Xoben Gatius (Artificer/WIz) waiting in the wings.  

Quote from Weathervision >>

The intro seems intriguing. Let me know when we start.

 Hey! Good to see you! Are you our Sorcerer or the possible player Cwerando mentioned?

Weathervision is our third.  I am hoping to get started as soon as we settle on characters.  As a side note, I also have structured this specifically to better handle attrition and character swaps.  I hope each scenario runs no more than 4-8 weeks long, so we will have lots of opportunity to adjust without too much of an interruption.

PM me any potential players you wart to suggest.  I already have one that has contacted me.

I sent a PM with two potential contacts.  

OOC As Xoben gains levels his AC will go up and once I get War Caster feat I can

• You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.

.  If there are any magical defense items rings or cloaks that will improve it too.  The HP will be a bit squishy but False life could improve that or Aid from a cleric whichever is higher as potential boosts.

Okay. Sounds like we're settled on the Artificer/Wizard and the Sorcerer then?

I'm still going to hold off on deciding until I see what the new arrivals want to play.

What about backstories? DM, do you want us to craft something where we know each other or are we going to meet in game as new employees?

I've got a partial backstory that can mold into a more descriptive one as needed for Xoben.

So we will start with you all having received an offer for probationary employment.  You may know each other or not as you like - Waterdeep is a large city, and you do not need to have lived there before, but are certainly welcome to.  

The promise of adventure and doing some good to preserve history for the current and future generations should hopefully be a primary motivation for your character.  There is no need for you to start with history together, but it is fine if you do.

I am ok being colleague with any other characters in some way.  Perhaps we became fast friend in Waterdeep quickly over a mug of wine/ale learning of our mutual interests in historical antiquities and valuables.   Xoben can be newish to Waterdeep, but familiar enough to have a basic understanding of the city with a small amount of streetwise knowledge perhaps.  

Xoben made a stop at the Artificer's council in Waterdeep and Wizardy council to announce himself as being in Waterdeep. If they need assistance, he is happy to help at a cost/trade. Xorben would have acquired any required residence identification to work and travel freely through, under and around Waterdeep.

Hello all! So I am one of the new invitees, grover's friend. I'll be playing Rolas, a half-orc fighter (future Battlemaster). With the backstory I'm cooking up, he wouldn't know any of you straight off the bat as he's from Thesk, way way off to the northeast. I'd say he arrived in Waterdeep about a week ago and has been busy nosing around the local trade in antiques, museums, sites of historical interest and the like.

@DM - I've gone with Superior Technique as my starting feature for the fighter class which gives a Maneouvre. This feature is bugged on DND beyond, and the workaround for it is to give yourself a homebrew feat to grant one manouvre, which I've gone ahead and done. Wanted to let you know in case you bring up my sheet and wonder what's going on there.

In that case, unless our other player comes up with a cleric, I'm going to go with my Bard so we have some healing spells.

Sounds good.  I am contacting one more this morning, but regardless it looks like we have a group. 

Hey all,

Need some help with my character. I'm a bit conflicted between my two ideas and would love some feedback from the rest of the group!

Alyanna ap Fianna (Half-Elven Bard Sage)

https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/102303012

Alyanna is a scholarly bard (College of Lore) driven by a sense of curiosity and a desire to live up to her namesake (an Elven adventurer to whom she is distantly related). Her biggest strength and weakness is that she is basically a redundant character, she doesn't add much of anything to the party that someone else doesn't do better but she gives us some depth in spellcasting (especially healing) and skills. As an added bonus, I've played similar builds in the past so I have a decent handle on how to play it mechanically. As a downside, I've played similar builds quite a bit...

Coenen Smith (Variant Human Monk Folk Hero/aspiring Fighter, Ranger, and/or Paladin)

https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/101246195

"Neni" is the only child of a blacksmith and learned the trade from her father. When her parents passed, she couldn't inherit the lease on her father's shop because it stipulated that it would be passed down to the oldest male heir. Faced with the choice between a marriage of convenience or the wandering life she became a vagabond adventurer. She is a much weaker build than Alyanna overall, but she is distinctive from anything we have so far and with a few levels under her belt she should become a pretty solid front-line character.

I welcome your thoughts/feedback! Thanks in advance for your advice!

For me it comes down to what you’ll have fun with the most.  We can figure the other stuff out as we go.  Maybe an npc cleric for hire.

Decided to split the difference and made a Folk Hero Bard instead. Combined my favorite aspects of both character builds!

I believe everyone has their characters in, and we alll be 4 players to start.  I might still reach out to another or two, but I think we are in good shape.

You each arrive on a sunny, summer morning at the gated entrance to the grounds of the Davender Museum of Exotic History. As you ring the bell at the gate, a elderly gnome struggles to walk quickly to let you in.  

"Come.  You are expected.  You will wait in the entrance foyer of the Hall of Magic.  Don't touch anything!  Master Davender will be with you shortly."

He leads you directly to the hall previously mentions, and you see that others have also gathered.  "Introduce yourselves to each other.  I have not the time nor inclination," the gnome states with some clear disdain.  

Bram Feldor appears as man in his late 30's with short salt and pepper hair. He has a rather pale skin. He wears a business attire with a sensible vest and tie with tailored pants and boots. It is a bit dated and showing its age, but well cared for. On his belt is a leather pouch and 2 sheathed daggers. He takes off his coat upon entering and folds its over his arm.

"I see we are here for the same reason. Well met I am Bram Feldor" says Bram

Xorben Gatius appears as a silver haired Rock Gnome wearing scale mail armor, shield, backpack, 2 sacks. Gold belt with pouches can be seen. A dagger in a scabbard and likely a arcane focus item as well.

Xorben replies looking at everyone, "Hail,  I am Xorben Gatius.  It would seem so.  I have an interest in history and antiquities.  I must admit that I am easily distracted by the promise of information."

A half-orc follows a moment after the two men, delayed by the need to wipe his boots before entering lest, gods forbid, he track filth from the streets of Waterdeep into Davender's abode. He is a mountain of a man, tall enough to need to duck his head to pass the doorway and nearly broad enough to need to come in at an angle. Inch-long tusks jut out from his lower jaw putting a fearsome edge to his angular features and his mane of curled black hair is tied back to keep it out his ash-grey skinned face.

However, his physicality seems entirely at odds with his manner of dress. He wears a small crimson side cape heavily embroidered with gold thread over his left shoulder, over a pale leather jerkin that's slashed and punched for decoration, and wears that over a scarlet silk doublet with a high, heavily starched collar. Clearly wearing too many layers for a Waterdhavian summers day, he doffs his jaunty feathered cap and dabs at his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief. It seems intentional that he does so using his right hand, displaying a sizable signet ring on his pinky and another plain gold band on his ring finger.

"It is my pleasure to make your acquaintances," he says, lisping heavily owing to the size of his tusks. He makes the rounds of the group to shake hands, kneeling when he comes to Xorben. "I am Master Rolas Crannach-Stoutbridge, son of Lord Tierney Crannach of Telflamm. Perhaps youre familiar with the name if you've an interest in antiquities, Mr. Gatius? Our family dominates the trade of Narfelli artifacts and antiques out in Thesk. I shan't hold it against you if you've not heard of us, Telflamm is quite a ways out to the east."

Xorben bows to Master Rolas saying, "Unfortunately, I have not heard of your business.  I am just getting a start in the business though.  My travels have been limited so far to just Waterdeep.  I would love to visit the area though in the future.  I think I've read every book in Waterdeep.  There may have been a reference to Thesk in some of the books actually.  Vague notes if I recall.  I've drank since then mind you.  He says with a smile.  Well met good sir."