This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
When I was little, my father was famous He was the greatest samurai in the empire And he was the Shogun's decapitator He cut off the heads of a hundred and thirty-one lords It was a bad time for the empire...
- GZA, Liquid Swords
Hello all! Thanks for looking at this thread! Hope you're all doing well, hope you're having a good time, etcetera, etcetera. I'm assuming you're wondering what this is. EDIT - we had to put the recruiting tag back on after 2 players left. Just need 1 player to start.
So:
WHAT THIS IS: A historical wuxia campaign (with 2 DMs!!!) set just after the end of the first Chinese dynasty (the Xia, we'll put the background later).
Now, some notes (a lot of notes, will edit these if anything changes):
1. 2 DMs: Like I said, the campaign has two DMs (me (Wes) and @SquirmyWyrmy). This means that we'll have two DMs helping out during different parts of play. I'll probably be more involved in the general roleplay & Wyrm (that's what I'm calling you now hehehe) will be working on combat & other stuff.
2. Off DDB: I'll regularly be off DDB for long periods of time (this is a school computer account, so ...). Again, not entirely sure about Wyrm's plans but I think he has a similar schedule. So this can include weekends (only 2-3 days, not that bad) to summer break (mid-June to the end of August. 10 weeks T_T). I'll try to notify people beforehand but I might not be able to every time.
3. Game Tone: This is a semi-traditional D&D campaign -- so feel free to make goofy characters but please make sure they're goofy in a high-fantasy/wuxia way.
4. Player/DM Contract: Is there anything you don't want included in the campaign? Please PM one of us if so.
5. The "Wile-e-Coyote" Falling Rule: A little edit to the D&D falling rules in which, when a player begins to fall, they and other characters have until the start of their next turn to stop the falling (before normal rules take effect).
6. Campaign Length: Depends on the breaks (see above) that we'll have to take, but I think this campaign should take about 3-5 years (assuming regular PBP speed).
7. Posting: No one's perfect. Just try to post 2-3 times a week, PM us if you have a break off DDB coming up, and try to post once a day during combat (we might start skipping people's turns after a day).
8. Characters: Characters start at 3rd level. Use 2014 or 2024 rules. Ability scores - would prefer rolled (if you do, roll them here in the forum thread - click on dice roller and then ability scores, reroll ones once - like so: 151315131311), but point buy/standard array also work just fine. Backstory: Explain how you ended up in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn, a haven for travelers, tonight.
9. Players: We welcome both D&D veterans who have been playing since the Red Box and newbies who just picked up the new rules yesterday.
Anyway...on to the story!
Yu the Great was not only known for his technological prowess, with which he improved ancient China under the Xia dynasty. He also discovered magic. As a young man, he dared to venture up the Mountain of the Tale-Teller, something that no person had done before. No one knows what happened up there that day. But when he came down, holding a scroll in one hand and an orb of light in his other, declaring that he was the rightful emperor, people could tell that he would change the world.
For many years, the Xia dynasty ruled over all of China, working diligently to ensure peace and prosperity to shape China’s future. The Heavenly Mandate, Yu's scroll, which secured the Xia as leaders, remained safe. But it also kept a dark secret, one that could change the course of history. Magic soon became commonplace, and everyone had a trick on hand to entertain -- or scare -- their friends.
Over a thousand years after Yu himself discovered magic, a new descendant rose to the throne. The fourth son and a powerful mage, he ascended the throne after the other heirs suddenly suffered sudden, mysterious deaths. Jie, as was his name, took power in a great festival that took a year and a day.
However, even with his magical prowess, he was no great ruler. China wilted like a dying flower under his control. The rivers and streams turned black and the forests slowly fell as he worked his magic, never leaving his great palace. The only control he exerted upon China was that of his executioner, the Emperor’s Axe.
The Axe would go home and forget about the killings. He wasn’t scared of the emperor…but the emperor was scared of him. One night, the emperor sent his spies to the Axe’s house. That was the night that everything changed.
That night, the Axe wrought an unholy wrath upon the spies. Then he stole into the night, disappearing without a trace. Emperor Jie tried to find him – first with magic, then with men – but he failed each time. And then, one fateful night, the Heavenly Mandate disappeared.
The Axe waited for Jie at his palace, while the city streets were set aflame in the mage’s fierce pursuit. But he had made a great mistake. For the Mandate’s secret was about to be revealed.
Without his divine protection, Jie began to change in front of the Axe’s eyes. For hours, he slowly grew, impervious to any attack the Axe attempted. When his transformation ended, a horrible beast stood where the palace – and the Axe – had once been.
It took a year to stop Jie’s rampaging through China, and it has been ten years since those dark times ended. The Shang Dynasty has succeeded them, taking power quickly as the Xia army weakened. China has begun to regrow, to put down its roots and once again begin its healing. Although these times are better than the age of darkness, they still are cruel upon the people. Magic has been outlawed, and people now have to toil long hours each day for their work. Laws are strictly enforced, and those who fail to follow them obediently die. This is where your story begins, in the city of Yin in Henan Province. The capital of China under the Shang, this conglomeration of cultures, this clot of sapiens in the middle of the Silk Road, is crowded with soldiers, compared to the street magicians and vendors you used to know here.
The Roaring Dragon Tavern and Inn is a place for motley travelers to meet. Owned and operated by several wealthy figures, the soldiers know well to not enter – no matter what they see. The sunset is pretty through the windows of the tavern, which is perched atop the foothills of the Taihang mountains. People sip their ales as they listen to the ebb and flow of the conversation. These times are interesting, after all, and everyone deserves their share of secrets.
You all are among the patrons of this tavern. Why are you here? What are you doing here? Who are you?
Haha! I got you to click here! I'm an Evoker who loves D&D, roleplaying, and Magic. I've been through my fair share of life, and my characters might "accidentally" kill yours. Consider this an advance warning. If a vex randomly spawns in and starts attacking you, it's probably me. Also, the Minecraft devs really need to add Illusioners to bedrock.
Great, now that you have clicked the spoiler, you know all about me! See you in the PbP thread. :)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sounds really interesting will work on a backstory today! What does DDB mean? Thinking of making a warlock, is there a good place to look to come up with ideas for a lawful evil patron?
Sounds really interesting will work on a backstory today! What does DDB mean? Thinking of making a warlock, is there a good place to look to come up with ideas for a lawful evil patron?
Yo, I assume there will be more information on what Magic being outlawed means and how you will be handling it. I assume the results of a guard seeing someone cast mage hand will be different than fireball.
Yo, I assume there will be more information on what Magic being outlawed means and how you will be handling it. I assume the results of a guard seeing someone cast mage hand will be different than fireball.
Yep - magic has been outlawed (but as long as you're not harming anyone, they probably won't care - like you said).
Additionally - the times of the Xia dynasty provides some of the first evidence of the wuxing theory (centered around the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Wuxing provides both a generative (natural) cycle and a destructive cycle. So a lawful evil patron for a warlock couldbe one of the elements on its "destructive cycle." (Not trying to get too historical here but the Shang also celebrated a pantheon under the god Shangdi, so your patron could also be an element (one of the lesser gods) or something like the moon - article here. Again, sorry for nerding out.)
Backstory: Heng's parents died when he was young, and he grew among street urchins. He learned how to survive on the streets, and to defend himself. He was 15 when Jie began his rampage, and in the years following it became a wandering mercenary. He'd take any jobs he could find, usually bodyguarding or bounty hunting. Now at 26, he sits in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn, ears open to find his next job.
Backstory: Zheng was born in the village of Nanyang. Nanyang was a small village but Zheng was from a powerful family. Wishing to make a larger name for his family, Zheng joined the Xia army. For years Zheng was a glorified guard protecting city gates. Everyday he would train hoping to gain a chance to become a hero. When the dark times started Zheng was partly scared but also excited to have a chance to prove himself. His conversation was his strength and he used it to fight. His squad was sent to support the fight against the beast but they had no chance. They attempted to retreat into a local forest but were caught in an enormous wildlife. It was believed that everyone was killed but in pain and out of fear Zheng screamed for salvation. Hearing his screams the element of fire took pity on him, giving Zheng the power he needed to survive. After this event Zheng returned to his village a failure, when he arrived he only found destruction. Nothing left of the places or people he had grown up with and the Xia army destroyed Zheng left his past and last name behind. Zheng now sits in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn hoping to find a way to survive.
Backstory: Ji-Ha hails from Gojoseon, the northern Korean kingdom (not North Korea) that shares a border with China. She was a minor scion of a noble family, but lost that life during Jie's rampage, which not even the Korean borderlands were safe from. She was travelling to meet the ruler of the Chinese side of the border province when the monster attacked. She swore that she would do anything to survive. A distant voice in her mind, distinct from her own, asked, "Anything?", to which she quickly said yes. And just like that, she was whisked away. She doesn't know the fate of her entourage, but she knows that she was saved. Her valuables weren't. She was forced to take up a life as a drifter, entertaining noble courts with stories of varying levels of fantasy of her homeland. One day, while in a far-off city in the north, she was again attacked, this time by a man. The voice, which had long ago only whispered a single word in her mind, now whispered two more: "summon me". She didn't know what that meant or how she was supposed to summon the voice, but she reached out her hand regardless. A shortsword dropped into her hand, and she quickly slew the man. He had seen a sword magically drop into her hand, and she'd rather not lose her head for that. Since then, she's been on the run. She doesn't know if someone will find that man's body, let alone connect her to it somehow, but she's not taking her chances. She's currently staying at the Roaring Dragon because she knows soldiers dare not enter it, and she wants nothing more than to avoid the (probably not coming) law.
TL;DR- A melee Warlock who is good at just about everything Charisma-based and probably the only Spellcaster you'll ever meet that completely can't deal damage at range.
An idea for my Hexblade patron: A legendary sword that awakened as a 2024 Moonblade (old one is a bit wonky in wording and can't be attuned by a Human regardless) when magic appeared, now looking for a new wielder. The runes on it could be the Hanzi (or Hanja once/if Ji-Ha bonds it) of its wielders' names. My pact, rather than being in exchange for my soul/worship/time could be in exchange for proving myself worthy to it.
I think that could work - you have the sword, but you're proving yourself worthy to it, right? (Just to make sure I got that right)
Either that it is my pact weapon, or that I have been gifted a pact weapon in its image (either works). Note that I am absolutely not attuned to it if it is my pact weapon.
I think that could work - you have the sword, but you're proving yourself worthy to it, right? (Just to make sure I got that right)
Either that it is my pact weapon, or that I have been gifted a pact weapon in its image (either works). Note that I am absolutely not attuned to it if it is my pact weapon.
I think I can work with it as your pact weapon.
Note - 2 players dropped out so I might have to put the recruiting tag back on until we can get 4.
When I was little, my father was famous
He was the greatest samurai in the empire
And he was the Shogun's decapitator
He cut off the heads of a hundred and thirty-one lords
It was a bad time for the empire...
- GZA, Liquid Swords
Hello all! Thanks for looking at this thread! Hope you're all doing well, hope you're having a good time, etcetera, etcetera. I'm assuming you're wondering what this is. EDIT - we had to put the recruiting tag back on after 2 players left. Just need 1 player to start.
So:
WHAT THIS IS: A historical wuxia campaign (with 2 DMs!!!) set just after the end of the first Chinese dynasty (the Xia, we'll put the background later).
Now, some notes (a lot of notes, will edit these if anything changes):
1. 2 DMs: Like I said, the campaign has two DMs (me (Wes) and @SquirmyWyrmy). This means that we'll have two DMs helping out during different parts of play. I'll probably be more involved in the general roleplay & Wyrm (that's what I'm calling you now hehehe) will be working on combat & other stuff.
2. Off DDB: I'll regularly be off DDB for long periods of time (this is a school computer account, so ...). Again, not entirely sure about Wyrm's plans but I think he has a similar schedule. So this can include weekends (only 2-3 days, not that bad) to summer break (mid-June to the end of August. 10 weeks T_T). I'll try to notify people beforehand but I might not be able to every time.
3. Game Tone: This is a semi-traditional D&D campaign -- so feel free to make goofy characters but please make sure they're goofy in a high-fantasy/wuxia way.
4. Player/DM Contract: Is there anything you don't want included in the campaign? Please PM one of us if so.
5. The "Wile-e-Coyote" Falling Rule: A little edit to the D&D falling rules in which, when a player begins to fall, they and other characters have until the start of their next turn to stop the falling (before normal rules take effect).
6. Campaign Length: Depends on the breaks (see above) that we'll have to take, but I think this campaign should take about 3-5 years (assuming regular PBP speed).
7. Posting: No one's perfect. Just try to post 2-3 times a week, PM us if you have a break off DDB coming up, and try to post once a day during combat (we might start skipping people's turns after a day).
8. Characters: Characters start at 3rd level. Use 2014 or 2024 rules. Ability scores - would prefer rolled (if you do, roll them here in the forum thread - click on dice roller and then ability scores, reroll ones once - like so: 15 13 15 13 13 11), but point buy/standard array also work just fine. Backstory: Explain how you ended up in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn, a haven for travelers, tonight.
9. Players: We welcome both D&D veterans who have been playing since the Red Box and newbies who just picked up the new rules yesterday.
Anyway...on to the story!
Yu the Great was not only known for his technological prowess, with which he improved ancient China under the Xia dynasty. He also discovered magic. As a young man, he dared to venture up the Mountain of the Tale-Teller, something that no person had done before. No one knows what happened up there that day. But when he came down, holding a scroll in one hand and an orb of light in his other, declaring that he was the rightful emperor, people could tell that he would change the world.
For many years, the Xia dynasty ruled over all of China, working diligently to ensure peace and prosperity to shape China’s future. The Heavenly Mandate, Yu's scroll, which secured the Xia as leaders, remained safe. But it also kept a dark secret, one that could change the course of history. Magic soon became commonplace, and everyone had a trick on hand to entertain -- or scare -- their friends.
Over a thousand years after Yu himself discovered magic, a new descendant rose to the throne. The fourth son and a powerful mage, he ascended the throne after the other heirs suddenly suffered sudden, mysterious deaths. Jie, as was his name, took power in a great festival that took a year and a day.
However, even with his magical prowess, he was no great ruler. China wilted like a dying flower under his control. The rivers and streams turned black and the forests slowly fell as he worked his magic, never leaving his great palace. The only control he exerted upon China was that of his executioner, the Emperor’s Axe.
The Axe would go home and forget about the killings. He wasn’t scared of the emperor…but the emperor was scared of him. One night, the emperor sent his spies to the Axe’s house. That was the night that everything changed.
That night, the Axe wrought an unholy wrath upon the spies. Then he stole into the night, disappearing without a trace. Emperor Jie tried to find him – first with magic, then with men – but he failed each time. And then, one fateful night, the Heavenly Mandate disappeared.
The Axe waited for Jie at his palace, while the city streets were set aflame in the mage’s fierce pursuit. But he had made a great mistake. For the Mandate’s secret was about to be revealed.
Without his divine protection, Jie began to change in front of the Axe’s eyes. For hours, he slowly grew, impervious to any attack the Axe attempted. When his transformation ended, a horrible beast stood where the palace – and the Axe – had once been.
It took a year to stop Jie’s rampaging through China, and it has been ten years since those dark times ended. The Shang Dynasty has succeeded them, taking power quickly as the Xia army weakened. China has begun to regrow, to put down its roots and once again begin its healing. Although these times are better than the age of darkness, they still are cruel upon the people. Magic has been outlawed, and people now have to toil long hours each day for their work. Laws are strictly enforced, and those who fail to follow them obediently die. This is where your story begins, in the city of Yin in Henan Province. The capital of China under the Shang, this conglomeration of cultures, this clot of sapiens in the middle of the Silk Road, is crowded with soldiers, compared to the street magicians and vendors you used to know here.
The Roaring Dragon Tavern and Inn is a place for motley travelers to meet. Owned and operated by several wealthy figures, the soldiers know well to not enter – no matter what they see. The sunset is pretty through the windows of the tavern, which is perched atop the foothills of the Taihang mountains. People sip their ales as they listen to the ebb and flow of the conversation. These times are interesting, after all, and everyone deserves their share of secrets.
You all are among the patrons of this tavern. Why are you here? What are you doing here? Who are you?
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
Howdy folks :)
Don't click the spoiler...
Great, now that you have clicked the spoiler, you know all about me! See you in the PbP thread. :)
Sounds really interesting will work on a backstory today! What does DDB mean? Thinking of making a warlock, is there a good place to look to come up with ideas for a lawful evil patron?
Ability scores: 15 11 9 12 11 14
DDB - D&D Beyond
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
This sounds delightful! I'll throw together a concept later tonight.
Ability scores: 18 11 16 14 13 16
Ability scores: 9 8 14 14 14 14
Ability scores: 11 15 10 17 11 13
Let's see what the dice have to say
I think the dice say yes
Yo, I assume there will be more information on what Magic being outlawed means and how you will be handling it. I assume the results of a guard seeing someone cast mage hand will be different than fireball.
Yep - magic has been outlawed (but as long as you're not harming anyone, they probably won't care - like you said).
Additionally - the times of the Xia dynasty provides some of the first evidence of the wuxing theory (centered around the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Wuxing provides both a generative (natural) cycle and a destructive cycle. So a lawful evil patron for a warlock could be one of the elements on its "destructive cycle." (Not trying to get too historical here but the Shang also celebrated a pantheon under the god Shangdi, so your patron could also be an element (one of the lesser gods) or something like the moon - article here. Again, sorry for nerding out.)
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
:0 my goodness
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
Alright - I think five people is probably a good number. Will be closing the recruiting tag at the end of the day.
Update - No longer recruiting.
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
Name: Heng Da
Class: Rogue (Thief)
Species: Human
Backstory: Heng's parents died when he was young, and he grew among street urchins. He learned how to survive on the streets, and to defend himself. He was 15 when Jie began his rampage, and in the years following it became a wandering mercenary. He'd take any jobs he could find, usually bodyguarding or bounty hunting. Now at 26, he sits in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn, ears open to find his next job.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/145707579/XflJme
Name: Zheng
Class: Paladin/Warlock
Species: Elf
Backstory: Zheng was born in the village of Nanyang. Nanyang was a small village but Zheng was from a powerful family. Wishing to make a larger name for his family, Zheng joined the Xia army. For years Zheng was a glorified guard protecting city gates. Everyday he would train hoping to gain a chance to become a hero. When the dark times started Zheng was partly scared but also excited to have a chance to prove himself. His conversation was his strength and he used it to fight. His squad was sent to support the fight against the beast but they had no chance. They attempted to retreat into a local forest but were caught in an enormous wildlife. It was believed that everyone was killed but in pain and out of fear Zheng screamed for salvation. Hearing his screams the element of fire took pity on him, giving Zheng the power he needed to survive. After this event Zheng returned to his village a failure, when he arrived he only found destruction. Nothing left of the places or people he had grown up with and the Xia army destroyed Zheng left his past and last name behind. Zheng now sits in the Golden Dragon Tavern and Inn hoping to find a way to survive.
Name: An Ji-Ha
Class: Warlock (Hexblade)
Species: Human (2024)
Backstory: Ji-Ha hails from Gojoseon, the northern Korean kingdom (not North Korea) that shares a border with China. She was a minor scion of a noble family, but lost that life during Jie's rampage, which not even the Korean borderlands were safe from. She was travelling to meet the ruler of the Chinese side of the border province when the monster attacked. She swore that she would do anything to survive. A distant voice in her mind, distinct from her own, asked, "Anything?", to which she quickly said yes. And just like that, she was whisked away. She doesn't know the fate of her entourage, but she knows that she was saved. Her valuables weren't. She was forced to take up a life as a drifter, entertaining noble courts with stories of varying levels of fantasy of her homeland. One day, while in a far-off city in the north, she was again attacked, this time by a man. The voice, which had long ago only whispered a single word in her mind, now whispered two more: "summon me". She didn't know what that meant or how she was supposed to summon the voice, but she reached out her hand regardless. A shortsword dropped into her hand, and she quickly slew the man. He had seen a sword magically drop into her hand, and she'd rather not lose her head for that. Since then, she's been on the run. She doesn't know if someone will find that man's body, let alone connect her to it somehow, but she's not taking her chances. She's currently staying at the Roaring Dragon because she knows soldiers dare not enter it, and she wants nothing more than to avoid the (probably not coming) law.
TL;DR- A melee Warlock who is good at just about everything Charisma-based and probably the only Spellcaster you'll ever meet that completely can't deal damage at range.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/145688518
An idea for my Hexblade patron: A legendary sword that awakened as a 2024 Moonblade (old one is a bit wonky in wording and can't be attuned by a Human regardless) when magic appeared, now looking for a new wielder. The runes on it could be the Hanzi (or Hanja once/if Ji-Ha bonds it) of its wielders' names. My pact, rather than being in exchange for my soul/worship/time could be in exchange for proving myself worthy to it.
I think that could work - you have the sword, but you're proving yourself worthy to it, right? (Just to make sure I got that right)
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
Still waiting on @mamoduck and @MathiasOfTheRoad for characters.
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party
Either that it is my pact weapon, or that I have been gifted a pact weapon in its image (either works). Note that I am absolutely not attuned to it if it is my pact weapon.
I think I can work with it as your pact weapon.
Note - 2 players dropped out so I might have to put the recruiting tag back on until we can get 4.
Religious frisbee player, writer and goofball. Some may say professional for the latter.
Extended sig here.
DM: Westeros - A Homebrew D&D Campaign, Liquid Swords - A Historical Wuxia Campaign
Player: Marcus Aquillus Arcade (Quil) - 1st Rogue - Pax Romana
"Are you sure that you want to cast fireball?" - me, just before the wizard kills the entire party