Hi all,

Just posting this thread to judge interest for a PbP Princes of the Apocalypse campaign.  I don’t have too much experience with PbP, but I am actually DMing this campaign in a physical game.  If you’re interested in joining, you can either send me a PM or just post to this thread.

Qualifications for Joining:

 Character Submission Template:

 Intro to PotA:

I'm planning on taking 4 PCs only, first come first serve.  I will also be picking based on backstory, but I'm not going to be too picky.  Feel free to put some reference to the elemental cults in your backstory. 

Name: Aria Keenstar

Race and class: Female Human Bard 1

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Character sheet link: https://ddb.ac/characters/99988/Uka22z

Backstory: Bard, socialite, devout Sunite and party girl in general Aria doesn't seem like the adventuring type. One might imagine her back home in Waterdeep living it up with the rest of her not-quite-wealthy, not-quite-noble friends. The truth, as it often is, is different. Aria seeks the cure for her mother's strange illness, an illness that, according to those in the church of Sune and her brethren among Those Who Harp, may be linked to the strange cults that have been popping up.

Just a slight clarification I should have been more clear about—at the time of the beginning of this campaign, your characters are most likely unaware of the cults themselves.  You may have noticed signs of them, such as severe weather and other odd occurrences, but you most likely will not have prior knowledge of them.  So, Zanyeras would most likely have noticed the upheaval in the natural balance, and not the cults themselves.  I'll wait to confirm more of you until more have posted.

Name: Panan Qualanthri

Gender, Race, and Class: Female, High-Elf, Cleric 1

Alignment: Neutral Good

Character Sheet Link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Academic/characters/4541045

Backstory:  Panan lived a sheltered, acolyte life. Ready to explore the world and spread the good luck of Tymora, Panan decided the best place to start is with the troubles brewing in the Desarin Valley.

Another note is that I will try to balance the party, so we don't have too many divine spellcasters or melee classes.  I have already accepted a bard, so I most likely won't be accepting any more clerics, bards or druids.

(And also Academic, your character sheet is incomplete.  You still have 3 spells to prepare, unless I'm mistaken.  Ophianne, you should equip your armor and weapons so the character sheet displays properly.)

I also just realized I forgot to mention that we will be using Milestone leveling.  I tried using XP in my home campaign, and it didn't work out to well.  I will send PMs to those I have accepted.

Assuming I have enough PCs, I'm planning on starting this on Monday.

Can we submit a different character?  (I was debating between the cleric or a rogue. Since you are no longer taking clerics, I’d like to try a rogue.)

***Sorry, I had this open to work on it little by little when you posted that you didn't want any more divine casters.  Hopefully you'll still consider Dorno as a party healer, among other abilities, but if not I may submit another character as time allows.  Thanks!***

Race and Class:  Firbolg Druid

Name: Dorno

 Alignment:  Neutral Good

Character Sheet Link:  https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Hexblade37/characters/4542137

Backstory (OOC, you can just write a small paragraph, doesn’t need to be a book):

'Dorno' is a Firbolg and an outcast from the Feywild.  Considered the runt of his clan for his 'small' stature (7ft) and being a bit of a later bloomer with regard to his intellect and magical abilities, Dorno was unintentionally left behind one day several years ago.  The clan did not intend to be so cruel as to leave him alone in the middle of the dense forest, but they also barely noticed and did not go looking for him either.  Lucky for Dorno, his wits did come around and his good heart won him several true friends, both big and small creatures from the Feywild, before he found himself lost here on the material plane one day, although he does not know how.

Now that he is on the material plane, Dorno spends his time helping out the creatures of the forest, the plants themselves, and any small, friendly villages he stumbles across in his travels.  Over the last three seasons, Dorno has become well known amongst a small handful of local towns as he has used his minor druidic magic to ensure a bountiful harvest for all by coaxing their various crops into a full, abundant bloom.  Now the townsfolk welcome Dorno with open arms and he is happy once again, mostly anyway, despite not having any close friends on this plane quite yet.  Dorno may seem slow at first but behind the large, curious face and a low, slow voice is a mind well tuned to his surroundings and the power of nature around him, especially when immersed in nature and the outdoors.  All he wants in life is to be in nature, make true friends, and use his abilities to help other good people in need.

Something is different this season however, as even Dorno's druidcraft that makes the plants grow and blossom rapidly quickly fades again within days if not hours.  Crops everywhere in the region are turning black and dying off, and all are concerned.  Unable to stem the tide with his own levels of magic, Dorno has set off into the wilds to investigate if something larger is at play here.  He has been using his other abilities to observe nature and talk to the animals to see what is really going on.

Notes:

 - I do not know this adventure at all, so I am happy to tailor the backstory to fit the setting as necessary.  I did look up the first paragraph or so of the campaign description and found troubling events happening in the region such as "Tales spread of flooding, windstorms, wildfires, and tremors." so I can see Dorno having an interest in investigating what is happening to the world around him.

Race and Class:  Tiefling Warlock

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Character Sheet Link:  https://ddb.ac/characters/4493485/i8vdCz

Backstory (OOC, you can just write a small paragraph, doesn’t need to be a book):

Kairon was raised to follow the will of Fierna, his Grandmother. However, working as a spy for her was not as glorious as he had hoped. He had hoped to be a warrior’s spy, not a manipulator. Over the years he grew to resent the fact that none of his intel ever seemed to bring action. He would inform on a demonic cult, and they would largely be left to their own gains. He felt his talents were being wasted, and became discouraged to the point where he quit all together. 

It was then that he was approached by the Warrior’s General herself, Zariel. The Lady of Ruin had seen how Fierna’s inaction had caused Kairon’s talents to be squandered. She assured him that she was someone who was constantly and aggressively pursuing the demonic hoards, and she would always act on good intel to show the demonic hoard the full fury of the First Hell’s army. 

In return for actionable intel brought to her instead of Fierna regarding demonic activities, she would enhance his natural talents, bequeathing him an ancient blade that held untold power. 

Race and Class:  Water Genasi Barbarian

Alignment: CN

Character Sheet Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/4447593/3F1mD5

Backstory:

When she was a baby, Thresher Bluegill was found among the wreckage of a ship by a tribe of warriors on a small island off the coast of the main continent. With no family in sight, she was taken in and raised by the chief of the tribe, a half-orc man called Dreshk. Though it was soon discovered that she was not like other children. With skin green like moss, and voice as deep as a whale song, it was her temper that actually drew the most attention. As a child even the littlest things could set her off into a rage. One moment she could be as calm as a river, the next she is like a raging storm, tearing into her enemies with the ferocity of the sharks she is named after. While other saw her as a danger, her father saw great potential. When she was ten, her father passed her off to the tribe's greatest trainer, Balthan Blooddrainer. What remained of her childhood was stripped from her and she was put through the most grueling training imaginable. Twelves years of what those unaware of the tribes culture would call torture, but for her it was worth it. Now she can hit harder and survive longer in battle then most of her other peers, the rage no longer blinding her as badly as before.

However, as she spent her life on the on the tiny isolated island, something else awoke in her. As she stared out to the waters, she could feel the push and pull of the waves, the calling of the sea. And one night, consumed by the lust that had grown in her. She slipped away in the middle of the night, leaving only a note behind, and let the waves carry her away on a small raft. Since the day she left she's been wandering the world, attempting to find a way to sate the ever present wanderlust pulling at her from within.

(Hoping to throw my hat into the ring with a barbarian. Tried to keep it a little vague so it can be fixed to fit the campaign setting. Also I had to add the Outlander background manually so it might look a little strange but it should be exactly as it says in the Player's Handbook.)

If you already submitted a divine spellcaster, feel free to submit another character.  I do need a few more melee fighter submissions, so Rogue would be perfect.  Hexblade, your character and backstory are definitely eligible.  If you wanted to tailor your backstory, you could add something about noticing your harvests to be disrupted by the strange occurrences.

I honestly didn't expect so many submissions just on the first day.  I'm going to choose participants on Sunday, so please have your characters submitted by Saturday night (I'm in US Eastern time zone).

No, you're good.  It was my bad.

Name: Alexana

Gender, Race, and Class: Female, High-Elf, Rogue 1

Alignment: Neutral Good

Character Sheet Link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Academic/characters/4551634

Backstory: Alexana, daughter of a constable, honed in her investigation and fighting skills under her father’s tutelage. Her kind elven face, gentle empathic ways, and unjudging calm mien helped her sustain a healthy network with the criminal elements. With her unusual set of skills and connections, she is now a welcomed investigator who unravel mysteries. Having heard of the strange troubles brewing in the Desarin Valley, her Harper contact suggested that she head there.

Thanks LordShadowthorn!  I added an extra part about the crops dying and Dorno investigating the growing concern.

Ok, cool.  I will choose PCs tonight, probably.

Alright, since no more posts seem to be moving along, I have chosen all of the PCs.  I will be sending out the campaign links shortly.  If you were not chosen, it's nothing personal :).  I probably just liked the class balance or backstories of other characters better.  I look forward to playing with all of you at some point in the future, maybe!

Click here for the actual game thread.

If anyone still wants to play this adventure, I've posted a second recruitment thread you can find here.

We unfortunately lost a party member, so we have an empty slot.  All I need is one character, I'll probably only leave this open until tomorrow.

I'd love to join!
EDIT: Give me a few moments to fill out the form.