Petros Lorrimor, world renown professor, died in the year 4711 AR, roughly half a month ago.
His death was sudden, but few were surprised by the news. Professor Lorrimor was well known for his lust for knowledge and adventure. Nobody questioned it when they heard that he'd had an accident while poking around in the ruins of a long dead prison. Indeed, some were surprised to find out that he hadn't died years ago on one of his long trips. If anything, it was strange that such a well traveled man had met his end so close to home. Some whispered that his daughter, Kendra, should be grateful that she didn't have to travel across half of Golarion to retrieve his body.
Professor Lorrimor was a teacher to many, but a close friend to few. Besides his daughter, only five benefactors were named in his will.
Hi, everyone!
Looking for brave adventurers to explore the dark corners of Ustalav…
I've always wanted to play or DM Carrion Crown and now I have enough time to do it. It's a gothic, horror-themed adventure with lots of dark themes and content so please keep that in mind if you decide to apply.
Plot and Setting
We’ll be playing in the world of Pathfinder. The campaign begins on the 20th of Pharast (the equivalent of March), 4711 AR. Your heroes have been invited to the funeral of Professor Petros Lorrimor, a lecturer at the University of Lepidstadt and a friend to your characters. He died under mysterious circumstances, and upon arriving in the small town of Ravengro at the invitation of his daughter, the PCs will hear his last will and testament—while also discovering that strange, unsettling events are troubling the town. In the first part of the campaign, you’ll investigate the old crypt in Ravengro’s gloomy cemetery and the haunted ruins of Harrowstone Prison, uncovering their secrets. That’s the gist—you’ll discover the rest during play.
The story takes place in Ustalav, a dark and dangerous region of Golarion. It’s a land perpetually veiled in mist, haunted by monsters born of nightmares. The sky is almost always overcast, and its people are wary, superstitious, and quick to distrust strangers. Encounters with the undead, ghosts, werewolves, and vampires are commonplace, and if you stumble across a lonely cabin in the woods… don’t expect a warm welcome ;). Think Ravenloft in tone and style.
Your character doesn’t need to be from Ustalav itself—Professor Lorrimor was a traveler, and his circle of friends extended across many lands. Playing someone from another region of Golarion can be especially fun, as it lets you discover the culture and customs of this grim land firsthand. No prior knowledge of Pathfinder lore or Ustalav is required—I’ll explain what you need to know as the adventure unfolds, though you’re welcome to read up on it if you’d like.
The campaign draws inspiration from classics such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and titles written by H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. In addition to the typical horror vibe, the campaign emphasizes intrigue, investigation, and combat. There's something for everyone.
A word on optimization and restraint: Carrion Crown is an older AP, and heavy optimization is likely not necessary based on what I have seen. I wish to run it as written, with no adjustments to increase the difficulty. I'll probably select characters that I think are strong enough to succeed, but not so strong as to remove all challenges from the game.
Technical Stuff:
Game System: D&D 5e (2014)
Setting: Adaptation of the Pathfinder adventure path "Carrion Crown"
Posting rate: 2/week
Sources Allowed: Player's Handbook, DMG, SCAG, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
For combat I plan to use a mix of descriptions and maps. Everyone will act on their own initiative, but you can post your action when you have got the time, and after 24 hours (or when everyone has posted) the actions resolve. Should an action become useless or impossible to perform it will either be adjusted if an obvious option presents itself ("I attack skeleton 1" but Skeleton 1 dies => "I attack Skeleton 2 which stand directly next to Skeleton 1") or I'll give you 16 hours to change it (during the "posting phase" you can also change your actions should it become apparent that it will be useless).
Character Creation:
Level: 1 (with milestone advance to 4 at the end of book 1)
Ability Scores: 27-point buy
Races Allowed: PHB (no dragonborn) + Aasimar, Deep Gnome, Duergar, Lineages (Dhampir, Hexblood, Reborn). VHuman and race variants available.
Classes Allowed: All classes and subclasses from the allowed sources are available to choose from.
Backgrounds: Any from the allowed sources, and you can customize your own.
Alignment: Good or "neutral with good tendencies" as they said in AD&D.
Firearms: No firearms allowed.
Hit Points: Max at first level, then half your HD+1 for each level afterwards.
Equipment: Starting equipment from background and class OR roll for gold. Unwanted equipment may be sold at the standard prices indicated in the Player’s Handbook.
Backstory: Give me 1-2 paragraphs of your character's origins and how they met and knew Professor Lorrimor. Are they from Ustalav or another region of Golarion?
Character's Picture: Please no manga/anime or photos of real people/celebrities. You can use AI generated.
For languages, we'll be using Pathfinder Campaign Setting languages.
Character Hooks
At the beginning of the story, your characters have come to Ravengro to mourn Professor Lorrimor at his funeral. Please choose one of the following hooks. These hooks also provide your character with a helpful trait.
Chance Savior: Fate smiled on you and Professor Lorrimor one day in the not so distant past. Through a matter of pure chance, you were in a position to save the late scholar’s life and did so. His gratitude was effusive, and he promised that he would never forget you. You are unsure of the nature of the summons in his will, but believe he may have listed you as a possible heir in thanks for saving him from an untimely demise.
Receive +2 bonus to Initiative checks.
Subject of Study: Professor Lorrimor approached you as part of his studies, as he had heard that you had survived a recent encounter with a strange monster or had another fateful encounter. Interested in the conditions of the run-in and the means by which you avoided death or injury, he met with you and maintained frequent correspondence until several months ago. The scars of your experience and his continual reminders of the encounter prompted you to hone your skills lest you someday face the same type of creature again. The professor assisted you in this endeavor, providing you with insight into the anatomy and defenses of the creature that attacked you.
Years of study have improved your combat effectiveness against your chosen foe. Choose a non-humanoid creature type. You gain a +1 bonus on damage rolls against creatures of this type.
Inspired by Greatness: Whether you knew Professor Lorrimor well or only in passing, as a colleague or competitor, his career and lifetime of discovery inspired you to be better at what you do. As you honed your craft, you and the professor corresponded, and he was delighted to hear that he had directly or indirectly motivated you to strive for your full potential. Saddened by the news of his death, you feel that you should honor his memory by fulfilling his final wishes and attending his funeral, and by ever striving to attain greater heights and someday match the influence and impact of your idol.
Choose one spell you can cast. From now on, this spell is always prepared. Once per long rest, you can cast the spell without a spell slot or material components.
Making Good on Promises: At some point in the past, Professor Lorrimor did you a favor under the condition that he would someday call on you to repay it. After he came to your aid, however, you never saw nor heard from him again, leaving you with a sense of unending anticipation that each day might be the day you were asked to return the favor. Yet that day never came, and your fears and anxiety about what the professor would call on you to do abated. Assuming the old man had either forgotten about you or died, you eventually assumed you’d never have to follow through on your end of the bargain. When you received word of the professor’s death, and that he had named you specifically in his will, your dread of what he could possibly want from you has grown throughout your entire journey to Ravengro.
Years of living with the fear and uncertainty of the unclaimed debt to Professor Lorrimor have inured you to extreme anxiety. You gain advantage on saving throws against the Frightened condition.
On the Payroll: Whether he needed a bodyguard in a rough neighborhood, a guide to an isolated archeological dig, or information on a specialized topic, Professor Lorrimor was never shy about hiring professionals to help him attain his goals. Over the course of his long career, thousands of people throughout the world served his needs and benefited from his generous wages (usually covered by his academic benefactor at the time). He had contacts in most areas of expertise in every corner of the known world, a knack for recognizing talent, and a desire to be surrounded by the best and brightest at all times. Whatever job the professor originally hired you for, your performance captured his attention, and he hired you many times throughout your career, sometimes even for jobs away from your home, always paying your expenses and compensating you well for your time. In your area of expertise, you are among the best.
Your years of hard work have paid off, granting you an additional 150 gold in starting wealth.
Teacher’s Pet: Professor Lorrimor traveled the Inner Sea region lecturing and teaching at universities in locations as far-flung as Manaket and Magnimar, and as different in scope as the bardic colleges of Taldor and the battle colleges of the River Kingdoms. Speaking before standing-room-only lecture halls on topics as widely ranging as military strategy, planar anomalies, theology, and agriculture, Lorrimor’s time was highly valued among those ambitious to benefit from his expertise.
Despite this, he still managed to provide one-on-one assistance to the most promising of his acolytes. When he saw the potential for greatness in one of his charges, he took it upon himself to nurture their spark. You were such a student. Over the course of several months, you and the late professor spent hours debating the finer points of your topic of interest, and the intellectual doors he opened for you continue to flavor your outlook on the world.
You gain proficiency in an additional Skill of your choice.
Selection Criteria:
I am looking for the following (in no particular order):
Interesting characters that will work well together.
Characters that have been created as believable individuals rather than a collection of numbers and rules with an appended personality. I want to see the numbers and traits and feats you choose come to life in your background.
Players with a decent command of grammar and spelling. We all make mistakes and typos, but I won’t be able to GM effectively if I have to work to decipher every post.
What I'm also looking for:
Newbies and experienced players are both welcome.
Players who love a good spooky story.
Players who love telling a good story together.
Players who enjoy roleplaying and don't feel the need to min-max. Roleplaying over roll-playing, but there will still be plenty of interesting opportunities to roll some dice!
Your character sheet should contain the following details:
[CHARACTER'S PICTURE]
Name: Race: Class: Alignment: Background: Personality Traits: Ideal/Bond/Flaw: Character Hook: Character sheet:
Please provide a paragraph or two on the below:
Appearance: Personality: Backstory:
Character selection will NOT be first come first serve.
Name: Andrej Drogovoj Race: Human (Variant) Class: Warlock (Hexblade) Alignment: Neutral Good Background: Monsterhunter (Urban Bountyhunter) Personality Traits: Calm and grim. Suffers no fools. Prefer simple solutions. Haunted by dark memories of his past. Ideals: Will always help those in need and serve his Lady of the Grave by putting the dead to rest. Bond: Owe his life to the pharasmin monastary that took him in. Seek to one day avenge those who died in the monestary where he was brought up. Flaw: Suspicious and slow to trust. His strive for vengeance will likely lead to his own destruction. Character Hook: Chance savior Character sheet: Andrej Drogovoj Appearance:
Personality: Andrejrarely smiles but is always calm. He is slow to trust and judges people by their actions rather than their words. Backstory: Andrej was left as an infant to a simple ustalavan monastary dedicated to the Lady of Graves, an unwanted child to a young mother he has never met. He grew up with the monks and nuns and was taught the ways and ideals of Pharasma, feeling a great obligation to those who had cared for him. One fateful night the monastary came under attack by evil necromancers that burned it down and animated the faithful. In the ensuing chaos young Andrej found his way into the chapel where he came upon a grey blade that urged him to avenge the fallen pharasmin. After the blade had guided him to put down the restless dead, Andrej left the smoldering ruins and went on the road, the pharasmin entity of the blade training him to be a servant of Pharasma and hunter of evil monsters in Ustalav while seeking out the necromancers and putting an end to their evil ways. It was during his search for those necromancers that Andrej one night came upon Professor Lorrimor as he was assailed by a ravenous ghoul in a corrupted graveyard. After the blade had cut down the ghoul, the professor had thanked him profusely and explained he was conducting his own research there. Now Andrej travels to the small town of Ravengro to be present at the reading of the late professor's testament. Little does he know what adventure awaits him there...
She was created by a wizard to be his assistant, but that is just flavor.
Class: Wizard
Alignment: Lawful Neutral (with good tendencies)
Background: Sage
Personality Traits:
I approach every task with absolute focus and precision, no matter how small or dangerous.
I struggle to understand emotions and social nuances, often taking things too literally.
Though I am essentially human in all things except the manner of my birth, I do not think of myself as one.
Ideals:
Duty. I was created to serve a purpose, and I will fulfill it to the best of my ability.
Logic. Emotion clouds judgment. A clear mind is the surest path to success.
Bonds:
I am loyal to my creator, who gave me life and purpose. His guidance shapes my path, even in his absence.
Professor Lorrimor helped me awaken my sense of self. I will never forget that.
Books are sacred vessels of knowledge. I will protect written knowledge with the same care as I would a life.
Flaws:
I don’t always recognize when a task is inappropriate, dangerous, or socially unacceptable.
I can be clumsy with physical tasks.
My logical approach can make me seem inhuman to others.
Character Hook: Teacher's Pet, extra proficiency in Perception
Backstory:
Yua Kurosawa was not born, but meticulously crafted by the eccentric and secretive wizard Master Toshiro Kurosawa. Originally from Minkai, Kurosawa relocated to [whatever kingdom is near Ustalav] to further his studies. Fashioned to appear perfectly human and imbued with keen intellect, Yua was created to assist with his life’s work. As a homunculus made to think, speak, and learn like a person, Yua quickly became invaluable in deciphering archaic runes, maintaining detailed records, and methodically cross-referencing obscure sources. Though brilliant, she struggled with real-world logic, lacking common sense and having limited self-preservation instincts. Recently, Toshiro grew concerned that Yua’s theoretical knowledge far outpaced her practical experience. Believing her development incomplete, he tasked her with a new directive: leave the safety of the lab and seek more experience in the field.
It was a twist of fate that the letter informing her of Professor Lorrimor's death arrived at this time. It brought back memories of the few months she had attended his lectures on Abjuration magic with her master, finding them enthralling. She desired to become more than just an assistant to Toshiro; she wanted to become a shield to protect him as well...She 'wanted'? As she spoke with the Professor afterwards, she realized this was the first time she'd ever desired something for herself.
Even as a purely logical being she feels a strange pain at Lorrimor's passing. Of course she will answer the summons, though she wonders why she was invited out of his countless students.
Appearance: Yua is a small woman, standing at only 5'1'' with a slight build. Her long, sandy blonde hair is always pulled back into a ponytail to keep it from interfering with her work. She wears clothing inspired by her master's homeland of Minkai; a white inner layer with purple and black flowing robes on top. Her eyes are a vibrant purple dulled by her usual lack of emotion.
Personality: Yua is hardly a social butterfly, showing little emotion or interest in areas outside of her fields of study. Still, she is not heartless and will assist others if it does not directly conflict with the safety of her master or her assigned task. She prides herself in being logical and prefers to gather information and listen to all sides of an argument before making her own decision.
Name: Casimir "Camus" Morgans Race: Variant Human with the "Skilled" feat Class: Rogue Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (With good tendencies) Background: Urchin Personality Traits: - As tough as I try to seem, I've got a soft spot for kids. - I get along well with people, but I don't trust easily. Ideals: - Greed. I'll do anything for the right price. If you don't got the gold, don't waste my time. - Loyalty. If you win my trust, you've a friend for life. - People. I always pay back what I owe. - Family. Family comes first, above all else. Bonds: - Those I trust are family to me. I'll never leave them behind. - Most of my earnings go back to the orphanage that took me in. You make an enemy of them, you make an enemy of me. - No child should ever have to go through what I have. Flaws: - I'll save my own skin if I feel a job's not worth it - I'll do anything for the right price. - I'll do anything to keep my family safe. - If my emotions get the better of me (and they most likely will), I can't think straight - I don't trust easily Character Hook: Teacher's Pet (Performance Chosen) Character sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IZs9bwxFrTvrF5V75AWHzZNDEydv3iI1CmLQ4W-7O8c/edit?usp=sharing
Please provide a paragraph or two on the below:
Backstory: Born on the streets of a town at the edge of the continent, Casimir's parents died when he was young, forcing him to spent his life on the streets, wandering the streets to try and scrounge up whatever he can from corpses, trash, and back alleys. Every day he fought and killed wild dogs and other children just for the right to eat, and some days even that wasn't enough. Life for him was a struggle for the longest time, until he stumbled upon an orphanage on the other side of town. They took him in, clothed him, and fed him. As he grew up he began targeting people, lifting jewelry and pouches from them to help fund the orphanage that raised him.
As he grew older, he began taking jobs from others to earn more money. Some were more risky than others, but he did them regardless because the pay was good. One of his jobs took him to Ustalav, specifically the university of Lepidstadt, where he was to steal some treasure hidden within the university. On his way in, he came across professor Lorrimor, who he intended to kill, but then he realized the professor had a daughter, and hesitated. That hesitation caused him to be disarmed and taken down by the professor. Surprisingly though, the professor offered some guidance to him, and even covered for him to let him escape. The two grew close, as the professor offered guidance, Casimir offered his services for more... under the table businesses.
One day, while out on a job, he heard the news. He immediately abandoned the mission to head to Ustalav, to hear the final words of a dear friend.
To travel beyond, into the unreachable void... He/Him My characters (Currently WIPs): Kamari De La Sol (Non-Binary Aasimar Way of Mercy Monk), Avery Veritas (Non-Binary Human College of Glamour Bard), Elthea Abott (Female Centaur Circle of the Land Druid), Vlask K'bavenn (Male Bugbear Path of the World Tree Barbarian), Theron Rigel (Female Wood Elven Arcane Archer Fighter), Casimir "Camus" Morgans (Infernal Tiefling Swashbuckler Rogue)
Name: Matton Verdrig Race: Variant Human Class: Cleric - Tempest Domain Alignment: Neutral Good Background: Acolyte Personality Traits: I give my trust easily but betray me and you will feel my wrath. I keep my emotions guarded offering comfort with my presence instead of words Ideals: Freedom. As any chains of oppression and suffering cannot be abided. Justice through mercy. Wrath has its place, but renewal is a better tool. Bonds: I silently watch the injustices in the world and stepping in when absolutely necessary Flaws: Overcautious. At times I hesitate too long to act especially when the moral quandary and implications are quite gray. Character Hook: Making Good on Promises Character Sheet:https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/151313915/XT6KXL Backstory: Matton Verdrig hails from Taldor and his ancestral home lies near the Inner Sea. His family is of nobility with his mother Countess Valeriana Verdrig as the head of the family. At a young age he was the smallest of his 5 siblings, and he was shipped off to the Novitiate of Tides to be inducted into the worship of Gozreh the deity of storming skies and seas. He was not escorted there in shame no nothing so crass but for a much nobler cause of increasing the family's political influence in their maritime trades. Fine silks were soon replaced with rough wool. Years of education was slowly seeping into his being though he felt no connection to Gozreh and saying the prayers halfheartedly. He muddled his way past aspirant to Acolye and in honor of this his parents took him out for the day to parade him among the influential merchants and to bless a few ships. Once that was done, he finally had some time alone as he was expected to walk back to the Temple alone.
Though he was young he knew to hold his emotions in check lest some rival noble house would make use of him but on this day, it came all out in a blustery curse as he kicked at a nearby coil of rope which happens to tip over and fall over into the sea but not before snagging his foot dragging him down with it. He tried to swim up, but the rope was slowly dragging him down. He thought all was lost only to feel a hand grab his and slowly yank him out of the water with many coughs and few pints of water spilling out of his mouth. There standing over him was Professor Lorrimor. That man gave Matton a few hard pats on his back and after a moment Matton waved him off standing now sullen as ever. The professor decided to walk with Matton all the way back to the temple. That walk changed his life. The thirst for life and unstoppable curiosity exuded from Professor Lorrimor like a divine aura. It made him think about his own life and how somewhere early on he gave up on his own passions and he became numb to the world. For the first time he looked around the bustling port city, taking in the intense smell, colors, and sounds. He turned to thank Professor Lorrimor only to hear he expected Matton to return the favor somewhere in the future. He agreed to the promise though it filled him with dread. He had heard plenty of tales of wicked scoundrels but something in him decided to trust the Professor. He then entered the temple and took to reading the book of Gozreh. By now he knew it by heart, but he did not really understand. Years went by and in time his faith grew, and his prayers were earnest. Though he prayed for the happiness and wellbeing of the worshippers he also added a prayer in hopes that Professor Lorrimor's favor would not be too outlandish.
At the age of 32 he attained the rank of cleric and was blessed by Gozreh. Now a man standing 5'11" he became accustomed to the simple wool robes and as a cleric he was also trained with the militant branch of the order to defend himself and others in time of need. He had attained contentment in his service to the people and to Gozreh. Although that knot in his stomach never quite left him and it became acutely worse upon recieving the letter of Professor Lorrimor's death and that he was in his will. A promise is a promise. With that he packed his few belongings and checked his gear before walking towards Ustalav which filled him with another kind of dread.
Name: Shaewyn Mistgrove Race: Ghostwise Halfling Class: Cleric (Twilight Domain) Alignment: Neutral Good Background: Haunted One Personality Traits: I don’t run from evil. I face it, knowing that tomorrow I might die anyway; I expect danger around every corner. Ideal: I help others by killing 'monsters' to make the world safer, no matter the personal cost. Bond: I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent. Flaw: I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope. Character Hook: Inspired by Greatness (Protection from Evil and Good) Character sheet:Shaewyn Mistgrove Character Sheet
Name: Vladislava "Vladia" Ciobanu Race: Dhampir (Formerly Human) Class: Ranger (Eventually Either Hunter or Gloomstalker) Alignment: Chaotic Good Background: Outlander Personality Traits:
- I once ran twenty-five miles without stopping to warn to my clan of an approaching orc horde. I’d do it again if I had to. - I place no stock in wealthy or well-mannered folk. Money and manners won’t save you from a hungry owlbear. - I feel far more comfortable around animals than people.
Ideals:
- Change. Life is like the seasons, in constant change, and we must change with it. (Chaotic) - Greater Good. It is each person’s responsibility to make the most happiness for the whole tribe. (Good)
Bonds:
- I will bring terrible wrath down on the evildoers who destroyed my homeland. - I am the last of my tribe, and it is up to me to ensure their names enter legend.
Flaws:
- I am slow to trust members of other races, tribes, and societies. - Violence is my answer to almost any challenge.
Appearance: Vladislava is not one what might first imagine when thinking of a relentless hunter, coming in at a mere 5'2", with a lithe built more suited for agility than strength, and skin so pale that one might first imagine her to be sick. That is, until they see the pale fire in her eyes and the fang poking out just barely beyond her lip, not to mention the longbow she wields with proficiency, and it's clear that this woman is not one to be trifled with. The large hat she wears - as much to keep the sun off her skin as anything else - also has the effect that most of the time, her face is obscured from view, pocketed in shadow.
Personality:
Vladia was never a woman of many words, even before the tragic events of her life. She was always much more content to be alone amongst the herds of livestock her family grazed in the foothills, rather than socializing with the others of her clan. After the destruction of her clan, she became even more reclusive, turning everything inward as she let her single-minded obsession for vengeance take over. That is not to say she is not above moments of kindness; indeed, especially when confronted by those in unfortunate circumstances, a certain tenderness can worm its way up from inside her, and she will never tolerate cruelty towards animals of any kind. Whatever her own personal reasons for it, she also believes in the rightness of her personal cause, and that it is for the good of everyone in Ustalav.
Backstory:
Vladia was originally little more than a humble shepherd, working with her family (really her clan, but everyone was so intermarried that it was in effect an extended family) to tend to their flock in the border region of Vieland. It was a dangerous place to ply a living, what with the threat of orcish raids coming out of the Tusk Mountains. Due to her natural propensity for stealth, Vladia often served as a scout, hiding well away from the flocks and keeping an eye peeled for any signs of a raid so that she could raise the alert. However, living on the borders is always risky, and one day a raid managed to give her the slip, descending upon the flock and the clan in what could only be described as a slaughter. To her eternal shame, Vladia did not even fight; by the time she had caught up to the raiding party, throwing herself into the fray would have been tantamount to suicide. Instead, she merely watched from a safe vantage point as everyone she knew were put to the sword, and her beloved flock taken to be butchered. Rootless, she took to wandering after that, without any real objective in mind - except the vague notion of vengeance - and nothing to keep her going except the thought that as the last of her people, she had a duty to live and continue their legacy.
As if life couldn't get worse for Vladia, while wandering in lands unfamiliar to her, she accidentally stumbled into the lair of a vampire. By some miracle, she managed to survive the initial attack and escape, but the encounter left her forever changed. Even as she ran, she could feel the beast's foul magic working away at her, corrupting her from the inside out. She had become a monster second only to the cursed orcs and to vampires themselves: a dhampir. Far from sapping what little resolve she had left, though, this encounter only bolstered her. The orc menace of Belkzen was not a problem she alone could face, but lone vampires wandering the wilds, looking for an easy mark? She could kill them in her sleep. She would kill them all. She took to the task of hunting monsters, traveling through the many villages that dot Ustalav, following up on rumors of nearby horrors that wanted for elimination. Though vampires were her main target, she was not above dealing with any and all manner of beasts that plagued the people. This was how she first met Professor Petros Lorrimor.
To tell the truth, Vladia didn't think much of the man when she first laid eyes on him. He had the look of a city dweller about him, and even in the best of times, she had never had much respect for city folk. But after a drink, the two had a very revealing conversation. The professor knew what she was - perhaps that wasn't surprising, since many people could tell from her appearance alone - and wanted to study her. Learn how she had come to be a dhampir, how she had survived the encounter, what strange new phenomena she might be experiencing as a result of the transformation. He treated it like one might have treated an infection, rather than seeing her as inherently monstrous. Though reluctant at first, Vladia eventually found herself opening up to him about the difficulties she had experienced since her transformation. Their correspondence helped her see herself not as a monster atoning for its existence by killing its own, but as a human in unfortunate circumstances just doing what she thinks is best. To this day, she has never respected anyone so much as she did the Professor.
I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to. I pocket anything I see that might have some value.
Ideals
Aspiration. I’m determined to make something of myself. (Any)
Bonds
I owe everything to my mentor—a horrible person who’s probably rotting in jail somewhere.
Flaws
I hate to admit it and will hate myself for it, but I’ll run and preserve my own hide if the going gets tough.
Character Hook: Subject of study Character sheet: Link
Appearance: Personality: I lie and steal to feel alive not for any other reason. I’d even fess up to not hurt someone… Backstory:
Found in the area of Absolom called the world wound. Mother Greeley made a deal to sacrifice her daughter to a higher evil fiendish power. She left Belladonna with the beacon (trinket 8) so she would be found and taken by fiends. Instead Belladonna survived fending for her life and was later, reluctantly taken in by Arnie Getcher a superstitious Ustalav soldier. Professor Petros Lorrimor an honored guest in the soldier’s home took an immediate interest in her origins abilities and traumatic childhood encounters from such a hostile area. Belladonna has mental walls hiding some memories but with experimental hypnotism and seance, progress was being made…
I would love to play Carrion Crown! It's one of the Pathfinder APs I've always been the most interested in as I love anything with a good spooky or Gothic tone. :)
Name: Calpurnia Pallas Race: Feral Tiefling (Pitborn) Class: Fighter (Eldritch Knight) Alignment: Lawful Good Background: Knight of the Order Personality Traits: I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. / I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. Ideal/Bond/Flaw: Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) / I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. / I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. Character Hook: On the Payroll Character sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/151346616/8ISG8W
Appearance: Calpurnia is a tall tiefling, standing at an even six feet, with pale blue skin, amber eyes, dark blue hair and backwards-curving horns. Most often she can be found dressed in the official uniform and armor of the Lastwall military, shining silver mail with navy surcoat emblazoned with a golden shield. On her right palm she bears the Shield-Mark, a Lastwall shield, and the Sword-Mark, a symbol of Iomedae. Calpurnia makes for an imposing figure when she is in her full regalia. Her expression is usually serious, sometimes even stern.
Personality: Calpurnia is direct and to-the-point. She never bothered to learn many social graces beyond what was required of her as a knight. As a result, she has little patience for small talk and even less for deception or beating around the bush. Most of the time she is serious, sometimes even somber, and her somewhat dour demeanor has long been a source of teasing among even her fellow knights. The tiefling knows she can come across as perhaps too gruff or too blunt at times, but she's never seen the reason behind sparing someone's feelings over telling the truth. This is not to say that Calpurnia lacks empathy or feeling altogether. She's simply just not the type to wear her heart on her sleeve and feels awkward and uncomfortable around big displays of emotion. Above all else, she believes that her purpose in life is to help others, defend the weak, and protect her nation.
Backstory: Found abandoned as a baby, Calpurnia was taken in by a Vigilant couple with deep ties to the omnipresent Lastwall military. Her adoptive father serves the Precentor Martial for Magic with loyalty and distinction. Her mother serves on the staff of one of the Tribunes. For as long as she can remember, Calpurnia has felt nothing but gratitude to her adoptive country and family for taking her in and giving her a second chance at life. Growing up in a military household, there was no question that young Calpurnia would enlist as soon as she was able, at the tender age of ten beginning as a page. Vigil and Lastwall are the last defenses and ever-present watchful eye against the tyranny of Tar-Baphon, imprisoned in the Gallowspire. Calpurnia vows to do her duty and serve her country, ensuring that the horrors unleashed by the Whispering Tyrant will never again plague the world.
Now 23-years-old, Calpurnia has completed her squireship and finally earned the rank of full knighthood. It was about a year ago, while she was still a squire, that she met Professor Lorrimor on one of his visits to Vigil. He was in search of protection during his many scholarly expeditions in the area. Calpurnia's superiors had elected to assign a more senior knight to protect the Professor but for some reason, once he saw her, he decided that she was to be the one to protect him, to everyone's surprise and confusion, most of all Calpurnia's. For the next year or so, every time the Professor was in town, Calpurnia followed him like a shadow, protecting him from the various threats and monsters that they encountered. During this time she even grew to care for the Professor. Even though she never really understood him, he became like a second father to her. She was devastated when she got the news of his passing.
Now she prepares to journey to Ustalav, another country haunted by the evil of the Tyrant long ago, at the behest of the Professor's daughter Kendra. Calpurnia intends to pay her respects and return quickly to her home, but little does she know what lies in store for her in the town of Ravengro.
A slender woman dressed in practical clothing - loose fitting and mottled black and grey. Easier to blend into the background and forest shadows. Her cloak is secured with a white diamond icon with a blue star in the center.
Personality:
Davaris is dedicated to her faith to Titania, Queen of Summer. Expressing kindness and goodwill where she can, Davaris goes out of her way to help those in need. Exercising patience before vengeance is a common theme in her life when it comes to miscreants.
Backstory:
Davaris' departure from the monastery for military service was likely be due to an external threat requiring her participation in the defense of her community. All able-bodied individuals, regardless of their monastic commitments, were called upon to bear arms to protect their people from invaders and warring factions. This was a difficult decision, creating a conflict between her spiritual vows and her duty to her society. In the end, she was trained then released as the opposing sides came to a peaceful agreement.
Professor Lorrimar spent time at the monastery and Davaris enjoyed his company very much. It saddened her greatly to find he had passed while she was called to duty.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
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Petros Lorrimor, world renown professor, died in the year 4711 AR, roughly half a month ago.
His death was sudden, but few were surprised by the news. Professor Lorrimor was well known for his lust for knowledge and adventure. Nobody questioned it when they heard that he'd had an accident while poking around in the ruins of a long dead prison. Indeed, some were surprised to find out that he hadn't died years ago on one of his long trips. If anything, it was strange that such a well traveled man had met his end so close to home. Some whispered that his daughter, Kendra, should be grateful that she didn't have to travel across half of Golarion to retrieve his body.
Professor Lorrimor was a teacher to many, but a close friend to few. Besides his daughter, only five benefactors were named in his will.
Hi, everyone!
Looking for brave adventurers to explore the dark corners of Ustalav…
I've always wanted to play or DM Carrion Crown and now I have enough time to do it. It's a gothic, horror-themed adventure with lots of dark themes and content so please keep that in mind if you decide to apply.
Plot and Setting
We’ll be playing in the world of Pathfinder. The campaign begins on the 20th of Pharast (the equivalent of March), 4711 AR. Your heroes have been invited to the funeral of Professor Petros Lorrimor, a lecturer at the University of Lepidstadt and a friend to your characters. He died under mysterious circumstances, and upon arriving in the small town of Ravengro at the invitation of his daughter, the PCs will hear his last will and testament—while also discovering that strange, unsettling events are troubling the town. In the first part of the campaign, you’ll investigate the old crypt in Ravengro’s gloomy cemetery and the haunted ruins of Harrowstone Prison, uncovering their secrets. That’s the gist—you’ll discover the rest during play.
The story takes place in Ustalav, a dark and dangerous region of Golarion. It’s a land perpetually veiled in mist, haunted by monsters born of nightmares. The sky is almost always overcast, and its people are wary, superstitious, and quick to distrust strangers. Encounters with the undead, ghosts, werewolves, and vampires are commonplace, and if you stumble across a lonely cabin in the woods… don’t expect a warm welcome ;). Think Ravenloft in tone and style.
Your character doesn’t need to be from Ustalav itself—Professor Lorrimor was a traveler, and his circle of friends extended across many lands. Playing someone from another region of Golarion can be especially fun, as it lets you discover the culture and customs of this grim land firsthand. No prior knowledge of Pathfinder lore or Ustalav is required—I’ll explain what you need to know as the adventure unfolds, though you’re welcome to read up on it if you’d like.
The campaign draws inspiration from classics such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and titles written by H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. In addition to the typical horror vibe, the campaign emphasizes intrigue, investigation, and combat. There's something for everyone.
A word on optimization and restraint: Carrion Crown is an older AP, and heavy optimization is likely not necessary based on what I have seen. I wish to run it as written, with no adjustments to increase the difficulty. I'll probably select characters that I think are strong enough to succeed, but not so strong as to remove all challenges from the game.
Technical Stuff:
For combat I plan to use a mix of descriptions and maps. Everyone will act on their own initiative, but you can post your action when you have got the time, and after 24 hours (or when everyone has posted) the actions resolve. Should an action become useless or impossible to perform it will either be adjusted if an obvious option presents itself ("I attack skeleton 1" but Skeleton 1 dies => "I attack Skeleton 2 which stand directly next to Skeleton 1") or I'll give you 16 hours to change it (during the "posting phase" you can also change your actions should it become apparent that it will be useless).
Character Creation:
Character Hooks
At the beginning of the story, your characters have come to Ravengro to mourn Professor Lorrimor at his funeral. Please choose one of the following hooks. These hooks also provide your character with a helpful trait.
Chance Savior: Fate smiled on you and Professor Lorrimor one day in the not so distant past. Through a matter of pure chance, you were in a position to save the late scholar’s life and did so. His gratitude was effusive, and he promised that he would never forget you. You are unsure of the nature of the summons in his will, but believe he may have listed you as a possible heir in thanks for saving him from an untimely demise.
Receive +2 bonus to Initiative checks.
Subject of Study: Professor Lorrimor approached you as part of his studies, as he had heard that you had survived a recent encounter with a strange monster or had another fateful encounter. Interested in the conditions of the run-in and the means by which you avoided death or injury, he met with you and maintained frequent correspondence until several months ago. The scars of your experience and his continual reminders of the encounter prompted you to hone your skills lest you someday face the same type of creature again. The professor assisted you in this endeavor, providing you with insight into the anatomy and defenses of the creature that attacked you.
Years of study have improved your combat effectiveness against your chosen foe. Choose a non-humanoid creature type. You gain a +1 bonus on damage rolls against creatures of this type.
Inspired by Greatness: Whether you knew Professor Lorrimor well or only in passing, as a colleague or competitor, his career and lifetime of discovery inspired you to be better at what you do. As you honed your craft, you and the professor corresponded, and he was delighted to hear that he had directly or indirectly motivated you to strive for your full potential. Saddened by the news of his death, you feel that you should honor his memory by fulfilling his final wishes and attending his funeral, and by ever striving to attain greater heights and someday match the influence and impact of your idol.
Choose one spell you can cast. From now on, this spell is always prepared. Once per long rest, you can cast the spell without a spell slot or material components.
Making Good on Promises: At some point in the past, Professor Lorrimor did you a favor under the condition that he would someday call on you to repay it. After he came to your aid, however, you never saw nor heard from him again, leaving you with a sense of unending anticipation that each day might be the day you were asked to return the favor. Yet that day never came, and your fears and anxiety about what the professor would call on you to do abated. Assuming the old man had either forgotten about you or died, you eventually assumed you’d never have to follow through on your end of the bargain. When you received word of the professor’s death, and that he had named you specifically in his will, your dread of what he could possibly want from you has grown throughout your entire journey to Ravengro.
Years of living with the fear and uncertainty of the unclaimed debt to Professor Lorrimor have inured you to extreme anxiety. You gain advantage on saving throws against the Frightened condition.
On the Payroll: Whether he needed a bodyguard in a rough neighborhood, a guide to an isolated archeological dig, or information on a specialized topic, Professor Lorrimor was never shy about hiring professionals to help him attain his goals. Over the course of his long career, thousands of people throughout the world served his needs and benefited from his generous wages (usually covered by his academic benefactor at the time). He had contacts in most areas of expertise in every corner of the known world, a knack for recognizing talent, and a desire to be surrounded by the best and brightest at all times. Whatever job the professor originally hired you for, your performance captured his attention, and he hired you many times throughout your career, sometimes even for jobs away from your home, always paying your expenses and compensating you well for your time. In your area of expertise, you are among the best.
Your years of hard work have paid off, granting you an additional 150 gold in starting wealth.
Teacher’s Pet: Professor Lorrimor traveled the Inner Sea region lecturing and teaching at universities in locations as far-flung as Manaket and Magnimar, and as different in scope as the bardic colleges of Taldor and the battle colleges of the River Kingdoms. Speaking before standing-room-only lecture halls on topics as widely ranging as military strategy, planar anomalies, theology, and agriculture, Lorrimor’s time was highly valued among those ambitious to benefit from his expertise.
Despite this, he still managed to provide one-on-one assistance to the most promising of his acolytes. When he saw the potential for greatness in one of his charges, he took it upon himself to nurture their spark. You were such a student. Over the course of several months, you and the late professor spent hours debating the finer points of your topic of interest, and the intellectual doors he opened for you continue to flavor your outlook on the world.
You gain proficiency in an additional Skill of your choice.
Selection Criteria:
I am looking for the following (in no particular order):
What I'm also looking for:
Your character sheet should contain the following details:
[CHARACTER'S PICTURE]
Name:
Race:
Class:
Alignment:
Background:
Personality Traits:
Ideal/Bond/Flaw:
Character Hook:
Character sheet:
Please provide a paragraph or two on the below:
Appearance:
Personality:
Backstory:
Character selection will NOT be first come first serve.
Have fun, and ask anything I might have missed.
Application deadline is August 30th.
Name: Andrej Drogovoj
Race: Human (Variant)
Class: Warlock (Hexblade)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Background: Monsterhunter (Urban Bountyhunter)
Personality Traits: Calm and grim. Suffers no fools. Prefer simple solutions. Haunted by dark memories of his past.
Ideals: Will always help those in need and serve his Lady of the Grave by putting the dead to rest.
Bond: Owe his life to the pharasmin monastary that took him in. Seek to one day avenge those who died in the monestary where he was brought up.
Flaw: Suspicious and slow to trust. His strive for vengeance will likely lead to his own destruction.
Character Hook: Chance savior
Character sheet: Andrej Drogovoj
Appearance:
Personality: Andrej rarely smiles but is always calm. He is slow to trust and judges people by their actions rather than their words.
Backstory: Andrej was left as an infant to a simple ustalavan monastary dedicated to the Lady of Graves, an unwanted child to a young mother he has never met. He grew up with the monks and nuns and was taught the ways and ideals of Pharasma, feeling a great obligation to those who had cared for him. One fateful night the monastary came under attack by evil necromancers that burned it down and animated the faithful. In the ensuing chaos young Andrej found his way into the chapel where he came upon a grey blade that urged him to avenge the fallen pharasmin. After the blade had guided him to put down the restless dead, Andrej left the smoldering ruins and went on the road, the pharasmin entity of the blade training him to be a servant of Pharasma and hunter of evil monsters in Ustalav while seeking out the necromancers and putting an end to their evil ways. It was during his search for those necromancers that Andrej one night came upon Professor Lorrimor as he was assailed by a ravenous ghoul in a corrupted graveyard. After the blade had cut down the ghoul, the professor had thanked him profusely and explained he was conducting his own research there. Now Andrej travels to the small town of Ravengro to be present at the reading of the late professor's testament. Little does he know what adventure awaits him there...
Name: Yua Kurosawa
Race: Variant Human with Prodigy feat
She was created by a wizard to be his assistant, but that is just flavor.
Class: Wizard
Alignment: Lawful Neutral (with good tendencies)
Background: Sage
Personality Traits:
I approach every task with absolute focus and precision, no matter how small or dangerous.
I struggle to understand emotions and social nuances, often taking things too literally.
Though I am essentially human in all things except the manner of my birth, I do not think of myself as one.
Ideals:
Duty. I was created to serve a purpose, and I will fulfill it to the best of my ability.
Logic. Emotion clouds judgment. A clear mind is the surest path to success.
Bonds:
I am loyal to my creator, who gave me life and purpose. His guidance shapes my path, even in his absence.
Professor Lorrimor helped me awaken my sense of self. I will never forget that.
Books are sacred vessels of knowledge. I will protect written knowledge with the same care as I would a life.
Flaws:
I don’t always recognize when a task is inappropriate, dangerous, or socially unacceptable.
I can be clumsy with physical tasks.
My logical approach can make me seem inhuman to others.
Character Hook: Teacher's Pet, extra proficiency in Perception
Backstory:
Yua Kurosawa was not born, but meticulously crafted by the eccentric and secretive wizard Master Toshiro Kurosawa. Originally from Minkai, Kurosawa relocated to [whatever kingdom is near Ustalav] to further his studies. Fashioned to appear perfectly human and imbued with keen intellect, Yua was created to assist with his life’s work. As a homunculus made to think, speak, and learn like a person, Yua quickly became invaluable in deciphering archaic runes, maintaining detailed records, and methodically cross-referencing obscure sources. Though brilliant, she struggled with real-world logic, lacking common sense and having limited self-preservation instincts. Recently, Toshiro grew concerned that Yua’s theoretical knowledge far outpaced her practical experience. Believing her development incomplete, he tasked her with a new directive: leave the safety of the lab and seek more experience in the field.
It was a twist of fate that the letter informing her of Professor Lorrimor's death arrived at this time. It brought back memories of the few months she had attended his lectures on Abjuration magic with her master, finding them enthralling. She desired to become more than just an assistant to Toshiro; she wanted to become a shield to protect him as well...She 'wanted'? As she spoke with the Professor afterwards, she realized this was the first time she'd ever desired something for herself.
Even as a purely logical being she feels a strange pain at Lorrimor's passing. Of course she will answer the summons, though she wonders why she was invited out of his countless students.
Appearance: Yua is a small woman, standing at only 5'1'' with a slight build. Her long, sandy blonde hair is always pulled back into a ponytail to keep it from interfering with her work. She wears clothing inspired by her master's homeland of Minkai; a white inner layer with purple and black flowing robes on top. Her eyes are a vibrant purple dulled by her usual lack of emotion.
Personality: Yua is hardly a social butterfly, showing little emotion or interest in areas outside of her fields of study. Still, she is not heartless and will assist others if it does not directly conflict with the safety of her master or her assigned task. She prides herself in being logical and prefers to gather information and listen to all sides of an argument before making her own decision.
Character Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/149197904/iTIVm7
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
@EmileTherese: everything looks nice, but could you please change the character's picture for something more appropriate for dark fantasy/horror game?
As I mentioned in my first post:
Sure! Is the new one ok?
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
Yep, much better, thanks! :)
Name: Casimir "Camus" Morgans
Race: Variant Human with the "Skilled" feat
Class: Rogue
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (With good tendencies)
Background: Urchin
Personality Traits:
- As tough as I try to seem, I've got a soft spot for kids.
- I get along well with people, but I don't trust easily.
Ideals:
- Greed. I'll do anything for the right price. If you don't got the gold, don't waste my time.
- Loyalty. If you win my trust, you've a friend for life.
- People. I always pay back what I owe.
- Family. Family comes first, above all else.
Bonds:
- Those I trust are family to me. I'll never leave them behind.
- Most of my earnings go back to the orphanage that took me in. You make an enemy of them, you make an enemy of me.
- No child should ever have to go through what I have.
Flaws:
- I'll save my own skin if I feel a job's not worth it
- I'll do anything for the right price.
- I'll do anything to keep my family safe.
- If my emotions get the better of me (and they most likely will), I can't think straight
- I don't trust easily
Character Hook: Teacher's Pet (Performance Chosen)
Character sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IZs9bwxFrTvrF5V75AWHzZNDEydv3iI1CmLQ4W-7O8c/edit?usp=sharing
Please provide a paragraph or two on the below:
Backstory:
Born on the streets of a town at the edge of the continent, Casimir's parents died when he was young, forcing him to spent his life on the streets, wandering the streets to try and scrounge up whatever he can from corpses, trash, and back alleys. Every day he fought and killed wild dogs and other children just for the right to eat, and some days even that wasn't enough. Life for him was a struggle for the longest time, until he stumbled upon an orphanage on the other side of town. They took him in, clothed him, and fed him. As he grew up he began targeting people, lifting jewelry and pouches from them to help fund the orphanage that raised him.
As he grew older, he began taking jobs from others to earn more money. Some were more risky than others, but he did them regardless because the pay was good. One of his jobs took him to Ustalav, specifically the university of Lepidstadt, where he was to steal some treasure hidden within the university. On his way in, he came across professor Lorrimor, who he intended to kill, but then he realized the professor had a daughter, and hesitated. That hesitation caused him to be disarmed and taken down by the professor. Surprisingly though, the professor offered some guidance to him, and even covered for him to let him escape. The two grew close, as the professor offered guidance, Casimir offered his services for more... under the table businesses.
One day, while out on a job, he heard the news. He immediately abandoned the mission to head to Ustalav, to hear the final words of a dear friend.
To travel beyond, into the unreachable void...
He/Him
My characters (Currently WIPs): Kamari De La Sol (Non-Binary Aasimar Way of Mercy Monk), Avery Veritas (Non-Binary Human College of Glamour Bard), Elthea Abott (Female Centaur Circle of the Land Druid), Vlask K'bavenn (Male Bugbear Path of the World Tree Barbarian), Theron Rigel (Female Wood Elven Arcane Archer Fighter), Casimir "Camus" Morgans (Infernal Tiefling Swashbuckler Rogue)
Name: Matton Verdrig
Race: Variant Human
Class: Cleric - Tempest Domain
Alignment: Neutral Good
Background: Acolyte
Personality Traits:
I give my trust easily but betray me and you will feel my wrath.
I keep my emotions guarded offering comfort with my presence instead of words
Ideals:
Freedom. As any chains of oppression and suffering cannot be abided.
Justice through mercy. Wrath has its place, but renewal is a better tool.
Bonds:
I silently watch the injustices in the world and stepping in when absolutely necessary
Flaws:
Overcautious. At times I hesitate too long to act especially when the moral quandary and implications are quite gray.
Character Hook: Making Good on Promises
Character Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/151313915/XT6KXL
Backstory:
Matton Verdrig hails from Taldor and his ancestral home lies near the Inner Sea. His family is of nobility with his mother Countess Valeriana Verdrig as the head of the family. At a young age he was the smallest of his 5 siblings, and he was shipped off to the Novitiate of Tides to be inducted into the worship of Gozreh the deity of storming skies and seas. He was not escorted there in shame no nothing so crass but for a much nobler cause of increasing the family's political influence in their maritime trades. Fine silks were soon replaced with rough wool. Years of education was slowly seeping into his being though he felt no connection to Gozreh and saying the prayers halfheartedly. He muddled his way past aspirant to Acolye and in honor of this his parents took him out for the day to parade him among the influential merchants and to bless a few ships. Once that was done, he finally had some time alone as he was expected to walk back to the Temple alone.
Though he was young he knew to hold his emotions in check lest some rival noble house would make use of him but on this day, it came all out in a blustery curse as he kicked at a nearby coil of rope which happens to tip over and fall over into the sea but not before snagging his foot dragging him down with it. He tried to swim up, but the rope was slowly dragging him down. He thought all was lost only to feel a hand grab his and slowly yank him out of the water with many coughs and few pints of water spilling out of his mouth. There standing over him was Professor Lorrimor. That man gave Matton a few hard pats on his back and after a moment Matton waved him off standing now sullen as ever. The professor decided to walk with Matton all the way back to the temple. That walk changed his life. The thirst for life and unstoppable curiosity exuded from Professor Lorrimor like a divine aura. It made him think about his own life and how somewhere early on he gave up on his own passions and he became numb to the world. For the first time he looked around the bustling port city, taking in the intense smell, colors, and sounds. He turned to thank Professor Lorrimor only to hear he expected Matton to return the favor somewhere in the future. He agreed to the promise though it filled him with dread. He had heard plenty of tales of wicked scoundrels but something in him decided to trust the Professor. He then entered the temple and took to reading the book of Gozreh. By now he knew it by heart, but he did not really understand. Years went by and in time his faith grew, and his prayers were earnest. Though he prayed for the happiness and wellbeing of the worshippers he also added a prayer in hopes that Professor Lorrimor's favor would not be too outlandish.
At the age of 32 he attained the rank of cleric and was blessed by Gozreh. Now a man standing 5'11" he became accustomed to the simple wool robes and as a cleric he was also trained with the militant branch of the order to defend himself and others in time of need. He had attained contentment in his service to the people and to Gozreh. Although that knot in his stomach never quite left him and it became acutely worse upon recieving the letter of Professor Lorrimor's death and that he was in his will. A promise is a promise. With that he packed his few belongings and checked his gear before walking towards Ustalav which filled him with another kind of dread.
Name: Shaewyn Mistgrove
Race: Ghostwise Halfling
Class: Cleric (Twilight Domain)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Background: Haunted One
Personality Traits: I don’t run from evil. I face it, knowing that tomorrow I might die anyway; I expect danger around every corner.
Ideal: I help others by killing 'monsters' to make the world safer, no matter the personal cost.
Bond: I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent.
Flaw: I am a purveyor of doom and gloom who lives in a world without hope.
Character Hook: Inspired by Greatness (Protection from Evil and Good)
Character sheet: Shaewyn Mistgrove Character Sheet
Please provide a paragraph or two on the below:
Appearance: WIP
Personality: WIP
Backstory: WIP
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Name: Vladislava "Vladia" Ciobanu
Race: Dhampir (Formerly Human)
Class: Ranger (Eventually Either Hunter or Gloomstalker)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: Outlander
Personality Traits:
- I once ran twenty-five miles without stopping to warn to my clan of an approaching orc horde. I’d do it again if I had to.
- I place no stock in wealthy or well-mannered folk. Money and manners won’t save you from a hungry owlbear.
- I feel far more comfortable around animals than people.
Ideals:
- Change. Life is like the seasons, in constant change, and we must change with it. (Chaotic)
- Greater Good. It is each person’s responsibility to make the most happiness for the whole tribe. (Good)
Bonds:
- I will bring terrible wrath down on the evildoers who destroyed my homeland.
- I am the last of my tribe, and it is up to me to ensure their names enter legend.
Flaws:
- I am slow to trust members of other races, tribes, and societies.
- Violence is my answer to almost any challenge.
Character Hook:
Subject of Study (Creature Type: Undead)
Character sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/151324121/VtQCw8
Appearance: Vladislava is not one what might first imagine when thinking of a relentless hunter, coming in at a mere 5'2", with a lithe built more suited for agility than strength, and skin so pale that one might first imagine her to be sick. That is, until they see the pale fire in her eyes and the fang poking out just barely beyond her lip, not to mention the longbow she wields with proficiency, and it's clear that this woman is not one to be trifled with. The large hat she wears - as much to keep the sun off her skin as anything else - also has the effect that most of the time, her face is obscured from view, pocketed in shadow.
Personality:
Vladia was never a woman of many words, even before the tragic events of her life. She was always much more content to be alone amongst the herds of livestock her family grazed in the foothills, rather than socializing with the others of her clan. After the destruction of her clan, she became even more reclusive, turning everything inward as she let her single-minded obsession for vengeance take over. That is not to say she is not above moments of kindness; indeed, especially when confronted by those in unfortunate circumstances, a certain tenderness can worm its way up from inside her, and she will never tolerate cruelty towards animals of any kind. Whatever her own personal reasons for it, she also believes in the rightness of her personal cause, and that it is for the good of everyone in Ustalav.
Backstory:
Vladia was originally little more than a humble shepherd, working with her family (really her clan, but everyone was so intermarried that it was in effect an extended family) to tend to their flock in the border region of Vieland. It was a dangerous place to ply a living, what with the threat of orcish raids coming out of the Tusk Mountains. Due to her natural propensity for stealth, Vladia often served as a scout, hiding well away from the flocks and keeping an eye peeled for any signs of a raid so that she could raise the alert. However, living on the borders is always risky, and one day a raid managed to give her the slip, descending upon the flock and the clan in what could only be described as a slaughter. To her eternal shame, Vladia did not even fight; by the time she had caught up to the raiding party, throwing herself into the fray would have been tantamount to suicide. Instead, she merely watched from a safe vantage point as everyone she knew were put to the sword, and her beloved flock taken to be butchered. Rootless, she took to wandering after that, without any real objective in mind - except the vague notion of vengeance - and nothing to keep her going except the thought that as the last of her people, she had a duty to live and continue their legacy.
As if life couldn't get worse for Vladia, while wandering in lands unfamiliar to her, she accidentally stumbled into the lair of a vampire. By some miracle, she managed to survive the initial attack and escape, but the encounter left her forever changed. Even as she ran, she could feel the beast's foul magic working away at her, corrupting her from the inside out. She had become a monster second only to the cursed orcs and to vampires themselves: a dhampir. Far from sapping what little resolve she had left, though, this encounter only bolstered her. The orc menace of Belkzen was not a problem she alone could face, but lone vampires wandering the wilds, looking for an easy mark? She could kill them in her sleep. She would kill them all. She took to the task of hunting monsters, traveling through the many villages that dot Ustalav, following up on rumors of nearby horrors that wanted for elimination. Though vampires were her main target, she was not above dealing with any and all manner of beasts that plagued the people. This was how she first met Professor Petros Lorrimor.
To tell the truth, Vladia didn't think much of the man when she first laid eyes on him. He had the look of a city dweller about him, and even in the best of times, she had never had much respect for city folk. But after a drink, the two had a very revealing conversation. The professor knew what she was - perhaps that wasn't surprising, since many people could tell from her appearance alone - and wanted to study her. Learn how she had come to be a dhampir, how she had survived the encounter, what strange new phenomena she might be experiencing as a result of the transformation. He treated it like one might have treated an infection, rather than seeing her as inherently monstrous. Though reluctant at first, Vladia eventually found herself opening up to him about the difficulties she had experienced since her transformation. Their correspondence helped her see herself not as a monster atoning for its existence by killing its own, but as a human in unfortunate circumstances just doing what she thinks is best. To this day, she has never respected anyone so much as she did the Professor.
Really cool characters so far. Looking forward to see more!
Name: Belladonna Greeley
Race: Stout Halfling
Class: Sorceress
Alignment: Neutral
Background: Charlatan
Personality Traits/Ideal/Bond/Flaw:
Character Hook: Subject of study
Character sheet: Link
Appearance:
Personality: I lie and steal to feel alive not for any other reason. I’d even fess up to not hurt someone…
Backstory:
Found in the area of Absolom called the world wound. Mother Greeley made a deal to sacrifice her daughter to a higher evil fiendish power. She left Belladonna with the beacon (trinket 8) so she would be found and taken by fiends. Instead Belladonna survived fending for her life and was later, reluctantly taken in by Arnie Getcher a superstitious Ustalav soldier. Professor Petros Lorrimor an honored guest in the soldier’s home took an immediate interest in her origins abilities and traumatic childhood encounters from such a hostile area. Belladonna has mental walls hiding some memories but with experimental hypnotism and seance, progress was being made…
I would love to play Carrion Crown! It's one of the Pathfinder APs I've always been the most interested in as I love anything with a good spooky or Gothic tone. :)
Name: Calpurnia Pallas
Race: Feral Tiefling (Pitborn)
Class: Fighter (Eldritch Knight)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Background: Knight of the Order
Personality Traits: I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. / I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success.
Ideal/Bond/Flaw: Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) / I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. / I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.
Character Hook: On the Payroll
Character sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/151346616/8ISG8W
Appearance: Calpurnia is a tall tiefling, standing at an even six feet, with pale blue skin, amber eyes, dark blue hair and backwards-curving horns. Most often she can be found dressed in the official uniform and armor of the Lastwall military, shining silver mail with navy surcoat emblazoned with a golden shield. On her right palm she bears the Shield-Mark, a Lastwall shield, and the Sword-Mark, a symbol of Iomedae. Calpurnia makes for an imposing figure when she is in her full regalia. Her expression is usually serious, sometimes even stern.
Personality: Calpurnia is direct and to-the-point. She never bothered to learn many social graces beyond what was required of her as a knight. As a result, she has little patience for small talk and even less for deception or beating around the bush. Most of the time she is serious, sometimes even somber, and her somewhat dour demeanor has long been a source of teasing among even her fellow knights. The tiefling knows she can come across as perhaps too gruff or too blunt at times, but she's never seen the reason behind sparing someone's feelings over telling the truth. This is not to say that Calpurnia lacks empathy or feeling altogether. She's simply just not the type to wear her heart on her sleeve and feels awkward and uncomfortable around big displays of emotion. Above all else, she believes that her purpose in life is to help others, defend the weak, and protect her nation.
Backstory: Found abandoned as a baby, Calpurnia was taken in by a Vigilant couple with deep ties to the omnipresent Lastwall military. Her adoptive father serves the Precentor Martial for Magic with loyalty and distinction. Her mother serves on the staff of one of the Tribunes. For as long as she can remember, Calpurnia has felt nothing but gratitude to her adoptive country and family for taking her in and giving her a second chance at life. Growing up in a military household, there was no question that young Calpurnia would enlist as soon as she was able, at the tender age of ten beginning as a page. Vigil and Lastwall are the last defenses and ever-present watchful eye against the tyranny of Tar-Baphon, imprisoned in the Gallowspire. Calpurnia vows to do her duty and serve her country, ensuring that the horrors unleashed by the Whispering Tyrant will never again plague the world.
Now 23-years-old, Calpurnia has completed her squireship and finally earned the rank of full knighthood. It was about a year ago, while she was still a squire, that she met Professor Lorrimor on one of his visits to Vigil. He was in search of protection during his many scholarly expeditions in the area. Calpurnia's superiors had elected to assign a more senior knight to protect the Professor but for some reason, once he saw her, he decided that she was to be the one to protect him, to everyone's surprise and confusion, most of all Calpurnia's. For the next year or so, every time the Professor was in town, Calpurnia followed him like a shadow, protecting him from the various threats and monsters that they encountered. During this time she even grew to care for the Professor. Even though she never really understood him, he became like a second father to her. She was devastated when she got the news of his passing.
Now she prepares to journey to Ustalav, another country haunted by the evil of the Tyrant long ago, at the behest of the Professor's daughter Kendra. Calpurnia intends to pay her respects and return quickly to her home, but little does she know what lies in store for her in the town of Ravengro.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus & Phandalin Adventures
Name: Davaris Kuno
Race: Variant Human
Class: Ranger
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: Acolyte
Personality Traits: Would rather make friends than enemies
Ideal: Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever.
Bond: Professor Lorrimar was a close friend and advisor, I owe his memory a debt of gratitude.
Flaw: Once you are declared an enemy my wrath is blind and unending.
Character Hook: Making Good on Promises
Character sheet: www.dndbeyond.com/characters/144794013/2WOh9s
Appearance:
A slender woman dressed in practical clothing - loose fitting and mottled black and grey. Easier to blend into the background and forest shadows. Her cloak is secured with a white diamond icon with a blue star in the center.
Personality:
Davaris is dedicated to her faith to Titania, Queen of Summer. Expressing kindness and goodwill where she can, Davaris goes out of her way to help those in need. Exercising patience before vengeance is a common theme in her life when it comes to miscreants.
Backstory:
Davaris' departure from the monastery for military service was likely be due to an external threat requiring her participation in the defense of her community. All able-bodied individuals, regardless of their monastic commitments, were called upon to bear arms to protect their people from invaders and warring factions. This was a difficult decision, creating a conflict between her spiritual vows and her duty to her society. In the end, she was trained then released as the opposing sides came to a peaceful agreement.
Professor Lorrimar spent time at the monastery and Davaris enjoyed his company very much. It saddened her greatly to find he had passed while she was called to duty.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale