Nothing gets the butterflies churning quite like the first day of class. Headmaster Vance Moontalon is currently giving his welcoming remarks to you and the hundred or so other assembled students. Despite his gaunt features, he is an older man who still exudes an aura of strength and authority. His face is wizened, with the look of one who has spent a long life seeking and studying the world's secrets. Despite missing an eye, he still has the air of one who sees everything. He misses his left hand as he uses its stump to pound on the podium while talking emphatically.
“Welcome to the new school year at the Academy of Adventure. We shall begin the semester by joining with those seated closest to you to form an adventuring group. For the next four months, these brothers and sisters will be your sword and shield, the only thing standing between you and death. Err...ahem...well, at least, academic death. Take care of them, and they will take care of you. We will begin by having you introduce yourselves to one another. Then you will come up with a bold, exciting name for your adventuring group. Bonus points will be awarded for a group emblem. Now get to work!”
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“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
A slender deep gnome with bright blue eyes, dusky grey skin, and purple hair bounced impatiently in her seat as she listened to the Headmaster talk. It had taken her a lot to get here, and now that she was, she couldn't wait to get started. Also, she was still a bit keyed up from the last heist, the raid on Lord What'shisname's manor, and the subsequent manhunt Lord Fancypants had ordered to catch the culprits. Jinx Onyxseeker had just barely avoided falling into his trap on her way out of the city, and she was afraid the esteemed lord wouldn't be so kind as to forgive and forget their differences.
I'm safe here though, she thought to herself. There's no way he can find me here...
When the Headmaster announced the details of their assignment, Jinx looked around in surprise. So these would be her new companions? Forming an adventuring party wasn't exactly what she had expected upon joining the Academy, but anything was better than living on the streets. Adventuring did sound rather exciting, not all that unlike burgling and pickpocketing when it came right down to it. Except it was considered much more legitimate. The little gnome decided to leap right into the assignment.
"Hi, I'm Jinx Onyxseeker!" she informed the people sitting closest to her.
Sylvie hardly could sit still through the headmaster's speech. Every couple of minutes she would shift her seat, or spinning the pearl and seashell bangle around her wrist. She seemed a bit taller than average, her skin sun tanned. The dark green color of her short, wavy hair along with her short pointed ears made it obvious she had some elven heritage. Her energy seemed to stem from excitement, or just from a need to always be doing something. At the mention of forming an adventuring group, she quickly looked around at who she was sitting by. Her wide smile seemed to be reflected in her emerald eyes.
"Nice t'meet you lot!"The half-elf exclaimed, a bit too loudly. She offered a hand out to whoever wanted to shake it. "Name's Sylvie! Sylvie Coldmist, if you're one of those folk who care about last names. Hope we make for a good crew, with an equally good name. Would be bad luck for us if we couldn't figure out something fitting."
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The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
A pale young man with blonde hair and exquisite black robes with golden embroideries sits beside the purple-haired gnome, his face expressionless as he listens to Headmaster Moontalon's greeting speech. He has an expensive looking ring on each hand and carries a black ominous-looking dagger in his belt. By his feet stands a black backpack in which a large tome can be seen sticking out.
He had barely arrived in the family carriage and made his way to the assembly. As the headmaster mentions forming an adventuring group he frowns slightly and looks to his sides with a small sigh, measuring up his would be partners in this unusual academic assignment.
"Nice to make your acquaintance Ms. Onyxseeker." He said with a slight hint of aloofness as he turns to face the gnome. "My name is Nepharios Tenebras. I came here to study the arcane arts but I suppose there will be some academic learning to be gained from this peculiar task." He explains, then turning to the next person to introduce themselves.
A pale and somewhat frail man enters as the speech is about to begin, taking one of the few remaining seats. It happens to be in the same row as Nepharios. The two make an odd pair. Where Nepharios manner and a gaudy display speak to a background of wealth and privilege, the stranger’s appearance speaks of the same, but long ago. He has clearly fallen on hard times: His frock coat, once gilded is now ill-fitting and shows signs of having been repaired numerous times, and his clothes in general speak to a frugality learned reluctantly and slowly over time. Despite this he effortlessly manages the same air of superiority that the other man strives for. Perhaps it is the difference in their ages that makes the difference, for where Nepharios is clearly a youth by human standards, the newcomer is older, though how much older is hard to say.
He straightens his clothes and his long blonde hair as he sits then focuses his eyes on the podium. He remains unmoving throughout the speech. At the end he looks around at his new companions, his face unreadable, then takes a breath.
“Alcazar,” he says. “Alcazar Tremayne. I too come to learn what I can from...” he waves a hand languidly at the podium, “...from these folk. Though it is unclear why I selected them in the first place.” He shrugs, and a faint smile appears on his pale lips, “I’m sure I had a good reason.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He bows slightly in his seat, holding his fisted hand to his chest.
Miawynn is sitting at the end of the table trying not to sit too close to anyone, watching the headmaster speak as she twiddles her thumbs. She is a pale elf, with wavy red hair the drapes down her back. Her shirt is clearly worn and old, with stains all over it and the bottom ripped. The left shoulder seam appears to have given out over time revealing her pale skin. She keeps her backpack on (and assuming Ewock is there), you can hear shuffling through out the bag and occasional bumps protruding out as if the bag is breathing.
Without looking up, she says "Hello, I'm Miawynn." After a few seconds, she peeks up to look at her surrounding peers.
Jinx eyes the people next to her with interest. She immediately takes a liking to Sylvie, but as soon as Nepharios opens his mouth, the grin on the gnome's face starts to fade. This human could be Lord Fancypants' son, she thinks to herself with chagrin. He's going to be part of my adventuring party? She tries to regain her smile, but instead her expression turns to that of someone who just tasted something sour. Before she can recover her good humor, another man sits down next to him, and he also has the look of the nobility about him but in a down-on-his-luck sort of way. Jinx tries not to roll her eyes when he mentions selecting the academy as the way he says it sounds pompous to her ears, but then again she's always had a bit of a chip on her shoulder when it comes to the privileged members of society.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintances," she finally says, with forced cheerfulness. "Magic, huh? That's exciting. I came because I'm really good at finding out people's secrets and selling them to the highest bidder. Apparently there's a place for that here. Who would've thought, right?" She says this last with a wry smile and a pointed look at the two men.
Before anyone can respond, she continues, "So a name huh? How about Jinx's Jovial Rovers? Has a nice ring to it, I think."
Miawynn can't help but to let out a chuckle at Jinx's mention of a name. She waits to see if anyone else responds before answering, "You're not serious, right?" suddenly looking serious.
Calm yourself Miawynn, remember that Professor Gosteth said the true challenge are outside these walls. she thinks to herself, acutely aware that she is the only one who has since spoken and unsure how she will get along working with others when she is use to working by herself and the animals.
"An information person? Sounds fitting for a school, yeah?" Sylvie shrugs. She hardly seems phased by those of a finer cloth around her. Though they did make her rather simple clothes look worse. "Outside of being here for learning, guess I'm just here for the experience. Never had much of a chance for proper schooling till now."
Sylvie rubs her chin as she considers the name of the group. "The alliteration is kind of nice, but aren't carnivals the ones that name themselves after people? Rovers does sound good for an adventuring group, though. Maybe the... Eclectic Rovers?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
(( RP insight roll 11 in log ; I'm assuming he gets a vague sense of resentment but has no idea why ))
Alcazar's gaze lingers on Jinx as she speaks, then he grunts and draws another breath. "Those who lead mercenary bands -- for that is what I fear we will become -- need to earn that place."
He looks around at the other groups, wondering how they are faring and whether they will in fact be competing with them in some way. Turning back he brushes some imaginary lint from his sleeves, "Besides, I'm done roving for a while and neither do I feel particularly jovial."
"If we must come up with a name, I'd suggest something a little more sinister. Something that might strike fear in the hearts of the hoi poloi." Satisfied with his sleeves, he stares down at his own pallid hands and smiles. "The Pale Hand, perhaps? There are, after all, five of us."
"Individuals, working together for a common cause, and all that..."
As you converse, you a suddenly interrupted by a deep, rumbling voice. “Hello. May I join you? I’m afraid I’m a bit late. Your building faces the wrong direction and it took me some time to find the entrance. Are we eating yet?” The bearer of the voice is a creature you have possibly only heard rumors of, if you’ve heard anything at all. He looks like a humanoid turtle, complete with a large shell, onto which a backpack, a greataxe, and a few other implements have been buckled. He wears little clothing, although metal bits and bobs have been works into the edge of his shell.
Looking around, presumably for some food, he sets a bag he has been carrying down. “I am Paartu, son of Nura and Boril, of the Flusshaven clan. Do you think they’ll have fresh monkey?”
The pale young man in the exquisite black robes listens to the others introductions, nodding politely at them in turn, a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he notices the shuffling about in the red-haired elf's backpack. He gives the gnome a scowl at the mention of finding out people's secrets, immediately taking it as some sort of threat it seems. He seems relieved that the others didn't seem to accept the gnome's outrageous suggestion for a team name. He nods slightly at the mention of The Pale Hand as a name but the idea seems to fall apart as the group is joined by a sixth...individual. Nepharios rolls his eyes at the mention of fresh monkey. He could only assume the turtle-being intended to eat it, which seemed positively revolting to the young noble. "No, I'm afraid eating comes later Partuu of the Flusshaven clan and I would be surprised if fresh monkey was served, any sort of monkey in fact." He says with a somewhat derisive tone. "Apart from having a serious and possibly academic tone I must admit I'm not overly interested in what this group will be called. I wouldn't mind the group having those bonus points the headmaster mentioned though, we will likely have use of those, so perhaps we should indeed create an emblem too, assuming our name can be interpreted into an emblem in some suitable way." He says, looking around at the others for more thoughts on the matter, then taking up from his black backpack some parchments, ink, an ink pen and small bag of sand, ready to sketch an emblem.
As you converse, you a suddenly interrupted by a deep, rumbling voice.
Alcazar sizes up the newcomer and smiles. "A six fingered hand perhaps. How very occult it would be." He waves a hand at the strange addition to their numbers, his brow furrows a little, taking the reality in. "Or perhaps...foot? Paddle?"
"Whatever." He shakes his head, "Do not let mere details intrude! If we are successful, then we must expect to grow. The name, it seems to me, has a certain panache." With a glance to Nepharios he adds, "It also has the advantage of a multitude of possibilities when it come to images, emblems and such like."
Jinx grins at Miawynn. "Hardly ever," she replies to her question.
The little gnome listens to the conversation around her as the group attempts to come up with a name.
"The Pale Hand, huh?" she says. "That's sinister all right, maybe a little too creepy?" Although it does seem fitting for you, she thinks but does not say, and the noble's son over there in his all-black ensemble too.
Jinx's eyes go wide when the latest member of their group arrives: a humanoid turtle! She's never even heard of such a race before. She marvels at his shell and his melodious, deep voice. When he mentions wanting to eat monkey, she is both repulsed and intrigued by the prospect.
"Greetings, Paartu! I'm afraid we don't usually eat monkeys around these parts, but maybe they'll have ham? I'm partial to ham," she says.
When the talk returns to the name, Jinx relents. "Okay, creepy wins," she says. "It would definitely make for a striking emblem!"
Sylvie grins at the newcomer, only momentarily surprised by his appearance. "Wow, the rumors are true about turtlefolk. Though never heard've eating a monkey before. Usually they're the ones getting into your food stores and eating stuff." she grimaces at a memory. "Nice t'meet you though, and welcome to the group. We're choosing a name."
Speaking of group names, the half elf nods in agreement with Jinx at the mention of the name giving off a dark connotation. "Not a bad idea, though ominous. A star would be good for a emblem. Seen plenty of different designs for them, and there's a couple that could incorporate six sides. Plenty of symbolism behind them too."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
Around the room, other students begin forming their groups. In one area, a young human man who is dressed in fine black robes has a zombie standing behind him. With him are a dwarf man and a yuan-ti woman. In another area, four kobolds join together to form another group. Another group is formed from two human men and two human women.
Nearby, a human man, an elf woman, a halfling woman and a dwarf man form yet another group. Behind them, a half-elf man, a gnome man, a human man and a dwarf man ally.
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“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nepharios briefly glances around at the other teams forming up, making mental notes on which of them seems likely to be real competitors for whatever prize goes to the winner. Insight if relevant: 4
The young noble also tries some variations of small sketches of a hand and a six-pointed star while the others discuss. "The pale eclectic roving star." He mutters, playing with the ideas mentioned as he keeps sketching.
After a while he looks up and gives Sylvie small smile. Nepharios wanted do well with his grades and even though team work never had been his strong suit he was ready to submit to the will of the group if that was what it took to win, and he was convinced a good team needed a leader and the half-elf with the dark green hair had definitely been the one who might be able to bring this disparate group of individuals together to work as one. He had better lend her his support.
....When the talk returns to the name, Jinx relents. "Okay, creepy wins," she says. "It would definitely make for a striking emblem!"
"Excellent!" Alcazar seems almost animated at this point, "Then it's settled."
He then nods to Sylvie, "Yes, yes, stars. Everyone has stars, or at least they used to. I can see it now: A pale hand on a field of stars, reaching for something unseen and unknown..."
Paartu says, "There is a constellation, important to my people, as it is symbolic of great A'Tuin. The four legs, head, and tail." With a claw, he notes the location of the stars relative to each other on his chest plate.
Miawynn looks over at the sketch, hesitate at first with these individuals who she would spend her time with at this Academy but seeing the progress so far she gives a slight nod and smirk. As she is about to outline the hole in the shoulder of her shirt, a small furry head pops out of her bag. A squirrel appears, mouth full of nuts and hands Miawynn one while eyeing his surroundings. Looking at the multitudes of brightly colored hair, dark robes, and a turtle folk he gives out a small shriek and grabs her shoulder. "Ouch" Miawynn lets out "I know Ewock, we've never seen such a group." Whispering now, she says "Let us observe, we are meant to work with them and there is much we don't know about any of these kinds." as she takes the nut and places it on the table. Ewock nods with understanding and sneaks back into the bag with only his head out as he continues to munch away.
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Nothing gets the butterflies churning quite like the first day of class. Headmaster Vance Moontalon is currently giving his welcoming remarks to you and the hundred or so other assembled students. Despite his gaunt features, he is an older man who still exudes an aura of strength and authority. His face is wizened, with the look of one who has spent a long life seeking and studying the world's secrets. Despite missing an eye, he still has the air of one who sees everything. He misses his left hand as he uses its stump to pound on the podium while talking emphatically.
“Welcome to the new school year at the Academy of Adventure. We shall begin the semester by joining with those seated closest to you to form an adventuring group. For the next four months, these brothers and sisters will be your sword and shield, the only thing standing between you and death. Err...ahem...well, at least, academic death. Take care of them, and they will take care of you. We will begin by having you introduce yourselves to one another. Then you will come up with a bold, exciting name for your adventuring group. Bonus points will be awarded for a group emblem. Now get to work!”
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
A slender deep gnome with bright blue eyes, dusky grey skin, and purple hair bounced impatiently in her seat as she listened to the Headmaster talk. It had taken her a lot to get here, and now that she was, she couldn't wait to get started. Also, she was still a bit keyed up from the last heist, the raid on Lord What'shisname's manor, and the subsequent manhunt Lord Fancypants had ordered to catch the culprits. Jinx Onyxseeker had just barely avoided falling into his trap on her way out of the city, and she was afraid the esteemed lord wouldn't be so kind as to forgive and forget their differences.
I'm safe here though, she thought to herself. There's no way he can find me here...
When the Headmaster announced the details of their assignment, Jinx looked around in surprise. So these would be her new companions? Forming an adventuring party wasn't exactly what she had expected upon joining the Academy, but anything was better than living on the streets. Adventuring did sound rather exciting, not all that unlike burgling and pickpocketing when it came right down to it. Except it was considered much more legitimate. The little gnome decided to leap right into the assignment.
"Hi, I'm Jinx Onyxseeker!" she informed the people sitting closest to her.
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
Sylvie hardly could sit still through the headmaster's speech. Every couple of minutes she would shift her seat, or spinning the pearl and seashell bangle around her wrist. She seemed a bit taller than average, her skin sun tanned. The dark green color of her short, wavy hair along with her short pointed ears made it obvious she had some elven heritage. Her energy seemed to stem from excitement, or just from a need to always be doing something. At the mention of forming an adventuring group, she quickly looked around at who she was sitting by. Her wide smile seemed to be reflected in her emerald eyes.
"Nice t'meet you lot!" The half-elf exclaimed, a bit too loudly. She offered a hand out to whoever wanted to shake it. "Name's Sylvie! Sylvie Coldmist, if you're one of those folk who care about last names. Hope we make for a good crew, with an equally good name. Would be bad luck for us if we couldn't figure out something fitting."
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
A pale young man with blonde hair and exquisite black robes with golden embroideries sits beside the purple-haired gnome, his face expressionless as he listens to Headmaster Moontalon's greeting speech. He has an expensive looking ring on each hand and carries a black ominous-looking dagger in his belt. By his feet stands a black backpack in which a large tome can be seen sticking out.
He had barely arrived in the family carriage and made his way to the assembly. As the headmaster mentions forming an adventuring group he frowns slightly and looks to his sides with a small sigh, measuring up his would be partners in this unusual academic assignment.
"Nice to make your acquaintance Ms. Onyxseeker." He said with a slight hint of aloofness as he turns to face the gnome. "My name is Nepharios Tenebras. I came here to study the arcane arts but I suppose there will be some academic learning to be gained from this peculiar task." He explains, then turning to the next person to introduce themselves.
Nepharios Tenebras
A pale and somewhat frail man enters as the speech is about to begin, taking one of the few remaining seats. It happens to be in the same row as Nepharios. The two make an odd pair. Where Nepharios manner and a gaudy display speak to a background of wealth and privilege, the stranger’s appearance speaks of the same, but long ago. He has clearly fallen on hard times: His frock coat, once gilded is now ill-fitting and shows signs of having been repaired numerous times, and his clothes in general speak to a frugality learned reluctantly and slowly over time. Despite this he effortlessly manages the same air of superiority that the other man strives for. Perhaps it is the difference in their ages that makes the difference, for where Nepharios is clearly a youth by human standards, the newcomer is older, though how much older is hard to say.
He straightens his clothes and his long blonde hair as he sits then focuses his eyes on the podium. He remains unmoving throughout the speech. At the end he looks around at his new companions, his face unreadable, then takes a breath.
“Alcazar,” he says. “Alcazar Tremayne. I too come to learn what I can from...” he waves a hand languidly at the podium, “...from these folk. Though it is unclear why I selected them in the first place.” He shrugs, and a faint smile appears on his pale lips, “I’m sure I had a good reason.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He bows slightly in his seat, holding his fisted hand to his chest.
Miawynn is sitting at the end of the table trying not to sit too close to anyone, watching the headmaster speak as she twiddles her thumbs. She is a pale elf, with wavy red hair the drapes down her back. Her shirt is clearly worn and old, with stains all over it and the bottom ripped. The left shoulder seam appears to have given out over time revealing her pale skin. She keeps her backpack on (and assuming Ewock is there), you can hear shuffling through out the bag and occasional bumps protruding out as if the bag is breathing.
Without looking up, she says "Hello, I'm Miawynn." After a few seconds, she peeks up to look at her surrounding peers.
Jinx eyes the people next to her with interest. She immediately takes a liking to Sylvie, but as soon as Nepharios opens his mouth, the grin on the gnome's face starts to fade. This human could be Lord Fancypants' son, she thinks to herself with chagrin. He's going to be part of my adventuring party? She tries to regain her smile, but instead her expression turns to that of someone who just tasted something sour. Before she can recover her good humor, another man sits down next to him, and he also has the look of the nobility about him but in a down-on-his-luck sort of way. Jinx tries not to roll her eyes when he mentions selecting the academy as the way he says it sounds pompous to her ears, but then again she's always had a bit of a chip on her shoulder when it comes to the privileged members of society.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintances," she finally says, with forced cheerfulness. "Magic, huh? That's exciting. I came because I'm really good at finding out people's secrets and selling them to the highest bidder. Apparently there's a place for that here. Who would've thought, right?" She says this last with a wry smile and a pointed look at the two men.
Before anyone can respond, she continues, "So a name huh? How about Jinx's Jovial Rovers? Has a nice ring to it, I think."
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
Miawynn can't help but to let out a chuckle at Jinx's mention of a name. She waits to see if anyone else responds before answering, "You're not serious, right?" suddenly looking serious.
Calm yourself Miawynn, remember that Professor Gosteth said the true challenge are outside these walls. she thinks to herself, acutely aware that she is the only one who has since spoken and unsure how she will get along working with others when she is use to working by herself and the animals.
"An information person? Sounds fitting for a school, yeah?" Sylvie shrugs. She hardly seems phased by those of a finer cloth around her. Though they did make her rather simple clothes look worse. "Outside of being here for learning, guess I'm just here for the experience. Never had much of a chance for proper schooling till now."
Sylvie rubs her chin as she considers the name of the group. "The alliteration is kind of nice, but aren't carnivals the ones that name themselves after people? Rovers does sound good for an adventuring group, though. Maybe the... Eclectic Rovers?"
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
(( RP insight roll 11 in log ; I'm assuming he gets a vague sense of resentment but has no idea why ))
Alcazar's gaze lingers on Jinx as she speaks, then he grunts and draws another breath. "Those who lead mercenary bands -- for that is what I fear we will become -- need to earn that place."
He looks around at the other groups, wondering how they are faring and whether they will in fact be competing with them in some way. Turning back he brushes some imaginary lint from his sleeves, "Besides, I'm done roving for a while and neither do I feel particularly jovial."
"If we must come up with a name, I'd suggest something a little more sinister. Something that might strike fear in the hearts of the hoi poloi." Satisfied with his sleeves, he stares down at his own pallid hands and smiles. "The Pale Hand, perhaps? There are, after all, five of us."
"Individuals, working together for a common cause, and all that..."
As you converse, you a suddenly interrupted by a deep, rumbling voice. “Hello. May I join you? I’m afraid I’m a bit late. Your building faces the wrong direction and it took me some time to find the entrance. Are we eating yet?” The bearer of the voice is a creature you have possibly only heard rumors of, if you’ve heard anything at all. He looks like a humanoid turtle, complete with a large shell, onto which a backpack, a greataxe, and a few other implements have been buckled. He wears little clothing, although metal bits and bobs have been works into the edge of his shell.
Looking around, presumably for some food, he sets a bag he has been carrying down. “I am Paartu, son of Nura and Boril, of the Flusshaven clan. Do you think they’ll have fresh monkey?”
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
The pale young man in the exquisite black robes listens to the others introductions, nodding politely at them in turn, a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he notices the shuffling about in the red-haired elf's backpack. He gives the gnome a scowl at the mention of finding out people's secrets, immediately taking it as some sort of threat it seems. He seems relieved that the others didn't seem to accept the gnome's outrageous suggestion for a team name. He nods slightly at the mention of The Pale Hand as a name but the idea seems to fall apart as the group is joined by a sixth...individual. Nepharios rolls his eyes at the mention of fresh monkey. He could only assume the turtle-being intended to eat it, which seemed positively revolting to the young noble. "No, I'm afraid eating comes later Partuu of the Flusshaven clan and I would be surprised if fresh monkey was served, any sort of monkey in fact." He says with a somewhat derisive tone. "Apart from having a serious and possibly academic tone I must admit I'm not overly interested in what this group will be called. I wouldn't mind the group having those bonus points the headmaster mentioned though, we will likely have use of those, so perhaps we should indeed create an emblem too, assuming our name can be interpreted into an emblem in some suitable way." He says, looking around at the others for more thoughts on the matter, then taking up from his black backpack some parchments, ink, an ink pen and small bag of sand, ready to sketch an emblem.
Alcazar sizes up the newcomer and smiles. "A six fingered hand perhaps. How very occult it would be." He waves a hand at the strange addition to their numbers, his brow furrows a little, taking the reality in. "Or perhaps...foot? Paddle?"
"Whatever." He shakes his head, "Do not let mere details intrude! If we are successful, then we must expect to grow. The name, it seems to me, has a certain panache." With a glance to Nepharios he adds, "It also has the advantage of a multitude of possibilities when it come to images, emblems and such like."
Jinx grins at Miawynn. "Hardly ever," she replies to her question.
The little gnome listens to the conversation around her as the group attempts to come up with a name.
"The Pale Hand, huh?" she says. "That's sinister all right, maybe a little too creepy?" Although it does seem fitting for you, she thinks but does not say, and the noble's son over there in his all-black ensemble too.
Jinx's eyes go wide when the latest member of their group arrives: a humanoid turtle! She's never even heard of such a race before. She marvels at his shell and his melodious, deep voice. When he mentions wanting to eat monkey, she is both repulsed and intrigued by the prospect.
"Greetings, Paartu! I'm afraid we don't usually eat monkeys around these parts, but maybe they'll have ham? I'm partial to ham," she says.
When the talk returns to the name, Jinx relents. "Okay, creepy wins," she says. "It would definitely make for a striking emblem!"
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
Sylvie grins at the newcomer, only momentarily surprised by his appearance. "Wow, the rumors are true about turtlefolk. Though never heard've eating a monkey before. Usually they're the ones getting into your food stores and eating stuff." she grimaces at a memory. "Nice t'meet you though, and welcome to the group. We're choosing a name."
Speaking of group names, the half elf nods in agreement with Jinx at the mention of the name giving off a dark connotation. "Not a bad idea, though ominous. A star would be good for a emblem. Seen plenty of different designs for them, and there's a couple that could incorporate six sides. Plenty of symbolism behind them too."
The ever growing document of character concepts can never be too long, can it?
Around the room, other students begin forming their groups. In one area, a young human man who is dressed in fine black robes has a zombie standing behind him. With him are a dwarf man and a yuan-ti woman. In another area, four kobolds join together to form another group. Another group is formed from two human men and two human women.
Nearby, a human man, an elf woman, a halfling woman and a dwarf man form yet another group. Behind them, a half-elf man, a gnome man, a human man and a dwarf man ally.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Nepharios briefly glances around at the other teams forming up, making mental notes on which of them seems likely to be real competitors for whatever prize goes to the winner.
Insight if relevant: 4
The young noble also tries some variations of small sketches of a hand and a six-pointed star while the others discuss. "The pale eclectic roving star." He mutters, playing with the ideas mentioned as he keeps sketching.
After a while he looks up and gives Sylvie small smile. Nepharios wanted do well with his grades and even though team work never had been his strong suit he was ready to submit to the will of the group if that was what it took to win, and he was convinced a good team needed a leader and the half-elf with the dark green hair had definitely been the one who might be able to bring this disparate group of individuals together to work as one. He had better lend her his support.
"Excellent!" Alcazar seems almost animated at this point, "Then it's settled."
He then nods to Sylvie, "Yes, yes, stars. Everyone has stars, or at least they used to. I can see it now: A pale hand on a field of stars, reaching for something unseen and unknown..."
Paartu says, "There is a constellation, important to my people, as it is symbolic of great A'Tuin. The four legs, head, and tail." With a claw, he notes the location of the stars relative to each other on his chest plate.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Miawynn looks over at the sketch, hesitate at first with these individuals who she would spend her time with at this Academy but seeing the progress so far she gives a slight nod and smirk. As she is about to outline the hole in the shoulder of her shirt, a small furry head pops out of her bag. A squirrel appears, mouth full of nuts and hands Miawynn one while eyeing his surroundings. Looking at the multitudes of brightly colored hair, dark robes, and a turtle folk he gives out a small shriek and grabs her shoulder. "Ouch" Miawynn lets out "I know Ewock, we've never seen such a group." Whispering now, she says "Let us observe, we are meant to work with them and there is much we don't know about any of these kinds." as she takes the nut and places it on the table. Ewock nods with understanding and sneaks back into the bag with only his head out as he continues to munch away.