It's been nearly ten years since the dreaded pirate Captain Hailstorm sank beneath the waves, felled by Admiral Jameson North in a legendary battle. But years after the pirate's death, rumors still run rampant that Captain Hailstorm had the last laugh when he took the location of his legendary treasure to his watery grave. Many have set out in search of the treasure, hoping to win fortune and fame, but few have returned from the attempt, and those who do come back with tales of the terrifying monsters that stood in their way.
But you, brave adventurers, are ready to face any danger. Perhaps you feel you have nothing left to lose. Or perhaps you are running from something that scares you more than death itself... in any case, you have decided to brave the Sea of the Dead to find the fabled treasure of Captain Hailstorm!
Hello everyone! I've been a player in several PbP games, and I've DM'd a few games IRL... but I haven't DM'd a PbP game yet, so I decided to give it a go. This is going to be a homebrew campaign and if it looks a lot like a Pirates of the Caribbean ripoff... uhhh... shut up lol
I'm looking to recruit 4-6 players for this pirate-themed mini-campaign. Please include the following in your application:
Character name:
Race:
Class/subclass:
Background:
Backstory:
Player characters start at level 3, and multiclassing is allowed. Use Point Buy or Standard Array for abilities. All official races are allowed (yes, including flying races, v. Human, and Custom Lineage). All official classes are allowed (sorry, Blood Hunter fans). All standard backgrounds are allowed ("standard backgrounds" meaning any background that doesn't give you a bonus feat, add to your spell list, etc.) You also start play with 1 Uncommon magic item of your choice. This magic item should be connected to your backstory, to Captain Hailstorm, or both.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! Recruiting will close on Wednesday (June 14) at 1:30 P.M EST.
Anton was born on the water. His family had a history as transporters of goods and people for generations. They owned 3 ships which they ran between ports, each ship ran by one of the elder family members. Over the years Anton had learned every role needed to run a ship apart from one, captain of the ship. The Anton’s father began preparing to leave the seafaring life and run the land based side of the business. He brought Anton to his ship and over the course of two years, taught him everything he needed to know to captain the vessel. On their final journey home, Anton’s father gave him a deck or cards. When used, the cards would bring forth illusions of various creatures, which the family had used to ward off attempts at piracy. He planned to have Anton captain the last leg of the journey before he retired from the ship and left it to Anton. During their journey home, they encountered a storm. Anton and the crew did everything they could to make their way through, but a miscalculation caused the ship to crash into a reef and capsize. He tried to stay above water, but his strength was sapped and Anton found himself sinking beneath the waves. A voice reached out to his mind and offered to save him and his father for a price. Anton accepted and awoke on a nearby patch of land with his father, both in perfect health. They made their way home to their family, hoping to spend some time off the water. As soon as they arrived home, the voice reached out again and instructed Anton to return to the water and find Captain Hailstorm’s treasure.
7' of ego in a 3'3" body. Chip on the shoulder large enough to surf on.
Ideals
For all my bluster, Granddad raised me to do the right thing...eventually. (Good)
Bonds
I will live up to the standard Granddad set and someday make him proud.
Flaws
Chip on his shoulder. Sensitive about his upbringing.
Orphaned at an early age, Gridolpho was raised on the rough streets of <Large City in your campaign> by an older Halfling member of the Thieves Guild known simply as "Granddad". Gridolpho was his star pupil and he is keenly aware of the fact that he is above-average when it comes to the art of burglary. It's given him an ego when it comes to his own skills. But being a person of short stature surrounded by larger races left Gridolpho with a strong dislike of the other races who he feels look down on him and other Halflings. He constantly refers to the taller races as "Bigjobs" (or, rather, "Feckin' Bigjobs!")
Shortly after he came of age and joined the Guild as a full member, Granddad died under mysterious circumstances. The Guild leaders told him it was "natural causes", but he doesn't buy it for a second. But he also knows he can't take on the Guild...yet.
Gridolpho is brash and loud (overcompensating for his size), but deep down has a good heart. "Take only from those that can afford to gives it. Give to thems that don't has when you can" as Granddad says. Gridolpho usually ends up doing the right thing...eventually.
A consummate thief, Gridolpho doesn't handle downtime well. He is constantly fidgety, keeping his hands busy twiddling one of his daggers, shuffling cards, or (if he's had a drink or two) playing his flute. "Granddad said music was good for the soul. I don't care for that shite, but it does keep the fingers limber and ready for real work." He considers it a point of professional pride that no one really knows how many daggers he has on his person ("Always one more than you think, Bigjob!") or what cards he's holding in his hand ("Ante up and find out!"). Lastly, he has an ever-present metal toothpick in the corner of his mouth. Although that tends to disappear when it looks like he's about to be taken into custody, tucked into a cheek or slipped up a sleeve or down a boot in case he needs to pick his way out of trouble later.
On the job, Gridolpho is quiet, focused, and competent. His faith in his skills and Granddad's training are the closest he comes to religion. He eschews magic and sees "blessings" and "musical inspiration" as a form of cheating. If it can't be done by skill and skill alone, Gridolpho doesn't see it as worth doing. He wears a small, chess-like token carved in the image of a smug, older Halfling on a leather thong around his neck. His nervous fingers tend to go to it when he's talking about Granddad. The Thieves Guild he belongs to used these tokens as representations of their members and Gridolpho kept Granddad's piece after the old coot got "knocked off the board".
Sayyida grew up on the island of Khalifa to the north of the Sea of the Dead. Her family were one of several ruling noble merchant houses and she and her siblings spent as much of their time on the water as on the land.
When just a child her family compound was raided by a small fleet of privateers led by Captain Hailstorm, by the time the other noble families were able to send aid her father and brothers were dead and their fortune raided. Her mother was able to stabilise their position by marrying off her sisters but an injury to her face on the night of the raid made marrying Sayyida off quite difficult , something for which the young woman was quite glad of.
Resolving to shape her own fate she took her fathers blade, cut off her hair and signed onto a merchant ship under her dead brothers name, making an oath to the dark waters that she would cut off Hailstorms head and make a cup of his skull......some 10 years later after almost catching up to Hailstorm on a few occasions she learned that North had already dispatched him.
Lost in rage she resolved nevertheless to fulfil her oath, find the old pirates remains and avenge her family......and get a new cup into the bargain.
Backstory: A pirate of near-mythical reputation, the Dread Pirate Roberts is feared across the seven seas for his ruthlessness and sword fighting prowess, and is well known for taking no prisoners. It is revealed that Roberts is not one man; rather, it is a series of individuals who pass the Roberts name and reputation to a chosen successor once they are wealthy enough to retire. When the time comes, the current "Roberts" and his chosen successor sail into port and discharge the crew. They then hire a new crew, the ex-Roberts staying aboard as first mate and referring to his successor as "Captain Roberts". Once the crew grows accustomed to the new Roberts, the previous captain leaves to enjoy his retirement.
Backstory: Heivol started out as a simple fisher from a small town with minimal goals and aspersions besides catching enough to trade and make a simple living. All that changed when pirates raided his small village and laid waste to much of it. This event led Heivol to search out privateer's and to find solace in the sea gods and their unpredictable nature while at sea. It was during this life as a privateer that he became a temepst cleric to the gods of the sea, it was due to his devotion that he was spared when his ship was wrecked in a storm.
Now in search of a new crew and jaded by life at sea he is ready to search out treasure.
Backstory: Merigar "Burner" Tearbridge didn't start out as a cut throat pirate but he chose to become one. Merigar was born in the hills near the coast to a noble family of Dwarves who ran a large fishing trade, and he was set to inherit their wealth. At first Merigar was enthusiastic about this and studied constantly in his childhood about the fishing trade, finances, and boats and he was set to be a very fine leader. His parents decided to send him off to work on a fishing boat to learn the gist of the trade even more, their he met his mentor Hiker Norbrand. Hiker was a wizard of evocation and he used his elemental ability's as artillery to keep the ship safe from pirates and the like.
On his 5 years on the boat Merigar took an extreme liking to Hiker and Hiker decided to make Merigar his apprentice. Merigar worked constantly on his Evocation and spent 20 more years on the boat and by then he was an adult. Once he came back his parents realized his potential and instead of giving him the company set him to work as the defender of the flagship of their biggest fishing fleet, and from time and time again he sent pirate ship's running.
While he was working on the fleet he met a beautiful dwarf maiden and married her soon after. Her name was Unella Flereck and he loved her greatly they spent almost all their time together when there was downtime on the ship and all the other dwarves were jealous, she eventually had to go back to the mainland he was left alone, but he made do by soaking his sorrows in ship work and spell slinging.
Everything was relatively fine until one day he was helping hoist a sail when he saw a large amount of ships rounding the corner. They were obviously pirate ships and there were way to many to fend off so the entire fishing fleet fell into disarray as people rushed to the dingys while the wizards tried their best to thin the numbers of the fleet but it was alas to much for the wizards, and almost all the ships were raided. It was finally realized the true stakes of the situation when Captain Hailstorm boarded the ship he was on, and everybody still on the ship surrendered except Merigar. Everybody who surrendered was executed but Merigar still fought a futile effort to keep them at bay.
Captain Hailstorm was impressed with his prowess and effort and he decided to take Merigar prisoner. In the first few years as prisoner Merigar was very adverse to Captain Hailstorm, but over time his attitude changed, slowly changing into the mindset of a pirate. His brain focused on riches and the money the Captain got and eventually he joined the crew as a wizard providing support and artillery against their victims. His mindset had changed and the only thing he cared about was the coin he could get in his fingers. He sailed the seas with this crew for many years destroying ships and raiding them.
Eventually for his good work for the crew Captain Hailstorm bestowed upon him a ring of Mind Shielding to forever shield his mind and keep his soul safe, and he was thankful for once because of this gift. Not long after Admiral Jameson North attacked and the legendary battle that sunk Hailstorm ensued. Merigar provided all the support he could but when it seemed to be a lost battle he got on a dingy and rowed to the nearest island.
Since then Merigar has layed low in his efforts and has only worked on a couple of jobs since the sinking of the ship. He has had to evade the law more times than he can count and he is beginning to think he should go back to his wife and settle down but not before one last job on the high seas. Merigar just wants a little bit more before he settles down.
Magic Item: As stated before my magic item is a ring of mind sheilding.
Backstory: Wade had planned to be a life long Marine. He was a good soldier. He sailed on many ships and many captains. On one of his tours one of the newbes feel overboard and was sinking fast. He had told him not to wear the heavy armor. When he final reached him he saw a piece of cloth caught on the coral. He grabed for it and the wayward crew member and brought both to the service. After getting the dumb crewman oback on board he looked at the cloth and it was a fine cloak. He found when he wore it he was harder to hit.
Of all his leaders, Captain Blyth was the absolute worst. He beat the crew, he beat the marines, he even beat the cook. That was his to lead to his demise. The cook had had enough. Together with the first mate they poisoned the captains food. He lingered for two days before he died. When we reached shore the guards took all of us in custody. Even though I was not involved or had any fore knowledge, I was still thrown out of the navy. I tried to become a landlouper, but the sea is in my blood.
Now I am looking for a captain and crew that would take a worthless kitten like me.
Class/subclass: Hexblade 1 / Bard 2 (College of Swords)
Background: Pirate
Backstory: Night’s Silver Lining came from a typical clutch of Tabaxi and had a fairly decent childhood. His main problem is that his head easily got lost in the stories and tales he heard from strangers or read in books. He wanted to be a part of the daring adventures and the crazy high jinks of a sell sword!
As he came of age he wished a fond fare the well to his parents and all and hit the road. He found the road was not quite as exciting as he had thought. Still, he did find his way to coast and despite his hatred of water and getting wet, he was soon working upon a pirate ship!
Disregard - I'm in too many games already and you have a lot of entries who put in a lot more effort than I did :)
Class/subclass: Warlock (Fathomless/Pact of the Blade)
Background: Pirate
Backstory: Born to a peasant class family, Coriana ran away from her family home at 16. Desperate to see the world, she joined a crew of a merchant ship. When the ship was taken by pirates, she switched sides, and joined the pirate crew. Her ferocity and skill gained her quite a reputation, and she switched crews often, looking for bigger scores. She set out with a boat and crew of her own, and disaster struck. Caught in a powerful hurricane, her ship capsized and sank. Her crew lost, she felt herself slip beneath the waves, and as she felt her lungs fill with seawater, she felt a presence. It spoke in her mind, “You are more than you have been. I am the Lord of the Deep, I will have need of your help. I will return you to the surface in exchange for your service in the future.” She agreed, and awoke on a beach, barely alive. Over the next few years her career resumed, her reputation grew and she put her newfound abilities to work enriching herself. Eventually a deal gone bad left her at loose ends, owning only what she has on her person, and looking for her next move.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
Fishing's a good life. At least it was until a freak storm appeared out of nowhere, capsized the boat and threw Mazhal overboard. Mazhal is no stranger to swimming under strenuous circumstances but fate was not kind to him that day. He became entangled in the lobster nets the crew had been using and as he sunk deeper and deeper into the murky depths, he desperately called out for anyone, anything, to deliver him from this watery grave. As his flesh became numb to the lobster pinches and his vision grew dark, Mazhal's last thought was how funny it looked like a shadow reached out to him...
When he came to, Mazhal found himself washed ashore on a small, deserted island. He did not know how he survived but he did quickly discover he was a changed man. When he tried to fish for crab, he found that it was as easy to breath under water as it was above it. His eyes could see more clearly in the darkness of night or the deeper part of the ocean. But most puzzling of all were the two large black marking on the inside of his underarms. They looked like lobster claws, one on each arm, and Mazhal could swear that he could see them occasionally clasp shut, though he never actually saw it happen.
After several weeks on the island surviving on what he could catch, Mazhal decided to take the plunge and put his new abilities to the test. He would die on the island if he stay put so he figured he might as well try to swim to civilisation. And should he drown along the way, that would at least be a seaman's death. It took him the better part of two days swimming nonstop, only pausing occasionally to drift in the current, before he found a harbour, people and ships. After resting up and inquiring around, Mazhal learned that his former crew and ship had all been declared lost at sea and presumed dead, him included.
With his past self dead, Mazhal resolved himself to make the best of a bad situation. And so opportunity presented itself one night at the tavern when he overheard some patrons talking in hushed tones about captain Hailstorm and his legendary treasure lost at sea...
Pirate campaign sounds cool. Any idea (yet) on how much focus will be on exploration/combat/social interaction?
Same question, but also one about tone. Are you imagining more of a dark gritty cutthroat feel or a lighthearted swashbuckling adventure?
So, in answer to the first question I'll probably put more emphasis on combat and social interaction than exploration (though, being a nautical adventure, I'm certainly not planning to ignore exploration entirely). I think my top priority will be the RP of social interaction, especially since I'm already seeing some characters who swore vengeance on Captain Hailstorm and others who used to work for him...
I think I'll probably leave most of the ship combat to boarding crews and PCs can fire artillery at enemy ships if they aren't close enough to board.
As for groverbloom's question, I'm going to go for a more gritty tone. Not that I don't expect some light-hearted antics, but overall the pirates are evil cut throats and the sea is a dangerous place.
Class/subclass: Warlock (Great Old One)/Fighter(Battlemaster)
Background: Sailor
Backstory: Saelidon Wavebinder, once a proud sailor, bore the weight of a tragic past. Born into a seafaring family, his life took a fateful turn when a powerful storm wrecked their ship, claiming the lives of his loved ones and leaving him stranded. Desperate and consumed by grief, Saelidon found himself making a dire pact with an ancient and enigmatic sea entity known as the Abyssal Tide. This pact bestowed upon him eldritch powers that mirrored the tempestuous seas he sailed, binding his fate to the ocean's depths. Transformed by his connection to the primordial forces, Saelidon Wavebinder now roams the shores of Faerûn, forever haunted by his lost crew, his soul tethered to the unending expanse of the sea, and driven by a relentless desire for redemption and a sense of purpose amidst the ever-churning tides of his existence.
Character name: Sae Ivui Naïlo ("Poison Ivy of the Nightbreeze clan")
Race: Wood elven
Class/subclass: Rogue / Swashbuckler
Background: Haunted One
Campaign background: Fish out of water (or rather, "elf out of woods")
Item: Moon-touched shortsword (see backstory; traditional item for my scout clan, I have always carried my betrothed's after his murder)**
Backstory:
I was raised in the woodland shadows, eldest daughter of a clan of elite elven scouts and guerillas. Then an ogre murdered my betrothed, destroyed my tribe and went home to raise a flag of wood elf scalps,. Rangers know nothing about favored enemies; I will hunt them from the shadows until every single putrid abomination of Vaprak's spawn has been burned away by the alchemist's fire of my hatred.
Look into these eyes if you think I lie."
*produces a sun-dried, leathery ogre's head from a handy haversack and dangles it silently before you at eye level by the hair*
I care nothing for riches. In themselves. As long as you leave me enough to fund my quest to hunt down the last ogre, troll, or evil giantkin in existence and send them screaming to Hell, you can keep the rest of the damned gold, or better yet sink it beneath the waves again before that damned pirate's ghost comes looking for it. I know a thing or two about searings in the soul that might well last beyond the bonds of death.
** In some games, I have had the darkness of the murder, her grief and her lust for vengeance transform his blade into a homebrew item I have created called a dusk-touched shortsword; which sheds darkness instead of light and can be bathed in shadowy flames that do no extra physical damage but instead cause a level of exhaustion per round to the target unless they make a CON saving throw which grows progressively easier on subsequent rounds; two successes end the effect. In this case, I would imagine her carrying both this and her own moon-touched shortsword; in this case there is a special effect to the dusk touched blade. If its darkness overlaps the light from a moon touched or flame tongue blade, there is a d12 table to roll on to determine which is dampened or quenched; and if a 12 is rolled the area is filled with flickering shadows that cause a modified form of confusion in all beholders including the wielder and allies.
(going to pose two characters, one with what I have, one of content shared)
Character name: Juke
Race: Kenku
Class/subclass: Bard (Subclass Undecided)
Background: Shantyman (Custom sailor or folk hero)
Backstory: Pending details, but they are a Kenku bard that carries and a book of songs they know and a box labeled "Juke box" where they take payment for playing a known song.
(If content not available)
Character name: Westley the Crusher
Race: Goliath
Class/subclass: Barbarian 2/Rogue 1
Background: Criminal
Backstory: Details pending, but a pretty standard hard upbringing leading to a mostly unsavory lifestyle that ended up as a pirate or privateer
Areleo was born the third son of the great coral reef empire. Despite his low birth order, Areleo had a chance at the crown because of his strength and prowess. As part of his journey to the crown, he must journey to the surface and capture a great artifact. As a tool of this journey, he was given His house Lightening Javalian.
Areleo has no real ties to the surface world but he will see this as an opportunity to conquer and gather new connections for his kingdom.
It's been nearly ten years since the dreaded pirate Captain Hailstorm sank beneath the waves, felled by Admiral Jameson North in a legendary battle. But years after the pirate's death, rumors still run rampant that Captain Hailstorm had the last laugh when he took the location of his legendary treasure to his watery grave. Many have set out in search of the treasure, hoping to win fortune and fame, but few have returned from the attempt, and those who do come back with tales of the terrifying monsters that stood in their way.
But you, brave adventurers, are ready to face any danger. Perhaps you feel you have nothing left to lose. Or perhaps you are running from something that scares you more than death itself... in any case, you have decided to brave the Sea of the Dead to find the fabled treasure of Captain Hailstorm!
Hello everyone! I've been a player in several PbP games, and I've DM'd a few games IRL... but I haven't DM'd a PbP game yet, so I decided to give it a go. This is going to be a homebrew campaign and if it looks a lot like a Pirates of the Caribbean ripoff... uhhh... shut up lol
I'm looking to recruit 4-6 players for this pirate-themed mini-campaign. Please include the following in your application:
Character name:
Race:
Class/subclass:
Background:
Backstory:
Player characters start at level 3, and multiclassing is allowed. Use Point Buy or Standard Array for abilities. All official races are allowed (yes, including flying races, v. Human, and Custom Lineage). All official classes are allowed (sorry, Blood Hunter fans). All standard backgrounds are allowed ("standard backgrounds" meaning any background that doesn't give you a bonus feat, add to your spell list, etc.) You also start play with 1 Uncommon magic item of your choice. This magic item should be connected to your backstory, to Captain Hailstorm, or both.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! Recruiting will close on Wednesday (June 14) at 1:30 P.M EST.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Pirate campaign sounds cool. Any idea (yet) on how much focus will be on exploration/combat/social interaction?
Is ship to ship combat, as written in Ghost of Saltmarsh going to be a thing?
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Same question, but also one about tone. Are you imagining more of a dark gritty cutthroat feel or a lighthearted swashbuckling adventure?
Name: Anton Liadon
Class/subclass: Aberrant Mind 1/Fathomless 2
Background: Sailor
Item: Deck of Illusions
Backstory:
Anton was born on the water. His family had a history as transporters of goods and people for generations. They owned 3 ships which they ran between ports, each ship ran by one of the elder family members. Over the years Anton had learned every role needed to run a ship apart from one, captain of the ship. The Anton’s father began preparing to leave the seafaring life and run the land based side of the business. He brought Anton to his ship and over the course of two years, taught him everything he needed to know to captain the vessel. On their final journey home, Anton’s father gave him a deck or cards. When used, the cards would bring forth illusions of various creatures, which the family had used to ward off attempts at piracy. He planned to have Anton captain the last leg of the journey before he retired from the ship and left it to Anton. During their journey home, they encountered a storm. Anton and the crew did everything they could to make their way through, but a miscalculation caused the ship to crash into a reef and capsize. He tried to stay above water, but his strength was sapped and Anton found himself sinking beneath the waves. A voice reached out to his mind and offered to save him and his father for a price. Anton accepted and awoke on a nearby patch of land with his father, both in perfect health. They made their way home to their family, hoping to spend some time off the water. As soon as they arrived home, the voice reached out again and instructed Anton to return to the water and find Captain Hailstorm’s treasure.
https://ddb.ac/characters/102295677/g4U2TT
Character name: Gridolpho Ninefingers
Class/subclass: Rogue/Thief
Background: Criminal
Backstory:
DCI: 3319125026
https://ddb.ac/characters/102302501/S0FhhI
Character name: Sayyida al Hurra
Class/subclass: Paladin ( Oath of the Sea)
Background: Noble
Backstory:
Sayyida grew up on the island of Khalifa to the north of the Sea of the Dead. Her family were one of several ruling noble merchant houses and she and her siblings spent as much of their time on the water as on the land.
When just a child her family compound was raided by a small fleet of privateers led by Captain Hailstorm, by the time the other noble families were able to send aid her father and brothers were dead and their fortune raided. Her mother was able to stabilise their position by marrying off her sisters but an injury to her face on the night of the raid made marrying Sayyida off quite difficult , something for which the young woman was quite glad of.
Resolving to shape her own fate she took her fathers blade, cut off her hair and signed onto a merchant ship under her dead brothers name, making an oath to the dark waters that she would cut off Hailstorms head and make a cup of his skull......some 10 years later after almost catching up to Hailstorm on a few occasions she learned that North had already dispatched him.
Lost in rage she resolved nevertheless to fulfil her oath, find the old pirates remains and avenge her family......and get a new cup into the bargain.
Magic Item: Scimitar +1.
Character name: Dread Pirate Roberts
Class/subclass: Rogue (Swashbuckler)
Background: Pirate
Backstory: A pirate of near-mythical reputation, the Dread Pirate Roberts is feared across the seven seas for his ruthlessness and sword fighting prowess, and is well known for taking no prisoners. It is revealed that Roberts is not one man; rather, it is a series of individuals who pass the Roberts name and reputation to a chosen successor once they are wealthy enough to retire. When the time comes, the current "Roberts" and his chosen successor sail into port and discharge the crew. They then hire a new crew, the ex-Roberts staying aboard as first mate and referring to his successor as "Captain Roberts". Once the crew grows accustomed to the new Roberts, the previous captain leaves to enjoy his retirement.
Name: Heivol (Sea Elf)
Class: Tempest Cleric
Background: marine
Backstory: Heivol started out as a simple fisher from a small town with minimal goals and aspersions besides catching enough to trade and make a simple living. All that changed when pirates raided his small village and laid waste to much of it. This event led Heivol to search out privateer's and to find solace in the sea gods and their unpredictable nature while at sea. It was during this life as a privateer that he became a temepst cleric to the gods of the sea, it was due to his devotion that he was spared when his ship was wrecked in a storm.
Now in search of a new crew and jaded by life at sea he is ready to search out treasure.
Character name: Merigar "Burner" Tearbridge
Class/Sublcass: Wizard school of evocation
Background: Noble
Backstory: Merigar "Burner" Tearbridge didn't start out as a cut throat pirate but he chose to become one. Merigar was born in the hills near the coast to a noble family of Dwarves who ran a large fishing trade, and he was set to inherit their wealth. At first Merigar was enthusiastic about this and studied constantly in his childhood about the fishing trade, finances, and boats and he was set to be a very fine leader. His parents decided to send him off to work on a fishing boat to learn the gist of the trade even more, their he met his mentor Hiker Norbrand. Hiker was a wizard of evocation and he used his elemental ability's as artillery to keep the ship safe from pirates and the like.
On his 5 years on the boat Merigar took an extreme liking to Hiker and Hiker decided to make Merigar his apprentice. Merigar worked constantly on his Evocation and spent 20 more years on the boat and by then he was an adult. Once he came back his parents realized his potential and instead of giving him the company set him to work as the defender of the flagship of their biggest fishing fleet, and from time and time again he sent pirate ship's running.
While he was working on the fleet he met a beautiful dwarf maiden and married her soon after. Her name was Unella Flereck and he loved her greatly they spent almost all their time together when there was downtime on the ship and all the other dwarves were jealous, she eventually had to go back to the mainland he was left alone, but he made do by soaking his sorrows in ship work and spell slinging.
Everything was relatively fine until one day he was helping hoist a sail when he saw a large amount of ships rounding the corner. They were obviously pirate ships and there were way to many to fend off so the entire fishing fleet fell into disarray as people rushed to the dingys while the wizards tried their best to thin the numbers of the fleet but it was alas to much for the wizards, and almost all the ships were raided. It was finally realized the true stakes of the situation when Captain Hailstorm boarded the ship he was on, and everybody still on the ship surrendered except Merigar. Everybody who surrendered was executed but Merigar still fought a futile effort to keep them at bay.
Captain Hailstorm was impressed with his prowess and effort and he decided to take Merigar prisoner. In the first few years as prisoner Merigar was very adverse to Captain Hailstorm, but over time his attitude changed, slowly changing into the mindset of a pirate. His brain focused on riches and the money the Captain got and eventually he joined the crew as a wizard providing support and artillery against their victims. His mindset had changed and the only thing he cared about was the coin he could get in his fingers. He sailed the seas with this crew for many years destroying ships and raiding them.
Eventually for his good work for the crew Captain Hailstorm bestowed upon him a ring of Mind Shielding to forever shield his mind and keep his soul safe, and he was thankful for once because of this gift. Not long after Admiral Jameson North attacked and the legendary battle that sunk Hailstorm ensued. Merigar provided all the support he could but when it seemed to be a lost battle he got on a dingy and rowed to the nearest island.
Since then Merigar has layed low in his efforts and has only worked on a couple of jobs since the sinking of the ship. He has had to evade the law more times than he can count and he is beginning to think he should go back to his wife and settle down but not before one last job on the high seas. Merigar just wants a little bit more before he settles down.
Magic Item: As stated before my magic item is a ring of mind sheilding.
Name: Wade Evershore
Race: Tabaxi
Class/Subclass: Warlock/The Fathomless
Background: Marine (former)
Backstory: Wade had planned to be a life long Marine. He was a good soldier. He sailed on many ships and many captains. On one of his tours one of the newbes feel overboard and was sinking fast. He had told him not to wear the heavy armor. When he final reached him he saw a piece of cloth caught on the coral. He grabed for it and the wayward crew member and brought both to the service. After getting the dumb crewman oback on board he looked at the cloth and it was a fine cloak. He found when he wore it he was harder to hit.
Of all his leaders, Captain Blyth was the absolute worst. He beat the crew, he beat the marines, he even beat the cook. That was his to lead to his demise. The cook had had enough. Together with the first mate they poisoned the captains food. He lingered for two days before he died. When we reached shore the guards took all of us in custody. Even though I was not involved or had any fore knowledge, I was still thrown out of the navy. I tried to become a landlouper, but the sea is in my blood.
Now I am looking for a captain and crew that would take a worthless kitten like me.
https://ddb.ac/characters/102307421/LceEbz
D&D since 1984
Character name: Night’s Silver Lining aka Silver aka Stripey aka SkunkClass/subclass: Hexblade 1 / Bard 2 (College of Swords)Background: PirateBackstory:Night’s Silver Lining came from a typical clutch of Tabaxi and had a fairly decent childhood. His main problem is that his head easily got lost in the stories and tales he heard from strangers or read in books. He wanted to be a part of the daring adventures and the crazy high jinks of a sell sword!As he came of age he wished a fond fare the well to his parents and all and hit the road. He found the road was not quite as exciting as he had thought. Still, he did find his way to coast and despite his hatred of water and getting wet, he was soon working upon a pirate ship!Disregard - I'm in too many games already and you have a lot of entries who put in a lot more effort than I did :)
Character name: Coriana the Forsaken
Class/subclass: Warlock (Fathomless/Pact of the Blade)
Background: Pirate
Backstory: Born to a peasant class family, Coriana ran away from her family home at 16. Desperate to see the world, she joined a crew of a merchant ship. When the ship was taken by pirates, she switched sides, and joined the pirate crew. Her ferocity and skill gained her quite a reputation, and she switched crews often, looking for bigger scores. She set out with a boat and crew of her own, and disaster struck. Caught in a powerful hurricane, her ship capsized and sank. Her crew lost, she felt herself slip beneath the waves, and as she felt her lungs fill with seawater, she felt a presence. It spoke in her mind, “You are more than you have been. I am the Lord of the Deep, I will have need of your help. I will return you to the surface in exchange for your service in the future.” She agreed, and awoke on a beach, barely alive. Over the next few years her career resumed, her reputation grew and she put her newfound abilities to work enriching herself. Eventually a deal gone bad left her at loose ends, owning only what she has on her person, and looking for her next move.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Character name: Mazhal
https://ddb.ac/characters/102300106/zBALdk
Class/subclass: Fighter, Champion
Background: Shipwright
Backstory:
Fishing's a good life. At least it was until a freak storm appeared out of nowhere, capsized the boat and threw Mazhal overboard. Mazhal is no stranger to swimming under strenuous circumstances but fate was not kind to him that day. He became entangled in the lobster nets the crew had been using and as he sunk deeper and deeper into the murky depths, he desperately called out for anyone, anything, to deliver him from this watery grave. As his flesh became numb to the lobster pinches and his vision grew dark, Mazhal's last thought was how funny it looked like a shadow reached out to him...
When he came to, Mazhal found himself washed ashore on a small, deserted island. He did not know how he survived but he did quickly discover he was a changed man. When he tried to fish for crab, he found that it was as easy to breath under water as it was above it. His eyes could see more clearly in the darkness of night or the deeper part of the ocean. But most puzzling of all were the two large black marking on the inside of his underarms. They looked like lobster claws, one on each arm, and Mazhal could swear that he could see them occasionally clasp shut, though he never actually saw it happen.
After several weeks on the island surviving on what he could catch, Mazhal decided to take the plunge and put his new abilities to the test. He would die on the island if he stay put so he figured he might as well try to swim to civilisation. And should he drown along the way, that would at least be a seaman's death. It took him the better part of two days swimming nonstop, only pausing occasionally to drift in the current, before he found a harbour, people and ships. After resting up and inquiring around, Mazhal learned that his former crew and ship had all been declared lost at sea and presumed dead, him included.
With his past self dead, Mazhal resolved himself to make the best of a bad situation. And so opportunity presented itself one night at the tavern when he overheard some patrons talking in hushed tones about captain Hailstorm and his legendary treasure lost at sea...
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
So, in answer to the first question I'll probably put more emphasis on combat and social interaction than exploration (though, being a nautical adventure, I'm certainly not planning to ignore exploration entirely). I think my top priority will be the RP of social interaction, especially since I'm already seeing some characters who swore vengeance on Captain Hailstorm and others who used to work for him...
I think I'll probably leave most of the ship combat to boarding crews and PCs can fire artillery at enemy ships if they aren't close enough to board.
As for groverbloom's question, I'm going to go for a more gritty tone. Not that I don't expect some light-hearted antics, but overall the pirates are evil cut throats and the sea is a dangerous place.
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Character name: Saelidon Wavebinder
Race: Triton
Class/subclass: Warlock (Great Old One)/Fighter(Battlemaster)
Background: Sailor
Backstory: Saelidon Wavebinder, once a proud sailor, bore the weight of a tragic past. Born into a seafaring family, his life took a fateful turn when a powerful storm wrecked their ship, claiming the lives of his loved ones and leaving him stranded. Desperate and consumed by grief, Saelidon found himself making a dire pact with an ancient and enigmatic sea entity known as the Abyssal Tide. This pact bestowed upon him eldritch powers that mirrored the tempestuous seas he sailed, binding his fate to the ocean's depths. Transformed by his connection to the primordial forces, Saelidon Wavebinder now roams the shores of Faerûn, forever haunted by his lost crew, his soul tethered to the unending expanse of the sea, and driven by a relentless desire for redemption and a sense of purpose amidst the ever-churning tides of his existence.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Place holder, very interested.
Oh, so VERY interested.
Character name: Sae Ivui Naïlo ("Poison Ivy of the Nightbreeze clan")
Race: Wood elven
Class/subclass: Rogue / Swashbuckler
Background: Haunted One
Campaign background: Fish out of water (or rather, "elf out of woods")
Item: Moon-touched shortsword (see backstory; traditional item for my scout clan, I have always carried my betrothed's after his murder)**
Backstory:
** In some games, I have had the darkness of the murder, her grief and her lust for vengeance transform his blade into a homebrew item I have created called a dusk-touched shortsword; which sheds darkness instead of light and can be bathed in shadowy flames that do no extra physical damage but instead cause a level of exhaustion per round to the target unless they make a CON saving throw which grows progressively easier on subsequent rounds; two successes end the effect. In this case, I would imagine her carrying both this and her own moon-touched shortsword; in this case there is a special effect to the dusk touched blade. If its darkness overlaps the light from a moon touched or flame tongue blade, there is a d12 table to roll on to determine which is dampened or quenched; and if a 12 is rolled the area is filled with flickering shadows that cause a modified form of confusion in all beholders including the wielder and allies.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
(going to pose two characters, one with what I have, one of content shared)
Character name: Juke
Race: Kenku
Class/subclass: Bard (Subclass Undecided)
Background: Shantyman (Custom sailor or folk hero)
Backstory: Pending details, but they are a Kenku bard that carries and a book of songs they know and a box labeled "Juke box" where they take payment for playing a known song.
(If content not available)
Character name: Westley the Crusher
Race: Goliath
Class/subclass: Barbarian 2/Rogue 1
Background: Criminal
Backstory: Details pending, but a pretty standard hard upbringing leading to a mostly unsavory lifestyle that ended up as a pirate or privateer
Character name: Areleo
Race: Triton
Class/subclass: Barbarian path of the Beast
Background: Outlander
Backstory:
Areleo was born the third son of the great coral reef empire. Despite his low birth order, Areleo had a chance at the crown because of his strength and prowess. As part of his journey to the crown, he must journey to the surface and capture a great artifact. As a tool of this journey, he was given His house Lightening Javalian.
Areleo has no real ties to the surface world but he will see this as an opportunity to conquer and gather new connections for his kingdom.
Just want to let everyone know that you guys are making it very difficult to decide who's getting in... I really like all of these characters!
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!