Hey y'all! I've had the itch to take up the position of DM again, but I didn't necessarily want to use a module, so I came up with Azalin's Doom! I absolutely love Curse of Strahd and gothic horror, so this campaign will be heavily using elements from Curse of Strahd. We'll probably end up spending a lot of time in Barovia throughout the adventure.
Anyways, here's some background:
Barovia, the lair and prison of Strahd von Zarovich (the infamous first vampire), is a prison dimension tucked away within the desolate Shadowfell. It is the first of many Domains of Dread (also collectively refferred to as 'Ravenloft'), extradimensional prisons crafted by enigmatic beings known as "the Dark Powers." The Dark Powers scour the multiverse for beings of unrelenting and darkest evil, beings fully devoted to evil, beings past the hope of redemption. The Dark Powers capture these beings and sequester them away in Domain of Dread. Each domain is carefully crafted to be a tailored personal hell for those beings, an inescapable realm where they can be tormented for eternity.
One such beings, a lich known Azalin, was imprisoned within a Domain of Dread called Arkon. After millennia of confinement, he managed to do the impossible: he escaped Ravenloft. No one knows where he is, even the inscrutable Dark Powers.
This campaign will primarily be focused on thwarting Azalin and his hordes, protecting the multiverse from his insatiable tyranny. There will be a lot of hopping between the Domains of Dread, gathering clues and allies to use against the lich. As was said before, this campaign will use Curse of Strahd for a considerable portion of it, while the plane-hopping will be happening at later levels. I'm not 100% sure how long this campaign will last, but it will most likely have the characters reaching level 15, possible even to level 20. Essentially, this will extend Curse of Strahd beyond what it was intended into high-level gameplay with some (hopefully) awesome storytelling.
If you think you'd like to be part of this, please read the following before applying. I know it's a lot, but it's helpful stuff to know
Expectations
-This campaign will be RP heavy. While there are lots of monsters, you don't have to fight your way out of every situation. I'd prefer if you love RPing over combat. Nothing makes me happier as a DM then when I go check on the campaign thread, I find that the players have been purely RPing with each other, painting a picture of words that describe their feelings and reactions. I want to "see" what your character is doing without a visual. Be creative!
-This is a horror-setting campaign. The more you get into character, the better this will be. Pretend along with us. Let your character be afraid where appropriate.
-I have zero-tolerance for sexual content. Also not a huge fan of profanity. If your character needs to swear, bleep it out. Let's try to have clean, wholesome story-writing!
-As I only have a rough sketch of how the higher levels will play out, I'll be relying heavily on the characters to craft the story. The more you give me to work with through RP, the better I can do!
-Try to post at least once a day. I'll try to do the same. The biggest campaign-killer is inconsistent posting. If you aren't going to be able to post for a bit, just let us know. I like to think myself fairly accommodating, but I can't do much if you don't let me know. If you need to drop out for any reason, just let us know as well!
-Another shameless plug for RP. RP is the bread-and-butter of Dnd.
Application (All sources are welcome except for Spelljammer and no homebrew)
-Character name:
-Character Race:
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like):
-Background:
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard):
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
-Your character's biggest fear (You can include more than one if you'd like. These could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
I'll be looking for 4-6 players, and applications wills be closing in probably 3-5 days.
PLOT HOOK:
Hero. Wizard. Champion. Aoelwyn Grymhart had many names, but her most preferred was that of "mother." An elven mage, she was a wizard of no small repute that roamed the Sword Coast. With her heart of gold, she was known for her exceeding love to all those around her. Her primary motivation to adventuring was not for gold or renown, but rather a burning desire to serve those in dire circumstances. In the aftermath of titanic clashes of arcane power and steel that often devastated villages and towns, she would always donate considerable funds to help the communities rebuild after their liberation. She was particularly fond of sponsoring orphanages throughout the land.
When particularly moved by the tragic circumstances of orphans she came across, she was known to take such waifs under her wing, giving them a warm home, wholesome food, and love, the most basic necessity of life. You were one such orphan, adopted into her makeshift family at a young age. Under her nurture, you wanted for nothing. You were taught to work and received a decent education, a few of her scant requirements. Other than that, you were left to your own devices, knowing that a home filled with love always waited for you.
After moving out, you are surprised when several years later, you receive letter written in elegant script you recognize as Rhea's, a petite halfling woman who was you mother's maid, informing you that Aoelwyn Grymhart, an anchor in your life, unexpectedly passed away. You are shocked; she still had several centuries left in her. Gathering your things, you make your way to the quaint farming village of Leafbrook near the Neverwinter Forest. You are finally returning to the closest thing you had to home, reuniting with your siblings to honor the life of your surrogate mother. Some of you may be looking forward to this reunion, others dreading it. Perhaps you are indifferent, more intent upon discovering the means behind your mother's death. Either way, unbeknownst to you, you are starting a journey into darkness, a darkness spreading throughout the multiverse like a virulent sickness, corrupting all it touches. Will you escape its corrupting touch and become hero, or will you succumb to its alluring promises of power?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Still really love this idea but having a hard time finding a character that would both enjoy playing in this campaign and enjoy playing long term. Might come back to it later but, if not, best of luck to everyone who applies/applied and have a great campaign to DM and the chosen!
Ability scores: 16412131113
Character info (WIP)
Character name: Kit Harrowhark
Character Race: Half-Elf
Class (subclass): Bard (College of Lore) 1/Wizard (?)1/Warlock (TBD) 1
Background:
Abilities: In spoiler above to preserve rolls 😒Glitched and changed my rolls anyways. Going with standard array to avoid any questions about cheating.
Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Your character's fear: I don't like dogs very much and I'm terrified of wolves. Ever since I was little I've had nightmares about being surrounded and attacked by a pack of big grey dogs or wolves. In my dreams it's usually nighttime in a snowy forest. Do you suppose that means something?
Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread. I have a strong personal preference for Discord but am not opposed to DnDB, especially if chosing Discord would be a deal breaker for a high quality player or character submission.
I DM'd character details but could post it here as well, never done PBP here so not sure the protocol
Here are some stats though
Ability scores: 11121211149
edit: guess I'm doing point buy :D
Putting the PC here for reference too
-Character name: Oriana Thongolir
-Character Race: v.Human/Custom Lineage
-Class and subclass (level 3): Sorcerer (Aberrant Mind)
-Background: Courtier
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard):
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Oriana was born to a wealthy noble family and grew up happy and unconcerned for the most part. Her magical powers were recognized early and welcomed by the family, but kept secret as a tool for the family to use when and where they wanted rather than publicly displayed. When she was still young though, it all changed. A cadet branch of the house decided that they wanted all the power and wealth of the main branch and worked with enemies of the house to achieve their goal. Oriana's family was slaughtered in a night of death and fire. Given to a single soldier for his enjoyment before her own death, Oriana used her magic to leave the man as dead as her joy on the snows outside the family manor and she ran.
She was found in hiding by Aoelwyn and brought into a new family, a found family to show her that there is more to life than just revenge. It took some time for her to thaw to some of the members of her new 'family' but eventually she made some deep friendships, people she would give her life to protect. After she came of age, she left to find some vengeance for her family. She has surprised a few of the outliers members of the cadet branch over the last couple of years and had her revenge. But she knows she needs more to gain her full vengeance. It shocked her out of her single minded mission when she got the letter about Acelwyn. While she's looking forward to seeing her 'brothers and sisters' she's wondering now if she has a new mission of revenge to add to the one from her youth or not.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Generally she is genial and amiable to anyone who isn't part of the cadet Branch of her house. I would say her alignment is NG unless you're part of that cadet branch and she turns dark.
I don’t part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible. People. I’m committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral) I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my family/home and ruined my childhood I would kill to re-acquire my noble title.
-Your character's fear (This could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
She fears failing her family as the last remaining member, she fears that somehow her powers caused the deaths of her loved ones because they were unnatural and so the gods had to remove them from the word
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
Oriana sighed deeply as she sunk onto the bed. She was tired and the letter she'd just read put a weight on her shoulders that dragged her down. Aoelwyn is gone.. she thought to herself as tears welled out of her closed eyes. There was a new gaping hole in her life that hadn't been there moment before, one that was smaller, but no less significant than that left by her night of sorrows as she called it.
"What happened to you Aoelwyn? There is no way you died naturally... you had centuries left to live," she muttered to the empty room. The satisfaction she'd felt at finding a new piece of information that would bring her closer to the architect of her family's betrayal earlier in the day was wiped out at the loss of her foster mother. Embers of anger that she kept stoked when she thought about her family leapt and caught on a fresh fire as she was sure that Aoelwyn's death was a new piece of revenge that needed her hand to look into.
She looked again at the letter which spoke of a reunion, a gathering to honor Aoelwyn. She'd go see what she could learn there and then see if there were fresh clues she could find. Her family's killers would still be there in a few weeks time.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
Character name: Girbfert Toadcatcher (originally, introduces himself as Girb Grymhart)
”Girb”
-Character Race: Goblin
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like): Rogue 1, Wizard (bladesinger 2)
-Background: if strixhaven allowed- Silverymoon artist (refluff prismari student) if not- sage/scholar
Girb was the reject of the rejects.. A scrawny waif of a goblin, uglier even than most of his kind- getting caught trying to steal from Aoelwyn’s kitchen should have been the end of him. Indeed, Dahlia, Aoelwyn’s scullery-maid, a one eyed gnome- had launched a huge knife at the young goblin that should have hit, but with uncanny speed- the goblin dove into a bin of flour and hid. The sight of the tiny goblin lad, covered in flour, coughing and sputtering in fear- saved his life -as Aoelwyn walked around the corner at the right time, and took pity on him.
Girb was cleaned off with some prestidigitation, and perhaps as a result, he became totally fascinated by magic- and fully embraced his life as the child of an elvish wizard.
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): (will roll separate post or do point buy)
-Backstory!): Upon reaching maturity about 8, Girb went to silverymoon, where he was training under Leoranias Mithaliana- an elvish bladesinging master who also was passionate about painting- who’s long lectures about the blade and the brush, elements of destruction and creation were fascinating to only a few. Leoranias took to the goblin lad- initially extremely reluctant to train a goblin, he was convinced by Girb’s natural magical and dextrous ability, a nice letter from his childhood celebrity crush (Aoewyln) and the goblin’s insistence on speaking absolutely perfect elvish when talking to elves.
He was in the midst of dueling practice, with Leoranias’s other students in an open cloister of Silverymoon, when the paper bird arrived- a small pale blue folded bird of paper fluttering directly towards him, headed from the west. He knew instantly who’s paper bird it was, and his wooden rapier clattered to the flagstone patio as he seized it with shaking hands, opening and reading it with tears filling his eyes while the other students watched.
Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Girb is N-G. He’s got a good heart, but is mischievous at times. He eats prodigiously, enjoying all food, although he prefers elvish cuisine- but remains small and skinny. passionate at mastering magic and the bladesong, he spends much of his waking hours practicing moves, spells, or painting. he shares the goblin love of fire, and it took the the caretakers of silverymoon a while to get him to stop launching firebolts at things randomly to see them burn. He also doesn’t really get the concept of personal property. he isnt overly to his things so he assumes no one else is either. He shares the goblin fascination with Fire- and in spite of his master’s scolding, typically learns fire-based spells first.
he’s scared of one-eyed creatures- anything or anyone that has one eye. He hates dust, flour, or other powdery things. He picks up other quirks from bad experiences, so will gradually gain more phobias as he adventures.
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): a 3’ tall, skinny, exceptionally ugly goblin male, dressed in fine clothes and leather armor of elvish make.
-RP example:
Girb walked into the Verdant Verge Inn As usual, the looks started immediately- ‘what was a goblin, dressed like an elf, doing here?’ people thought. Girb smiled pleasantly (at least he thought it was a pleasant smile- his rows of pointy, crooked teeth were disturbing to most) The smile was quickly replaced by a look of sadness as he approached the bar, remembering what sad news brought him to town…
-Your preference :
discord preferred- i like the way it can have places to put reference material, pictures, descriptions and RP and combat. But happy to play here if thats what most want.
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): [See other comment.]
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Born in the Goldbound Syndicate- a flourishing family who runs a underground Black Market trade center and hub for sketchy merchants, under the guise of the Crimson Rose Casino- Fortune was raised in a strict, no-tolerance for nonsense, household. Instead of toys, he got weapons. Instead of friends, he got people who would paste on a fake smile and speak pleasantly, but would not hesitate to stab him in the back if they saw the benefit. Which they did. Twice. He got dictionaries instead of picture books, calligraphy lessons instead of naps. It was exhausting work, but it paid off.
Luck rose swiftly in rank and soon became an infamous figure in this Black Market, but remained a mysterious figurehead whose face had never been seen by the public eye. The illicit trade hub gained attention rapidly until it finally snagged the gaze of a high-ranking military official. This military official ran a raid upon the market by use of several warlocks and wizards, raining lightning and fire. Fortune was unfortunate (pun intended) enough to be caught in the middle of a lightning strike. At the ripe age of eighteen, the Shadar-Kai was presumed dead to the world.
With the Goldbound Syndicate decimated, Luck was taken under the wing of a kindly woman who went by the name Aeolwyn Grymhart and several siblings who took care of his bruised and battered body, nursing the crime lord back to full health. Despite being fully recovered, the fern-shaped disfigurement on his face never faded and served as a reminder of his past life.
He left his adoptive mother several years later and opened up Golden Gate Tavern, serving hearty foods, soft beds, and plenty of alcoholic beverages to weary travelers. The Tavern began to get rundown and slowly the hustle and bustle died, leaving a shell of a once glorious place into a lethargic relic of the past. Luck had been moping for the last few weeks when he received the letter and was instantly brought back to the good ol' days of crime and dirty, dirty secrets that were buried long ago.
He dropped everything and left immediately to go, to figure out what happened to his mother who had been very much alive when he left.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
General Personality - Cold, stern. Warmhearted with light laughter and twinkling eyes. Grumpy, with a sour outlook on life. Who can say what Fortune's personality will be next? It's luck of the draw, a little gamble with fate to see what we'll get ;) (Four "personalities"/personas, roll 1d4 to see which one at the time.)
Alignment: Neutral-Evil.
Personality Traits -
1. The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden.
2. I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.
Ideals -
1. Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)
Bonds -
1. Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back.
Flaws -
1. A(n) innocent person(people) is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Goals - to keep his secrets buried and the past in the past, while finding out the secrets of his siblings and deceased mother.
-Your character's biggest fear (You can include more than one if you'd like. These could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
Luck has phobophobia, otherwise known as the fear of fear itself. The simple concept of being afraid is enough to send him spiraling down a long rabbit hole of anxiety and fur-pulling stress. He's also absolutely terrified of dogs, especially the big, slobbery ones. Then of course, you can't forget the hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, this poor child is horrified by the mere thought of messing up a word in public.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
^Will do with diceroll.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
^DnDBeyond is my personal preference, but I can use Discord.
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like): Artificer, Artillerist
-Background: Haunted One (fits better than Guild Artisan - Armorer)
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): I'll use the Standard Array
-Backstory : When asked, Aoelwyn would always say Elero was a quiet boy, content with his devices. He'd smile at you if you smiled back, and respond if spoken to, but most of his time was spent with his contraptions. He set them loose around the house during the day, to entertain his siblings or to help perform the various household chores he was assigned, but never wanted to do himself. "Why work when I can build something to work for me?" he responded the first time Mother questioned him about it, and since the work got done, she left him to his tinkering. Helping others and the occasional conversation were a minor miracle, considering how she'd found him all those years ago. A slender boy, quietly shaking on the floor of his parents' home, next to their flayed bodies, covered in blood. "The Shadow Man did it," was all he ever said about that night.
His family had been well-off, so Aoelwyn had little trouble using their status and hers to convince the authorities that care and shelter were what the boy needed, and she was happy to be proven right. He lived for decades in her house, growing into a proper young man, respectful and kind, if a bit withdrawn. About his past, they settled on her asking about the dreams, and him responding "They're still there," or "They're not as often," and finally, one day, "The dreams have stopped." With a glad heart, Aoelwyn embraced him, and watched him leave for Neverwinter.
Elero joined an armorer's guild in the city, and quickly made a name for himself as a crafter of fine gadgets and weaponry. He had somewhat of a social life, even making a few close friends, and acquired a modest house in a good neighborhood. He worked hard every day, occasionally met friends for dinner and a drink, and slept every night, guarded by watchful automatons, a weapon always within reach, the doors barred and windows locked. But the dreams were gone.
Then the news came. He didn't leave his home for three full days after learning of Aoelwyn's death, and the dream returned. The Shadow Man had found him again, trying every lock, flitting from window to window, always just out of sight, a hint of ink in the darkness flowing around the corner. "She never knew," the whispers came as he waved his crossbow around in the dark, searching in vain. "You were always good at crafting your own reality."
In the morning he packed his bags and set off for Leafbrook.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals): Chaotic Good -- erratic and awkward, but generally well-meaning
-Your character's biggest fear: That his memory of that night, that his reality, is one of his first constructions.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): Slender, with disheveled hair and an almost permanent dusting of soot in the crevices of his features. Someone who could be considered attractive if they put even a fraction of their effort into self-care
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
Elero entered the home, spying the big table where meals were served, and glanced at the corner of the room. His chair was no longer there. Probably hadn't been for some time. "It's the big table for me, I guess," he muttered, taking in the scene, returning smiles and waves as rapidly as he could, so as not to cause any inadvertent offense, and hunting for a wall to lean against, a bastion from which to face the impending onslaught of conversation and friendliness.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread Probably 60/40 Discord, but no strong preference
-Backstory: Aoelwyn looked down at the dirty human child sitting on the ground before her. She had found him rummaging in a trash heap in one of the back alleys of Waterdeep. He was scrawny and malnourished, and his long brown hair was matted to the side of his face. He looked at the beautiful Elven woman, with tears running down his face. Was she going to end his short life, at least that's what Klar told him elves did, killed unwanted human children. He took a deep breath and stood up, ready to face his fate. The love and compassion he saw in that elf's face shocked him and he fainted. He woke up sitting beside her in a carriage, not sure how he got there. "Are you going to eat me?" he asked a bit too boldly. She laughed and he thought he could die happy. The joy and mirth it held was something beyond anything he had experienced. Aoelwyn changed Jared's world that day and he will never forget it or ever be able to repay her. Jared grew up in the loving environment of Aoelwyn's home but there was always something about him that made the other children shy away. He would get angry at a moment's notice and had more than one fistfight with the other kids. Aoelwyn would tell the others that "Jared has anger that doesn't leave him but I have seen into his heart and he has good there." Most of the servants and other orphans thought otherwise but loved Aoelwyn and respected her choices. Jared grew and though he had few friends among his peers he did his best to emulate his adopted mother. He loved her dearly and wanted to follow in her footsteps. He tried magic but he lacked the intellect to learn such things, though Aoelwyn would say "He has magic in there somewhere, I can feel it." He excelled at arms and proved to be an excellent warrior. When Jared came of age, he left home and started to adventure in hopes of imitating his "mother" by doing good for others. It did not turn out as he had hoped. He was in Daggerdale when he and a group of like-minded folks were contracted to protect a farmer and his daughters from a local bully. On the second night, just past 3 a.m., a cry came up. then another. Jared raced into the woods in hopes of discovering what was going on but only found blood, lots of blood. Then a twig snapped to his left. Then one to his right. He pulled his sword as the beast leapt from the darkness and sunk his fangs into Jared's shoulder. Jared did all he could but the beast was too strong and Jared fell to the forest floor, expecting to die there. There was a light coming from among the trees and men shouting. The creature ran, leaving Jared there to be found. The old Druid who examined Jared broke the news. "Tha boy's a lycan now." were his words. The people gathered around gasped. "We should kill him an' be done with it." came an older voice. The old Druid scratched his forehead. "I think I can do somethin' about it, get him ta my hut." he told the crowd. Jared has spent 3 months with the old druid. Jared healed but there was no cure for his condition. With the druid's guidance, Jared learned to control his new "nature" and could summon it at will but, it was always accompanied by almost blinding RAGE! Now word has come that Aoelwyn has died. Sadly Jared has returned home, not as the hero he had hoped to show his mother he had become but as a lost child with a darker secret.
-Alignment and personality: Jared's early life has more than affected who he is today, even with the love and compassion Aoelwyn has shown him. He understands strength, how to portray it, and how that will carry him through anything. If you show strength and bravery you can stare down a hellhound and not flinch. Jared fails to understand nuances or subtly and uses a direct approach to anything he faces. He has seen Aoelwyn face many foes and she became his idol. Defending others is his life and if he dies doing that, then it is a life well spent. Anything outside of that Jared doesn't really care about. In social settings, the opinions of others don't impact what Jared does or thinks. He only cares about doing good like his mother. This headstrong approach to life does have its drawbacks and he doesn't acknowledge when he is wrong or has made a mistake. As for his future, right now Jared is consumed by the shadow of his mother, or his perception of that shadow. He sees his life goal is to emulate what she does for others. His condition has thrown a "wrench" into that ideal future and Jared is not sure where to go from here.
-Your character's biggest fear: His biggest fear? If his family rejects him for what he has become, A werewolf.
Originally from the Caravan City Scornubel, Workshopping, wasn’t technically an orphan when he was ‘rescued’ from the streets in his preteen years by Aeolwyn Grymhart. His mother was an addict and an unlicensed street worker (Freelance and not with an established ‘house’). In late adolescence, he ‘ran away from home’ to return to Scornubel and find his mother, only to discover she’d died in the intervening years.
In a mix of grief, rebellion against what he saw as arrogance and self-righteousness on Aeolwyn’s part he fell into a life not dissimilar to his mother’s in the intervening years. During this time he was involved in a broad range of illegal activities to fund his habits, street fighting and being a thug for hire, drug cooking and dealing, and worse at his lowest points. Everything came to a head when he was the only survivor of a group overdose that was more or less his fault.
Relatively recently, after this near-death experience, he’s gotten sober and taken in with a sect of monks dedicated to Ilmater. The faith resonated with him for many reasons, not the least of which being that acceptance, tolerance, and perseverance are taught over strict expectations for a pious life. While, as an adult much closer to being at some kind of peace with himself and the world than he’s ever been, he has mixed feelings about his relationship and time with Aeolwyn. As an adult he understands that he’d likely have been hung as a thief or worse had Aeolwyn Grymhart not taken him in, but, in some ways he still resents her for tearing apart what little family he’d had and blames both her and himself for his mother’s death, though logically, he knows it almost definitely would have happened anyway.
When he received word of his ‘foster mother’s’ death and imminent funeral, he was hit with a mix of emotions and nearly declined to attend. On the advice of his mentor within the church of Ilmater, Brother Lucas, he’s venturing out of the cloistered sanctuary back into the ‘real world’ for the first time in a couple of years.
-Alignment and personality:
AL: His baseline is NG, but he can swing pretty strongly toward Chaos or Law depending on the circumstances (craving personal order vs. rebellion against authority), and he has some moral pragmatism that pulls him away from Good toward Neutrality. Mannerisms:He’s generally soft spoken, though quick with a smile and defaults to treating everyone as a friend, but he can flip to cold very quickly when touched without consent. Ideal:
Generosity. Materially, but spiritually as well. We should not be indifferent to or judge the plights of others. One never knows that the gods have in store for whom.
Bond: As part of his devotion to his faith and commitment to being a better version of himself than he was in the past, he has taken several Vows: Charity, Abstinence from: gambling, sex, and substance use, Defense of the Faith and Faithful, and Humility (He struggles with this one the most). These vows are personal choices and not required for priests. In fact his mentor has counseled him that it can be counter productive to be too strict with himself.
Flaws: When he feels he's slipped in his self control or discipline, he often feels the need to perform some type of ritualistic penance to restore his sense of order. Things like: Abstaining from meat, committing to silence during daylight hours, spending extra time in meditation or prayer. Often these things would go unnoticed by those around him, but at times these rituals might be inconvenient or problematic. In direct conflict with the needs of the group, he would forego them without hesitation, but this increases his agitation and the severity of his self-imposed punishments.
-Your character's biggest fear: His worst fear is finding rock bottom again and taking others with him.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): He is a human male in his 30s with medium brown hair and brown eyes. He's average height with a heavy, muscular build. He walks with a noticeably stiff gait, and has a brace on his right leg. He also has a pronounced tremor in his hands. Much of the time in the city he would be seen wearing robes of simple, undyed cloth over chainmail armor and red cord wrapping his hands and forearms. He also usually has a holy symbol of Ilmater openly displayed. During religious events or prayer, he often wears only an eyeless hood covering the top half of his face and wrapped skirt, similar to what his robes are made from. He keeps his hand wraps in both outfits. Having taken vows of charity and humility, he would only wear something more formal under direct request to do so.
-RP example:
Back in his room at the inn, in the evening, he was still trying to shake off the headache from his duel. Not his best decision to spar so heavily without being able to cast spells due to his vow of silence, but he’d made worse decisions, some of them over and over again even knowing what would happen. There, in the quiet of the evening, he went through his routine, cleaning and making any minor repairs needed to his gear, setting it out in order for the next day. Then he did the exercises for his leg, trying to balance his weight on it and sitting on the floor and pressing against the wall. He sipped some broth and stared out the window at the brick side of the building next door, counting the bricks that stood out as off color and following a crack in the mortar until he was finished with his simple dinner.
Sounds awesome. I definitely am an RP heavy player and prefer complex, interesting characters over power builds. This actually sounds like something I was thinking of trying to put together. I generally prefer Discord because it's a little more contained, easier to check for updates, and easier to keep organized (especially with a long campaign) with different channels and threads.
Just fyi. DDB has a profanity filter. Then you can have it automatically changed to @$% text, but those who aren't afraid of the vocabulary can use/see it. It's a great system to give everyone the freedom to have what they want :)
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): [See other comment.]
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Born in the Goldbound Syndicate- a flourishing family who runs a underground Black Market trade center and hub for sketchy merchants, under the guise of the Crimson Rose Casino- Fortune was raised in a strict, no-tolerance for nonsense, household. Instead of toys, he got weapons. Instead of friends, he got people who would paste on a fake smile and speak pleasantly, but would not hesitate to stab him in the back if they saw the benefit. Which they did. Twice. He got dictionaries instead of picture books, calligraphy lessons instead of naps. It was exhausting work, but it paid off.
Luck rose swiftly in rank and soon became an infamous figure in this Black Market, but remained a mysterious figurehead whose face had never been seen by the public eye. The illicit trade hub gained attention rapidly until it finally snagged the gaze of a high-ranking military official. This military official ran a raid upon the market by use of several warlocks and wizards, raining lightning and fire. Fortune was unfortunate (pun intended) enough to be caught in the middle of a lightning strike. At the ripe age of eighteen, the Shadar-Kai was presumed dead to the world.
With the Goldbound Syndicated decimated, Luck was taken under the wing of a kindly woman who went by the name Aeolwyn Grymhart and several siblings who took care of his bruised and battered body, nursing the crime lord back to full health. Despite being fully recovered, the fern-shaped disfigurement on his face never faded and served as a reminder of his past life.
He left his adoptive mother several years later and opened up Golden Gate Tavern, serving hearty foods, soft beds, and plenty of alcoholic beverages to weary travelers. The Tavern began to get rundown and slowly the hustle and bustle died, leaving a shell of a once glorious place into a lethargic relic of the past. Luck had been moping for the last few weeks when he received the letter and was instantly brought back to the good ol' days of crime and dirty, dirty secrets that were buried long ago.
He dropped everything and left immediately to go, to figure out what happened to his mother who had been very much alive when he left.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Cold, stern. Warmhearted with light laughter and twinkling eyes. Grumpy, with a sour outlook on life. Who can say what Fortune's personality will be next? It's luck of the draw, a little gamble with fate to see what we'll get ;) (Four "personalities"/personas, roll 1d4 to see which one at the time.) Goals, to eep his secrets buried and the past in the past, while finding out the secrets of his siblings and deceased mother. Neutral-Evil.
-Your character's biggest fear (You can include more than one if you'd like. These could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
Luck has phobophobia, otherwise known as the fear of fear itself. The simple concept of being afraid is enough to send him spiraling down a long rabbit hole of anxiety and fur-pulling stress. He's also absolutely terrified of dogs, especially the big, slobbery ones. Then of course, you can't forget the hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, this poor child is horrified by the mere thought of messing up a word in public.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
^Will do with diceroll.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
^DnDBeyond is my personal preference, but I can use Discord though it is certainly not preferred.
Description (Image):
RP Example: (Before being adopted :) )
"You want me-" The word me had been heavily saturated with scorn, voice muffled by the simple porcelain mask he wore, "-to do your dirty work." He scoffed, standing up abruptly. "This meeting is over, seek your business elsewhere that is not in the Crimson Rose Casino. We do not make deals with fools." Fortune's mouth quirked into a razor sharp sneer under the mask, the merchant scrambling away from the pure venom in his words. "S- sir, I'm sorry, someone else under you can do it!" The sentence was rushed, practically toppling out of the merchant's mouth in desperation.
"First you insult me, then you ignore a clear order? I said leave." The last was a snarl and the merchant bowed hastily, weaving around the pillars and disappearing out of sight. Luck immediately slumped at his desk, running a hand through dove gray hair in exasperation. The room was glamorous, with tall marble pillars inlaid with gold veins and rich, satin curtains covering the windows. Swirling shadows pooled in the corners of the sparsely decorated office, hiding away where the chandelier light could not reach.
Living in the house Aeolwyn Grymhart Thadeus was rather quiet kid, causing problems from time to time which were mostly him being mean to other kids. At young age he sometimes felt powerful when his words could spark a reaction from others. At his teenage time he discovered you can get a reaction by being nice and he leaned towards that approach. He never really felt attachment to Lady Aeolwyn or any other person in the house. He was trying to be obedient and nice to everyone but did not felt any special connection. That changed when he left after becoming of age. He felt alone and missed every single soul from the orphanage. He felt loneliness before, but that was first that he remembers that he was truly alone with no one around. That was the moment he understood his real feelings for his "Family" at the orphanage, and he felt thankful for that time with them.
Not having any better idea Thadeus joined the military to make a living. Not long after his training his unit was ordered to deploy near the border (either of wilderness with monsters, or enemy country). They all got one day of free time before leaving to front. Most of his unit went to town for drinks, and he did so as well. In the middle of the night, when some of the comrades were already deep drunk and some even asleep Thadeus felt the need to go for a walk. Wanted to be alone and to clear his head. Military unit was nothing like orphanage, there were some ok guys there but there were no real bonds between them. Sergeant used to tell that real bonds form on the battlefield... well we will see. Walking in full moon he wandered beyond the walls of town. Lost in thoughts he tripped and fell into an old well in a bad shape with crumbling walls. He lost consciousness from the fall. While asleep he dreamed of terrible nightmares and unimaginable horrors tormenting him. But at some point the "sound" called him and it was more and more familiar with every second. The longer the "sound" was calling him he felt less frighted. The sound was very close and somehow entered Thadeus, now the "sound" started rumbling within him and at some point became his. Not being able to hold the "sound" within himself he screamed with eldritch cry. But there was more than a scream leaving his mouth, something solid that made him choke, he grabbed it and pulled out what was a black and gooey Flail. Thadeus palmed the Flail and used it to fight the nightmare and horrors, feeling filled with that cold sound that felt so familiar he was unstoppable and fought his way out of slumber. When he woke up it was early morning, he felt horrible and had massive headache, but managed to climb out of the well. Rushed back to the barracks at the last second to be counted and not considered a deserter. This morning they marched.
After couple days of marching they reached the outpost. There was week of accommodating and training together with other units. After that they marched to battle (either some big monster or army of monsters or enemy country troops). Battle was horribly one sided and later considered as a massacre by any who talked about it. Only a handful lived to tell the story. Thadeus had dreams of the "sound" reaching him again. The dreams repeated every night after the initial well incident. Every next dream the "sound" was closer and closer until it reached him again the first night in the outpost. Then he started to develop magical talents in the training. Those talents helped him survive that massacre. In first skirmish he was saved from the fatal blow by the armor of ice that formed on him and blasted his opponent. On another battle he saved most of his unit when darkness started to flow out of his body and they weren't discovered by the enemy. Lastly when command issued retreat he was able to run much faster and longer than anyone which saved his life as most of the remnants were killed while retreating.
After that he retired from army and spend his days in a small village at the outskirts of civilization. Not knowing any real trade he served there as a militant. Keeping place safe of scavengers and wild animals, occasionally rallying whole village to fend off goblin attackers. He lived that life for more than a decade and felt like he found his place. Had dear friends and even a romantic episode, but his past prevented him from getting intimate. In the end she married someone else but there were no hard feelings on any side. Most of the folks in the village liked and helped each other. It was a good life. One misty afternoons when he stood guard at the northern entrance some trader came along and asked about Thadeus Buras. He had a letter. Thadeus decided to attend the funeral. He learned to think about the orphanage as his family and learned a lot there about love and affiliation. He wanted to be there.
-Alignment and personality: Neutral alignment. PERSONALITY TRAITS: I need people around me to feel safe. Always had someone around and can not stand seclusion. IDEALS: Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. BONDS: I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. FLAWS: I get catatonic in massively stressful situations like being secluded or in great fear.
-Your character's biggest fear: Isolation and overwhelming numbers of enemy.
-Description:
Middle aged man who seen some horrors in his life and tries to life a peaceful life. Athletic and trained body that he maintains by still training and actively serving as militant. Wears a leather cap and armor to battle to protect himself. Is bald and clean-shaved. The eyes of vibrant blue color does not match his otherwise sad and aloof appearance.
RP example:
- Marc joined Thadeus in watch and asked:
M: See them yet? T: 1Mhm... M: I guess you would be more precise if you would. T: Mhm. M: You think we are ready? T: As ready as we can be. M: And that will suffice? T: Are you asking me if everyone on our side will survive? I do not know that Marcus and i will not promise you that. We know they are coming thanks to you, and we prepared a tactic to defense ourselves. I strongly believe we will fend them off. You see i do not think they come to annihilate us. More likely they want to take our food and supplies. If we were wealthier folks i would advocate to gather everything useful for them in the central square, bar our doors and windows and let them take what they need. But you know as well as i do that we have got nothing to spare. We won't survive the winter if we loose any of our resources. That is why we fight. Not for glory or righteousness. We fight for survival. M:I wish we... <Marcus stops suddenly and stares in darkness> /there is a faint horn sound to be heard far in the wilderness/ T: Go, tell the mayor. Thank you for coming to chat Marcus. M: I just wante... T:<interrups Marcus> Go boy!
Preference:
-I would be prefer dndbeyond but am ok with discord as well.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
Aoufie was living in an abandoned home, well more ruin than home, in Neverwinter. His mother, father, and sister lived here for years as Armsman to a noble house. Somehow his family fell out of favor with a Lord Tschavarz a prominent noble house. Finding new employment was hard as his family was blacklisted, but they still had each other. There was talk of moving to a different city, but that all ended when guards broke down their door and dragged them to prison. The Judicator sentences them to exile, except for Aoufie as he was just a child. It was House Tschavarz who used his family as a scapegoat. It was through anger alone that Aoufie continued to struggle for survival. Looters and bandits took everything else of value except for his father's blade. Aoufie was selling poorly made trinkets on a blanket on the side of a road when Aoelwyn Grymhart found him. He had a pleasant smile and was well mannered, but she saw right through his mask and the pain hidden behind his eyes. The elven wizard offered hearth and home. Aoufie hesitated unsure of her motives, but he was at the end of his rope and decided to put his fate into Aoelwyn Grymhart hand and left everything behind except for his father's blade.
Aoufie soaked up knowledge and anything in regard to the social political structure of Neverwinter. He did not know what to call Aoelwyn Grymhart and decided to call her Auntie Grym. The love offered was a balm against his wounded heart. Over time a smile returned to his face a genuine one this time. When he came of age, he left his newfound home to head straight to Neverwinter and devised a plan to gain renown. He apprenticed himself under Thib Amir and learned the bardic arts. He even stole other bard's techniques. His master disproved of such actions though he was not dismissed as his master hoped to guide him towards the whimsical and fun side of songs, unfortunately to no avail because as soon as Aoufie become confident in his skills he parted ways with his master. He would ingratiate himself at the noble parties where he was hired as entertainment and show his breadth of knowledge of Neverwinter customs and laws. So and music are tools to assist Aoufie in his goal. Through his newfound connections he became a courtier. A minor court functionary as a scribe. Through his new job he searched through the archives to find where his family was exiled. On a moonless night he found that his family was taken to Revels End in Icewind Dale. He left that very night using the gold he hngad earned to hire a mercenary. A large bear of man called Vadrick.
Aoufie and Vadrick almost lost their lives several times as they journeyed to Revel End a prison in Icewindale. He used his badge of office to inquire about his family. The warden indeed had his family on the record books, but their fate is unknown as they were released into the frozen wilds. No, he would not give up he believed they must have made it to one of the Ten Towns. He hurried through the snow and ice to search the Ten Towns to no avail. Tired and heart weary he sits at the Northlook Inn when the barkeep told him he had a letter delivered days ago. He snatched the letter expecting it to be news of his family, but it was notifying him of the death of Aunty Grym. How can that be she is an elf. They live for centuries. A hollowness formed in him. Was she ill he wondered. I should have been there more often he berated himself. He looks to the pommel of his father's sword emblazoned with his family crest. With an angry grunt he packs up and heads home to see to the burial of Aunty Grym. On the way back he wonders did he cut ties with his newfound family for his real family or are they both his real family,
Alignment, Personality, Goals: Neutral Good. Perfection of a craft or skill elevates one above the rabble. Hard work and fair play should be the ideal, but there are exceptions such as lowering yourself to get an edge. Deep bond with Aeolwyn Grymhart and seen as a foster mother as he cannot forget his own family. He is stubborn to a fault. His goal is to find his family regardless of the distance or effort needed to find them.
Biggest Fear: Losing himself to his obsession and desires to seek his family. What would he sacrifice for his goal and what kind of person will he be. Will he forget his humanity.
Appearance:
RP Sample:
Aoufie and Vadrick paid 10gp for passage with caravanners heading out of Luskan towards Hundlstone a major stop before reaching Icewindale. 6 hours of gentle rocking motion of the wagon and the crunch of hooves on new snow. Aoufie covered in layers of clothing and snow takes out his lute from its case on his back. He plucks a few notes and as the journey continues the simple notes become more complex until it reaches operetta levels. He himself has a furrowed brow and with a frown that never wavers. Vadrick asks "Why play if you obviously are in no mood for mirth and songs." The song slows into more waltz and Aofie tersely says "Your blade dulls unless it's sharpened and oiled. I am doing the same for my skills. Being just proficient is not enough. I reach for heights such as the Twilight bard who created the Ballad of the Dreamweaver. Such acclaim will do well to aid me in my endeavors." Vadrick lets out an exasperated sigh and goes back to smoking his pipe.
Hey y'all! I've had the itch to take up the position of DM again, but I didn't necessarily want to use a module, so I came up with Azalin's Doom! I absolutely love Curse of Strahd and gothic horror, so this campaign will be heavily using elements from Curse of Strahd. We'll probably end up spending a lot of time in Barovia throughout the adventure.
Anyways, here's some background:
Barovia, the lair and prison of Strahd von Zarovich (the infamous first vampire), is a prison dimension tucked away within the desolate Shadowfell. It is the first of many Domains of Dread (also collectively refferred to as 'Ravenloft'), extradimensional prisons crafted by enigmatic beings known as "the Dark Powers." The Dark Powers scour the multiverse for beings of unrelenting and darkest evil, beings fully devoted to evil, beings past the hope of redemption. The Dark Powers capture these beings and sequester them away in Domain of Dread. Each domain is carefully crafted to be a tailored personal hell for those beings, an inescapable realm where they can be tormented for eternity.
One such beings, a lich known Azalin, was imprisoned within a Domain of Dread called Arkon. After millennia of confinement, he managed to do the impossible: he escaped Ravenloft. No one knows where he is, even the inscrutable Dark Powers.
This campaign will primarily be focused on thwarting Azalin and his hordes, protecting the multiverse from his insatiable tyranny. There will be a lot of hopping between the Domains of Dread, gathering clues and allies to use against the lich. As was said before, this campaign will use Curse of Strahd for a considerable portion of it, while the plane-hopping will be happening at later levels. I'm not 100% sure how long this campaign will last, but it will most likely have the characters reaching level 15, possible even to level 20. Essentially, this will extend Curse of Strahd beyond what it was intended into high-level gameplay with some (hopefully) awesome storytelling.
If you think you'd like to be part of this, please read the following before applying. I know it's a lot, but it's helpful stuff to know
Expectations
-This campaign will be RP heavy. While there are lots of monsters, you don't have to fight your way out of every situation. I'd prefer if you love RPing over combat. Nothing makes me happier as a DM then when I go check on the campaign thread, I find that the players have been purely RPing with each other, painting a picture of words that describe their feelings and reactions. I want to "see" what your character is doing without a visual. Be creative!
-This is a horror-setting campaign. The more you get into character, the better this will be. Pretend along with us. Let your character be afraid where appropriate.
-I have zero-tolerance for sexual content. Also not a huge fan of profanity. If your character needs to swear, bleep it out. Let's try to have clean, wholesome story-writing!
-As I only have a rough sketch of how the higher levels will play out, I'll be relying heavily on the characters to craft the story. The more you give me to work with through RP, the better I can do!
-Try to post at least once a day. I'll try to do the same. The biggest campaign-killer is inconsistent posting. If you aren't going to be able to post for a bit, just let us know. I like to think myself fairly accommodating, but I can't do much if you don't let me know. If you need to drop out for any reason, just let us know as well!
-Another shameless plug for RP. RP is the bread-and-butter of Dnd.
Application (All sources are welcome except for Spelljammer and no homebrew)
-Character name:
-Character Race:
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like):
-Background:
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard):
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
-Your character's biggest fear (You can include more than one if you'd like. These could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
I'll be looking for 4-6 players, and applications wills be closing in probably 3-5 days.
PLOT HOOK:
Hero. Wizard. Champion. Aoelwyn Grymhart had many names, but her most preferred was that of "mother." An elven mage, she was a wizard of no small repute that roamed the Sword Coast. With her heart of gold, she was known for her exceeding love to all those around her. Her primary motivation to adventuring was not for gold or renown, but rather a burning desire to serve those in dire circumstances. In the aftermath of titanic clashes of arcane power and steel that often devastated villages and towns, she would always donate considerable funds to help the communities rebuild after their liberation. She was particularly fond of sponsoring orphanages throughout the land.
When particularly moved by the tragic circumstances of orphans she came across, she was known to take such waifs under her wing, giving them a warm home, wholesome food, and love, the most basic necessity of life. You were one such orphan, adopted into her makeshift family at a young age. Under her nurture, you wanted for nothing. You were taught to work and received a decent education, a few of her scant requirements. Other than that, you were left to your own devices, knowing that a home filled with love always waited for you.
After moving out, you are surprised when several years later, you receive letter written in elegant script you recognize as Rhea's, a petite halfling woman who was you mother's maid, informing you that Aoelwyn Grymhart, an anchor in your life, unexpectedly passed away. You are shocked; she still had several centuries left in her. Gathering your things, you make your way to the quaint farming village of Leafbrook near the Neverwinter Forest. You are finally returning to the closest thing you had to home, reuniting with your siblings to honor the life of your surrogate mother. Some of you may be looking forward to this reunion, others dreading it. Perhaps you are indifferent, more intent upon discovering the means behind your mother's death. Either way, unbeknownst to you, you are starting a journey into darkness, a darkness spreading throughout the multiverse like a virulent sickness, corrupting all it touches. Will you escape its corrupting touch and become hero, or will you succumb to its alluring promises of power?
Only you can decide.
Looking forward to seeing your applications!
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Ability scores: 8 15 15 12 14 11
Still really love this idea but having a hard time finding a character that would both enjoy playing in this campaign and enjoy playing long term. Might come back to it later but, if not, best of luck to everyone who applies/applied and have a great campaign to DM and the chosen!
Ability scores: 16 4 12 13 11 13Character info (WIP)Character name: Kit HarrowharkCharacter Race: Half-ElfClass (subclass): Bard (College of Lore) 1/Wizard (?)1/Warlock (TBD) 1Background:Abilities: In spoiler above to preserve rolls 😒Glitched and changed my rolls anyways. Going with standard array to avoid any questions about cheating.Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):Your character's fear: I don't like dogs very much and I'm terrified of wolves. Ever since I was little I've had nightmares about being surrounded and attacked by a pack of big grey dogs or wolves. In my dreams it's usually nighttime in a snowy forest. Do you suppose that means something?Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread. I have a strong personal preference for Discord but am not opposed to DnDB, especially if chosing Discord would be a deal breaker for a high quality player or character submission.I DM'd character details but could post it here as well, never done PBP here so not sure the protocol
Here are some stats though
Ability scores: 11 12 12 11 14 9
edit: guess I'm doing point buy :D
Putting the PC here for reference too
-Character name: Oriana Thongolir
-Character Race: v.Human/Custom Lineage
-Class and subclass (level 3): Sorcerer (Aberrant Mind)
-Background: Courtier
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard):
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Oriana was born to a wealthy noble family and grew up happy and unconcerned for the most part. Her magical powers were recognized early and welcomed by the family, but kept secret as a tool for the family to use when and where they wanted rather than publicly displayed. When she was still young though, it all changed. A cadet branch of the house decided that they wanted all the power and wealth of the main branch and worked with enemies of the house to achieve their goal. Oriana's family was slaughtered in a night of death and fire. Given to a single soldier for his enjoyment before her own death, Oriana used her magic to leave the man as dead as her joy on the snows outside the family manor and she ran.
She was found in hiding by Aoelwyn and brought into a new family, a found family to show her that there is more to life than just revenge. It took some time for her to thaw to some of the members of her new 'family' but eventually she made some deep friendships, people she would give her life to protect. After she came of age, she left to find some vengeance for her family. She has surprised a few of the outliers members of the cadet branch over the last couple of years and had her revenge. But she knows she needs more to gain her full vengeance. It shocked her out of her single minded mission when she got the letter about Acelwyn. While she's looking forward to seeing her 'brothers and sisters' she's wondering now if she has a new mission of revenge to add to the one from her youth or not.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Generally she is genial and amiable to anyone who isn't part of the cadet Branch of her house. I would say her alignment is NG unless you're part of that cadet branch and she turns dark.
I don’t part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible.
People. I’m committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral)
I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my family/home and ruined my childhood
I would kill to re-acquire my noble title.
-Your character's fear (This could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
She fears failing her family as the last remaining member, she fears that somehow her powers caused the deaths of her loved ones because they were unnatural and so the gods had to remove them from the word
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
Oriana sighed deeply as she sunk onto the bed. She was tired and the letter she'd just read put a weight on her shoulders that dragged her down. Aoelwyn is gone.. she thought to herself as tears welled out of her closed eyes. There was a new gaping hole in her life that hadn't been there moment before, one that was smaller, but no less significant than that left by her night of sorrows as she called it.
"What happened to you Aoelwyn? There is no way you died naturally... you had centuries left to live," she muttered to the empty room. The satisfaction she'd felt at finding a new piece of information that would bring her closer to the architect of her family's betrayal earlier in the day was wiped out at the loss of her foster mother. Embers of anger that she kept stoked when she thought about her family leapt and caught on a fresh fire as she was sure that Aoelwyn's death was a new piece of revenge that needed her hand to look into.
She looked again at the letter which spoke of a reunion, a gathering to honor Aoelwyn. She'd go see what she could learn there and then see if there were fresh clues she could find. Her family's killers would still be there in a few weeks time.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
I could do either, though Discord might be easier
awesome idea!
Character name: Girbfert Toadcatcher (originally, introduces himself as Girb Grymhart)
”Girb”
-Character Race: Goblin
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like): Rogue 1, Wizard (bladesinger 2)
-Background: if strixhaven allowed- Silverymoon artist (refluff prismari student) if not- sage/scholar
Girb was the reject of the rejects.. A scrawny waif of a goblin, uglier even than most of his kind- getting caught trying to steal from Aoelwyn’s kitchen should have been the end of him. Indeed, Dahlia, Aoelwyn’s scullery-maid, a one eyed gnome- had launched a huge knife at the young goblin that should have hit, but with uncanny speed- the goblin dove into a bin of flour and hid. The sight of the tiny goblin lad, covered in flour, coughing and sputtering in fear- saved his life -as Aoelwyn walked around the corner at the right time, and took pity on him.
Girb was cleaned off with some prestidigitation, and perhaps as a result, he became totally fascinated by magic- and fully embraced his life as the child of an elvish wizard.
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): (will roll separate post or do point buy)
-Backstory!): Upon reaching maturity about 8, Girb went to silverymoon, where he was training under Leoranias Mithaliana- an elvish bladesinging master who also was passionate about painting- who’s long lectures about the blade and the brush, elements of destruction and creation were fascinating to only a few. Leoranias took to the goblin lad- initially extremely reluctant to train a goblin, he was convinced by Girb’s natural magical and dextrous ability, a nice letter from his childhood celebrity crush (Aoewyln) and the goblin’s insistence on speaking absolutely perfect elvish when talking to elves.
He was in the midst of dueling practice, with Leoranias’s other students in an open cloister of Silverymoon, when the paper bird arrived- a small pale blue folded bird of paper fluttering directly towards him, headed from the west. He knew instantly who’s paper bird it was, and his wooden rapier clattered to the flagstone patio as he seized it with shaking hands, opening and reading it with tears filling his eyes while the other students watched.
Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
Girb is N-G. He’s got a good heart, but is mischievous at times. He eats prodigiously, enjoying all food, although he prefers elvish cuisine- but remains small and skinny. passionate at mastering magic and the bladesong, he spends much of his waking hours practicing moves, spells, or painting. he shares the goblin love of fire, and it took the the caretakers of silverymoon a while to get him to stop launching firebolts at things randomly to see them burn. He also doesn’t really get the concept of personal property. he isnt overly to his things so he assumes no one else is either. He shares the goblin fascination with Fire- and in spite of his master’s scolding, typically learns fire-based spells first.
he’s scared of one-eyed creatures- anything or anyone that has one eye. He hates dust, flour, or other powdery things. He picks up other quirks from bad experiences, so will gradually gain more phobias as he adventures.
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): a 3’ tall, skinny, exceptionally ugly goblin male, dressed in fine clothes and leather armor of elvish make.
-RP example:
Girb walked into the Verdant Verge Inn As usual, the looks started immediately- ‘what was a goblin, dressed like an elf, doing here?’ people thought. Girb smiled pleasantly (at least he thought it was a pleasant smile- his rows of pointy, crooked teeth were disturbing to most) The smile was quickly replaced by a look of sadness as he approached the bar, remembering what sad news brought him to town…
-Your preference :
discord preferred- i like the way it can have places to put reference material, pictures, descriptions and RP and combat. But happy to play here if thats what most want.
Ability scores: 16 12 11 17 10 13
or point buy.. For Gerb
Ability scores: 17 15 8 17 14 12
-Character name: Luck of the Unfortunate (Luck/Fortune)
-Character Race: Shadar-kai
-Class and subclass: Ranger ( Lvl. 2 ) / Barbarian ( Lvl. 1)
-Background: Criminal/Spy 👀
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): [See other comment.]
-Backstory (This will be the primary factor in choosing applicants. Be sure to include your relationship with Aeolwyn Grymhart and your "family." Include what you've been doing since leaving home and the circumstances in which you received the letter. Make it juicy!):
Born in the Goldbound Syndicate- a flourishing family who runs a underground Black Market trade center and hub for sketchy merchants, under the guise of the Crimson Rose Casino- Fortune was raised in a strict, no-tolerance for nonsense, household. Instead of toys, he got weapons. Instead of friends, he got people who would paste on a fake smile and speak pleasantly, but would not hesitate to stab him in the back if they saw the benefit. Which they did. Twice. He got dictionaries instead of picture books, calligraphy lessons instead of naps. It was exhausting work, but it paid off.
Luck rose swiftly in rank and soon became an infamous figure in this Black Market, but remained a mysterious figurehead whose face had never been seen by the public eye. The illicit trade hub gained attention rapidly until it finally snagged the gaze of a high-ranking military official. This military official ran a raid upon the market by use of several warlocks and wizards, raining lightning and fire. Fortune was unfortunate (pun intended) enough to be caught in the middle of a lightning strike. At the ripe age of eighteen, the Shadar-Kai was presumed dead to the world.
With the Goldbound Syndicate decimated, Luck was taken under the wing of a kindly woman who went by the name Aeolwyn Grymhart and several siblings who took care of his bruised and battered body, nursing the crime lord back to full health. Despite being fully recovered, the fern-shaped disfigurement on his face never faded and served as a reminder of his past life.
He left his adoptive mother several years later and opened up Golden Gate Tavern, serving hearty foods, soft beds, and plenty of alcoholic beverages to weary travelers. The Tavern began to get rundown and slowly the hustle and bustle died, leaving a shell of a once glorious place into a lethargic relic of the past. Luck had been moping for the last few weeks when he received the letter and was instantly brought back to the good ol' days of crime and dirty, dirty secrets that were buried long ago.
He dropped everything and left immediately to go, to figure out what happened to his mother who had been very much alive when he left.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals):
General Personality - Cold, stern. Warmhearted with light laughter and twinkling eyes. Grumpy, with a sour outlook on life. Who can say what Fortune's personality will be next? It's luck of the draw, a little gamble with fate to see what we'll get ;) (Four "personalities"/personas, roll 1d4 to see which one at the time.)
Alignment: Neutral-Evil.
Personality Traits -
1. The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden.
2. I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.
Ideals -
1. Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)
Bonds -
1. Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back.
Flaws -
1. A(n) innocent person(people) is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Goals - to keep his secrets buried and the past in the past, while finding out the secrets of his siblings and deceased mother.
-Your character's biggest fear (You can include more than one if you'd like. These could be simple as 'arachnophobia,' but it would be a lot better if you could go deeper than that. It gives me ammo to use later on ;)
Luck has phobophobia, otherwise known as the fear of fear itself. The simple concept of being afraid is enough to send him spiraling down a long rabbit hole of anxiety and fur-pulling stress. He's also absolutely terrified of dogs, especially the big, slobbery ones. Then of course, you can't forget the hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, this poor child is horrified by the mere thought of messing up a word in public.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture):
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
^Will do with diceroll.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread
^DnDBeyond is my personal preference, but I can use Discord.
-Character name: Elero Muhendis
-Character Race: High Elf
-Class and subclass (level 3, Multiclass is allowed if you'd like): Artificer, Artillerist
-Background: Haunted One (fits better than Guild Artisan - Armorer)
-Abilities (4d6, drop lowest, no rerolls. If you don't like your scores, you can use point buy or standard): I'll use the Standard Array
-Backstory : When asked, Aoelwyn would always say Elero was a quiet boy, content with his devices. He'd smile at you if you smiled back, and respond if spoken to, but most of his time was spent with his contraptions. He set them loose around the house during the day, to entertain his siblings or to help perform the various household chores he was assigned, but never wanted to do himself. "Why work when I can build something to work for me?" he responded the first time Mother questioned him about it, and since the work got done, she left him to his tinkering. Helping others and the occasional conversation were a minor miracle, considering how she'd found him all those years ago. A slender boy, quietly shaking on the floor of his parents' home, next to their flayed bodies, covered in blood. "The Shadow Man did it," was all he ever said about that night.
His family had been well-off, so Aoelwyn had little trouble using their status and hers to convince the authorities that care and shelter were what the boy needed, and she was happy to be proven right. He lived for decades in her house, growing into a proper young man, respectful and kind, if a bit withdrawn. About his past, they settled on her asking about the dreams, and him responding "They're still there," or "They're not as often," and finally, one day, "The dreams have stopped." With a glad heart, Aoelwyn embraced him, and watched him leave for Neverwinter.
Elero joined an armorer's guild in the city, and quickly made a name for himself as a crafter of fine gadgets and weaponry. He had somewhat of a social life, even making a few close friends, and acquired a modest house in a good neighborhood. He worked hard every day, occasionally met friends for dinner and a drink, and slept every night, guarded by watchful automatons, a weapon always within reach, the doors barred and windows locked. But the dreams were gone.
Then the news came. He didn't leave his home for three full days after learning of Aoelwyn's death, and the dream returned. The Shadow Man had found him again, trying every lock, flitting from window to window, always just out of sight, a hint of ink in the darkness flowing around the corner. "She never knew," the whispers came as he waved his crossbow around in the dark, searching in vain. "You were always good at crafting your own reality."
In the morning he packed his bags and set off for Leafbrook.
-Alignment and personality (Include your general personality, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and goals): Chaotic Good -- erratic and awkward, but generally well-meaning
-Your character's biggest fear: That his memory of that night, that his reality, is one of his first constructions.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): Slender, with disheveled hair and an almost permanent dusting of soot in the crevices of his features. Someone who could be considered attractive if they put even a fraction of their effort into self-care
-RP example (Doesn't have to be anything too crazy. Just flex your writing muscles and have fun!)
Elero entered the home, spying the big table where meals were served, and glanced at the corner of the room. His chair was no longer there. Probably hadn't been for some time. "It's the big table for me, I guess," he muttered, taking in the scene, returning smiles and waves as rapidly as he could, so as not to cause any inadvertent offense, and hunting for a wall to lean against, a bastion from which to face the impending onslaught of conversation and friendliness.
-Your preference between using DnDBeyond or Discord for the campaign thread Probably 60/40 Discord, but no strong preference
-Character name: Jared Lostchild
-Character Race: Shifter-Longtooth
-Class and subclass: Barbarian-Beast
-Background: Mercenary
-Abilities ( point buy):
-Backstory: Aoelwyn looked down at the dirty human child sitting on the ground before her. She had found him rummaging in a trash heap in one of the back alleys of Waterdeep. He was scrawny and malnourished, and his long brown hair was matted to the side of his face. He looked at the beautiful Elven woman, with tears running down his face. Was she going to end his short life, at least that's what Klar told him elves did, killed unwanted human children. He took a deep breath and stood up, ready to face his fate. The love and compassion he saw in that elf's face shocked him and he fainted.
He woke up sitting beside her in a carriage, not sure how he got there.
"Are you going to eat me?" he asked a bit too boldly.
She laughed and he thought he could die happy. The joy and mirth it held was something beyond anything he had experienced.
Aoelwyn changed Jared's world that day and he will never forget it or ever be able to repay her.
Jared grew up in the loving environment of Aoelwyn's home but there was always something about him that made the other children shy away. He would get angry at a moment's notice and had more than one fistfight with the other kids. Aoelwyn would tell the others that "Jared has anger that doesn't leave him but I have seen into his heart and he has good there."
Most of the servants and other orphans thought otherwise but loved Aoelwyn and respected her choices.
Jared grew and though he had few friends among his peers he did his best to emulate his adopted mother. He loved her dearly and wanted to follow in her footsteps. He tried magic but he lacked the intellect to learn such things, though Aoelwyn would say "He has magic in there somewhere, I can feel it." He excelled at arms and proved to be an excellent warrior.
When Jared came of age, he left home and started to adventure in hopes of imitating his "mother" by doing good for others. It did not turn out as he had hoped.
He was in Daggerdale when he and a group of like-minded folks were contracted to protect a farmer and his daughters from a local bully. On the second night, just past 3 a.m., a cry came up. then another. Jared raced into the woods in hopes of discovering what was going on but only found blood, lots of blood. Then a twig snapped to his left. Then one to his right. He pulled his sword as the beast leapt from the darkness and sunk his fangs into Jared's shoulder. Jared did all he could but the beast was too strong and Jared fell to the forest floor, expecting to die there. There was a light coming from among the trees and men shouting. The creature ran, leaving Jared there to be found.
The old Druid who examined Jared broke the news. "Tha boy's a lycan now." were his words. The people gathered around gasped. "We should kill him an' be done with it." came an older voice.
The old Druid scratched his forehead. "I think I can do somethin' about it, get him ta my hut." he told the crowd.
Jared has spent 3 months with the old druid. Jared healed but there was no cure for his condition. With the druid's guidance, Jared learned to control his new "nature" and could summon it at will but, it was always accompanied by almost blinding RAGE!
Now word has come that Aoelwyn has died. Sadly Jared has returned home, not as the hero he had hoped to show his mother he had become but as a lost child with a darker secret.
-Alignment and personality: Jared's early life has more than affected who he is today, even with the love and compassion Aoelwyn has shown him. He understands strength, how to portray it, and how that will carry him through anything. If you show strength and bravery you can stare down a hellhound and not flinch.
Jared fails to understand nuances or subtly and uses a direct approach to anything he faces. He has seen Aoelwyn face many foes and she became his idol. Defending others is his life and if he dies doing that, then it is a life well spent. Anything outside of that Jared doesn't really care about. In social settings, the opinions of others don't impact what Jared does or thinks. He only cares about doing good like his mother. This headstrong approach to life does have its drawbacks and he doesn't acknowledge when he is wrong or has made a mistake. As for his future, right now Jared is consumed by the shadow of his mother, or his perception of that shadow. He sees his life goal is to emulate what she does for others. His condition has thrown a "wrench" into that ideal future and Jared is not sure where to go from here.
-Your character's biggest fear: His biggest fear? If his family rejects him for what he has become, A werewolf.
-Character name: Anthony Tanner
-Character Race: Human (var)
-Class and subclass: Cleric (Twilight)
Ability scores: 15 10 15 9 13 16
-Background: Criminal (recovering addict)
-Backstory:
Originally from the Caravan City Scornubel, Workshopping, wasn’t technically an orphan when he was ‘rescued’ from the streets in his preteen years by Aeolwyn Grymhart. His mother was an addict and an unlicensed street worker (Freelance and not with an established ‘house’). In late adolescence, he ‘ran away from home’ to return to Scornubel and find his mother, only to discover she’d died in the intervening years.
In a mix of grief, rebellion against what he saw as arrogance and self-righteousness on Aeolwyn’s part he fell into a life not dissimilar to his mother’s in the intervening years. During this time he was involved in a broad range of illegal activities to fund his habits, street fighting and being a thug for hire, drug cooking and dealing, and worse at his lowest points. Everything came to a head when he was the only survivor of a group overdose that was more or less his fault.
Relatively recently, after this near-death experience, he’s gotten sober and taken in with a sect of monks dedicated to Ilmater. The faith resonated with him for many reasons, not the least of which being that acceptance, tolerance, and perseverance are taught over strict expectations for a pious life. While, as an adult much closer to being at some kind of peace with himself and the world than he’s ever been, he has mixed feelings about his relationship and time with Aeolwyn. As an adult he understands that he’d likely have been hung as a thief or worse had Aeolwyn Grymhart not taken him in, but, in some ways he still resents her for tearing apart what little family he’d had and blames both her and himself for his mother’s death, though logically, he knows it almost definitely would have happened anyway.
When he received word of his ‘foster mother’s’ death and imminent funeral, he was hit with a mix of emotions and nearly declined to attend. On the advice of his mentor within the church of Ilmater, Brother Lucas, he’s venturing out of the cloistered sanctuary back into the ‘real world’ for the first time in a couple of years.
-Alignment and personality:
AL: His baseline is NG, but he can swing pretty strongly toward Chaos or Law depending on the circumstances (craving personal order vs. rebellion against authority), and he has some moral pragmatism that pulls him away from Good toward Neutrality.
Mannerisms:He’s generally soft spoken, though quick with a smile and defaults to treating everyone as a friend, but he can flip to cold very quickly when touched without consent. Ideal:
Generosity. Materially, but spiritually as well. We should not be indifferent to or judge the plights of others. One never knows that the gods have in store for whom.
Bond: As part of his devotion to his faith and commitment to being a better version of himself than he was in the past, he has taken several Vows: Charity, Abstinence from: gambling, sex, and substance use, Defense of the Faith and Faithful, and Humility (He struggles with this one the most). These vows are personal choices and not required for priests. In fact his mentor has counseled him that it can be counter productive to be too strict with himself.
Flaws: When he feels he's slipped in his self control or discipline, he often feels the need to perform some type of ritualistic penance to restore his sense of order. Things like: Abstaining from meat, committing to silence during daylight hours, spending extra time in meditation or prayer. Often these things would go unnoticed by those around him, but at times these rituals might be inconvenient or problematic. In direct conflict with the needs of the group, he would forego them without hesitation, but this increases his agitation and the severity of his self-imposed punishments.
-Your character's biggest fear: His worst fear is finding rock bottom again and taking others with him.
OPTIONAL
-Description (Describe your character in words or with a picture): He is a human male in his 30s with medium brown hair and brown eyes. He's average height with a heavy, muscular build. He walks with a noticeably stiff gait, and has a brace on his right leg. He also has a pronounced tremor in his hands. Much of the time in the city he would be seen wearing robes of simple, undyed cloth over chainmail armor and red cord wrapping his hands and forearms. He also usually has a holy symbol of Ilmater openly displayed. During religious events or prayer, he often wears only an eyeless hood covering the top half of his face and wrapped skirt, similar to what his robes are made from. He keeps his hand wraps in both outfits. Having taken vows of charity and humility, he would only wear something more formal under direct request to do so.
-RP example:
Back in his room at the inn, in the evening, he was still trying to shake off the headache from his duel. Not his best decision to spar so heavily without being able to cast spells due to his vow of silence, but he’d made worse decisions, some of them over and over again even knowing what would happen. There, in the quiet of the evening, he went through his routine, cleaning and making any minor repairs needed to his gear, setting it out in order for the next day. Then he did the exercises for his leg, trying to balance his weight on it and sitting on the floor and pressing against the wall. He sipped some broth and stared out the window at the brick side of the building next door, counting the bricks that stood out as off color and following a crack in the mortar until he was finished with his simple dinner.
Sounds awesome. I definitely am an RP heavy player and prefer complex, interesting characters over power builds. This actually sounds like something I was thinking of trying to put together.
I generally prefer Discord because it's a little more contained, easier to check for updates, and easier to keep organized (especially with a long campaign) with different channels and threads.
Just fyi. DDB has a profanity filter. Then you can have it automatically changed to @$% text, but those who aren't afraid of the vocabulary can use/see it. It's a great system to give everyone the freedom to have what they want :)
You can find it here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/account/preferences Just make sure 'show censored content' isn't clicked.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
18 14 12 6 10 13
Rolling for stats, and starting to build character. Will reply to this answer.
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
Description (Image):
RP Example: (Before being adopted :) )
"You want me-" The word me had been heavily saturated with scorn, voice muffled by the simple porcelain mask he wore, "-to do your dirty work." He scoffed, standing up abruptly. "This meeting is over, seek your business elsewhere that is not in the Crimson Rose Casino. We do not make deals with fools." Fortune's mouth quirked into a razor sharp sneer under the mask, the merchant scrambling away from the pure venom in his words. "S- sir, I'm sorry, someone else under you can do it!" The sentence was rushed, practically toppling out of the merchant's mouth in desperation.
"First you insult me, then you ignore a clear order? I said leave." The last was a snarl and the merchant bowed hastily, weaving around the pillars and disappearing out of sight. Luck immediately slumped at his desk, running a hand through dove gray hair in exasperation. The room was glamorous, with tall marble pillars inlaid with gold veins and rich, satin curtains covering the windows. Swirling shadows pooled in the corners of the sparsely decorated office, hiding away where the chandelier light could not reach.
Ability scores: 11 14 9 11 14 12
Wait why did it roll 3d10s, I'm so confused. Uhh. Lemme try that again, since I don't know what happened there 😅
Ability scores: 10 16 14 15 10 15
Character name: Thadeus Buras
-Character Race: Human
-Class and subclass: Warlock of The Great Old One with Pact of the Blade
-Background: Soldier
-Abilities: STR: 16(total17) DEX: 15(total16) CON: 15 (total 16) INT: 12(total 13) WIS: 9(total 10) CHA: 9(total 10)
-Backstory:
Living in the house Aeolwyn Grymhart Thadeus was rather quiet kid, causing problems from time to time which were mostly him being mean to other kids. At young age he sometimes felt powerful when his words could spark a reaction from others. At his teenage time he discovered you can get a reaction by being nice and he leaned towards that approach. He never really felt attachment to Lady Aeolwyn or any other person in the house. He was trying to be obedient and nice to everyone but did not felt any special connection. That changed when he left after becoming of age. He felt alone and missed every single soul from the orphanage. He felt loneliness before, but that was first that he remembers that he was truly alone with no one around. That was the moment he understood his real feelings for his "Family" at the orphanage, and he felt thankful for that time with them.
Not having any better idea Thadeus joined the military to make a living. Not long after his training his unit was ordered to deploy near the border (either of wilderness with monsters, or enemy country). They all got one day of free time before leaving to front. Most of his unit went to town for drinks, and he did so as well. In the middle of the night, when some of the comrades were already deep drunk and some even asleep Thadeus felt the need to go for a walk. Wanted to be alone and to clear his head. Military unit was nothing like orphanage, there were some ok guys there but there were no real bonds between them. Sergeant used to tell that real bonds form on the battlefield... well we will see. Walking in full moon he wandered beyond the walls of town. Lost in thoughts he tripped and fell into an old well in a bad shape with crumbling walls. He lost consciousness from the fall. While asleep he dreamed of terrible nightmares and unimaginable horrors tormenting him. But at some point the "sound" called him and it was more and more familiar with every second. The longer the "sound" was calling him he felt less frighted. The sound was very close and somehow entered Thadeus, now the "sound" started rumbling within him and at some point became his. Not being able to hold the "sound" within himself he screamed with eldritch cry. But there was more than a scream leaving his mouth, something solid that made him choke, he grabbed it and pulled out what was a black and gooey Flail. Thadeus palmed the Flail and used it to fight the nightmare and horrors, feeling filled with that cold sound that felt so familiar he was unstoppable and fought his way out of slumber. When he woke up it was early morning, he felt horrible and had massive headache, but managed to climb out of the well. Rushed back to the barracks at the last second to be counted and not considered a deserter. This morning they marched.
After couple days of marching they reached the outpost. There was week of accommodating and training together with other units. After that they marched to battle (either some big monster or army of monsters or enemy country troops). Battle was horribly one sided and later considered as a massacre by any who talked about it. Only a handful lived to tell the story. Thadeus had dreams of the "sound" reaching him again. The dreams repeated every night after the initial well incident. Every next dream the "sound" was closer and closer until it reached him again the first night in the outpost. Then he started to develop magical talents in the training. Those talents helped him survive that massacre. In first skirmish he was saved from the fatal blow by the armor of ice that formed on him and blasted his opponent. On another battle he saved most of his unit when darkness started to flow out of his body and they weren't discovered by the enemy. Lastly when command issued retreat he was able to run much faster and longer than anyone which saved his life as most of the remnants were killed while retreating.
After that he retired from army and spend his days in a small village at the outskirts of civilization. Not knowing any real trade he served there as a militant. Keeping place safe of scavengers and wild animals, occasionally rallying whole village to fend off goblin attackers. He lived that life for more than a decade and felt like he found his place. Had dear friends and even a romantic episode, but his past prevented him from getting intimate. In the end she married someone else but there were no hard feelings on any side. Most of the folks in the village liked and helped each other. It was a good life. One misty afternoons when he stood guard at the northern entrance some trader came along and asked about Thadeus Buras. He had a letter. Thadeus decided to attend the funeral. He learned to think about the orphanage as his family and learned a lot there about love and affiliation. He wanted to be there.
-Alignment and personality: Neutral alignment.
PERSONALITY TRAITS: I need people around me to feel safe. Always had someone around and can not stand seclusion.
IDEALS: Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny.
BONDS: I would still lay down my life for the people I served with.
FLAWS: I get catatonic in massively stressful situations like being secluded or in great fear.
-Your character's biggest fear: Isolation and overwhelming numbers of enemy.
-Description:
Middle aged man who seen some horrors in his life and tries to life a peaceful life. Athletic and trained body that he maintains by still training and actively serving as militant. Wears a leather cap and armor to battle to protect himself. Is bald and clean-shaved. The eyes of vibrant blue color does not match his otherwise sad and aloof appearance.
RP example:
- Marc joined Thadeus in watch and asked:
M: See them yet?
T: 1Mhm...
M: I guess you would be more precise if you would.
T: Mhm.
M: You think we are ready?
T: As ready as we can be.
M: And that will suffice?
T: Are you asking me if everyone on our side will survive? I do not know that Marcus and i will not promise you that. We know they are coming thanks to you, and we prepared a tactic to defense ourselves. I strongly believe we will fend them off. You see i do not think they come to annihilate us. More likely they want to take our food and supplies. If we were wealthier folks i would advocate to gather everything useful for them in the central square, bar our doors and windows and let them take what they need. But you know as well as i do that we have got nothing to spare. We won't survive the winter if we loose any of our resources. That is why we fight. Not for glory or righteousness. We fight for survival.
M:I wish we... <Marcus stops suddenly and stares in darkness>
/there is a faint horn sound to be heard far in the wilderness/
T: Go, tell the mayor. Thank you for coming to chat Marcus.
M: I just wante...
T:<interrups Marcus> Go boy!
Preference:
-I would be prefer dndbeyond but am ok with discord as well.
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
Sounds interesting, I'll give it a shot. I've been wanting to play a warlock for a while, and I think I have a character idea.
Ability scores: 14 14 16 15 14 16
Hi all. I'm a new D&D 5th ed. player but not new to D&D (been playing in the late 90s and also played to other RPGs).
Here is my character, it's just a lvl 1 (being very new) so i hope it would be ok for the adventure.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/109983807
Name: Aoufie
Race: Harengon
Class: Bard/College of Glamour
Background: Courtier
Abilities: Used Point Buy
Backstory:
Aoufie was living in an abandoned home, well more ruin than home, in Neverwinter. His mother, father, and sister lived here for years as Armsman to a noble house. Somehow his family fell out of favor with a Lord Tschavarz a prominent noble house. Finding new employment was hard as his family was blacklisted, but they still had each other. There was talk of moving to a different city, but that all ended when guards broke down their door and dragged them to prison. The Judicator sentences them to exile, except for Aoufie as he was just a child. It was House Tschavarz who used his family as a scapegoat. It was through anger alone that Aoufie continued to struggle for survival. Looters and bandits took everything else of value except for his father's blade. Aoufie was selling poorly made trinkets on a blanket on the side of a road when Aoelwyn Grymhart found him. He had a pleasant smile and was well mannered, but she saw right through his mask and the pain hidden behind his eyes. The elven wizard offered hearth and home. Aoufie hesitated unsure of her motives, but he was at the end of his rope and decided to put his fate into Aoelwyn Grymhart hand and left everything behind except for his father's blade.
Aoufie soaked up knowledge and anything in regard to the social political structure of Neverwinter. He did not know what to call Aoelwyn Grymhart and decided to call her Auntie Grym. The love offered was a balm against his wounded heart. Over time a smile returned to his face a genuine one this time. When he came of age, he left his newfound home to head straight to Neverwinter and devised a plan to gain renown. He apprenticed himself under Thib Amir and learned the bardic arts. He even stole other bard's techniques. His master disproved of such actions though he was not dismissed as his master hoped to guide him towards the whimsical and fun side of songs, unfortunately to no avail because as soon as Aoufie become confident in his skills he parted ways with his master. He would ingratiate himself at the noble parties where he was hired as entertainment and show his breadth of knowledge of Neverwinter customs and laws. So and music are tools to assist Aoufie in his goal. Through his newfound connections he became a courtier. A minor court functionary as a scribe. Through his new job he searched through the archives to find where his family was exiled. On a moonless night he found that his family was taken to Revels End in Icewind Dale. He left that very night using the gold he hngad earned to hire a mercenary. A large bear of man called Vadrick.
Aoufie and Vadrick almost lost their lives several times as they journeyed to Revel End a prison in Icewindale. He used his badge of office to inquire about his family. The warden indeed had his family on the record books, but their fate is unknown as they were released into the frozen wilds. No, he would not give up he believed they must have made it to one of the Ten Towns. He hurried through the snow and ice to search the Ten Towns to no avail. Tired and heart weary he sits at the Northlook Inn when the barkeep told him he had a letter delivered days ago. He snatched the letter expecting it to be news of his family, but it was notifying him of the death of Aunty Grym. How can that be she is an elf. They live for centuries. A hollowness formed in him. Was she ill he wondered. I should have been there more often he berated himself. He looks to the pommel of his father's sword emblazoned with his family crest. With an angry grunt he packs up and heads home to see to the burial of Aunty Grym. On the way back he wonders did he cut ties with his newfound family for his real family or are they both his real family,
Alignment, Personality, Goals: Neutral Good. Perfection of a craft or skill elevates one above the rabble. Hard work and fair play should be the ideal, but there are exceptions such as lowering yourself to get an edge. Deep bond with Aeolwyn Grymhart and seen as a foster mother as he cannot forget his own family. He is stubborn to a fault. His goal is to find his family regardless of the distance or effort needed to find them.
Biggest Fear: Losing himself to his obsession and desires to seek his family. What would he sacrifice for his goal and what kind of person will he be. Will he forget his humanity.
Appearance:
RP Sample:
Aoufie and Vadrick paid 10gp for passage with caravanners heading out of Luskan towards Hundlstone a major stop before reaching Icewindale. 6 hours of gentle rocking motion of the wagon and the crunch of hooves on new snow. Aoufie covered in layers of clothing and snow takes out his lute from its case on his back. He plucks a few notes and as the journey continues the simple notes become more complex until it reaches operetta levels. He himself has a furrowed brow and with a frown that never wavers. Vadrick asks "Why play if you obviously are in no mood for mirth and songs." The song slows into more waltz and Aofie tersely says "Your blade dulls unless it's sharpened and oiled. I am doing the same for my skills. Being just proficient is not enough. I reach for heights such as the Twilight bard who created the Ballad of the Dreamweaver. Such acclaim will do well to aid me in my endeavors." Vadrick lets out an exasperated sigh and goes back to smoking his pipe.
I do not mind Discord or here on the forums.
DreamstarIronforge, your sheet looks good! If you wouldn’t mind, could you fill out the application above in order to be considered?
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable