Overview Greetings, adventurers! I’m seeking four players for a unique D&D 5e campaign set in Faerûn. This non-combat campaign will emphasize roleplay, puzzles, and skill challenges. You’ll take on the roles of scholars who have been mysteriously summoned back to unravel an ancient mystery in the enchanting city of Suzail, the capital of Cormyr.
This campaign will take place on D&D Beyond’s Play-by-Post (PbP) forum. Players should be comfortable posting once a day to keep the story flowing. I’ll review previous posts during the application process to ensure we gather a group well-suited to this collaborative and narrative-driven campaign.
Setting & Story Hook
Years ago, you and your classmates were students in Suzail, where you stumbled upon a fragmented journal from the ancient Silent Runes, hinting at forbidden knowledge hidden within the Archive. Although you buried that discovery in the past, each of you has received a cryptic letter adorned with an unfamiliar rune, summoning you back to the city. The message reads:
“The door you left closed has begun to open. What you have forgotten remembers you.”
With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, you journey back to reconnect with your former classmates and unlock secrets only you can uncover.
Character Requirements
You will create a 3rd-level character using the 2014 (legacy) rules. The party will consist of four scholars with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and motivations. Explore how your character’s scholarly ambitions or unresolved tensions might influence their return to Suzail.
Please use point buy for character creation, emphasizing skills, abilities, and backgrounds that fit a campaign centered on knowledge and investigation.
Acceptable Races
Available races include:
Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Tiefling, and Half-Orc.
These options will ensure a diverse party while reflecting the rich tapestry of Suzail’s population.
Campaign Expectations
This campaign focuses on deep roleplay and collaborative problem-solving rather than combat:
Posting Frequency: Players should commit to posting at least once a day.
Player Evaluation: Previous posts will be reviewed to gauge play style and commitment to the narrative-focused approach.
Character Connections: Each player will develop unique relationships with their fellow scholars, whether as rivals, best friends, study partners, or former romantic interests. These dynamics will add depth to the story as you work together to unravel the mysteries of the Silent Runes.
If you’re excited to explore the depths of Suzail’s magic, lore, and intrigue without the focus on combat, please apply below. Share your character concept and how they feel about returning to the city and reuniting with their old classmates.
"Well I suppose a door once shut ought to be locked… guess we better re-secure what should never resurface. Not to mention sender unknown, that’s just not right." Pinch ruminates thinking of the years gone by, how getting back to Suzail will be both a blessing and a curse.
Is multiclassing okay? Standard starting equipment. I love RPing suspense, I'm on everyday, this sounds interesting & fun.
A lightfoot halfling folkhero rogue/bard/sorcerer.
Pinch, an obvious nickname. Plotter cause his mother thought he looked like an ink splotch when he was born & Hobnail in honor of the nail his father was beaten & jailed for supposedly stealing.
Backstory for DM.
Pinch grew up without his dad, wild and free. He quickly took to theft often just trying to help his mother. He found that if he acted certain ways he could beg or entertain and earn coins too. When he was old enough he worked for an undertaker pocketing items, selling grave yard maps and written eulogies for grieving families. It was at this time lord Tolbard rallied that higher learning be denied those of lower class, money and youthful demonstration go along way however and Plotter Hobnail became a people’s choice for attendance at Suzail U. He eventually saved enough to attend University. During his academic journey he honed his bardic skills. His sorcerous abilities manifested his senior year, nearly coinciding with the journals discovery. The students agreed it was best left in seclusion but well now here we are…
Zephariel Gracefire is a Tiefling whose childhood was marred by prejudice and isolation, stemming from both his infernal lineage and the strange, fiery birthmark that marked his chest. Growing up in the bustling city of Suzail, Zephariel found solace in the temples and libraries that offered refuge from the world’s harsh judgment. A natural scholar, he was drawn to hidden knowledge and the arcane, spending countless nights pouring over ancient texts, hoping to uncover his origins and find a path to transcend them.
Years ago, while studying in Suzail, Zephariel and his classmates stumbled upon a dust-laden corner of the Archive, where they discovered a fragmented journal belonging to the Silent Runes. The journal hinted at hidden truths within the Archive—secrets that, if understood, could alter their perception of the world. Driven by curiosity, Zephariel and his peers pursued these revelations, but he felt a creeping unease, as if the words were watching, waiting for something. Ultimately, they chose to abandon their discovery, agreeing that some knowledge might be best left buried.
But the mysteries of the Silent Runes haunted Zephariel, filling his nights with visions of closed doors and darkness just beyond reach. Seeking peace, he turned to the temple of Oghma, where he fully embraced the Lord of Knowledge, becoming an acolyte and Cleric. He devoted himself to disciplined study, believing that wisdom must balance the pursuit of knowledge.
Yet, his curiosity was relentless, and Zephariel sought more than divine guidance alone. He began studying wizardry as well, finding that arcane magic offered new depths of understanding to his scholarly pursuits. By blending arcane and divine knowledge, he believed he could uncover truths that might otherwise remain locked away.
The title of “Gracefire” came to symbolize his journey—the light he found within himself through Oghma, and the controlled fire of his arcane studies. He became a respected figure, offering guidance to seekers of knowledge, whether they sought wisdom through the gods or through magic. Still, he felt his past in Suzail was firmly behind him—that is, until the cryptic letter arrived.
With a mix of trepidation and duty, Zephariel returns to Suzail, knowing that some secrets can only be faced by those who possess both understanding and restraint. Armed with his training, his faith, and a growing mastery of arcane magic, he hopes that the knowledge he and his friends uncovered long ago will lead to understanding rather than ruin.
Tidbits for plotting:
- Back in his student days, Zephariel was drawn to the allure of forbidden power and nearly forged a pact with a devil in pursuit of knowledge and strength. The Silent Runes journal incident led him to abandon the idea and seek redemption by pursuing knowledge the right/old-fashioned way.
- Zephariel's unspoken love for one of his fellow scholars (probably an NPC so we can incorporate the next thing; also he's gay so don't want spring that on a PC who isn't open to it.) remains a tender, hidden part of him.
- If his unrequited love was an NPC, they died or disappeared mysteriously and deep down he believes it was connected to their discovery of the journal. Returning to Suzail reopens this old wound.
- Inwardly struggles with guilt over his past actions, as well as shame regarding his infernal heritage. He wishes he was a gnome or elf so he could live longer.
Name : Vorenus (or as he would wish it to be, Vorenus the Great)
Race : Human (variant)
Class : **Wizard**
Background : Charlatan
Backstory : (only for DM)
Vorenus never really knew who his father was. He liked to think that his father was a powerful wizard who came into town, had a go with an attractive young servant girl (his mother, Sevilia), and teleported out of town, with smoke and shimmering, twinkling lights. He dreamed about what his father knew about him, whether he even knows that he exists. He grew up wanting to be like a father that he never knew.
Except it didn't really go like that. Vorenus wasn't brilliant in studying his letters, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. But he always felt that he could be. So he kept studying hard. And pored over every book, letter, or scrap of paper that he could find about anything magical.
But it didn't really stick. He found over years that he could produce magical effects, but he couldn't really control them. He would act as though he "meant to do it" just as it turned out, but he was baffled as much as everyone else as to how magic happened. He became skilled in his deceptions and explanations as to how his magic worked, but it was all a line of B.S. He travelled with true adventurers, pawning himself off as a wizard with great powers, even with a fake "spellbook" which he would ponder and pour through at length - and produce sorcerous magic which came from who knows where. He even wore (at times) a fake beard, to make himself look more important and learn-ed. What a crock.
Vorenus has powers, true powers, which he wishes to use for good and to become a powerful "wizard", he just doesn't know or understand how it is happening.
When he receives the cryptic letter from Suzail, a flood of memories returns to his mind. His classmates who suspected that he was a sham, or wondered if he was an idiot. That day that they were sitting around reviewing old texts, when the found the Silent Runes tome. The phrase that was sent to him chills his bones. “They’ll be surprised what I have become… I can’t ignore this calling. We said that we would all gather again one day… I didn’t think it would be so soon, and in this manner..” Vorenus starts to make his way to Suzail, his mind turning over and over what they found that day, and what this could mean.
This will be merely the 'skeleton' of the character, but I'd be happy to flesh it out more.
Placed in a spoiler for convenience.
Holly Snowroot was a bit of an odd one, and if her classmates remember her, it would probably be as such. She hardly spoke at all - though anyone who studied with her knows she does speak - and didn't socialise much as a result. Perhaps it started as shyness or a way to cope with some childhood trauma, but by that age, it had mostly become a habit. On occasions when she did speak, however, she'd reveal a kind person under the protective layer of silence, who's happy to assist others by sharing her knowledge and insights. (Optionally, disregard this next bit in favor of some relationship with another character.) To her knowledge, as a result of her quiet and mostly distant personality, she's probably not remembered much by the rest of the class, or at least not as anything more than "that silent nice girl".
Always drawn to nature - especially animals - she'd excel in related topics and invest more in studying those fields, even after graduation. However, she couldn't make an impact as a scholar and instead pursued other work to finance herself while keeping her scholarly interest as somewhat of an unfulfilled dream. She found work at a guild specialising in cartography, acting as a 'scout' of sorts, delving into the wilderness to map the area and record its fauna and flora. While she couldn't study the animals and plants she'd encountered as much as she wanted, her work allowed her to gain plenty of chances to study them superficially somewhat satisfying her yearning for knowledge.
Occasionally, she was instructed by the guild to guide people within the lands she knew so well. Whether parties of scholars who wanted to study something in its natural habitat or clients who hired a guide both to get them safely through the wilds and to offer a taste of their knowledge on the go, as a form of entertainment. Almost like a tour of the world for those accustomed to urban areas. As her personality didn't match the part, she had created - by a magical ritual she learned in the academy back then - Psittacus (Beast Master's beast companion). Psittacus is a talkative parrot who loves to be the centre of attention. By telling jokes, making funny noises and acting like a knowledgeable guide, he'd entertain the guided, relieving the pressure off Holly. Of course, even as a magically-conjured bird, his intellect was somewhat limited, so when he offered knowledge of the things encountered, it was Holly who provided through him.
People loved seeing the parrot guide Psittacus (and Holly) and demand increased, forcing Holly to go out on more and more of those 'tours into the wilderness', averting her from studying nature even more than ever. As such, when the mysterious letter came, she was overfilled with excitement. Maybe it was a prank or a hoax. The worst that can happen is she'd go on a short 'vacation' - if one can call it that - to the capital. But otherwise, a chance to reconnect - even temporarily - to her youthful dream. She couldn't possibly decline.
Diego grew up in a modest home, his father a luthier, maker of instruments in the grand city of Suzail. He spent his youth in school, like so many others. One day he and his friends came across fragment from a journal known as the Silent Runes. Unable to decipher the fragment the friends soon forgot about it, carrying on with the rest of their schooling, then going their on way. Diego never really forgot about the find. He throw himself into research, traveling the lands visiting with sages and men wiser than him, libraries and universities, yet never able to find anymore info. It wasn't until he fell in with a group of bards from the college of lore that his true talent came to light, his music. Now he finds himself making his way from town to town, tavern to tavern, camp fire to campfire in search for that perfect chord, that one song that might unlock secrets and knowledge unknown.
Reading over the letter Diego's thoughts are drawn back to that day, with his friends, the only true friends he ever had. He takes a long draw from his mug, folds the letter and puts it away. From somewhere in the back of the tavern he hears his name being called, Diego? Diego, come, tell us another tale!
He smiles, picks up his lute and makes his way back to the stage. As he starts to play he uses his magic to lower the flickering flames around the stage, setting the scene for a tale of a group of friends growing up together, growing apart from one another only to be called back together again to save the world. as he sings the last line, It's good to see you again my friends, from now till then, together to the end the music trails off (performance roll 19)...he thinks to himself, Now the adventure really begins.
He bows to the crowd, collects his tips, declines the free drinks with a smile and "maybe next time", kisses the cheeks of the ladies and exits the pub, books passage to Suzail.
I'll have to tweak his current level down to three and adjust his backstory a bit to fit the setting but he should fit in well. I basically designed him for adventures just like this.
**Backstory**
Nigel grew up in Cormyr , in a small farming community located near Suzail. His father tended the orchards, and his mother was a housekeeper. They lived in a small home on the property edge of a local wizard colledge. Nigel was a sickly boy. Always suffering from one maladity or another. This served him better than one would expect. Not only did it strengthen his constitution thru the constant exposure to various illnesses, but it also gave him time to read and study.
During those times when Nigel wasn't afflicted by some random bug, he would play in the orchards and surrounding farmlands. His favorite pastime was to collect the polished and smoothed stones from a nearby creekbed. His second favorite game was to throw those rocks at rotting fruit and any pests that were eating the harvest. To this day, Nigel loves to polish and smooth stones. He keeps a pouch full on his person at all times.
As he grew older Nigel would often climb to a perch next to an open window at the (library, college, monastery) where he could listen to the resident (teachers, wizards, clerics) give lectures and debate intellectual matters. In spite of being repeatedly scolded and beaten by the grounds keepers, he would find new and better ways to eavesdrop on the inner goings on. A quest for knowledge had been ignited in him that wouldn't be denied.
Sometime during Nigel's tween years, he was caught sneaking back a book he had stolen. The book was in rough shape due to an accidental dunk in the creek. During a tear filled disciplinary discussion, he revealed he couldn't read the book and only took it because he wanted to see what was inside. Out of respect for the years of service Nigels parents had provided, the (head wizard, monks, patron) decided as a punishment and as reparation for the damaged tome, Nigel would serve as page. His duties included keeping the inkwells filled, parchments stocked, quills sharp and fetching volumes upon volumes of tomes for the scholars in residence. Often the target of student jabs and barbs, the bullying only served to drive his desire to learn even more. Once in an effort to alleviate some of the mistreatment, he had shown some of the students where some of the forbidden texts were stored. One of the tomes happened to be a journal from the Silent Runes. Fear of getting caught prevented him from exploring its secrets but the rumor of knowledge untold stayed with him.
As time went on Nigel learned not only to read but write as well. His responsibilities expanded to copying texts and scribbling out titles and deeds of contract.
In his spare time Nigels nose was buried in a book. The more he grew the more he toiled at his chores and the more he learned. The more he learned from the arcane tomes he would sneak peeks at, the more the magical weave began to reveal itself.
The gears of life grind on and so it was for Nigel. As a young man barely out of his teens, Nigel made the decision that there was a vast world of knowledge to be discovered and recorded. And so Nigel began his journey, traveling from town to town selling his skills as a scribe. All the while continuing his study of the mystical and magical. The thought of that journal from long ago rarely entering his mind.
He had just set up his small desk and placed his small sign detailing the documents he would produce when approached by a messenger. The letter he was handed was adorned with a strange rune. The message summoning him back to Suzail. The memory of the journal resurfaced as he read the text. It had been awhile since he had even thought of the tattered tome, but the desire to know its secrets ignited anew. So to Suzail he would travel to put to rest this unresolved quest for knowledge.
Class (Subclass): Fiend Patron Warlock (Pact of the Talisman)
Background: Sage
Backstory: Zeren came from a middle-class background in Suzail and likely would have become a bureaucrat like his parents if it weren't for his love of learning and aptitude for intellectual pursuits. He repeatedly had trouble keeping up with his peers though because of his difficulties regarding memorization and tendency to take shortcuts with tasks requiring hard work. Zeren would try to make up for his weaknesses through socialization, making friends with those who could help him.
Years ago, Zeren and some of his fellow students stumbled upon a fragmented journal from the ancient Silent Runes which hinted that there was forbidden knowledge hidden within the Archive. Although at first he agreed to not pursue the discovery further Zeren became obsessed with it and devoted more and more of his time to searching for it. This consumed much of the time he would otherwise have spent studying, and his attempts to cover for this by cheating in exams resulted in him being expelled.
Resentful and obsessed (but unwilling to put the effort in to become a Wizard), Zeren delved further into his pursuit of dark lore, delving into forbidden magic until he eventually made a pact with an Arcanaloth for the powers of a Warlock. Now with magic of his own he has returned to Suzail in a response to a letter to claim the secrets he feels he deserves.
Build: Starting off with 15s in Intelligence and Charisma with Point Buy and a focus on face and knowledge skills.
I don't own books on DNDBeyond so is it okay if I use Dicecloud for my character sheet?
Hi! When will you close applications? I'd like to try but I need to think of character ideas 🤔 It will probably be a tiefling artificer, but I need a little time to work on it.
Iromae Quinaea is a half-elf that grew up in a family of merchants. At an early age she learned to help keep the books and became an expert in calligraphy. But that was about the extent of her business skills. Having lost her father several years earlier to a winter storm, her mother passed away from illness when she was just 18. For a while she tried to keep their business in Suzail afloat. But it seemed she didn't have the knack for it. Fortunately for her, a local temple of Deneir, where she had frequently gone to pray, took her under their wing. Helping her settle her business dealings, she then turned to studying to become a cleric of Deneir. Once her training was complete, she spent a little time traveling to serve others on behalf of Deneir. This gave her the opportunity to see a number of different libraries and other places of learning, which she greatly enjoyed.
Shenua grew up in Marsember. As a child, she was captivated by arcane mysteries and mechanical wonders, always playing and tinkering with scraps her family could spare. Her parents recognized her potential and saved every copper to send her to study in Suzail, the kingdom’s capital. This sacrifice weighed heavily on Shenua, leading her to focus intensely on her studies, unlike other peers who led more comfortable, carefree lives. Her seriousness was often mistaken for aloofness in those days.
During those years, Shenua and a few classmates stumbled upon The Silent Runes. While the others may have been tempted to investigate its secrets, the gray-skinned and blue-haired tiefling urged them to leave it untouched. She couldn’t risk her studies—not after the investment her family had made in her education!
Years have passed, and Shenua is now a respected member of her Guild, known for her skill in imbuing items with intricate enchantments and ingenious mechanisms. She no longer faces the financial struggles she did as a student and has built a stable livelihood in Suzail, one that has even allowed her to support her parents and repay, little by little, the money they invested in her.
The mysterious letter has resurfaced a deeply buried memory. But contrary to her reaction as a student, this time she feels ready to uncover this mystery. She’s unsure about reuniting with her former classmates, as she hadn’t bonded closely with most of them during her years as a student, but that isn’t the priority, is it? Solving this mystery is.
I have selected "Homunculus servant" as one of her infusions. But this infusion requires a 100gp gemstone. Would I be able to have that? If the answer is no, then I'll simply swap that infusion for another one.
If having the gemstone is allowed, and that gemstone was a 100g pearl, could I use it to cast Identify, or would I need a separate one? Depending on this, I may need to change my prepared spells.
Do I have to choose an specific existing guild because of my background? Just to know if I have to google about it, because I really do not know which guilds exist in Cormyr/Forgotten Realms :D
Well, I guess I should have asked this first! Is the Artificer class available? I think it belongs to Tasha's, and I'm wondering if that book will be available?
Overview
Greetings, adventurers! I’m seeking four players for a unique D&D 5e campaign set in Faerûn. This non-combat campaign will emphasize roleplay, puzzles, and skill challenges. You’ll take on the roles of scholars who have been mysteriously summoned back to unravel an ancient mystery in the enchanting city of Suzail, the capital of Cormyr.
This campaign will take place on D&D Beyond’s Play-by-Post (PbP) forum. Players should be comfortable posting once a day to keep the story flowing. I’ll review previous posts during the application process to ensure we gather a group well-suited to this collaborative and narrative-driven campaign.
Setting & Story Hook
Years ago, you and your classmates were students in Suzail, where you stumbled upon a fragmented journal from the ancient Silent Runes, hinting at forbidden knowledge hidden within the Archive. Although you buried that discovery in the past, each of you has received a cryptic letter adorned with an unfamiliar rune, summoning you back to the city. The message reads:
With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, you journey back to reconnect with your former classmates and unlock secrets only you can uncover.
Character Requirements
You will create a 3rd-level character using the 2014 (legacy) rules. The party will consist of four scholars with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and motivations. Explore how your character’s scholarly ambitions or unresolved tensions might influence their return to Suzail.
Please use point buy for character creation, emphasizing skills, abilities, and backgrounds that fit a campaign centered on knowledge and investigation.
Acceptable Races
Available races include:
These options will ensure a diverse party while reflecting the rich tapestry of Suzail’s population.
Campaign Expectations
This campaign focuses on deep roleplay and collaborative problem-solving rather than combat:
If you’re excited to explore the depths of Suzail’s magic, lore, and intrigue without the focus on combat, please apply below. Share your character concept and how they feel about returning to the city and reuniting with their old classmates.
Let’s uncover the secrets of the past together!
Bluish skin complexion, otherwise close…
Picture ⬆️
"Well I suppose a door once shut ought to be locked… guess we better re-secure what should never resurface. Not to mention sender unknown, that’s just not right." Pinch ruminates thinking of the years gone by, how getting back to Suzail will be both a blessing and a curse.
‘Pinch’ Plotter Hobnail Link or Pinch’s PDF
Is multiclassing okay? Standard starting equipment. I love RPing suspense, I'm on everyday, this sounds interesting & fun.
A lightfoot halfling folkhero rogue/bard/sorcerer.
Pinch, an obvious nickname. Plotter cause his mother thought he looked like an ink splotch when he was born & Hobnail in honor of the nail his father was beaten & jailed for supposedly stealing.
Backstory for DM.
Pinch grew up without his dad, wild and free. He quickly took to theft often just trying to help his mother. He found that if he acted certain ways he could beg or entertain and earn coins too. When he was old enough he worked for an undertaker pocketing items, selling grave yard maps and written eulogies for grieving families. It was at this time lord Tolbard rallied that higher learning be denied those of lower class, money and youthful demonstration go along way however and Plotter Hobnail became a people’s choice for attendance at Suzail U. He eventually saved enough to attend University. During his academic journey he honed his bardic skills. His sorcerous abilities manifested his senior year, nearly coinciding with the journals discovery. The students agreed it was best left in seclusion but well now here we are…
Lol, I love that channel. Hm... Haven't tried a no combat campaign before. Let's see if I can come up with a character.
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
Name: Zephariel Gracefire
Race: Tiefling
Class: Cleric
Background: Acolyte
Backstory: (DM eyes only)
Zephariel Gracefire is a Tiefling whose childhood was marred by prejudice and isolation, stemming from both his infernal lineage and the strange, fiery birthmark that marked his chest. Growing up in the bustling city of Suzail, Zephariel found solace in the temples and libraries that offered refuge from the world’s harsh judgment. A natural scholar, he was drawn to hidden knowledge and the arcane, spending countless nights pouring over ancient texts, hoping to uncover his origins and find a path to transcend them.
Years ago, while studying in Suzail, Zephariel and his classmates stumbled upon a dust-laden corner of the Archive, where they discovered a fragmented journal belonging to the Silent Runes. The journal hinted at hidden truths within the Archive—secrets that, if understood, could alter their perception of the world. Driven by curiosity, Zephariel and his peers pursued these revelations, but he felt a creeping unease, as if the words were watching, waiting for something. Ultimately, they chose to abandon their discovery, agreeing that some knowledge might be best left buried.
But the mysteries of the Silent Runes haunted Zephariel, filling his nights with visions of closed doors and darkness just beyond reach. Seeking peace, he turned to the temple of Oghma, where he fully embraced the Lord of Knowledge, becoming an acolyte and Cleric. He devoted himself to disciplined study, believing that wisdom must balance the pursuit of knowledge.
Yet, his curiosity was relentless, and Zephariel sought more than divine guidance alone. He began studying wizardry as well, finding that arcane magic offered new depths of understanding to his scholarly pursuits. By blending arcane and divine knowledge, he believed he could uncover truths that might otherwise remain locked away.
The title of “Gracefire” came to symbolize his journey—the light he found within himself through Oghma, and the controlled fire of his arcane studies. He became a respected figure, offering guidance to seekers of knowledge, whether they sought wisdom through the gods or through magic. Still, he felt his past in Suzail was firmly behind him—that is, until the cryptic letter arrived.
With a mix of trepidation and duty, Zephariel returns to Suzail, knowing that some secrets can only be faced by those who possess both understanding and restraint. Armed with his training, his faith, and a growing mastery of arcane magic, he hopes that the knowledge he and his friends uncovered long ago will lead to understanding rather than ruin.
Tidbits for plotting:
- Back in his student days, Zephariel was drawn to the allure of forbidden power and nearly forged a pact with a devil in pursuit of knowledge and strength. The Silent Runes journal incident led him to abandon the idea and seek redemption by pursuing knowledge the right/old-fashioned way.
- Zephariel's unspoken love for one of his fellow scholars (probably an NPC so we can incorporate the next thing; also he's gay so don't want spring that on a PC who isn't open to it.) remains a tender, hidden part of him.
- If his unrequited love was an NPC, they died or disappeared mysteriously and deep down he believes it was connected to their discovery of the journal. Returning to Suzail reopens this old wound.
- Inwardly struggles with guilt over his past actions, as well as shame regarding his infernal heritage. He wishes he was a gnome or elf so he could live longer.
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
Name : Vorenus (or as he would wish it to be, Vorenus the Great)
Race : Human (variant)
Class : **Wizard**
Background : Charlatan
Backstory : (only for DM)
Vorenus never really knew who his father was. He liked to think that his father was a powerful wizard who came into town, had a go with an attractive young servant girl (his mother, Sevilia), and teleported out of town, with smoke and shimmering, twinkling lights. He dreamed about what his father knew about him, whether he even knows that he exists. He grew up wanting to be like a father that he never knew.
Except it didn't really go like that. Vorenus wasn't brilliant in studying his letters, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. But he always felt that he could be. So he kept studying hard. And pored over every book, letter, or scrap of paper that he could find about anything magical.
But it didn't really stick. He found over years that he could produce magical effects, but he couldn't really control them. He would act as though he "meant to do it" just as it turned out, but he was baffled as much as everyone else as to how magic happened. He became skilled in his deceptions and explanations as to how his magic worked, but it was all a line of B.S. He travelled with true adventurers, pawning himself off as a wizard with great powers, even with a fake "spellbook" which he would ponder and pour through at length - and produce sorcerous magic which came from who knows where. He even wore (at times) a fake beard, to make himself look more important and learn-ed. What a crock.
Vorenus has powers, true powers, which he wishes to use for good and to become a powerful "wizard", he just doesn't know or understand how it is happening.
When he receives the cryptic letter from Suzail, a flood of memories returns to his mind. His classmates who suspected that he was a sham, or wondered if he was an idiot. That day that they were sitting around reviewing old texts, when the found the Silent Runes tome. The phrase that was sent to him chills his bones. “They’ll be surprised what I have become… I can’t ignore this calling. We said that we would all gather again one day… I didn’t think it would be so soon, and in this manner..” Vorenus starts to make his way to Suzail, his mind turning over and over what they found that day, and what this could mean.
Picture :
Character link (only for DM) : https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/47862224/LLFLbx
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
This will be merely the 'skeleton' of the character, but I'd be happy to flesh it out more.
Placed in a spoiler for convenience.
Holly Snowroot was a bit of an odd one, and if her classmates remember her, it would probably be as such. She hardly spoke at all - though anyone who studied with her knows she does speak - and didn't socialise much as a result. Perhaps it started as shyness or a way to cope with some childhood trauma, but by that age, it had mostly become a habit. On occasions when she did speak, however, she'd reveal a kind person under the protective layer of silence, who's happy to assist others by sharing her knowledge and insights.
(Optionally, disregard this next bit in favor of some relationship with another character.) To her knowledge, as a result of her quiet and mostly distant personality, she's probably not remembered much by the rest of the class, or at least not as anything more than "that silent nice girl".
Always drawn to nature - especially animals - she'd excel in related topics and invest more in studying those fields, even after graduation. However, she couldn't make an impact as a scholar and instead pursued other work to finance herself while keeping her scholarly interest as somewhat of an unfulfilled dream. She found work at a guild specialising in cartography, acting as a 'scout' of sorts, delving into the wilderness to map the area and record its fauna and flora. While she couldn't study the animals and plants she'd encountered as much as she wanted, her work allowed her to gain plenty of chances to study them superficially somewhat satisfying her yearning for knowledge.
Occasionally, she was instructed by the guild to guide people within the lands she knew so well. Whether parties of scholars who wanted to study something in its natural habitat or clients who hired a guide both to get them safely through the wilds and to offer a taste of their knowledge on the go, as a form of entertainment. Almost like a tour of the world for those accustomed to urban areas. As her personality didn't match the part, she had created - by a magical ritual she learned in the academy back then - Psittacus (Beast Master's beast companion). Psittacus is a talkative parrot who loves to be the centre of attention. By telling jokes, making funny noises and acting like a knowledgeable guide, he'd entertain the guided, relieving the pressure off Holly. Of course, even as a magically-conjured bird, his intellect was somewhat limited, so when he offered knowledge of the things encountered, it was Holly who provided through him.
People loved seeing the parrot guide Psittacus (and Holly) and demand increased, forcing Holly to go out on more and more of those 'tours into the wilderness', averting her from studying nature even more than ever. As such, when the mysterious letter came, she was overfilled with excitement. Maybe it was a prank or a hoax. The worst that can happen is she'd go on a short 'vacation' - if one can call it that - to the capital. But otherwise, a chance to reconnect - even temporarily - to her youthful dream. She couldn't possibly decline.
Varielky
Multiclassing is okay. Yes, starting equipment.
Sounds interesting, I'd like to submit Diego Goldbow, a bard in search of the hidden chord.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/135797740/g36FUN
Diego grew up in a modest home, his father a luthier, maker of instruments in the grand city of Suzail. He spent his youth in school, like so many others. One day he and his friends came across fragment from a journal known as the Silent Runes. Unable to decipher the fragment the friends soon forgot about it, carrying on with the rest of their schooling, then going their on way. Diego never really forgot about the find. He throw himself into research, traveling the lands visiting with sages and men wiser than him, libraries and universities, yet never able to find anymore info. It wasn't until he fell in with a group of bards from the college of lore that his true talent came to light, his music. Now he finds himself making his way from town to town, tavern to tavern, camp fire to campfire in search for that perfect chord, that one song that might unlock secrets and knowledge unknown.
Reading over the letter Diego's thoughts are drawn back to that day, with his friends, the only true friends he ever had. He takes a long draw from his mug, folds the letter and puts it away. From somewhere in the back of the tavern he hears his name being called, Diego? Diego, come, tell us another tale!
He smiles, picks up his lute and makes his way back to the stage. As he starts to play he uses his magic to lower the flickering flames around the stage, setting the scene for a tale of a group of friends growing up together, growing apart from one another only to be called back together again to save the world. as he sings the last line, It's good to see you again my friends, from now till then, together to the end the music trails off (performance roll 19)...he thinks to himself, Now the adventure really begins.
He bows to the crowd, collects his tips, declines the free drinks with a smile and "maybe next time", kisses the cheeks of the ladies and exits the pub, books passage to Suzail.
I have a scribe wizard I'd like to put in for consideration.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/113977597/5NwArR
I'll have to tweak his current level down to three and adjust his backstory a bit to fit the setting but he should fit in well. I basically designed him for adventures just like this.
**Backstory**
Nigel grew up in Cormyr , in a small farming community located near Suzail. His father tended the orchards, and his mother was a housekeeper. They lived in a small home on the property edge of a local wizard colledge. Nigel was a sickly boy. Always suffering from one maladity or another. This served him better than one would expect. Not only did it strengthen his constitution thru the constant exposure to various illnesses, but it also gave him time to read and study.
During those times when Nigel wasn't afflicted by some random bug, he would play in the orchards and surrounding farmlands. His favorite pastime was to collect the polished and smoothed stones from a nearby creekbed. His second favorite game was to throw those rocks at rotting fruit and any pests that were eating the harvest. To this day, Nigel loves to polish and smooth stones. He keeps a pouch full on his person at all times.
As he grew older Nigel would often climb to a perch next to an open window at the (library, college, monastery) where he could listen to the resident (teachers, wizards, clerics) give lectures and debate intellectual matters. In spite of being repeatedly scolded and beaten by the grounds keepers, he would find new and better ways to eavesdrop on the inner goings on. A quest for knowledge had been ignited in him that wouldn't be denied.
Sometime during Nigel's tween years, he was caught sneaking back a book he had stolen. The book was in rough shape due to an accidental dunk in the creek. During a tear filled disciplinary discussion, he revealed he couldn't read the book and only took it because he wanted to see what was inside. Out of respect for the years of service Nigels parents had provided, the (head wizard, monks, patron) decided as a punishment and as reparation for the damaged tome, Nigel would serve as page. His duties included keeping the inkwells filled, parchments stocked, quills sharp and fetching volumes upon volumes of tomes for the scholars in residence. Often the target of student jabs and barbs, the bullying only served to drive his desire to learn even more. Once in an effort to alleviate some of the mistreatment, he had shown some of the students where some of the forbidden texts were stored. One of the tomes happened to be a journal from the Silent Runes. Fear of getting caught prevented him from exploring its secrets but the rumor of knowledge untold stayed with him.
As time went on Nigel learned not only to read but write as well. His responsibilities expanded to copying texts and scribbling out titles and deeds of contract.
In his spare time Nigels nose was buried in a book. The more he grew the more he toiled at his chores and the more he learned. The more he learned from the arcane tomes he would sneak peeks at, the more the magical weave began to reveal itself.
The gears of life grind on and so it was for Nigel. As a young man barely out of his teens, Nigel made the decision that there was a vast world of knowledge to be discovered and recorded. And so Nigel began his journey, traveling from town to town selling his skills as a scribe. All the while continuing his study of the mystical and magical. The thought of that journal from long ago rarely entering his mind.
He had just set up his small desk and placed his small sign detailing the documents he would produce when approached by a messenger. The letter he was handed was adorned with a strange rune. The message summoning him back to Suzail. The memory of the journal resurfaced as he read the text. It had been awhile since he had even thought of the tattered tome, but the desire to know its secrets ignited anew. So to Suzail he would travel to put to rest this unresolved quest for knowledge.
**This Space for Rent**
Name: Zeren Roel
Race: Human
Class (Subclass): Fiend Patron Warlock (Pact of the Talisman)
Background: Sage
Backstory: Zeren came from a middle-class background in Suzail and likely would have become a bureaucrat like his parents if it weren't for his love of learning and aptitude for intellectual pursuits. He repeatedly had trouble keeping up with his peers though because of his difficulties regarding memorization and tendency to take shortcuts with tasks requiring hard work. Zeren would try to make up for his weaknesses through socialization, making friends with those who could help him.
Years ago, Zeren and some of his fellow students stumbled upon a fragmented journal from the ancient Silent Runes which hinted that there was forbidden knowledge hidden within the Archive. Although at first he agreed to not pursue the discovery further Zeren became obsessed with it and devoted more and more of his time to searching for it. This consumed much of the time he would otherwise have spent studying, and his attempts to cover for this by cheating in exams resulted in him being expelled.
Resentful and obsessed (but unwilling to put the effort in to become a Wizard), Zeren delved further into his pursuit of dark lore, delving into forbidden magic until he eventually made a pact with an Arcanaloth for the powers of a Warlock. Now with magic of his own he has returned to Suzail in a response to a letter to claim the secrets he feels he deserves.
Build: Starting off with 15s in Intelligence and Charisma with Point Buy and a focus on face and knowledge skills.
I don't own books on DNDBeyond so is it okay if I use Dicecloud for my character sheet?
Can characters that don't get a starting feat have one as well?
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
I'd like everything to be on dndbeyond. What are you missing?
No; we're going by the 2014 rules.
So no Variant races? Variant humans get a feat.
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Arkon - Goliath Champion Fighter - Hardcore DiA | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts Manor |
Hi! When will you close applications? I'd like to try but I need to think of character ideas 🤔 It will probably be a tiefling artificer, but I need a little time to work on it.
Thanks!
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything for most of it.
I can share books and I have Tashas.
**This Space for Rent**
Let's say recruitment will close Friday night. That will give me the weekend to make my decision of who to invite and begin finessing the characters.
Name: Iromae Quinaea
Race: Half-Elf
Class: Cleric (Knowledge)
Background: Failed Merchant
Backstory:
Iromae Quinaea is a half-elf that grew up in a family of merchants. At an early age she learned to help keep the books and became an expert in calligraphy. But that was about the extent of her business skills. Having lost her father several years earlier to a winter storm, her mother passed away from illness when she was just 18. For a while she tried to keep their business in Suzail afloat. But it seemed she didn't have the knack for it. Fortunately for her, a local temple of Deneir, where she had frequently gone to pray, took her under their wing. Helping her settle her business dealings, she then turned to studying to become a cleric of Deneir. Once her training was complete, she spent a little time traveling to serve others on behalf of Deneir. This gave her the opportunity to see a number of different libraries and other places of learning, which she greatly enjoyed.
Link to Character: Iromae Quinaea
The idea of a non-combat campaign is very enticing for me! Definitely would enjoy a focus on role-play and puzzles.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Name: Shenua Deamhain
Race: Tiefling
Class: Artificer (Artillerist)
Background: Guild Member
Backstory:
Shenua grew up in Marsember. As a child, she was captivated by arcane mysteries and mechanical wonders, always playing and tinkering with scraps her family could spare. Her parents recognized her potential and saved every copper to send her to study in Suzail, the kingdom’s capital. This sacrifice weighed heavily on Shenua, leading her to focus intensely on her studies, unlike other peers who led more comfortable, carefree lives. Her seriousness was often mistaken for aloofness in those days.
During those years, Shenua and a few classmates stumbled upon The Silent Runes. While the others may have been tempted to investigate its secrets, the gray-skinned and blue-haired tiefling urged them to leave it untouched. She couldn’t risk her studies—not after the investment her family had made in her education!
Years have passed, and Shenua is now a respected member of her Guild, known for her skill in imbuing items with intricate enchantments and ingenious mechanisms. She no longer faces the financial struggles she did as a student and has built a stable livelihood in Suzail, one that has even allowed her to support her parents and repay, little by little, the money they invested in her.
The mysterious letter has resurfaced a deeply buried memory. But contrary to her reaction as a student, this time she feels ready to uncover this mystery. She’s unsure about reuniting with her former classmates, as she hadn’t bonded closely with most of them during her years as a student, but that isn’t the priority, is it? Solving this mystery is.
Picture:
Link to Character: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/135835339
A few questions:
Thanks!
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Recruitment is closed.