Welcome to Curse of Strahd. Before we start, I thought I would lay down a few ground rules:
1. You may post as much as you want but are required to post at least Twice a week. If you are on vacation or there are other circumstances just let me know and I can control your character until you get back.
2. Say what you would like to do. Do not assume just because you say it happens that it will actually occur that way. The dice have a mind of their own.
3. Your post may involve others, but never post something that dictates what another person does.
4. Type any out of character questions or actions in between stars like so:
*Uses Mage Hand*
5. Use a different font color for character speech. Like so, "Halt, who goes there?" said Dragnot.
6. We will start out with you telling me what you want to do and me taking care of all dice rolls.
Large, standing 7ft. 5in. tall. Skin is coarse and wrinkled from age. Stature is muscular but he suffers from a slight hunchback. Hair is long, unkempt and wispy, and his beard flows to his sternum. Wears goatskin pants, with cords around the pants ankles and the waist. Also wears sandals and a large, dark brown cloak, but no shirt. The only other article of note are the worn goatskin gloves on his hands. Despite his age he remains a physical specimen.
Background:
Bruno "Fire Hands" Barnett
Smith to a small village in the mountains. He honed his craft without a word, forging arms and tools for the townsfolk. His sudden appearance was jarring for such a small settlement. Over time, however, his hermit-like nature eased him into the community.The Smith's large stature and exceptional physique was alarming to much of the impoverished peasantry in the village--even more-so to the recently established Lord. A dispute erupted one day between the Smith and the Adventurer's guild. To solve this dispute, the Lord contracted the Smith to forge a coat of arms for the guild, only allowing him to use his bare hands and a forge. After a week of toil, he emerged from the Lord's estate, his hands blackened and cracked. He adorned the guild hall with his craft as his final act. That night, he stole away with his tools and his writ of confidence. All that remained in the morning was a folk legend.
Since then he has traveled as a man of little means, town-to-town. At each village he earns coin by servicing the arms of militias and garrisons, but all without a word. And yet, word-of-mouth earns him shelter, a meal, drink, and so-on...
Mannerisms:
Quiet, often preferring to be blunt. He never talks unless it is important or to offer advice. As a Smith, he is meticulous in the way he cares for his charred hands.
Sarrath Blackwood was thirteen when a necromancer razed his entire town in pursuit of lichdom. As Sarrath wandered the aftermath a demigod appeared. Donning armor too astonishing to be forged by mortals and a flowing crimson cloak, The Lord of Three Thunders offered the boy a path to retribution. The boy swore to kill the necromancer and become his Lord’s paragon of war.
And the demigod named his servant Azrael.
Appearance/mannerisms:
Azrael wears a crimson cowl into battle, but aside from some facial scarring looks far less threatening underneath. Standing at 5’10 he looks to be about twenty years old with friendly eyes and a calm demeanor. But sometimes when he's underneath his cowl he seems to be somebody else entirely.
Description & Mannerism: In appearance, Tanis has little to distinguish him from his woodland kin. His copper skin, jet black hair, slender frame, and deep green eyes are common stock among the villages of the wood elves. It is rather in his meek and placid demeanor that Tanis demarcates himself. Silent and reserved by nature, kind and humble when he speaks; yet, never perturbed or shaken.
Dress: Tanis wears a simple leather covering and canvas paints shaded like the forest floor.
Name: Kilgore Trout (Kilgore is just fine, thank you)
Background
Kilgore is a high elf and a mage by training.
He has lived for some time traveling from city to city living among men, dwarves, and other races (though it is less clear if his nomadic lifestyle is by choice, or if he is forced to leave town after insulting one too many dwarves).
Even more than magic, Kilgore's first love is writing. He's written many books over his long lifetime (117 novels and over 2000 short stories), all of them remarkably unsuccessful. Because of this he's forced to, on occasion, do a little adventuring on the side to make ends meet, and, as always, to gather inspiration and background materials for his next book.
Appearance
He wears a long flowing dark grey robe often with the hood pulled so tightly over his head that you might not realize he was a high elf at all if you passed him on the street. With his hood removed he looks much the same as other high elves.
You all find yourselves traveling on the road separately. The night is cold and dark as the clouds obscure the moonlight. Just off the road, a warm fire captures your attention. A young man stands by the fire next to a kettle. The scent of a spicy stew overwhelms your senses. The man calls out to you, "Good Evening! Feel free to come and join my fire. There is plenty of warmth and stew to go around. The only cost is good conversation and perhaps a song." He beckons you forth and gives you a crooked grin.
"Just let me do all the talking then." he chuckles. He begins to hand you a bowl of stew. "Say, that is a mighty powerful looking weapon you have there. Do you know how to use it?"
Your divine sense tells you nothing. The man has no aura of extreme good or evil around him.
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help there. I am a courier seeking to deliver a message from my master in Barovia. It has been a hard journey. Going through the Svalich Woods is no small task. Thankfully, the Morning Lord saw me through. Now that I am close to Genorah, I hope one of the lords of the land can spare some troops to help my master."
As he finishes, you can't help but notice the colorful clothes the stranger wears. His ears are also pierced with hoop earrings and his head is wrapped in a scarlet bandana. His accent is thick and has a rhythm which soars up and down like a leaf in the wind.
"I come on the behalf of Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich of Barovia. He is in urgent need and I am to deliver this letter to someone able enough to come to his aid." He pulls a letter out of his loose tunic. It is sealed.
*OOC*
From Tanis' perception check, he notices in the night is progressively getting darker as a fog descends upon the land. You also get a glimpse of the seal on the letter. It looks like this:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
History Check 10
Tanis tries to concentrate on where he has seen this symbol before, but a headache he has been nursing from the changing weather intensifies. He has trouble concentrating on the conversation around him.
The man pauses for a moment. Looks at both of you and says, "You know, I have noticed your weapons. You lot seem like you can take care of yourselves in a scrap. Perhaps you can help us!" He thrusts the letter in your direction.
"Hail to thee of might and valor. I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honor to thee.
We plead for thy to desperately needed assistance.
The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace.
There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea. Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!
Hey all,
Welcome to Curse of Strahd. Before we start, I thought I would lay down a few ground rules:
1. You may post as much as you want but are required to post at least Twice a week. If you are on vacation or there are other circumstances just let me know and I can control your character until you get back.
2. Say what you would like to do. Do not assume just because you say it happens that it will actually occur that way. The dice have a mind of their own.
3. Your post may involve others, but never post something that dictates what another person does.
4. Type any out of character questions or actions in between stars like so:
*Uses Mage Hand*
5. Use a different font color for character speech. Like so, "Halt, who goes there?" said Dragnot.
6. We will start out with you telling me what you want to do and me taking care of all dice rolls.
I would like to start with you all doing a post describing your characters name and appearance.
Next, I want you to think about a secret your character carries about themselves. Keep it private to everyone except me.
Excited to get started!
Bruno Barnett
Profession: Smith
Skill set: Monk (Unarmed,) Athletics, Acrobatics
Appearance:
Large, standing 7ft. 5in. tall. Skin is coarse and wrinkled from age. Stature is muscular but he suffers from a slight hunchback. Hair is long, unkempt and wispy, and his beard flows to his sternum. Wears goatskin pants, with cords around the pants ankles and the waist. Also wears sandals and a large, dark brown cloak, but no shirt. The only other article of note are the worn goatskin gloves on his hands. Despite his age he remains a physical specimen.
Background:
Bruno "Fire Hands" Barnett
You'll never shine if you don't glow
Azrael
Background:
Sarrath Blackwood was thirteen when a necromancer razed his entire town in pursuit of lichdom. As Sarrath wandered the aftermath a demigod appeared. Donning armor too astonishing to be forged by mortals and a flowing crimson cloak, The Lord of Three Thunders offered the boy a path to retribution. The boy swore to kill the necromancer and become his Lord’s paragon of war.
And the demigod named his servant Azrael.
Appearance/mannerisms:
Azrael wears a crimson cowl into battle, but aside from some facial scarring looks far less threatening underneath. Standing at 5’10 he looks to be about twenty years old with friendly eyes and a calm demeanor. But sometimes when he's underneath his cowl he seems to be somebody else entirely.
Name: Tanis
Description & Mannerism: In appearance, Tanis has little to distinguish him from his woodland kin. His copper skin, jet black hair, slender frame, and deep green eyes are common stock among the villages of the wood elves. It is rather in his meek and placid demeanor that Tanis demarcates himself. Silent and reserved by nature, kind and humble when he speaks; yet, never perturbed or shaken.
Dress: Tanis wears a simple leather covering and canvas paints shaded like the forest floor.
Name: Kilgore Trout (Kilgore is just fine, thank you)
Background
Kilgore is a high elf and a mage by training.
He has lived for some time traveling from city to city living among men, dwarves, and other races (though it is less clear if his nomadic lifestyle is by choice, or if he is forced to leave town after insulting one too many dwarves).
Even more than magic, Kilgore's first love is writing. He's written many books over his long lifetime (117 novels and over 2000 short stories), all of them remarkably unsuccessful. Because of this he's forced to, on occasion, do a little adventuring on the side to make ends meet, and, as always, to gather inspiration and background materials for his next book.
Appearance
He wears a long flowing dark grey robe often with the hood pulled so tightly over his head that you might not realize he was a high elf at all if you passed him on the street. With his hood removed he looks much the same as other high elves.
You all find yourselves traveling on the road separately. The night is cold and dark as the clouds obscure the moonlight. Just off the road, a warm fire captures your attention. A young man stands by the fire next to a kettle. The scent of a spicy stew overwhelms your senses. The man calls out to you, "Good Evening! Feel free to come and join my fire. There is plenty of warmth and stew to go around. The only cost is good conversation and perhaps a song." He beckons you forth and gives you a crooked grin.
"Well I can't promise the conversation will be any good."
Azrael pulls back his cowl revealing a friendly expression and tries to subtly use Divine Sense as he approaches.
"Just let me do all the talking then." he chuckles. He begins to hand you a bowl of stew. "Say, that is a mighty powerful looking weapon you have there. Do you know how to use it?"
Your divine sense tells you nothing. The man has no aura of extreme good or evil around him.
"I've had some practice. I appreciate the hospitality. I've traveled far and was hoping you could tell me a little bit about this land."
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help there. I am a courier seeking to deliver a message from my master in Barovia. It has been a hard journey. Going through the Svalich Woods is no small task. Thankfully, the Morning Lord saw me through. Now that I am close to Genorah, I hope one of the lords of the land can spare some troops to help my master."
As he finishes, you can't help but notice the colorful clothes the stranger wears. His ears are also pierced with hoop earrings and his head is wrapped in a scarlet bandana. His accent is thick and has a rhythm which soars up and down like a leaf in the wind.
Tanis follows Azrael to the fire and says with a polite smile:
"You are too kind master traveler. Tell me, if I may be so bold as to inquire, what sovereign is so lucky as to have you in his service."
As Tanis speaks, he begins to subtly survey the man as well as the surrounding area (Perception Check)
16 Perception Check
"I come on the behalf of Burgomaster Kolyan Indirovich of Barovia. He is in urgent need and I am to deliver this letter to someone able enough to come to his aid." He pulls a letter out of his loose tunic. It is sealed.
*OOC*
From Tanis' perception check, he notices in the night is progressively getting darker as a fog descends upon the land. You also get a glimpse of the seal on the letter. It looks like this:
History Check (to see if Tanis knows anything about either the symbol or Burgomaster).
History Check 10
Tanis tries to concentrate on where he has seen this symbol before, but a headache he has been nursing from the changing weather intensifies. He has trouble concentrating on the conversation around him.
"I am sorry to hear your master is in such dire need. I wish you all the best on your quest, sir."
Tanis pours himself some stew and begins to sip it while massaging his forehead.
The man pauses for a moment. Looks at both of you and says, "You know, I have noticed your weapons. You lot seem like you can take care of yourselves in a scrap. Perhaps you can help us!" He thrusts the letter in your direction.
"What kind of help do you need exactly?" (Im on my phone and cant do colors.)
Azrael takes the letter and opens it.
It reads:
"Hail to thee of might and valor. I, a lowly servant of Barovia, send honor to thee.
We plead for thy to desperately needed assistance.
The love of my life, Ireena Kolyana, has been afflicted by an evil so deadly that even the good people of our village cannot protect her. She languishes from her wound, and I would have her saved from this menace.
There is much wealth in this community. I offer all that might be had to thee and thy fellows if thou shalt but answer my desperate plea. Come quickly, for her time is at hand! All that I have shall be thine!
Kolyan Indrovich
Burgomaster