The Haunted Palace
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

...

Wanderers in that happy valley,
Through two luminous windows, saw
Spirits moving musically
To a lute’s well-tunèd law,
Round about a throne where, sitting,
Porphyrogene!
In state his glory well befitting,
The ruler of the realm was seen.

...

But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
Assailed the monarch’s high estate;
(Ah, let us mourn!—for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.

And travellers, now, within that valley,
Through the red-litten windows see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To a discordant melody;
While, like a ghastly rapid river,
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever,
And laugh—but smile no more.

Balbec is a swampy, desolate town, with a green, mossy hue to most of the buildings, built on large wooden tiers so that the city itself doesn't sink into the swamp. Many in the town are superstitious and as such see omens and ill signs everywhere they turn. On the edge of town close to the edge of the water, there is a well-known house that for years has been owned by various wealthy, influential families. The current owner has become a recluse, having not been seen since his wife died several years ago. Many believe that he no longer lives in the house, or that he committed suicide shortly after his wife's death. Recently, those passing by the house have seen and heard disturbing things. A man matching the owner's description was seen near the cemetery late at night, digging one of the graves. Screams, moaning, and a sudden booming of thunder that caused the house to develop a large crack through most of the foundation. When several guards investigated, what they saw apparently frightened them so much that they ordered the house be boarded up and chained, as apparently "evil magics" were afoot.

 

Hello! This is a Halloween themed one-shot that could become a regular campaign based on interest

• Looking for 4 players; ALL players must be 18+ 
• MUST be able to post/check game multi-times a day
• Starting at level 5; no multiclassing
• ALL races; I own no content so if it's not in basic you need to own the race
• ALL classes; I own no content so if it's not basic you need to own the class
• ALL things you add need to be available on a DnDBeyond character sheet
• Starting equipment plus 500 GP for additional gear. No potions or magic items just gear. 
• In addtion to your gear you may chooe one of the following: wand of the war mage +1, charlatan's die, weapon +1, moon-touched sword, boots of false tracks must be in backstory.
• Include backstory; keep it light
• NO evil alignments

Hooks for your backstory:

• Your PC is a folk hero monster hunter
• Your PC is from Balbec and has been called home due to the death of a family member
• Your PC is a traveler passing through Balbec and was hired by the town to investigate the house

Well.. I guess this isn't grabbing anyone huh?

I'll try it. Don't know how often I'll post; I'm running 2 campaigns and playing in 1 maybe more other campaigns.

Just saw this today~ I would love to join; it sounds spooky and fun! I'll think up a character for it if you're still planning on going ahead with it. 

Ability scores: 10 16 15 11 16 12 (Can do point buy/standard if we're doing that)

Didn't reroll one's once that first time so: 

New Ability scores: 13 15 14 18 16 11

Name: Nez the Moon-Touched

Race: Kobold

Class: Rogue

Background: Folk Hero

Backstory - Nez's pack was slaughtered by a Manticore who wanted to nest in their caves. Out of the clan, only Nez, her twin, and their baby sister survived. Being kobolds, it was difficult to survive on their own, so they stole what they could to get by as long as they could, but knew they would get caught eventually. The two did not want to leave their baby sister alone, so Nez left her in the care of her twin and took to adventuring because she knew it was a good way to get coin and support her family. She took to monster hunting because she didn't want anyone else to end up like her pack and has, surprisingly, earned something of a folk heroic reputation for her actions. When she felt she was ready, Nez went back for the Manticore who destroyed her pack and fought it. She killed it, saving several villagers in the process, and earned the right to the sword it had stuck in its body. When she pulled the blade from the Manticore, it lit up the area around it with bright moonlight, and so she earned her title - Nez, the Moon-Touched.

She sends all of her coin back home to her siblings alongside letters she has slowly taught herself how to write, using them to teach her siblings how to read. 

Sheet - https://ddb.ac/characters/37132607/KekGmN

https://ddb.ac/characters/37095264/c3jAkS

Lejen is a swamp witch. While the locals are superstitious about her they do go to her often for healing and help with their problems. She made a pact with her patron years ago to protect her swamp. They bestowed a powerful wand to Lejen. 

Ability scores: 13 14 13 16 13 9

Withdrawn

New Ability scores: 15 13 9 10 13 17

Forgot to try 1s

I can switch to standard but I like to roll.

Name: Boigo Bristletoes

Class: Paladin

Race: Halfling

Background: Acolyte, Boigo is a shining light in a grim dark world... Literally, he has a glowing sword he carries, inherited from a knight hero in his order. He is the youngest in a line of adopted progenies of a church devoted to scouring the earth of otherworldly beings. Balbec being a small and remote swamp village, the order sent Boigo to investigate a disturbance and eradicate whatever fiend was causing it. (Went with moon touched sword.)

https://ddb.ac/characters/37125914/NLOFVq

This is my character

https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/DnDShadow5e/characters/37130124

(wand of the war mage)

An outcast of society, wandering about looking for odd jobs (didn't do too bad; has around 500 gp right now). He wants to use his gift of magic for good

Has a little experience of a monster hunter

I'm interested, I might post something tommorow.

Remember roll stats please reroll 1s once, luck of the draw. Thank you!

Ability scores: Ability scores: 10 18 12 9 15 16

Name: RAC

Race: Human

Class: Blood Hunter Order of the Lycan

Background: Urban Bounty Hunter

Backstory - Rac was born to a farmers family only to find out that he had inherited and ancient family curse...once that caused him to turn into something dark....a Lycan wolf....something he couldn't control.  He left his family to study under the famed bounty hunter Carcharoth Gaurhoth....a master of the Lycan curse and a hunter of creatures that strayed form this path.  Rac has now made a name for himself as a Bounty Hunter, but still fears loosing control.....

https://ddb.ac/characters/34840911/Uk877C

https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/CursedDungBeetle/characters/37140665

Alignment: LN

Race: Dragonborn (Green)

Class: Wizard

Background: Folk Hero

Backstory:

Ogguarim never really knew his parents, as he was born in a village where they were nowhere to be found. He had found a father figure, who they had bonded over their love of magic. This mans name was Ivill. Ivill had shown him the ways of wizardry, and they both had fun while doing so. Ogguarim had found Ivill using his powers for evil, he was attacking people out in the streets. Something had clearly snapped in him, so he used his arcane knowledge to fight back. He felt no obligation to be good, but didn't like people doing such heinous crimes. Eventually, he decided to use his powers to fight all those who may possibly break the balance of power. He uses his wand of the war mage so he may properly put people in place.

He's decided to go to the palace, as he thinks something overwhelmingly strong may reside there.

Again several apps have no rolled stats. That's a building point that's not negation. Stats must be rolled here 4d6 drop the lowest dice; re-roll 1s once.

i actually have a bunch of campaigns going on, so I'm afraid I'll have to be...

Withdrawn. Thanks anyway. Hope it goes well.

10 12 16 12 9 6

I had to re-roll.

Ah crap, I did reroll always. I'll do one more sorry.

Ability scores: 13 13 13 8 14 15

 Those are more interesting. I'll update Boigo now.

Just in case this is still open for applications: 18 14 10 14 18 12

Name: Farkas Deisandoral
Race: Elf, Shadar-kai
Class: Warlock, Hexblade
Background/connection to adventure: Farkas is a follower of the raven queen who has been sent to investigate the strange events in Balbec, as the signs point towards necromancy and "unwanted living"

Closed, thank you for your submissions. I have contacted the players I've chosen!