The full moon rises high in the unclouded sky of Silvane, its light reigning down on the people there; peasants, nobility, soldiers, and especially the lycanthropes they oppress, their bestial forms suppressed by sliver chains and magical red tunics. The were-folk of this world have been wrongly beaten, enslaved, and slaughtered for generations, and they've had enough. Whoever you are, where ever you come from, you have all ended up here, imprisoned under the hobgoblin warden Revlu Kargrar, and being prepared to be shipped off to the higher nobility of the realm. No one, not even yourselves, have even an inkling that you may very well be the beginning of the end of Silvane's relentless oppression of the were-folk, that you have a greater destiny than that of a slave.
Hello and welcome to the recruitment thread for Shackles of Silver, a Play-By-Post game where you all are the champions of the full moon: Lycanthropes. Together we will build the world of this adventure, both in and out of the kingdom of Silvane, though a large majority of the story is planned to happen within the borders of the oppressive country. There is no limit to how many people are allowed to submit characters, but I will be choosing only 4-5 to be a part of the campaign. If you are chosen to be a part of the campaign, you will receive a PM from me some time on January 21st. Feel free to name locations and NPCs in the backstory of your character when you submit it. We will be starting at level 3, and lycanthropy has no effect on alignment.
I would prefer it if players did a bit more roleplaying than rollplaying.
As stated previously, you will be playing as were-folk, however, we will not be using the rules in the Monster Manual rules. Instead, I have homebrewed a system that will add abilities an stat modifiers on top off your race. For example, a High Elf Werebear would gain +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, all High Elf features, as well as Bear and Hybrid forms, +2 Strength, a +1 bonus to AC, and the silver weakness. You will be calculated as 1 level higher than you actually are. I am allowing Jackalweres, having wiped clean their demonic fluff, and Wereravens, justifying the flight nerf by having it be standard practice in Silvane to clip the wings of any and all Wereravens. The Lycanthrope modifiers are below, as well as the modifiers that apply to all the lycanthrope overlays. The DC for lycanthropy is 8 + proficiency bonus + Constitution modifier.
Lycanthrope General
Hybrid and Beast forms that include the natural weapons from respective statblocks, but NOT movement speeds, natural weapons will use damage die listed in statblock, but Werebears and Wereboars will only roll 1 damage die, not 2; Silver Weakness. Lycanthrope bonuses cannot push ability scores above 20.
Silver Weakness
From 1st to 4th level, you do not have immunity or resistance to damage from non-silvered/magical weapons. Instead you have vulnerability to silvered weapons. At 5th level, you lose vulnerability and gain resistance, at 10th level you gain full immunity.
I am not using PHB +1, and am allowing use of the UA Artificer, Mystic, Revised Ranger, and Minotaur, as well as Grung, and the Thug subclass by Clutchbone on Enworld. If you wish to use UA or homebrew content other than that, please leave a hyperlink in your character submission. Please DO NOT generate stats, we will handle that in a session 0 of the OOC thread. There is a format for your character submissions I would like you to follow, though I will not be enforcing it too much. I have included an example, though Aarocokra and Winged Tiefling will not be allowed
Please list NPCs included both in and out of backstory section.
Anyone who brags, belittles, insults, or otherwise makes negative comments on others' submissions or opinions will be put on a list of people banned from recruiting.
Backstory: Nora was young (13) when she lost both her parents and was kicked out of her home. Her parents were both famous acrobats, many nobles came to their show and Nora couldn't have been more proud of them. They lived in a small town of Easthaven, where she was born and raised in their family mansion. She had several friend and her childhood was generally a happy one. Until the night of her parents accident, the villager's told her that the rope they had used "snapped" during their performance and they fell to their deaths. Sadden but not discourage she worked hard to keep herself feed and the villagers were also there to help. However one day some noble by the name of "Sid Marshfort" came and decided he need a new house to live in as the new lord of the village. That's when he found out about Nora and her home, he visited her with some "Friends". He explained that he would like to buy her home but she kindly refused. He tried and tried until he was fed up with this girls arrogance, he sent some of his friends to help "Negotiate" a deal. That night they came into Nora's home and tried to kill her but as an acrobat's daughter she quickly evaded them. That's was until they changed forms, they were wererats they bit her before she could escape with her life. She tried to stay with some villagers but she realized that the Sid could just find them and hurt them.
So Nora wounder to the city, that's when she found out about her curse, starving from not eating she ran into another Urchin her name was Xiao Fen the Weasel. She feed Nora and took care of her. Xiao could sense something special coming form Nora. Xiao Fen told Nora she could teach her the way of Zui Quan (Drunken Fist) with no hesitation Nora accepted. Six years of intense training and she finally masted the techniques, when she went to tell her master Xiao was gone leaving a note "Now, that you have masted my techniques I have nothing to show you. There's was always something special about you Nora, Now go show the world that special gift!" With those words she travel around the world where she would eventual make her way to Silvane, getting captured and sold into slavery.
NPC List: Villagers of Easthaven, Sid Marshfort "Noble who took Nora's home", and Xiao Fen the Weasel "Master of Zui Quan"
Backstory: Corrin was abandoned at an early age, given a note reading “Corrin Tealeaf” which he found as his name, when he taught himself to read. He stole food to survive, and became well trained at the “art”. When Corrin was still young, he came in a close encounter with a wererat, whose name was Bardon, and was bitten, given the curse of lycanthropy. Even with that curse, Corrin still has a light-hearted sense of humor, and is loyal to his friends, despite his origins.
(This is still a work in progress, I'll be adding more and editing it when I figure it out)
NPC list: Bardon, the wererat who gave Corrin his curse.
I have a little bit more I'm thinking about adding. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to change if you accept this character.
Name:Balasar Alignment: LG Race: Dragonborn (Gold) Subclass: Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) Lycanthropy: Werebear Background: Far Traveler (On Pilgrimage) Backstory: Balasar came to Silvane on his paladin pilgrimage from Irileth, a far far away land. While on pilgrimage Balasar was ambushed by a group of bandits. While captor with others, a prisoner transformed into a werebear and Balasar was bitten and contracted his lycanthropy. Balasar was mauled and left for dead during the attack. Isran the God of War, his diety, saved Balasar from dying. A group of guards came across the the attack and took Balasar to Ramoor, where he was sold into slavary for his lycanthropy. Seeing the lands of Silvane wrought with destruction from the Lycanthropy injustice Balasar swore an oath to pursue all who vowed to hurt and kill the Lycanthropes. NPC lists: Isran, the God of War within the Religion of Irileth and the Gods of 9.
Name: Kuori (Keeneye) Thuliaga Alignment: LN Race: Goliath Class: Ranger (Hunter) Lycanthropy: Wereboar Background: Haunted One (Curse of Strahd) Backstory: I've been born and raised in the tribe's hunter clan. In all my life I have hunted, and walked the passages that not many knew. However one time on my trip to find some new pray, I've been attacked by a boar-like monster. It was a terrible fight I could survive only thanks to my exceptional physical status. But as I was hurt, I had to realize soon that it infected me, and I became as well a wereboar. My tribe knew that it makes me as a dangerous person among them, but thanks to my good relations with my family and some friends, I could still stay close, so I could still survive. I got so strong by the time, so I almost decided to start my own life away from the tribe to keep them even more secure, when a pack of hobgoblins caught me, and shackled me to be sold as some cheap meat. NPC: Tribe: Ah'loon village in the Mountain of Bevellauree; Father: Dawncaller; Best friend: Wordpainter
Backstory: It all began when my grandpa died. That very night I began listening him. He wasn't my grandpa as I thought at first. It was one creature, but with so many different voices I thought I was going to end up crazy without redemption. And he was dark. I could feel his evil spilling into my veins. My thoughts weren't mine anymore. And I feared for my family. My parents and my sister shouldn't suffer because of my madness, so I left. No note, no nothing. Just leaving with the clothes I was wearing that day and my grandpa's diary. I loved that man so much...
That very night my new powers were shown to me. This creature wasn't something made in my mind as a result of my madness. I wasn't mad. I would be lucky if it were just that. This infernal creature exists, and were changing my from my core. I didn't fear the wolves that night. They feared me. I became one of them.
NPC lists: Thorian and Gramilda, my parents, and Gisela, my sister. And the creature haunting my nightmares.
I was born a high noble of the Goldwood family, we hunted lycanthropes for sport. The savages raided our livestock and murdered our people, they deserved what they got. That was until we had word of lycans spotted in a faraway village. We tracked them down to a small cave and prepared our ambush, but we underestimated them. Cowering from our hunts the oppressed lycans had gathered together against a common foe and found strength in numbers. Never before has there been an account of so many in one place. We were slaughtered. I had somehow survived, badly wounded and indeed it could have been many different Lycanthropes that cursed me, but the weretiger won out in the end.
I was now hunted by both elves and lycans alike. But the goblin slave traders got me first.
Etan still hates lycans, believing that they cannot live alongside the intelligent races. However he will ally with them for a common goal.
Backstory: When I was young I lived with my parents deep in the forest, in an Elvish village. My Dad was the villages leader, he was an extraordinary warrior with his dual scimitars, a metal worker and a very charismatic leader. My mother was a beautiful maiden also a great warrior but with a bow not the scimitars, also a great wizard she taught me the ways of magic. Together they raised me as a warrior, with skills with the bow, the scimitars, and also minor magical abilities. One day while i was out practicing with my father he told me bout the special ability of our people, we are werewolves, the way he told me i thought i should be proud of it. But one day the kings soldiers came and attacked our village, my mother and father fought bravely to defend me but in the end they perished. I ended up getting away and joined the army, after serving with them till I was 107 years old. During those 50 years I fought countless enemies all they while going up in rank until i was a general in a special forces. I then met another Elvish boy, i trained him and taught him magic and to fight and he became my best friend, he had my back and i had his. We became quite the team, but one day while i was sleeping the kings soldiers snuck in and killed him in his sleep, i became so enraged i turned into a wolf and slayed all but one of them. The last one snuck away and told the king. By that time they found out i was a werewolf and took me to where I am now.
Backstory: The moon is many things, controller of the tide, it shows way in the night brother of the sun, a symbol of change and associated with lycanthropy.
Tarn was born on a the secluded island of Maanoy, a couple of miles from the coast of Silvane. Maanoy is a small island and home to the Moonsingers, a group of clerics and priests that worships every aspect of the moon. Tarn is the son of Lagoon, the high priest of the Moonsingers and was supposed to inherit the position of high priest from him. When his father grew old and Tarn was ready to finally take the mantle of high priest himself, he learned the true secret of their temple.
Lagoon told Tarn why the Moonsingers had kept themselves secluded from the rest of the world. Their high priest was and always had been a lycanthrope. To be specific, a jackalwere. Lagoon had told Tarn that if every aspect of the moon was to be represented in the high priest he had to succumb to his fathers lycantrophy and become one himself before he could inhabit the role of high priest. He accepted the curse.
A few months later a group of lycan-hunting mainlanders heard a rumor of an island not far from the coast where people who worshipped the moon lived. As they arrived on the shores of Maanoy the new moon hang upon the sky and the Moonsingers were out in the temple courtyard, singing hymns of moon and change Seeing the moonsingers chanting these words in front of murals on the temple walls they were brought to the mainland to face the punishment for the crime of conspiring with lycantropes.
NPC´s: Lagoon Hightide (father), Selüne; godess of the moon and lycanthropes.
Name: Vulgrim Balthierre Alignment: N Race: Human (Variant Class: Bard (College of the Sword) Lycanthropy: WereRaven Background: Noble Backstory: Music, beautiful ballads ringing through the bright hall as the crowds look on, standing atop their seats cheering! I up the tempo and they begin to clap their hands to the rhythm i set, faster and faster. A few drunk men bravely attempt a jig whilst their ladies look upon them, flushed and short of breath.
My pacing quickens and the music swells mixing with the roars of joy and filling the room to bursting.... and then suddenly... stillness.... echoes of my last note hang in the air as if from a distant memory... or perhaps it was never there to begin with... i start again, a softer tone, a solemn melody, is this what i am meant for? i look up to find the hall empty of life.
i am alone.
----
Vulgrim’s eyes fly open as he sat up suddenly pulling tightly at the chains connecting to the silver collar around his neck. He coughed tightly, the air returning to his lungs.
That same dream again he thought wiping away his long sweat matted hair from his face. What did it mean? Was it even a dream? or was it perhaps some remnant of a memory long forgotten?
A yelp of pain filled the air piercing his thoughts. Vulgrim braced himself, the last of the dream fading from his mind. He did not wait long as the silver reinforced door on the far side of the dark chamber suddenly burst open with a bang and flooded the darkness with light.
Vulgrim blinked, his eyes adjusting and watched the silhouette of two humanoid figures enter dragging a third between them. Another cry of pain was choked out as the middle figure was thrown roughly against the hard-stone wall not far from where Vulgrim sat. Another stout figure walked through the door laughing menacingly as the others secured the prisoner with silver chains.
Vulgrim tried to shrink back into the shadows as he recognised that laugh; the hobgoblin Revlu Kargrar. The twisted warden was known too well for his cruel beatings Vulgrim painfully recalled as he witnessed a heavy kick delivered to the prisoner’s mid-section.
Vulgrim scrunched his eyes closed and tried to block out the cries from the ongoing torture. He tried desperately to recall the cheerful melody of his dream to drown out the cackling of the Hobgoblin. The more he tried the harder it became.
Eventually a last wet thud was met with only silence.
Vulgrim did not open his eyes even after Revlu and the others left closing the door behind them. Neither dream nor memory would save him from the harsh truth that is reality. He was now Lycan and a prisoner for it, his future uncertain. Something tugged at his thoughts and he felt his lips curl into a smile, one thing he was certain of: he would not be a prisoner for much longer.
The silence of the chamber was pierced by an eerie tune as Vulgrim sat, humming softly to himself within the darkness.
----
Sorry about the length of the post - i got a little carried away....
Ok so Vulgrim is a bard of once noble birth who through some means that I am happy for the DM to decide, is suffering from amnesia (maybe something to do with his lycanthropy).
He does not remember much of the life he used to have and has since wondered from town to town using his bard skills to barter food and shelter never staying in the same place for long. At some point he is discovered to be a Lycan which led to an even harsher life on the run until he was eventually captured.
He is a charming fellow although a little self-centred and despite his usual cheerful appearance, has a darker personality within.
I’m happy for the DM to fill in backstory elements as desired.
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DM - the Twilight of an Age | Vulgrim - Bard - Shackles of Silver | DM - the Call of Fate
Backstory: Erias, his father, his grandpa, his grandgrandpa and his grandgrandgrandpa lived decent and modest life and they had their own brewery in the town of Oakcreek. Wives of his father and grandfathers lived in a village of Soilville, a week travel from his hometown doing completely different work(cow farm). That was the way of his clan, so that everyone can focus on their work and do most and not lose time and energy on silly "love games". But Erias did not like to work in the brewery, he loved to walk in the forest. To watch animals and plants grow. On one of his adventures, when he traveled for the longest period of time and found himself in the country of Silvane, he was bitten by a werewolf. He spent 2 days recovering from the wounds and during that time he was enslaved. Still young, and shocked from both his new nature and horrible present as a slave he only saw hope in nature gods that they would help him and free him. He saw how his selfish needs brought him into trouble, and how his family must worry. But he knows he cannot return to them, for they would only see him as a monster and defiant son. His only hope now is getting new family with his own lycanothropic kind and to try to change everyones perception of them. Lycanothropes are also a part of nature and others must see it that way too, and Erias will do his best to prove it.
NPC lists: Father Elaim, grandpa Thradal, ggpa Vondal, gggpa Beloril, mother Kristryd, grandma Valida, ggma Werydd. He has uncles and aunts but they living their own lifes. He also has 4 younger sisters he didn't really interact with: Balifra, Nurkara, Morana and Delre
Backstory: In a lavish gathering room, a man sits before a woman clad in silks reclining on a couch. The two are negotiating the price of entering a shrine rumored to be somewhere in the surrounding jungle. At one point, the woman holds up a hand before proceeding, "Let me tell you a cautionary tale of an elf girl. Her family was the Followers of Eight, an outcast sect of elves whose beliefs led them to exile centuries prior. The day came when their long-lost-home nation hunted them down for total extermination. The luckiest fraction were able to escape, the majority died. Our little girl fell into the least fortunate group: those captured and sold as slaves. After months of ruinous travel through strange lands, the young elf arrived in a land without an tree or hill for miles and barely enough life in the soil to support life.
It was in this foreign land that the elf met Kotal Ulamaji, a proprietor of blood and entertainment. This child was thrown to a pit with a dozen others and taught basic use of blade and shield in the hopes of earning coin for their master. What they did not comprehend was that their captive was no simple refugee. The carried a fire for life and fought desperately to survive at every turn. After three years, finances ran dry and food was secondary for slaves. An uprising erupted led by a combatant named Green Viper. Our hardened captive gladly joined for freedom, taking up a bow and clearing many of the guards ahead of the mob.
As all slaves do after rising against masters, the mob ran for freedom. Unfortunately, their leader soon proved a tyrant as much as Ulamaji. Green Viper desired a harem of concubines with a fiery elf at it center. On a quiet night, a whisper on the wind heralded impending doom. A commotion arose and outriders were quickly dispatched. By morning, the slave army was short one elf and Green Viper was short a hand and half his face.
For a week, the child ran. She was fortunate to follow the winds which led her to this jungle. In its depths, she found safety and knowledge. When she was ready, the jungle opened a path which led to the place you seek: The Shrine of Shar. This elf fell before the Goddess of Night and pleaded for days. For the first time in her life, she begged to become a servant and the Goddess smiled."
The man in the room sat back in his chair, idling fingering the hilt of his sword, "So what is the lesson in all this? Why was this girl allowed at the shrine but not me? I have more to offer than some escaped slave and I don't even want anything except to visit the site." The hostess split a smile which seemed to stretch her face into an unnatural shape, revealing more and more teeth than any mirth should. Behind her, a shimmer of light gave away a strange presence all too late. The world melted away into the form of an armed woman. An arrow sailed across the room and buried into the chest of a man hidden behind a screen, then another followed and felled a man behind nearby curtains.
The reclined woman finally spoke as the new woman walked to her side, "You see, this elf girl was so grateful, so enraptured by the Goddess, that she even took a new name in Her honor. Shariel, please escort our guest out." In a frenzy, the man stood, drew his sword and charged. As the blade swept down, the armed woman vanished from existence. This was no trick; the woman dissapeared and only air remained. A hook-shaped dagger slid around the man's throat from behind. Holding it was a humanoid hand covered in vibrant, orange fur. The woman on the couch stretched and her form gave way to that of a great tiger.
"You never tell them how I earned my keep in the fighting pits or why Green Viper wanted me so badly," a voice mused from behind the man, "But I suppose it doesn't matter. The Goddess saw it and brought me in because of it."
NPC lists:
-Kotal Ulamaji: Slaver and Ringmaster of the fighting pit which held Shariel captive.
-Green Viper: Leader of the slave revolt which allowed Shariel's escape. Attempted to enslave Shariel (though with nicer words). Severely wounded in Shariel's escape.
-Rajmi al Nebas: Patron of Shariel, directed Shariel to a shrine of Shar to receive Her blesssing (lycanthropy) after demonstrating a proven aptitude as bodyguard and steward.
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Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
The guard was bored, but awake. It didn't make any difference to Kinshra. Using her claws she´s slipped over his head crawling near the ceiling of the narrow aisle. She even used her tail to gentle touch the guard's nape, making him scratching it while she drops to the floor once she had crossed to the other room. She smiled, that was easy. She moved from shadow to shadow, in complete silence and exited the house from the same open window she used to enter it, climbed down the wall, crossed the gardens from branch to branch of the trees that were planted on it and with great agility, jumped away the external wall and landed on the street. Her prize was in the little backpack she wore, an elvish trinket that her Master desired. Her Master would be pleased, at least, she hadn’t to kill nobody this time and was able to sneak a couple of emeralds for her. Unconsciously, she touched the silver diadem engraved with magical runes she wore.
- Remember my little Kinshra, you are daughter of Shingra Sinrr, our tribe used to hunt free in the Karthomir Forest before they came. It doesn’t matter how they call us, it doesn’t matter what they do to us, we will always be hunters.
- Yes mother – replied the little girl in just a whisper as they hide from the bountyhunters their Master sent after them. Soon they found them but only half of them returned with their price. It wasn’t the first time her mother tried to escape their Masters and hide into the forest. But, that one would be the last.
Her Master was looking down to the city of Ervannar. Despite the late hour many mansions of the Upper District were still lit with big parties being throwing inside, but not in his Master’s house. His Master didn’t throw a party unless it served for his purposes. He was near the balcony, listening to the city’s noises and looking down to the docks.
He was so close to the edge. Only a few steps, a little push and she could be free. Her feet moved by its own will just a few inches.
- Do you think you could take me by surprise little lyc? – he mocked her. – I dare you –
he didn’t even turned around. Kinshra felt the anger growing in her chest, but doesn’t let it reach the surface. Not even a quiver from her lips.
- No Master. I would never think such a thing – she replied with the most neutral voice she could collect.
His Master turned and stared at her.
- Of course you don't Lyc. Do you have it? –
For only reply she handed the elvish trinket she had robbed earlier that night and handed it to him.
- You are good, aren’t you? -
- Thank you Master – That thing must be important if he had complained her.
- Now leave that disgusting form and return to your duties –
- Yes Master –
She shaped into her human form, struggling against the pain the diadem caused her every time she used her heritage traits, and went back to the Harem, with the Master following her closely.
- Yes… yes.. you are a natural little Adren* –
The excitement on his trainer voice was evident and even that she could felt the eyes of the Master on her she couldn’t help to felt some proud that the renowed Asktar Frunwell was flattering her. She was being instructed by the most famous, or infamous, thief in Ervannar by orders of her Master himself after he saw it was very hard to keep an eye on her and her keeping on escapes. There was no cage, no wall, no shackle that could retain her. The reasons why he hadn’t killed or sold her were obscure to her at that moment, but just a few weeks ago her Master donned a silver diadem on her head and, after two days and nights of intense pain, she was able to move again despite the pain of the the diadem. Then the cell door was left open, the shackles weren’t used anymore. But she soon learned that when his Master called, the diadem made sure that she will come to his presence.
The next months were the happier months she remembered since her mother and she were captured. Asktar was a hard teacher and really pushed her to her limits, but after almost a year she was able to walk as silent as a gust of wind, open almost any lock and her skills were only beginning to develop. One night Askar took her for a walk. He seemed very sad and worried.
- You have to run away little Adren – he said after a long silence between them – Your Master is an evil man… - for a moment it seemed that he will add something, looking at her with sorrow – and you are no child anymore. –
Kinshra refrained to hug the old man.
-I know how he looks at me Athro* but I cannot do anything. This… thing – she touched the diadem – binds me to his will.
The old thief took her hands and left a little jade pendant with the rune of her clan, the Snirr clan, engraved on it.
-You are stronger than his wicked magic, and stronger than him –
With that the old lycanthrope walked away. She knew that he will left the city that night and that she wouldn’t see him again. Unfortunately she was wrong.
Her heart stopped when she saw the guards at her hidden stash spot. During the years she always managed to sneak some jewels, some coins from the missions her Master assigned her and found the perfect spot under a rock in the back garden. She was trying to save enough to pay some sorcerer at the Grey Alley to remove the diadem once and for all.
Well, maybe it wasn’t the perfect spot after all. “Maybe it’s value is enough to the Master to lessen the blow” she thought, but was the last clear thought before her brain seemed to melted and her body to burn due to the punishment of her Master.
- Do you know what have you done?!! – asked the Master, angry, with the two elvish emeralds she stole in his hand.
There wasn’t anything weird in that night’s assignment. She had to sneak into a tavern in the docks, steal a book from an old man, and go back to his Master mansion. But something in her Master’s eyes when he gave the orders made her nervous and that feeling that something was wrong was still on the back of her head. She remembered what her Athro teached her and focused. A few minutes later she was in the room of the old man and saw the book in the wooden table, covered with a black satin cloth that seemed out of place in that cheap tavern. It was so easy that she even had to turn to gain the strength and agility her mixed form granted to her.
Without a sound she moved towards the table and uncovered the book. She held her breath, for she saw that book for many years at her Master’s table and on his hands when she was studying. It was her Master spellbook. She touched it and couldn’t help to cry in pain when her Master’s mind invaded hers. She kneeled, her hands still holding the book.
The old man in the bed waked up, looked at her and tried to warn her, but Asktar warning were too late. He saw how his beloved Adren turn her head towards him, crying and a was able to whisper “Run…” before starting to shape into her animal form.
-This old fool was trying to steal from me. To keep me away from you – her Master’s voice was like lava burning her mind – Now you both filthy creatures need a lesson in why we are your Masters – He made her kill her Athro, her mentor, her only friend, and left enough of her in her mind while doing it that she could remember it always. Askar didn’t even tried to escape. Once she was herself again and was crying holding his wounded body the old man was able to touch her face one last time.
- Stronger... than... him… -
She never saw his Master so angry, not in the multiple times she and her mother tried to escape, not when he told her mother was murdered during a mission, not when she recovered the spellbook. He not only punished her using the diadem, but also kicked her and use the whip personally.
- You stupid lync*. You almost made all fail. Do you think you could hide that things from me? I am a grateful Master and allowed you to keep your little trinkets. - he never stopped to hit her. – But this, this had led him to me! –
He threw the two emeralds to her face. The emeralds she stole from that elvish lord, Celibran Draugnarîm.
He hit her until she was unconscious but just before passing away he heard her Master cold voice, calm as always.
- Tell the city guard that we have discovered the thief, that she had been punished and that she will be sold to Revlu Kargrar. –
The man know as the Master looked to the beaten body of Kinshra. – A pity, she was a valuable asset. – and walked away.
*Lyc: abbreviator for Lycanthrope. Normally used in a despective way.
*Adren: Student in lycanthrope tongue.
*Athro: Teacher in lucanthrope tongue.
NPC lists:
The Master: A human wizard that had owned Kinshra since she was captured. He created and designted the diadem that allowed him to control her and her transformations. That had kept her from running away all this years. I let in your hands if he, once he had sold her, had kept the cursed diadem or she still wore it.
Celibran Draugnarîm: An elf noble from the city of Ervannar who is a political enemy of the Master. How he was able to trace the emeralds or why it was so important to him remains a mistery to us.
Asktar Frunwell: A wererat who in his youth was an accomplished thief. He was captured by Ervannar Thieve’s Guild and gained a certain grade of freedom. He has “rented” by the Master to train Kinshra in the arts of thieving, and tried to escape with the Master’s spellbook in an attempt to help her escape.
Shingra Sinrr: Weretiger father of Kinshra. After the Silvanites found their village in the Karthomir Forest he was lost during the frey. He was the alpha male of the village.
Kheyra Sinrr: Werepanther mother of Kinshra. She was sold to the Master at the Ervannar Lync Market along with her little child. The Master used her as a thief and assassin until one night she never returned.
Alright, it was a tough decision, but I have chosen the party composition. For those who made it in, congratulations! For those who didn't, you all had nice characters, and better luck next time. This was actually pretty difficult to choose.
The OOC thread will be sent out some time tomorrow, and thank you to all of you for submitting characters. I have sent a PM to the party members.
Recruitment will end January 20th, 2018
The full moon rises high in the unclouded sky of Silvane, its light reigning down on the people there; peasants, nobility, soldiers, and especially the lycanthropes they oppress, their bestial forms suppressed by sliver chains and magical red tunics. The were-folk of this world have been wrongly beaten, enslaved, and slaughtered for generations, and they've had enough. Whoever you are, where ever you come from, you have all ended up here, imprisoned under the hobgoblin warden Revlu Kargrar, and being prepared to be shipped off to the higher nobility of the realm. No one, not even yourselves, have even an inkling that you may very well be the beginning of the end of Silvane's relentless oppression of the were-folk, that you have a greater destiny than that of a slave.
Hello and welcome to the recruitment thread for Shackles of Silver, a Play-By-Post game where you all are the champions of the full moon: Lycanthropes. Together we will build the world of this adventure, both in and out of the kingdom of Silvane, though a large majority of the story is planned to happen within the borders of the oppressive country. There is no limit to how many people are allowed to submit characters, but I will be choosing only 4-5 to be a part of the campaign. If you are chosen to be a part of the campaign, you will receive a PM from me some time on January 21st. Feel free to name locations and NPCs in the backstory of your character when you submit it. We will be starting at level 3, and lycanthropy has no effect on alignment.
I would prefer it if players did a bit more roleplaying than rollplaying.
As stated previously, you will be playing as were-folk, however, we will not be using the rules in the Monster Manual rules. Instead, I have homebrewed a system that will add abilities an stat modifiers on top off your race. For example, a High Elf Werebear would gain +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, all High Elf features, as well as Bear and Hybrid forms, +2 Strength, a +1 bonus to AC, and the silver weakness. You will be calculated as 1 level higher than you actually are. I am allowing Jackalweres, having wiped clean their demonic fluff, and Wereravens, justifying the flight nerf by having it be standard practice in Silvane to clip the wings of any and all Wereravens. The Lycanthrope modifiers are below, as well as the modifiers that apply to all the lycanthrope overlays. The DC for lycanthropy is 8 + proficiency bonus + Constitution modifier.
Lycanthrope General
Hybrid and Beast forms that include the natural weapons from respective statblocks, but NOT movement speeds, natural weapons will use damage die listed in statblock, but Werebears and Wereboars will only roll 1 damage die, not 2; Silver Weakness. Lycanthrope bonuses cannot push ability scores above 20.
Silver Weakness
From 1st to 4th level, you do not have immunity or resistance to damage from non-silvered/magical weapons. Instead you have vulnerability to silvered weapons. At 5th level, you lose vulnerability and gain resistance, at 10th level you gain full immunity.
Werebear
+2 strength, Keen Hearing and Smell, +1 AC
Wereboar
+1 Strength, Keen Hearing and Smell, Charge, Relentless (damage limit equals 8 + proficiency bonus + Strength)
Wererat
+3 Dexterity, Keen Smell
Wereraven
Mimicry, No flight until 5th level(10ft), increases by 5ft at 7th level, 9th level, 11th level, and 13th level.
Weretiger
+2 Strength, Keen Hearing and Smell, Pounce
Werewolf
+2 Strength, Keen Hearing and Smell, +10ft movement in Wolf form
Jackalwere
+1 Dex, Keen Hearing and Smell, Pack Tactics, Sleeping Gaze(DC 8 + proficiency + Charisma)
I am not using PHB +1, and am allowing use of the UA Artificer, Mystic, Revised Ranger, and Minotaur, as well as Grung, and the Thug subclass by Clutchbone on Enworld. If you wish to use UA or homebrew content other than that, please leave a hyperlink in your character submission. Please DO NOT generate stats, we will handle that in a session 0 of the OOC thread. There is a format for your character submissions I would like you to follow, though I will not be enforcing it too much. I have included an example, though Aarocokra and Winged Tiefling will not be allowed
Name: Owly Bearington
Alignment: CN (CE is banned)
Race: Aarocokra
Subclass: Champion (Fighter)
Lycanthropy: Werebear
Background: Hermit
Backstory: Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.
NPC lists:
Please list NPCs included both in and out of backstory section.
Anyone who brags, belittles, insults, or otherwise makes negative comments on others' submissions or opinions will be put on a list of people banned from recruiting.
Campaigns
Oethea's Chosen- Jiron Booyahn, Hobgoblin Artificer(Gunsmith).
Shackles of Silver- Dungeon Master
Ravnica, City of Guilds - Rukorm, Minotaur Fighter(Cavalier) - Izzet League
Name: Nora Parmour
Alignment: NG
Race: Human Variant
Subclass: Way of the Drunken Master (Monk)
Lycanthropy: Wererat
Background: Urchin
Backstory: Nora was young (13) when she lost both her parents and was kicked out of her home. Her parents were both famous acrobats, many nobles came to their show and Nora couldn't have been more proud of them. They lived in a small town of Easthaven, where she was born and raised in their family mansion. She had several friend and her childhood was generally a happy one. Until the night of her parents accident, the villager's told her that the rope they had used "snapped" during their performance and they fell to their deaths. Sadden but not discourage she worked hard to keep herself feed and the villagers were also there to help. However one day some noble by the name of "Sid Marshfort" came and decided he need a new house to live in as the new lord of the village. That's when he found out about Nora and her home, he visited her with some "Friends". He explained that he would like to buy her home but she kindly refused. He tried and tried until he was fed up with this girls arrogance, he sent some of his friends to help "Negotiate" a deal. That night they came into Nora's home and tried to kill her but as an acrobat's daughter she quickly evaded them. That's was until they changed forms, they were wererats they bit her before she could escape with her life. She tried to stay with some villagers but she realized that the Sid could just find them and hurt them.
So Nora wounder to the city, that's when she found out about her curse, starving from not eating she ran into another Urchin her name was Xiao Fen the Weasel. She feed Nora and took care of her. Xiao could sense something special coming form Nora. Xiao Fen told Nora she could teach her the way of Zui Quan (Drunken Fist) with no hesitation Nora accepted. Six years of intense training and she finally masted the techniques, when she went to tell her master Xiao was gone leaving a note "Now, that you have masted my techniques I have nothing to show you. There's was always something special about you Nora, Now go show the world that special gift!" With those words she travel around the world where she would eventual make her way to Silvane, getting captured and sold into slavery.
NPC List: Villagers of Easthaven, Sid Marshfort "Noble who took Nora's home", and Xiao Fen the Weasel "Master of Zui Quan"
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAName: Corrin Tealeaf
Alignment: CG
Race: Lightfoot halfling
Subclass: Thief (rogue)
Lycanthropy: Wererat
Background: Urchin
Backstory: Corrin was abandoned at an early age, given a note reading “Corrin Tealeaf” which he found as his name, when he taught himself to read. He stole food to survive, and became well trained at the “art”. When Corrin was still young, he came in a close encounter with a wererat, whose name was Bardon, and was bitten, given the curse of lycanthropy. Even with that curse, Corrin still has a light-hearted sense of humor, and is loyal to his friends, despite his origins.
(This is still a work in progress, I'll be adding more and editing it when I figure it out)
NPC list: Bardon, the wererat who gave Corrin his curse.
I have a little bit more I'm thinking about adding. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to change if you accept this character.
Name: Balasar
Alignment: LG
Race: Dragonborn (Gold)
Subclass: Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)
Lycanthropy: Werebear
Background: Far Traveler (On Pilgrimage)
Backstory:
Balasar came to Silvane on his paladin pilgrimage from Irileth, a far far away land. While on pilgrimage Balasar was ambushed by a group of bandits. While captor with others, a prisoner transformed into a werebear and Balasar was bitten and contracted his lycanthropy. Balasar was mauled and left for dead during the attack. Isran the God of War, his diety, saved Balasar from dying. A group of guards came across the the attack and took Balasar to Ramoor, where he was sold into slavary for his lycanthropy.
Seeing the lands of Silvane wrought with destruction from the Lycanthropy injustice Balasar swore an oath to pursue all who vowed to hurt and kill the Lycanthropes.
NPC lists:
Isran, the God of War within the Religion of Irileth and the Gods of 9.
DM - The Lost Mines of Phandelver
DM - Tales from Irileth: Korey ◆ Rook ◆ Grinner
Name: Kuori (Keeneye) Thuliaga
Alignment: LN
Race: Goliath
Class: Ranger (Hunter)
Lycanthropy: Wereboar
Background: Haunted One (Curse of Strahd)
Backstory:
I've been born and raised in the tribe's hunter clan. In all my life I have hunted, and walked the passages that not many knew. However one time on my trip to find some new pray, I've been attacked by a boar-like monster. It was a terrible fight I could survive only thanks to my exceptional physical status. But as I was hurt, I had to realize soon that it infected me, and I became as well a wereboar. My tribe knew that it makes me as a dangerous person among them, but thanks to my good relations with my family and some friends, I could still stay close, so I could still survive. I got so strong by the time, so I almost decided to start my own life away from the tribe to keep them even more secure, when a pack of hobgoblins caught me, and shackled me to be sold as some cheap meat.
NPC:
Tribe: Ah'loon village in the Mountain of Bevellauree; Father: Dawncaller; Best friend: Wordpainter
Name: Ravengast
Alignment: NB
Race: Human
Subclass: Warlock
Lycanthropy: Werewolf
Background: Haunted one
Backstory: It all began when my grandpa died. That very night I began listening him. He wasn't my grandpa as I thought at first. It was one creature, but with so many different voices I thought I was going to end up crazy without redemption. And he was dark. I could feel his evil spilling into my veins. My thoughts weren't mine anymore. And I feared for my family. My parents and my sister shouldn't suffer because of my madness, so I left. No note, no nothing. Just leaving with the clothes I was wearing that day and my grandpa's diary. I loved that man so much...
That very night my new powers were shown to me. This creature wasn't something made in my mind as a result of my madness. I wasn't mad. I would be lucky if it were just that. This infernal creature exists, and were changing my from my core. I didn't fear the wolves that night. They feared me. I became one of them.
NPC lists: Thorian and Gramilda, my parents, and Gisela, my sister. And the creature haunting my nightmares.
Name: Etan Goldwood
Race: High Elf
Alignment: NG
Class: Revised Ranger
Lycanthope: Weretiger
Background: Outlander
I was born a high noble of the Goldwood family, we hunted lycanthropes for sport. The savages raided our livestock and murdered our people, they deserved what they got. That was until we had word of lycans spotted in a faraway village. We tracked them down to a small cave and prepared our ambush, but we underestimated them. Cowering from our hunts the oppressed lycans had gathered together against a common foe and found strength in numbers. Never before has there been an account of so many in one place. We were slaughtered. I had somehow survived, badly wounded and indeed it could have been many different Lycanthropes that cursed me, but the weretiger won out in the end.
I was now hunted by both elves and lycans alike. But the goblin slave traders got me first.
Etan still hates lycans, believing that they cannot live alongside the intelligent races. However he will ally with them for a common goal.
Just curious as to why we are starting so late?
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiACampaigns
Oethea's Chosen- Jiron Booyahn, Hobgoblin Artificer(Gunsmith).
Shackles of Silver- Dungeon Master
Ravnica, City of Guilds - Rukorm, Minotaur Fighter(Cavalier) - Izzet League
Name: Kiereth Trime
Alignment: CG
Race: High Elf
Subclass: Eldritch Knight (Fighter)
Lycanthropy: Werewolf
Background: Soldier
Backstory: When I was young I lived with my parents deep in the forest, in an Elvish village. My Dad was the villages leader, he was an extraordinary warrior with his dual scimitars, a metal worker and a very charismatic leader. My mother was a beautiful maiden also a great warrior but with a bow not the scimitars, also a great wizard she taught me the ways of magic. Together they raised me as a warrior, with skills with the bow, the scimitars, and also minor magical abilities. One day while i was out practicing with my father he told me bout the special ability of our people, we are werewolves, the way he told me i thought i should be proud of it. But one day the kings soldiers came and attacked our village, my mother and father fought bravely to defend me but in the end they perished. I ended up getting away and joined the army, after serving with them till I was 107 years old. During those 50 years I fought countless enemies all they while going up in rank until i was a general in a special forces. I then met another Elvish boy, i trained him and taught him magic and to fight and he became my best friend, he had my back and i had his. We became quite the team, but one day while i was sleeping the kings soldiers snuck in and killed him in his sleep, i became so enraged i turned into a wolf and slayed all but one of them. The last one snuck away and told the king. By that time they found out i was a werewolf and took me to where I am now.
Name: Tarn Hightide
Race: Genasi (Water)
Alignment: LG
Class: Cleric (Trickery)
Lycantrophe: Jackalwere
Background: Acolyte
Backstory: The moon is many things, controller of the tide, it shows way in the night brother of the sun, a symbol of change and associated with lycanthropy.
Tarn was born on a the secluded island of Maanoy, a couple of miles from the coast of Silvane. Maanoy is a small island and home to the Moonsingers, a group of clerics and priests that worships every aspect of the moon. Tarn is the son of Lagoon, the high priest of the Moonsingers and was supposed to inherit the position of high priest from him. When his father grew old and Tarn was ready to finally take the mantle of high priest himself, he learned the true secret of their temple.
Lagoon told Tarn why the Moonsingers had kept themselves secluded from the rest of the world. Their high priest was and always had been a lycanthrope. To be specific, a jackalwere. Lagoon had told Tarn that if every aspect of the moon was to be represented in the high priest he had to succumb to his fathers lycantrophy and become one himself before he could inhabit the role of high priest. He accepted the curse.
A few months later a group of lycan-hunting mainlanders heard a rumor of an island not far from the coast where people who worshipped the moon lived. As they arrived on the shores of Maanoy the new moon hang upon the sky and the Moonsingers were out in the temple courtyard, singing hymns of moon and change Seeing the moonsingers chanting these words in front of murals on the temple walls they were brought to the mainland to face the punishment for the crime of conspiring with lycantropes.
NPC´s: Lagoon Hightide (father), Selüne; godess of the moon and lycanthropes.
Blixanix Glitterpain, Goblin Bard - In campaign: Ravnica, City of GuildsThe Soggiest DM - In campaign: Boats, Rocks & RuffiansEira Whitefeather, Human Sorcerer/Warlock - In campaign: Death Inspectors ExpandedRoland "THUNDER HIPPO" Wolfscribe, Human Bloodhunter - In campaign: Core City: A Play-by-post Adventure
Name: Vulgrim Balthierre
Alignment: N
Race: Human (Variant
Class: Bard (College of the Sword)
Lycanthropy: WereRaven
Background: Noble
Backstory:
Music, beautiful ballads ringing through the bright hall as the crowds look on, standing atop their seats cheering! I up the tempo and they begin to clap their hands to the rhythm i set, faster and faster. A few drunk men bravely attempt a jig whilst their ladies look upon them, flushed and short of breath.
My pacing quickens and the music swells mixing with the roars of joy and filling the room to bursting.... and then suddenly... stillness.... echoes of my last note hang in the air as if from a distant memory... or perhaps it was never there to begin with... i start again, a softer tone, a solemn melody, is this what i am meant for? i look up to find the hall empty of life.
i am alone.
----
Vulgrim’s eyes fly open as he sat up suddenly pulling tightly at the chains connecting to the silver collar around his neck. He coughed tightly, the air returning to his lungs.
That same dream again he thought wiping away his long sweat matted hair from his face. What did it mean? Was it even a dream? or was it perhaps some remnant of a memory long forgotten?
A yelp of pain filled the air piercing his thoughts. Vulgrim braced himself, the last of the dream fading from his mind. He did not wait long as the silver reinforced door on the far side of the dark chamber suddenly burst open with a bang and flooded the darkness with light.
Vulgrim blinked, his eyes adjusting and watched the silhouette of two humanoid figures enter dragging a third between them. Another cry of pain was choked out as the middle figure was thrown roughly against the hard-stone wall not far from where Vulgrim sat. Another stout figure walked through the door laughing menacingly as the others secured the prisoner with silver chains.
Vulgrim tried to shrink back into the shadows as he recognised that laugh; the hobgoblin Revlu Kargrar. The twisted warden was known too well for his cruel beatings Vulgrim painfully recalled as he witnessed a heavy kick delivered to the prisoner’s mid-section.
Vulgrim scrunched his eyes closed and tried to block out the cries from the ongoing torture. He tried desperately to recall the cheerful melody of his dream to drown out the cackling of the Hobgoblin. The more he tried the harder it became.
Eventually a last wet thud was met with only silence.
Vulgrim did not open his eyes even after Revlu and the others left closing the door behind them. Neither dream nor memory would save him from the harsh truth that is reality. He was now Lycan and a prisoner for it, his future uncertain. Something tugged at his thoughts and he felt his lips curl into a smile, one thing he was certain of: he would not be a prisoner for much longer.
The silence of the chamber was pierced by an eerie tune as Vulgrim sat, humming softly to himself within the darkness.
----
Sorry about the length of the post - i got a little carried away....
Ok so Vulgrim is a bard of once noble birth who through some means that I am happy for the DM to decide, is suffering from amnesia (maybe something to do with his lycanthropy).
He does not remember much of the life he used to have and has since wondered from town to town using his bard skills to barter food and shelter never staying in the same place for long. At some point he is discovered to be a Lycan which led to an even harsher life on the run until he was eventually captured.
He is a charming fellow although a little self-centred and despite his usual cheerful appearance, has a darker personality within.
I’m happy for the DM to fill in backstory elements as desired.
DM - the Twilight of an Age | Vulgrim - Bard - Shackles of Silver | DM - the Call of Fate
Name: Erias Hammerstone
Alignment: LG
Race: Dwarf, hill
Subclass: Nature (cleric)
Lycanthropy: Werewolf
Background: Outlander
Backstory: Erias, his father, his grandpa, his grandgrandpa and his grandgrandgrandpa lived decent and modest life and they had their own brewery in the town of Oakcreek. Wives of his father and grandfathers lived in a village of Soilville, a week travel from his hometown doing completely different work(cow farm). That was the way of his clan, so that everyone can focus on their work and do most and not lose time and energy on silly "love games". But Erias did not like to work in the brewery, he loved to walk in the forest. To watch animals and plants grow. On one of his adventures, when he traveled for the longest period of time and found himself in the country of Silvane, he was bitten by a werewolf. He spent 2 days recovering from the wounds and during that time he was enslaved. Still young, and shocked from both his new nature and horrible present as a slave he only saw hope in nature gods that they would help him and free him. He saw how his selfish needs brought him into trouble, and how his family must worry. But he knows he cannot return to them, for they would only see him as a monster and defiant son. His only hope now is getting new family with his own lycanothropic kind and to try to change everyones perception of them. Lycanothropes are also a part of nature and others must see it that way too, and Erias will do his best to prove it.
NPC lists: Father Elaim, grandpa Thradal, ggpa Vondal, gggpa Beloril, mother Kristryd, grandma Valida, ggma Werydd. He has uncles and aunts but they living their own lifes. He also has 4 younger sisters he didn't really interact with: Balifra, Nurkara, Morana and Delre
(Sorry in advance for the lengthy backstory)
Name: Shariel
Alignment: CN
Race: High Elf
Subclass: Fighter/Mystic (lvl 3 start, right?)
Lycanthropy: Weretiger
Background: Entertainer (Gladiator)
Backstory: In a lavish gathering room, a man sits before a woman clad in silks reclining on a couch. The two are negotiating the price of entering a shrine rumored to be somewhere in the surrounding jungle. At one point, the woman holds up a hand before proceeding, "Let me tell you a cautionary tale of an elf girl. Her family was the Followers of Eight, an outcast sect of elves whose beliefs led them to exile centuries prior. The day came when their long-lost-home nation hunted them down for total extermination. The luckiest fraction were able to escape, the majority died. Our little girl fell into the least fortunate group: those captured and sold as slaves. After months of ruinous travel through strange lands, the young elf arrived in a land without an tree or hill for miles and barely enough life in the soil to support life.
It was in this foreign land that the elf met Kotal Ulamaji, a proprietor of blood and entertainment. This child was thrown to a pit with a dozen others and taught basic use of blade and shield in the hopes of earning coin for their master. What they did not comprehend was that their captive was no simple refugee. The carried a fire for life and fought desperately to survive at every turn. After three years, finances ran dry and food was secondary for slaves. An uprising erupted led by a combatant named Green Viper. Our hardened captive gladly joined for freedom, taking up a bow and clearing many of the guards ahead of the mob.
As all slaves do after rising against masters, the mob ran for freedom. Unfortunately, their leader soon proved a tyrant as much as Ulamaji. Green Viper desired a harem of concubines with a fiery elf at it center. On a quiet night, a whisper on the wind heralded impending doom. A commotion arose and outriders were quickly dispatched. By morning, the slave army was short one elf and Green Viper was short a hand and half his face.
For a week, the child ran. She was fortunate to follow the winds which led her to this jungle. In its depths, she found safety and knowledge. When she was ready, the jungle opened a path which led to the place you seek: The Shrine of Shar. This elf fell before the Goddess of Night and pleaded for days. For the first time in her life, she begged to become a servant and the Goddess smiled."
The man in the room sat back in his chair, idling fingering the hilt of his sword, "So what is the lesson in all this? Why was this girl allowed at the shrine but not me? I have more to offer than some escaped slave and I don't even want anything except to visit the site." The hostess split a smile which seemed to stretch her face into an unnatural shape, revealing more and more teeth than any mirth should. Behind her, a shimmer of light gave away a strange presence all too late. The world melted away into the form of an armed woman. An arrow sailed across the room and buried into the chest of a man hidden behind a screen, then another followed and felled a man behind nearby curtains.
The reclined woman finally spoke as the new woman walked to her side, "You see, this elf girl was so grateful, so enraptured by the Goddess, that she even took a new name in Her honor. Shariel, please escort our guest out." In a frenzy, the man stood, drew his sword and charged. As the blade swept down, the armed woman vanished from existence. This was no trick; the woman dissapeared and only air remained. A hook-shaped dagger slid around the man's throat from behind. Holding it was a humanoid hand covered in vibrant, orange fur. The woman on the couch stretched and her form gave way to that of a great tiger.
"You never tell them how I earned my keep in the fighting pits or why Green Viper wanted me so badly," a voice mused from behind the man, "But I suppose it doesn't matter. The Goddess saw it and brought me in because of it."
NPC lists:
-Kotal Ulamaji: Slaver and Ringmaster of the fighting pit which held Shariel captive.
-Green Viper: Leader of the slave revolt which allowed Shariel's escape. Attempted to enslave Shariel (though with nicer words). Severely wounded in Shariel's escape.
-Rajmi al Nebas: Patron of Shariel, directed Shariel to a shrine of Shar to receive Her blesssing (lycanthropy) after demonstrating a proven aptitude as bodyguard and steward.
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
How, in Selune´s name, didn't I saw this before?!
Name: Kinshra (Sinrr)
Alignment: CG
Race: Human (variant)
Subclass: Rogue (Thief)
Lycanthropy: Weretiger (panther)
Background: Criminal
Backstory:
Please open the Spoiler and forgive the lenght...
The guard was bored, but awake. It didn't make any difference to Kinshra. Using her claws she´s slipped over his head crawling near the ceiling of the narrow aisle. She even used her tail to gentle touch the guard's nape, making him scratching it while she drops to the floor once she had crossed to the other room. She smiled, that was easy. She moved from shadow to shadow, in complete silence and exited the house from the same open window she used to enter it, climbed down the wall, crossed the gardens from branch to branch of the trees that were planted on it and with great agility, jumped away the external wall and landed on the street. Her prize was in the little backpack she wore, an elvish trinket that her Master desired. Her Master would be pleased, at least, she hadn’t to kill nobody this time and was able to sneak a couple of emeralds for her. Unconsciously, she touched the silver diadem engraved with magical runes she wore.
- Remember my little Kinshra, you are daughter of Shingra Sinrr, our tribe used to hunt free in the Karthomir Forest before they came. It doesn’t matter how they call us, it doesn’t matter what they do to us, we will always be hunters.
- Yes mother – replied the little girl in just a whisper as they hide from the bountyhunters their Master sent after them. Soon they found them but only half of them returned with their price. It wasn’t the first time her mother tried to escape their Masters and hide into the forest. But, that one would be the last.
Her Master was looking down to the city of Ervannar. Despite the late hour many mansions of the Upper District were still lit with big parties being throwing inside, but not in his Master’s house. His Master didn’t throw a party unless it served for his purposes. He was near the balcony, listening to the city’s noises and looking down to the docks.
He was so close to the edge. Only a few steps, a little push and she could be free. Her feet moved by its own will just a few inches.
- Do you think you could take me by surprise little lyc? – he mocked her. – I dare you –
he didn’t even turned around. Kinshra felt the anger growing in her chest, but doesn’t let it reach the surface. Not even a quiver from her lips.
- No Master. I would never think such a thing – she replied with the most neutral voice she could collect.
His Master turned and stared at her.
- Of course you don't Lyc. Do you have it? –
For only reply she handed the elvish trinket she had robbed earlier that night and handed it to him.
- You are good, aren’t you? -
- Thank you Master – That thing must be important if he had complained her.
- Now leave that disgusting form and return to your duties –
- Yes Master –
She shaped into her human form, struggling against the pain the diadem caused her every time she used her heritage traits, and went back to the Harem, with the Master following her closely.
- Yes… yes.. you are a natural little Adren* –
The excitement on his trainer voice was evident and even that she could felt the eyes of the Master on her she couldn’t help to felt some proud that the renowed Asktar Frunwell was flattering her. She was being instructed by the most famous, or infamous, thief in Ervannar by orders of her Master himself after he saw it was very hard to keep an eye on her and her keeping on escapes. There was no cage, no wall, no shackle that could retain her. The reasons why he hadn’t killed or sold her were obscure to her at that moment, but just a few weeks ago her Master donned a silver diadem on her head and, after two days and nights of intense pain, she was able to move again despite the pain of the the diadem. Then the cell door was left open, the shackles weren’t used anymore. But she soon learned that when his Master called, the diadem made sure that she will come to his presence.
The next months were the happier months she remembered since her mother and she were captured. Asktar was a hard teacher and really pushed her to her limits, but after almost a year she was able to walk as silent as a gust of wind, open almost any lock and her skills were only beginning to develop. One night Askar took her for a walk. He seemed very sad and worried.
- You have to run away little Adren – he said after a long silence between them – Your Master is an evil man… - for a moment it seemed that he will add something, looking at her with sorrow – and you are no child anymore. –
Kinshra refrained to hug the old man.
-I know how he looks at me Athro* but I cannot do anything. This… thing – she touched the diadem – binds me to his will.
The old thief took her hands and left a little jade pendant with the rune of her clan, the Snirr clan, engraved on it.
-You are stronger than his wicked magic, and stronger than him –
With that the old lycanthrope walked away. She knew that he will left the city that night and that she wouldn’t see him again. Unfortunately she was wrong.
Her heart stopped when she saw the guards at her hidden stash spot. During the years she always managed to sneak some jewels, some coins from the missions her Master assigned her and found the perfect spot under a rock in the back garden. She was trying to save enough to pay some sorcerer at the Grey Alley to remove the diadem once and for all.
Well, maybe it wasn’t the perfect spot after all. “Maybe it’s value is enough to the Master to lessen the blow” she thought, but was the last clear thought before her brain seemed to melted and her body to burn due to the punishment of her Master.
- Do you know what have you done?!! – asked the Master, angry, with the two elvish emeralds she stole in his hand.
There wasn’t anything weird in that night’s assignment. She had to sneak into a tavern in the docks, steal a book from an old man, and go back to his Master mansion. But something in her Master’s eyes when he gave the orders made her nervous and that feeling that something was wrong was still on the back of her head. She remembered what her Athro teached her and focused. A few minutes later she was in the room of the old man and saw the book in the wooden table, covered with a black satin cloth that seemed out of place in that cheap tavern. It was so easy that she even had to turn to gain the strength and agility her mixed form granted to her.
Without a sound she moved towards the table and uncovered the book. She held her breath, for she saw that book for many years at her Master’s table and on his hands when she was studying. It was her Master spellbook. She touched it and couldn’t help to cry in pain when her Master’s mind invaded hers. She kneeled, her hands still holding the book.
The old man in the bed waked up, looked at her and tried to warn her, but Asktar warning were too late. He saw how his beloved Adren turn her head towards him, crying and a was able to whisper “Run…” before starting to shape into her animal form.
-This old fool was trying to steal from me. To keep me away from you – her Master’s voice was like lava burning her mind – Now you both filthy creatures need a lesson in why we are your Masters – He made her kill her Athro, her mentor, her only friend, and left enough of her in her mind while doing it that she could remember it always. Askar didn’t even tried to escape. Once she was herself again and was crying holding his wounded body the old man was able to touch her face one last time.
- Stronger... than... him… -
She never saw his Master so angry, not in the multiple times she and her mother tried to escape, not when he told her mother was murdered during a mission, not when she recovered the spellbook. He not only punished her using the diadem, but also kicked her and use the whip personally.
- You stupid lync*. You almost made all fail. Do you think you could hide that things from me? I am a grateful Master and allowed you to keep your little trinkets. - he never stopped to hit her. – But this, this had led him to me! –
He threw the two emeralds to her face. The emeralds she stole from that elvish lord, Celibran Draugnarîm.
He hit her until she was unconscious but just before passing away he heard her Master cold voice, calm as always.
- Tell the city guard that we have discovered the thief, that she had been punished and that she will be sold to Revlu Kargrar. –
The man know as the Master looked to the beaten body of Kinshra. – A pity, she was a valuable asset. – and walked away.
*Lyc: abbreviator for Lycanthrope. Normally used in a despective way.
*Adren: Student in lycanthrope tongue.
*Athro: Teacher in lucanthrope tongue.
NPC lists:
Image:
PbP Character: A few ;)
Alright, it was a tough decision, but I have chosen the party composition. For those who made it in, congratulations! For those who didn't, you all had nice characters, and better luck next time. This was actually pretty difficult to choose.
The OOC thread will be sent out some time tomorrow, and thank you to all of you for submitting characters. I have sent a PM to the party members.
Campaigns
Oethea's Chosen- Jiron Booyahn, Hobgoblin Artificer(Gunsmith).
Shackles of Silver- Dungeon Master
Ravnica, City of Guilds - Rukorm, Minotaur Fighter(Cavalier) - Izzet League