Tales of the Harbingers: Throne of the Undying
Nimran
Member Posts: 4,875
in Role Playing
This is to be my attempt to DM a role playing group here in the forum, similar to @Rik_Kirtaniya’s own thread that was put on hold. This will be a different story altogether, as I didn’t want to hijack his story, but the principle is basically the same. It’s a story where members in the forum may participate as characters interacting with the world. Naturally, anybody is welcome to join, just let me know and I’ll help you get set up.
The rules are pretty much the same. Point-buy system for stats ala IWD2, etc. Not much combat, as actual combat scenarios can get a little tricky without everybody being on at the same time. OoC posts are done using spoiler tags. The same old stuff.
Tagging @Skatan @lolien @ThacoBell and @mashedtaters
. I guess you could use the characters you used in the other thread or make new ones. Either way, please post your characters’ details if you don’t mind. Now, on to the story...
In the lands north of the Giant’s Maw, a great canyon spanning thousands of miles, life was hard for civilized folk. Small frontier towns of fishing and mining communities dotted the region, connected by a solitary dirt road that wound its way across the land. Hardly any animals lived in these parts, though monsters were far more common. The largest of the frontier towns was called Callus, a slowly growing fishing town located next to a sparkling river that ran south until it disappeared into the Giant’s Maw. The land surrounding the town was arid, almost desolate, as only the most stubborn weeds and plants dared to continue to grow here upon its surface. Callus is home to several hundred people, including humans, elves, dwarves, and numerous other races. It was truly a melting pot of cultures and traditions.
Nestled in a dark corner on the west side of town was a small, yet comfortable inn, the Weary Wanderer. The lone innkeeper, a short, squat dwarf with a dull gray beard that hung loosely down to his belt, merely grunted as new guests entered the building, not bothering to look up from his arduous task of cleaning out used mugs, finishing each one with a spit shine. It was here that a number of adventurers met and came together to form a party.
The rules are pretty much the same. Point-buy system for stats ala IWD2, etc. Not much combat, as actual combat scenarios can get a little tricky without everybody being on at the same time. OoC posts are done using spoiler tags. The same old stuff.
Tagging @Skatan @lolien @ThacoBell and @mashedtaters
. I guess you could use the characters you used in the other thread or make new ones. Either way, please post your characters’ details if you don’t mind. Now, on to the story...In the lands north of the Giant’s Maw, a great canyon spanning thousands of miles, life was hard for civilized folk. Small frontier towns of fishing and mining communities dotted the region, connected by a solitary dirt road that wound its way across the land. Hardly any animals lived in these parts, though monsters were far more common. The largest of the frontier towns was called Callus, a slowly growing fishing town located next to a sparkling river that ran south until it disappeared into the Giant’s Maw. The land surrounding the town was arid, almost desolate, as only the most stubborn weeds and plants dared to continue to grow here upon its surface. Callus is home to several hundred people, including humans, elves, dwarves, and numerous other races. It was truly a melting pot of cultures and traditions.
Nestled in a dark corner on the west side of town was a small, yet comfortable inn, the Weary Wanderer. The lone innkeeper, a short, squat dwarf with a dull gray beard that hung loosely down to his belt, merely grunted as new guests entered the building, not bothering to look up from his arduous task of cleaning out used mugs, finishing each one with a spit shine. It was here that a number of adventurers met and came together to form a party.
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Comments
Will make a new char later!
Will make a new character at some point.
Gender: Female
Race: Halfling
Class: Paladin
Level: 4
Alignment: Lawful Good
Stats:
STR: 10
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int:10
Wis:14
Cha:17
Abilities:
Lay on hands once a day
Aura of Courage (immunity to fear, svaing throw bonus for allies)
Smite Evil once a day
Remove disease
Immune to Disease
Is cheerful and seemingly non-reverent most of the time, and doesn't worry (or care) about church formalities. She just wants to protect those that cannot protect themselves. Has a soft spot for children, and the surest way to bring out her serious side is to threaten a child. (I have no idea what Deity to assign her. I don't know alot about Faerun Religion for RP purposes. Anybody have a good suggestion?)
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Class: Fighter/Mage (Level 3)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Stats:
STR: 14
Dex: 14
Con: 14
Int:16
Wis:9
Cha:9
Level 3
Kaled is a crafter mage. He likes to experiment with various materials and magic, and he likes to try them out himself. He often pushes himself to the limit, and sometimes dangers himself and others as well with this.
He also likes good company, good meals/drinks and a good fight. Generally he get well out with others, when they don't want to tell him what to do.
Equipment:
Dagger
Varscona +2
Darts (30)
Antidote (1)
Known spells:
Lvl 1:
Detect Evil*
Shield**
Grease*
Magic Missile*
Identify
Summon Monster 1
Ventriloquism
Lvl 2:
Arcane Lock
Mirror Image*
Invisibility*
Knock*
Gender: Male
Race: Dwarf
Class: Monk
Alignment: Lawful Good
Stats:
STR: 14
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int:10
Wis:16
Cha:8
Vaga is a wandering monk out on a journey to find .. something. He doesn't really know himself and even if he's a monk, he doesn't belong to any Order (he left his last order but won't talk about it until he makes good friends). He has a strong inner drive pulling him forward and ever onward. When asked about it, what he hopes to find, he usually responds that he will know it when he finds it. Until then, he will continue searching. This means that he often ends up in different adventurer groups or other similar activities, thinking that perhaps it will help him find what it is he seeks. His lawfulness is bound to his personal creedo of never acting out in anger or aggression and never kill unless his own life depend on it. He doesn't feel obliged to follow laws from tyrannical rulers if they object with his own laws. Even if he tries to act neutral, the inherent good in him usually make him end up helping people on the way and he always share whatever he gets and usually give away any money, food or other items he has. He has no belongings, nothing weighing him down, no roots and no destination. He wears nothing but a pair of wide pants, legwrappings aroound his calves and feet, a long rope is wrapped around his waste, functioning both as a sort of girdle, but can be unwrapped when the need to climb things or bind enraged enemies arise. On his upper body he has a simple tunic over a white under shirt. Both pants, tunic and wrappings are of a dull grey color. His beard is kept fairly short and his head was last shaved two weeks ago. Even if his face has some scars and his nose is broken he has a fairly decent face to look at. He often comes across as a bit odd and as an outsider making it hard for him to make true friends and his charisma is therefore a bit lower than average.
Both hands has their knuckles wrapped with thick cloth, to prevent his stone-hard fists to deal lethal blows by mistake. He carries around a simple quarterstaff, but that's the extent of his belonging. He has no pouch, no bag, no food or no waterbag. He can go days without eating and is therefore unusually lean for being a dwarf, but is therefore also less strong than many other monks. He uses his great intuition and perception to anticipate movements and attacks from his enemies and can therefore usually use intuitive and fluid strikes based on enemy mistake rather than deal raw and savage attacks himself.
Looking forward to this! Great introduction @nimran.
Our story begins as you make your way to the Weary Wanderer inn in the late hours of the day. Having only recently met each other on the road, you barely know each other aside from the fact that you are all tired from making the long trip to Callus. As you walk the road to the inn, you notice that with the coming evening the streets have nearly emptied of people, as most of them had already retired to their homes. After quietly making your way to the inn, you open the door and are greeted by a loud grunt, and the fragrant scent of dwarves ale. The source of the sound, an aging dwarf who is currently busy polishing some used mugs, stands behind the bar on the opposite end of the lobby. He seems to have only minor interest in you at the moment. What do you do?
The dwarf almost smiles back. Almost. “Ye’d be surprised at how many are just askin’,” he says. “Welp, here ye are, then.” He pulls out a clean mug and fills it, then passes it to Fiora, looking her over. “Ye look like an adventurin’ type, lass. Have ye come lookin’ for work of that sort? If so, I know a merchant lord who might be willin’ to hire ye for a job. If not, well, yer welcome to stay here for as long as ye got the coin to stay. ‘Tis 5 gp for a night here, 1 for a mug of ale. Speakin’ of which...” He holds out his hand expectantly.
Guston Brownest
Fallen Cleric of Chauntea/Thief Level 4
Strength 11
Dexterity 16
Constitution 9
Wisdom 16 (+1 at level 4)
Intelligence 14
Charisma 5 (-6 cursed)
Prepared spells:
1st
cure light wounds x2
Sanctuary
Bless.
2nd
Chant
Aid.
Inventory:
dagger +1
short bow +1
amulet of protection +1
unidentified cloak
Returning dagger +2
Dancing Rapier +2
Original stats:
Name: Guston Bronwest
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Class: Fallen Cleric/Thief of Chauntea
Alignment: Neutral
Stats
Str: 11
Dex: 16
Con: 9
Wis: 15
Int: 14
Cha: 5 (11-6=5)
Backstory:
Guston is a fallen priest of Chauntea with pockmarks and a nasty rash all over his face which he constantly scratches and fusses over. He comes from a long line of priests that lived in a more prosperous land outside the Giant’s Maw. His family, the Bronwests, had led the clergy in his town for many generations.
When Guston took over as head priest of his local congregation after his father’s death, he did a fairly good job until the famine struck several years ago.
The famine was vicious and took the lives of many in his small town. Instead of doing as Chauntea called for and sacrificing for his congregation, he stole the meager tithes from his congregation and used it to buy food for himself.
One of his subordinates found him out and informed the superiors at the head of the church. They sent officers to investigate Guston, and also sent what aid to the local town that they could spare during the famine to try to make up for Guston’s crimes.
The high priest of Chauntea assigned to investigate stripped him of his title and cursed Gaston with pockmarks and a horrible rash that would not cease unless he found some way to redeem himself. Then he was banished from his hometown and his family was disgraced. The name Bronwest is now locally reviled in his province, where before it was celebrated and honored.
He wandered around aimlessly in his shame, stealing what he could to survive. He may have died, had it not been for the pity a halfling paladin took on him a few days ago on the road. Fiora, in her goodness, showed compassion on him and gave him some food and companionship during his disgrace.
Since then, he has committed himself to Fiora as a sort of fifth wheel. He gets in the way a lot, as Chauntea seems fickle on when she decides to grant spells to him, but the thieving habits he picked up may prove somewhat useful in the future.
He often reacts in anger because he is ashamed of his past. He has confessed his crimes to his companions, as an explanation for his obviously magical affliction was required of him by Fiora. His hope is to find a way to redeem his honor in Chauntea’s eyes and restore the Bronwest’s good name.
“Don’t worry, Fiora, I got it,” he says, handing the dwarf payment and scratching his rash absently.
"You say all kind of drink? Give me a Bellepointen Dark Wine then. If that's not available than any kind of red wine would suffice.
And you are right, we are looking for job. You can tell us from that noble while we drink."
He too approach the counter and place an order; "Your cheapest ale please, my good dwarf. "
He looks around a bit at the others in the group "Can anyone spare a coin for a wanderer of meager means?"
The dwarf reluctantly takes the payment from Guston while giving him a hard look before addressing Kaled. “Aye, lad, we have it, though it was quite the trip to get it, if I understand correctly. That merchant lord I told ye about supplies it, but he’s a real tricky one to deal with regarding business. If ye go to him, be careful. He’s pretty sketchy, and ye might end up wishing ye didn’t sign on with him.”
"Without risk there's no real profit!"
Kaled turns to the others: "We agree to stay here for the night and wait that merchant am i right?"
“Oh... um... it seems I’m all out of coin...” he lies as he looks away. Despite his desire for redemption and his commitment to Fiora, he hasn’t gotten over his selfishness and greed, which seemed to only increase during his poverty of only a few days ago.
His face blushes tellingly and the white pockmarks stand out in starker contrast against his rash. He huddles over his meal, trying to ignore the half-naked dwarf, and eats ravenously.
“So, where can we find this merchant lord?” Guston asks the dwarf barkeep with a mouthful of food, though he hardly cares. It’s obvious he’s just trying to change the subject. “Does he show up here regularly? Or does he have a compound nearby?”
To Kaled: “Yes, lets stay here for now. It looks pretty comfortable.”
I also love your last character, Vidar Druid dwarf. I thought his work-in-progres encyclopedia and the near-mad excitement that overcame him when he discovered something new was very entertaining. Loved the bird commentary and the hat-robe getup. Thought it was a pretty awesome and fitting Druid concept (and I’m not a big fan of druids in general, definitely preferring clerics).
"Ay, I concur. Let's wait 'til the merchant arrives. "
Vaga moves to the side of the room and sits down, knees on the floor, feet behind him, eyes closed, hand resting on his thighs, calm at the surface but underneath like a coiled spring.
“Ah!” The man exclaimed. “Wonderful! It seems I came in at the right time!” He looks at each of you appraisingly and says “Welcome to Callus, friends! My name is Roan, and I am looking for a party of adventurers to assist me with some business. And you are?”