Akamas and the Family Outing
atcDave
Member Posts: 2,610
Akamas and Wendelin are another of my PnP gaming teams. I previously had them in slightly different form in “Wendelin and the Illegals”. This time, I’ll be digging deep entirely into *their* character folder. That is, this whole team will be from the same team and setting. The fun thing here will be, this is a family of paladins. Not “entirely”. I can build a balanced party (almost) just from the immediate family. So that’s what this will be, one party member will be *not quite* immediate family. The other five are, and will be entirely faithful (except for some setting related changes and starting experience!) to their PnP form.
*****
Akamas comes from a common background. That is, he’s a commoner. Nothing special, beyond noting his family had a successful business. That meant he could get the sort of professional training that appealed to him. And what appealed to him was paladin. He wanted to help people, protect them from evil and harm. Keep Faerun safe for people to raise their families and pursue their dreams.
This meant attending a training academy run by the Temple of Lathander for all sorts of warriors and clergy. All those who wished to protect and serve.
Akamas did well at school. He was naturally big and athletic. And he had the easy sort of charm that made people want to follow him. This meant he did well in paladin training.
Akamas’ time at the academy became important for one other thing. He met another aspiring paladin named Wendelin. She was a striking beauty, small, slim and athletic. And exotic, Wendelin was a half-elf, Akamas hadn’t thought they could even be paladins?
Wendelin had speed and grace to match Akamas’ power and toughness. Their fighting styles complimented each other’s, and they enjoyed training together. They had become fast friends and a couple before they graduated. They eagerly decided to adventure together, to protect the world and good people wherever they may be. And they decided to marry before they even set out together. This led to an exciting couple of years for the young couple. They were newlyweds on a grand adventure.
Until they realized Wendelin was with child. What did this mean for them? They returned to their home temple and spent some time prayerfully considering how to raise a family as adventuring paladins? Funny this hadn’t even occurred to them before.
This led to an unexpected family decision. Their adventuring days were over. At least for now. Their temple had a huge need for someone to run their outreach program to the numerous orphans and street children in the area. By the time their son was born, Akamas and Wendelin had discovered they loved working with the children. As program leaders, they came to see dozens of local children as their own children. On any given day their “family” could be anywhere from 5 to 30 people!
The actual family grew too. After their son came a daughter, and two more sons. For 25 years Akamas and Wendelin led the orphan ministry at the temple. Their first son became a warrior, and joined the King’s army and lived his own life of danger and excitement. Their daughter, Atalanta was always a daddy’s girl, she became a paladin; but then stuck close to home. The next son, Palamedes, was a bit of a wild child. He became a bard of all things. An entertainer. He especially liked leading children’s songs, stories, plays. The youngest, Roland, trained as a warrior and a priest. Embracing the sort of dual profession his mother almost had before becoming a paladin.
The temple’s orphan program had become quite large, a signature element of the local ministries. One street girl, Zephyr had been with them the whole time. She had red curls, an infectious laugh, and was a half-elf. She was almost a fifth child for Akamas and Wendelin. She had a very rough young childhood, some of the glimpses they got of how she’d survived made them furious. And it took some hard lessons to teach her not to steal. And to control her temper. And just generally to be less bitter and more generous towards others. She mostly succeeded at all these things, and had grown into a fine young woman. The sort who could make any parent proud. Errr…
And then she started dating Palomedes. Well, huh. That put a twist on things.
Akamas and Wendelin had to discipline themselves on some more unexpected things. They loved Zephyr, and always treated her, almost as a daughter. Could they love and accept her, *really* AS a daughter? Life is full of funny jokes.
The two younger boys needed more adventure than just sticking close to home however. Roland prayed for a calling, a mission. He got an answer to prayer. A faithful warrior far off in East Haven, one of the Ten Towns in Icewind Dale, was praying for heroes. Adventurers to face some unknown evil. Roland prepared to tell mom and dad they were heading off. Palamedes begged him not to! They might try to stop them! Zephyr settled it, Akamas and Wendelin deserved to know before they all just disappeared.
To their surprise, Akamas and Wendelin had been praying something similar. Was it time to return to some sort of adventure or mission? They jumped at the chance, they would all go. Atalanta too.
*****
The arrival in East Haven came with some excitement. A wagon carrying all their supplies, disappeared into a gorge, the last such gorge, before they arrived at the small frozen town. Fortunately they had a coin purse! But things were getting off to a precarious start. And seriously, there is no plate armor to be found in town!
*****
Akamas. Human Male, Lawful-Good
3rd level Cavalier. Husband of Wendelin. Father of Atalanta, Palomedes and Roland
18/00 – 15 – 18 – 10 – 18 – 18
Experience: 5000
Akamas started his PnP career as a 1E Paladin. There were no kits. The Cavalier kit (or “Sub-Class” at the time) debuted in Dragon Magazine before Unearthed Arcana was published (the book that led to “1.5E”). The kit came with stringent requirements (15+ in strength, dexterity and constitution), but Akamas was qualified and was certainly played like a cavalier. This particular DM was pretty “by the book”, but he allowed Akamas to pick up the new kit when he was already almost 9th level. He stayed unchanged through 1.5E and 2E. He was 16th level the last time he was played.
Wendelin. Half-Elf Female, Lawful-Good
3rd level Undead Hunter. Wife of Akamas. Mother of Atalanta, Palomedes and Roland
16 – 18 – 16 – 14 – 18 – 18
Experience: 5000
Wendelin started her adventuring career as a Lawful-Good Fighter/Cleric. Half-elves can’t be Paladins! After a year or so in the game, she reached her level cap (I think it was Fighter/Cleric 5/6?) Again, this DM was by the book. Unearthed Arcana made two changes that effected Wendelin. First, experience caps were drastically raised. Wendelin was earning experience again. Second change, half-elves were allowed to be paladins now. After several months, I convinced the DM I’d always *played* her like a paladin and she should be one.
This continued for a few years until 2E was published. Half-Elves were no longer allowed to be paladins! But their level limits were *much* higher. So I created a character sheet of Wendelin as both a paladin and fighter/cleric under 2E rules and presented both to the DM. Which would she be? He said Wendelin would remain as his world’s only half-elven paladin. Cool! So here she is. She actually had the Cavalier kit like her husband, and was last played as 13th level. But for IWD purposes we’ll call her an Undead Hunter.
Atalanta. Quarter-Elf Female, Lawful-Good
1st level Inquisitor. Daughter of Akamas and Wendelin
17 – 15 – 16 – 11 – 17 – 18
Atalanta only adventured under 2E rules. The DM created detailed house rules for Quarter-Elves, but significantly Atalanta was a human in most ways. She actually did accompany her parents quite a bit in later years of the campaign, enough that she finished up as 7th level. But I will give her no starting experience here. She was unkitted in PnP, but I’ll make her an Inquisitor. Because I want to.
Palomedes. Quarter-Elf Male, Neutral-Good
1st level Bard. Son of Akamas and Wendelin. Boyfriend of Zephyr
17 – 16 – 16 – 15 – 16 – 17
Palomedes also adventured only under 2E rules, as an unkitted Bard. Note that NG alignment! He was clearly the wild one of the bunch. He did adventure a little towards the tail end of the PnP campaign, enough to be left at 5th level. I will run him unkitted with no starting experience.
Roland. Quarter-Elf Male, Lawful-Good
1st level Ranger/Cleric of Lathander. Son of Akamas and Wendelin
15 – 14 – 16 – 13 – 18 – 17
Roland also adventured only under 2E rules. Unique among his whole family, Roland had half-elven class restrictions. That led to him becoming a multi-class Ranger/Cleric. One twist the DM allowed for, clerics could use weapons of their patron deity’s even if not blunt. Roland followed an axe wielding warrior deity, so he will be an axe specialist (it was a Greyhawk setting, Hieroneous the Deity). He adventured late with his brother Palomedes, he finished at 3rd level in both classes.
Zephyr. Half-Elf Female, Neutral-Good
1st level Fighter/Mage/Thief. Girlfriend of Palomedes.
11 – 17 – 15 – 16 – 12 – 16
Zephyr is an original character. An attempt to add a thief, and provide a minimal sort of drama for this milk and cookies loving team. And it will be minimal to my mind. Akamas and Wendelin will come to terms with the idea a young woman who caused them some grief in her youth, whom they love like a daughter; will become a daughter and raise their grandchildren.
Palomedes and Zephyr may have cause to laugh through the years at being a married “brother and sister”. I think it will be less odd to them than others may consider it.
*****
Akamas comes from a common background. That is, he’s a commoner. Nothing special, beyond noting his family had a successful business. That meant he could get the sort of professional training that appealed to him. And what appealed to him was paladin. He wanted to help people, protect them from evil and harm. Keep Faerun safe for people to raise their families and pursue their dreams.
This meant attending a training academy run by the Temple of Lathander for all sorts of warriors and clergy. All those who wished to protect and serve.
Akamas did well at school. He was naturally big and athletic. And he had the easy sort of charm that made people want to follow him. This meant he did well in paladin training.
Akamas’ time at the academy became important for one other thing. He met another aspiring paladin named Wendelin. She was a striking beauty, small, slim and athletic. And exotic, Wendelin was a half-elf, Akamas hadn’t thought they could even be paladins?
Wendelin had speed and grace to match Akamas’ power and toughness. Their fighting styles complimented each other’s, and they enjoyed training together. They had become fast friends and a couple before they graduated. They eagerly decided to adventure together, to protect the world and good people wherever they may be. And they decided to marry before they even set out together. This led to an exciting couple of years for the young couple. They were newlyweds on a grand adventure.
Until they realized Wendelin was with child. What did this mean for them? They returned to their home temple and spent some time prayerfully considering how to raise a family as adventuring paladins? Funny this hadn’t even occurred to them before.
This led to an unexpected family decision. Their adventuring days were over. At least for now. Their temple had a huge need for someone to run their outreach program to the numerous orphans and street children in the area. By the time their son was born, Akamas and Wendelin had discovered they loved working with the children. As program leaders, they came to see dozens of local children as their own children. On any given day their “family” could be anywhere from 5 to 30 people!
The actual family grew too. After their son came a daughter, and two more sons. For 25 years Akamas and Wendelin led the orphan ministry at the temple. Their first son became a warrior, and joined the King’s army and lived his own life of danger and excitement. Their daughter, Atalanta was always a daddy’s girl, she became a paladin; but then stuck close to home. The next son, Palamedes, was a bit of a wild child. He became a bard of all things. An entertainer. He especially liked leading children’s songs, stories, plays. The youngest, Roland, trained as a warrior and a priest. Embracing the sort of dual profession his mother almost had before becoming a paladin.
The temple’s orphan program had become quite large, a signature element of the local ministries. One street girl, Zephyr had been with them the whole time. She had red curls, an infectious laugh, and was a half-elf. She was almost a fifth child for Akamas and Wendelin. She had a very rough young childhood, some of the glimpses they got of how she’d survived made them furious. And it took some hard lessons to teach her not to steal. And to control her temper. And just generally to be less bitter and more generous towards others. She mostly succeeded at all these things, and had grown into a fine young woman. The sort who could make any parent proud. Errr…
And then she started dating Palomedes. Well, huh. That put a twist on things.
Akamas and Wendelin had to discipline themselves on some more unexpected things. They loved Zephyr, and always treated her, almost as a daughter. Could they love and accept her, *really* AS a daughter? Life is full of funny jokes.
The two younger boys needed more adventure than just sticking close to home however. Roland prayed for a calling, a mission. He got an answer to prayer. A faithful warrior far off in East Haven, one of the Ten Towns in Icewind Dale, was praying for heroes. Adventurers to face some unknown evil. Roland prepared to tell mom and dad they were heading off. Palamedes begged him not to! They might try to stop them! Zephyr settled it, Akamas and Wendelin deserved to know before they all just disappeared.
To their surprise, Akamas and Wendelin had been praying something similar. Was it time to return to some sort of adventure or mission? They jumped at the chance, they would all go. Atalanta too.
*****
The arrival in East Haven came with some excitement. A wagon carrying all their supplies, disappeared into a gorge, the last such gorge, before they arrived at the small frozen town. Fortunately they had a coin purse! But things were getting off to a precarious start. And seriously, there is no plate armor to be found in town!
*****
Akamas. Human Male, Lawful-Good
3rd level Cavalier. Husband of Wendelin. Father of Atalanta, Palomedes and Roland
18/00 – 15 – 18 – 10 – 18 – 18
Experience: 5000
Akamas started his PnP career as a 1E Paladin. There were no kits. The Cavalier kit (or “Sub-Class” at the time) debuted in Dragon Magazine before Unearthed Arcana was published (the book that led to “1.5E”). The kit came with stringent requirements (15+ in strength, dexterity and constitution), but Akamas was qualified and was certainly played like a cavalier. This particular DM was pretty “by the book”, but he allowed Akamas to pick up the new kit when he was already almost 9th level. He stayed unchanged through 1.5E and 2E. He was 16th level the last time he was played.
Wendelin. Half-Elf Female, Lawful-Good
3rd level Undead Hunter. Wife of Akamas. Mother of Atalanta, Palomedes and Roland
16 – 18 – 16 – 14 – 18 – 18
Experience: 5000
Wendelin started her adventuring career as a Lawful-Good Fighter/Cleric. Half-elves can’t be Paladins! After a year or so in the game, she reached her level cap (I think it was Fighter/Cleric 5/6?) Again, this DM was by the book. Unearthed Arcana made two changes that effected Wendelin. First, experience caps were drastically raised. Wendelin was earning experience again. Second change, half-elves were allowed to be paladins now. After several months, I convinced the DM I’d always *played* her like a paladin and she should be one.
This continued for a few years until 2E was published. Half-Elves were no longer allowed to be paladins! But their level limits were *much* higher. So I created a character sheet of Wendelin as both a paladin and fighter/cleric under 2E rules and presented both to the DM. Which would she be? He said Wendelin would remain as his world’s only half-elven paladin. Cool! So here she is. She actually had the Cavalier kit like her husband, and was last played as 13th level. But for IWD purposes we’ll call her an Undead Hunter.
Atalanta. Quarter-Elf Female, Lawful-Good
1st level Inquisitor. Daughter of Akamas and Wendelin
17 – 15 – 16 – 11 – 17 – 18
Atalanta only adventured under 2E rules. The DM created detailed house rules for Quarter-Elves, but significantly Atalanta was a human in most ways. She actually did accompany her parents quite a bit in later years of the campaign, enough that she finished up as 7th level. But I will give her no starting experience here. She was unkitted in PnP, but I’ll make her an Inquisitor. Because I want to.
Palomedes. Quarter-Elf Male, Neutral-Good
1st level Bard. Son of Akamas and Wendelin. Boyfriend of Zephyr
17 – 16 – 16 – 15 – 16 – 17
Palomedes also adventured only under 2E rules, as an unkitted Bard. Note that NG alignment! He was clearly the wild one of the bunch. He did adventure a little towards the tail end of the PnP campaign, enough to be left at 5th level. I will run him unkitted with no starting experience.
Roland. Quarter-Elf Male, Lawful-Good
1st level Ranger/Cleric of Lathander. Son of Akamas and Wendelin
15 – 14 – 16 – 13 – 18 – 17
Roland also adventured only under 2E rules. Unique among his whole family, Roland had half-elven class restrictions. That led to him becoming a multi-class Ranger/Cleric. One twist the DM allowed for, clerics could use weapons of their patron deity’s even if not blunt. Roland followed an axe wielding warrior deity, so he will be an axe specialist (it was a Greyhawk setting, Hieroneous the Deity). He adventured late with his brother Palomedes, he finished at 3rd level in both classes.
Zephyr. Half-Elf Female, Neutral-Good
1st level Fighter/Mage/Thief. Girlfriend of Palomedes.
11 – 17 – 15 – 16 – 12 – 16
Zephyr is an original character. An attempt to add a thief, and provide a minimal sort of drama for this milk and cookies loving team. And it will be minimal to my mind. Akamas and Wendelin will come to terms with the idea a young woman who caused them some grief in her youth, whom they love like a daughter; will become a daughter and raise their grandchildren.
Palomedes and Zephyr may have cause to laugh through the years at being a married “brother and sister”. I think it will be less odd to them than others may consider it.
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Comments
This team got off to a good quick start. No doubt, starting with the front two paladins at 3rd level helps. And this is strong team regardless. Only the cleric is lacking in nice ability adjustments.
*****
After meeting with Hrothgar and running a couple chores we set off for Kuldahar. Things went pretty badly wrong. Apart from the six of us, the expedition was crushed under an avalanche. And we had to fight our way through a tribe of goblins that had occupied the last pass into the town.
Getting into Kuldahar, a little town under a single massive tree, came as a huge relief. We got down to business right away as we checked out the entire little town. Then it was off to explore the nearby “Vale of Shadows”, an ancient burial ground.
A tribe of yeti were active in the Vale.
Wendelin is a ferocious slayer of undead. And she gets plenty of opportunity to show her skills among all the tombs. Kids, don’t make mom angry!
Zephyr is an effective sniper.
After the tombs, we mostly learned this wasn’t where the troubles were coming from. Arundel asked us to go find an ancient scrying device at a hidden temple.
Roland looking over the impressive library at the old temple.
But we were too late. Back in Kuldahar Arundel suggested it seemed to be the work of Lizard Men, and directed us to a place called Dragon’s Eye.
But for tonight we enjoyed a night at the local tavern. Palomedes is a good entertainer and singer, and he has at least one enthusiastic fan.
They are both pretty far gone! Were we ever that young…
We had taken a job, a monster hunt for “The Skineater” at the request of a mage. Unfortunately, our little quests revealed our client was the villain of the story. Atalanta’s first mage fight! (her True Seeing was quite useful here).
I’m continuing to move along at a good pace. A few team storyboards…
The Ziggurat fight was appropriately Zephyr’s first Fireball of the game. Palomedes can cast it too, and he did in this fight, but usually he’s in charge of morale (singing). Zephyr casts a lot more spells!
We really tore through Dragon’s Eye fast, Yux was a pushover.
Then it was off to the Severed Hand.
Wendelin is the smallest of the warriors, but as an Undead Hunter she was in her element here. Two ogres, she’s got this.
A big thing in Severed Hand is how many fights there are against *a lot* of opponents. That forced Roland into a fair amount of melee. He is 7th level now and a Battle Axe specialist, he is a solid rear guard.
Atalanta’s special skill is anti-magic. This isn’t needed nearly as big a thing in IWD as BG. But that doesn’t mean its of no use! True Sight and Dispel Magic have both been used a few times.
Palomedes is skilled at keeping all the travel fun!
*****
It been a long time since I’ve used an unkitted bard, very useful class. Sure, they won’t rack up a big number of kills. I have him loaded with mostly buff spells. He sometimes opens a battle with a spell or two (mainly Fireball), then sings. Just an FYI, when an unkitted bard hits 11th level they get War Chant of the Sith. This really amplifies the power of your whole team, a nice combat bonus and regeneration. Only healing the Cleric has to do is emergency healing in combat, the bard heals the team quite quickly. So the team hits hard goes a long time between rests. He also gets the Elven Chain Mail, the image works perfectly for me.
Looking at combat stats, no shock Akamas leads the way. He’s also on point, has the most hit points and best armor class. Basically, he draws all the attention.
Wendelin isn’t too far behind, as always an Undead Hunter does very well in this game.
Atalanta and Zephyr are next, both around 20%. With Akamas and Wendelin in front, Atalanta typically falls in behind whichever parent looks to have the toughest fight. Zephyr is a reasonable archer and has become the main combat caster, he percentage may increase.
Roland mostly uses a sling, although he’s capable enough with his axe. He naturally has few bonuses, but the War Chant makes him *more*. But he’s healer, support, and emergency rear guard.
Palomedes has 2% of party experience! It would be less, but he does sometimes open proceedings with a Fireball. And on occasion fires an arrow. Mostly he sings.
The team cleared all of Upper Dorn’s Deep from the first entry cave through the Frost Giant lair. Then made a stop back in Kuldahar, and were rerouted by a Barbarian shaman to help with some problems up around Lonelywood. They’re already near to finding the Gloomfrost Seer. Things are moving along quickly.
Let’s start with a quick look at how the team is doing.
Akamas and Wendelin are the front rank. Husband and wife paladins, a Cavalier and an Undead Hunter, they make a formidable duo. Both are now 15th level. It was awesome how quickly they tore through Burial Island.
It might not be sensible to put brother and sister side by side in the next rank. Atalanta and Roland actually get along quite well. Atalanta wields a two-handed sword and closes up towards the front in melee. Roland steps back, and most often slings. But when the rear is threatened, he pulls out his battle axe and melees. He is reasonably capable for this. And of course, Roland is the team healer.
The rear rank is uh, very friendly with each other. Palomedes, a bard, is on the cusp of 20th level. He can throw dangerous spells, but his singing does magical things (!) for team morale.
Zephyr is seriously dangerous. Usually I think of the triple class in terms of versatility, and Zephyr has that. But most important is her usefulness as the artillery mage and an archer.
*****
The journey has been amazing for everyone.
Palomedes may have to write a song about entering Dorn’s Deep and seeing the statues of the ancient kings.
They had a huge fight with Drow, orcs, orogs. A massive free for all.
Some Orogs got in the party’s rear and Roland proved his worth. This kept Palomedes and Zephyr free to do what they do best.
Not too long after they had to contend with a crypt over-run with restless undead.
This led out onto the glacier, and a series of battles against trolls, frost salamanders and more.
An epic battle with frost giants left the party with a number of freed slaves to escort back to Kuldahar.
*****
Which led to our detour to Lonelywood.
And more battles against undead out on Burial Island.