This thread is for people to put forth possible characters for an Academy of secrets campaign I will be running here on the forums. I have ran this before but sadly it died before it could really get off the ground.
Character Creation guidelines:
Characters are level 13
Standard wealth by level(140,000)
Classes from Core, APG, UM, and UC are acceptable
NO third party publishing sources allowed
Core races only.
2 traits
Hero points will be in affect and I'll allow everyone to start with 3(the max allowed)
Stat generation will be 2d6+6
I'm looking for about 4-6 players ultimately. I will keep this open for a week or until I get 4-6 strong player concepts which ever comes first.
Any other questions can be posted here.
Background:
Every year the Acadamae—Korvosa’s prestigious school of the arcane arts—opens its gates to the city to host the Breaching Festival, where the most skilled infiltrators are invited to enter the magically guarded Hall of Wards or die trying. Testing their luck against the university’s strongest defenses, the competitors pull out all the stops as they vie for a chance at a fortune in gold and magical treasure. This year, the school’s headmaster has invited the heroes to participate, against the contest’s longstanding traditions. While the Breaching Festival has not seen a champion in over a century and a half, this year’s festival promises to be the deadliest trial the school has ever known. Should the heroes reign victorious, the secrets they may uncover promise more than gold and glory—they may rock the very foundation of the Acadamae, and even the entire city!
in depth background:
The Acadamae is one of the oldest institutions in the city of Korvosa. Part university and part wizard school, the Acadamae has had numerous prestigious headmasters through the years, with its current one, Toff Ornelos, being one of Varisia’s most powerful arcanists. Despite the power and prestige Toff enjoys from being the Acadamae’s headmaster and an influential noble, he is also a bitter, weak-willed man who chafes at having to bear a family secret—that the Ornelos family has been
ruled for the past century by a man who history believes to be long dead: Volshyenek Ornelos. Unknown to Toff, however, is the fact that Volshyenek really is dead, and has been for the past 218 years. In his place dwells an exiled infernal duke, the powerful devil known as Lorthact. Forced to flee Hell after he aroused the wrath of Eiseth,
queen of the erinyes, Lorthact abandoned the powers and prestige of being an infernal duke in order to take on the guise of a human being. He arrived on Golarion in 4260 ar, and over the course of a century of hiding and stealth finally managed to throw Eiseth and her agents
off his trail. Yet in that time, Lorthact’s position among Hell’s aristocracy had vanished as well, and while he had survived the hundred-year wrath of a Whore Queen of Hell, he no longer had a position in Hell to return to. Without resources and allies, such a return would only result in his immediate destruction. And so for the next several centuries, Lorthact remained in bitter exile on Golarion.
For just over 2 centuries, Lorthact has posed as Volshyenek Ornelos, a real person beloved in the city of Korvosa for his role in helping found the city, protecting it from the savage Shoanti barbarians, and for establishing the magical college and wizardly school known as the Acadamae. When Volshyenek died, Lorthact stepped in to impersonate him.
Under his influence, the Acadamae has become one of Avistan’s most prestigious centers of arcane learning, yet its true purpose has become something of a sinister secret—it is now the means by which Lorthact hopes to collect enough mortal souls that he may someday bribe his way back into Hell’s aristocracy.
While Lorthact staged Volshyenek’s “death” in 4607 ar in a great conflagration of magic atop the Hall of Summoning, he did not relinquish his role, instead directing a succession of family patriarchs from the shadows. Although Toff has no idea that his ancestor Volshyenek is anything other than a powerful wizard who has used equally powerful magic to retain his youth and life over the centuries (possibly even making a deal with a devil, although this suspicion is as close as Toff has come to even guessing the terrible
truth), he does know that Volshyenek keeps many secrets. What Toff doesn’t realize is that one of the Acadamae’s greatest traditions, the yearly Breaching festival in which eager adventurers and students alike are given a chance prove their skill by breaking into the supposedly
impregnable Hall of Wards on campus, is in fact an infernal trap designed to harvest mortal souls.
In his time as Volshyenek—both publicly and in hiding since his “death”—Lorthact has used the concentration of magic the Acadamae provides to increase his personal power, building vast reserves of captured souls. The Breaching Festival, founded in 4544 ar, has become Lorthact’s most efficient and insidious method of soul harvesting. Unknown even to Volshyenek’s succeeding headmasters, breaching the Hall of Wards doesn’t
actually grant entry to the building itself, but sends the unprepared competitors into a twisted, infernal demiplane called Belzeragna, where they suffer eternal torment for Lorthact’s gain. As contestants perish on Belzeragna, their bodies manifest within the Hall of Wards as if slain by the deadly traps and magical protections in place within, but the victims’ souls remain forever imprisoned within the infernal demiplane—or at least until Lorthact has need for them. Hoping to harvest ever more powerful souls, Lorthact has over the past several years constantly urged Toff to make each year’s Breaching Festival larger and more dangerous. Toff dutifully followed his ancestor’s secret
orders, but the knowledge that he doesn’t actually rule the Ornelos family has been grating upon him for years as well.
Toff has constantly sought ways to stealthily undermine Volshyenek’s power, and hopes someday to orchestrate his ancestor’s death so that he can truly rule the family and run the Acadamae in a way that befits his own desires and goals, not those of an ancient secret mastermind. Toff decided to use this year’s Breaching Festival to weaken Volshyenek’s influence even further. If Toff can manage to produce a winner to this year’s Festival, he will not only be able to raise his prestige as master of the Acadamae, but also may gain enough clout to stand up
to Volshyenek’s condescending manipulation. Of course, little passes in the Ornelos family or all of Korvosa that Lorthact cannot learn about. The exiled infernal duke knows of Toff’s insubordination, but allows his puppet to twist the Breaching Festival rules nonetheless. Lorthact
is confident that none can survive Belzeragna, and that, indeed, allowing more powerful contestants will merely bring to him more powerful souls. What neither Toff nor Lorthact fully realize, however, is what will happen if someone does manage to escape Belzeragna—for
Belzeragna’s doorway was not built to open in both directions. If anyone were to escape from the demiplane, it would disgorge all of its awful secrets into the world— an event that could well result in the greatest scandal in the Acadamae’s history.
Will you be looking for a balanced party meaning that if someone is the only person to fill the job of damager dealer or healer they can get in or would you take the best six characters even if they were all sneaky types or fighters?
I do look for party balance. But that doesn't mean more than 1 of any job can't apply, it just means I'll be taking the best. I might also be taking 2 of a job since I might take 6 players and the balanced party has 4.
Character concept:
He has once been a promising Acadamae student, but his arrogance got the better of him when refused to admit defeat at an annual mage duel contest after running out of spells, and proceeded to 'win' by beating his opponent senseless with his staff. Needless to say, he was disqualified and cast out with a disgrace. Since then he has become an adventurer of considerable renown, but his pride is still hurt. He seeks to use this opportunity both to prove his mettle to his former tutors, and to symbolically return to his 'alma mater' which has 'abandoned' him.
I will get back with a full profile in a day or two.
Have to ask. Do you allow crafting feats? Just gotta ask since we're starting at level 13. *Continues working on character* This character will be fun! :D So frail, but so diplomatic!
I'm gonna get to work on a tank if nobody has any objections.
No objections here. My Eidolon is going to be a tank as well, but having 2 melee tanks flanking something is always a good thing, if we both get chosen.
Have to ask. Do you allow crafting feats? Just gotta ask since we're starting at level 13. *Continues working on character* This character will be fun! :D So frail, but so diplomatic!
Since peoples rolls have been somewhat underwhelming and I usually do this anyway(forgot before) I will let people roll 2 sets of stats and take their best set. So those of you who aren't happy with their first set feel free to tempt fate a second time and roll again *evil laugh*.
As I said above, I intend on playing a graduate of Acadamae. However, I was thinking of using the Thassilonian specialist option found in Inner Sea Magic. My character is one of the rare powerful enchanters produced by the school due to the lingering magic from the Thassilonian ruins (see Guide to Korvosa, p. 53). And subject to flykiller's consent, he is the rival of that player's character.
@Seagull: is there a reason you want to play an evil character? I'm not a big fan of evil characters but Lawful evil is better than CE so it has a better chance based on reasoning.
I was thinking of playing the character as the somewhat power hungry Mage archetype. Hopefully without being stupid-evil, Like realizing that not screwing over the party "Because it's evil" Is usually a good idea. I can play a different alignment if you'd rather me do that though.
Like how much time crafting. Really wanted to craft just one or two items of the stuff I'm buying. Feel like we're going to be in a load of trouble, and I want to get the stuff that works with this character, including lots of potions! Potions good! Almost completely done with character. Background is done, just wanting to post both at the same time with Alias. :)
I've hammered out the basics of my character, but I'll wait on posting the final sheet until I know how hit points will be handled.
Invulnerable Barbarian:
Rage Powers: Reckless Abandon, Guarded Life, Increased Damage Reductionx3, Come and Get Me;
Mithril full plate +5 (35,650 gp), Ring of Protection +2 (8,000 gp), Amulet of Natural Armor +2 (8,000 gp), Cloak of Resistance +5 (25,000 gp), Belt of Giant's Strength +6, (36,000 gp), +5 adamantine greatsword (53,350 gp); 10,000 gp to spend probably on consumables, bags, ranged weapons
DR 9/-; Feats: Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Lighting Reflexes, Step Up, Improved Initiative, Improved Critical
Stats: Str 32/38, Dex 16, Con 16/22, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 13;
Human will take racial trait Heart of the Fields
Attacks: 13/8/3 base +11 Str/+14 Str raging +5 weapon +1 feat
+30/+25/+20 (2d6+21/17-20/x2)
+33/+28/+23 (2d6+26/17-30/x2) raging
-4/+12 for Power Attack
-4 AC/+4 hit for Reckless Abandon
Reckless Abandon Raging Power Attack +33/+28/+23 (2d6+38/17-30/x2)
These numbers are not final. They have not been double-checked yet. But I'll finish up tomorrow.
Iorec Zilu
I own the excellent Guide to Korvosa so I used some Korvosan slang and would intend to do so in the game as well.
Background:
Well, that was unexpected. An invitation to the Breaching Festival. Just like that. A Moth* and a Fronter** being given the opportunity of his lifetime at this early age. When Iorec, a rather short, but stout, attractive and bright young man of 19 springs, lived in Korvosa he felt the yoke of prejudice heavy upon his shoulders every day. His Varisian heritage and poor background felt like a ball and chain, keeping him down in the swamp which he so yearned to escape from. Whenever he went do entertain people in one of the better districts with the rest of his family, he knew that the Chels*** were only mocking them, looking down on them, thinking of them as mere underlings to be pushed around as they please. Shortly before Iorec turned 16, he just couldn't take it anymore and ran away from Korvosa to make a name of himself, obtain plenty of Crowns**** and return one day in triumph to show all those smug nobles and magistrates and mages and whatnot just what a Moth can achieve.
Three years have passed since then and so far things have gone pretty smooth for Iorec. He had traveled with a band of adventurers and made good use of his incredible dexterity, keen mind and charming nature working as a... scout of sorts. So when the invitation arrived he didn't hesitate for even a second. He grabbed his trusty rapier and set out to return to the place of his youth which already seemed so distant.
He was going to show them all...
*Moth: Full-blooded Varisian, somewhat of an insult
**Fronter: Someone who lives in the district of Bridgefront or is otherwise poor.
***Chel: Hate-filled ethnic slur. Use of this word constitutes a grave affront in Korvosa even though it is only a mildly derogatory term in the rest of the world.
****Crown (or Platinum Crown): Platinum coin of Korvosa.
Stats:
Iorec Zilu human Varisian rogue(burglar)
STR 13
DEX 20
CON 14
INT 14
WIS 10
CHA 16
Rogue Talents:
Fast Stealth
Trap Spotter
Finesse Rogue
Weapon Training
Knock-Out Blow
Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb, Sense Motive, Stealth)
Skills:
Acrobatics +21
Bluff +19
Diplomacy +19
Disable Device +21 (+27 vs. traps)
Escape Artist +21
Knowledge (local) +18
Perception +22 (+28 vs. traps)
Sense Motive +16
Stealth +26
Use Magic Device +19
Concept/Fighting Style:
Iorec is a very sociable person but riddled with hate against prejudices or mistreatment of minorities of any sort.
If he can't talk his way out of a dangerous situation he relies on his feinting skills to defeat his opponents.
Out of combat he is an excellent trap-spotter and -disarmer and a very good scout, capable of moving fast while still remaining undetected.
So this is what I would bring to the table. If I get a green light I will pick equipment and double-check the numbers but at this point I guess this general concept will be enough info for DM_Mathpro to decide. If you need anything else or more details, let me know!
We present Aekin Latsilo half-elf, self-styled master and warden of the planes.
Backstory:
[b]Aekin Latsilo grew up the child of two powerful arcanists who had been brought together by their shared interest in power. His mother, an elvish diviner, never really had much time her son, as she spent most of her time monitoring the various webs of conspiracy she'd started so long ago to make sure everything was going according to the planned future she desired. His father, a human witch, was often embroiled in the schemes of his patron, and mostly absent. Faced with the question of what to do about raising the boy, his parents naturally turned to the best source of free labor available to them: Summoned entities. With nannies both fiendish and divine, elemental and entirely outside of nature, Aekin's affinity for dealing with outsiders was strong from the very youngest of ages.
Growing older, he was capable of recognizing that outsiders tended to think of their own plans, and how being 'servants' to mortals could further their own goals, rather than their supposed masters. It was a lesson that was driven home when a botched attempt by his father at binding an outsider resulted in Aekin being possessed... an attempt that Aekin had been tricked into suggesting by one of his more fiendish companions. It was less than a year before the possessing demon was banished back to its home plane, but the experience of possession had a profound impact on the mindset of the boy. Where once he had seen outsiders as essentially people, he now resented being used, and swore that he would never again risk being so friendly with outsiders that it would be possible... nor let others be tricked into such a fate, either.
So Aekin Latsilo dedicated himself to mastery over the natives of the planes, both to avenge a wrong that he felt had been done to him, and believing that through his own mastery he would be able to ensure the denizens of the material plane might be kept safe from the dwellers of the others. His growth as a master summoner came quickly, for his understanding of summoned creatures was almost instinctual, as ingrained as it had been since childhood.
Now, his reputation has grown, as an exorcist and summoner both. With reputation comes wealth, and with experience has come understanding. Aekin understands the dangers of embracing the extremes that outsiders often embody, and strives to maintain a balance in his actions, which allows him to fight any given problem with the solution best suited to it. Offered the chance delve into the Acadamae's secrets, and perhaps discover more potent protections that he could return to the world, he has not hesitated for even a moment to accept the invitation.
It might take me a day or two to get a full fledged character sheet finished up, but a few highlights stick out for me already. The goal is going to be to build a Master Summoner who focuses on being able to put down extraplanar menaces, either through his own spell-casting ability, or through summoning up something diametrically opposed. He'll almost certainly have the Gifted Adept trait for Banishment (the spell), and a wide selection of protection spells to keep things at bay. His Eidolon is probably going to be something of a combination porter, bodyguard, and hit point reserve (in that Aekin will know ways of making the hitpoint transfer function in reverse, going from eidolon to summoner).
Since stats seem to be a bit of a problem for some people still I'll give you all a break on hit points and do max hp for all levels.
There will be no spending limit set on individual items but remember that you want to be well equipped for what ever tricks I might have up my sleeves *evil laugh*.
@Radavel: The much simpler answer than paizo provides in the module its self is that this happens before the events of the adventure path.
Okay now for my sanity I'm going to organize a list of who's playing what so I can keep track of what we have.
Proposed characters:
Flykiller-Magus
Morrin-Summoner
Psionic Fox-Monk or Caster(druid?)
Ironic Hero-Some sort of tank
Randavel- Secret magic user
Mahorfeus-Monk
Seagull-sorcerer/wizard
Dreaming Warforged- Barbarian/delver or mnk/inquistor
Edgar Lamoureux- Magus?
DreamAtelier-Summoner
Quick from the doctor's office: Should I make a cleric since we have little in the way of healing so far? Maybe a follower of Desna who wants to travel through the traps to see what's on the other side.
