Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

"If you must know, Pippi*, my daughter made this caul for me. That is all the magic it needs."

In the flash of a fraction of a second Riva's face glows with the pride of a mother, before growing dark and cold as she recomposes herself.

"If you have been in our town long, you would have known that your upbringing is of little consequence. Only your abilities, heart, and loyalty to the people matter here. You needn't dredge up your past again."

* Little known Elvish slang loosely meaning "lost dog." Also, a shameless referance to Pippi Longstocking, whom your character reminds me of.

"Oh, you have children?" She asks, surprised, "You don't look that old... Elvish?"[/b] She asked.

Afraid I never heard of it, so nothing I can really say on the topic. Is that a compliment?

Afraid I never heard of it, so nothing I can really say on the topic. Is that a compliment?

Pippi Longstocking was a young "wild child" featured in several children's books and television series, as well as in a popular feature film. She too grew up around lots of animals in a most unconventional setting.

I'm a fan of Pippi, so the comparison can be considered a compliment I suppose. However, the way Riva used it, it is meant to be subtly demeaning.

[link1] [link2]

If you are still taking applications, I'd like to apply with a basic Summoner.

It seems that Valak Steelspike and Dragonflyer1243 are in. I am open to one more entry.

Thought I'd just let you know about my posting rates in hopes it would get me considered. I can post once a day but I prefer a pace that requires once every 2 days. I am usually very free in the weekends and don't mind gathering up for a posting spree if the other players are also available both in the weekend and the week.

I check here about once, sometimes twice or more a day. There's one game I'm in that, after a several month hiatus, has started up again and we tend to go through 2-3 posts each a day.

Snippy snippy

It seems that Valak Steelspike and Dragonflyer1243 are in. I am open to one more entry.

Can post daily, and can grantee a post after 6 PM EST. Am usually free on weekends.

Alright DMRaven you are in as well.

And with that the recruitment is closed.

Congratulations to all the new recruits!

Thanks! I hope to maintain the level of role playing you all have. (I've been skimming your in play thread..holy crap you guys are good!)

Hey everyone my name is Amanda and I am a friend of Ravingdork's. I was shown this site and game by Ravingdork a few days back which to my surprise looks very intriguing.

I have a 5th Lvl Elven sorcerer named Elhedril Cólthel that I would love to bring into your campaign if allowed. Here is the link to her character sheet for you to look over.

Elhedril Cólthel.

This style of role playing will be new to me, so I ask that you forgive me in advance if I make mistakes. I really hope that yall would grant me permission to play cause I do like roleplaying. I just don't get to do much of it in person anymore due to work. This is nice for the biggest reason, I can do this with my computer or phone. I don't have to worry about whether I am home or not to play. You don't know how nice that is to someone like me. :-)

Everything seems in order except for integrating you into the game. How is your character going to get on to the ruling council?

Everything seems in order except for integrating you into the game. How is your character going to get on to the ruling council?

There have been a few changes to my profile to include a background which can help explain a bit better how I managed to come into the kingdom.

"If given the chance I would love the opportunity to help the kingdom with the vice mayor position. From long travels and the experience in my own life I believe that I could be a good asset and area of knowledge to this kingdom. From the lowest of lows, to finding something that draws true passion within me. I could not imagine another place like this Kingdom. All I ask for is a chance. "

Well your in introduce yourself in game.

A white-haired man sits before you, clad in a silvery cloak and heavy plate armor, Greetings, I am Toran, mayor of our kingdom. May I ask what makes you so interested in our kingdom, and what makes you feel you're qualified to become our vice-mayor? It's not an easy job, and requires hard work and dedication to help Caerulus flourish. Perhaps you have an unusual idea as to how develop the kingdom, something that we have not yet thought of?

Riva Sarjenka, having survived many past rulers, stands tall and proud in the shadows just behind Toran--just as she has done many times before during such interviews. Looking every bit as ominous as a shadow demon peering from the darkness, her keen eyes shine through the dark void, piercing mind, body, and soul.

(She's using detect thoughts during the interview, so that nothing escapes her.)

She might make her will save in which case you only get her int and that she has a mind.

I hadn't forgotten. Will save DC 22 will negate it if I use potent magic.

If blocked, Riva will follow up with detect magic, to check for possible ward spells.

Hello Toran it is nice to meet you.
Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

You ask

what makes you so interested in our kingdom, and what makes you feel you're qualified to become our vice-mayor?

Well there are several answers to that question, but to get to the most important ones. I followed the music within my soul into this place. The life and vibrancy of Caerulus has already been of great help to me and the passion for music that I have. I create music from life and the better life is the better the music comes. This kingdom may be new compared to many, but it has a great core from what I have already been able to see in my time here.

To answer your 2nd part to this question well that is a bit more complicated, in my words. I was adopted by a former noble family of Gault. With that being said I have been taught different ways to assist within a kingdom. I have seen what would work well within a kingdom and then I have seen the bad and what can destroy a kingdom. Gets a clouded over look of pain at the memories of losing my family and not being able to avenge their murderer while speaking I would give my life to help ensure that something like that does not befall this wonderful place that I have fallen in love with.

One thing I would love to do is work within the theater to share the music and help bring in profit for Caerulus to grow more. It benefits the kingdom with additional income and possibly more flow of people from far away lands that can help expand trades, work, and overall the kingdom itself. It helps me because I share what I love with the world having them feel my life through the notes I sing and play. With being the vice mayor it gives a face out in the public a good bit of the time. I can be an ear to listen to concerns, a voice to suggest things to you and the leaders here to improve the kingdom, a public figure to help draw more in and possibly build more relationship with outside countries/kingdoms, and last a buffer for you, so that you can do more duties that you have been tasked with. I know you have your hands full running a kingdom like this and all I want is a chance to help you. I know hard work and dedication to something. I don't believe in giving up no matter what until I take a final breath!

Opening recruitment again need another player due to attrition. Level 8 now.

Still 20 point buy? standard WBL? How are you doing hit points? Leadership?

Still 20 point buy

standard WBL

Hit point are max for first level and (hd/2)+1 for every other level

You can have leadership, but I want an explanation.

What did you lose and what sort of party role do you need filled?

Well lost a barbarian. He was high single target damage.

Any particular thoughts one way or the other about a Nomen centaur who is hoping to make peace with the neighboring humans? (Personally I think the centaur as presented in the ARG is overpowered and should have much lower stat bonuses, so I figured I'd ask if you have any thoughts in that direction.)

That would be interesting, but the player are meant to take places on the ruling council of the kingdom.

Ok, human cavalier perhaps?

I'm roughing out Martin Lebeda, human cavalier. Character is in an early stage of development. Young nobleman and knight who epitomizes the flower of chivalry from House Lebeda, hoping to make his mark on the world for the better.

In a coincidence of scheduling I'm camping this weekend, so I'll be back to check in on Monday. :)

Don't suppose anyone wants to try a paladin? It would make a nice change.

Sure, I can do a paladin instead when I'm back from camping.

Also, should note I'm familiar with kingdom-building rules and not averse to paperwork.

Sure, I can do a paladin instead when I'm back from camping.

Also, should note I'm familiar with kingdom-building rules and not averse to paperwork.

That second line got you the spot. Do you know the downtime rule?

Jesse Heinig wrote:

Sure, I can do a paladin instead when I'm back from camping.

Also, should note I'm familiar with kingdom-building rules and not averse to paperwork.

That second line got you the spot. Do you know the downtime rule?

I've read the downtime system but never been in a game that used it.

Do you use background skills?

Powergaming DM wrote:

Jesse Heinig wrote:

Sure, I can do a paladin instead when I'm back from camping.

Also, should note I'm familiar with kingdom-building rules and not averse to paperwork.

That second line got you the spot. Do you know the downtime rule?

I've read the downtime system but never been in a game that used it.

Do you use background skills?

What are those?

background skills

(From Unchained)

Short version: Optional system that I've seen used in many games here on the forums. Takes some of the "flavor" skills and moves them into a category called Background Skills. Everyone gets 2 ranks/level for background skills, though you could spend ranks from your normal allotment in this category too. Great for making flavorful characters with Art, Craft, and Profession skills. Some GMs consider it mildly exploitable because Handle Animal and Perform are classed as background skills in this system, which is obviously good for certain classes. Generally it's a way to let players add some color without forcing them to make tough choices about spending precious ranks on skills that are mostly cosmetic.

No we don't. Also, hi, I'm one of the players in the game!

Hello!

I'm working on finishing a character, but I'm not back home from camping yet so I am using an iPad, which is not ideal for filling out the alias forms. :D

I have rebuilt Marten as a paladin (tempered champion), so he should be adequate for taking a frontline melee role and doing some leadership.

Did I catch correctly that the Leadership feat is free for this campaign?

I've updated Marten Lebeda, now a paladin (tempered champion) of Iomedae. There are a couple of outstanding things on the character that will need the DM's OK/not OK.

1. I took the trait Ancestral Weapon. In the flavor fiction for the source material this is used by Kellid barbarians as a weapon passed down by tribal leaders. Obviously my character isn't a Kellid barbarian, so I reflavored it as a weapon handed down through his family line (House Lebeda). OK/not OK?

2. I have left my level 5 and level 7 feats unpicked at the moment. I need to know if Leadership is a free feat in this game or not (someone posted something to that effect). Also, I am wanting to check the Armor Master's Handbook for some feats that might work with this heavy armor build, and that won't be available in PDF until Wednesday.

3. Marten owns a heavy warhorse, but he isn't a trained rider (he fights on foot). Basically he needs to be able to get around on horseback and doesn't want a horse that will spook if a fight breaks out, and it needs to be strong enough to carry him in his full plate armor, which is why he has that. I'm aware that mounts of this sort tend to die from fireballs and such at mid- to high-level games. :D

1. If you take Ancestral Weapon it means you pick up the BadAxe.

2. Leadership is free.

3.This does not seem to be a question.

Yeah, 3 is more of a comment so that people don't ask "Wait... you have a heavy combat-trained horse in your gear list, but you don't ride or do mounted combat."

The BadAxe would be an extremely bad choice, because it doesn't fit my deity's favored weapon and thus negates basically a third of my paladin archetype's stuff. I'll take a different trait and rebuild. See you in a few...

Ok, I switched to Natural-Born Leader.

This means I have a base Leadership score of 12 (level 8 + 3 Charisma + 1 Natural-Born Leader). This would give me a 6th-level cohort (since the cohort must be at least two levels below me). If I get a say in my cohort, I'd like to have a wizard/cleric/mystic theurge who served as a family tutor.

Still going to keep the name on my longsword, though!

Ok, not super-sexy, but I took Shield Focus and Armor Focus (Full Plate). 2 points of AC is 2 points of AC.

With that, my character should be ready to go, assuming the DM is ok with my choice of cohort.

Seems alright.

Cool. How shall I make my entrance? My character will likely show up with an entourage (due to high leadership score), looking to swear fealty or something.

I like that and you can pick your entrance.

Was totally caught off guard by the new character, so came down here to see what I had been missing out on.

Hey Jesse. I'm the player of Riva Sarjenka, a powerful sage and the kingdom's treasurer and master of coin. She is the most politically powerful individual in the kingdom, as well as the materialistically richest permanent resident. She is altogether practical and poised--rarely flinching when a difficult decision needs to be made, though she has occasionally shown a tender side to an otherwise stoic, almost sinister air. If you're playing a paladin, I could totally see the two characters butting heads over various ideals from time to time.

I've also recently taken on the role of Vallisa, a powerful fire sorcerer, and her cohort sister, Allisar, a half-orc fighter capable of tanking, smashing, and battlefield control. Vallisa was played by another player (Darkwolf) until real life events pulled her away a few weeks ago. I'm keeping up with the character with her permission in the hopes that she will be able to resume control at some point in the future.

Vallisa is young, rash, and hot-tempered--and capable of single handedly annihilating small armies with her super-charged fireballs. Her sister Allisar will, with your permission, enter the game for the first time along with your character's retinue--as a recently-hired-on tag-along farrier or something like that. (The original player never got around to making a cohort, so I took the liberty.) Allisar also uses rules from the Armor Master's Handbook, which I have a copy of (both digital and material).

I have left my level 5 and level 7 feats unpicked at the moment. I need to know if Leadership is a free feat in this game or not (someone posted something to that effect). Also, I am wanting to check the Armor Master's Handbook for some feats that might work with this heavy armor build, and that won't be available in PDF until Wednesday.

The rest of us were given Leadership as a free bonus feat, which did not count against are standard feats.

Marten owns a heavy warhorse, but he isn't a trained rider (he fights on foot). Basically he needs to be able to get around on horseback and doesn't want a horse that will spook if a fight breaks out, and it needs to be strong enough to carry him in his full plate armor, which is why he has that. I'm aware that mounts of this sort tend to die from fireballs and such at mid- to high-level games. :D

Good to know. Though if you're looking to save on resources, Allisar is likely more than capable of dragging you off the field if need be. That being said, maybe keep the horse anyway. Allisar will likely be fighting alongside you and, if you're in trouble, she probably will be too.

Now that our characters are back in town (the capital city of Allania to be specific) from our recent adventures, we will likely play out the latest month in the Kingdom rules, as well as use up some downtime before deciding what to do next. During that time, we can also roleplay our character introductions and get you fitted for a Leadership role within the kingdom of Caerulus.

I look forward to gaming with you. I urge you to read our character backgrounds if you haven't already. You can see all of our characters using the links below, or in our relative profiles.

Riva Sarjenka, Treasurer (cohort adopted daughter, Tarka Firefang)
Toran Silvercloak, Lord Mayor of Caerulus and mayor of Allania (cohort viceroy and Mayor of Vandoran, Vaelar Silversheen)
Vallisa the Runt, Deputy Mayor of Allania (cohort half sister, Allisar the Giantess)

(As an aside, I happen to be an experienced graphic designer in real life and take great pleasure in making and maintaining PDF copies of everyone's characters--as well as helping to produce maps, diagrams, coat of arms, or whatever else might be needed to serve the needs of the campaign.)

Hey there, you may notice I already made an introductory post!

I went with Shield Focus and Armor Focus for my feats -- nothing special, but 2 points of AC is 2 points of AC. That brings me up to AC 26, which is okay-ish for this level. The DR 3 from my armor helps a little.

I've read over Riva and Toran both, but I didn't realize other characters had been picked up -- I thought they had left the game and were gone with the wind. :)

Riva's got a semi-low charisma so I get the impression from your description that she's just an abrasive, snippy person. Fortunately Marten is pretty easygoing and fun. :)

Hey there, you may notice I already made an introductory post!

I went with Shield Focus and Armor Focus for my feats -- nothing special, but 2 points of AC is 2 points of AC. That brings me up to AC 26, which is okay-ish for this level. The DR 3 from my armor helps a little.

I've read over Riva and Toran both, but I didn't realize other characters had been picked up -- I thought they had left the game and were gone with the wind. :)

Riva's got a semi-low charisma so I get the impression from your description that she's just an abrasive, snippy person. Fortunately Marten is pretty easygoing and fun. :)

We lost a player and his barbarian when he decided he didn't want to do it anymore. We also have another player who would like to keep playing, but has more pressing matters in her life at the moment.

I guess you will be replacing the former. I'll be babysitting the latter.

Riva may have below average Charisma, but thanks to her Orator feat, she can still be quite persuasive when she wants to be. It's not the friendly-smiley kind of persuasive though. More like the snooty-used-to-being-in-command confidence. Not everyone likes it, but that's not really her concern. :)

Toran's far more friendly, and the one who officially leads the kingdom, so he's the social one I guess

Yep, my plan is to step into the melee role. I probably won't have the hitting power of a barbarian but I can probably soak up some swings with my reasonably good armor class and damage reduction!