46 applicants?
I just did the count myself. I salute GM VoV for even being able to make a decision here. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
And no matter the outcome I am immensely happy with my poem for a few hours work. I'll definitely try to write in alliterative verse in the future, and maybe even get around to tackling Beowulf and the Edda at some point. Definately an eye-opener!
For what it's worth I'd also like to give a ringing endorsement of both Doomed Hero and Viscount K having gamed with both in the past.
Hey, thats cheating :P
Baalgruf treats tieflings and aasimar with disdain... what about fey?
He treats those races with a reputation for deciet and evil with far more hostily than those without it. So Tieflings and Half Orcs get it far worse, aasimar mostly just get silence, but even with their reputation as good folk he doesnt trust them.
Fey in particular have a reputation in stories for being chaotic and evil in Baalgrufs mind, stories all to often telling of fey playing cruel pranks and going back on their word as wimsy suits them. He does not care for them at all.
While elves and gnomes have ties to the fey, Baalgruf knows they dont have the same reputation and treat them as fairly as he does any of the other "normal folk"
Do the plates in his beard bear any dwarven runes? - and if so what would the say?
Oooh thats a good question!
Most of the plates are blank, bearing no runes or any other ingravings. A few clustered near the top however have runes upon them. The runes commemorate any slain enemies he found noteworthy enough to go on his "trophy rack". Usually they bear a descriptive word of the enemy, a word of how the enemy was overcome, and a word on wether it was single combat or not. The one at the very top is the one that was most formidable, Baalgruf taking time to rearrange the plates when something bigger comes along. Currently the top plate reads:
Orc Chief, Decapitation, Killing Blow.
Most of the others read Orc, Single Combat, with varying cause of death
In total Baalgrufs beard hold 20 plates. He carries 10 xtra plates in a belt pouch.
For what it's worth I'd also like to give a ringing endorsement of both Doomed Hero and Viscount K having gamed with both in the past.Hey, thats cheating :P
** spoiler omitted **
You'd think after 4 or 5 PbPs here I'd have played with at least ONE of you. (Well, my GM excluded.)
If we're playing that game, though, SurplusRaine runs some magnificently dark fey. The seasons are divided between the "Spry" (Spring/Summer) when they flock to leylines, the "Withering" (Autumn/Harvest time), and the "Fae Time" where the world of men shuts it doors as the fey hunt and feed. It's my favourite thing about our homebrew setting. He's also instilled a fear of Redcaps in us that will last for the ages. I'm currently mining old PbP posts for ideas.
Also I'm sad to see that the time difference means I have to spend another day of work in suspense. The list of ideas on my phone is growing pretty exhaustive.
Well good luck all, I'm glad there are going to be two groups since there are a great many excellent applications.
I'm guessing the number of paladins are due to a number of factors, everyone knowing we will face witches prominently with their save or sob abilities, them being the only primary combat class that makes use of charisma, and the high point buy serving MAD classes.
•Is his chain of a special material? - or is the description just fluff?
It is fluff, to accentuate his frosty appearance, since just saying "He wears a chain shirt" is much less interesting a descriptor.
•Has he got fey blood? - and if so, why was he abandoned?
I intentionally left this vague, for your purposes and mine. It may be that he just looks like that, and was abandoned by his birth mother because she saw him as fey. Or his fey blood hasn't manifested yet for some reason, and when it does it opens up RP and mechanical possibilities for his character. As Kalt has always been a bit of a loner, especially in his early days, it was hard to create very many relationships that would serve as plot hooks for you as DM, so I thought I'd add a different potential plot hook. His appearance will likely play into peoeple's reactions to him, but the fey connection can be downplayed or accentuated in any way you feel works.
•Does he wear a beard?
Believe it or not, I struggled with this question. My mental picture of him does not include a beard, as it's somehow too warm an image. But he has enough trouble fitting in with others, he would likely grow one to improve his chances of that. In the end, I'd say he doesn't really like a beard but sometime wears one - when he's trying to fit in, he grows one, though it never has the chance to become very full and long, so it never particularly helps him fit in. And when he's given up temporarily on ever being close to other people, he heads back into the wilds and chops the beard off first chance he gets. So it's sort of a hairy barometer of where he is in his attempts to connect with his fellow men and women.
That was a longer answer to the beard question than you expected, I'd wager.
Indeed - I think I've solidly thrashed my record for number of applications by a large margin; and thus feel a very heavy responsibility to repay in kind the faith that has been vested within me.
Even with taking 12 in two groups, it still leaves me rejecting 72% of the applications purely on a numbers game. I hope that no-one who doesn't make the cut tomorrow feels as though they have failed in any way. There were no truly 'bad' applications to the game... and if you ever find yourself on the other side of the screen you'll find out how arbitrary some of the decisions that you make end up being.
That said - I'm probably about 80% of the way there, but am leaving the full duration that I said I would for people to respond to the first round of queries posed so that everyone is on an even keel for the final brouhaha. I've found one of the groups basically picked itself - while the second has needed a bit more umming and aahing about it.
Until then some mood music to tide you over
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...and maybe even get around to tackling Beowulf and the Edda at some point. Definitely an eye-opener!
Beowulf is a short and easy read (in translation). I highly recommend the Seamus Heaney version. He tried very hard to keep the original flavor and language of the piece. And, as poet, he has a better ear for the original.
Example
Typical translation: "Beowulf crossed the ocean."
Heaney translation: "Beowulf traveled the great whale road."
*pants out of breath*
Seriously please say your not closed. I have been composing alliterative verse for a day and a half. 1 and a half times through the alphabet.
Stats and descriptions, poetry and such in the profile.
Only because I made this damn list and figure I might as well post it. This is what I have for the final list of applicants.
Melee:
Annalisa - Twilightrose - Barbarian - Human(Ulfen) - Female - CN
Baalgruf Rimehammer - Deliverance/Anthony Krast - Ranger - Dwarf - Male - LG
Cailleach Cosantóir - CromoftheBloodhammer - Ranger - Half-orc - Male - CG
Elghund - Shifty - Ranger - Orc - Male - ??
Gaandik Fatebound - Chainmail - Paladin(Holy Tactician) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - LG
Gar Karrnson - Tenro - Monk(tetori) - orc - LN
Garak Ivarson - Kagehiro - Barbarian(Invulnerable Rager) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - NG
Hilde Alfborne - MPCampell - Paladin - Half-Fey(aka Aasimar) - Female - LG
Kalt Ísson - Knelreddin - Ranger(Guide) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - CG
Kellyn Thistleblood - vonklinen - Cavalier(Beastrider) - Halfling - Male - CG
“Kor” Akorius Thrune - RinValak - Paladin - Human(Chelaxian) - LG
Köttur Refurinndóttir - Tirion - Monk(possible Master of Many Styles) - Aasimar(Garuda-Blooded) - Female - NG(N tendencies)
Magnus Donarson - Jubal Breakbottle - Fighter(Unbreakable) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - ??
Nyi Motsognir - HengistSaxon - Fighter - Dwarf - Male - CN
Randvér Icemarked - Byden - Paladin - Human - Male - LG
Serolt - Euan - Fighter - Human - Male - NG
Sigrun Jargsdottir - Mark Thomas 66 - Barbarian(Invulnerable Rager) - Human - CN - Female
Skäne Ingvârssonn - Black Dow - Fighter(Viking) - Male - ??
Sven Bjornson - Feral - Paladin - Human(Ulfen) - Male - LG
Tyrnvald Olafson, son of Olaf - Ashe - Paladin - Aasimar(Angel-Blooded - Ulfen) - Male - LG
Vidak Njellsson - Cuàn - Fighter(Viking) - Human(Shoanti/Ulfen) - Male - CN(Good Tendencies)
Skill:
Bastagar Swiftthicket - Twigs - Rogue - Gnome - Male - CE(N tendencies)
Cearb - Meowzebub - Rogue(knife master) - Gnome - Male - CN
Kelgar Frostbeard - wakedown - Inquisitor(Witchhunter) - Dwarf - Male - CG
Miralania - jo - Rogue - Elf(Snowcaster) - Female - CN
Olaf Erikson - Luke_Perry - Bard(Savage Skald) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - CG
Thorolf Thurgonson - Janrah/Fiallain Bo’airr - Inquisitor - Human - CN?
Vakri - scranford - Inquisitor(Witch Hunter) - Human(Ulfen) - Male
Arcane:
Gaer - Daniel Stewart - Sorcerer(Wildblooded ??) - Gnome - Male - NG
Gellwyn Finnisdottr - Dayden - Witch - Changeling(sea hag) - Female - N
Joanna - Vehas - Summoner(synthesist) - Changeling - Female - ??
Markus Septimus Hape - SurplusRaine - Wizard - Human(Chelaxian) - Male - NE
Norðrljós - Lloyd Jackson - Witch - Slyph - Female - ??
Raelyosraden - Javell DeLeon - Ranger(Falconer) - Elf(Shadowcaster) - Male - NG
Restless Cherry Blossom - Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal - Witch(white haired) - Elf(Jinin) - Female - CG
Rikka - stormraven - Sorcerer(tattooed - Draconic Bloodline) - Human(Ulfen) - Female - LN
Skaldi - twilsemail - Summoner - Half-elf - Male - CN
Divine
Feranfox - garabbott - Druid - Human - CN
Halla Ingendatter - Joana - Oracle(Possessed) - Human(Ulfen) - Female - N
Hinrik Vanniksson - WesternWolf777 - Druid(Wolf Shaman) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - N
Katherson - Balodek - Oracle(Seeker) of Winter - Human(Ulfen) - Male - N
Kiger - Josh Shrader - Druid - Human(Ulfen) - Male - NG
Klò Björninnsson - Eben theQuiet - Druid(Bear Shaman) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - N
Ragnar Deathspeaker - Doomed Hero - Oracle of Bones - 1/2 Ogre - Male - ??
Rannveig Pack-Bound - Viscount K. - Druid(Pack Lord) - Human(Ulfen) - Female - N (CG tendencies)
Sigurd, son of Sigmund - Lucent - Oracle of ?? - Human(Ulfen) - Male - CG
Willow Earthsong - Joy - Cleric(Gozreh) - Gnome - Female - NG
Withdrawn:
Amyric “Wander Tuskryn - JTM93 - Ranger(Guide) - Human(Varki) - Male - N
I actually get 47 apps. Easily beats the 37 I got for my Temple of Elemental Evil a few months ago.
Sven Bjornson - Feral - Paladin - Human(Ulfen) - Male - LG
Klò Björninnsson - Eben theQuiet - Druid(Bear Shaman) - Human(Ulfen) - Male - N
I completely missed that I was using nearly the same name as Feral's entry... huh. Hope that doesn't hurt either of our chances, Feral. Sorry if it does.
*pants out of breath*
Seriously please say your not closed. I have been composing alliterative verse for a day and a half. 1 and a half times through the alphabet.
Stats and descriptions, poetry and such in the profile.
Mord - Unfortunately I'm going to have to say that the recruitment was closed before your app hit the boards. I apologize for taking a hard line - but I did make it clear at the start when the recruitment period would end, as well as giving a 24 hour notice yesterday.
I completely missed that I was using nearly the same name as Feral's entry... huh. Hope that doesn't hurt either of our chances, Feral. Sorry if it does.
I wouldn't worry too much. Given the patronymic method for naming, there's probably a veritable army of Bjornsons out there.
Yep. Still... wanted to make sure it was known that it wasn't intentional.
Skane is Neutral with ba$tard tendancies :)
Best o' luck all - think some of the best character concepts I've come across have been posted here and to those fortunate few...
Skal!
Mord - Unfortunately I'm going to have to say that the recruitment was closed before your app hit the boards. I apologize for taking a hard line - but I did make it clear at the start when the recruitment period would end, as well as giving a 24 hour notice yesterday.*pants out of breath*
Seriously please say your not closed. I have been composing alliterative verse for a day and a half. 1 and a half times through the alphabet.
Stats and descriptions, poetry and such in the profile.
I can't knock you for that.
I knew the deadline was today. I did not check the boards yesterday LOL I was writing Viking poetry.
Good luck
(list of apps)
List does not reflect Rin Valak's entry of a Chelaxian Paladin of Sarenrae
(list of apps)List does not reflect Rin Valak's entry of a Chelaxian Paladin of Sarenrae
It is there, I alphabetized it under K for Kor rather than Akorius.
How did a Sarenraen priest and place of worship survive so close to Egorian?
Just a very very small one, but if that's unrealistic it can be moved.
With such a reason to hate the church of Asmodeus - why does he turn North?
Not a conscious decision, just following his feet so to speak. Possible Sarenrae is guiding him, or just chance. Wanted to keep it ambiguous whether he was hallucinating or had a real vision. Additionally, although he has plenty of reasons to, he doesn't hate the Church of Asmodeus. He knew from a young age what they were like and gladly went along with it, believing it was necessary for a strong nation. He placed all the blame upon himself for what happened.
Hoowee, that's a lot of people.
On a pointlessly tangential note, despite this being technically correct, I object vaguely to Rannveig's classification as Divine. She's mostly melee, in my brain. Just with buff spells and a...magic...wolf...Y'know what? Never mind.
As a small note - the DM doesn't classify the apps by category of melee or divine or the like.
As a small note - the DM doesn't classify the apps by category of melee or divine or the like.
Oh, yeah, I didn't think so. I just initially looked for her under melee, saw the potential joke and went for it.
Apparently not very effectively.
lol. It begs the question, how does the DM categorize the applications?
I'm imagining four (alliteratively labeled) baskets:
'Almost Awesome'
'Intimately Intriguing'
'Unabashedly Uninspired'
and
'World-class Wretched'
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No matter how you classify them, it is tough.
Inquisitor - divine or skill?
Ranger - melee of skill?
Summoner/Magus - melee or arcane?
Druid - skill or divine or melee? - all three are fitting in the right scenario
Perhaps I should have grouped them by height, that would have been more fun except for those who did not list a height.
Or I could have done hair color, except I imagine that most of the Ulfen are going to claim red or blond, so that would not help much.
I could have done a character count on each application and posted them in order of the length of the submission, but then someone would complain and tell me that I forgot the second and third addenda to their submission.
I think that I will stay with what I have for now as it is hard to type with my fingers crossed.
Tirion - thanks for the groupings - VERY cool. I should mention though I'm only doing one level of fighter - and ranged at that. I'll be a druid for the rest so I dunno where you want to group me... hehehehe
And yes, good luck to all. While I hope I make the cut, there were some REALLY impressive applications out there. Good luck DM - Voice of the Voiceless, you have a truly thankless job ahead of you. ;)
Peace!
True dat.
Wakedown, I love that. I'm gonna use that in the future. Priceless way to classify characters. Just priceless.
@Tirion Jörðhár: You could put them in a Category called Hybrids.
Lol. Or we could simply thank Tirion for organizing the post in any fashion, and leave it to VoV to figure out the appropriate way to consider each submission for his games. :D
I certainly wasn't up to the task of organizing all these billions of submissions.
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I hear that VoV is taking all of the applicant names, adjusting the font sizes to equalize their 'real estate', pasting the print-out to a board, and hurling darts to determine the 12 finalists.
Yep, that is the rumour I star... heard.
Oh I am glad to see some initiative. I am just giving him an idea.
@Stormraven: I actually have used that method to decide what character I would build next.
Haha thats awesome
I hear that VoV is taking all of the applicant names, adjusting the font sizes to equalize their 'real estate', pasting the print-out to a board, and hurling darts to determine the 12 finalists.
Yep, that is the rumour I star... heard.
I heard this is how my wife chose her spouse.
waa waa waaaaaaaaa.....
Hey, she told me she did "Best of 5"... so you won fair and square. :D
I hear that VoV is taking all of the applicant names, adjusting the font sizes to equalize their 'real estate', pasting the print-out to a board, and hurling darts to determine the 12 finalists.
Yep, that is the rumour I star... heard.
I heard this is how my wife chose her spouse.
waa waa waaaaaaaaa.....
Question is who is the lucky one?
Oh, there is no question there... I married so up it's not even funny.
Oh, there is no question there... I married so up it's not even funny.
Congratulations! You done every Nerd's Dream.
VoV Answers
The southern elf Findis, is a Wasp Queen, an organization of Calistria of elves and half elf thieves. She was on a mission to discover why the ice was encroaching to the south. Unable to continue, she must trust her mission to Miralania.
More than anything, Miralania wants to become a Wasp queen. She thinks this her way in. If she can complete this, they'll have to let her in.
We haven't even started the game yet. You guys are COOOOOLD. lol.
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The Selection Method is based on an ancient linguistic algorithm that was first passed down from Odin to Olof Skötkonung when he went a viking in the Wendland. Treasured by Swedes it was retained until it was claimed as payment in the settlement with Olaf II of Norway to end the Swedish-Norwegian war at Kungahälla.
Mindful of it's power and thinking that jealous rivals might try to steal it, he kept it on his person until the Battle of the Helgeå - there a sailor in service of Cnut the Great. Carried to the then King of England and Denmark he failed to see it's worth - but afforded the sailor a generous fiefdom in Scotland later when he accepted the submission of a then King of Scotland - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda.
From there it's history becomes lost... all that is known is that it was found centuries later buried within a Scottish peat bog. Not knowing what it was, the whiskey distiller placed the ancient parchment upon ebay... where I purchased it for three pound and tuppence. Thus the Selection Method did pass into my hands... and thusly it shall become the instrument of your judgement.
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The Selection Method is based on an ancient linguistic algorithm that was first passed down from Odin to Olof Skötkonung when he went a viking in the Wendland. Treasured by Swedes it was retained until it was claimed as payment in the settlement with Olaf II of Norway to end the Swedish-Norwegian war at Kungahälla.
Mindful of it's power and thinking that jealous rivals might try to steal it, he kept it on his person until the Battle of the Helgeå - there a sailor in service of Cnut the Great. Carried to the then King of England and Denmark he failed to see it's worth - but afforded the sailor a generous fiefdom in Scotland later when he accepted the submission of a then King of Scotland - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda.
From there it's history becomes lost... all that is known is that it was found centuries later buried within a Scottish peat bog. Not knowing what it was, the whiskey distiller placed the ancient parchment upon ebay... where I purchased it for three pound and tuppence. Thus the Selection Method did pass into my hands... and thusly it shall become the instrument of your judgement.
And here I thought you just read the prophecy of selection from the entrails of slaughtered lambs while preparing your evening haggis.
VoV, that is entirely too much work for a joke, yet amazingly awesome, I salute you good sir!!!
Given that he's travelling to get metals, and is unsociable - why would he choose to engage on the quest?
Out of necessity. For the betterment of his tribe. He's not so unsociable as to avoid the outside world; he actually finds it intriguing. He just doesn't possess a "Let's be buddies" type attitude. It's just more business like. His people skills are lacking even amongst his own kind. But by no means is he a complete chump either. It's a fine line.
How does he view the shorter lived races?
He views them as just a part of the world. He has no bias against them. He sees them as they are. Indifferent would probably be a good word for it.
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Hmmm... 3 pounds on Ebay, eh? I think I know the Selection Method and its powers are the stuff of myth and legend.