DM Brainiac's War for the Crown: Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

Mai Zhi wrote:

Maria Greyson wrote:

If Mai Zhi wants to tie their background to someone else, maybe she tried to hire Maria's father to find her's, but had to settle for hiring Maria because he had just left for Numeria and Maria was the only one running Greyson Investigative Services while he was gone.

That would work. Zhi would have kept the search for her father quiet. He may have run afoul of powerful people and she wouldn't want to draw attention to herself. Since Maria didn't find him, she would have told her to pretend it never happened.

Well Greyson Investigative Services has a reputation for discretion (though that goes out the window if it involves something like covering up a murder or something heinous - larceny like what Zhi's father engaged in wouldn't be serious enough for that to be an issue) so if she wanted to look for him quietly, hiring Maria would certainly be an option. Also keeps the actual authorities from getting involved.

What I'm debating is whether Maria would have dropped the investigation when asked, or kept feelers out despite Zhi's saying to forget it happened.

That would be an neat later story reveal.

"I told you to drop it! Why did you keep digging?"

Ok, floating a concept I've had for a little while, who might fit into this kind of political-plus-adventuring game. Zileska Vestalina is a half-elven priestess of Calistria (with all that entails). She is a political animal, upset at the decline of Taldor, very much a person involved in courtly drama and gossip. She is mercurial, but driven; she has a strong will and can be quite stubborn, but she also tends to have hot passions that can make her more dependable than the typical Calistrian - she finds causes or people that motivate her and she becomes driven to support them. Though she is not a noblewoman, she is the kind of woman who has an ear to the whispers and goings-on of society, and while some people might sneer at her behind their fans and their champagne glasses because of her role, she is proud of her position as a priestess. She wants to see Taldor rise again, and take vengeance on the other nations that have wronged it (especially Cheliax); and she loves the idea of a woman as the new regent or Queen, to spite the patriarchal power that has long ruled the nation.

In terms of role, Zileska is a support caster/healer and face character. She will eventually have some limited fighting ability, but at the outset she can really only contribute in combat if she's flanking or otherwise has a positional advantage to help. Her domains and spells make it possible for her to greatly improve the abilities of other party members, and to occasionally flip enemies temporarily with charm effects. Her skills cover the usual clerical business (religion, heal, etc.) but also include strong Bluff and Diplomacy abilities, so she is right at home in courtly scenarios.

Like most Calistrian priestesses, Zileska is also a professional courtesan who isn't above seducing someone to get her way, but she also has keen insight and is reasonably good at the social game.

NOTE ABOUT ALIGNMENT: I usually don't play CN, because it's too often used as an excuse to justify "doing whatever I want, because I'm chaotic!" and then used to do awful things that disrupt the group. I find this kind of play tedious or just bad, so I try to avoid it. For that reason, while Zileska is CN (like her goddess), I've built into her personality the tendency to cling to driving passions, which means that while she can be temperamental and petty, she is also somewhat predictable when you know what she wants, and she can be loyal to the party if there is someone that she cares about involved.
Zileska channels positive energy.

You already know me as a player, DM Brainiac, and I'm still not planning to leave the boards any time soon! (Zileska has a very different personality from Tobar, who is generally laconic and not much of a standout - as befits a 10 Charisma - while Zileska is more socially aggressive.)

OTHER PLAYERS: I love strong character connections, whether as siblings, enemies, allies, lovers, co-confederates, fellow students, whatever - hit me up.

CAMPAIGN TRAIT: Based solely on names, likely ones seem to be Taldan Patriot or Young Reformer.

Oh oh, I've had a background itch to play a Ranger(Dandy) for a while, and this seems like the perfect campaign for it.

The Dandy archetype directly utilizes the optional Rumor rules, though. They're not particularly complicated, I think, and mostly seem to just net the PC or party some bonuses on social skills within a community? If you have zero interest in engaging with those, DM Brainiac, then I will look elsewhere for a class.

Just going on the Campaign Trait names, I'm leaning most heavily towards Disgraced Noble.

Edit: Link to Rumors

She would have laughed at that...

Oh, Bernal wouldn't have said anything of the sort to Sara. In fact, I doubt he himself would have realized that's what's making him interested in Sara; it's more of a subconscious thing deep in his mind.

Maria Greyson wrote:

Mai Zhi wrote:

Maria Greyson wrote:

If Mai Zhi wants to tie their background to someone else, maybe she tried to hire Maria's father to find her's, but had to settle for hiring Maria because he had just left for Numeria and Maria was the only one running Greyson Investigative Services while he was gone.

That would work. Zhi would have kept the search for her father quiet. He may have run afoul of powerful people and she wouldn't want to draw attention to herself. Since Maria didn't find him, she would have told her to pretend it never happened.

Well Greyson Investigative Services has a reputation for discretion (though that goes out the window if it involves something like covering up a murder or something heinous - larceny like what Zhi's father engaged in wouldn't be serious enough for that to be an issue) so if she wanted to look for him quietly, hiring Maria would certainly be an option. Also keeps the actual authorities from getting involved.

What I'm debating is whether Maria would have dropped the investigation when asked, or kept feelers out despite Zhi's saying to forget it happened.

That would be an neat later story reveal.

"I told you to drop it! Why did you keep digging?"

Would certainly be interesting. Also, I think I've been binge-watching Elementary too much lately; every time I try to picture a scene with Maria in it, she's talking like Sherlock does in that show. :P

Cool got Sorel's backstory finished.

Long story short: Sent out of Oppara with the help of someone from the Lotheed family to protect him from his family's political rivals. Family gets murdered. Spends the next few years traveling Taldor being trained in Diplomacy, subterfuge and psychic mind magic. Uses these skills to gather info on his family's killers and settle out some of the problems the nobles were causing to the non nobles. When he found nobles too corrupt he'd forge documents and start rumors that would lead to the noble being removed by a rival or the people themselves. He keeps his Psychic powers need to know secret. Lotheed family catches up with him and asks him to be a part of their team as they know about his training and mind magic. He sees this as a good opportunity to work his way into the senatorial and find his family's killers. Also he's super into languages and writing.

Would be cool to tie in his travels or training with some of the others. Maybe have someone's family be the people that sheltered him for a while after his family was killed.

@RamzaBeoulve, we can use the Rumor rules if you desire.

Completed Submissions So Far:

Still no Player's Guide, though--hopefully it will be released soon.

Hopefully it's only about another week away. Guess it depends how long the writers or whoever were out of commission with the flu.

I wouldn't hold my breath....

Worst case, 2 weeks away works for me. I'm not changing my trait - Disgraced Noble fits the character design, and I doubt the flavor is going to be radically different from what I wrote. I'm honestly just hoping it gives Knowledge (nobility) as a class skill - the other traits that do really didn't fit the character.

A better tie in for Sara than what I first wrote (and one that doesn't necessarily conflict): as she initially gained wealth and notoriety, she was welcomed to parties and lunches by strangers, minor nobility and other well off common folk. For the first time in her life, she began feeling like part of society, mingling with and learning people. She doubled down on her work, eager to fund this aspect of her life.

Upon ending her sentencing, she was invited to a small smattering of parties by people she had met and befriended, and was very open about her time in jail and as a resurrectionist. The crowds were both welcoming and isolating, for now they wanted her for her but she was a gimmick. A criminal, a commoner, a ghoul. Eventually her stories would run dry and they would have no use for her.

To receive Lotheed's letter was an amazing opportunity not only because it was a chance back, but because it was a chance to be taken seriously. If Lotheed demanded her support, it meant people were watching, and she would not disappoint.

This provides more room for her to fit in with other's stories and likely fits the flavor of "Rising Star" well.

Also, my ooc motivation for building a improvised weapon/dirty trick fighter for a political campaign is just that I really want to wear a nice dress to a party, pick up an antique chair and smash someone in the head with it, then step on their foot with my heel.

Lastly, I'm about to spend some time hospitalized so I should easily be able to post multiple times a day.

Would certainly be interesting. Also, I think I've been binge-watching Elementary too much lately; every time I try to picture a scene with Maria in it, she's talking like Sherlock does in that show. :P

Just don't 'accidentally' refer to Zhi as Joan. ;)

Found the perfect image of Zhi when she's working.

Here's one of Sara when she's working (minus the sword)

Those are both great!

@RamzaBeoulve, we can use the Rumor rules if you desire.

Awesome, thanks!

@Ramza: I looked at Dandy too. A Dandy and a Velvet Blade would make quite a team ...

Thinking of tossing a character in here. Would love to do a Crusader Cleric of Shelyn or Paladin of Shelyn!

DM Brainiac wrote:

Still no Player's Guide, though--hopefully it will be released soon.

Hopefully it's only about another week away. Guess it depends how long the writers or whoever were out of commission with the flu.

Hey Maria, we play together in a couple other games, any thoughts on having a backstory connection if we are both fortunate enough to make it into this one?

(I've decided that I like this character enough conceptually to commit to the alias for future use, even if I don't make it into this game.)

I've been lurking in this thread for a couple days and I have to try to get in on this.
Here's my submission; a Human Empiricist Investigator trying to wield bureaucracy for good.
I haven't finished picking traits or decided on a drawback yet because I'd like to wait for the players guide but Young Reformer or Senatorial Hopeful sound like they'd fit.

the big pieces will stay the same if anyone is interested in building intercharacter relationships

Perhaps Sara soughy help procuring housing at the start of her upward climb, and now that she is out of jail offered freelance work with you as she struggles to find her feet?

Perhaps Sara soughy help procuring housing at the start of her upward climb, and now that she is out of jail offered freelance work with you as she struggles to find her feet?

Helping someone just out of jail would be right up Valmonts alley. As would making friends with someone tougher than him to watch his back around Crowsgate.

Sara Burke wrote:

Perhaps Sara sought help procuring housing at the start of her upward climb, and now that she is out of jail offered freelance work with you as she struggles to find her feet

Helping someone just out of jail would be right up Valmonts alley. As would making friends with someone tougher than him to watch his back around Crowsgate.

Edit: In fact he helped find a decent apartment for a good rate by getting the building owner a discount on their taxes for housing an ex-con unter Title XCIV Article G Section 14 Amendment 83 of the Prisoner Rehabilitation Statutes originally passed in 3998 AR.

What would this favor cost her??

Valmont Comtroya wrote:

Sara Burke wrote:

Perhaps Sara sought help procuring housing at the start of her upward climb, and now that she is out of jail offered freelance work with you as she struggles to find her feet

Helping someone just out of jail would be right up Valmonts alley. As would making friends with someone tougher than him to watch his back around Crowsgate.

Edit: In fact he helped find a decent apartment for a good rate by getting the building owner a discount on their taxes for housing an ex-con unter Title XCIV Article G Section 14 Amendment 83 of the Prisoner Rehabilitation Statutes originally passed in 3998 AR.

What would this favor cost her??

Perhaps just the occasional support when Valmont finds himself in scenarios that require a less delicate touch?

Perhaps just the occasional support when Valmont finds himself in scenarios that require a less delicate touch?

Hahaha a bodyguard in a full length dress and no weapons, things go south and she chucks a table and tells you to crouch behind it as chucks bottles at whoever

Hey Braniac, quick question.

I'm building a changeling for this, can I take an Arcane Malignancy (Found in a table here), instead of a drawback, as stated in Blood of the Coven?

More specifically can I take 49-51: Your thin, almost translucent skin is delicate and tears easily. You take 1 point of bleed damage from slashing attacks that deal at least 1 point of damage to you. I'm making a Blood-born changeling and writing her as a haemophiliac, so this would be extremely appropriate!

If not I'll take a normal drawback. :)

That's fine, Nikolaus.

I've settled on the athletic champion campaign trait for Oster. He is quite proud of his swiftness and showing it off would stroke his ego nicely.

Now I'm wondering what avenue he would have to do so. An equivalent of parkour would be ideal! And other pc's might remember his performance.

DM Brainiac, It looks like I need to stop waiting for the players guide to come out...I'm planning on going with the 'Taldan Patriot' trait.

I've got most of the crunch done for my ranger archetype "Dandy" and I'm working on the backstory.

I can't find anyplace that tells how old the Princess Eutropia is.

Do you have any idea how old she is?

I'm thinking my Dandy a much lesser noble met her as a 'dance partner' when she was learning 'courtly dances.' So my character's age and race may depend on her age.

If I go human. he would need to be around the same age. If I go Aasimar, he could be much older but have been close the same maturity as her then; but less mature now. Assuming that Aasimar age slower than humans still.

Any opinions or input would be appreciated.

Hmm noticing my backstory is in need of some work. I'll be updating it sometime in the next couple of days. Looking at either senatorial hopeful or rising star as my campaign trait.

Maria: Would you be interested in Selor having hired your father to look into his family's murder years ago. After he returns to Oparra he goes to see if he'd be willing to look into it again, but finds him gone and asks you to investigate on his behalf.

@Robert Henry, I'm not sure of Eutropia's exact age yet--that should be revealed in the second book. But it appears she's either in her late twenties or early thirties.

Aasimar and tiefling ages have been errattad from their entries in the Advanced Race Guide. They should age at the same rate as humans.

Hey Maria, we play together in a couple other games, any thoughts on having a backstory connection if we are both fortunate enough to make it into this one?

(I've decided that I like this character enough conceptually to commit to the alias for future use, even if I don't make it into this game.)

Yeah, not averse to that. Nothing's coming to mind at the moment, though.

Maria: Would you be interested in Selor having hired your father to look into his family's murder years ago. After he returns to Oparra he goes to see if he'd be willing to look into it again, but finds him gone and asks you to investigate on his behalf.

Yeah, that could be good, although Maria's dad tends not to take cases more than a day or two's travel outside of the city for concerns of practicality. So if it didn't happen inside Oparra or within a day or two of the city, it's a little outside of the business' reach.

I'm leaning toward either 'Young Reformer' or 'Rising Star' for Elif's campaign traits. I hope the Player's Guide comes out sooner than later.

If selected for the game, I have no issue discussing and creating inter-character relationships. :)

@Robert Henry, I'm not sure of Eutropia's exact age yet--that should be revealed in the second book. But it appears she's either in her late twenties or early thirties.

Aasimar and tiefling ages have been errattad from their entries in the Advanced Race Guide. They should age at the same rate as humans.

I can't remember where exactly the post is at, but somewhere in one of the WftC threads it's mentioned that Eutropia's brother died 20 years previously, during his teen years. Eutropia was 2(?) years older than him.

If those things are correct she should be in her thirties, and maybe approaching 40.

Yes, Eutropia is two years older than her brother. It doesn't give an exact age for either of them, but her being in her thirties is correct.

I can't remember where exactly the post is at, but somewhere in one of the WftC threads it's mentioned that Eutropia's brother died 20 years previously, during his teen years. Eutropia was 2(?) years older than him.

If those things are correct she should be in her thirties, and maybe approaching 40.

I have the same memory, but couldn't find it when I went looking this morning. Perhaps it was in one of the deleted posts in the Crownfall product thread?

--

Also, just a reminder that I'll be AFK for a couple weeks, DM Brainiac. :)

I've asked Crystal Frasier how old Eutropa is - let's see if we get a reply.

EDIT: She says 'mid-30s.'

This is Ouachionian submitting Cnut Bjornsson, Ulfen skinwalker Barbarian, He has made the long journey from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, following his grandfather's footsteps. He hopes to one day join the Ulfen guard as his grandfather did, and to win fame, glory, and riches in the service of Taldor's ruler.

I'm not 100% sure of the starting hook, perhaps he's a paid guard in the service of Lady Lotheed or one of the other families at the Ball. I'm likewise unsure yet which Campaign Trait I'll take (just judging by the names I'd guess Rising Star or Athletic Champion). Once the PG comes out I'll try to firm that stuff up.

Mechanically, he's an Invulnerable Rager Barbarian. He carries a Bardiche for reach, but if combat gets lose with drop it and use his Ragebred natural attacks (probably eventually augmented with the Beast Totem line of Rage Powers). He will most likely go into the Ulfen Guard prestige class, but there's the possibility that the course of the AP will lead him a different direction, like staying Barbarian or perhaps Stalwart Defender.

Cnut: Quint's family and Quint himself would be interested in employing Cnut, if that would work.

Hello DM Brainiac, I would like to submit Maya Watersby for consideration.

She's a Halfling Court Bard looking to make a name for herself. She'll likely be taking the Rising Star campaign trait, but Young Reformer is also possible pending the exact wording of the traits.

I believe everything is in order on her profile page, but please let me know if you have any questions or if I should adjust anything.

Thank you for your consideration!

Cnut: Quint's family and Quint himself would be interested in employing Cnut, if that would work.

I'm fine with that.

DM Brainiac, I'm struggling with the backstory for my Dandy and it looks like you have a lot of great applicants so I'm going to withdraw.

Thank you for running the game and good luck everyone!

Hahaha a bodyguard in a full length dress and no weapons, things go south and she chucks a table and tells you to crouch behind it as chucks bottles at whoever

Sounds like the best sort of bodyguard to me. I figure the person in a full length dress throwing down probably ranks just above the spanish inquisition on the list of things people expect.

Lots of good submissions so far. Don't envy the GM making a decision.

Here is Cyrene, Inquisitor that hopefully gets the opportunity to go into Shadowdancer in the future.

I left a trait blank, because I'll ideally want it to fit with the backstory and the traits are unknown at present.

I still want to make a full caster of some sort, but I really want that player's guide before I do it. Well, if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen.

Sorel wrote:

Maria: Would you be interested in Selor having hired your father to look into his family's murder years ago. After he returns to Oparra he goes to see if he'd be willing to look into it again, but finds him gone and asks you to investigate on his behalf.

Yeah, that could be good, although Maria's dad tends not to take cases more than a day or two's travel outside of the city for concerns of practicality. So if it didn't happen inside Oparra or within a day or two of the city, it's a little outside of the business' reach.

Maria: Sorel's family was killed in Oparra. They snuck Sorel out of the city to protect him and were killed shortly there after under mysterious circumstances. Selor convinced those training him to hire someone to look into his family's death. Once Selor was old enough he returned to Oparra to try and uncover what happened. With Maria's father gone, the investigation would fall to her.

Been lurking for a bit here and it looks like a great group of people to play with, so I couldn't resist throwing my hat into the ring. Presenting Gorgeous Jum for your consideration. Being a gladiator, he uses piecemeal armor, but if that's not acceptable things can be switched around.

Sara Burke wrote:

Hahaha a bodyguard in a full length dress and no weapons, things go south and she chucks a table and tells you to crouch behind it as chucks bottles at whoever

Sounds like the best sort of bodyguard to me. I figure the person in a full length dress throwing down probably ranks just above the spanish inquisition on the list of things people expect.

Heck get her a red dress and a funny hat and same thing far as I care. Don't a disguise kit come with a comical stick on goatee?