Empire of Night: Way of the Wicked (Vampire Campaign)

Game Master Neil Mansell

Okay, here's the backstory. Both backstory and personality are in the profile.

I'm going to go ahead and back away from this recruitment. I just can't get the creative juices running for a character for this game at the moment. Good luck to everyone though.

I will withdraw as well.. Having stats that high really threw off my idea of the character, so much to the point where I don't think I can work with it.

This is a fetchling alternative to half-worm Ghilanna. She's changed completely, only the name has remained the same to protect the guilty.

She's now a witch but still the same type of character - shadows and minionmancy. A dedicated caster, I don't know that she will go the undead route as she needs quite a few feats for spells.

I have not written her background yet and just want to get your approval of the race and crunch.

I see her as a spider sitting in the center of a web of lies and deceit. She prefers to operate from the shadows, manipulating others to get what she wants. Her crime will almost certainly be some form of blackmail or conspiracy, probably against the clergy. I'm thinking I may make her a drow from the plane of shadow, but I may change that once I start writing as I usually give the character free reign to become anything they like.

This character is 100% RAW and I haven't needed to reskin anything the way I did with the merfolk.

I hope that you like Ghilanna as a witch and are okay with a fetchling and don't mind them as a race. They are very flavorful and match my desire for this character to be sneaky.

Lastly, I swapped my Int and Cha scores when I changed classes. It was a straight swap, no other ability scores were touched.

Drow ae the quintessential Evil Race. It's not done to death so much as, the most fitting ever always. Kinda like humans, it's just the most common of races for that type of campaign.

You are no doubt correct on this. That's kind of what I meant however - they are the quintessential evil race. I prefer something different that no one else has really done before so I can make it mine.

In this respect, I don't see Drow as the equivalent of humans in the evil races. Rather, they are the equivalent of elves - way out of proportion as PCs compared to their numbers in the campaign world. 8)

PS: Naturally, anyone can take any class/race and "make it their own." I'm not meaning to be snooty or judgmental here. I'm simply saying that it is almost always worthwhile to make something new rather than falling back on the tried and true. There's just something extra fun about it, at least for me.

Another one touched by death and shadow? Welcome, friend...

Wishing all the very best...um..or worst for the campaign to come. Respectfully bowing out as well.

The Elven madman awaits your decision.

@MPChampbell You have a good point. I wouldn't even be a Human if It wasn't for the whole Ex-paladin thing. I considered playing a dhampir Fighter for a little while; but the Ideal that I could become a undying Graveknight with enough magic to raise her own army instead of depending on clerics or necromancers ( Graveknights have the power to just completely control undead with no intelligence permanently.) We all seems to have a similar wish for the city and are all having some motive behind our actions; but we all want different things, so I can smell so infighting later in the game, when we all have enough power to be able to betray each other.

As for everybody backing out; that's a shame, would have been nice to play with any one of you, every body so far has brought something fresh to the table, even me and the other anti-paladin are different even with similar goals. Still I'm sure the Gm will understand if you can't play do to things.

To the GM- How long will recruitment last till?

As far as Kermah goes, I'm going directly into a focused blaster build. (Don't care that it's somewhat inefficient against BBGGs.)

Kermah's going to eventually plan on becoming a Lich, (with any luck), because of the fact that he is incredibly intelligent and knows that his actions have already doomed him to death by all of the Good beings in the world. How he'll be played is an intelligent being that will not have any special connection to his allies. His motive to work with the party will primarily be because he sees them as useful. He won't betray them, nor will he really find anything outside bounds of morality. This is because he just wants to be the most efficient. He will focus on his "code" of being good at what he does and becoming a great mage.

Berserk buttons will include: Church of Mitra, other "foolish" mages, and (mildly) anything he sees as foolish.

alright. gonna throw down some rolls and hope for the best. I'm going for a tiefling sorcerer.

Focus: INT (18+2 racial mod)
Foible:STR

Lets roll!
DEX: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17+2 Racial
CON: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
WIS: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
CHA: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14-2 Racial
and There we go! I can work with this! (I think my point buy comes out to 43? regardless...)Character information and backstory coming post haste!

Drahzar was not a nice man, but growing up on the streets will do that to you, whatever the propaganda may claim. Indeed, he killed for the first time at the age of 8 defending some food he stole from the market. Drahzar grew up to become a hired blade, though he did not work in the normal quiet ways of other hired blades. He did things loudly, often publicly, for he was the man you hired when you wanted a dead to ugly and public to serve as a warning to others.

Drahzar was captured covered in blood, standing over the body of a merchant who had refused to pay protection money. He was holding a mace that was still dripping in blood. And, while it was clear to the town watch that this was not his first kill, no other deaths could be directly tied to him and he claimed that he only killed the merchant because he was paid to do so and would go hungry otherwise.

Asil's story is completed, leaving him with naught to do but bide his time until Sir Balin has him executed or Asmodeus sees fit to free him so he can fulfill his pledge.

GM of Blinding Light: Any feedback would be appreciated!

This is a fetchling alternative to half-worm Ghilanna. She's changed completely, only the name has remained the same to protect the guilty.

This is Nikita Vicci, a twenty year old woman captured by the worshipers of Zon Kuthon at the age of six and sold to the Kyton on the Plane of Shadow. I've written her early history and as I have a midterm tomorrow morning, I will write her recent history sometime tomorrow night. Her recent history will include her crime and incarceration.

She has no loyalties to anyone other than herself so that is not a worry. She is also 100% RAW with no reskinning. I think she would make a great addition to a group and would work well with others.

As I've said before, I see her as the spy type, collecting secrets and blackmailing figures of power. I intend for her to be a minionmancer focusing on shadows and illusions.

I hope that you like her.

Where are these awesome character sheets coming from MPCambell, did you make them?

Nikita, I think my wizard would be incredibly fascinated with your character. Not really her emotions or anything like that, but with the magic she conjures being so different from his will catch his attention. He will simply love studying the nature of having another spellcaster in the group that he will want to have live tests on.

Not anything bloody of course... just intrigued by how your spells are different from his...

Dotting for interest and to reply to a comment on the interest-check thread:

@True Repentance: Mayyyybeeee... But raging without a con score isn't all that impressive.

Raging without a con score isn't impressive, but ending rage without the ability to become fatigued is huge. Once-per-rage powers become once-per round (or once-per-every-other if the GM require you to start and end rage on different rounds).

Barbarians without a con score obviously needs to roll as a urban barbarian. Still no moral, but takes no ac penalty, and can use all mental ability while raging.

Yea... Im liking my current anti paladin build however.

Anti-paladin's are great; Think mine Is a bit more mentally unstable then yours however.

Working on writing up Veldrin's history currently. Its coming along quite nicely.

I have made a quick update in the Campaign info about integrating the campaign into Golarion (see the Tab at top of page).
@Captain Fremont , & Me'mori: Sorry to see you go.
@MPCampbell: So you're using the Nikita character right? Switching Chr with Int is fine, it was your focus after all. Starting to look great, but obviously needs a little cleaning up. Backstory looks interesting but still needs to be tied into Talingarde.
@Asil Twice-Damned: Very nice backstory. You've actually given me an idea or two to integrate into the campaign. I like that.
@Valdast: Sorry, but we're not using Pathfinder Society rules. 1st level wizards start with Scribe Scroll
@Mad Minxie Frubjubber: You can put whatever you like into your backstory, that's your choice, but if I'm uninterested by a backstory I'm naturally going to be more critical when I choose players. Deceiving other evil characters (to some extent) is acceptable, even understandable. Not so for the GM, even if that means PMing me a more accurate history if need be.
@Bobson: Ha! I forgot about Rage Powers! Yes, you're right there. You can enter/end rage as a free action and do that. Still, according to RAW, you'll get no bonus to Will, Str or con but still get the -2 penalty on AC for your troubles. I doubt it's worth it still. (I'd rather go Rage Prophet, take 'Lame' for the Oracle Curse and be immune to fatigue. But, YMMV.)
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Recruitment cutoff will go until 17th November. That should be enough time for everyone to get their characters in order I would imagine. After that, I'll make my decisions within a day. If this is a problem, let me know.

Part of my selection criteria will be based on interesting backstories and (to some extent) party composition. Ability scores don't phase me too much.

any thoughts on Drahzar, my human ranger?

Background all done, character sheet to follow tomorrow, most likely.

any thoughts on Drahzar, my human ranger?

Crunch looks fine but backstory needs work.

On the other hand, it's interesting to see a bad guy who seems more like a common (if murderous) thug, after gold and simple power, instead of the usual blood drinking cultist who wants to turn the world into an undead filled necropolis*. It makes a nice contrast with a lot of other characters and also gives a lot of potential for character growth... In one direction or the other. :)

*N.B. - Not that there's anything wrong with this character type BTW. :)

Growth, until he stops growing because he's been turned into a undead like everybody else~

Awe... well in that case I'm going to be switching out my initial first-level spells because they'll be almost equivalent to a Ray of Frost at 1st level.

Spells will become Unseen Servant x1, Mount x1, and Grease.

I'm tempted to want to go into a Diabolist now with Kermah now and build on his wants to bring out Devils, but I probably won't due to the required Charisma :(

Oh well, nuking people is still fine.

EDIT: As well, I'm switching out his skill points in Fly (which make no sense for him to have) for skill points in Craft (Calligraphy), in which he now has a +9 bonus :)

6 con. Dam. So you have what, 4 or 5 hp? How is it so low?

Foible in Con, -2 for being an Elf. Most likely.

Ah. Somehow i read half elf... dunno why

While we're all having our characters semi-reviewed, I was just wondering if Donovan's 'first-person' style story is perhaps too vague? If you'd like, GM, I can give him a more concrete and traditional write up.

Aye, it'll really be touch and go for the first few levels and even as we advance. I want to become undead in some fashion to at least take advantage of my slightly better Charisma, but he's very much going to be a glass cannon. (Miss chances will be my friend)

Become a Lich. Then it doesnt even matter if you die.

"I'll be back MORTALS! Mwahahaha"

While we're all having our characters semi-reviewed, I was just wondering if Donovan's 'first-person' style story is perhaps too vague? If you'd like, GM, I can give him a more concrete and traditional write up.

No no. It was a nice change of pace and I get the idea. My only comment is that Donovan seems to like Mitra (which is understandable considering his education). Obviously, that will need to change when Talingarde gets dragged down and destroyed. Some nice roleplay potential there.

Hey GM, can I get some feedback on Cole? I kept it simple as I want him to grow in game since he is still a young boy. I also hope you look at posting activity when making decision. I have had 4 games start and stop in the last 2 months because people quit. I am currently in 2PFS PBP, and 3 others. I post as much as the story allows while here at work from 7am-4pm EST and check in in the evenings as well. Thanks for the consideration.

@Ashe: Sure thing. Yes, that's a good idea, I will be checking out postings of applicants when I get around to it.
In terms of crunch, it's looking pretty good. The only thing I will disallow is 'The Bitten' feat at this time. You can't have been bitten by a vampire just yet because of plot reasons that I can't go into.
Don't worry though, this will not hinder your vampirism in the long run.
The fluff is adequate but feels a little lackluster.
During the purges nearly every tome or holy text regarding Asmodeus was destroyed. How did Cole get his hands on that kind of information? Why did it even interest him so much? (I'm actually a little surprised the guards that tracked him down could ship him off to prison at all, 'being dominated' was a pretty good defense... not that it matters now that I've punched holes in your backstory, sorry.)

Also, when you said he was a boy, are you aware that you put his age down as 18? That's a definite adult, especially for a quasi-medieval period. Or did you mean naive and emotionally immature?

"now that he was in prison at least he was safe from the others, maybe he could finally get a true night's sleep. But had that priest been right all those years ago, was he always destined to become a killer, it had never felt like that to him, each decision made was one of survival, not some premeditated desire to destroy his fellow man.

Or was it the priest's fault that he had ended up like this, Drahzar had never been one of the "right" type of destitute. He was too dirty and grabbed to food from the priest's hands before someone else could take it. Like the old blacksmith whose leg was broken so badly that not even the priest's prayers and magic could fix it, he was a failure of society, and Talingarde didn't have societal failures. Those other poor, who looked clean and made the priests look important for helping a young widow who lost her husband in some far off war and her hungry, but clean and pretty children. And see had to visit at some point during the week to beg the priest to keep feeding her children.

Perhaps it was thanks to being refused such help that he ended p friendless and untrusting. But no one seemed to trust him either particularly in the last few years as his reputation spread among certain circles.

But he should stop thinking and actually get some rest, for once"

@DM of Blinding Light:
Any feedback for Mordesel?

cool thanks for feedback will change it up. I actually struggled with the build trying to fit the bitten in at level 1, I assumed thats what we were doing. This will make things easier. I can work with the purge. I forgot about that. I have played through some of the first book, our home GM gave the AP a shot but had to stop because of a new job :( I love the AP, and want to give it a shot so I will put some more work on Cole.

@Drahzar: Very nice! That answers pretty much all my questions about Drahzar.
@Mordesel: Awesome. My only request is a touch more on Mordesel's past. Nothing major, just if he was a member of the guard or a wandering mercenary, ideals/religious beliefs, upbringing, etc.

This won't be easy to decide. By my count, 18 applications in total.
I'm off for a while now... need sleep.

Any feedback on Kermah as well? I think I did fairly well in summing up his character, unless there's anything you want me to expand on.

When you rise, would you mind providing feedback on Veldrin?

Cool. Thanks. I'll get some of that added in. I've been wanting to playing this AP for some time. And all of the submissions here are awesome. This'll be a gear group. I hope I get to be a part of it.

Let me know what you think now, hope this is better :)

Just checking in to let everyone know I'm still here and interested.

Current List of Submissions by class:

Razze Tovar, Ratling Tiefling Alchemist - a thief

Karias Blackheart, Human Anti-Paladin (Knight of the Sepulcher) - a murderer
Sion, Drow Anti-Paladin - an attempted murderer

The Cloaked One, Human Cleric (Law, Trickery) - a blasphemer

Dane Grahn, Human Fighter - a death duelist

Cole, Human Monk (Master of Many Styles) - a deserter
Mordesel Corwin, Human Monk (Flowing Monk) - a seditionist

Kolrath the Cleanser, Angel-Kin Aasimar Oracle (Flames) - an arsonist

Drahzar the Bloody, Human Ranger - a murderer

Lin, Azata-Blooded Aasimar Sorcerer (Musetouched) - a fraud
Donovan Gance, Human Sorcerer (Sanguine/Umbral) - a graverobber
Asil Twice-Damned, Angel-Blooded Aasimar Sorcerer (Draconic/Pit-born) - a desecrator

Riley Pinkerton, Ratfolk Witch - a consorter with dark powers

Kermah Orletithar, Elf Wizard (Admixture) - a consorter with dark powers

Incomplete Submissions (at least to my knowledge):

Mad Minxie Frubjubber, Gnome Bard - ????

Veldrin d'Shraen, Drow Wizard (Necromancer) - ????

MPCampbell (I have no idea which character is your actual submission)

And this is why I never envy the decision process that GMs for way of the wicked have to go through, you can be left with 2 or more full parties of characters after eliminating the half-made, clearly power gaming or weak backgrounded characters.

Current List of Submissions by class:

Nikita Vicci - a fetishist, madame and deviant

While I always try to build unique characters, I have been doing it for a long time and so also build them to be as effective as possible. I am therefore accustomed to my IRL DM worrying about one aspect or another of them being overpowered. Over the years, I've kind of learned to step back from them at that point, setting them aside to bring out at another time and with another group.

If Ghilanna turns out to be very effective, worries of merfolk being overpowered will rise again. If she is underpowered, I will always wonder if she'd have been more fun if left RAW. Neither outcome is really desirable and so once I realized that GM Blinding Light's (GMBL) concerns were extensive, I prepared another character. I hope that doesn't cause any difficulty.

I am still willing to play Ghilanna with the stats GMBL has recommended. I think they are fair and I'm not really that worried about stats anyway. I'm also willing to play Nikita, who I've grown somewhat attached to in the last two days. They are essentially the same character despite being different races and classes. Both are evil shadow-based necromancers seeking personal power. One is associated with neothelids and the other with kytons (devils), but I think those details will quickly fall aside as the plot begins.

Nikita is now completed and constitutes my submission, assuming GMBL does not wish me to revive Ghilanna. Ultimately, it is his call.

Nikita is pretty dark, extremely nasty and edging right up to that PG-13/R rating line. While her story leaves little to the imagination, this is the writing style I plan to continue. Everyone here should be able to easily read between the lines and in the end, I honestly do not care to write explicit vulgarity. I can't say that I'd be comfortable with my mother reading her back-story, but then, I'm probably not alone on that.

I wish the best for everyone applying to the game. I finished a brutal 2 hour final exam in Clinical Medicine today and so will be able to check the forums a little bit more often than I could in the last week. I still have an EIGHT hour exam coming up Sunday, but the game will not have started by then...fortunately. 8)

Alright Mordesel's background is fixed up. I think this should work better. Let me know if you have any more questions or comments.

And this is why I never envy the decision process that GMs for way of the wicked have to go through, you can be left with 2 or more full parties of characters after eliminating the half-made, clearly power gaming or weak backgrounded characters.

Yeah, that'll be a tough decision. But it'll be a great party.

Holy Captain Crunch Batman! An eight hour test sounds like something I'd have a nightmare about, not something that'd actually happen! Best of luck MPC Campbell.

Though on that note, Dane is actually finished himself now. Been switched up to play as a fighter, and wrote a bunch more descriptors to hopefully help give GM Blinding Light a bit better of an idea of what I was going for.

Mainly trying to add a bit more of a Ted Bundy style o' evil as opposed to say "MORE BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!" Trying to make sure he's thoroughly evil, but still have it not be surprising when he can walk down a busy street and not erupt into a murderous rampage, evil cackling, or be surrounded by nefarious shadows. :P

STR: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
DEX 18
CON: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
INT: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
WIS 8
CHA: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Ugh.... Ok.. I guess it's good we're going Vamp so the CON loss isn't bad in the long run...

So:

Anton Vitruvian, Bard (Human or Dhampir)

I'll flesh him out and fill in the alias.

EDIT: Maybe not Dhampir... -2 con would hurt even worse.