Hell Hath No Fury (Inactive)

Game Master The Morphling

Cheliax. Since the rise of House Thrune and the ascension of Queen Abrogail I to the throne 76 years ago with the signing of the Treaty of Egorian, the diabolists of that dark family have ruled with an iron fist, bolstered by the infernal might of Hell itself and the endorsement of the powerful church of Asmodeus. Few have sought to challenge the power it wields, but recent events in the eastern province of Isger have ignited the first sparks of revolution in the Infernal Empire. This sows the seeds of chaos in a nation obsessed with law and order, and House Thrune needs new agents to enforce its will and ensure that this inkling of insubordination is crushed as swiftly as it began. For five ambitious individuals in the town of Longacre, this marks the beginning of a meteoric rise to power and fortune should they succeed - or a hellish descent into disgrace and despair should they prove too weak to conquer their opposition.

I will be running a Play-by-Post game of Hell's Vengeance on the Paizo forums, and am looking to recruit four players. A fifth member has already been selected, playing a female Dhampir Unchained Rogue, an information broker and manipulator who plans to take the Sentinel of Asmodeus prestige class.

Since the Hell's Vengeance player's guide is not available yet (ETA February 24th), recruitment will remain open until at least then. I am looking for roleplayers who are able to handle playing an evil character in a mature fashion. This is no adventure path for heroes, ladies and gents. This time... you're the bad guys.

Character Creation:

• 1st level, 20 point buy
  
• Max HP for 1st level, half+1 for subsequent levels
  
• Paizo material only (no 3rd party)
  
• Races: Core races are encouraged. More exotic races are allowed, but I plan to select a party whose demographic matches that of Cheliax - so it's unlikely more than one member of an exotic race will be included (particularly since the party already includes a dhampir).
  
• Classes: If you play a summoner, you must use the Unchained Summoner version. All other classes are allowed - except Paladin. You may ignore any alignment restrictions for other classes - chaotic monks and lawful barbarians are fine by me.
  
• Alignment: Any non-good. Every character is going to need to be comfortable performing evil actions now and then.
  
• 150 gp to start
  
• 2 traits plus one campaign trait (to be chosen when the Player's Guide is released). No drawbacks allowed.

House Rules & Banned Content:
I have a number of house rules and banned character options I have listed here: The Morphling's Ban List & House Rules. Please check this list to ensure you don't plan on selecting any options I've listed as banned.

Homebrew Content:
I have a number of homebrew options that are available for characters in this campaign, if they interest you. Anything in this document is allowed for play.

What I'm looking for in this thread:
Feel free to post any questions you have, comments on the campaign, and ideas you have for your character or the campaign as a whole. When you're ready to submit your character, I would like to see a completed character sheet, a physical description of your character's appearance, a 2-3 paragraph backstory, and an example of roleplaying with your character. Please do not roleplay with other characters in this thread, as it tends to make the recruitment thread spiral out of control.

I am looking for active, long-term players - people willing to go the distance and stick with this campaign for the entire duration, which at PbP speed could take years. If possible, please provide examples of other, long-running PbP games you have participated in. This is not a mandatory requirement, but definitely stands to make your submission much more attractive.

I plan for recruitment to end at midnight, EST, on March 1st.

Huh. Lawful barbarians. How about a kind of...say..templar/bezerker who gets his rage on for Asmodeus?

Dotting this, very interested in this AP. Will see what I can whip up.

GM, you specify evil (or, more accurately, "non-good") for our characters. How dark a campaign are you comfortable running?

Traditionally, the posts will not let posting get too dark. Subjects like rape will likely lead to a ban, for example. Think Cobra from G.I.Joe: evil, yet cartoonish evil.

How dark it gets will certainly depend on what the players are comfortable with in the group, and is something I'll discuss with whichever players are accepted. "Cartoonish" is certainly not how I'd describe it. This is going to be a serious campaign, and the evil will be portrayed seriously.

With that said, rape and sexual violence are completely off the table, since I'm not comfortable with that kind of roleplay. Anything especially gruesome, like torture, will be handled "off screen." You can torture a prisoner for information, but we don't need a description of how you insert the thumbscrews.

THE COMFY CHAIR!

Edit, here is the first draft of Jediah Mountainstrong, templar and headcrusher for the church.

No one expects the Chelish Inquisition!

Your "rage for Asmodeus" idea is fine, MannyGoblin. Any way you want to flavor it. I've just never bought into the idea that bloodragers have no restrictions, but just because barbarians get angry they can't be lawful.

Presenting Amatsu Mi, a human veneficus witch; statblock, description, background and RP sample are in the profile.

Previous RP experience: I play Eirikr Thundersblood in this campaign, which has been going on since autumn last year.

I really like Amatsu Mi. She's an excellent example of the type of submission I'm hoping for.

Thank you! I've been looking forward to this AP since it was announced, so fingers crossed!

Paizo has posted an interesting blog post about this adventure path, which you can check out here if you're curious: Hell Ain't a Bad Place. It'll give you a little taste of what's in store for your characters...

Dotting my interest. I've had a prospective Sister of the Golden Erinyes sitting on my shelf for several years, and Hell's Vengeance seems like an excellent time to get her built up to scratch. Human, that much is certain, though I've still not quite decided on the class; Sacred Fist Warpriest is so far looking like the most likely candidate.

I'll get on with rolling her out once I'm no longer at work!~ (>.O)b

EDIT: Oh, wow. I am I reading this right: you're allowing Wordcasting? That could be super fun. Pencil me in for maybe trying something a little different if that's case, as I've also a sorceress that would gladly sell her soul to Wordcast.

Would an Urgathoan -with a cannibalistic tendancy-be allowed, or is it too grim??

I have an idea for a "Lawyer Wizard" thats "Lawful Evil"
With the "Infernal Binder" Conjuration school.
Ill see if i cant make the sheet, i need to find my notes.
That said i usually play neutral or evil characters that works with the party.

The basic idea is:
Human Infernal Binder Wizard.

10 Str
10 Dex
10 Con
18+2 Int
13 Wisdom
10 Charisma

2(wizard)+5(int)+1(human)+1(FCB)
Skills:
Profession: Lawyer
Profession: Accountant
Linguistics
Spellcraft
Sense motive (+trait to make it class skill)
Perception (+trait to make it class skill)
Knowledge: Local, Planar, Arcana

1:
Skillfocus: Proffession: Lawyer
Prodigy: Proffesssion: Lawyer, Accountant

Out of curiosity, how would everyone feel about a sorcerer of one of the four horsemen?

This sounds really interesting! I may come back with a character later. Plus, Wordcasting! My favorite subsystem! That's just great.

Dot!

I'm running a Hell's Rebels campaign on the boards, but I certainly want to be a player in a Hell's Vengeance one.

Huhuhuhu

intarrsting,

Almost tempted to bring back Dr. Logem, but I don't want to touch his profile... its too precious for me to alter.. XD

Hey DM - I'd be interested, need to talk an idea past you first though.

Are you familiar with Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch series?

I'm glad people are as excited by wordcasting as I am. It's such a fun subsystem. We can work together to settle some of the weird rules questions that pop up from it - they left a lot ambiguous when they made the system, but it's too cool an option to let that stop us.

Would an Urgathoan -with a cannibalistic tendancy-be allowed, or is it too grim??

We already have a blood-drinking Dhampir. Go for it! You might just need to fight her over who gets the tastiest enemies...

Out of curiosity, how would everyone feel about a sorcerer of one of the four horsemen?

Your GM loves the four horsemen. Can't hurt! :)

Hey DM - I'd be interested, need to talk an idea past you first though.

Are you familiar with Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch series?

I am not. What's it about?

Been wanting to get in this campaign since I first heard of it. Currently playing in a Hell's Rebels campaign as a son of the house of Thrune who worships Cayden Cailean. I want to play a similar concept, except as a son of the house of Thrune who follows the rest of his family in their attitude. Was thinking of going either Hellknight or Hellknight Signifier, not sure which one just yet.

...active, long-term players ... example of roleplaying with your character...

You're hitting all the right notes to make me very interested in such a game.

However, I know little to nothing about the campaign and I like to make my PCs very specific to the campaign. So let me gather some information and come up with something.

Do you know what the initial tie-in is for the PCs? What's their initial goal? How do they come together? Are we supposed to be in Longacre at the start?

Thanks for hosting.

Yeah, i would like some background too.
How would a "Magical lawyer/accountant" get into contact with he party.
As for roleplay things? I guess i could supply that in a private message.
Mind if i write up a character sheet this weekend and send over to you in private?
I was considering asmodeus, though i do like the prospect of soul stealing... might go for the horse men too... the death one.

Game Master wrote:

...active, long-term players ... example of roleplaying with your character...

You're hitting all the right notes to make me very interested in such a game.

However, I know little to nothing about the campaign and I like to make my PCs very specific to the campaign. So let me gather some information and come up with something.

Do you know what the initial tie-in is for the PCs? What's their initial goal? How do they come together? Are we supposed to be in Longacre at the start?

Thanks for hosting.

We'll need the Player's Guide to answer some of that I suspect.

Working on an Asmodean inquisitor.

Would the use of the Elven alternate racial trait "Fey Thoughts" from Heroes of the Wild be allowed?

Select two of the following skills: Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Fly, Knowledge (nature), Perception, Perform, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Swim, or Use Magic Device. The selected skills are always class skills for the character. This trait replaces racial weapon familiarity.

Does not caring about alignment restrictions include antipaladins? I could always just go Cavalier I suppose. Just thinking I want to be some kind of Dark Knight.

Do you know what the initial tie-in is for the PCs? What's their initial goal? How do they come together? Are we supposed to be in Longacre at the start?

The campaign begins with the entire party about to break into a local business and steal the money the owners have been withholding from the Archbaron's tax collectors. You all have some connection with your contact, a human woman named Cimri Staelish. You all begin in Longacre, but you don't need to have been permanent residents there.

Working on an Asmodean inquisitor.

Would the use of the Elven alternate racial trait "Fey Thoughts" from Heroes of the Wild be allowed?

Fey Thoughts wrote:

Select two of the following skills: Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Fly, Knowledge (nature), Perception, Perform, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Swim, or Use Magic Device. The selected skills are always class skills for the character. This trait replaces racial weapon familiarity.

Sure.

Does not caring about alignment restrictions include antipaladins? I could always just go Cavalier I suppose. Just thinking I want to be some kind of Dark Knight.

Antipaladins are allowed, but they do have to abide by the alignment restrictions. With that said, there's a new antipaladin archetype in Agents of Evil which allows you to be any evil alignment, so you can even be a Lawful Evil antipaladin now.

Yeah, i would like some background too.

How would a "Magical lawyer/accountant" get into contact with he party.
As for roleplay things? I guess i could supply that in a private message.
Mind if i write up a character sheet this weekend and send over to you in private?

Sure. Cimri has contacted individuals in town whom she thinks would be amenable to working with her mysterious patron, and has organized the break-in that marks the party's first assignment.

Nikolaus de'Shade wrote:

Hey DM - I'd be interested, need to talk an idea past you first though.

Are you familiar with Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch series?

I am not. What's it about?

There are 'others' who come in two flavours. 'Light' and 'Dark' - they are not inherently good and evil, the light and dark determines how they draw their powers. Light magicians can be evil and dark magicians can be good. The specific bit I'm interested in comes in the Day Watch book. The Light is winning to such an extent that the Twilight (the magical source of other's power) creates a Mirror. A neutral magician is turned Dark by the Twilight and made almost infinitely powerful for a short period of time in order to prevent the light stratagem and restore the balance of power.

I'd like to do something similar - play a N/LN being who has been sent to work with the others in order to redress the cosmic balance, which is becoming skewed too far towards good. The active kind of Neutral rather than the 'I shall never, ever do anything' Neutral.

The ideas I have to make this work are either a Fetchling - since shadows need both light and dark to exist. Or, and this is my favorite choice, to play an Inevitable. This would involve making a base race Inevitable to play but I'd be very interested in doing that with you Game Master, if you'd be up for it.

Dotting with a character that occurred to me last night that could be a good fit for this game. He'll be an emancipated slave halfling alchemist (vivisectionist). Haven't worked out why such a fellow would be working for Thrune, but I figure that will come to me as I flesh out the backstory in my head a bit more.

He'll play a bit on Victorian horror tropes, and will make a good flanking buddy for the rogue, as well as serve in a utility / knowledge guy capacity.

Dot for interest.

I'd like to do something similar - play a N/LN being who has been sent to work with the others in order to redress the cosmic balance, which is becoming skewed too far towards good. The active kind of Neutral rather than the 'I shall never, ever do anything' Neutral.

I can't say I'm too excited about this particular idea. I'd hate to lead you on and have you make an entire character for a concept I'm not likely to approve, so I'll let you know now that I'd rather see you submit something different. If you think a completed backstory and character will change my mind, go for it - I'll seriously consider every character submitted. On that note, if you do go for it, go Fetchling. I'm not interested in running a homebrew race.

The players in this campaign are not cosmic agents of fate or destined champions - you're a bunch of ambitious individuals who see a chance at power and fame and take it. I'd find a character with a personal stake in events much more believable than one who was sent to do evil just because there was too much good in the world.

Dotting with a character that occurred to me last night that could be a good fit for this game. He'll be an emancipated slave halfling alchemist (vivisectionist). Haven't worked out why such a fellow would be working for Thrune, but I figure that will come to me as I flesh out the backstory in my head a bit more.

He'll play a bit on Victorian horror tropes, and will make a good flanking buddy for the rogue, as well as serve in a utility / knowledge guy capacity.

Sounds awesome - can't wait to see more of this idea.

I will be writing up the following character idea:

Vance Magravi – a coachman – is tired of serving as a dispensable tool for various rich snobs, and decides to take an active approach to changing things up. When an opportunity presents itself (the start of the campaign—assumption) he takes it.

I'm not certain about much, but I am certain of this: He is half-chelaxian-half-scarzni, he is a coachman, he upholds the law stringently, and he has an unhealthy fascination with blood/gore/violence.

At this point I'm not even sure what class he is though, so I still have a good deal of work ahead of me.

Dotting for interest

I'm thinking of a Fiendish Vessel Cleric normally its a Tiefling only Archetype but would it be ok if I took human so it would fit better in the setting

Vance Magravi – a coachman – is tired of serving as a dispensable tool for various rich snobs, and decides to take an active approach to changing things up. When an opportunity presents itself (the start of the campaign—assumption) he takes it.

Something about this really appeals to me. I love it!

I'm thinking of a Fiendish Vessel Cleric normally its a Tiefling only Archetype but would it be ok if I took human so it would fit better in the setting

You can take that archetype as a human if you like, but tieflings are quite common in Cheliax compared to the rest of the world. If you'd rather be a tiefling, go for that.

@GM - what about Skinwalkers?

[

Brandon Dellmen wrote:

I'm thinking of a Fiendish Vessel Cleric normally its a Tiefling only Archetype but would it be ok if I took human so it would fit better in the setting

You can take that archetype as a human if you like, but tieflings are quite common in Cheliax compared to the rest of the world. If you'd rather be a tiefling, go for that.

Cool I should have him written up by the end of the day

@GM - what about Skinwalkers?

They're cool - go for it. They can pass for human easily enough too, so they'd fit in.

Haha, with this many interesting people i doubt ill even stand out enough to get a slot. lol
Anyway, best of luck to people trying to have fun in this game.
I usually only apply to games with a small number of people applying.

I'm interested, especially if Fabian is.

I have some ideas, but I think I really want to wait for the Players Guide to come out before I put major brainpower into this.

Hmmmmm, I think I'll throw in my hat as well with a Asmodean cleric. Stats to follow...

Yeah, I'm also waiting for the Players Guide to really finalize things - I wanted to give everyone as much time as possible to brainstorm and come up with character concepts, but I'll make sure everyone has time to read the Guide and incorporate it into their characters if desired before closing recruitment.

Just want to confirm your stance on black-powder weapons GM. My first thought when I heard of this AP was for a Tiefling Gunslinger (Pistelero) and between the recent article mentioning it's western-esque theme and the opening scene being a bank robbery, I'm becoming more attached to the idea. So I'd like to make sure building the PC is worth it first.

Working on a devilborn tiefling unchained summoner, should have her completed sometime tonight or tomorrow to formally submit.

Firearms are fine. This campaign uses the Emerging Guns and Early Firearms rules. Firearms made for creatures of size Large or larger are unavailable.

Hmmm, I am not a big fan of the non-chaotic evil Antipaladin archetype, it loses spells for one.

Perhaps I will make a Dune Drifter Cavalier, something of a western dark knight.

Chaotic Evil is an allowed alignment, if you wish.

Presenting Rogors Prezira, Cleric of Asmodeus, for your consideration. I'm relatively new to PbP, the other character I have going is Wilhelm Alcontara in an active Hell's Rebels campaign. I think it would be fun to come at Cheliax from both sides, as it were. While I'm relatively new to PbP I've been playing and GM-ing Pathfinder face to face for many years.

Thanks for the consideration, and I'll be keeping tabs on this recruitment and will update a bit more when the player's guide is out :D

Are you OK with Changlelings? I'd be looking at using the Ash Hag parentage trait from the recent Cheliax, the Infernal Empire book.

She'd be a Shaman using the Flame Spirit.

She'd be an Isgeri native whose hag mother used to large number of orphans of the Goblinblood Wars to hide her daughter in. She did not count on the child being raised by the Sisters of Golden Erinyes and the discipline that would be drilled into her.
While the sisters did not convert the child to Asmodeus and she had no skill for their brand of martial art they did teach her the mental fortitude associated with it. The sole reason the child did not convert to Asmodeus is that she has had other beings speaking to her since her early childhood. Beings of warmth, light, purity and remorseless destruction. To her Asmodeus is nothing but a powerful fire spirit who has many lesser fire spirits in his employ. As such she appreciates him and honors him but does not actually worship him and he's not the only one for she honors all fire spirits, big and small (basically all deities with the Fire domain are included in her prayers as well as many non-divine beings of fire).
She would have come to Cheliax to get away from her mother's Calling. Not because she feels attracted by it, the nuns' teachings and her fiery companions make resisting the Call relatively easy, but because it's an annoyance that distracts her.

She would be lawful evil, being very disciplined but also cruel and somewhat sadistic. She'd delight in setting things on fire, preferably things she never set alight before, and watch how they burn and what the fire does to them. She is however smart enough to know that going around burning everything is stupid and as such she carefully selects her targets or even works as an arsonist for hire. She'd frequent temples and shrines to Asmodeus and other devils simply because they feel like home to her.