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Here is Siobhan's fluff side (spoilered to make reading easier). This is also in the profile - which has been updated to Mesmerist. :) I've tried to include as many of the characters already offered as I could, hopefully no-one minds! If you do I'm happy to change things. Additionally, since Nilonim took the spot of youngest sibling I've made Siobhan the oldest, which fits quite well with her personality I think.
@Black Dow: do tell me what you think of how I included Hurkkagg - again happy to change things if you don't like them. :)
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Appearance
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Siobhan does not look like a typical drow. She has the dark skin and trademark purple eyes but from the moment of her birth she had raven black hair and two vivid red birthmarks, one on either hand. Her physical imperfections were exacerbated by the blood rituals performed by their mother, which left Siobhan, who as the oldest child was usually the focus point of the rituals, physically wasted for days afterwards. This has left Siobhan short for a drow female, many of her brothers are taller and weightier than her, although as she has grown she gradually lost the painful thinness of her childhood.
Now fully grown Siobhan has a physically pleasing form, although her beauty comes more from her face, mannerisms and general allure rather than her body. Still too slender for most drow, she has learned how to dress in order to maximize her charms, hinting at rather than flaunting her physical attributes as she knows that mystery can be far more attractive than simple looks.
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Personality
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Siobhan lacks any martial inclination or skill, preferring to leave such matters to her siblings and her bodyguard. She prefers to achieve her goals through subtlety and manipulation. A natural leader and cautious schemer she prefers to take her vengeance slowly, using surrogates or pawns wherever possible to shield herself and her siblings from repercussions.
For a drow Siobhan is remarkably loyal to her family, taking to heart her mother’s barely remembered advice that ‘you must always trust your siblings, protect them and they will protect you in turn’. Unable to defend them physically as an older sister should she instead seeks to defend them from the more insidious dangers of drow life.
Siobhan prefers to avoid direct confrontation wherever possible, both out of a distaste physical pain and a pragmatic understanding that those are not her strengths. She believes that revenge taken through another’s hands is just as good as revenge taken through ones own and acts accordingly. She is also, somewhat surprisingly in a drow, a stickler for rules and etiquette – seeing in them another set of protections by which the physically strong can be restrained without the need for violence.
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Background
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Siobhan was the first-born of House Vytharia, a positive sign in female dominated drow society. However, as with many of her siblings Siobhan failed to match up the norms of the rigid world into which she was born. Raven haired, rather than the typical white and with significant birthmarks on the back of both hands it was clear to the sibling’s mother that Siobhan was deeply marked by the families Abyssal patron. As such, and being the oldest child, Siobhan was at the centre of the blood rituals which bind the siblings and they took perhaps the greatest toll on her.
Siobhan grew up physically weaker than her siblings, being prone to illness and by drow standards physically inept. However the touch of the families demonic patron was strong and Siobhan developed into a born leader. While not as intelligent as some of her siblings she had a natural (or unnatural) charisma as well as a keen eye for details and flaws in a plan. Whilst her siblings were usually the ones performing whatever heist the group had concocted, especially her ever-reliable brother Arcavic, Siobhan would be the heistmaster, often taking the role of distraction upon herself, using her charms to draw attention from her brothers and sisters. In return she was forced to rely heavily on them when it came to training with weapons and physical skills. Weaker since birth than most drow Siobhan was almost comically incapable with most weaponry and suffered a number of truly humiliating beatings, being saved from death more than once by the intervention of her brothers and sisters, who conspired to ensure that Siobhan’s opponents never really took advantage of her inabilities, even under the cruel eye of their weapons-master.
As she grew older Siobhan developed into a true drow beauty. Her raven hair made her something of a rarity and she used every trick she knew to heighten her allure. The Baroness Satha, seeking to ‘recoup her investment’ in the children, arranged for Siobhan to serve a term at the city’s most reputable pleasure-house, simultaneously paying off a debt to the owner and, she hoped, humbling Siobhan in the process. At the same time she sent some of the other siblings away, ostensibly for ‘the benefit of their education’ but really to weaken the mystical bonds between them and leave each sibling isolated, alone and friendless. Instead Siobhan found her true calling.
At Pain’s Kiss Siobhan quickly realised that her looks, and nautral charm – formerly great advantages to her, posed a significant risk. The jaded clients took delight in anything new that they could sample and Siobhan’s looks, and connection to the Baroness, made her an attractive target. Forced to develop her burgeoning psychic talent Siobhan became a consummate liar and pleaser, capable of leaving a client fully ‘satisfied’ and certain of a fulfilling amorous encounter without ever removing her own clothes. This skill brought her to the attention of the Mistress of Pain’s Kiss, who took an interest in her new worker. With her help Siobhan learned to hone her natural talents, how to listen as well as speak and how to melt the will of others through the power of personality alone. One of the most important lessons Siobhan learned was on the nature of pleasure, its close cousin pain and how both could come in so many more forms than the crude lusts of the flesh.
Parted from her siblings and the protection she had always relied on Siobhan cast around for allies and found a suitable replacement in the form of a young Bugbear, recently purchased for Pain’s Kiss. When she first touched him and the brands on her hand appeared on the beast’s forehead, Siobhan knew that Hurkkagg was an ally sent by the Abyss itself. The negotiations with the Mistress of Pain’s Kiss were protracted and Siobhan never speaks of exactly what Hurkkagg’s price was but by the time her term was up she left Pain’s Kiss, a more wily and seductive being than when she entered, as well as possessing a loyal bodyguard, whose strengths complemented hers perfectly.
When she returned, Siobhan found that Lady Satha had taken advantage of the siblings weakened state and several of her brothers and sisters were suffering torments even worse than those they had faced before. Nilonim especially, was drastically changed from the drow he had been when she left. Gathering her siblings, they all agreed that ruthlessness was required and, while Arcavic seduced his way into the baroness’s armory, T'unavor brewed steadily more lethal and humiliating poisons and Vierdra attempted to find the location of their missing brother, Siobhan unleashed Harkkagg. Challenging the other children of the Baroness’s household to defeat her ‘dumb-beast’ Siobhan watched in glee as Harkkagg demolished his challengers, leaving them open to ridicule from their peers and vulnerable to crushing humiliations which Siobhan held over their heads as guarantees of future good behaviour, emotional pain proving much longer-lasting and harder to heal than physical injury.
The Vytharia siblings, and accompanying Bugbear, were just rebuilding into a strong position within House Satha when they were summoned by the Baroness. Siobhan knows that their guardian is no fool, and suspects that this task is an excuse to remove them before they become too strong. But in every task lies opportunity and Siobhan knows the desires which lie in her siblings hearts because they match her own: gain power… take vengeance… rule.
Dotting for interest.
OK, my first draft of the background is completed for Sh'assaria (cleric of the as-yet-unnamed Patron) and is in the spoiler below. Alias plus crunch should be done this weekend.
A few questions:
1. What languages do we start with? Drow only? Drow plus Undercommon? Drow Sign Language?
2. Looks like we're using quite a lot of material from Pathfinder Unchained - are you planning to use the Unchained poison rules?
3. Does the Patron have a favoured weapon?
4. If I take the Stolen Treasure trait, can I spend it on a wand of Infernal Healing? Or would you prefer non-magical items only?
Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind.
1. Sh'assaria is neither the oldest nor the youngest of her siblings, but she's most likely the one who makes the greatest effort to keep on good terms with them all. She endeavours to be good company for them, either talking or listening as needed; something that goes beyond the typical drow way of only being nice when she wants something from them.
2. In truth it is a little more complicated than that: being attuned from an early age to the supernatural, Sh'assaria understood something of the ritual their mother used to bind them together and has realised that her siblings are with her for the long haul. It's therefore worth putting the effort in to keep everyone onside.
3. This practical expediency is a key part of Sh'assaria's character: she is willing to do something with no immediate payoff if the long term gain is worth it. This makes her a little less chaotic than most drow - but only a little.
4. Another key part of her character is her insight into the supernatural: something which comes from her observations of the world around her, rather than from books. She was quickly accepted into the priesthood at Vothys, where her ability, her obvious connection to the dark Patron and her natural charm have moved her swiftly up the ladder. If tragedy has befallen those in her way - well, sometimes misfortune doesn't just strike; it has to be aimed; the drow of all people understand that . The Azathyr is no place for those troubled with scruples.
5. Sh'assaria has just recently realised that she has advanced as far as she can: she may have the High Priest's favour, but she doesn't have that of the Baroness (whom she refers to as 'Auntie'). Without that, no further promotions or rewards will come her way. The time has come to either leave Vothys, or - preferably - take it over.
List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
Sh'assaria would dearly love to be the one who wields the sacrificial knife that consigns Auntie's soul to the Abyss. If she can take over the High Priest's position too, then so much the better.
In-game, I would like to see how a group of mostly CE drow can cooperate and prosper.
List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves her but that she is not actually aware of yet.
Everyone tends to assume that Sh'assaria won the High Priest's favour due to her ability; but it's actually the other way around (at least in part). Her affair with him is over - mostly - but it was useful. As Sh'assaria views it, she obviously had something he wanted; and he had a wealth of knowledge about demons and the Abyss that she needed if she was to get anywhere. For her, it was transactional. The secrecy was necessary because the High Priest is also the consort of the Baroness, who would have everyone involved - including witnesses and relatives - killed if she ever discovered the matter. (Sh'assaria has enough self awareness to realise that taking something of Auntie's was part of the attraction.)
What Sh'assaria does NOT know is that - against his better judgement - the High Priest has become infatuated with her. Whether this means that he would help her betray the Baroness, or whether it simply means that he wants to sacrifice Sh'assaria herself in some dark, secretive, rite, is unclear - possibly even to him.
Describe any NPCs that are tied to the character.
Drovic Noctier - High Priest in Vothys, and consort to the Baroness. Sh'assaria is his protégée - and sometime lover, although nobody else knows this. He has taught her a great deal about the nature of the Abyss and the demons that dwell there; from observing him, Sh'assaria has also learned the value of discretion and biding your time. The lesson of playing the long game may be the most valuable thing she ever learns.
Lady Satha, Baroness of Vothys - Sh'assaria has done her best to curry favour with the Baroness, to no avail. Perhaps Lady Satha has heard that Sh'assaria refers to her as 'Auntie' behind her back, and hasn't appreciated the endearment. Regardless, it's clear that if Sh'assaria is to progress any further, Lady Satha has to go.
Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavour.
1. Sh'assaria doesn't flaunt her good looks, instead dressing modestly (by drow standards). That said, she dresses well, and frequently laments the fact that Vothys never has the latest fashions. Her dearest ambition is to ransack Auntie's wardrobe - once the Baroness has been safely put out of Sh'assaria's misery, of course.
2. Sh'assaria speaks of their mother in the present tense, as if she is still in contact and watching over them. Whether because of this, or some deeper reason, Sh'assaria will not, under any circumstances, harm her siblings (even by inaction); and she will lie to them only if necessary to protect herself. She does not expect the same courtesy from them; and she most emphatically does not offer it to anyone else.
3. She addresses her superiors with due respect for their titles, but equals and inferiors tend to be addressed as 'darling'. It's a verbal tic; it doesn't mean that they are friends.
PLEASE NOTE: I am making the following changes to the recruitment post.
1) Being CE is no longer a requirement. Your drow can be any type of evil, as long as they pledge fealty to the demonic patron your party will create.
2) The recruitment deadline is being extended until midnight EST, 11/27. I know that's a large extension, but a number of players have requested more time and I would like to wait until after a busy Thanksgiving weekend to get the game off the ground.
@Darkness Rising: 1) Drow begin play with Elven and Undercommon.
2) We can use the Unchained Poison rules, if people like them. I have no opinion one way or the other.
3) The Patron's favored weapon will be decided when it's created.
4) Stolen Treasure allows for magic items.
How do you feel about adapting traits / feats / boons (from defic/demonic obedience) from other dieties? Can we chose what fits our character the best, are we left without or is that to be determined after we start? Personally I really like to have such options to plan for, but it'll be hard to make my character in such a way that it'll take advantage of it if they are chosen at some later time.
More important than the above is our direct class abilities though. I'm thinking to play a cleric and a cleric get one or two domains. Can we pick domain (that could fit) and have it be included for the patrons, or do we have to wait until after the game starts for that as well? Also, variant channeling, I kinda want to pick the rulership option, would you allow that without knowing exactly what the patron will be like?
The options for summon evil monster + sacred summons are somewhat limited. Would you mind expanding them? Alternatively, combining them into one feat would make things easier.
Personally I would greatly prefer it if the majority of the party is still chaotic evil. Being another alignment is best as an outlier imho. That'll more closely align with the normal feel of drow.
Gah, just realized there were someone else going for a summoning focused cleric with a dash of channeling. Might be better to go with something more unique. Is all of path of war on the table? This party could use a warlord.
Another thought... Maybe I can combine the two, both an initiator and a cleric and take VMC cavalier with order of the star then go into the path of war PrC Battle Templar. That'll make me sufficiently different (probably start off with 4 levels of cleric though). Might have to drop the summoning focus though as I won't have any feats left to play with. I'm also thinking of the following trait:
Dominatrix
You were trained to lead with the force of your personality and to crush those who opposed you under your heel: +2 str +2 cha -2 con (or int perhaps?).
Gah, I can't stop thinking of things I want. The feat Desna's Shooting Star (Listed here as way of the shooting star), normally require you to be chaotic good, would you allow it for chaotic evil? It doesn't actually require you to worship a specific diety. Then I can just go with the normal drow ability scores.
Going with Hurk'kagg as a Barbarian (Fearsome Defender) - fits very well in the role he's fashioning as Siobhan's bodyguard and drow attack dog in general. He was originally a Slayer but drawing from Siobhan's background it suggests Hurk'kagg has been used as an enforcer and protector - which fit my revised class choice.
Additionally Arcavic offers a surgical cut to the blunt force trauma the bugbear will bring :)
@GMRobo: Won't play him as a frothing berserker, rather a menacing brute capable of savage violence against his foes/victims. If lucky enough to be selected I can promise the hairy murderer will provide a fun dynamic to the group. I'm interested to hear what you (and my fellow prospectives think?)
On the alignment front - My 2 runes worth: While I think broader evil provides more choice, I do think that it would be important for Lawful and Neutral Evil characters to role-play that philosophical difference. Drow (and Bugbears) are inherently Chaotic Evil so other siblings who develop an alternate philosophy should be marked (read arrogant) in why they have developed this world view and why (in their eyes) it is superior.
Working on my drow with the GM. Very exciting prospects!
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Going with Hurk'kagg as a Barbarian (Fearsome Defender) - fits very well in the role he's fashioning as Siobhan's bodyguard and drow attack dog in general. He was originally a Slayer but drawing from Siobhan's background it suggests Hurk'kagg has been used as an enforcer and protector - which fit my revised class choice.
Additionally Arcavic offers a surgical cut to the blunt force trauma the bugbear will bring :)
@GMRobo: Won't play him as a frothing berserker, rather a menacing brute capable of savage violence against his foes/victims. If lucky enough to be selected I can promise the hairy murderer will provide a fun dynamic to the group. I'm interested to hear what you (and my fellow prospectives think?)
On the alignment front - My 2 runes worth: While I think broader evil provides more choice, I do think that it would be important for Lawful and Neutral Evil characters to role-play that philosophical difference. Drow (and Bugbears) are inherently Chaotic Evil so other siblings who develop an alternate philosophy should be marked (read arrogant) in why they have developed this world view and why (in their eyes) it is superior.
I'm all in favour of Hurk'kagg and his new build. Attack dogs are so much fun when they work for you... What a shame I can't permanently brand you with my oracle curse... Here's to hoping we both make it in!
Alignment - As CE is very much the standard I agree that departures will have to be played well. Honestly given the circumstances of this campaign we're all Chaotic anyway, what with the blood rituals and so forth. I see the value from a character build POV but equally I'd be happy to play a game where we are all evil first and law/chaos later, if ever. Besides are we chaotic if we create the laws ad then enforce them? Guess it depends on eventual composition really. :)
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@ Siobhan - I'm totally cool for previous relationships and linking how siblings react to one another before the game. I liked the add-on and approve of it.
@ Hurk'kagg - Looks awesome! I was hoping for a good frontline to work around and if you and the antipaladin get brought in, then it will be magnificent...if I'm accepted as well of course.
I'm super excited for this and look forward to seeing who gets into the game!
I think in general, as a group of Drow it would be better if we were all on the same page as far as alignment, though a druid would make that tough but I am sure someone could make that work.
Still thinking through a good concept. I had an Oracle of the dark tapestry as well in mind but am going to scrap that since one has already been built.
Chaotic Evil would be an interesting alignment to potentially play...never tried it before.
About Drow and CE/other evil alignments:
It never made much sense to me that they were Chaotic. Their society is rather structured, what with houses holding power in a ranked system. While there is often shifts in power, its usually due to a measured, calculated, often incredibly long term plan.
Personally, I always viewed them as Neutral Evil, as they definitely personify the selfish aspect of that alignment.
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I tend to agree on the CE alignment, both in that CE is very much the default for drow so departures should be role-played well; and in that drow society doesn't 'look' very Chaotic.
But - what if drow society was set up that way precisely because drow are basically Chaotic? In other words, realising that their innate tendency is towards hedonism (do it right now and worry about consequences later - if at all), maybe the whole point of the houses and ranking system is to hold that basic nature in check and force the drow to be a bit more calculating in how they go about things?
Just a thought, and I realise this has potential to go waaaay off-topic for a recruitment thread.
So, bringing it back to character creation: my character will be CE, but with a high Wisdom score that makes her more aware of the benefits of long-term planning and so on. She therefore stops and thinks before going with her immediate instincts. Her role is to be the 'sensible' sibling (OK, for a given CE value of 'sensible') - listened to not because she's the oldest, or the smartest, or the biggest, or the most attractive; but because she has things you might want to hear if you intend to carry on living.
To that end, she has tried to put up with the Baroness ("Auntie") and curry favour with her, rather than being antagonistic; and will have tried to encourage others to do the same - probably with little to no success, but she'll have stuck around to pick up the pieces afterwards (with minimal lecturing). Her healing magic has patched more than one of them up on more than one occasion after the Baroness' thugs/sons got over-enthusiastic.
Really liking the Siobhan/Hurk'kagg interactions, BTW! I can't decide whether Sh'assaria would be likely to consider Hurk'kagg as an honorary sibling or not - I suspect not, sorry... he may have to settle for "most favoured slave" status :)
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Still thinking through a good concept. I had an Oracle of the dark tapestry as well in mind but am going to scrap that since one has already been built.
I'd like to keep VMC Oracle since the curse is a fairly integral part of the character but I'm willing to change Mystery if that helps. Also, since I'm only VMC I won't actually be casting any oracle spells and I'm planning on only taking revelations that help me (Cloak of Darkness, Wings of Darkness etc) so don't not apply with it just because I'm submitting too. Siobhan is a mesmerist now!
re. Alignment: that's an interesting point about why drow society is so structured. Like Darkness Rising I'm having the problem that Siobhan is much more the scheming sort (Sh'assaria should totally be the second oldest btw - sensible girls at the top keeping everyone else in check!) and she actively appreciates rules like etiquette since they stop unchecked violence, which she can't handle well. If we house-ruled everyone to NE I'd be fine with it, but still think we need to keep everyone to the same alignment as much as possible - Hurk'kagg could be an exception (CE vs. NE for example) but for the siblings I think anyone of a different alignment would have to have excellent reasons why.
The argument against drow society being structured thusly is because even the people at the top, enforcing the laws and therefore above them, don't just ignore them entirely as one would expect chaotic beings to do - they might bend them, or obey them as long as it suits them but I'd say that's more a NE or even LE attitude than a CE one.
Fundamentally I think if everyone builds to whatever alignment they want/have to for mechanics and then whoever is picked can make it gel afterwards - if that meant a group migration to NE or sticking at CE with the 'wierdo' sibling somewhere else on the alignment chart then it doesn't matter too much in the long run.
@Darkness Rising: Heh. No worries on Hurk'kagg not being accepted - (rightly so); as you touched on he'll be viewed as a favoured slave and nothing more at best, and an expendable one at that lol.
Agree that the alignment/dynamics of the group probably best served once we have the final grouping nailed down.
You are good Si, now thinking of a Drow Ninja to fill the gap of scout & Assassin.
I don't really like the concept of a Ninja per se, but I do like the mix of Ki abilities replicating spells. I plan to use them/describe them more as Spell Like abilities and consider him more of a Assassin. I think that fits in well with the idea of how magically innate Drow are.
Will post up a character concept but figure he is going to be the "runt" of the litter. Considered the lowest rank in the family as far as power, he developed his abilities to stay out of the way and remain hidden.
Frequently abused by other Drow in general he developed a penchant for poison and a strong desire to kill others. He has a fairly strong sense of family, but other than that all others can die...and die slowly.
As far as Drow society goes. Order only happens because of power and fear. The strongest houses rule because the other houses fear to face them and be wiped out. As with Demons they rule with power. The different with Drow is is more plotting and scheming to reflect their nature vs. brute force.
@oyzar: Lots to sift through here. My apologies if I miss something.
1) I'd be open to adapting faith-based options to fit the patron. You're not playing in Golarion, so there aren't any specific deities that would lay claim to specific things.
2) The patron will have five domains, so I think we can definitely work to make the patron fit the cleric in this case. Pick what you want and I think it will all work itself out.
3) Path of War is available.
4) Dominatrix looks fine.
5) Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like the Shooting Star feat has optional prerequisites.
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As far as alignment goes, I anticipate that the majority of PCs will be CE. I think it's the most appropriate alignment for a party of drow. I just wanted to give a few players the option to explore some other alignment-restricted options.
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he'll be viewed as a favoured slave and nothing more at best, and an expendable one at that lol.
Hey now, good slaves are hard to replace - and you will be a good slave, won't you? ;-)
@GM Robogeisha: I take it that the Demonic Apostle archetype will work with the Patron, even if the Patron isn't a demon?
As for Domain, I'd like at least one of Chaos and Evil (Demon subdomain) to be in the mix.
Be good to hear what people think a drow Patron would have as their favoured weapon. Spiked chain? Sacrificial knife? Repeating crossbow?
The optional requirements just means there is another way to get it rather than spending a feat. Desna's Shooting Star can normally be gotten in the following ways:
1) Any chaotic good character can pick it instead as a feat
2) A cleric, warpriest or inquisitor of Desna can pick it instead of a first level domain power or minor blessing
3) A chaotic good bard can pick it instead of versatile performance.
The question is if I can use chaotic evil instead of chaotic good to qualify for #1.
My preferences for weapon are largely influenced by what I think it would be the most fun to play with for a wide variety of us.
1) Fauchard - An awesome weapon that rarely see use due to its exotic status. Note that a small faunchard can be wielded onehanded, making this more versatile than it seems. Sadly not usable for finesse builds.
2) Estoc - Another cool and often neglected weapon. It's usable by a wide variety of different styles (great for 1h or finesse builds, ok for 2h builds). Basically a longer rapier with a few upsides. Rapier is on the list of weapons drow are automatically proficient with, perhaps the patron decided to one up the tradition?
3) Bastard Sword - Who haven't wished to play a character like Amri, wielding a huge bastard sword? That's great for 2h builds. It's obviously quite good for 1h builds and at least it's possible to use for finesse builds with effortless lace.
4) Elven Curved Blade - Drow is a kind of elf and this works for both finesse and str based builds as long as they are willing to use both hands.
5) Tongi - Did you know about this weapon before today? It's described as an axe, but with 4 spikes instead of a half-moon blade. I think that can be wicked and cool.
6) Urumi- Is it a whip? Is it a sword? Sadly not as versatile as the other options, but it's cool.
Spiked chain and whip are quite fitting flavorwise, but I fear that we won't actually get to use them due to their sub-par stats. If we don't get to play with the weapons, we won't get much out of it. But if we select something multiple people will use then we'll probably work quite a bit at creating flavor for it. Now if we could use 3,5 spiked chains I would be all over them. Would that be possible?
Evil and chaotic are kinda guaranteed. I think you have to select the domains matching your alignment. This gives me the cool idea of using domain strike twice along with combat stamina. Though Madness would probably be even better for that. Is combat stamina allowed? I guess I won't be able to qualify for that until crazy high level though since VMC is eating up half my feats and the PrC requires another two (unless I'm allowed to skip those and/or combat stamina is free?).
You are good Si, now thinking of a Drow Ninja to fill the gap of scout & Assassin.
I don't really like the concept of a Ninja per se, but I do like the mix of Ki abilities replicating spells. I plan to use them/describe them more as Spell Like abilities and consider him more of a Assassin. I think that fits in well with the idea of how magically innate Drow are.Will post up a character concept but figure he is going to be the "runt" of the litter. Considered the lowest rank in the family as far as power, he developed his abilities to stay out of the way and remain hidden.
Frequently abused by other Drow in general he developed a penchant for poison and a strong desire to kill others. He has a fairly strong sense of family, but other than that all others can die...and die slowly.
As far as Drow society goes. Order only happens because of power and fear. The strongest houses rule because the other houses fear to face them and be wiped out. As with Demons they rule with power. The different with Drow is is more plotting and scheming to reflect their nature vs. brute force.
GM Robo, I just realized that Ninja was one of the classes you said was out. Was there a specific reason? Was it just a flavor thing?
I also don't like the theme but I was thinking he is an assassin with spell-like abilities but the underlying class balance is based upon the Ninja. Of course if you just don't like their balance or something else I will figure out something different, I can fairly easily adapt a Rogue in some manner.
DM Stephen, I've been designing an Eldritch Scoundrel with the idea of taking ninja tricks. Add in the spellcasting and I found it can do a good job of replicating the mystic assassin type.
I'm probably going in another direction with my submission, so don't worry about being too similar to my submission. It is a fun archetype and I think you can do what you're aiming for with it.
I feel that drow is probably the culture that fits best for the ninja after Asian. Of course it might just be because I'm a fan of the Red Sister stories (warning, very mature content, it makes game of throne seem child-like by comparison). There she's member of something like a guild of female fighters/assassins and I feel like ninja is probably the best fit for it.
Yeah I definitely didn't think the Asian theme fit but was going as it from the angle I mentioned above. But I will of course go in a different direction if needed.
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Personally I like the xbow as a favoured weapon, but I probably shouldn't vote since I have no intention of ever using a weapon! :)
Given the builds so far and the natural inclinations of the drow I think the favoured weapon would have to be something that can be finessed - the estoc could be fun then.
Hi DM! PM'd you about my char ;)
Few questions:
Is there any sort of timeline of events? Around how old were we when we were forced to flee? How long have we been in exile for?
Regarding our patron's favorite weapon, this seems like the perfect opportunity to use the Weaponmaster Handbook's custom weapon creation rules.
Favoured Weapon: Hurk'kagg.
Nuff said ;)
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"Favored weapon? You had it for breakfast this morning. Three... two.." *thud*. "There we go, right on schedule."
So... I'm having some issues with the mechanics. In particular, the spider summoning bit: Summon Monster is a 1-round casting time with 1 round/level duration; it's not really useful at first level.
I'm therefore thinking of keeping the background and the character the same, but switching from Cleric (Demonic Apostle) to Inquisitor (Monster Tactician). Still a high-Wis divine caster, still a priestess, just a change in the eventual crunch (which I'm still working on).
I have to admit, the idea of giving summoned fiendish spiders teamwork feats fills me with an almost unholy level of glee.
Hope my proposed switch doesn't trample over anyone else's concept.
I actually have another idea, but it would work best if Hurk'Kagg also gets in.
The character would be a Spirit Binder wizard or a Spiritualist whose bound soul is that of her identical twin sister (as part of the septuplet whole).
The reason it would work best with Hurk'Kagg around is that he would take the space of one sibling in the player roster and my character would then explain how that spot ended up free.
The idea is that that one sibling perished due to natural causes (illness most likely) after all the rituals were in place. Due to a combination of those rituals and the strong bond between the twins that soul stayed connected to my character.
EDIT: Without Hur'Kagg the phantom/familiar would probably host the spirit of their mother.
EDIT2: There actually is a nice guide for Chaotic Evil on giant in the playground if anyone is interested. It's found here
will illusions be a problem (im thinking of making an illusionist).
just wondering if a ton of stuff has senses that can defeat illusions.
@Cu'an: For a real nasty dark edge you could go with your sibling perishing in-utero (vanishing twin/fetal resorption?) - you still carry an echo of her spirit within/with you?
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I thought about that. My idea was actually to have the twin be a stillborn, my character clenching the tiny body of her dead sister tightly to her chest.
Reason I put it like this is the part with the ritual and the curse being placed on seven siblings. Now it could be placed on six but that loses the symbolic nature of the number.
Could work around that though if the first ritual took place before birth.
Ralya is the second-to-youngest sister of the seven. Since birth, she’s feared being lost in the pack. To stack her ambitions against her elder siblings, she’s thrown herself into devout worship of their patron, first to please their mother, then to satisfy the patron themselves, Ralya hoping to wield power in their name if not her own. She’s swift with their favoured curved blade, and a beautiful channel for their diving might, as deadly a Priestess as they could wish for - though her endless hours contemplating the power of the Demonic Might of the Abyss and the meaning of the Power of Seven has driven her more than a little mad, madness that has only eased the path of their divine power into her body.
Tags: Demons and the Might of the Abyss, Power of the Seven (assumed to be related to madness).
Ralya
Medium Chaotic Evil Drow Patron Cleric 1
Age 141, Height 5’9”, Weight 135lbs, Languages Undercommon, Sakvroth, Common, Abyssal
Superior Darkvision 120ft
STR8, DEX16, CON12, INT8, WIS17, CHA18
Saves
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Reflex +3 = +0 Base + 3 Dex
Fortitude +5 = +2 Base + 0 Con
Will +5 = +2 Base + 3 Wis
Light Sensitivity (racial): Dazzled in areas of bright sunlight
Attacks
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Base Attack Bonus +0
Touch, Attack: 1d20-1
Rapier/Elven Curved Blade: Attack: 1d20-1 (-1 STR + 0BAB), Damage: 1d6-1)
Cat ‘o Nine Tails ‘Slaver’s whip’, Attack: 1d20-1, Damage 1d4-1, disarm, nonlethal
Hand Crossbow: 1d20+3, 1d4, 19-20/x2
Initiative +3 (+3 Dex)
Speed 20' (30’ unarmoured), Stalker: No difficulty navigating underground, Nimble Moves as bonus feat (move 5ft through difficult terrain as if it were not)
CMB -1 (0 BAB - 1 STR)
Channel Negative Energy 1d6, 30ft radius, DC14 save halves, 7/day
Madness Domain: Vision of Madness, Melee Touch, Duration 3 rounds. Target gains +1 to one of attack rolls, saving throws or skill checks and -1 to the other two. 6/day
Chaos Domain: Touch of Chaos, Melee Touch, Duration 1 round. Target must roll twice whenever they roll d20 and take the worst result. 6/day
Defenses
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HP: 8hp
AC: 18 = 10 + 4 Armor + 3 DEX + 1 Shield
Defensive Training: +4AC vs. aberrations
Touch: 13 Flat-footed: 15
CMD 12 = 10 + 0 BAB - 1 STR + 3 DEX
Skills
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Favored Class: Cleric (+0.5*level/day additional use of domain power)
Skill points/level: 3
Heal +7 (+1+3+3), Sense Motive +7 (+1+3+3), Diplomacy +1 (+1+3+4), Perception +3 (+0+0+3),
Background Skill points/level 3
Knowledge (Religion) +4 (+1+3-1), Linguistics +2 (+1+3-1)
Traits:
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Devotee of a Dark Power, Terrifying (+1 Intimidate, +1DC of Fear Spells), Religion (Flames of Hell) +1DC channel energy
Feats:
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Selective Channeling (exclude up-to 4 from channel energy)
Equipment
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Hide Armor, Rapier, Slaver’s Whip (Cat o’ Nine Tails), Hand Crossbow
OK, Sh'assaria is now ready and willing to make one sacrifice after another in the cause of her dark Patron and her own ambition.
Keywords are:
Demons and the Might of the Abyss
Spiders
GM Robogeisha, I'm finishing up my submission and I had one question; do you allow pre-crafting for those of us with crafting feats?
I'm going venificus witch and have taken the cauldron hex, so I'll be kitting out at first level with some poisons and potions, if that is allowed.
This is my Submission, Still need to tweak a few things but it is the basics...will adjust the background more...
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Putting up a list of submissions, ordered by birth position. :)
Nikolaus D'Shade - Siobhan Sable, Mesmerist vmc Oracle. (1st)
Phntm888 - Arcavic, Antipaladin. (3rd)
Whiskey and a Bonesaw - Vytharia T'unavor, Drow Toxicant Vivisectionist Alchemist. (5th)
Jonahkan - Ralya, Cleric. (6th)
Warforged Man - Nilonim Vatharia, Harbinger. (7th)
Black Dow - Hurk'kagg, Fearsome Defender Barbarian. (-)
thzero - Zanthisar, Bladebound Magus. (?)
rungok - Vierdra, Inspired Blade Swashbuckler. (?)
Darkness Rising - Sh'assaria, Cleric (?)
Jovich - J'Victus, Unchained Rogue (2nd male)
Good work! I see that the 2nd position is unclaimed - going with your earlier suggestion, I'll put Sh'assaria there :)
Awesome list! I like the group setup we have so far :D
I'll have my character ready tonight. Have been in contact with the GM via PM. My character is a summoner. I don't mind being in any order between the siblings... I can be the oldest, youngest, or anything in the middle for that matter.
I was planning on being the oldest brother, and looking to be about 2nd or 3rd born.