Nightflier's Legends of Varisia

Game Master nightflier

profile done background to come.

Interesting collection of races we have here.

I gave thought to a ratfolk or wayang instead of the fetchling for Amelisce, but fetchling seemed spot on.

i will wait for everyone to complete their Black Company applications, and then we'll have a bit clearer picture of the party's needs.

Unfortunately I've only got the time to make up one profile at this time, so if she doesn't get in as Order of the Sihedron, then she'll just default to black company. Maybe that will give her a goal to strive for. I'm on a two week business trip, but will have time for updates from time to time. Hopefully will also have time to finish the background, but some bullet points.

• Small barbaric civilization somewhere in a swamp in Tian lands is found by warlord and brought to civilization.
  
• Raised among Samurai by patient master, but unable to advance due to race.
  
• Given a chance to become an emissary to Varisa in hopes of not being prejudiced against.
  

I will turn this into a proper background with names and places as I go, but she's been in Korvosa for a while.

No problem. I am done. Just wait for the result to be given.

Is everyone done?

I will give you two more days to finish your proposals, and then I'll start with the selection process. Essentially, everyone will be included. I may ask some of you to make some changes, but that's it.

I will give you two more days to finish your proposals, and then I'll start with the selection process. Essentially, everyone will be included. I may ask some of you to make some changes, but that's it.

I've put up an alias and I only need to type up my background. This should be done tonight.

Here's a character I am playing a version of in another campaign. He's a barbarian using the Jotunkin archetype (3PP). It can be found here.

This character has been a lot of fun to play in the other campaign, mostly because the personality that seemed to develop for him was a bit of a light-hearted smart ass.

Anyway, I've modified him for this campaign and presented him here: Froth. He would likely be my Sihedron submission, but would work fine in Black company as well.

Wow Froth is both terrifying and awesome, and the Jotunkin ties in to the Runelords preference for giants.

Here's a character I am playing a version of in another campaign. He's a barbarian using the Jotunkin archetype (3PP). It can be found here.

This character has been a lot of fun to play in the other campaign, mostly because the personality that seemed to develop for him was a bit of a light-hearted smart ass.

Anyway, I've modified him for this campaign and presented him here: Froth. He would likely be my Sihedron submission, but would work fine in Black company as well.

Well, the Knights of Sihedron are Lawful in alignment, as all other Hellknights, so Barbarian is really not an appropriate class. Although I find your concept very interesting.

Ah, didn't know about the Lawful requirement. Guess that will mean I'll need to make Froth my Black company submission.

The concept was interesting to me, and I had fun trying to tie in as many tentacle and spider features as possible to stick with the whole Lovecraftian mystique.

If you don't have any problem with the Jotunkin archetype, Froth will make an unparalleled damage dealer for the party.

Nice one Vikturiun, going to be a lively party with Froth.

Ah, didn't know about the Lawful requirement. Guess that will mean I'll need to make Froth my Black company submission.

The concept was interesting to me, and I had fun trying to tie in as many tentacle and spider features as possible to stick with the whole Lovecraftian mystique.

If you don't have any problem with the Jotunkin archetype, Froth will make an unparalleled damage dealer for the party.

Just to be clear, you are replacing your magus with Froth as Black Company submission?

Not replacing, just providing another option. You can choose the one that you think best suits the party's needs.

It is possible of course that I can tool the Magus into my Sihedron submission.

One thing I'm kind of not clear on for this setting. What is the moral orientation/alignment of the government and the branches of the military in this setting? Should we be leaning good, evil, mercenary, etc?

Oh good point Vikturiun, I just placed neutral for the submissions, as I not sure of the party make up (having good and evil in same party could be problematic). I definitely can change alignment to fit best with the party and objectives.

Well, the old Korvosa government was evil, but the new guys in charge are more neutral/real politik kind of persons. PCs for this game should Neutral of Lawful in alignment, with a sense of duty towards each other.

So we should stay away from Good, Evil and Chaos?

Whole House of D'raz are non-Evil? This would definitely be an exotic drow house, going into self exile to save themselves. Too small to go up against the other evil houses of the drow empire.

No. One of the component of your alignment should be Lawful or Neutral. That means LN, LG, LE, N, NE, NG. It is difficult to play Chaotic character in a military-oriented game, although it is possible. I will not penalize you if you decide to do so, but I will also not pull any punches concerning military discipline.

Majority of D'Razz are evil, but they tend towards NE alignment. Small minority is true Neutral.

Tonight I'm gonna post the info on characters and the party.

Oki, I give it some thought then on the alignment before start of play.

I've got the basics of my characters background in mind, but have been on the road all week, and won't be home till Thursday evening to consult my books. Hopefully there is enough provided to get the game rolling, till I get a chance to write my background.

This time backgrounds will not be essential for the game. At least in the beginning. Once the game starts, I'll use backgrounds to add some PC-specific side quests and stuff like that, but right now there's no need for detailed backgrounds.

Great about the backgrounds. Once selected to specific roles, and more info given for each character and group as a whole, I quickly write up the background tomorrow after long distance breakfast run.

I think I'd most prefer to play Amelisce or Talaitha depending on the needs of the group and which you think will fit the story best. I'll shift the alignment of Talaitha to True Neutral to better fit the military aspect. I think Amelisce could be played at LN, N, LE, or NE depending on the rest of the group. Probably better to shift to one of the neutral alignments if we wind up with a few good characters in the group.

Karak is ready with light background and equipment.

Okay, here's the party:

Black Company, 101st Squad

Karak Whitefangs, Male Hobgoblin Noble Spell-Less Ranger - Llaelian
Amelisce, Female Fetchling Shadowsworn - michaelane
Amira Oenestria, Female Human Druid - Mark
Yæmon, Male Teifling Magus - LastNameOnEarth
Mylivanni, Female Nagaji Cavalier - scranford
Aurelia, Female Angelkin Aasimar Paladin - High Duke
Graelem, Male Human Cleric - Eric
Rauvdra Waerrar, Female Sorcerer - Dark One

As you can see, all of you are chosen for the Black Company. I've decided to exclude other options for now.

Dark One, can you please choose another race? You can keep the drow mechanics and reskin your character as perhaps elven-blooded tiefling or choose completely different race - perhaps a shadow elf from another world, or whatever.

@All

You should create a tentative hierarchy. You need at least one character as a tactical commander/party leader, but the player of said character will have slightly more work to do, since he should be ready to post more frequently.

I will open the Game Thread on Tuesday. Feel free to ask any questions.

The basic premise is that you are a rookie squad, made on the spot to deal with a specific event that took place in Korvosa. This is why you got the designation "the 101st" - Black Company has only 30 squads, so 101st is a designation used for temporary squads or probationary squads on special missions.

Of course, if you manage to become very well known, or to achieve something truly significant, perhaps you will get to keep the squad designation as permanent one.

Black Company uses only two ranks at the squad level - First, for the squad commander, and Second, for his second in command. The leader of the Black Company is simply Captain.

I will do so. I try to have this sorted out tonight. Perhaps the Shadar could work, though probably needs changes.

Looking at Tieflings, they have a -2 charisma, that does not work in favour of sorcerer, without serious min max being done.

Seeing bloodlines are vampiric and shadow, with most bloodline powers will come from vampiric, where shadow powers are 1st and most likely 9th. To compliment the chosen bloodlines maybe combine features of two races, to get a more shadow feel to the character. Taking some stuff from drow, some stuff perhaps from fetchling, or some other shadow race, or even hybrid with Vishkanyas for exotic feature.

I playing with ideas.

A character idea could be a result of some very strange accidental mutation resulting from an injury.

Could perhaps change the shadow bloodline to something else.

Keep the drow modifiers and the rest of the racial abilities, but change the description of the race. Call it Shadow, Starlight, whatever elf.

I sort of see Amira as starting in the Second position, even though one of her domains gives her Leadership and control spells and she will eventually gain Leadership as a bonus feat.

Call it Shadow, Starlight, whatever elf.

Mentioning Starlight has inspired me with a twist to an idea I had for for fetchling character, which I could use for Rauvdra.

Is it possible to change bloodline Shadow to bloodline Starsoul. Still compliments the bloodline Vampiric.

To go with the bloodline Starsoul, I would like Rauvdra to come from an sizeable demiplane (not massive like the Shadow Plane, but big enough to have a city on it) in the Astral plane. On this demiplane, the Starlight Elves live, descendants of a drow house that were transported mysterious to the demiplane, and trapped without a means to leave the demiplane. Generations later, they eventually found a means to establish a connection to the Astral plane, resulting in them able to travel to other planes they saw on their eternal night sky. Perhaps, the magic that kept them entrapped stopped functioning, a crack in the shielding magic was discovered, or the creators of the demiplane decided their experiment has come to an end. Who knows what the real reason maybe for the sudden ability to freely move to and from the demiplane. Being cut-off from everything, the drow changed over time to become the Starlight elves, abandoning their beliefs in demons, as no summon succeeded, no answer to their prayers and rituals. They became more fascinated with the eternal night sky, and studied the night sky. They physically retained their non-demonic abilities. They still maintained most of their social hierarchy though with a shift away from evil, for this demiplane was a harsh place to live on with the various strange creatures that were there when they arrived. Had to learn to stick together to survive, for food was plenty, though dangerous to collect. I can create more details for the plane. This is just an rough idea that came to my mind after seeing your post containing the word "Starlight". I thinking of altering their appearance slightly, restricting the range of colours.

In addition to making the change to the bloodline, replacing Shadow with Starsoul, I would like to replace the drow sorcerer favoured class, as it no longer makes sense with above idea, with more generic sorcerer favoured class bonus, or something related to the above.

Generic Favoured class (sorcerer): Select one bloodline power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the sorcerer's Charisma modifier. The sorcerer adds +1/2 to the number of uses per day of that bloodline power.

If this idea is good with you, I will work out a creative way to get the Vampiric bloodline.

I believe Aurelia should be the Captain of this squad, and I envisioned Graelem as being Second as his class abilities are designed to inspire loyalty, he he. However should Amira wish to be placed as Second, I have no problem with that. It might even lead to some RP opportunity between Graelem and Amira.

BTW looking over the party composition, we are fairly low on healing ability. Keep in mind Graelem cannot spontaneously convert his spells to Cure spells, although he still does have his channels (one reason why I am having him worship Iomedae). If this proves a problem, then we need to get some healing potions, or better yet a CLW wand.

CLW wand would be useful since we have 3 people who could use it.

A few quick words:

I agree Aurelia should be squad leader. For second, either Graelem or Amira sound fine to me.

I also agree with the CLW. Karak will contribute 100 GP to it if necessary.

Graelem/Eric, on the plus side, from what Nightflyer said, you should still be able to convert your spells to inflict/cure as you do not take the negative aspects of the archetypes.

One last point, I will be off the net for the whole next week starting tonight. Just don't kill me before I enter the game :)....

I agree with the leadership recommendations. I can also contribute 90 gp to a wand of CLW.

I am fine with the leader recommendations. Rauvdra due to her heritage and where she comes from, would be more happier to take the support role in the unit.

My character is not the leader type, so I have no claim to the title. I will go with the majority's wishes in regards to the rank.

Anything else that needs to be finalized before we start play tomorrow?

My character has a few finishing touches to do, and perhaps a bit more polishing here and there with his numbers, but otherwise should be ready. I'll do a bit of reviewing on him and see what is still left to do.

My only question is whether we'll be able to pool enough to purchase a wand. If not, I have some other things, I would purchase. Since we're only at 190 gp right now, it doesn't look good.

I'll finish off my gear and see what I can spare, but I agree, it doesn't look good. A wand in a level 1 group might be too much to wish for anyway.

I noticed I forgot to roll for the alternate features available to Teiflings:

Variant Tiefling Ability: 1d100 ⇒ 46
Alternative Physical Feature: 1d100 ⇒ 92

I awaiting for nightflier's response to the suggestion for my character's race, so I may make a few equipment changes, do appearance, personality and background changes. I may have spare gp when I finished with the character.

Dark One and Vikturiun,

Your alternative races are approved.

I'll wait for High Duke to finish Aurelia, since she'll be the party leader, and then I'm gonna post in Game Thread.

Great, I work on the demiplane and background now. I may come up with an idea that differs from the generic for the favoured class before the party gets into any serious action. Let me see how I develop the demiplane, maybe some nice race abilities may come in existence.

I will work on the stuff even if the game has started.

This is Vikturiun. My Magus is pretty much complete. I've built in the new race and changed the flavour a bit to suit. He's pretty much done except for choosing Traits and building them into his backstory.

In regards to the party wand of Cure Light Wounds, he could contribute 60 gp.

Updated Character sheet, can contribute 35gp

Well, thanks to Llaelian pointing out the change to the archtypes Graelem can still fulfill his role as the healer for the group, since he can spontaneously convert his spells into cure spells. I do still think purchasing the wand would be a good idea once we have earned some more cash, he he.

Interesting choice of pic for a 21 yr old.

I have updated Rauvdra, still busy with the background. I tried to think of a simple change to the drow traits that could make them slightly different from their drow cousins. Just check for mechanical errors.