Ruins of Pathfinder: Reign of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Robert Brookes

"I will show you something different from either
Your shadow at morning striding behind you
Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;
I will show you fear in a handful of dust."

T.S. Eliot


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Rovil Fenning wrote:

@Lucent - If you get a chance, I'd appreciate if you could check out my bio in progress... if there are any conflicts or opportunities you see with what I have so far (in regard to the world as you have it)

** spoiler omitted **...

When did Rovil and his mother travel from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings to Taldor? If you check out the map of Avistan, that is an enormous journey that likely took them through at least northern Varisia (reclaimed by Karzoug seven years prior to campaign start) and possibly Ustalav (nightmarish kingdom of the dead once Tar Baphon arose). Not to mention the smoldering ever-inferno that was once Kyonin and its surrounding territories.

If this journey was further back than seven years, then it's entirely possible they made it safely. Timing is important!

Also, how has the three years of incresingly longer winters affected Rovil? Taldor is a country in shambles and has not fared well with the shift in climate. They are not accustomed to winter and famine, riots and violence are common. Did his mother survive the winters? Did he have to make any concessions to his morality to make it by?


Sir Kane Ravencourt wrote:

You had me at at post-apocalyptic. :)

Here's my first potential entry. Please tell me what you think of the concept. Basically, he's a paladin from lastwall cursed with a monstrous form. What form is open for discussion. The most inhuman base race is probably the Stryx so that's what I went with for the first draft of the background. It could easily be changed to anything you think is appropriate.

With a little feedback, I can finish doing the mechanical work up.

I love the Strix, but they are not so good a fit for this campaign. They're a bit too powerful (especially in the increased mobility of flight) for this campaign. However, I have some good recommendations and love the idea of someone being born hideously cursed:

1) Dhampir (especially the Nosferatu variant) would fit both the monstrous and Whispering Way curse angle.
2) Vishkanyas are serpent-blooded and alien looking.
3) Nagajiare gigantic lizard-snake people with hideously monstrous forms.


Ragnar Deathspeaker wrote:

Here's my second potential entry. He's a man out of time from the dawn of the age of men, trapped by a curse (yeah, it's been a theme with my concepts lately).

He's an Oracle of Bones/Spirit Totem Barbarian headed toward rage prophet.

His race is listed as half-ogre, but he really just near-neanderthal. I just used that race as a mechanical base.

Whichever character you prefer for your story is the one I'll work out the mechanics for first.

Please let me know.

I much prefer the monstrously cursed character out of these two. I feel like the half ogre "near neanderthal" is a bit too much power-wise and I think trying to retrofit that into something else would kill the flavor you're looking for.


Cuàn wrote:

How do you want animal companions to be shown? In the same stat block or do they need their own?

Are you ok with the companion archetypes? In this case I'd like a bird with the racer archetype, representing a Peregrine Falcon (or it's Golarion equivalent) and a dog with the Bodyguard archetype (when it comes to looks, think Tibetan Mastiff). These two would have been my characters faithful companions when it comes to guarding the isle of Grand Sarret and they will join him now.

Similarly, would you be ok with Order of the Seal where the true purpose of the Conservatory is the secret he hides? In the past he did so by keeping intruders off the isle, now he does it by safeguarding it's existence.

As for his heritage, Yantur actually knows exactly where he celestial blood comes from as he can trace a straight line to it through his ancestry as groundskeeper of Grand Sarret is a family business.
Profile is under construction, will add a bestiary style stat block for you, the things under spoilers are for myself.

1) If you could include the animal companion as a separate stat block that would be great! Also kudos for using the animal archetypes from the Animal Compendium!

2) I am totally good with that idea about the Order of the Seal, yes.


Misroi wrote:

Dotting for interest. Since this is the "Baba Yaga" campaign, I think I'll be making up a witch.

** spoiler omitted **

Gotta love a run-away witch! A drive-by witching!


Sigrun Jagrsdottir wrote:
Here's my submission. I can modify the background indicating that, as an outcast alone she wandered South, leaving the frozen wastes to work as a mercenary. In lastwall she found the sense of community she had always been missing and as such seeks to protect those whom she knows are unprepared for the blistering winters of the north, heading back to her homelands to save her adopted people.

I like Sigrun's background, though it doesn't take much into account the attacks by Karzoug the Claimer into the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Armies clashing with giants could definitely impact her life.

Furthermore, what route did she take to make it to Lastwall from her homeland? Varisia would involve circumventing patrols of a Runelord (possible, but harrowing), and then crossing into the Hold of Belzken where orcs, humans, undead and Karzoug's armies clash in a constant struggle. Other routes would be longer and more perilous. How did she survive? What happened to her along the way? How has the last three years of increasingly bitter winters and smaller seasons between winters affected her?

I like Sigrun as a character, but her background definitely reads as an also-ran for another campaign that was lovingly crafted for it, but somewhat shoehorned into this one. I think it needs more thought, but it's a good foundation.


Whew. Done with responses for the night! Time to watch Archer, relax, and see what appears come morning!


What about Kain? :X Don't forget Meeee. I've been refreshing ze page hoping for a response :P

Marcellano Kain.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16

Lucent wrote:
Sigrun Jagrsdottir wrote:
Here's my submission. I can modify the background indicating that, as an outcast alone she wandered South, leaving the frozen wastes to work as a mercenary. In lastwall she found the sense of community she had always been missing and as such seeks to protect those whom she knows are unprepared for the blistering winters of the north, heading back to her homelands to save her adopted people.

I like Sigrun's background, though it doesn't take much into account the attacks by Karzoug the Claimer into the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Armies clashing with giants could definitely impact her life.

Furthermore, what route did she take to make it to Lastwall from her homeland? Varisia would involve circumventing patrols of a Runelord (possible, but harrowing), and then crossing into the Hold of Belzken where orcs, humans, undead and Karzoug's armies clash in a constant struggle. Other routes would be longer and more perilous. How did she survive? What happened to her along the way? How has the last three years of increasingly bitter winters and smaller seasons between winters affected her?

I like Sigrun as a character, but her background definitely reads as an also-ran for another campaign that was lovingly crafted for it, but somewhat shoehorned into this one. I think it needs more thought, but it's a good foundation.

That's pretty much spot on. How long do I have to retool her background?

Sczarni

Update:

Stat Block::

Bjorn Thunderrath
Male Human Druid (Arctic Druid) 2
NG Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +1; Senses Perception +8
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 17 (2d8+4)
Fort +5 (+5 circumstance bonus vs. cold weather), Ref +1, Will +6
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee Spear +3 (1d8+3/x3)
Ranged Sling +2 (1d4+2/x2)
Druid (Arctic Druid) Spells Prepared (CL 2):
1 (3/day) Goodberry, Burning Hands (DC 14), Endure Elements, Entangle (DC 14)
0 (at will) Spark (DC 13), Purify Food and Drink (DC 13), Guidance, Light
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 15, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 17, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 14
Feats Augment Summoning, Spell Focus (Conjuration)
Traits Focused Mind, World Traveler (Sense Motive)
Skills Acrobatics -3 (-7 jump), Climb -2, Escape Artist -3, Fly -3, Handle Animal +6, Heal +8, Knowledge Local +3, Perception +8 (+9 in cold or icy terrain), Ride -3, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +6, Stealth -3 (-2 in cold or icy terrain), Survival +10 (+11 in cold or icy terrain), Swim -2
Languages Common, Druidic, Skald
SQ arctic native (+1), fire bolt (6/day), nature bond abilities (fire), spontaneous casting, wild empathy
Combat Gear Alchemist's fire (4); Other Gear Lamellar (horn) armor, Sling, Spear, Cold weather outfit, Druid's kit, 856 GP
--------------------
TRACKED RESOURCES
--------------------
Alchemist's fire - 0/4
Fire Bolt (1d6+1) (6/day) (Sp) - 0/6
Spear - 0/1
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Arctic Native (+1) (Ex) Initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks in aquatic terrain, and cannot be tracked there.
Restless Wayfarer Gains Knowledge Local as a class skill and Hallit as a language.
Augment Summoning Summoned creatures have +4 to Strength and Constitution.
Cold weather outfit +5 Fort save vs. cold weather.
Druid (Arctic Druid) Domain (Fire) Granted Powers: You can call forth fire, command creatures of the inferno, and your flesh does not burn.
Fire Bolt (1d6+1) (6/day) (Sp) 30' Ranged touch attack deals 1d6+1 Fire damage.
Focused Mind +2 to Concentration checks
Spell Focus (Conjuration) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.
Spontaneous Casting The Druid can convert stored spells into Summon Nature's Ally spells.
Wild Empathy +3 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.


Thanks for the response. All changes and snags can be easily accommodated and smoothed out.

Response:
Lucent wrote:
Overall I think it's good. However I think that Fenyx's enlistment into the collegiate armies of Shalast may not have been quite as comfortable. I think initially he would have been "conscripted," after a fashion: Forced into servitude (even if that was his goal, to get his foot in the door). After a while Karzoug's servants would have likely noticed his keen intellect and willingness and relatively quickly released the bonds, so to speak, and given him more freedom to grow.

Fenyx was young and naive enough to believe that he could freely join up, but wouldn't be put off or spiral into despair when forced into servitude. The running assumption (at least, on Fenyx's part) is that Karzoug intends to rebuild Thassilon - or, if not Thassilon itself, a magocracy of some sort where arcane pursuit is unrestricted and encouraged. What it boils down to for him is the pursuit of knowledge, and the power that comes with said knowledge. While he doesn't personally care for the whole "conquer the world" ideal that Karzoug seems to embrace, he doesn't really see a huge difference between now and before in that regard; countries fighting countries, as they ever were.

Lucent wrote:
How soon after Karzoug's return did Fenyx try to join forces with the resurgent Shalast? The first two years were particularly bloody as holdouts like Magnimar and Riddleport tried to resist and failed. Korvosa was the last of the cities that Karzoug attempted to steamroll, but Kazavon/Ileosa pretty handily put a stop to that, enough to get Karzoug to rethink his strategies. By this time Tar-Baphon was out of the bottle and a more iminent threat. Ileosa doesn't want to rule anything, she just wants to be adored by everyone. So she was a less dangerous Sorshen to him.

The moment it became common knowledge that Karzoug had awakened and Shalast was being reclaimed/restored, Fenyx was out the door. By his reckoning, and not understanding the grave danger he was placing himself in, the sooner he got a foot in the door, the greater his prominence within Thassilon reborn. He hoped to be serve well and be rewarded for his service. While it hasn't panned out exactly as he had planned, he is now in a place where he is mostly free to pursue whatever studies he chooses without being condemned or restricted. He was already up to his neck in the study of necromancy before being assigned to the Tar-Baphon "task force", so his current arrangements, though boring, are exactly what he had hoped for. In fact, he has been afforded access to ancient Thassilonian libraries - something he never would have laid eyes on if still in Korvosa.

Lucent wrote:
Once Fenyx was chosen to be Karzoug's representative he would have had a face-to-face meeting or two with the Runelord himself. Very intense, very charismatic, very brooding and extreme in his actions and decisions. Karzoug would've left a remarkably indulable impression on Fenyx and pretty much any figure of prominent or power would be held up to that standard, in terms of what impresses or frightens Fenyx.

Meeting Karzoug himself would have been impossibly humbling and an immense honor to Fenyx. He is a living, breathing legend straight out of some of the history tomes he obsessed over at the academy. While he wouldn't be gushing and bumbling over himself like a child, Fenyx would have done everything to impress upon Karzoug his willingness to serve and dedication to his return to prominence in Avistan. This goes beyond lip service and a desire not to enrage a Runelord, however. The words and intent are genuine. Fenyx earnestly desires Karzoug's success, and being given a task by him directly is something he will carry out to completion or to death - there's no middle ground.


This looks like a fantastic setting for a campaign. Hoping to join you, here is Kalt Ìsson, a frostborn foundling from the wilds of Icemark, who has travelled far to find a way to restore balance to the world, or die in the attempt.

Stat block:

Kalt Ìsson
CG Male Human
Class: Ranger (Guide) 2
Age: Height: 6’, 4” Weight: 200 lbs
Hair: White blond Eyes: Ice blue

Init +4; Senses Perception +6

DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor +2 Dex)
HP 24 (1d10 +2 Con)

Saving Throws
Fortitude: +5 (+3 level, +2 Con) +6 vs effects of cold climates, +1 vs cold effects
Reflex: +5 (+3 level, +2 Dex)
Will: +3 (+0 level, +2 Wis, +1 trait)

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Space 5 ft, Reach 5 ft

Melee Greatsword: +5 (2d6+6/19-20/x2)
Melee Greatsword with Power Attack?: +4 (2d6+9/19-20/x2)
Melee Light Mace: +5 (1d6+4/20/x2)
Melee Dagger: +5 (1d4+4/19-20/x2)
Ranged Dagger, Thrown: +3 (1d4+4/19-20/x2/10' increment)
Ranged Longbow: +3 (1d8/x3/100' increment)
Ranged Sling: +3 (1d4+4/x2/50' increment)

STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 8
Base Atk +1, ; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Power Attack, Quickdraw, Rapid Shot
Traits Frostborn, Reactionary, Andoran’s Last, Best Hope

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Ranger’s Focus: 1/day, select 1 enemy as swift action, gain +2 attack and damage
Track: add ½ level to Survival roll to track (+1)
Wild Empathy: improve initial attitude of an animal, works like Diplomacy skill, add ½ level to roll (+1)

Skills (Ranks per level = 7 (6 + 1 favored class)

Acrobatics: +2 (+2 Dex)
Climb: +8 (1 rank, +3 class, +4 Str)
Diplomacy: +0
Handle Animal: +4 (1 rank, +3 class)
Heal: +6 (1 rank, +3 class, +2 Wis)
Intimidate: +5 (2 ranks, +3 class)
Knowledge (Geography): +4 (1 rank, +3 class)
Knowledge (Nature): +4 (1 rank, +3 class)
Perception: +7 (2 ranks, +3 class, +2 Wis)
Sense Motive: +2 (+2 Wis)
Stealth: +7 (2 ranks, +3 class, +2 Dex)
Survival: +7 (+8 to track) (2 ranks, +3 class, +2 Wis)
Swim: +8 (1 rank, +3 class, +4 Str)

Languages Common, Ulfen
Other Gear 10 GP | Greatsword, 2 Daggers, Light mace, Longbow (40 arrows, 20 blunt arrows), Sling (20 bullets), Chain shirt, Pathfinder's Kit (backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, mug, 2 fishhooks, flint & steel, sewing needle, signal whistle, 50’ string, 50’ thread, 2 water skins, whetstone), Rope, 50', 5 candles, 3 sunrods, flint&steel, 10 days rations, 5 pieces chalk

RACIAL TRAITS
Heart of the Snows: treat cold climates as one category less severe; +2 on Fortitude saves vs effects of cold climates, on any check or saving throw to avoid slipping and falling, and to CMD against trip combat maneuvers. This bonus applies on Acrobatics and Climb checks made in slippery conditions.

Appearance & Personality:

Kalt Ísson - “Ice-son“ in his native Ulfen – is, in several senses, a creature of the frozen wilds. Found on the ice by his mother, somehow still alive after spending a night out in biting cold, his appearance marked him out as different, even when he tried to fit in. Now a grown man, he is tall like most of his Ulfen brethren, though where they tend to be broad and bulky, Kalt is lean and sinewy. He has extremely pale skin, hair so blond it is almost white, and eyes of a crystalline ice blue, all of which combine to make him seem a walking vision of winter’s chill. This effect is enhanced by his attire – a shirt of chain links, the steel of which is a silver color so light it looks more like shade-dappled snow than metal, and surcoat, leggings, and boots of ivory-white leather. Over this he wears a long cloak, pale white on one side and darkest black on the other. The hilt of a long blade protrudes over his left shoulder, and a pale ash bow can be seen over his right. A small mace, with a handle that looks to be made from some creature’s thigh-bone and a head of misshapen steel, hangs from a hook at his belt.

Kalt has never connected easily with his fellow man. He is kind enough, and interested in the people around him, but he is a poor communicator of this interest, often seeming cold and distant by virtue of his appearance and awkwardness. At times, this bothers him, and he struggles against it to make friends. At other times, when he seeks the solace of wild places, or the solitude of a frosty winter night, he feels that he needs no one else. He is generally able to maintain his good cheer well enough by keeping a balance between these two moods, though it is a lonely life. His solo travels have put him in many hard situations where he has had only himself to rely on, and he has come to be a swift decision-maker, and a daring one. He doesn‘t hesitate in the face of danger. In fact, he has been known to take the riskier route, just for the adventure in it.

Background:
Additional background in Kalt’s story below.
Kalt hails from Icemark, in the Land of the Linnorm Kings, and he has left it in an effort to save the frozen land he loves. In the first years of the war against Karzoug’s forces, he was young and ill-suited for battle, but his wilderness skills and knowledge of the land allowed him to serve the defense of his land as a guide and tracker. As the war went on, Kalt learned some skill at arms – but such skill came to mean less and less as the Ulfen people’s battle shifted to one against hunger rather than Karzoug’s armies of giants. As the continual winter forced people to huddle together for warmth and survival, Kalt’s fey appearance and chilly demeanor caused those around him to grow suspicious, as they will in difficult times, when someone is different from them, even someone native to their land.

Kalt could see that soon his Ulfen brethren would turn against him, out of suspicion and fear, and that he could do little to restore freedom to his country if he were dead at their hands. Having already fled Icemark for Southmoor, Kalt set off for lands further south. If the rumors were true, some lands were still fighting against the tides of evil unleashed on the world. Perhaps he could find a way to bring help from those free places, or even, somehow, discover the secret of the eternal winter and restore nature’s balance, so his people could feed themselves and fight back.

Kalt travelled for weeks, barely avoiding capture and death on several occasions, drawing on all his skills to survive. He met up from time to time with others, all fugitives, and swapped rumors of a land that still resisted, until he came to Andoran. He now longer wants to run from the foe, seeking an unconquered place. Now he wants only to take some action against the forces that have wrought such ruin on the world. At the prospect of joining the Andoran expedition to seek out the source of the endless winter, Kalt made his skills known to the Knight-Commander of the Eagle Knights, who has assured him of a place in the expedition.

Kalt’s telling of his tale:

“You ask how I came to be here, a son of the Icemark, here in the soft lands of the South? Well, I’m not much of a tale-spinner, but I’ve enjoyed talking with you so far, and the blizzard outside makes it damn unlikely I’ll have a paying customer looking to travel tonight, so you’re in luck.”

“As you’ll have guessed from looking at me, there are some who say I’m touched by the fey – though I don’t believe it. Fey folk have magic, and fear the touch of iron, and neither is true of me. Though I can’t claim to not be a bit different from most folk. Cold doesn’t touch me, never has – and that’s how I came to leave the cold lands of the north.”

“My mother – Gunhild was her name - was older, past the age where she could expect to have a child, and full of sadness for the lack of a little one to love, but she was a beauty for the skalds to sing of. My father was younger by some years, mad with love for her and filled with rage – I think he wanted only to make her happy, and he blamed their childlessness on himself. That is what I was told, at any rate, by my uncle Kjartan, my sister’s elder brother, for that was all before I was born. And about that, I know nothing, for I am a foundling.”

“My mother used to tell me the story of how she found me. How she was out walking one day, having told my father she was going to look for spring herbs. Though winter was shorter in those days, it had not yet begun to relinquish its grip and no herbs were to be found on the snow on that bitter, icy day. I think she just wanted to be alone with her sadness, though she never said as much to me. In any case, she discovered my tiny body, even paler than you see me now, on a patch of ice in the shade of a great soldier pine. A woman who wanted nothing in the world more than her own child, she could not fathom how anyone could leave a babe out to die on the ice. She picked me up and to her amazement, pale and cold as I was, I cried out. And so did she, in joy and amazement, that she held a child, and at the thought that the child could be her own.”

“She wrapped me in her shawl and carried me quickly home, and her joy must have filled my father’s heart with gladness, to see her smile and laugh so at the change in her fortune. I guess they were happy for some years, though my mother much more so than my father. He had wanted a son of his own line, and one not so scrawny and…well, fey. Children left by the fey folk are not uncommon near Elfmeet, in the west of Icemark, not so very far from my home, and he came to believe more and more strongly that I was one of them. Though I’ll say again, I may look it, but I don’t believe I’ve got a drop of fey blood in me. But that’s not the tale we’re telling here, is it? My mother was happy, and loved me dearly. My father took good enough care of me when I was just a boy, though there was little love between us. As I grew, that little love became less. He felt I had taken his place in my mother’s affections, and resented me, and as I grew older, we fought. With words, I should say, at least at first. We would argue and shout and he would threaten, but before he could lay a hand on me, I would vanish into the wild, into the cold.”

“As I said, the cold doesn’t really touch me, and I took to disappearing into the woods and mountains – just for a few hours at first when I was very young, even walking out the door barefoot, in need of the peace and well-being I could find in the cold woods, where few others ventured and I could be alone. I hunted as a boy with my uncle, and he had seen I had some gifts in that regard, and that I would stick to a task until I saw it through, and he came to regard me kindly, perhaps even love me. He taught me what he knew of woodcraft and survival, and I built upon that.”

As I grew, I travelled further and longer, and came to see I was not alone in the cold. The beasts of the frozen plains and the Iceworm Hills came to be my companions and my fascination. I would track and study them, moving through the hills without a sound, learning their ways and weaknesses, their secrets and strengths. Some I learned to avoid, some I failed to avoid and had no choice but to fight them to survive – though my study of them helped me in those fights, no doubt. Other creatures I was able to come to an understanding with, more so than with many people, and the cold wilds truly became my home.”

“My mother ever worried about my rangings, and her concern, and my lack of it, were the death of her. In my 14th winter, after a bitter argument with my father, I snatched up my pack and my weapons and set out on a long trek. I was gone for nearly two weeks, longer than ever before, when my mother took it upon herself to look for me. She was ill-prepared for such an outing, and told no one, leaving the house crazed with worry about me. She got lost, or gave up, or something, and was gone overnight, and found by my father after some days, frozen to death – and of all this I knew nothing. When I returned home, my father attacked me – and this time not with words. He said I was no son of his, and called me a son of the ice, for I had been born to the ice, and now had made my mother ice as well. Forgive me, I need a moment. I have never told this entire tale to anyone, and it was not so very long ago.”

“Where was I? Ah yes, a son of the ice. That is now my name, Ísson, as I‘ve no wish to carry my father‘s name, and it reminds me of what my carelessness and selfishness did to my mother.“

“So, my father and I fought, both fueled by sorrow and rage, and to my surprise, I bested him. I had been hardened by my ranging and my instinct for studying my prey had taught me much about my father, though I never thought to use it. As I say, I bested him, and would have killed him had not my uncle Kjartan come running into the house and stayed my hand. He told me that my mother had loved us both, son and father, and would not wish us to harm each other. I saw he was right and, for my mother‘s sake, I stepped away from my father, who promptly snatched up a wood-axe and tried to kill me. My uncle held him off while I made my escape, for I knew my father would fight me to the end, and there is only one way for a fight to end when one man is unwilling to kill the other.“

“I left my home that day, to place as much distance as I could between myself and my father, who if he lives may still seek some strange vengeance on me. I made my way south and east, to learning the ways and dangers of new lands and beasts, and came to Southmoor just as Karzoug the Claimer began his assault on my homeland. Though I was but a boy, I served the warriors of my people as a guide, using my skills in the wilderness to lead them safely into and away from battle, to stage ambushes and understand their foes. In time, I learned to fight, and did so. But it was all for naught, as we were defeated by the constant winter, which no warrior can slay.“

“I stayed for a time in Southmoor, helping provide food for those who were starving, but the very folk I was feeding began to turn against me, because of how I look. People will get suspicious when they‘re hungry and scared. Rather than dying at the hands of my countrymen, I determined to follow the rumors I had heard, of lands that had resisted Karzoug, and all the other horrors spreading through the world. I travelled a long, hard path to come here to Andoran, as you can imagine. The Shoanti lands, like my own home, were full of giants and other monstrous creatures, as were the Mindspin Mountains. I found some safety in the forests of Nirmathas and Molthune, and I could possibly have stayed there for a time, but chose to move on. What I have learned of struggle and survival in the cold served me well, and continues to, in the near-constant winters we now face across Avistan. I now look to apply my skills to the battle against evil in our world, in the faint hope we can at least delay it.“

I need to do a little equipment updating, and I'd welcome any comments or questions you have.

Silver Crusade

Lucent wrote:
Allayna Reinesherz wrote:
Allayna Reinesherz reporting in from Lastwall, Sirs. (for the those who read my backstory, Layla and Olzan are player characters from my CotCT game, and Olzan was a paladin who did fall to Rovagug as his player left the game)

I like the idea of a character coming out of part of the events of CotCT. Ileosa rose to power six years ago, so keep that in mind for the timeline of your background and at what age things happened at.

One thing to consider: How does Allayna feel about the peace between the hordes of Belzken and the knights of Lastwall? During her time they would have shifted from bitter enemies to unlikely allies.

She'd be willing to work with them for the greater good. She doesn't like it, but she is smart enough to realize that the new threats are of a much graver nature than the orcs.


First of all Lucent, lovely thread you have here. You are an excellent writer, I'm excited to try to get into your game.

I'm thinking I'll retool Rasso for this. He'll need to be leveled down, and I'll expand and rework his background as well.

Who came up with the Ruins of Golarion setting? I love post-apocalyptic/dystopian stuff. It's an awesome idea.

Edit:I suppose I'll need permission to play a merfolk as well. If you're not feeling Rasso, I'll come up with something else. Maybe a Daniel Boon/Davy Crockett/Mike Fink/Wild Bill Hickok/Paul Bunyan mashup.


Lucent would you mind me reflavoring the Vanguard of Lastwall trait?

Shield of the North

You have been called from the front against Karzoug the Claimer's giants to see this winter end. As a hard bitten defender of The Land of the Linnorm Kings, you have seen many horrors and atrocities in your life combatting the giants and Karzoug's other fell minions. You gain a +1 additional HP at every level.

or if that is a bit too close something that gives bonuses against larger foes, or specifically giants perhaps? If not I'll go with Northern Ancestry - its just very close to an ability I would pick up at 3rd level from Invulnerable Rager.


Did a first-draft rewrite of Rasso's background to give you more of an idea of what you'd be dealing with. I plan on going back and lengthening it with a bit more detail, especially about his connection to Garret.

I will probably do some work deleveling him in a couple hours.


Crustypeanut wrote:

What about Kain? :X Don't forget Meeee. I've been refreshing ze page hoping for a response :P

Marcellano Kain.

Oh, I didn't have any commentary because you're 100% spot on done. That's a perfectly crafted and well-rounded character that fits into the setting well. :D

You did great!


Sigrun Jagrsdottir wrote:
Lucent wrote:
Sigrun Jagrsdottir wrote:
Here's my submission. I can modify the background indicating that, as an outcast alone she wandered South, leaving the frozen wastes to work as a mercenary. In lastwall she found the sense of community she had always been missing and as such seeks to protect those whom she knows are unprepared for the blistering winters of the north, heading back to her homelands to save her adopted people.

I like Sigrun's background, though it doesn't take much into account the attacks by Karzoug the Claimer into the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Armies clashing with giants could definitely impact her life.

Furthermore, what route did she take to make it to Lastwall from her homeland? Varisia would involve circumventing patrols of a Runelord (possible, but harrowing), and then crossing into the Hold of Belzken where orcs, humans, undead and Karzoug's armies clash in a constant struggle. Other routes would be longer and more perilous. How did she survive? What happened to her along the way? How has the last three years of increasingly bitter winters and smaller seasons between winters affected her?

I like Sigrun as a character, but her background definitely reads as an also-ran for another campaign that was lovingly crafted for it, but somewhat shoehorned into this one. I think it needs more thought, but it's a good foundation.

That's pretty much spot on. How long do I have to retool her background?

You have until March 4th (10 days from today).


Kagehiro wrote:
...

Excellent revision, this looks perfect!


Khelreddin wrote:

This looks like a fantastic setting for a campaign. Hoping to join you, here is Kalt Ìsson, a frostborn foundling from the wilds of Icemark, who has travelled far to find a way to restore balance to the world, or die in the attempt.

** spoiler omitted **...

Coming from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, I'd like to see more about how the invasion from the south by the resurgent Runelord of Greed, Karzoug, impacted your character's life. Armies of Rune Giants and other monstrosities that bent a knee to the Runelord rampaging up through Varisia and into his homeland, armies of brave Ulfen men clashing head on with them, it's something that deserves mention.

Much like Sigrun's background, this feels like one that was written with great care and detail for DMVoV's Reign of Winter recruitment and has about a sentence tacked on to fit this campaign.

Try fitting it in to the setting as listed more and you're much more likely to get recruited :)


Allayna Reinesherz wrote:
Lucent wrote:
Allayna Reinesherz wrote:
Allayna Reinesherz reporting in from Lastwall, Sirs. (for the those who read my backstory, Layla and Olzan are player characters from my CotCT game, and Olzan was a paladin who did fall to Rovagug as his player left the game)

I like the idea of a character coming out of part of the events of CotCT. Ileosa rose to power six years ago, so keep that in mind for the timeline of your background and at what age things happened at.

One thing to consider: How does Allayna feel about the peace between the hordes of Belzken and the knights of Lastwall? During her time they would have shifted from bitter enemies to unlikely allies.

She'd be willing to work with them for the greater good. She doesn't like it, but she is smart enough to realize that the new threats are of a much graver nature than the orcs.

Thanks for the response :)


Thorgar the Childeater wrote:

Lucent would you mind me reflavoring the Vanguard of Lastwall trait?

Shield of the North

You have been called from the front against Karzoug the Claimer's giants to see this winter end. As a hard bitten defender of The Land of the Linnorm Kings, you have seen many horrors and atrocities in your life combatting the giants and Karzoug's other fell minions. You gain a +1 additional HP at every level.

or if that is a bit too close something that gives bonuses against larger foes, or specifically giants perhaps? If not I'll go with Northern Ancestry - its just very close to an ability I would pick up at 3rd level from Invulnerable Rager.

I'd prefer to see that remain a Lastwall-related trait.


DM Jelani wrote:

First of all Lucent, lovely thread you have here. You are an excellent writer, I'm excited to try to get into your game.

I'm thinking I'll retool Rasso for this. He'll need to be leveled down, and I'll expand and rework his background as well.

Who came up with the Ruins of Golarion setting? I love post-apocalyptic/dystopian stuff. It's an awesome idea.

Edit:I suppose I'll need permission to play a merfolk as well. If you're not feeling Rasso, I'll come up with something else. Maybe a Daniel Boon/Davy Crockett/Mike Fink/Wild Bill Hickok/Paul Bunyan mashup.

Thanks for the kind words, Jelani. I came up with Ruins of Golarion over the last week brainstorming how I wanted to run Reign of Winter if I didn't get into the one PbP of it I applied for. I was inspired by reading the final chapter of my copy of Second Darkness I was flipping through, and wondered, "What would the world be like if the heroes either failed to stop or never were around to prevent all this stuff?" So, roll out a worst-case scenario for every adventure path up to Shattered Star, and this is what you get.

I figure it's something I'll expand piece-by-piece as things need to come up or as I run different things.

As for your offerings: A merfolk synthesist totally had me confused for a moment, before I realized that's how he gets legs! That's a really clever use of the class. I could be convinced to allow a merfolk, but he would need to have a pretty stupendous background.

As for the other (which I will heretofore call the MANLIEST MAN EVER) I would love to see a build for that, at the very least.


Lucent wrote:
@Ordud: Nice start, and I think this works out rather well. My only quibble is that Lastwall is south of Ustalav and Belzken is West of Ustalav. East would be Numeria, and that's a can of robo-worms that the Whispering Tyrant isn't going to open yet.

quibble:
After securing Ustalav, the Tyrant turned East West looking for new subjects and fodder; the Hold of Belkzen would bend their knees to him or break.

Glad you liked it. I've changed East to West meaning the Tyrant looking toward the Hold. Please let me know if there are any other wrinkles or improvements that you would like to see.

cheers


I take Rasso's background as is isn't stupendous? What exactly would you be looking for to justify the merfolk aspect?


Will need a little refluffing, but this is my presentation. Any suggestions on backstory for you world would be appreciated!


As for the 'manliest man ever' build, he would be a human Ranger (Trapper/Guide) 2. Take a level of survivalist rogue at 3.

He'd have a musket to stick with the frontiersman archetype, but he would mainly be a melee character. Probably grab a great axe.

He'd have the ability to handle traps, track, survive in the wild, kick ass, be relatively stealthy and have maybe a rank in profession Hunter and Logger for flavor.

He'd probably look like this. Except that he'd have armor under it, since his AC would suck otherwise.

Stats would be Str 18 Dec 16 con 14 int 10 wis 12 cha 8.

If this kind of character appeals to you more than Rasso, I'd like to know so I can spend my energy on him instead.


Lucent wrote:
Crustypeanut wrote:

What about Kain? :X Don't forget Meeee. I've been refreshing ze page hoping for a response :P

Marcellano Kain.

Oh, I didn't have any commentary because you're 100% spot on done. That's a perfectly crafted and well-rounded character that fits into the setting well. :D

You did great!

Oh, well then, woo! :D Great to hear.

I'm actually going to include this backstory into my own S&S campaign, so that the Chelish Marines are now Unbreakable Fighters all around. The players have yet to encounter them, but when they do.. he he he.

Also, as for leveling-up with this guy, he's likely saying 100% Fighter, though pending circumstances, I may take a few levels in Horizon Walker, up to level 3.


DM Jelani wrote:
I take Rasso's background as is isn't stupendous? What exactly would you be looking for to justify the merfolk aspect?

Sorry, I'd missed your second post today saying you'd updated his background. I hadn't looked at it yet since you'd said you needed to make some revisions. Looking at it I really like what I see. Given Rasso's amphibious nature, though, I'm surprised that the Andoran people didn't put him with their navy in taking down slaving ships and/or assisting with the evacuation of refugees from northern Garund that were fleeing the destruction of Katapesh. Having a merman that can fish people out of the icy waters would be pretty cool.

Something to think on!

As it is I'd accept it as written and I think it's sufficient background to justify a merfolk, too. So you can either leave it as-is or tinker with it over the next few days. I'm going to look at all applicants again once recruitment ends, so I'll definitely see any changes you may make.


Excellent, good to hear. That actually makes a ton of sense about the navy. The fact I didn't think of that right away makes it clear to me I can make the story better. I will definitely work on Rasso's background over the next days.


Question for you Lucent - this isn't a background question or anything like that, but a rules question. Does the +5 bonus to Fortitude saves from the Cold Weather Outfit stack with the +2 from Furs? It says the furs 'can be used to supplement another outfit', so I'm thinking so, but I'd like to confirm this with you as the DM.

In addition, the Cold Weather Outfit's bonus is listed as a Circumstance Bonus, while the Furs has no type to it, its just a '+2 bonus'. Though, it specifically states the Fur's bonus does not stack with the Survival skills' bonus.


As I'm looking at submitting a Gunslinger, what's the current state of the Mana Wastes and Alkenstar? :)


Crustypeanut wrote:

Question for you Lucent - this isn't a background question or anything like that, but a rules question. Does the +5 bonus to Fortitude saves from the Cold Weather Outfit stack with the +2 from Furs? It says the furs 'can be used to supplement another outfit', so I'm thinking so, but I'd like to confirm this with you as the DM.

In addition, the Cold Weather Outfit's bonus is listed as a Circumstance Bonus, while the Furs has no type to it, its just a '+2 bonus'. Though, it specifically states the Fur's bonus does not stack with the Survival skills' bonus.

I would allow a cold weather outfit and furs to stack, yes. Living in a cold environment myself I can vouch for the benefits of layering ;)

Remember that the weight of both items would count towards your total encumbrance, however. Both are not particularly light.


Arknight wrote:
As I'm looking at submitting a Gunslinger, what's the current state of the Mana Wastes and Alkenstar? :)

The Grand Duchy of Alkenstar and the Mana Wastes:

No other location in the world profits from the concept of war economy like the grand duchy of Alkenstar. With Golarion thrown into cataclysmic upheval and war, the Grand Duchy made an unprecedented push to arm the peoples of Golarion for these conflicts. Following the rise of the Spawn of Rovagug and the destruction of Katapesh, the Gunworks of Alkenstar began tripling the output of firearms and arranging for shipping lanes to embattled nations to be created.

Forming a powerful alliance with the Aspis Consortium, the Duchy has funneled thousands of firearms into the Avistan region at exorbitant prices for wholesale purchase. They have also begun the mass production of siege firearms for warships and prototypes of advanced siege firearms that, according to rumors, will change the face of warfare itself.

Geographically isolated from the major conflicts, Alkenstar has only had to contend with a downward trend in global temperatures, which the hardy people of the Mana Wastes have weathered resiliently. Already needing to resort to alternative crop irrigation and harvesting, Alkenstar is one of the few global settlements where hunger is not an issue.

Only recently have their troubles started to compound, as serpentine scouts from the Mwangi Expanse have begun slipping east into the wastes.

Special Note: The Mana Wastes is considered to be a firearms everywhere location. As such, firearm prices are cheaper from characters starting from that region, and proficiency for characters trained in that region is handled differently, per the "firearms everywhere" rule.

Characters venturing outside of the Mana Wastes, firearms/ammunition are crafted as per the "commonplace guns" rules, representing more limited resources. But proficiency and starting gear remain at the better value.


Lucent wrote:
Crustypeanut wrote:

Question for you Lucent - this isn't a background question or anything like that, but a rules question. Does the +5 bonus to Fortitude saves from the Cold Weather Outfit stack with the +2 from Furs? It says the furs 'can be used to supplement another outfit', so I'm thinking so, but I'd like to confirm this with you as the DM.

In addition, the Cold Weather Outfit's bonus is listed as a Circumstance Bonus, while the Furs has no type to it, its just a '+2 bonus'. Though, it specifically states the Fur's bonus does not stack with the Survival skills' bonus.

I would allow a cold weather outfit and furs to stack, yes. Living in a cold environment myself I can vouch for the benefits of layering ;)

Remember that the weight of both items would count towards your total encumbrance, however. Both are not particularly light.

Sounds good! That brings me up to a +20 Fortitude save vs Cold Weather while I'm wearing my Cold Weather Outfit and Furs. +22 if I succeed on a Survival check and am remaining stationary.

Also, I've already included the weight of all my gear. I'm 15 pounds or so away from heavy encumbrance, carrying currently 219 lbs of gear, which is including my armor, weapons, ammunition, food, three sets of clothing, furs, etc. Instead of going for masterwork weapons and armor, I went for gear to help me survive :D

12 pounds for a Cold Weather Outfit and Furs doesn't seem like much after that. Plus another 7 pounds from my spare Cold Weather Outfit.. 20 lbs for the tent.. 25 lbs of food.. I almost went with a packdog so I could carry more stuff! Then I ran out of money. Hehe


All right, I'm gonna take another run at it - how has Nirmathas fared in all the evil madness? I'm pondering a different take on the Guide ranger, or an inquisitor of Desna, who represents a less leight-hearted side of her church, kind of a resistance fighter motivated by Desna's aspect as the goddess of freedom.


Nirmathas:

Spared the wrath of the runelord Karzoug, the nation of Nirmathas weathered the return of Thassilon thanks in part to the buffer created by Korvosa and the presence of the immortal queen Ileosa and the dragon Kazavon. However it has always been clear that this protection is merely an illusion of safety, for if that pair ever turned their steely gaze on the forest kingdom of Nirmathas little would remain but ruin.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of the second darkness was devastating to Nirmathas. A tsunami ravaged the coastal regions of the country, wiping out villages and cities as a fifteen foot wall of water rolled twenty miles inland. In the wake of that, incursions from Nidal have increasingly put pressure on the remaining settlements, however the Nirmathi irregulars and their guerrilla tactics have prevented that encroachment from the shadow kingdom from growing too great.

Sects of the church of both Desna and Milani have strongly influenced the region, and most able-bodied men and women have taken up arms to protect the Nirmathan borders from Nidalese aggression, all while nervously watching their northern borders.


For those submitting who are curious about my GMing style, I unfortunately don't have any PbP records for you, but I do have session logs from my Roll20.net campaign, "Ascension."

There's no gameplay in here, just the chronicle of in-character stuff, but it helps showcase writing styles, etc, and the level of detail I intend on bringing to this PbP.

Pathfinder: Ascension - Character Prologues

Pathfinder: Ascension - Part I: The Caves of Steel


I am going to submit a second character. :)

Could we reflavor the Militia Veteran Trait for my backstory?


Which trait is that in specific? I don't recall that one.


Updated backstory to be more relevant to the campaign.


Lucent wrote:
Which trait is that in specific? I don't recall that one.

Militia Veteran:
Your first job was serving in a civilian militia in your home town. Skills learned while daily drilling and protecting your fellow townsfolk gave you special insight into military life.

Benefit: Select one of the following skills: Profession (soldier), Ride, or Survival. You gain a +2 trait bonus on that skill, and it is always a class skill for you.

Wasn't in a militia, but learned to fight whilst traveling with a group through the lands, which would be a harsh way of life.


Oh! Okay that's from the APG I think. Yeah, I don't mind if people tinker with the flavor of non-campaign traits, as long as you ask first. I think that will be fine, Katerina.


Alexander Edwin LaCroix wrote:
Updated backstory to be more relevant to the campaign.

The locations are correctly aligned this time, however there's still some thematic issues. Karlsgard is the capital of the Linnorm Kingdoms, and as such it has been in a perpetual state of readiness and conflict for the last seven years as Karzoug tests the nation's southern defenses and sends his forces northward. Armies of giants and other loyal creatures to the Runelord of Greed besieging cities would be something that would affect a character's life.

Furthermore, the last three years have been such a devastating increase of winter weather, most notably that the last year only had a few weeks of warm weather and contributed to the failure of crops and the starvation of thousands.

Alexander may not have had much time to pursue a (recent) acting career in that region as most people are focused more on the grim reality of survival rather than artistic endeavors.


Lucent wrote:

For those submitting who are curious about my GMing style, I unfortunately don't have any PbP records for you, but I do have session logs from my Roll20.net campaign, "Ascension."

There's no gameplay in here, just the chronicle of in-character stuff, but it helps showcase writing styles, etc, and the level of detail I intend on bringing to this PbP.

Pathfinder: Ascension - Character Prologues

Pathfinder: Ascension - Part I: The Caves of Steel

Great. Look forward to your rich description and story.

cheers


Lucent wrote:

Spared the wrath of the runelord Karzoug, the nation of Nirmathas weathered the return of Thassilon thanks in part to the buffer created by Korvosa and the presence of the immortal queen Ileosa and the dragon Kazavon. However it has always been clear that this protection is merely an illusion of safety, for if that pair ever turned their steely gaze on the forest kingdom of Nirmathas little would remain but ruin.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of the second darkness was devastating to Nirmathas. A tsunami ravaged the coastal regions of the country, wiping out villages and cities as a fifteen foot wall of water rolled twenty miles inland. In the wake of that, incursions from Nidal have increasingly put pressure on the remaining settlements, however the Nirmathi irregulars and their guerrilla tactics have prevented that encroachment from the shadow kingdom from growing too great.

This is really, really cool stuff.

A question about it: when you say tidal waves swept the coastal regions of Nirmathas, do you mean the shores of Lake Encarnathan? I don't know Second Darkness, so I'm not sure of the story leading up to this, but from the summary of the AP, it looks like a meteorite plays a role - did the meteorite impact cause the tidal waves? Just want to be have an idea of the story as I write my history, particularly as I envision my character originally being from Tamran, and it would be helpful to know if it was destroyed.

Also, when did the impact occur, relative to the start of this campaign?


Khelreddin wrote:
Lucent wrote:

Spared the wrath of the runelord Karzoug, the nation of Nirmathas weathered the return of Thassilon thanks in part to the buffer created by Korvosa and the presence of the immortal queen Ileosa and the dragon Kazavon. However it has always been clear that this protection is merely an illusion of safety, for if that pair ever turned their steely gaze on the forest kingdom of Nirmathas little would remain but ruin.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of the second darkness was devastating to Nirmathas. A tsunami ravaged the coastal regions of the country, wiping out villages and cities as a fifteen foot wall of water rolled twenty miles inland. In the wake of that, incursions from Nidal have increasingly put pressure on the remaining settlements, however the Nirmathi irregulars and their guerrilla tactics have prevented that encroachment from the shadow kingdom from growing too great.

This is really, really cool stuff.

A question about it: when you say tidal waves swept the coastal regions of Nirmathas, do you mean the shores of Lake Encarnathan? I don't know Second Darkness, so I'm not sure of the story leading up to this, but from the summary of the AP, it looks like a meteorite plays a role - did the meteorite impact cause the tidal waves? Just want to be have an idea of the story as I write my history, particularly as I envision my character originally being from Tamran, and it would be helpful to know if it was destroyed.

Also, when did the impact occur, relative to the start of this campaign?

That's the gist of it, yeah. A meteor impacted in Kyonin and pretty much turns the entire country into a glowing, fiery crater. The impact from that sent shockwaves across Encarthan that sent tidal waves across all of the coastal regions of the lake. Nirmathas was among the nations strongly affected by this.

Notably, Tamran would've been destroyed. Unfortunately for the tidal wave and fortunately for the people of Nirmathas, Tamran is pretty resiliant to destruction:

Quote:


At the end of their last occupation the Molthune forces grew so frustrated they burned the city to the ground, only to have it be completely rebuilt within a year.

It might've taken about two years (especially for the floodwater to recede enough to build) but Tamran is likely back by now.


When is the deadline for this?


March 4th.


For Characters? okay I might could get one set-up. Has the Land of the Linnorm Kings & Varki/Various other Northern People been explained?

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