What's happening in Thuvia and Osirion from 4711-4716? Are they overrun with snake people? Has Xotani's influence spread that far? Is it wintery there?
Trying to get a feel for what kind of refugees would be streaming north into the inner sea. How is Andoran reacting to the Chelish civil war? Are there border skirmishes? Is it open season on slave ships for the Andoran fleet?
After several re-workings and edits, story of Haterivet the monk is finally done. Could you please take a look and tell me what you think of the background, is it acceptable, and I will work on the mechanics meanwhile. Thanks a lot.
Can we use Piecemeal Armour? Pretty Please?
It helps with my Armoured Military Pathfinder build.
I'll look at throwing together a sketch of Fenyx in the next day or so. May be willing to do "thumbnail" portraits for others as well, possibly, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it; not got a ton of time to devote to it at the moment.
Yes, please. Message me if you have time.
Cheers!
Strangely this Avatar I picked is nearly perfect for how I picture her... Especially after she eventually defeats a Linnorm and becomes a Linnorm King herself. But currently just remove the Headband and turn the Gold Rings to Silver or Cold Iron Trinkets.
Aasimar paladin on deck. Background is more important than crunch I always say.
I have a feeling you have dealt with DMVotV...
Sure it is when you are Drinking and having fun... Or have just woken up.
Okay, I've gotten Rasso to the point where I'm pretty happy with him. I'd also like another round of feedback if you have time Lucent. Especially if there's an area where adding more detail would benefit me.
I'm gonna throw this guy in there instead. Droguk
He should be pretty much done. Probably not because I tend to fiddle around with the mechanics again and again, but, there you go.
A Merfolk... How strange...
Equipment will be up soon.
Good Evening Lucent,
Celeador here, with my application. This is *just* my initial backstory. I have additional background details to be added as well as your requested Appearance and Personality sections but I wanted to give you a preview of my concept.
Basically, I believe it going with a background first approach to building a character and I hope that by reading what I have so far, you will get a good idea of what I am going for. In truth, I have only made the roughest outline of the characters actual crunch, since I believe that the mechanics should come secondary to who the character is, and that a solid background will create the character, not the other way around.
On the topic of mechanics however, I hope that you would be willing to work with me on a Mordant Spire specific campaign trait, that might fit Teladon. I also appreciate any feedback you might have. I'm off to bed now, but I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
-Celeador
1) Five years ago a star fell, striking the uninhabited island of Devils Elbow. It would herald the end of life as Teladon knew. As a warrior trained from birth to guard the secrets of the Mordant Spire from outsider and treasure-seekers, Teladon stood in the Hall of Elders as the secretive Shin’Rakorath petitioned the High Elders for aid in taking back the once great elven capital of Celwynvian. Against the Elders better judgment, they choose to honor the ancient pact with their Kyonin brethren, and so Teladon, along with his brother Arylon and a hundred other Spire Defenders marched to war. For weeks Teladon fought side by side with his southern kin reclaiming the city against their abandoned and forgotten kin and it was during the final battle amid the ruins of The Academy of Arts that Teladon watched his brother Arylon fall.
2) After Celwynvian was reclaimed, Teladon along with the handful of remaining Spire Defenders returned to their homeland, believing the threat neutralized and for the next six months it seemed that they were correct. It was during this time that in quiet meditation Teladon began to question the elder’s decision to take part in a war that was no concern of theirs. The battle for Celwynvian had cost him his brother’s life and left Arylon’s wife without a husband and his brother’s child without a father. As the days turned to weeks Teladon became more and more frustrated. Instinctively he believed in the brightness, and that Arylon had been reborn anew, but that did nothing to still the anger, frustration and bitterness that grew in his heart.
3) Everything changed however with the coming of the second darkness. In the months leading up to the cataclysm dark and terrible rumors began to spread amongst the normally aloof island refuge. The rumors told of massing demonic forces from within the Tangebriar forest of Kyonin and of the rebirth of the fallen runlord Karzoug the Claimer. Other reports spoke of the resurrection of the ancient blue wyrm Kazavon and the beginnings of a war that would rock the frontier nation of Varisia. Then the unthinkable happened. In the dead of night as Teladon stood guard amid the standing stones of the Spire’s long dormant Elf gate, Teladon watched as the gate exploded into life, and from the billowing smoke, scorching heat and inky ash, Queen Telandia Edasseril, Ruler of Kyonin, led a shadow’s shadow of her people through the gate and away from the fiery hell that was once Iadara and into the Mordant Spire.
4) The months that would follow would be like those not seen since the elven retreat through the Sovyrian Stone in -5293 AR. With the elven nations caught unaware, evacuation to Sovyrian was not an option and with Iadara in flames and overrun by the demonic forces of Treerazer, reclaiming the elven seat of power was impossible. Desperate and facing enemies on all sides, the Elder Counsel turned to the only chance of survival they had, the ancient magic of Azlant. Making the decision to unlock their vaults and wards, the Elders brought forth the long protected Azlanti relics, arming their warriors and mages with weapons, armor and spells that they had safeguarded for thousands of years. It was during this time that Teladon was entrusted with an obsidian encrusted whip, bearing the forgotten symbol of Lissala, goddess of fate and duty.
5) Since the fateful day that the sky fell upon Kyonin and the elven nations were shattered, the world has teetered on the brink of destruction. Calamity after calamity has stuck, and Golarion is balanced on a knife edge. Some nations have managed to maintain a tenuous grip, but even now with the appearance of unnatural storms all over the world, what little security that existed is slipping away. Two weeks ago Teladon listened as an Andoran envoy addressed the Hall of Elders and petitioned for aid. The human spoke of a gathering of nations and a unified effort to reclaim the ruins of their world. After quiet and careful deliberation the Elders decided that they would provide what assistance they could spare, despite the fact that the rest of Golarion’s nations provided no succor when Kyonin was destroyed. And so, Teladon, alone out of all of the Spire Defenders was selected to represent the Mordant Spire.
Equipment is up in the Alias. Tell me if you see something wrong.
EDIT: Finished the Equipment. Now onto Finishing her Background.
Here's a brief sketch that does a little more justice than the avatar, I think.
Sweet Sketch... Wish I could draw like that...
Background is complete. Any questions I can probably answer them, but I don't want to bloat my Alias anymore than it already is...
Inspired by Fenyx to break out the old pencil. Did a quick sketch of Rasso. Please excuse the bad quality, I don't have a scanner and had to take a picture of it with a crappy cellphone camera to upload it.
You forgot to share it.
Whoops! Fixed.
I am guessing this is his Fused Form?
& You drew a Humanoid better than I would...
Yeah, that's his fused form.
Creepy... I likey...
Holy balls! There's a lot to respond to! Let me get my morning coffee and I'll get to everyone's questions in the order they were submitted.
So excited to see this strong response!
Alright, here we go. Got some fluff whipped and some crunchy cookies baked up. Background remains somewhat general, but hopefully is accurate enough to the events of the setting. Let me know if something conflicts with history somewhere, and I'll patch it up.
Fire away with the questions, DM, and we'll fill in the gaps together if you're up for it. He's a bit iconic, perhaps, but with subtle differences that I'll get to express in the story. If we work out his code and such beforehand, we'll have none of the destructive drama that a bad paladin can bring, while hopefully still having a -little- of that rich in-character conflict that makes characters believable without bogging down the game.
Hey Albrecht!
There's one line in your background that makes me think you might've confused the geography a little.
Already a renowned trooper for his fortitude, confidence, and stalwart comraderie, Albrecht had been assigned duty as border patrol when the first reports of undead began reaching the bastion. As more and more reports streamed in, the casualties began to rise. Albrecht pleaded with his commanding officer to send a detachment to strike back, but the commander refused, knowing that Lastwall was one of the most strategic points of Ustalav's defense.
Lastwall is its own nation, set apart from Ustalav. When the Whispering Tyrant Tar-Baphon arose from his imprisonment, it was pretty much dead-center of Ustalav, so the war began from within that country's borders.
By the time reports came filtering in that war had broken out and that the Whispering Tyrant may have been set free, Lastwall would have been marshalling crusaders of all shapes and sizes to march into Ustalav to try and bolster the defenses of cities and strike back at Tar-Baphon.
Unfortunately those first on the front line were unprepared for an emey the likes of the Whispering Tyrant, a foe of such unimaginable power that has not been faced in the Inner Sea in centuries. Thousands of soldiers died and day by day miles of territory in Ustalav were claimed by the armies of the Whispering Tyrant.
Lastwall would have called for a withdraw to reorganize and reconsider. So it could very well be in this point that Albrecht's background works. When Lastwall was consolidating their forces and considering how to counterattack. A lot of people were likely eager to go back in to the fight (especially those who had not witnessed the horror of war with the undead first hand).
I think we're pretty much on the same page on that, I just want to make sure you've got the geographies correct.
@Albrecht: Also you have four traits picked. You can have three total: One campaign trait and two others.
Edit: Nevermind, I see what you did. You took the alternate racial trait and put it in with the 'trait' traits. God I wish they named those something different.
What about the Realm of the Mammoth Lords? Would they have fared pretty much the same as the Land of the Linnorm Kings?
That is a sad story:
Once the last bastion of Kellid society where their people's tradition was upheld, the Realm of the Mammoth Lords could have weathered the endless winter successfully, had that not also come with incursions from the icy realm of Irrisen and a more horrifying enemy to the south.
The Rise of Karzoug and the return of Tar-Baphon had no impact on Kellid life, so far removed from these regions. The impact that destroyed Kyonin touched the Kellid only in that they witnessed the sky turn gray and the sun never fully emerge. But when Queen Elvanna of Irrisen began sending her dire armies eastward in an attempt to claim the holds of the Kellid for her kingdom, they were unprepared.
Kellid might as it is, the Irriseni armies were prepared for a difficult battle. Unfortunately, the lack of cohesion from one tribe to the next meant that the Kellid never learned from their mistakes in battles as tribes fell to the Irriseni forces.
The nation of Irrisen, however, could not have predicted a remarkable and terrifying turn of events in this conflict. As the Irriseni marched eastward with armies of frost giants, winter wolves and evil fey, they encountered something in the snow that had been slumbering for centuries.
Black metal, glowing red eyes, and able to spit slugs of metal and burning beams of energy from its body, the harvesting machine of Numeria was match enough for an entire army all on its own. Uncontrollable and fashioned of unfathomable technology, the Annihilator decimated the Irriseni forces and forced them to retreat.
The Kellid won no victory in this, however, as the Annihilator quickly turned its attention on the Kellid tribes. Stories of those who survived claimed that the Annihilator moved from tribe to tribe and village to village harvesting the living and stowing their screaming forms inside of its mechanical body.
After thousands of Kellid were harvested, the Annihilator disappeared into the frozen wastes, leaving the scattered survivors in awe of its power and terror of its return.
Good Afternoon Lucent,
I am still playing around with the premise as to my character, and I have a few more questions.
1. How did the Mordant Spire fare following the destruction of Kyonin and the return of Karzoug? Did the Runelord of Greed have any interest in the so called inheritors of Azlant? I am aware that the Moredant Spire elves are notoriously standoffish, But I could see them taking in survivors from Kyonin, considering that they did help the elves of Kyonin retake the fallen elven capital of Celwynvian four years ago. I'm starting to see a concept develop here but I need a little more info.
2. Ydersius and the return of the serpentfolk: In my mind, I see the serpentfolk as being cold blooded. While there is nothing that is specifically stated as such in RAW, I think that it's pretty reasonable. Going off this assumption, I could see an eternal winter as a severe threat to the followers of Ydersius. Is this a fair assessment? Going along that same line of thinking, do you feel that the other nations of Golarion might be willing to accept an emissary of the serpentfolk? Conceptually I am leaning towards a Nagaji for this idea.
3. Custom traits: You have created several custom traits to represent the nations of Cheliax, Lastwall, Shalast and Andoran. Would you be willing to work with me towards a custom "campaign" trait for the Mordant Spire, Ydersius or Hermea?
Thanks again for the quick replies Lucent. At this point I have narrowed down my character concepts into three ideas. I look forward to hearing your response and incorporating it into my final submission.
-Celeador
More numbered lists, yesss.
1) The Mordant Spire has managed to largely go unaffected by the various cataclysms. The impact of second darkness in Kyonin struck the Mordant elves both physically and emotionally. The deaths of hundreds of thousands of their people was an unfathomable loss to them. With elven gestation and maturation measured in centuries, the deaths of so many elves meant that their society may never fully recover, not for thousands of years.
Physically the Mordant Spire suffered from some minor earthquakes that they were able to weather without issue. While they have been wary of Karzoug's return, he has so far not put much focus on their presence. The Mordant remain distant and Karzoug gives them their space. They understand that this will likely change, but for now it gives them time to consider their options. Returning to Castrovel is definitely a consideration.
Any survivors who did make it to the Mordant spire (and those that chose to go there would be few and far between) were met with sympathy and pity, but the Mordant do not feel they have the necessary resources or power to reclaim Kyonin from Treerazer and the drow below it.
2) I looked that up, and Pathfinder specified that the Serpentfolk are actually warm-blooded. Since the region they inhabit has been least impacted by the endless winter, they have yet to turn a concerned eye to the weather and are more focused on getting a foothold in Garund and rebuilding their society.
However, if you were interested in playing a Nagaji, we could look into what is going on in Tian-Xia and the Nagaji homeland.
3) I could definitely put one together for Hermea, as I think that is most likely to be involved in this.
Scion of the Lightbringer
You were hand picked by Mengkare to ensure the survival of the Hermean people and the world. You have been blessed by the ancient gold dragon and inherited a fraction of his power manifest in iridescent golden hues to your skin and eyes. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks and Diplomacy is always considered a class skill for you. Furthermore you gain fire resistance 2. This fire resistance stacks with any other energy resistance you may already have.
What's happening in Thuvia and Osirion from 4711-4716? Are they overrun with snake people? Has Xotani's influence spread that far? Is it wintery there?
Trying to get a feel for what kind of refugees would be streaming north into the inner sea. How is Andoran reacting to the Chelish civil war? Are there border skirmishes? Is it open season on slave ships for the Andoran fleet?
Refuggees are primarily from what was once Katapesh. They fled both north and south when Xotani emerged and have moved from Katapesh to Osirion to beyond. Those that fled south did so into Nex and while many died in the harsh wastelands of the country, some found their way to coastal cities and made their way east to Jalmeray on the water.
I'll cover north Garund below:
In the Kingdom of Man, the return of the Runelord of Greed and the resurrection of Tar-Baphon are distant worries. Cheliax embroiled in civil war gave the nation opportunity to reclaim their northern penninsula from the theist nation in a bloody siege that gave them control of the southern side of the Arch of Aroden and therefore part of the gateway to the Arcadian Ocean.
Second Darkness impacted Rahadoum by motivating their already prestigious college of wizardry and sorcery to research ways to clear the skies of dust to allow sunlight to return to their land. Unfortunately, this research is many years out from baring any fruit, and the coming of years of winter has impeded this.
Rahadoumi scholars have been researching the drop in global climates, and while their secular society has made the connection between the meteor impact and the dust in the sky contributing to lowering temperatures, they have also realized that magic is at work. Rahadoum seemed content to take their time researching this, right up until the city of Manaket was destroyed in a single night just five months ago (17th Calistril, 4716 AR).
From the reports that have made it out of Rahadoum, in one dark and cold night the city of Manaket was swallowed by in a sudden blizzard that erupted from one of the market plazas. Spires of ice tore up from the ground, people were flash frozen to death in a hurricane of snow and ice, and entire buildings shattered from the sudden temperature drop.
Since that day, a swirling tornado of snow has loomed over Manaket and reports of creatures not native to Garund emerging from the city's ruins alongside hosts of frozen undead have emerged. Few outside of Rahadoum know this has occured.
Due to its distance and relative isolation from Avistan, the tumultous last few years have largely left Thuvia unaffected. Word of Xotani's destruction of Katapesh reached the ears of the various city-states, but no comprehensive agreement that the stories were anything but fiction was come to in those early years.
Second darkness was a point of focus for the Thuvians, and much wealth was funneled into research regarding ways to clear the skies of the dust and ash that blocked out most of the sun. In 4714 when refugees from Katapesh finally began pouring into Thuvia, belief that a spawn of Rovagug had truly awakened sent shockwaves through Thuvian society.
For a year, riots and violence rocked the desert nation as fearful citizens fought over stores of food with not only one another but also the refugees that had come from neighboring Osirion, fleeing the path of Xotani.
The disparate city-states began imposing harsh martial law on their populace and forcing foreign refugees out into the deserts or into cramped fishing boats to be set adrift on the Inner Sea. As the rulers of Thuvia closed their borders and clamped down to try and weather the coming storm, their lack of cohesive unity would appear to set the stage for their undoing.
Xotani the Fire-Bleeder destroyed the empire of Katapesh in a single night, but contingencies were already in place by the Pactmasters for this eventuality. Fleeing to Osirion, the mysterious otherworldly rulers of Katapesh made a plea with the Ruby Prince for safe haven, one that he would honor... for a time.
Osirion was clearly imperiled by Xotani's return and the destruction of Katapesh. First and foremost were the scores of refugees flooding into Sothis, crowding the tent cities and bazaars, packing the streets with their masses. Already suffering from poor crop growth due to the second darkness, the approach of global temperature decline struck Osirion hard.
Faced with the starvation of his people, overcrowding and the threat of Xotani Prince Khemet slipped further and further into depression and madness. The fire elemental adviser long since bound to his service, however, began whispering a plan into the weary prince's ear. One that, inevitably, would break the prince's will.
The plan that Janhelia, Khemet's fire-elemental advisor outlined, was a broad and sweeping one. Using his divine authority, the Ruby Prince had his risen guard sweep through Sothis and gather up all of the refugees from Katapesh under the promise that he would personally lead them to a new home to remain safe in, away from Sothis. Few truly believed the prince's words, but most suspected that they would be loaded onto ships and sent to the Inner Sea.
None were prepared for the truth.
Khemet had, in secret, been using his powers to communicate with another entity that would ensure the safety of his people at Janhelia's urging. The refugees of Katapesh and the Pactmasters themselves were brought by crook and lash outside of Sothis in view of the city's gates, where Khemet proceeded to deliver a babbling speech about the responsibility of rulers to their people. During this chaos, the Pactmasters knew something unfortunate was in store for them, and utilized illusion magic to ensure their escape back into Sothis.
Before he even finished his speech, the ground began to quake and the refugees panicked. Surrounded by Khemet's risen guard they were forced to remain penned in as Wrath-Blazing Xotani the Fire-Bleeder erupted from the ground and burned alive tens of thousands of refugees. Watching the people consumed by flames and destruction, Ruby Prince Khemet fell to his knees and proclaimed himself loyal servant of Xotani and Herald of Rovagug if the fire-bleeder would but spare his people.
Xotani ignored the Ruby Prince's plea, and soon the prince himself became the next devoured by the Fire-Bleeder. Xotani briefly turned its attention on Sothis, demolishing the southern quarter of the city before withdrawing into the Darklands and leaving Osirion to burn.
The survivors of the mad prince's death and Xotani's rampage worked to quench the fires and try and bring about a semblance of order in the city. A tentative council of merchant lords, a Pathfinder Venture Captain, the royal Crook Bearer of Osirion and the surviving Pactmasters have formed an interim government and have reached out to other nations for help. As a sign of good will, they joined the council that met in Absalom to cooperate in the end of the reign of winter that approached.
Edit: Made some changes to the Osirion one based on some other notes I found and that it contradicted some earlier stuff I'd written.
After several re-workings and edits, story of Haterivet the monk is finally done. Could you please take a look and tell me what you think of the background, is it acceptable, and I will work on the mechanics meanwhile. Thanks a lot.
Looks good now! That's a pretty wild backstory, really interesting!
Can we use Piecemeal Armour? Pretty Please?
It helps with my Armoured Military Pathfinder build.
I don't think I want the extra complexity of piecemeal armor rules in this campaign, it already has a lot of crazy stuff going on with it. However, feel free to change up the description of your armor within reason if you'd like. Changing a buckler to be a huge armored gauntlet, or the like. I'm fine with some creative license to match an intended visual.
Aasimar paladin on deck. Background is more important than crunch I always say.
I think with a little work the Aasimar angle could work. I'm getting a strong Valkyrie vibe from this angel, and I think if you spin it more in that direction (Gaandik being the scion of a Valkyrie and a chosen slain) it could be really fantastic.
However, the rest of the background needs some work. How did Gaandik get embroiled with the Andoran plan to investigate the endless winter. How did three years of extremely harsh winters and little other seasons affect Gaandik in his homeland? How did he survive when others were freezing to death and starving in their homes?
Has he had to battle the giants and monsters of Karzoug or the witch-queen of Irrisen's armies?
Okay, I've gotten Rasso to the point where I'm pretty happy with him. I'd also like another round of feedback if you have time Lucent. Especially if there's an area where adding more detail would benefit me.
I really like Rasso's background. The inclusion of his meeting with the Steel Falcon as a short vignette was also really cool. I don't have any real further feedback for this, I think it's pretty great.
Teladon your background is amazing. Seriously.
In the dead of night as Teladon stood guard amid the standing stones of the Spire’s long dormant Elf gate, Teladon watched as the gate exploded into life, and from the billowing smoke, scorching heat and inky ash, Queen Telandia Edasseril, Ruler of Kyonin, led a shadow’s shadow of her people through the gate and away from the fiery hell that was once Iadara and into the Mordant Spire.
This. A thousand times over, this. I couldn't be any more in love with that particular visual. I had presumed Telandia simply died, but I love the idea of her leading the survivors through the elf gate to the Spire. A Queen without a land living in apocalyptic "exile."
Yes.
Also, some full-disclosure:
I plan on running a modified version of the module The Witchwar Legacy at the end of this campaign as it dovetails well with the level range of Reign of Winter. These PCs will likely be near 20th level by the time we're done.
If this particular experiment goes well, I will be continuing onward in this alternate timeline with Wrath of the Righteous when it comes out.
Here's a brief sketch that does a little more justice than the avatar, I think.
Fenyx, that is fantastic!
I've changed my mind on my character, mostly because I managed to get to play a Huntmaster Cavalier elsewhere. That and the chances of replacing lost dogs and birds is likely very slim in this game, especially past part 2 of the AP.
As such could you tell me what the current situation in Geb and Nex is?
And out of curiosity: What happened with Zelishkar of the Bitter Flame? I mean the awakening of Xotani must have an impact on such a powerful daemon locked beneath Osirion. As a matter of fact I'd think daemons in general would be rather enjoying the current era. (Add to that that Zelishkar might actually be scarier than Xotani)
Zelishkar is (for the moment) still imprisoned, but if he ever gets freed there will be nothing that can save the now crippled Osirion. Daemons in general think this is definitely the best era ever ;)
I actually don't have too much for both Geb and Nex. The serpentfolk haven't bothered to go far enough east to reach Geb (nor do they have a big desire to try and deal with the ghost-king's armies). Nex is likely marshalling every single construct they have to watch the northern border for Xotani's return. More likely than not, they've locked themselves up into their bastions of cities, hoping they can weather the coming turmoil and armageddon.
Nex is largely self-sufficient and their cities are basically magical fallout shelters, so I could really see them just flipping off the rest of the world and saying "deal with it."
Addendum to that: There's some description of refugees heading to Nex a few posts up. Basically they got thrown onto boats and rafts and told to "go somewhere else" after being politely turned around at any city they managed to get to in the wastes.
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Teladon your background is amazing. Seriously.
In the dead of night as Teladon stood guard amid the standing stones of the Spire’s long dormant Elf gate, Teladon watched as the gate exploded into life, and from the billowing smoke, scorching heat and inky ash, Queen Telandia Edasseril, Ruler of Kyonin, led a shadow’s shadow of her people through the gate and away from the fiery hell that was once Iadara and into the Mordant Spire.
This. A thousand times over, this. I couldn't be any more in love with that particular visual. I had presumed Telandia simply died, but I love the idea of her leading the survivors through the elf gate to the Spire. A Queen without a land living in apocalyptic "exile."
Yes.
@Lucent: I'm glad you approve. I'll be DMing my weekly Serpent Skull game tonight, but I'll see about adding to Teladon's background, and crunch.
So embellished on Sigrun's background, incorporating the story elements. Left the year of travel a bit vague, as it creates good opportunity for story as the campaign unfolds.
Will level her up to 2 today
Background
4oo years after the founding of Irrisen, Tollheim hosted a number of individual Ulfen tribes, including the stalwart warriors led by Haggar Oriksson, a legendary Ulfen fighter reknowned for his skill in battle and one expected to one day take the mantle of a Linnorm King.
Along the border an ambitious Winter Witch sought to expand her territory, summoning an army of fey to her side and pressing in towards Trollheim and directly into the domain of Haggar, as warden of the northernmost border. The fates however, deemed that the warrior and his people would not fall further, as a trio of Norns appeared before the warrior, warning him of the advance and granting his daughter, a skilled healer, with knowledge of a ritual that would grant his warriors power to face the witch and her trolls and giants.
When the witch's emissary, a Frost Giant warrior mounted atop a white dragon, arrived to accept fealty, the entire tribe attacked with an unrelenting fury, slaughtering them both despite heavy losses. Their blood was drained and mixed with herbs and mystical components, a ritual cast with painstaking precision and the blood consumed by all the tribe's warriors, imbuing them with the impervious nature of a frost giant and the unrelenting fury of the white dragon.
Such was the might of these magically imbued warriors that winter witch's plans for expansion were soon abandoned in light of continuous heavy losses, and a lack of support from the Winter Queen and her forces.
Hundreds of years later, it is whispered that traces of this power still lies dormant in the blood of some Northernmost Ulfen, a rumor that bears truth, for once in a generation a warrior manifests a portion of this power and the ability to truly embrace the cold that for all Ulfen is simply an inevitable aspect of life.
Sigrun was one so blessed, seemingly unaffected by the weather from the age of four. Her parents were outcasts, her mother, the daughter of a mighty Jarl and rumored to carry the blood of Baba Yaga herself, her father, a powerful warrior, born on a day of bad omen, a poor match despite his prowess and ability in the hunt. It was her mother's refusal to accept his fate that resulted in her being cast out, when her spurning of another warrior's approach erupted in a riot that killed a dozen warriors, most falling at Jagr’s devastating Lucerne Hammer.
The wild tundra was the home of an immeasurable number of deadly creatures, one of the deadliest being the dreaded winter wolf. Scenting a child protected only by two adults, the pack descended upon the family's hovel, managing to kill Sigrun's mother before retreating with 4 of their number dead.
Left with his wife dead and a five-year-old girl child, Jagr was forced to make a hard decision. Placing an axe and a doll at equal distances, Jagr set his little girl down in the snow to see which she would go to. The world of the north was no place for innocent childhood, and with pain in his heart, the man resolved that should the girl choose the doll, he would end her life, using his hammer to spare her the suffering that would inevitably fill her short life.
She toddled towards the axe, straining to pick it up.
The years were hard, but Sigrun was harder, the stoic child growing into a powerful and intense young woman, tough and focused, her father's pride and joy. No son could have done a father prouder, trained to hunt and forage, skilled in combat and prone to a devastating icy cold rage when in battle, the girl exhibited that in her the old blood was strong.
Alas the hard lessons of life were far from over, during a hunt, Sigrun and Jagr came upon a terrifying sight…the tracks of giants. Scores of them. Their land had been invaded.
All throughout the region Ulfen warriors met the invading army of Karzoug the Claimer’s giants, bringing the true ferocity of the north to bear on this new enemy, fighting not simply for home and land, but for their very survival.
Though claiming no ties to any one Linnorm King, Jagr and his daughter fought for their land spending years tracking and isolating individual giants, using a mix of guile, cunning and absolute ferocity to take the fight to the enemy unseen, counting each death as a victory for their homeland and their people.
In one of their sorties, the pair came across as hold besieged by a squadron of giants, their Jarl and his retainers fallen on the field, the surviving warriors desperately trying to defend the women and children against the ruthless destroyers.
With no regard for their own safety, the two attacked the giants from behind, sowing such chaos and fury as catch them completely by surprise. Those who witnessed the two in battle would call it a moment worthy of the sagas. Father and daughter working in perfect unison, deadly, brilliant, unrelenting. Inspired, the defenders rallied overpowering the enemy, forcing the last giant standing to retreat. But not without cost. Burning with anger over his squadron falling to humans the giant leader launched a parting shot, mighty great bow targeting the unmistakable flame haired warrior standing amidst his fallen men. None who bore witness could remember seeing Jagr move, none recall seeing the shot until it was almost too late. None but Sigrun. Wrenching her axe of a giant’s forehead, her eyes were met with a sight that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
The arrow, larger than any she had ever seen, more like a greatspear, spiraling toward her, faster than her body could even begin to react and yet slow compared to the blur of motion that was her father. One moment the arrow was sure to tear through her heart, the next it was punching through his back, his chest, her shield, coming to a stop a half inch into her chest, brutal impact hurling her into a tree with such force as to leave her with the memory of life fading from her father’s eyes as consciousness faded from hers.
She awoke a day later, cared for by the survivors, her father’s body given the respect worthy of a Jarl. Having now truly lost all that she held dear, Sigrun clung to her purpose in her father’s last battle, protecting those who were victim of the invasion. Taking up her father's hammer she took on with it his mantle, protector, guardian.
Her bravery and fierce determination won her something she had lacked from all but her father most of her life, acceptance.
When she identified the need to strike out and find the stronghold of one of the great Linnorm Kings, none even through to question her, the community following her lead across the treacherous land, the ever increasing cold adding to the attrition during the journey. And yet as the cold affected those around her, it seemed to also give her strength.
There were losses, but that was to be expected, getting them to Kalsgard, the realm of Sveinn Blood-Eagle was a task that truly put Sigrun to the test, cementing her in their eyes as a true hero in the making. In the ensuing years, the costs of war and winter were great indeed, with the alliances of the Linnorm Kings crumbling to dust, each hold becoming a city state of its own.
Sigrun ceased to give up hope for her people. Detrmined to find a way beyond the isolation of the current situation, she volunteered to venture south as the winters grew longer, seeking aid or alliance, first by ship through the occupied territory of the runelord, an experience that bought through deception, violence and an understanding that finding a way to save her people form the certain death of an unending winter was worth any personal price.
After more than a year, she made her way past Cheliax to the Inner Sea, her travels making it clear to her that the whole world seemed to be sliding into a cold dark well of oblivion. In the city of Andoran she would find hope, or she would die trying.
Ah, thanks for the clarity on locale. like I said, geography is one of my failings, real or otherwise. I'll see if I can't straighten that out a bit.
EDIT: ok, that should be a little better, I think. Continue to inquire as needed; My inspiration on this guy so far hasn't been quite what it was with some of my other characters, but it's a work in progress, and if anyone wants to collaborate, or if any further details are needed or incorrect, lay some truth on me and let's bring this hero to life!
So I decided to go ahead and make a version of Marcellano where he's in his Soldier's Uniform in HeroMachine. Here it be :D
That is a sad story:
** spoiler omitted **...
Thanks for the info. That'll help.
*wave* good to see you Mark!
You too Celeador!
Lucent
Can you put copy all of your posts on the current state of Golarion into the Campaign Info page? It would be great not to lose the info and have easy access.
cheers
I don't think I want the extra complexity of piecemeal armor rules in this campaign, it already has a lot of crazy stuff going on with it. However, feel free to change up the description of your armor within reason if you'd like. Changing a buckler to be a huge armored gauntlet, or the like. I'm fine with some creative license to match an intended visual.Can we use Piecemeal Armour? Pretty Please?
It helps with my Armoured Military Pathfinder build.
Alright now I got a nice idea...
BTW: I really like this concept of a campaign.
Lucent
Can you put copy all of your posts on the current state of Golarion into the Campaign Info page? It would be great not to lose the info and have easy access.
cheers
That's a good idea, I'll do that tonight.
Campaign tab is updated. If you see anything contradictory or confusing let me know, I'm mostly hatching these ideas off the cuff as I'm asked based on my preconceptions of the state of the world I'd imagined going into this.