First off: As Painlord writes in his lovely guide ~ "Don't set out to start a PbP. Set out to close a PbP." In this vein, I'd like make it clear up front that what the only thing I'm committing to at this point, and the only thing I'm asking you to commit to is the first book (Book 0) of the adventure path (levels 1-5). I have every intention of continuing onwards from there, but in the interest of future unpredictability Book 0 is realistically the most I can promise at this point.
Still here? Great!
Deliver us, O Lord, from the fury of the Northmen...
("The Wanderer," From the Exeter Book)
Wyrd is fate, and fate is inexorable beneath the leaden winter skies of the Northlands. Where raging storms, some sent by malevolent spirits of the Ginnungagap, howl from the Far North and bury steadings and towns alike under several feet of snow while unnamed things of tooth and shadow hunt those who dare to emerge and brave the cold. Where the blood of fighting men and women sings in harmony with the death cries of the spear-din and the clash of wood and steel when the shield walls meet. Where enchantments older than the race of Men linger in barrow fields and primeval forests waiting to ensnare the unwary or the foolish. This is the realm of the Norns where they measure and cut the threads of a man's wyrd. This is the Northlands.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the "feel" of the Northlands and Norse mythology in general, one way to break it down is this:
1. Gather up a nice handful of conventions from Greek mythology: the larger than life heroes, the truly epic battles, the glory of extolling and retelling such deeds, the harrowing journeys through lands unseen or even unnatural, the gods who walk beside their favored champions, the eerie supernatural, the iron bonds of loyalty to one's comrades, the heroic code, the placement of honor and bravery before even death, and most importantly the absolute grandeur of the overall plot arch.
2. Sprinkle some snow on everything.
So it may be a little tongue in cheek, but in all seriousness, if you're a fan of the any of the great Greek epics you'll find yourself fully at home in the Northlands. If you're just a regular D&D/Pathfinder fan, there's of absolutely a place for you, as these games draw many of their conventions from such sources. If you're a fan of more Nordic tales - you shouldn't even be reading this section, move on down to the next immediately!
All I need from you are three things:
Character Concept: Give me a very brief overview of your character - class, theme, anything that might not be readily apparent from your background. You do NOT need a full build - I'll be happy to answer questions about crunch but I won't even look at any statblocks until after I've selected the party. See the Campaign Info section for a Player's Guide to help you, as well as the profile of this alias for new archetypes/races. Do know that the campaign assumes the majority of the party to be human Northlanders in service to the local Jarl. Outlanders/thralls of other races are allowed, but will require a solid backstory to work well.
Backstory: Here is where I'll be basing most of my decision. Feel free to write as much or as little as you like (although I'm not looking to proofread your novels). A good backstory will be well-written, present a compelling character, and mesh well with the themes and tone of the campaign.
About Me: Again, nothing too long is necessary here, no personal information need be shared, just tell me at the very least a bit about something you like (such as roleplaying) just so that I know there's an actual human behind the character. For example, I'm fresh out of the oven here on the forums (this is my first game) but have been dabbling around with roleplaying games for at least the past 10 years, although never as much as I'd like. What really draws me to the hobby is adventure, plain and simple. I'm a fiend for stories. Movies, books, games, a night out on the town - if there's a chance for adventure and a good story to be told, I'm with it.
As mentioned in the beginning of the post, the bare minimum of commitment is the duration of Book 0, from levels 1-5. Players should be able to post once a day at the very least (the more the merrier though) and be able to access Google Slides for combat maps. If someone's absent for longer than 24 hours, it'll be up to the other players to bot them. Absent longer than a week without notice, you will be replaced. The most important rule, of course, is to put in your best to contribute towards an exciting game environment, embrace the spirit of the Northlands, and have fun!
It is well know that Olaf Henrikson began his career as a sellsword in the Southlands, where he gained his reputation as a leader of men and as a generous ring-giver. He also amassed his fortune with plunder from his days of fighting for foreign lords before attaining command of his own ships and reaving against the settlements of those same lords. Upon returning to the North at the head of his own fleet of sixteen ships, he landed at Halfstead, at that time a stockaded port town known more for its surly jarl and acerbic residents than anything else, and put the place to the torch. Those residents who did not yield or flee were put to the sword, and a new banner raised over Halfstead — the boar and rings of Olaf Henrikson. That Køenig Ragi Steinson raised no hand against the newcomer brought forth more than a few suspicions as to whether or not the crafty ruler had not paid Olaf to raze Halfstead in the first place. Regardless of any real or imagined collusion, the result was a port rebuilt by Henrikson into a large and prosperous settlement open to trade from abroad and a powerful jarl loyal to the køenig and with a fleet of ships at his command that only grew as his reputation spread.
Today, twenty years later, Jarl Olaf is a settled man raising a family, and Halfstead is a booming Northlands port largely left to its own devices. The local Thing makes most of the decision for the town, though Jarl Olaf does keep a hall within the city from where he holds court and feast twice a month in which to hear complaints and settle legal cases and give rings to the worthy. This also allows him to claim his sizable share of the duties collected from the many visiting merchant ships. The fleet of longships Jarl Olaf maintains is down to four, and these are more prone to patrolling the waters off the peninsula for raiders than going a-viking on their own. But many rightfully expect that should the need arise, the jarl could raise the call and gather a fleet of loyal ships twice as large as what he had before.
A self-made man, Jarl Olaf is enjoying his quiet semi-retirement despite even the recent turmoil for the crown of Hordaland. He remains loyal to Leif Ragison, the young køenig, but holds Halfstead carefully neutral in the current political machinations to keep the port open and prosperous. In his mind, a healthy Halfstead is good for all of Hordaland and the North, regardless of who rules the country. As such, he and his family spend most of their time at his personal hall of Silvermeade, which is situated on the coast halfway between Halfstead and Galvë. It is here that they winter and here that you begin your careers in his service.
NG small town
Government overlord
Population 420 (367 humans [Northlanders]; 38 human thralls [Seagestrelanders]; 12 dwarves; 2 giant-blooded; 1 Nûklander)
Notable NPCs
Olaf Henrikson, Jarl of Halfstead
Hallbjorn Bolverkson, huscarl
One-Eyed Sven, semi-retired huscarl
Aase, huscarl
Kraki Hallason, huscarl
Sigfastr Wyrmhammer, trader
Hauk Arinbjornson, Vastaviklander mercenary
Graf, godi/blacksmith
Grimr Wisetooth, skald
Odi, cunning woman
Recruitment will close at the end of the month, February 29th, 12:00 AM midnight US Central time. I shall select 6 players.
I am always willing to give a new GM a shot, it has worked well for me in the past. I love the idea of being in the Northlands. Though I hvae to ask, would you like to attempt to go further than Book 0 if life and time permits?
In this vein, I'd like make it clear up front that what the only thing I'm committing to at this point, and the only thing I'm asking you to commit to is the first book (Book 0) of the adventure path (levels 1-5). I have every intention of continuing onwards from there, but in the interest of future unpredictability Book 0 is realistically the most I can promise at this point...
Certainly!
Great! Which classes are you okay with?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Við hleifi mic seldo ne viþ hornigi,
nysta ec niþr,
nam ec vp rvnar,
opandi nam,
fell ec aptr þaðan.
Great! Which classes are you okay with?
Check out "Northlands Characters" section under Campaign info for more info on classes typical to the setting.
If you're wondering what won't fit as well: gunslingers, alchemists, samurai, ninja, monks, inquisitors, and occult classes aren't native to the Northlands and would have a tough time meshing with this AP. That isn't to say they're outright banned, but you'd need a pretty convincing backstory and I definitely wouldn't want more than 1 in the party, if any.
Við hleifi mic seldo ne viþ hornigi,
nysta ec niþr,
nam ec vp rvnar,
opandi nam,
fell ec aptr þaðan.
Fimbulljóð níu
nam ek af inum frægja syniBölþórs Bestlu föður
ok ek drykk of gat
ins dýra mjaðar
ausinn Óðreri
A dot indeed!
I am new to Roleplaying and pathfinder, playing since Oktober last year 2times per week pathfinder. But i totally fell in love with this style of playing and its much fun, but ofcourse, i am not very deep in its stuff yet.
I've made an unchained rogue-dhampir(would that be ok?, if not i can change it to a normal rogue), his name is Pratavh and he got repudiated by his mother and lived in the streets of Halfstead since beeing a child. He hates his vampiric bloodline and searchs for a chance to find and kill his father. Pratavh learned fast to disguise himself as natural human to not catch attention. But still, his survivability on the street and his high skill to prevent any physical confrontation, he drew Olaf's Attention towards him, who decided to take care of him. Because Olaf's family didnt appreciate this decision Pratavh lived for about 3years in the barn near Olaf's mansion, but hey... he knew worse.
Within these years Pratavh insisted on train his skills and often asked Olaf, if he had nothing to do for him out of town...(he still hopes to get hints about the whereabouts of his father). And now Olaf finally accepts, that Pratavh wants to see more then the town.
But deep in Pratavh's heart, is something else. A litte piece of something, left by his bloodline, no matter how much he hates it. Will Pratavh really stay neutral? Or will he change...into something more...evil? We will never know...will we?
Well, that would be my charakter :)
what do u want to tell me with "dot."?
Oh I'm all over this!
I'll have something for you over the weekend...
L
oh wow, so many things i dont understand ._." and which make me feel like an idiot in here. Maybe anyone here who would explain things to me?
Hey Nilihist, love what I have read about the campaign, but I need to decide if I am in too many games already, things should be clearer nearer the end of the month, so I will dot.
Dotting for interest. I think a ranger with the shapeshifter path, form of bear, would work in the spirit of this. If not, then just a ranger with a bear companion down the road.
I'm not submitting a character - because I'm running this myself - but I figured I'd drop in and note that this campaign has been a blast for my group so far. XD If this works out for all of you, you're in for a treat.
|
Submitting Brayden for your consideration. I realize that the backstory may be a stretch when hooking into the Northlands lore as well as race limitations, and I may very well need to roll a new character that fits more strongly with the story to participate. Perhaps you can let me know?
About me: I've been RPing for about two years, playing a monthly homebrew Pathfinder campaign on tabletop. I'm trying to get into PbP more as I enjoy how much of a pure roleplaying experience it seems to be versus tabletop RPing. I enjoy creating characters with deep backstories and probably spend too much time doing so ...
scranford's Dot. I'm in the mood for an older skald, maybe a drunkard whose best days are behind him, but who has seen some things...(Or at least he's convinced he has) that can't be explained. The Jarl keeps him around because he's entertaining if not reliable.
Mmmm, lots of dots!
StreamDust: A dhampir wouldn't be really fit into the setting unless they were an outlander from far away - I'd recommend sticking with human. Also, as a note, the Jarl currently inhabits Silvermeade Hall - a small settlement a little ways off from Halfstead.
Digger: Check my profile for info on the Bearsarker archetype if you go with shapeshifter ranger. The archetype is for barbarians, but the fluff could work with a shapeshifter ranger. Even if you don't want to specifically be a member of the Bearsarker cult, you could definitely expect to be mistaken for one.
Rednal: Thanks Rednal, I've been following your Northlands game and it only has me too excited to start my own!
Brayden Foxley: Yeah, the backstory is a bit of a stretch. For one, Golarion isn't the assumed setting of the Northlands (it fits in to the Lost Lands with the rest of this publisher's products). Secondly, even if it did, the church of Iomedae wouldn't really have any presence in the Northlands. I'd recommend something fresh, but ultimately the choice is yours. If you want to stick with the Outlander concept, just remember that I'm taking one Outlander character max.
Evening Nilihist. I'm enjoying working on a character for this. Just a couple of questions, apologies if I'm being slow...
Do you have any specific feelings about third party materials? Or does that come under the remit of "if you can make it fit the setting etc"
I know your not after details as yet, but will you be giving any more details on build requirements (How to generate attributes etc) before the end of the month? Sorry again if I've missed something.
Thanks in advance.
A
I'd like to keep third party off the table since this is my first PbP and I'd rather not add in too many new elements. If there is some piece of utterly fantastic 3rd party that you're dying to use and feel would really enhance the game, you're more than welcome to bring it to my attention, but don't let that make or break your character.
As for build details, I'll most likely go with 20 point buy and background skills, so if you want to start statting something use that, but be open to revision. It bears repeating, however, that a statblock is entirely unnecessary until after the players have been selected so that those chosen will be better able to avoid any excessive overlap in abilities.
This looks interesting...
I've read some of the info you put up but will have to digest it later at home.
Question: would a druid be acceptable? I'm thinking either a bear shaman or arctic druid or something thematic like that.
Thanks for hosting and good luck on your first game!
Question: would a druid be acceptable? I'm thinking either a bear shaman or arctic druid or something thematic like that.
Absolutely, a druid would likely be a godi or godi in training. Read the section in campaign info titled "The Gods of the North."
Dotting for interest. I have 2 ideas I'm tossing around:
A huscarl whose parents were with Jarl Olaf when he was a mercenary down south and is now chafing at the restrictions that come with being what he considers a glorified bodyguard for an old man. He wants to live through some of the excitement he heard in his parents' stories.
A skald who has made his living by telling the stories of the Jarl's adventures in the Southland. He usually spends the summer travelling and telling stories of the Jarl's fame and honor, and winters in Silvermeade Hall, prying more information out of the old warriors who were there.
Interest...
how likely would you accept a magic user? along the lines of the Loki type.
Arcane magic is generally distrusted but not outright banned from civilization in the Northlands. In order for such a character to fit in they'd most likely need to either keep their powers hidden, have some very close ties to someone of power such as the Jarl, be the thrall of another, or be a Cunning Woman (see archetypes).
Remember too that honesty is one of the highest values among Northlanders. A trickster character would need to take care not to earn a reputation as an "oath-breaker," although that could make for some interesting roleplaying indeed.
In short, it's all in the presentation and background.
On your advice, I'd like to remove Brayden Foxley's submission and replace it with this one. Some fluff here and there and the entire crunch is missing, but the main concept is there.
dot!
So, say I was considering playing a Nûklander cavalier who rode one of these 'war reindeer', would I be able to just take it as my mount or would you like me to take the beast rider archetype to have such a mount? Is there stats for such a creature?
would you allow this bloodline? Giant
been shifting through the bloodlines trying to line up a good one to match with his story haha
If you do decide to go back with the old plan, this bloodline would be acceptable.
So, say I was considering playing a Nûklander cavalier who rode one of these 'war reindeer', would I be able to just take it as my mount or would you like me to take the beast rider archetype to have such a mount? Is there stats for such a creature?
The only stats given in the book are for pack reindeer which are the equivalent to antelope. I could probably convert this into something more "war reindeer" so that it would be compatible with beast rider. The other option would be to just purchase a war reindeer as an exotic mount later on. Fair warning however, not all parts of this adventure are "mount friendly," so you might not want to build your character entirely around mounted combat.
Yeah, I never take archetypes or orders based solely on mounted combat even if I think I'll get to use the mount all the time, so no problems here. I just love the idea. Not committing to it yet though, going to consider more ideas.
I really like the flavor concept of the Bearsarker and wonder if I could merge that Bjarni's mother was a godi and perished when the jarl first landed and razed the city. As it is now 20 years later, Bjarni is now a grown man, but feels a different call to the land than his mother's blood. With his affinity for the bear, I can see him seeing them as very kindred spirits, but Bjarni never felt the calling to join their ranks.
If you think this might work, I will get to crafting the full backstory I have floating in my head now, :)
That would certainly be doable.
Also, just in case those who've posted character ideas that I haven't commented on were wondering, you've got workable concepts so far as well.
Edit: since the martial artist doesn't get any ki abilitys, could he not be a outlander?
Ki would definitely be out of the question for a Northlander, but even without it the martial artist is a still a little unusual. Still, I think a creative background could make it work, I'll wait to see when you have the idea a little more developed.
Humbly presenting Aðalbjörn for your consideration...
I've really enjoyed fleshing out his character for this setting. Please let me know if you have any questions or think I should make some changes, I'm happy to wiggle things around to better fit the campaign/party if Aðalbjörn is chosen for the Jarl's task.
Thanks for setting this up for us players.
A
I'll probably do a bulk review of whatever's been submitted so far sometime this week.
Having passed our first weekend, I think now would be a good tome to mention weekend posting. Since most people are often busy (myself included) I'm not requiring any commitment on the weekends. However, I will still try to keep up with some light posting on the weekends that I can. If you can as well, all the better; if you can't, its nothing against you.
Rough list of those who've put forth even the smallest inklings of a concept:
Fyird Olaafson - older skald, possible drunkard
Fodkrig Bjornsson - huscarl or skald
The Pale King - Nûklander cavalier
Fabian Benavente - bear shaman or arctic druid
Thecooldudenextdoor - tricksy bloodrager
Digger - Bearsarker-esque
TurtSnacko - fist fighter
Aðalbjörn - brawler with giant ancestry
Haldorr - rangery type
Individual Notes:
Haldor: The one part of the background that I'd recommend changing is the "slaying ten Ulfhanders singlehandedly" bit. Even at a distance with arrows, this is easily a legendary feat far beyond the scope of a first level character and would put you among the Jarl's innermost circle, an honor which you'd have to earn in game. You can still earn your freedom through some display of combat prowess, but tone it down a bit.
Aðalbjörn: "Olaf Henrikson and Aðalbjörn were once equals, rivals even." By Northlander custom, all freemen are technically equals. In combat, the Jarl himself certainly wouldn't have considered Aðalbjörn his equal, even back then, but still could've been impressed by his fighting skill.
Yeah, I see what you mean. I think I was going for something epic and got a little carried away, so I've now updated my background with something a bit more realistic. Put simply, sneaking up on one stray Ulfhander who threatened to slaughter a Northlander child and her family, and backstabbing it to death.
How do you feel about the Spiritualist in this setting?
The idea for the character is someone who is bound to the spirit of a dead warrior who was denied a chance at a proper death by a poisoned dagger in the back and has now latched on to his son in order to get another chance.
Another idea would be for a Changeling, Nordic style (so not from a hag but from the fey/trolls). She'd have been beaten and abused by her human parents as that was supposed to make the fey bring back their real child. They never did. She would have found her home with the goddess Skadi/Skade/Skathi who actually is a Jotunn as well as the wife of Njördr. The character would be an outcast, like Skadi is amongst the gods.
She'd be a priestess of Skadi, goddess of winter, mountains, skiing and bowhunting, and as such would either be a Witch with the Winter Witch archetype or a Hunter.
Haldorr: Yeah, that's definitely much more believable, while still being a deed worthy of earning one's freedom.
Cuàn: I'd normally be hesitant to throw Occult into a setting like this, but the spiritualist idea would actually be quite workable.
The changeling idea is interesting, but it'd be a matter of making the outcast still valuable to the Jarl in some way.
Question about the "giant-blooded" race -
The text shows they're large-sized, taking up a 10' square but then states they only have a 5' reach. Is this correct? Virtually all "tall" large creatures have 10' reach.
I hope it's not to late to throw my hat in the ring. I was reading the cunning woman archtype. It sounds like something I can work with. I need to think more on my concept, and will have something in the next couple of days.
You can ignore my question about the giant-blooded. I decided that the idea of a human Spear Maiden sounded really awesome and so I submit my story for Hjalveera!
The Spear Maiden Hjalveera did not come from a proud stock, a wealthy family, or from a line of great warriors. She was born to a humble pair, thralls of a powerful merchant house that supplied many fine luxuries to the more influential houses across the Northlands. Her parents kept their heads down and gaze averted, though went about their daily labors with a dignity that belied their low station. Separating bad quarry stone from the good, moistening the clay for transport, and categorizing dye powders were their most common daily works. In this dusty line of work, the young Hjalveera was raised alongside her indentured parents, learning the ethic of self-respect and hard work from a young age. In these formative years she also was trained by her mother in the use of the spear; they had kept it secret from the masters but her mother was insistent that she be proficient in its use for someday it would be important.
By the time she was was coming of age, her natural primal beauty bloomed more each day, and so it was not long before she caught the eye of many would-be husbands. Not immune to the power of an attractive young woman, Jasper Sneed - the head of the merchant house that owned her parents, and a foreigner to boot - began to ensure that he was in close proximity to the girl when he made his daily rounds checking on the work of his thrallfolk. Hjalveera was soon removed from her parents shack and brought to work as a servant in Sneed's own homestead, where he could keep her close, and keep her out of the sight of his wealthy friends who had been making financial offers for her possession.
The young one was no fool and was not ignorant of how even those above her station payed her too much attention, and so it was not unexpected when one day she was told that she was going to be wed to the manipulative merchant lord Sneed. She had no love for him, or any other for that matter, and wanted no part of the would-be union. Her heart remained true to her feelings but she inevitably gave in, knowing that with her ascension from thrall to wealthy freeman, she could free her parents with little more than a decree.
On the day of her wedding, she was sneaking around the home of her bridegroom, looking for a bit of wine to calm her nerves. In her subterfuge she happened upon a secret meeting, one where she overheard a plot to poison the Jarl Olaf himself - a plot financed by her husband-to-be and carried out by one of Olaf's huscarls! Suddenly fearing for her life and for her Jarl, she tried to withdrawal but instead gave her presence away by backing up into a ceremonial suit of armor that stood in the hall.
Sneed and the traitorous huscarl rushed into the room to discover who had overheard them, finding the young bride on the floor among the remnants of an armor dummy and a loose spear that had fallen loose during her misstep. Angrily they reached out for her, but her mother's training came rushing back to her in a flash. With blood pounding in her temples, she grabbed the spear and thrust it mightily into Jasper Sneed's chest, impaling him straight through! Yanking the bloody blade free, she put it into the villainous huscarl's leg, preventing him from making any hasty retreat.
She shouted for help which quickly summoned many servants and several merchants, all quickly scandalized by the sight of their dead master on the ground - dead by the hands of his bride-to-be. Having little time to explain, she spouted off what she knew about the plot for Olaf's life, but was taken into custody for her crimes forthwith.
Later that night after hearing her testimony, another of the Jarl's huscarls confirmed that a poison was found in the villain's possession, as was a bag of foreign-minted gold coins, thus vindicating the thrall-daughter and validating her story. She was freed straightaway, and was given a feast in her honor for her service to the city of Halfstead and to her Jarl. Olaf offered her almost anything that her heart desired in thanks, but the humble young beauty asked only for her parents to be freed and for her to be given the chance to train with an order of Spear Maidens. More than happy to oblige, the Jarl sent forth a decree that her parents were free and made the necessary arrangements to ensure that this special young woman received any training and equipment she desired. Asking only for a some modest armor and a workable spear, she left the feast filled with pride mitigated with the humility that had guided her so well.
-----------
Hjalveera is a female human Paladin - Shield Maiden archetype.
I would plan on taking the 'Northlander Spear Fighting' feat so that she could use a longspear to totally kick butt. That is the bare bones of the build idea.
Question about the "giant-blooded" race -
The text shows they're large-sized, taking up a 10' square but then states they only have a 5' reach. Is this correct? Virtually all "tall" large creatures have 10' reach.
I copied that part directly from the book, but I'll assume it's a typo. It has been fixed.