The tales of Rossen (Inactive)

Game Master Dalgar the Great

You have all been gathered late at night to the church. A minor member of the clergy has escorted you all to a room with a hearth and some chairs.

Please sit and wait. The Father will see you in a moment.

Feel free to RP here!

A goliath of a man sits hunched over by a wall, sitting cross legged next to a pew. On his back are an assortment of weapons, all poorly maintained, and adorned with scratches, and dulled with time. Though a sketchbook lays sprawled in his lap, and a piece of charcoal sits cocked in his hand, he isn't writing. Every few moments his head jerks back and forth, checking the doors and windows, as if expecting the worst.

The large tusks in his mouth make speech a difficulty, but he still turns and says, "Do you think Brother Mark still lives?"

He clutches his holy symbol in his large green hands, expecting the worst.

This is the first time I've done this; please tell me if I'm doing anything wrong!

Next to the large half-orc of a man sits Luther Deadeye. Luther is a tall man, very much in shape, but is still dwarfed the barbarian sitting next to him. Luther has long black hair, tied into a pony tail. He has a stern face, aged beyond his years, with a black goatee and mustache. On his back sits a black quiver of arrows, and his long bow. On his belt is a large one-handed mace with blood stains from many battles.

He turns to the large half-orc barbarian sitting next to him and says, "Last I heard from him, he did, but that was many months ago. I hope he is well"

Remember to create an alias.

"As well as the expansion crew." Ruk snarls, tossing the pit of charcoal with a frustrated twitch of his wrist. "If the priest woke us in the middle of the night just to give us his last rites, I'll punch him in his pathetic face."

Anger gone, Ruk slumped back to the floor. "...Thanks for coming, Deadeye. I don't mean to be..." Ruk searches for the word before crunching his hand into fist. "...you know. I'm just...worried."

Thanks for the alias advice!

Thrynn sat quietly in the back of the church, the pew he sat on looked worn and cracked. The half elf was deep in thought. Most people looking on would have thought him to be praying but Thrynn didn't need to attract more attention from the gods, he preferred that the gods forgot about him, and that they didn't make things worse for him. Don't get him wrong, he is a religious man, but he is also a devine lightening rod.

Either way, when Luther and Ruk started talking about Brother Mark, Thrynn looked up. What do you know about Brother Mark, I have no idea why we were called here and now you two talk about Brother Mark as if he were... Thrynn's voice trailed off. He stood up, the pew behind him restored itself to working order, and Thrynn moved towards Luther and Ruk. Is Brother Mark dead?

Ruk turned away, distraught. "Don't say that. Mark was a good man, and a better priest. Wherever he's gone...I'm sure he's fine. He'll be fine."

Scowling, Ruk drew his greatsword slowly, sitting it on his lap and running a whetstone across the dulled blade. "He'll be fine..."

DM Dalgar here. Great job role-playing guys! You really took the Brother Mark thing in stride. Everything is fine so far, except I would appreciate if you guys put your stat blocks into your profiles. Also if you see on the alias on my character there is a mini stat block under his name. If you could put the relevant info in one of the sections titled race or class it should work out. We'll start playing as soon as everyone reports in.

Luther looks at Ruk and then at Thyrnn, a look of anger comes over his face, then goes away quickly. Luther is a man of god, he fights against those who have wronged Erastil, but he can be very hotheaded and rash at times. As he has aged, Luther has found ways to keep him himself calm.

He will be fine, he is a great man, I can't imagine anyone would want to do any wrong by him...but if they do...

Relax, you don't even know what happened yet, keep it together

Luther turns to Ruk

...He'll be fine

Of course, of course. He's fine. Thrynn leaned back against the wall. He didn't want to dig too deep into either Luther's or Ruk's fears for Brother Mark's safety. The wall around Thrynn's body cracked and gave a quarter of an inch as he rested on it. It would help if we had more news though. It's the not knowing that kills me.

Ruk grunts in agreement, eyeing the wall with interest. Did he mean to do that?

"You're a priest too, aren't you?" Ruk asks Thrynn, grinning as if he's solved a puzzle. "Are you of Erastil or Shelyn?"

Also, sorry I've been drifting out of present tense and past tense! I write quite a bit, and I almost always write in past tense, so it's my go-to tense when I write prose. We're all writing in present, right?"

People do tend to speak in present tense.

To answer the question of how combat will work, we'll use the embedded dice roller on this forum. When combat starts I'll roll everyone whose participating's initiative in one go to save time (I do the same thing with saving throws that two or three people have to make, like a reflex throw to avoid an acid cloud or something). This is why I had you have your stats under your character, for quick reference. As your order in the initiative comes up you describe what your doing, and make your attack and damage rolls.

[Dice=example attack roll]1d20+2[Dice]

You would enter something like the above command except include the slash at the end and do same thing for an attack roll.

I am a man of faith, but I'm not exactly a priest. I'm more... I've been drafted. A curse was laid down upon me, Anything of artifice cannot last in my presence. I am a witherer. I find solace in the worship of nature because it does not reject me like stone walls and harsh steel does, but I don't exactly follow any one god. But enough about me. What about you, what god do you serve? Thrynn spoke in a calm manner. It is best not to make waves when the world noticeably crumbles around you, especially when answering questions about Thrynn's antiquated belief system.

"I am Ruk, the Beast Slayer!" Ruk grins proudly, branishing his oversized, bulky tusks. "And I serve Shelyn and Erastil by ridding the world of enemies of the church!"

"Though..." Ruk looks to the side, and sighs. "I can't hit worry. I can't strike at anxiety. Such a complex world..."

"What have you been doing, Deadeye and..." Ruk struggles for a moment, eyeing the half-elf. "Appologies, what was your name?"

Oh, right. My mistake. My name is Thrynn Smith. Thrynn smiled like would when meeting any defender of goodness, defenders of goodness have always been Thrynn's favorite type of people.

Is he smiling?

Ruk wasn't the most likeable fellow, with his tusks slurring his speech, and his less-than-sanctified heritage. Not many individuals would consider him good or even safe company; even the religious people of the church keep their distance.

Which makes it even more symbolic when a half-elf healer greets him so warmly.

"Well met!" Ruk grins, clasping his hand with a friendly vigor. "A friend of Mark's is a friend of mine! Tell me, Deadeye and Thrynn, what have you been up to over the past few moons?

I've spent the last full cycle completely cut off from civilization deep in the forests. It's something I like to do once a season or so, as long as I have the time. There's just something about the wild that calls to me.

The wolves. The fights. Years spend estranged from society, fighting for scraps in the unforgiving wilds. Figuring out which berries were poisonous from experience, spending days wrenched and sick. Tracking and gutting deer with tusks just to survive. Ruk was all to familiar with the wilderness...

Ruk shuddered. "Yes. P-peaceful."

Luther continues to listen as Ruk and Thyrnn speak to each other.

"What about you, Deadeye? How's your bow been treatin' ya?" Ruk grinned a bit too wide, grabbing Luther on the shoulder with a rough, playful pat.

We'll start tomorrow GUYS

The clergy member from before steps out and motions for you to follow. You enter a modest office with a worn desk in the center, a pair of chairs in front of it, a warm yet modest hearth on the left warms the room with a shrine to Sheyln on the opposite wall. A man you recognize as Father Samson sits in a chair behind the desk. He is a man of average height, wearing simple, yet strikingly clean white robes. His bald head has been shined and the smile lines around his mouth are in direct contrast with the grimace he now wears.

Father, I have brought them. the clergy member says.

Very good, please leave us.

The clergy member leaves and closes the door, his head in a bow.

To the left of the Father stands a large man dressed in scalemail.

As you have no doubt heard, the Father says, But we have lost contact with Brother Mark after he lent his assistance to a group of adventurers dealing with the sewer issue. He means a great deal to many people here myself not excluded. The Church, the Mayor and myself would consider orselves indebted to you if you would find him and placate any threat the caves may pose. I have assembled you three and Legorec here because you are... the most suited for this kind of problem we have on hand. this is of course, your own decision. Here is a map of the sewer as the guards know of it, and the cave is here He slides a small sheet of paper with a crudely drawn map and points to a circled area. If you choose to accept I will of course lend any aid I can, just don't expect much. Tithes aren't what they used to be you see.

The father attempts to smile but his worry is apparent in his eyes.

Armor! Ruk nods fiercely, smashing a fist to his chest. It will be returned once Brother Mark has been found and returned, alive. That, the map, and your blessing are all I need, Father!

Do you have any holy water or healing potions that you aren't using? I wouldn't mind paying you if I would be pulling too much from the churches coffers. Thrynn smiled warmly as he went and shook the father's hand. He knew he was asking for more than Ruk was, but just like Ruk, Thrynn was focused on survival. If he didn't have any implements, he can't control the flow of battle in the caves. And one bad battle can mean life or death underground. He casually nodded his head as he asked the question.

I am making a diplomacy roll to get (hopefully) several cure light wounds potions and holy waters at either a discounted price or for free. Whatever he is able and willing to offer.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

He reaches under his desk and pulls out four bottles.

Like I said, we don't have much this time of year. Unfortunately these potions of Cure Light Wounds are all I can do for you at the moment.

Ruk looks at the floor, trying not to glare at the large man in scalemail. As a half-orc, he was used to getting second-hand treatment, but not so bluntly.

I...understand. He mumbles quietly.

Luther gets a look of determination in his eyes.

Thank you father, whatever you can spare is enough for us. We will find Brother Mark for you, and return him in one piece, I swear it.

Legorec looks around at the group that has assembled to venture into the caves.

I'm Legorec, I am glad to have met you. I expect that the caves will be treacherous, but each of you seems capable.

With Gorum's blessing we will find Brother Mark and return him safely.

I apologize for my confusion this week, I think I got this now. Let's adventure!

you guys going to the caves immediately or is there something you wanna do? If so we'll skip on over to the gameplay thread tomorrow morning. I spent the night celebrating my sister's b-day so I'm tired.

Brother Legorec; well met as always. Glad to have your blade at our back. Ruk grunts in approval.

I vote we skip to the caves!

Also, Legorec, the DM may need more info than just your ability scores. I know that he rolls for initiative for us, and that he may keep track of skill checks and other special abilities. Just an FYI! :)

Ya Ruk' s line is a good example

I could use a dungeoneering kit, but we can just skip that part and I'll pay the 15g and add it to the character sheet.

let's skip to the caves! I also updated my avatar, thanks for the tip, Ruk!

Let us make haste to the caves, pray that we are not too late. Legorec moves toward the door.

I hope Brother Mark is safe, who knows what foul things await us in that blasted cave.

I trust you enough to prepare spells for the day, I've found it help if you keep it in a spoiler below your name. Because sometimes a day's work can take a week.

I'm waiting for the other two to post in the gameplay thread, if they don't at least post by Monday we'll go on without them.

Just wanna say good job to the role-playing of Ruk. The inner monologue and the songs really help to bring the character to life.

*blush* Thanks!

Just a heads up, I most likely won't be on tomorrow because I'm going to be at a convention all day. I'll probably post the day after because cons tend to drain people, you know how it goes. See you guys later.

This party is the best lol.

Just for reference, you've probably been in this cave system for just around an hour, maybe and hour and a half.

Sheylan feels she should give her champion some moral advice, oh, but who's that hottie over there? That's right, it's her reflection! What was I thinking about again?

Sorry about letting this slip guys, I recently started up several AP classes and I'm not used to the workload. I'll get to this tomorrow and post more regularly when I adjust.

........Alright, I'm out. This doesn't update fast enough for me. Thanks for the fun while it lasted, and good luck you guys!

Sorry I've been out for the last few days, I'll be out for the next couple of days because I've been pretty sick. Sorry for the delay.

I know someone that might be interested in taking ruks place. Let me know if you want to go that route or be done.

So I'm feeling better and will definitely start posting again tomorrow. If you want to contact your friend, I'll be all for it. I'm sad to see Run go but I hope we can continue on.

Okay, I'll talk with my friend and see if he's interested, he did have an extra character somewhat prepped. I'll let him know, and ask him to post in this thread.

I don't think my friend is interested, I gave him some time to mull it over and I was on vacation. I guess we just scrap this campaign then...? Or what are your thoughts?

Tbh, I kind of lost the time and interest in running this. So sorry guys, I had fun while it lasted but I'm officially closing this campaign. Goodbye everybody.