Build an empire beneath the earth! The drow call this region of the underworld the Azathyr. It is a vast sprawling labyrinth full of wonders and horrors. For the unwary, it is a death trap. For the bold and resourceful it is a gateway to power and riches. Are you clever enough to tame this weird wilderness? Do you have what it takes to claim for yourself a Throne of Night?
Hello, I am recruiting players for the evil-aligned path of the Throne of Night adventure path by Fire Mountain Games.
The player characters are cultists in service to the infernal god Asmodeus. At the start of the adventure path, the nascent cult has fled from the drow city of Taaryssia and taken refuge in the minor outpost of Vothys under Baroness Satha. Since then the cult has been recruiting, perhaps even attracting a few non-drow. The campaign may eventually take on a tone of a religious war among the drow as the PCs will seek to replace the old demonic order with their new infernal faith.
Player characters should be within one step of the Lawful Evil alignment. Characters must either worship Asmodeus or a philosophically compatible god. Allowed races are drow, duergar, hobgoblins, goblins, kobolds, and all core races. The book suggests that drow characters might all be members of House Vytharia. In general I will look more favorably on drow characters, and I am unlikely to accept more than two non-drow characters.
Characters will start at 1st level with max HP for class + Con and average starting gold. Attributes are 23 point point-buy. Every PC will gain two extra skill points per level.
In order to make drow characters more versatile, players may spend one of their two traits selecting an Ability Score Trait. These traits’ benefits replace the usual drow racial ability score modifiers. I will not be using the rules for drawbacks.
Cruel Slaver
You are enslaver of the helpless and slayer of any who oppose your clan and cause. However, as mighty as you are, you are also reckless and overly quick to anger.
Benefit: +2 Constitution, +2 Strength, -2 Wisdom
Devotee of Dark Powers
You are a follower of a wicked or even demonic faith and are destined to lead a cult to great and terrible glory.
Benefit: +2 Charisma +2 Wisdom, -2 Constitution
Master of Arcane Secrets
You would use your great intelligence and experience to lead yourself and your clan to dominate all others.
Benefit: +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, -2 Constitution
Silent Killer
You are a born assassin, ready to slay for family, your cult or perhaps even for the sheer pleasure of the kill.
Benefit: +2 Dexterity, +2 Strength, -2 Charisma
Treacherous Infiltrator
There is no lie you cannot sell, no lock you cannot pick and no enemy you will not strangle in their sleep. But in a straight fight, you are out of your element.
Benefit: +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Strength
Campaign-specific traits are available. Selecting one of these traits is not mandatory.
Dangerous Beauty
The drow are famed for their dark beauty and you are a fine example of this. There is something alluring about you that draws victims into your web.
Benefit: +1 trait bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks made against anyone potentially attracted to you.
Demonic Bargainer
You have a particular affinity for dealing with the denizens of the abyss.
Benefit: You gain a +2 trait bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with creatures of the demon subtype.
Exile’s Stolen Treasure
Before you were driven out of Taaryssia you managed to take one piece of magical or well-made gear with you.
Benefit: You have one item (be it a masterwork weapon, armor or minor magic item) worth 900 gp.
Gifted Poisoner
You have worked with poisons all your life and have become a virtuoso at their use.
Benefit: +1 trait bonus to poison saves and a +1 trait bonus to any knowledge skill roll concerning poisons.
Hatred of Surface Dwellers
You have a particular hatred for those who hail from above. Perhaps you believe them invaders or perhaps you carry an ancient grudge. Whatever the cause, you are eager to see them die.
Benefit: You inflict +1 damage against any surface dweller you encounter.
Improved Darkvision
Even for the drow, your darkvision is impressive.
Benefit: You gain Darkvision 180 ft.
Memories of Taaryssia
Though you have been long exiled (or perhaps even exiled as a child), you still remember the great city of the drow Taaryssia.
Benefit: +1 trait bonus to Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (nobility) and one of those is always a class skill for you.
Noble Courtesan
At some point you have been a courtesan. Perhaps you did this out of desperation or perhaps you simply enjoyed the lifestyle. Regardless, you know how to listen and how to ask without asking.
Benefit: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks and Diplomacy checks to gather information, and one of these skills (your choice) is always a class skill for you.
Ruthless
You never hesitate to strike a killing blow.
Benefit: You gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls to confirm critical hits.
Skilled Backstabber
Fair fights have never held any interest to you. You much prefer to strike unseen from the shadows.
Benefit: You gain a +2 trait bonus on melee weapon damage rolls made against foes that cannot see you.
Terrifying
There is something about your words and mannerisms that strike fear into all who meet you.
Benefit: You gain a +1 trait bonus to Intimidate skill checks and a +1 save DC to any spell with the fear descriptor.
All Paizo classes are accepted except Gunslinger and classes from the Advanced Class Guide. Ninja and Samurai are permitted but you must explain how a drow ninja or samurai came to exist and be allied with this drow band. Rangers will find that Humanoid (elf) and Aberration are solid choices for their favored enemy.
This adventure path has challenging encounters, and therefore a mechanically viable party will be important. Keep that in mind when writing your submissions.
I already have three players who have not yet decided on their classes but will be posting in this thread to let you know who they are. I am looking for a total of six to seven. I am looking for at least one post per day. Anyone else who is interested please post an application containing a background and a character sheet.
Recruitment ends on Thursday at 11:59 PM EST, but I reserve the right to close the recruitment early if I receive a sufficient number of suitable applications.
This is actually tempting.
It looks like this will be your first PBP as a DM. Welcome aboard!
Do you mind telling us a bit about yourself?
Hi. Indeed, I’m new to PBP DMing, but I figured it was time to get my feet wet.
I have been roleplaying for over ten years, and I have run several tabletop campaigns in the past, so the idea of running an adventure is not new to me.
Dotting, this seems awesome.
dotting
Dotting for divine caster idea.
I got excited about being able to play the demonic apostle cleric archetype, until I reread it and realized lawful characters take the channeling damage. But dotting anyway.
Thinking of making a Drow Inquisitor. I was going to make him worship Moloch (one of Asmodeus's archdevils) and have him use a whip, but that's not even usable until level 7. So I'm almost certainly going to change him, and I'll hopefully have something up soon.
Will you play SR as RAW, or will you amend it? All Drow have SR, so this is important!
I had not planned on altering SR. Do you have some specific change in mind?
I want to play a dual-wielding drow ranger rebelling against the depraved ways of his people. He rejects treachery, deceit, and freedom. He embraces loyalty, discipline, and obedience to soul-crushing authority. Reject violence, embrace kindness and the dignity of all sentient creatures? That's just silly.
Dotting for intrest
.
Dotting
LE Cleric. Undead Lord, Drow
She was driven out, she does not know why. But she suspects one of the major houses had something to do with it. But she ran. One day she will be back and have her revenge. One does not mess with devine power or those who wield it and think its over. Oh no. She will be back, and her army will be with her. Then she will see if they still think it was wise to drive her out.
Now stuck away from home, she will need to plan. At least she isnt alone. It seems others too were forced away. If things go well. They will also hope to go back and retake their home
Are ACG classes really a no-no?
I was looking forward to playing a Warpriest of Zon-Kuthon into the Paintaster PRC. :(
Dotting. I'm a sucker for all things Asmodeus.
Thinking about an anti-paladin, assuming you'll allow 're-skinning' to LE from CE (presumably Asmodeus has such followers?). She'll be perfectly happy to do any skinning for you ;)
Disclaimer: I'm currently playing ToN as the dwarven campaign, but am quite capable of keeping player/character knowledge separate. Also, presumably the drow path is very different...
Are third party archetypes allowed?
@Darkness Rising: From what I know, they're very different. I suppose that you explore the same areas, but things change a lot between one path and the other. In the product page here at Paizo there were a discussion on which of the two paths were better in a certain book, so there are bound to be differences to talk about. :P
Also, crossing my fingers on the OK on the Warpriest (the nerfed one on the blog, obviously. The second playtest one was nuts.) :3
An anti paladin. A warpriest and a cleric... wow :P and lots of UNDEAD! :P
I have decided on Cleric of Asmodeus.
I dont want to step on toes. Will withdraw
Sorry to see you go so soon, Seth. :(
DM NS, could we have some more background information on our exile: what was it like where we were before, did we supposedly knew each other (seeing as you said we are all from house Vytharia), from how long we've been kicked out...
Also, last thing(I know, I'm annoying D: ).
Both one of the traits you gave us and some of the racial ones from Drow give you bonus to be best buds with demons: is it safe to assume they got reflavoured for devils, seeing as we're followers of Asmodeus/other LE deities?
PS:Risky, you are everywhere :3
I don't want to submit a character idea of someone already in the party :)
Dotting. I love evil campaigns! I'm already in the process of creating a Scythe wielding Drow Barbarian, and should be done with the crunch and fluff by tomorrow evening.
Edit: Oh wait, didn't see that Rysky was doing the Barbarian thing already and I'd rather not cramp someone's style. I'll think of something else readily!
Working on a Martial artist (monk) drow assassin. Thinking on some backstory.
Male Drow Martial Artist (Monk archetype) 1
[Favored Class - HP:1 Skill:0]
LN Medium humanoid (Drow)
Init +3 Senses Perception + 9 Darkvision 120ft
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 10 (+3 Dex, +3 Wis)
hp 10 (1d8 +1Con +1FCB)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +5 (+2 vs enchantment spells and effects, immune magic sleep)
SR: 7
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Ranged
+4 Temple sword or +3/+3 flurry of blows 1d8+4 19-20 x2
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Special
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Stunning fist: 1/1 (day)
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Statistics
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Str 18
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 16
Cha 5
Base Atk +0; CMB +4; CMD 20 (+2 to grapple)
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Feats
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1-Power attack//-Improved Grapple (monk)
Skills 6/level (4 Class + 2 GM)
*Acrobatics (Dex) (1) +7
*Climb (Str) (1) +8
Craft (Int)
Escape Artist (Dex)
Intimidate (Cha)
Knowledge (history) (Int)
Knowledge (religion) (Int)
Linguistics (Int)(1) +1
Perception (Wis) (1) +9
Perform (Cha)
Profession (Wis)
*Ride (Dex)
Sense Motive (Wis)
*Stealth (Dex) (1) +7
*Swim (Str) (1) +8
*Armor penalty -0
Languages: Undercommon, Elven, Drow Sign Language.
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SQ
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Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Monks are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shortspear, short sword, shuriken, siangham, sling, temple sword, and spear.
Monks are not proficient with any armor or shields.
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses his AC bonus, as well as his fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.
Martial Artist:(Archetype) The martial artist pursues a mastery of pure martial arts without the monastic traditions. He is a master of form, but lacks the ability to harness his ki.
Alignment: A martial artist may be of any alignment.
AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC and his CMD. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four monk levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +5 at 20th level.
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.
Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a monk can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action. When doing so, he may make on additional attack, taking a -2 penalty on all of his attack rolls, as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. These attacks can be any combination of unarmed strikes and attacks with a monk special weapon (he does not need to use two weapons to use this ability). For the purpose of these attacks, the monk's base attack bonus from his monk class levels is equal to his monk level. For all other purposes, such as qualifying for a feat or a prestige class, the monk uses his normal base attack bonus.
At 8th level, the monk can make two additional attacks when he uses flurry of blows, as if using Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
At 15th level, the monk can make three additional attacks using flurry of blows, as if using Greater Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the monk does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).
A monk applies his full Strength bonus to his damage rolls for all successful attacks made with flurry of blows, whether the attacks are made with an off-hand or with a weapon wielded in both hands. A monk may substitute disarm, sunder, and trip combat maneuvers for unarmed attacks as part of a flurry of blows. A monk cannot use any weapon other than an unarmed strike or a special monk weapon as part of a flurry of blows. A monk with natural weapons cannot use such weapons as part of a flurry of blows, nor can he make natural attacks in addition to his flurry of blows attacks.
Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, a monk gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A monk's attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a monk may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply his full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all his unarmed strikes.
Usually a monk's unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but he can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on his attack roll. He has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.
A monk's unarmed strike is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
Bonus Feat: At 1st level, 2nd level, and every 4 levels thereafter, a monk may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list: Catch Off-Guard, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Improved Grapple, Scorpion Style, and Throw Anything. At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Gorgon's Fist, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, and Mobility. At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list: Improved Critical, Medusa's Wrath, Snatch Arrows, and Spring Attack. A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them.
Stunning Fist (Ex): At 1st level, the monk gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 4th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the monk gains the ability to apply a new condition to the target of his Stunning Fist. This condition replaces stunning the target for 1 round, and a successful saving throw still negates the effect. At 4th level, he can choose to make the target fatigued. At 8th level, he can make the target sickened for 1 minute. At 12th level, he can make the target staggered for 1d6+1 rounds. At 16th level, he can permanently blind or deafen the target. At 20th level, he can paralyze the target for 1d6+1 rounds. The monk must choose which condition will apply before the attack roll is made. These effects do not stack with themselves (a creature sickened by Stunning Fist cannot become nauseated if hit by Stunning Fist again), but additional hits do increase the duration.
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Gear
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backpack, blanket winter, flint & steel, dagger, Temple Sword
Total weight: 26/(light) medium) (heavy)
GP:39 SP:5
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Special Abilities
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+2 Dexterity, +2 Strength, –2 Charisma (Silent Killer)
You are a born assassin, ready to slay for family, your cult or perhaps even for the sheer pleasure of the kill. (Trait)
Elf: Drow are humanoids with the elf subtype.
Medium: Drow are Medium creatures and receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Drow have a base speed of 30 feet.
Darkvision: Drow can see in the dark up to 120 feet.
Drow Immunities: Drow are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
Keen Senses: Drow gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
Poison Use: Drow are skilled in the use of poison and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves.
Spell Resistance: Drow possess spell resistance equal to 6 plus their class levels.
Spell-Like Abilities: A drow can cast dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire, once each per day, using her total character level as her caster level.
Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light blinds drow for 1 round; on subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
Weapon Familiarity: Drow are proficient with the hand crossbow, rapier, and short sword.
Traits
Silent killer
Exile’s Stolen Treasure ???? or reactionary???
Before you were driven out of Taaryssia you managed to take one piece of magical or well-made gear with you.
Benefit: You have one item (be it a masterwork weapon, armor or minor magic item) worth 900 gp.
About the evil campaign: It is going to be a treacherous party, or you expect camaraderie and respect between party members? I'm for the last, because thats the idea of a party game.
About the evil campaign: It is going to be a treacherous party, or you expect camaraderie and respect between party members? I'm for the last, because thats the idea of a party game.
I think either would be extremely entertaining. Also, I've decided on creating an aspiring Fleshcrafter Drow Alchemist (Vivisectionist, Beastmorph), working up to the creation of fleshcrafting poisons and other alchemical deviations...
The last time I expressed interest in Throne of Night, I dropped it because it was going to be a dwarven campaign.
Planning on submitting a drow bard, I think...
I would imagine (and would prefer) that a LE party would incline towards cooperation. I can envisage my character expressing disdain for the traditional drow internecine conflict and being driven into exile as a result. I'm not really into PvP... I prefer PCs against the world.
I'd love to play Hobgoblin ex-slave turned enforcer. Think a guy brandishing a nasty hooked whip, possibly in heavy armor. He'd be a follower of Moloch, the general of Hell.
Basically he'd be an ex-slave who was first promoting to overseer for his apparent cruelty and then freed and hired as an enforcer for saving the life of one of his masters (pushing him/her out of the way of falling rocks, something like that).
I think I'll withdraw from this one as well. I can't think of a good character concept I'd like to play.
Have fun!
Yousa guys gonna need a vile minion. Mesa be that guy!
I will recrunch this guy back to 1st level.
the sr can be "turned off" as a standard action
keeping eye on thread, maybe will apply a bit later
I think i will add my idea :) drow summoner
wanna focus in the drow feats to summon spiders
Throwing in my Drow Knifemaster Rogue. Silent Killer, may take the Assassin PrC eventually.
For worshipping deities-are the Infernal Dukes and Archdevils fair game as well? After all, they do all reside in Hell, and kinda seem like a "middleman" between the PC and Asmodeus.
Are ACG classes really a no-no?
I am afraid so.
Thinking about an anti-paladin, assuming you'll allow 're-skinning' to LE from CE (presumably Asmodeus has such followers?).
Yes, I would consider an application for a LE reskin of an anti-paladin.
Are third party archetypes allowed?
Paizo only.
JBE has an alternate favored class bonus for the Drow that is basically the same as the human one. Will you permit that?
I'd like to avoid any third party material.
For worshipping deities-are the Infernal Dukes and Archdevils fair game as well? After all, they do all reside in Hell, and kinda seem like a "middleman" between the PC and Asmodeus.
Yes, they are fair game.
@DM NS: Aww. :(
If Warpriest is not an option, could we houserule that the Cruelty class feature of the Pain Taster works with Spiked Chains, instead/in addition of whips?
That way, I could pick an inquisitor and use the spiked chain as my weapon of choice instead of the whip:it would still be flavor appropriate, and I won't be a deadweight by using a 1d4 weapon...
DM NS, could we have some more background information on our exile: what was it like where we were before, did we supposedly knew each other (seeing as you said we are all from house Vytharia), from how long we've been kicked out...
Your flight from Taaryssia was years ago. Taaryssia is a great city, ruled by a queen and holding dominion over a very large geographical area. I am going to be vague about the exact situation in the city at the time you left, since full information about Taaryssia is going to be detailed in a book that is yet to be written.
It would make sense that the characters already know each other, but it is okay to wait to determine ties until after selections are made.
Both one of the traits you gave us and some of the racial ones from Drow give you bonus to be best buds with demons: is it safe to assume they got reflavoured for devils, seeing as we're followers of Asmodeus/other LE deities?
Good catch. The campaign-specific traits get reflavored, but the racials do not.
About the evil campaign: It is going to be a treacherous party, or you expect camaraderie and respect between party members? I'm for the last, because thats the idea of a party game.
My broad intention is that the players are on the same team.
Can a Drow Descended Half a Elf take the campaign traits the same as a full Drow?
I will say the Campaign Traits are also available for half-drow. The Ability Score Traits are intended to replace the standard drow ability score modifiers, and so are not available for other races.
If Warpriest is not an option, could we houserule that the Cruelty class feature of the Pain Taster works with Spiked Chains, instead/in addition of whips?
That way, I could pick an inquisitor and use the spiked chain as my weapon of choice instead of the whip:it would still be flavor appropriate, and I won't be a deadweight by using a 1d4 weapon.
Sure, I do not think that is unreasonable.
A Drow Asomedean game you say?
I believe Haruk would do nicely here. Just need to redo him slightly as a Drow, and possibly his stats some too for the point buy, but other than that, he's all good.
DM,
Can I keep most of my backstory as is? Perhaps Haruk is from a different city initially, took refuge in Taaryssia, was adopted or maybe even married into House Vytharia and was exiled with them to show loyalty.
If possible, maybe Haruk left House Vytharia for some time, which is when he came across the trio of siblings he corrupted. They are mostly there for cool back story purposes, but of course they could become actual NPCs as well.