I have a group of players at the workplace interested in playing Pathfinder, but they can't find the time to get together as a group due to differing schedules, thus a PbP.
I have been re-working the Temple of Elemental Evil/Return to the ToEE series to fit Pathfinder and Golarion, replacing BBEG Tharizdun with Rovagug. I plan to set the campaign at the start at least, in Eastern Andoran, near the Sellen River and Verduran Forest, with some unique twists.
The campaign will start with a caravan journey from Woodsedge in Galt down towards Almas in Andoran, eventually stopping along the way in the small town of Hommlet.
As it stands I have 2 to 4 players locally, so I am interested in adding 2-3 others to fill out the group, depending on the final number of local players. What I am looking for right now is players interested in joining up, capable of posting at least once daily, and willing to work together to stop the release of something terrible upon the Inner Sea.
At the moment, a brief character description/snapshot is all I am seeking, with a cutoff of May 27th, with final decision to be made on May 30th, and game start on May 31st.
Nationalities, regions and races common to the campaign:
Andoran, Galt, Kyonin, River Kingdoms, and Taldor
Five Kings Mountains, Fog Peaks, Sellen River, Tandak Plains, and Verduran Forest
Dwarves, Elves, Half-Elves, Halflings, and Humans
Attributes= Total 25 point buy
Minimum Attribute Before Racial Modification: 8
Maximum Attribute Before Racial Modification: 18
As per the fourth level advancement, remember to increase one attribute by 1 point, which may exceed the above maximum limit.
Races = Core Races (Options may be considered per DM discussion/approval)
Classes = Core Classes (Other Pathfinder Class options may be considered per DM discussion/approval)
Character Level starts at 5th, using the Med Exp Track, 15001 XP
Hit Points: Max for first level, average after 1st
Skills or Feats - Any Pathfinder option appropriate to character background
Traits - choose 2 appropriate to character background
Choices must be appropriate to character race, region, and background
(Other options may be considered per DM discussion/approval)
Starting Gold: 11,000 gp No item may cost more than 2700 gp value
Include a mount and related gear, as well as at least a three changes of clothing (for realism).
Factions - The following Factions are available at the start of the campaign
Pathfinder Society (Andoran, Grand Lodge, Silver Crusade, Taldor)
Bloodstone Swords (River Kingdom background)
Eagle Knights (Andoran background)
Green Faith (Nature background)
Lion Blades (Taldor background)
(Other options may be considered per DM discussion/approval)
Hero Points will be included (each character will start with 1 Hero Pt)
Arrows, bolts, and sling bullets recoverable on DC 15 Dex roll
Encumberance will be acknowledged and its effects followed, though not exactingly tracked. I will be creating Herolab sheets for each character to keep simple track.
Racial and regional issues may well affect characters in certain situations, be forewarned.
Encounter areas are dynamic and evolving; resting and recovery works for both sides.
Misc bonuses/penalties may be rewarded/imposed, dependent upon campaign development. To that end, I will be assigning an appropriate Campaign Trait to each character, so if there is one you like, feel free to mention it.
Also, for those that may be interested in my deific changes:
Tharizdun = Rovagug
Zuggtmoy = Lamashtu (not bound)
Lolth = Gyronna
Iuz = Norgorber
Elemental Evils
Earth = Rovagug
Fire = Lamashtu
Air = Gyronna
Water = Norgorber
St Cuthbert = Iomedae
Ehlonna = Erastil
Old Faith = Green Faith
Other deities are certainly not prohibited, but those listed I translated from the original works.
As a note, my deepest gratitude and respect goes out to the original creators; the greatest part of my gaming life has grown from the adventures they inspired and provided to my young merry band of heroic miscreants.
So far confirmed we have a cursed Ronin Samurai (tiefling looking for a cure) and a Half-Elven Sorcerer of the Protean or Fey bloodline (still undecided). The other two players have not reported back yet.
I present Conner Hawthorne, Human Ranger, for your consideration. I will change his build (archetype) and background a bit, and I certainly need to change his point buy because Conner was created with a 20 point buy. However, this will give you some idea of the Ranger concept that I am presenting, and he will certainly still hail from Varisia and Verduran Forrest.
Howdy - this sounds like great fun, as I haven't played this module, though I played Village of Hommlet when it came out decades ago.
Question about classes: you say "Core Classes" - that doesn't mean only Core Rulebook, does it? As much as that sounds like a silly question, one of your confirmed players has a non-CRB race and class, so I'm just wondering.
Perhaps an easier way to ask this question: are you okay with an inquisitor? Will think about the deity, based on your conversions above, but don't want to get too far into it if you don't want that class in the game. I can easily go with a core race, if you're trying not to end up Vishkanya/Ratfolk hybrids or some such.
An inquisitor would work in the campaign, depending upon the deity and judgements selected. Other deities are welcome, those listed were more to highlight those from the original works, not to limit others.
As to races, I am trying to limit the races to those that might normally hail from the campaign area. Dealing with beast cults trying to free Rovagug will make for alot of distrust when it comes to the more monstrous type races, so that may make it difficult to gain acceptance. The "tiefling" character was a favor owed to a friend, and fits with his "cursed" nature. He will be loosing his tiefling features as he progresses and atones for the sins of his families past.
Submitting Angel for your consideration.. All info is in her profile.. Thanks..
Thanks for the info on inquisitors. I'm dreaming up an inquisitor of the Old Faith, who seeks to keep the elements in balance and joins the adventure in an effort to prevent the inevitable imbalance brought about by the rise of elemental evils.
Unfortunately, the Green Faith doesn't seem to have any domains listed on the pathfinder wiki - which ones do you think would fit? A few obvious ones, to my mind, are: Animal, Air, Earth, Fire, Water, perhaps Plant and Weather? Not the most amazing domains on that list, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the character idea and domains.
How would you feel about Fetchlings and Shadow Dancers? I know its not one of the core races and that is a prestige class, but you said as per approval. I'm looking at creating a Fetchling Rogue that would eventually become a Shadow Dancer. If thats not ok, or you want a back story before the yay or nay, let me know and I can accommodate. This looks pretty fun. Granted, precision damage may not be the best way to go considering the title references elemental and they cant take precision damage...
I'm considering a human Magus, raised and trained among the elves. Would you allow the Spire Defender archetype in that case?
Conner Hawthorne is updated accordingly and ready for action.
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Here is Carlson Haddix, disciple of Iomedae that I mentioned above. His backstory and the crunch are in the character's bio. Traits were chosen to tie him to the church, and if there are any issues please let me know.
P.S.- really excited about Hero Points. I've been interested in playing with that system since the APG came out, just never had the chance yet.
Unfortunately, the Green Faith doesn't seem to have any domains listed on the pathfinder wiki - which ones do you think would fit? A few obvious ones, to my mind, are: Animal, Air, Earth, Fire, Water, perhaps Plant and Weather? Not the most amazing domains on that list, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the character idea and domains.
Looking over the history of the area, and the basics of the Green Faith, if I were to create one, I would pick an inquisitor, Preacher archetype, most likely human, from the Verduran Forest, and choose the Plant or Seasons domains. I would steer clear of the individual elemental domains, as each was divided out in the war that birthed the group in the beginning. I think those two would most appeal to the concept of the group as the fluff allows. Of course, you could still easily worship Erastil or Gozreh and still join to the ideals of the Green Faith, though then such options above might change. I have never been too keen on the class myself, but have gamed with a few so I understand the appeal. I can see it fitting into the nature of the area as well as the mindset of the Andoran populace along the eastern territories.
How would you feel about Fetchlings and Shadow Dancers? I know its not one of the core races and that is a prestige class, but you said as per approval. I'm looking at creating a Fetchling Rogue that would eventually become a Shadow Dancer. If thats not ok, or you want a back story before the yay or nay, let me know and I can accommodate. This looks pretty fun. Granted, precision damage may not be the best way to go considering the title references elemental and they cant take precision damage...
I can see the appeal that would come from the concept, and am generally not one to say no outright, but I should caution the race would garner much negative feedback from the community should he spend a great deal of time in Hommlet, or whichever other areas that may travel, as open as Andoran purports to be. Afterall, they do have a bit of trouble with the fey, and hatreds can run deep.
Your backstory would need to be significant to explain and allow for why the character is in the area, and would take an interest in joining with a group bent on stopping the evil these discovered cultists are working towards.
I'm considering a human Magus, raised and trained among the elves. Would you allow the Spire Defender archetype in that case?
Hmm, a human Magus, with the Adopted trait, raised and trained in the Steaming Sea, now out and about in the heartland of Andoran, far from the Mordant Spire.
OK, I see the interest in the concept, let's hear the backstory and what you are proposing to link him to the campaign. I could come up with a few ideas myself that would be intriguing, but I'd like to hear your take, he's your guy not mine.
dot for interest.
Thinking of submitting a dwarf cleric, would have to flesh him out though.
Thanks for the answer on the Green Faith - I have strayed a bit from the inquisitor path, and am now working on a human cleric of Erastil, who will be mostly an archer who buffs the party and himself, going with the Feather and Good domains. I haven't played a straight-up cleric in a long time, and the more I ponder it the more fun it seems. Any limitations you'd put on animal companions from the Feather domain? Something flying makes sense, but that domain is just one aspect of his relationship to Erastil, so something unrelated to the domain, like a bobcat or other M or L cat could be very cool.
Conner Hawthorne is updated accordingly and ready for action.
** spoiler omitted **
Overall decent looking character.
Thanks for the answer on the Green Faith - I have strayed a bit from the inquisitor path, and am now working on a human cleric of Erastil, who will be mostly an archer who buffs the party and himself, going with the Feather and Good domains. I haven't played a straight-up cleric in a long time, and the more I ponder it the more fun it seems. Any limitations you'd put on animal companions from the Feather domain? Something flying makes sense, but that domain is just one aspect of his relationship to Erastil, so something unrelated to the domain, like a bobcat or other M or L cat could be very cool.
No, those options are just fine for the character. Now, stopping Slyvester from eating Tweety may take some watchful eyes.
Here is Carlson Haddix, disciple of Iomedae that I mentioned above. His backstory and the crunch are in the character's bio. Traits were chosen to tie him to the church, and if there are any issues please let me know.
P.S.- really excited about Hero Points. I've been interested in playing with that system since the APG came out, just never had the chance yet.
No issues I can see, it all seems balanced out just fine. If I may, as a zen archer, offered not as a criticism, just a comment, you might also consider Erastil or the Green Faith as patrons for your monastery, both having use for ranged combat and involvement in the region.
No one should feel limited in selections simply because I have used a few specific deities in preparing my conversion. Andoran and the other communties of the region have other gods to choose from, and a good backstory goes a long way in making other options reasonable and possible. I most importantly want charcters in the game that want to be there, have a reason to grow the story, and an involvement in its progress to completion.
Submitting Angel for your consideration.. All info is in her profile.. Thanks..
Looks good, though I was unsure, did she convert to Iomedae when swearing her oath, or is she still a paladin of Sarenrae, now living under an Oath of Vengeance, and working to reconcile both aspects to her herself, and her goddess.
Each approach is unique, and equally valid, just curious as to which option you are hoping to take the character down.
Still working on him, but I would like to introduce Bigg Longshaft, a Dwarven Cleric of Torag, and submit him to you for consideration.
All info is/will be in his profile.
So far the list is as follows for potential recruits:
Office
Cursed Tiefling Ronin Samurai, looking for redemption
Fire Elemental Tattooed Varisian Halfelf Sorcerer
pending (one dropped out due to new project promotion)
Online
Human Varisian Ranger - Conner Hawthorne
Human Monk of Iomedae - Carleson Haddix
Human Paladin of Vengeance - Angel Dawnstar
Human Cleric of Erastil - Khelreddin
Fetchling Rogue - Grixus
Human Magus of the Mordant Spire - Arknight
Dwarf Cleric of Torag - Bigg Longshaft
Halfling Outrider - Algar Lysandris
So, this is what I have been working on. As much as I wanted to try out the shadow dancer, I think I'll submit an Alchemist instead. Should be interesting.
Suryo Dalek
Elf
Alchemist (Mind Chemist)/5
Background and Concept Elements:
1) Suryo has an obsession with knowledge and the acquisition there of. He has had a drive since birth to acquire as much as possible as quickly. While usually achievable in libraries, he does not like the idea of waiting for others to discover what he wants to know.
2) He is, by all definitions eccentric. As much as possible he plans for every occasion.
3) Suryo is a worshiper of Paletius. He is an active Scholar in the church of Paletius.
4) Suryo spent most of his early life making pilgrimages to libraries of Men, Dwarf, and Elf alike. He has grown to realize that the only way to achieve true learnings is to experience science firsthand.
5) The recent cultish activities have brought Suryo to the area to investigate. Not only to put an end to their perversion of knowledge, but also to see if anything can be gleaned from them.
6) Suryo was born in the Verduran Forest but his thirst for knowledge has taken him all across the River Kingdoms, Taldor, and Andoran.
Suryo has 2 main Goals in life:
1) He is seeking ultimate knowledge and has realized that this is not achieve able in one life time (Even with the amazing life span of a Elf), as such he is working on a formula to achieve immortality.
2) As the ultimate form of knowledge acquisition is experience, and experience is just a moment in time, Suryo is working on a way to travel to any time so that he can experience everything from creation to destruction. (Yes, I know there are no time travel spells, but I figured it would be fun to have him constantly working towards controlling time to at least some degree.
Memories, Mannerisms, and Quirks:
1) Suryo has trust issues. While he may go along with the plans of others, he is always searching for their potential ulterior motives (even if there aren’t any).
2) Suryo is convinced that while knowledge is absolute, truth and morals are relative to the situation.
Thanks DM Kalizar. I will adjust to Goblinoid and Human. Thanks!
I have been busy at work the past few days, getting used to the new schedule and working out the kinks in coverage. I intend to post more campaign info tomorrow afternoon. So far we have a good strong list of candidates, and I welcome the opportunity to present my Pathfinderized Temple of Elemental Evil.
Please accept the application of Sir Gareth. Noble knight and secret agent of Iomedae.
Sir Gareth d’Orionus was born the fourth son of the noble Taldan house of Orionus. With two healthy older brothers to survive becoming knights before him, he was truly a spare heir. His childhood was of privilege, and he properly squired and trained to be a noble knight as was expected. Although busy, his father made a point to personally instruct Gareth in the noble history of his family (Keeper of the Secret Scrolls). When he was knighted at 18 years old, his father revealed the secret history of the house of Orionus.
Orionus served under a mortal Iomedae in the Knights of Ozem. When she ascended into divinity, he continued to follow her. Sixth generations later, when Iomedae served as herald of Aroden, she tasked the house of Orionus with a great burden. Iomedae discovered that the enemies of Aroden were well-hidden. She became enlightened into the power of information, even for the divine. She needed agents who could travel into enemy territory with their true faith undiscovered. She requested the house of Orionus to take this task. Over the following generations, they developed methods of obfuscation and training. On the surface, Orionus is just another Taldan noble house producing knights and aristocrats. Below the surface, they secretly maintain a network of intelligence for the church of Iomedae.
Sir Gareth began his additional training, which included frequent travel and his sword brand (birthmark). He uses his status of noble knight to travel where he is directed. Besides intelligence gathering, he has also been sent on missions where obvious trappings of Iomedae would be disadvantageous.
I have an idea for an Alchemist (Grenadier) with a touch of Gunslinger. The original concept was a tiefling with a passion for cooking. (actually had ranks in Profession, Cooking) But if you don't want another tiefling I can try a different race.
I have an idea for an Alchemist (Grenadier) with a touch of Gunslinger. The original concept was a tiefling with a passion for cooking. (actually had ranks in Profession, Cooking) But if you don't want another tiefling I can try a different race.
As the Tiefling in the group is "cursed" and looking to use his Honor and dedication to Heroism to prove himself worthy of Shizuru washing away his "Azura" taint, it would make an interesting dynamic between the two, but then not sure if that would create good or bad drama.
If you wish to be tiefling, submit and we will see how it develops. If you want to try a different race, no problem as well. It would be an unusual choice, a tiefling spawned out in the Mana Wastes, but a good story can go a long way.
Updated list of potential recruits:
Office
Cursed Tiefling Ronin Samurai, looking for redemption
Fire Elemental Tattooed Varisian Halfelf Sorcerer
Pending (may transfer to an off-site department)
Declined (dropped out due to new project promotion)
Online
Human Varisian Ranger - Conner Hawthorne
Human Monk of Iomedae - Carleson Haddix
Human Paladin of Vengeance - Angel Dawnstar
Human Cleric of Erastil - Khelreddin
Fetchling Rogue - Grixus
Human Magus of the Mordant Spire - Arknight
Dwarf Cleric of Torag - Bigg Longshaft
Halfling Outrider - Algar Lysandris
Human Knight - Sir Garth d'Orionus
Grenadier Alchemist/Gunslinger - Spacefurry
Beromar still be lookin for a place to adventure!
In the Alias he's level one and I'll likely adapt the background. From your description I got the impression your not looking for fully worked out crunch just yet?
Beromar still be lookin for a place to adventure!
Beromar is welcome to join the folk gathering for a trip to Hommlet. I will be looking over all the candidates backgrounds for ideas on how they will fit into the campaign, and likely work with one another, but we have a few days left before the deadline, so no worries.
As a note, I have posted some history and settlement profiles on the campaign info page. More will be posted as time and RL allows.
Any questions or if I've made any glaring errors, please feel free to let me know.
Updated background to include Hommlet plot-hook.
Submitting Titania Evangeline Snow-fell
@Kalizar - that is a very nicely written history, not sure if you did it yourself or borrowed from the Wiki. In any case, very helpful.
One thing I wasn't clear on was exactly where Hommlet is. Is it within the Verduran Forest, or outside of it? If the caravan from Woodsedge to Almas passes through Hommlet, and it's on the Sellen River, it seems it must be within the Forest. If that's so, where is it in relation to Bellis (which is where my cleric is from)? If you could describe where it is on a map of that part of Golarion, it would be great.
Thanks.
I think it might be close to the Dark Moon Vale as the Dark Moon vale does have a Hamlet in it called Falcon's Hollow.
@Kalizar - that is a very nicely written history, not sure if you did it yourself or borrowed from the Wiki. In any case, very helpful.
One thing I wasn't clear on was exactly where Hommlet is. Is it within the Verduran Forest, or outside of it? If the caravan from Woodsedge to Almas passes through Hommlet, and it's on the Sellen River, it seems it must be within the Forest. If that's so, where is it in relation to Bellis (which is where my cleric is from)? If you could describe where it is on a map of that part of Golarion, it would be great.
Thanks.
Actually I have placed it just south of the Western Half of the Verduran Forest, with the Lowland road following the Andoran bank of the Sellen River. The village is about 10 miles from the forest, 20 miles from the river, using the map of Andoran from the book of the same subject.
I think it might be close to the Dark Moon Vale as the Dark Moon vale does have a Hamlet in it called Falcon's Hollow.
Actually, I was thinking of using Falcon's Hollow as a replacement for Rastor, when including the Crater Ridge Mines from Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.
This Hommlet doesn't seem to be near Falcon's Hollow
Running nearby is the mighty Sellen River, along whose west bank runs the Lowroad, which runs from Woodsedge in Galt to a coastal terminus in Almas. Many days’ travel to the south, on the shores of the Inner Sea is the large town of Triela, whilst across the watery border lays the great walled Taldan city of Cassomir. Beyond Hommlet to the west, north and northeast are miles and miles of forest (the Verduran), beyond which are the wild lands of Galt and the River Kingdoms, and the peaks of the Five King Mountains. To the south, at the mouth of the Sellen, lie Star Bay and the Inner Sea. The Lowroad forks a league or so beyond the little community, one branch meandering a few miles off towards the nefarious Taldan ferry crossing of Nulb, another rolling southwest 150 leagues through the Carpenden Plains to the town of Steyr, and then eventually turning southwards again towards fair Almas. The hard western Highroad leads into the very heart of Andoran, passing over the Andoshen River into the Arthfell and going onwards to the Aspodell Mountains far beyond.
If you have a map, Hommlet appears to be on an imaginary line drawn connecting Cassomir in Taldor and Highhelm in the Five Kingdoms. It reads like it is within the pocket of plains that is created by the Verduran Forest.
cheers
Sorry, I missed the post where you said the 'teifling' thing was a favor. I won't want to cause any problems.
Tho Alkenstar would be a fitting city of origin for an alchemist/gunslinger. I could go with half-elf, there are enough human candidates.
So, I had a background written when you posted the geographical information, and had made a character who would do best not to be spotted in Bellis, which the caravan will presumably pass through (I thought the caravan would travel west of the forest for some reason). Mind taking a look at the background in the spoiler and telling me if you see any issues? I'm not sure if the whole caravan journey will be played out as part of the adventure or not - he could just keep a low profile while in Bellis, if that's practical based on your campaign plan.
Thanks
Beregil Havnor is a man with a mission – to return his community to the simple, balanced way of life it once knew. Beregil was born and raised in Bellis, deep in the Verduran forest, a town fiercely controlled by the Lumber Consortium. His father was a “forester,” and the Havnor family had harvested timber around Bellis for decades and looked down on the itinerant “lumberjacks” who came and went with the seasons. Whatever they might be called, both profited from the oppression of the local people and the felling of the mighty trees of the forest. Beregil hated the thoughtless, cruel way the Lumber Consortium treated the people of Bellis, and that they did so in order to rob the forest of its greatest treasures, the ancient trees and the creatures that depended on them. He had always loved the forest - its peace, its beauty, its life – and dearly wished to protect it from the Consortium’s rapacious ways, and to help Bellis return to a simpler, happier way of living. Beregil knew that Bellis had once been a quiet, contented community that lived in harmony with itself and the forest, and he knew it could be so again.
He tried to rouse his family and friends against the Consortium, but some of them feared retribution, and the rest didn’t want to upset the community’s way of life, as hard and pitiless as it was. As an impetuous young man, Beregil decided he would resist the powerful timber lords on his own. One day, thinking himself quite a woodsman, he crept through the forest toward a Consortium work crew, bow in hand and mischief on his mind. Fool that he was, he thought he’d scare them away, and they’d never come back to log his woods again, and Bellis would be on the path to a happier existence. He managed to injure one of them before the crew began to chase him, vowing to kill him and make him an example of what happened to people who threatened the Consortium.
Though it was a close thing, Beregil managed to escape the lumberjacks, but only through what he regarded as divine intervention. As he fled blindly through the forest, he ran right into the midst a large herd of deer, led by a massive, mighty-antlered stag, truly a titan of the forest. Beregil continued his flight, passing cleanly through the startled herd. The lumberjacks were not so lucky. They came to a shocked halt at the sight of the stag, who swung his enormous antlers at them. The first of them was badly gored, and the others turned and fled back to their camp. Beregil believed the stag was Erastil himself, and that the Stag God must have saved him because he believed in his cause. Knowing he could not return to his home, where the Consortium would kill him for certain, Beregil travelled deep into the forest. There he lived simply, hunting as he needed to, taking only deadfall for his fire, and striving to understand the ways of the wood. Over time, however, he came to believe that Erastil would want him to seek out community, and strive to keep the world balanced by fighting those who would disrupt it.
In the years since, he has travelled throughout the Verduran Forest and beyond, preaching the virtues of a simple life lived in community with others, all while missing his own community greatly. He has not given up his dream of freeing Bellis from the yoke of the Consortium, but does not want to fail again – he plans to grow stronger in his faith in Erastil and the divine powers the god grants him, and use that strength to drive out the Consortium once and for all. In the meantime, he continues to pray and travel and preach, and fight against the forces of imbalance - like the greed and cruelty that have disrupted his own home.
This Hommlet doesn't seem to be near Falcon's Hollow
** spoiler omitted **
If you have a map, Hommlet appears to be on an imaginary line drawn connecting Cassomir in Taldor and Highhelm in the Five Kingdoms. It reads like it is within the pocket of plains that is created by the Verduran Forest.
cheers
Just about right above the last "r" on the Sellen River should be close enough. Thanks for the post Sir Gareth. I was checking the rules for trying to post the map I have, but that works just fine.
This Hommlet doesn't seem to be near Falcon's Hollow
...
The GM could fold space and terrain, if he wants to because it makes the world fit better.