Shalm's Untitled Campaign

Game Master Shalm

Hey all,

I've never GMed a PbP before, but I'm looking to get started doing it, and so I'd like to run a short module and see how it goes. I just read through the newest Pathfinder Module Murder's Mark, and it looks like it would be fun.

The module takes place in and around the town of Ilsurian in Varisia. Each PC has come to see the Umbra Carnival, a circus the size of a small village with a diverse array of attractions and amusements from all over Avistan, which has chosen Ilsurian as its next stop.

So here's what I'm looking for:

4-6 1st level PCs who are looking to do a pretty good amount of RP and investigative work.

As for character creation, we'll do a 20-point buy, max starting gold for 1st level, 2 traits.

Any race either from the CRB or the ARG is acceptable, just make sure you're ready to explain yourself if you're one of the more rare races—people will take notice, and may not trust you because of it.

Any class/archetype from the Core line of books (CRB, APG, UM, UC, ARG) is good with me, and 3rd party classes are OK too as long as they a) are on www.d20pfsrd.com so that I can read them, and b) I like what I see. I'm pretty open, but there are some classes which just might not work for this module. But feel free to submit anything you'd like, or ask me to approve one before you submit.

I'd like submissions to have a complete character sheet with an alias, and also some back story telling why you happen to be in Ilsurian, and what interested you about the Umbra Carnival. The PCs do not have to know each other ahead of time, though if people want to coordinate back stories, that's totally acceptable as well.

My plan is only to do this module, but if we're all having a good time, I would be willing to consider doing a second one. We'll see.

I'm going to set the deadline for submissions at Friday, December 21st at 8:00am EST (so basically before I wake up that day). We probably won't actually get started until the second week of January, due to holiday plans.

Looking forward to seeing submissions!

GM Espri

I could be interested. Would you qualify yourself as a house rules type or RAW/RAI type?

I would say that I like to make sure that the rules don't get in the way of the enjoyment of the story. That doesn't mean that I just let anything go, but I'm open to interesting ideas/plans/concepts, as long as they don't break the game.

That being said, if there was more interest in running this as a PFS legal game, then I'd be willing to do that, running it strictly RAW (though I'd need to do some research on exactly what steps I'd need to take to run for PFS, since I haven't done that). My GM experience has been entirely home campaigns (homebrews and Adventure Paths), which happens to lend itself to being more open with the rules, but that doesn't mean that if people want a more strict game, I'd be unwilling to give it to them.

I'd like to do it. I will post a 1st level 'gypsy' themed Divination specialist wizard girl who has come to town to see if she can find employment with the legendary traveling carnival. I have not read the module of course, but it seems like the character concept would fit with your story. Will post character soon.

This looks like a lot of fun.
I think a Carnival (or a town where a Carnival was working) would be a great place for an oracle to ply her trade. More to come as I read up on the class.

I think a cleric of Desna would be very interested in a circus. Especially if she happened to be in the area already.

Colour me interested. :)

I have a half elf bonded witch. Named Kyroden Hawkstorm, I believe he meets the creation guidelines. I hope to be a apart of this. Thanks for the considering me.

I have this sylph bard that, like all sylph once he find a mystery, he must solve it.

Thanks for the quick response. IMO, the DM is the most important player. If the DM isn't happy, then the game suffers. So I definitely think you should run the type of game that is going to keep you the most motivated to DM. That having been said, I'm definitely someone who wants the rules to be applied consistently and impartially, whichever rules are used.

As far as PFS vs PFRPG, I'd be happy to run a PFS legal campaign, but it would only make sense if the module is approved for PFS play. If not, then there would be no point in using the PFS ruleset. I just checked and Murder's Mark IS approved (good news!) So if you're down with PFS legal I'd totally be up for that.

I can help with the rules. They are basically the same as PFRPG, with some stuff not allowed for balance reasons e.g. Summoner Synthesist are not legal. The good thing about PFS legal campaign is that the characters can be used in any other PFS legal campaign....and....as the DM, you can apply the credits from the module to your own character. Usually a module results in everyone getting 1 level so at the end, you'd have a 2nd level PFS character. As such, I would certainly be a willing to run a scenario or two and give you a chance to play your characters.

My submission for your game would most likely be human ranger or a human barbarian.

@MayDay, Masque, Denessrael All of those sound like good concepts to me.

@Kyroden and Ken'r Could you expand on why your characters are in Ilsurian?

@N N 959 Thanks for the advice. I think I'll run this one as just a regular game, not PFS, but I'll probably consider doing some of those in the future. I'd love to have you submit a character anyway, though, and I don't think that you'd find me too rules flexible for your taste.

(a.k.a. Masque)

Probably far from the optimal oracle, built more to be how I imagine an oracle.

Ashanaz was given to be raised an dwarven priest of Nethys in the Mindspin Mountains by her father, an angel. She was raised by the priest and taught the secrets of his lore, which her blindness made it necessary for her to memorize. As she grew stronger in the mystery, she grew better able to see with an inner eye that served her well in the dark recesses of the dwarven mines. When she was old enough, she left the mountains and wandered Varisia for a time, learning all she could about the world, before she heard of the Umbra Carnival and followed them here.

Kyroden has heard there was an artifact in the area. He has been looking for it because his mother had been in charge of it a 120 years ago. The item was stolen and her reputation was ruined. If he can regain it maybe the Elven community will be appeased.

I've got an Archologist Bard I've been itchen it play some.

No problem. I can shoot you a link in PM. If you're going non-PFS, then a human barbarian will most likely be my first choice.

Let me see if I can rework Jericho in such a way that he fits with your campaign. After all, being a refugee from Ollo makes him "inclined/eligible" to travel and show up in strangest parts of the world :-) Mechanically speaking, he should be fine as is right now.

I am interested in making an inquisitor. I will see if I can get a concept to form and go from there.

Headaches are a big killer for trying to think up something.

Here is a Varisian oracle of the dark Tapestry who who was expelled from his clan after he began to manifest unexplained powers and strange behavior. He has wandered the lands of Varisia for several years in order to learn more about his magic and to try to reverse the effects of his curse. Recently he paid for a harrow reading that told him to see the someone at the Umbral Carnival could show him what he wants to know.

I still need to complete his equipment and feats but, for the most part, he is done. He has the wasting curse that has taken the color from almost all of his skin so he looks like someone who bled to death. When he suffers a wound or is splattered with blood from someone else it stains his skin even after the wound is healed or the foreign blood is removed.

[aka MayDay]

This is Adria Darkling
Female Human Divination Wizard lvl 1
Would sure love to play!

I would like to present Fulito Fulto Ferrywarden Bard of the river Kingdoms, Chronicler of all things amazing and cool

looks like I will need to make some adjustments from his last game (had three traits and stats were orginally done by dice rolls.

So recapping the submissions (or at least mentions of characters) so far:

Denessrael, Cleric
Kyroden Hawkstrom, Bonded Witch
NN 959, Barbarian (?)
Ken'r Solaan, Bard
Ashnaz, Oracle
Grand Moff Vixen, Inquisitor
Jericho Fiendaxe, Fighter
Azubah, Oracle of the Dark Tapestry
Adria Darkling, Divination Wizard
Aevux, Archeologist Bard
Fulito Ferrywarden, Bard

Let me know if I missed anybody!

Interested! Will work up a character ASAP....

Interested!

DOT
How a wood you like a charming (hint hint) see singer bard.

Please accept Talnome into your party. I still need to buy equipment.

cheers

Talgil Larathian, half-elf rogue (investigator) for your consideration.

Talnome, Talgil...Cool back-stories!

Can i make my own race.
Like a big (size L) rabbit.

@Killer Munch As amusing as that sounds, no, sorry, you cannot. But the sea singer bard sounds just fine to me, though there isn't really any water around in this campaign...

Recapping again:

Denessrael, Cleric
Kyroden Hawkstrom, Bonded Witch
NN 959, Barbarian (?)
Ken'r Solaan, Bard
Ashnaz, Oracle
Grand Moff Vixen, Inquisitor
Jericho Fiendaxe, Fighter
Azubah, Oracle of the Dark Tapestry
Adria Darkling, Divination Wizard
Aevux, Archeologist Bard
Fulito Ferrywarden, Bard
Killer Munch, Sea Singer Bard (?)
Talgil Larathian, rogue investigator
Talnome, Sorcerer
Hymenopterix, ---
Camris, ---

Have I missed anyone?

I'll go human barbarian

I have a Dhampir Gunslinger, name of Gareth Shrike, originally made for a 'dawn of the dead'-type campaign. I still need to tweak his equipment and his ability scores, but I have already updated his background story. Would he be acceptable? Should I remove the traits?

4 bards? how interesting

how do I make Fulito more memorable?

Oh while the profile in the Alias is off, I have an updated Fulito avaialabe for upload if accepted. I think for this part of the process it best provide the flavor of the character over the crunch and worry more on the crunch if selected.

@Gareth Shrike He looks great to me. Just fix the ability scores and you should be good to go.

would you prefer to have the character stats updated before you make selections?

If so I will do so immediately

Sorry, i've got to bow out. Good luck eveybody!

@Gareth Shrike He looks great to me. Just fix the ability scores and you should be good to go.

I need to tweak his equipment a bit, too. ;) As far as I recall, we had average starting money to create the characters when I made Gareth. I may actually be able to afford more than one dose of black powder now! :D

@Fulito Ferrywarden No, that's ok, I'm mainly looking at backgrounds and character concepts, so you're ok to wait. But I would like you to give your character some reason to be going to the Umbral Carnival, or at least be in that area.

Ability scores updated.

And now the equipment is updated, too. Ah reckon it could come in handy, pilgrim. ;)

@Fulito Ferrywarden No, that's ok, I'm mainly looking at backgrounds and character concepts, so you're ok to wait. But I would like you to give your character some reason to be going to the Umbral Carnival, or at least be in that area.

not a problem. I will be reworking his story

Durnim removes Talnome from potential selection.

cheers

Still a couple days left for people to submit characters— Hymenopterix, Camris? Still interested?

@Fulito

I was just reviewing potential adventuring companions and had some questions about your character:

1. You list three traits. One of the listed traits (Free Spirit) has the same name as a feat. Where does the Free Spirit trait come from? The two other traits are both Religion (Shelyn) traits. I thought the rule was only one trait per category unless house-ruled.

2. Bards have a maximum starting gold of 180 gp. How did you afford a masterwork chain shirt?

cheers

I foresee a time of great celebration, now the gods have lifted their doom on the paizo website.

Yup, I can totally do this Oracle thing.

@Fulito

I was just reviewing potential adventuring companions and had some questions about your character:

1. You list three traits. One of the listed traits (Free Spirit) has the same name as a feat. Where does the Free Spirit trait come from? The two other traits are both Religion (Shelyn) traits. I thought the rule was only one trait per category unless house-ruled.

2. Bards have a maximum starting gold of 180 gp. How did you afford a masterwork chain shirt?

cheers

I need to update the character from another game that ended.

have an update character sheet ready though so will fix it once I get home from work.

Thanks to everyone who submitted. My choices are:

Denssrael
N N 959
Azubah
Talgil Larathian
Gareth Shrike
Durnim Hornblower

Could those six please check in on the discussin thread? Thank you, and once again thanks to all those who applied.

GM Espri

way to go guys have fun....

if you are ever in need of a bard just let me know