Keolin's Reign of Winter Campaign, Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Nickadeamous

"It has been a century since the immortal witch Baba Yaga last visited the world, and the hour draws nigh for her return. But when she fails to appear in the frozen realm of Irrisen to usher in its newest ruler, pockets of winter begin to grow throughout the Inner Sea region. After 1,400 years of perpetual winter, the icy curse of Irrisen is spreading! What links do these strange blizzards and swaths of wintry landscapes have with Irrisen, and is there any truth to the growing rumors that the Witch Queen Elvanna has taken full control of the realm? Can her plans for the Inner Sea be thwarted, or will the Reign of Winter engulf the world?"

This campaign will be run as a play-by-post following the Reign of Winter Adventure Path created by Paizo. Gameplay and die rolling will take place on this forum; Roll20 will be used for mapping purposes.

Participants will generally be expected to post at least every other day. If something comes up and you are unable to meet that quota, it's not the end of the world; depending on what is going on I may declare an action on your behalf to keep things moving. If you are going to be gone more than a few days please let me know in the discussion thread. I'm sure there will be times where I will have to be absent from time to time too; I will make sure to keep you posted in the discussion thread as well.

We will begin with the first adventure in this campaign, The Snows of Summer. I have run this module with a live group before; unfortunately I never got to do the second adventure before I moved back to the USA.

Play by post games always take far longer than face to face. There are some things we will do differently to mitigate that as much as possible. Below are some general guidelines:

1. If you are declaring an action and you know what skill or game mechanic is used, go ahead and roll it at the same time as your post. Make sure that you label your roll so I know what it is for.

2. If a roll needs to be made and there isn't a decision for you to make, I will make the roll myself. This includes saves, perception checks as well as anything else you have forgotten to roll yourself. Waiting for players to make passive rolls slows things down too much.

3. If you are making an attack roll, make a damage roll at the same time. Don't make assumptions about whether you hit or not.

4. If you roll a 1 on an attack roll, make a second roll at your highest attack bonus to confirm a critical fumble (I am using critical fumble rules). If you forget to do this I will roll it myself, so no worries.

5. When real life happens and you can't post for a while, please let me know so we don't wait for you. If you don't post after 2-3 days and we are in a non-combat, non-critical situation, you just won't say/do anything and we will move on. If we are in a combat or other critical situation and you haven't posted after 2-3 days, I will declare an action on your behalf and move on.

6. We will not be using normal initiative rules. At the beginning of each combat I will roll initiative for the players as a group, using the party's average initiative bonus. The players will act in whatever order they post during the party's turn. This will help to reduce delays because you don't have to go in a specific order.

7. Play by post is a medium that makes it easier to do deeper roleplaying. Feel free to include internal character thoughts in italics. Anything your character actually says should be in "bold text with quotes." Describe your action in detail, and when talking to NPCs feel free to ask more than one question at once. OOC (out of character) questions go to the discussion thread.

Character Creation Guidelines:

First and foremost, I want interesting characters that will do more than stab everything they run into. I had a great live group before I moved that was far beyond the "you see something and..." "we kill it! yeah!" way of thinking. They tried to talk people down instead of just trying to kill everything, and often found creative ways to defuse encounters. I really like that style of play, so I'm looking for a less hack and slash type of game. I think this style of play is particularly well suited to PbP. Don't get me wrong; I love combat too, but killing everything in sight shouldn't be the default behavior. We can't all be Belkar ;)

For your application, please include:

1. A brief background explaining why your character is in Heldren and what drove them to the adventuring life, what their motivations are, etc. Two to three paragraphs is plenty.

2. A brief description of the personality and mannerisms of your character. You should try to put enough information here that it could serve as a guide for running your character if you were unavailable.

Please put your information in spoiler tags so we can keep the thread nice and neat.

Crunch:

Ability scores will be generated by 20 point point buy. All Paizo core classes and base classes are permitted. All characters start at level 1 with average wealth for their class. Core races are ok; other races may be considered on a case by case basis. All official Paizo materials are ok to use for making your character; third party materials can be considered on a case by case basis. In addition to the normal starting feats characters may begin with two traits, either general traits or Reign of Winter campaign traits. See the Reign of Winter player's guide here.

In general I believe in giving players as many choices as possible. Game balance is my primary concern; if you want to do a weird character I'll probably allow it as long as it won't break the game for everyone else.

Applications are open until Sunday, August 25th. I will make the final decisions on who will get to play as soon as I can after that, but it probably won't be as fast as I would like as I am in the process of getting ready to move out of state. I've been craving Pathfinder too much lately to wait until I moved to get the ball rolling on this though.

I look forward to reading your submissions.

Dot

Dot for interest. Had an Arctic Druid concept I'll try to flesh out.

Made this dude for a different reign of winter campaign. Will adapt to your guidelines.

I have a wonderful ideal if you would let me; for a delightfully unique character. Hear me out here- Harpy oracle of Flames raised by Humans with the Tongues curse(Rendering her Voice attack Worthless in combat to anything that doesn't understand her.). Would require some tweaking, but I could assure you she would be a unique addition to your party. She would most likely be a blaster type, with the ability to off heal after combat if needed. If you like this ideal I can get to developing her, then stating her with what ever rules you have.

Here is the character I am planning to go with, if he seems too "stab first and ask questions later" for your taste, feel free to tell me so and I'll go with another.

Throwing out my interest. I'm floating between several character ideas. Either a magus, inquisitor, or just a straight up fighter. I'll decide soon.

I plan on applying but will create my background later.

This character was made for a RoW game that never really go off the ground. He's a bit of an odd background concept, but his mechanics are pretty straightforward. He's a high-strength Oracle of Bones headed toward Rage Prophet.

His backstory is a bit long, but it's a fun story. Let me know what you think.

Interested. Especially if i could get a PFS chronicle for it, what is perfectly legal if you go through the small pain to report it as a PFS game.

I´m posting quite often, as you can see in my history.

Would be considering a gnome sorcerer, either slyvan or elemental fire bloodline. Played it before in parts for PFS, but as i often GM i´m quite good at holding back player knowledge.

Planning to submit a winter witch. Just need to build it. Should have something up here after a bit.

Plenty of interest already, but I'll report mine as well just in case.
I'll have something up tomorrow.

Dotting, will likely come up with a 'slinger because that's what I really want to play in RoW. I will note that I am GMing my own pbp of RoW so I hope that's not an issue.

As of right now... I'm strongly considering the Witch Hunter archetype for inquisitor. I think it would fit in quite well in this AP. Now the question becomes... melee or ranged?

May I present Kohr for your consideration...

Details are in this profile.

Just popping in to answer questions; reviewing backgrounds probably won't happen for a bit. Moving sucks.

@Khaosclaire- while I might allow a monstrous character, harpies are off limits. Being able to fly really breaks the game at low levels.
@Hayato- I'm willing to do a PFS chronicle for it. I was unaware that RoW was approved for this. I'm not familiar with the details of using APs for PFS but we can certainly work it out.
@Dylos- as long as you can keep player and GM knowledge separate I don't mind. It's easier to do that in a PbP than in a live game, as you have time to consider the question "Would my character know this?" in more detail. Gunslinger is fine with me.
@Faelyn- a witch hunter inquisitor sounds perfect for this AP.
@Donald- a winter witch could be very interesting- instead of "all witches must burn" you might be looking for a change in management in Irrisen or something.

I will be submitting Delmond Miller

He is a common man driven towards madness by the machinations of witches. He will be working on the World Serpent Barbarian powers. Wields an Earth Breaker and has no regard for his personal safety!

GNOME

Dotting.

I am thinking of an urban barbarian who was part of a landholder's private company of soldiers. The company was "overzealous" in pursuing outlaws and, as a result, most of them were captured and imprisoned. The PC will have escaped the law and decided to hide out in Heldren until the affair is forgotten by the authorities. To him, the odd weather and tales of Baba Yaga coming to Golarian are useful because they keep people away from the area.

As far as he is concerned, the Witch Queen is probably just a legend anyway.

Just popping in to answer questions; reviewing backgrounds probably won't happen for a bit. Moving sucks.

...

@Donald- a winter witch could be very interesting- instead of "all witches must burn" you might be looking for a change in management in Irrisen or something.

I had something very similar planned. Got busy at work, so haven't built character yet. Maybe have one up monday. I am going to take the "Failed Winter Witch" campaign trait. I thought that a good basic background was that the character was at one time a winter witch apprentice, but lacked the "cold-hearted nature" as a child and was cast out. The character will have been studying witchcraft alone and in secret and plans to change the views of not only the Irrisen leadership, but also of outsiders; proven that one can wield the power despite a "warmed soul".

If possible, I'd like to play samsaran as my race just so I can have access to haste. Most of my spells will be buffs or debuffs such as the witch's specialty. Will be taking Ice Patron though I know my damaging ice spells will not be very effective for a good portion of the campaign (hence buffs/debuffs). If not allowed, I'll go either elf or human.

Dotting. Thinking of submitting a Monk of the Sacred Mountain. Will have a profile complete sometime this weekend.

Dotting. Thought for this old man to take his chance for applying in.

In a pilgrimage to other countries to see more world and conduct a bit more civilization (originating from Taldor). However the real reason he is on his way appears to be something else but that to be left in secret (Apparently in search to find a way to get more closer to her goddess, which caused some ill-misunderstanding between him and higher-ranking cleric)

Galrian is an old refined man past his prime but still having the looks (like wine getting better the older it gets). Charismatic, quick-witted and ready to embark on journey whether it was by words or by foot. He has seen world from south to north, from west to east so there is a little he has missed but even still he is not knowledgeable and thus is humble, listening others and giving his wisdom when asked or required.

(Galrian is otherwise ready but there is some changes need to be done-> stats and background info due to being in another game but can be easily changed)

Dotting. Working a Kellid concept.

I would certainly be interested. I might need a little bit of help preparing my character, but yeah, I'm game. Thinking elf or human Druid character-wise.

All right! I am working up a Camel riding Emissary/Beast Rider Cavalier who will be an envoy in Irrisen. Will have full concept up in a bit.

dotting for intrest would you allow the winter mystery from People of the North? (I'm not sure if it is a pathfinder or 3rd patry published book).

I have the crunch done and will have the fluff up tomorrow.

Querek, Elven Transmuter

Here is the personality and crunch of Filius Hiemem (I may have to change some things for him).

Here are some questions on his build.
1)Would you allow the legalistic curse it is from Blood of Fiends?
2)The armor my character is wearing is from Ultimate Equipment is that okay?

Will have background done and up sometime tomorrow/today.

Have reseted my background and stats -> re-calculated and changed everything. 90% done and almost ready to be inspected.

The presentation is not in the norm but rather in descending order and clearly shown where each section begins

@Donald- Samsaran is fine.
@Void Dragon- People of the North is fine, Blood of Fiends is Fine, and Ultimate Equipment is fine.

Basically any Paizo material is approved by default. If you use something that isn't core, please include a link to whatever you are using on d20pfsrd since I don't have all of the books.

Before I am done with my concept, I have one question, what about the Tengu race? It's not very vital, but I have always wanted to try playing one once.

link to winter mystery. (the icy skin revelation is semi-hard to find as it is after the ice shape revelation, but it doesn't have a return so it is on the tail end of that revelation).
link to Legalistic curse (and some other curses too).

@BoggBear- Tengu are approved for PC play in this campaign.
@Void- Legalistic looks interesting. Winter mystery is fine. Be aware though- this campaign has a lot of monsters that are immune to cold.

This the character I plan to use if chosen. Crunch is the profile.

I have this crossblooded sorceror boreal/verdant I'd like to submit.
I plan to go some sort of arcane archer route.

Here then for your perusal is a certain Tengu Alchemist, notorious for many things, some of them good.

This is a very interesting set up me and my brother are looking for a good game we can get behind I'm moving away from family and this only way we can play now so I will tell him of this game but we are looking to play 2 dwarf cousins (fighters dabbling in team work feats) I will have more drawn up soon but sounds extremely interesting

Here is the alias of Filius and here is his backstory. (Void Dragon)

I'm sorry to say I do have one more question. What is the starting village for this adventure?

@BoggBear- Tengu are approved for PC play in this campaign.

@Void- Legalistic looks interesting. Winter mystery is fine. Be aware though- this campaign has a lot of monsters that are immune to cold.

While there may be a lot of monster immune to cold in this campaign I picked winter mainly because it fit with the setting, and there is like only one spell for oracles to learn that does cold damage. All the other cold damage spells I will be learning from my mystery, and this is a good reason not to want to fight. If all of my spells are gong to be useless, why not be diplomatic ;)

So, I have this witch, she was playing in a game of Slumbering Tsar that ended very early. She has ties to the northlands in her background, and I could rebuild her to Level 1 and 20 PB pretty easily. I think I'd choose the winter witch archetype with the Trickery patron, although I might change that prior to the beginning of the adventure once I see who else is playing.

Elen left Kyonin early in her life (for an elf) and traveled around the world, literally -- through the Keleshite Empire, into Tian Xia, and over the crown of the World, and came to the Land of the Linnorm Kings, where a pair of witches invited her into a coven. (This would be when she took her first level in Witch.) Despite her greater age and experience, they found a profound innocence in her spirit, as well as that she had never had any sexual experience, which qualified her to be the Maiden to their Mother and Crone.

Eventually Estrid, the Crone, died, and Freyid, the Mother, would have moved into that position, but without any prospect of children, Elen could not become the Mother, and no other witches were immediately available. So, the coven ended under amiable conditions, and Elen left, her cat Frostwhiskers travelling with her.

(The possibility of Elen seducing a local human and becoming a mother of a half-elven child was briefly raised, but Elen absolutely refused. She is a romantic at heart and wants to find the person for whom her love is written in the stars. Incidentally, like many elves she is equally open to that person being male or female.)

She took passage on a boat heading to Taldor, and from there traveled north with the general plan of returning to her homeland. This travel has brought her to Heldren at the beginning of the adventure.

So me, HayatoKen, applies with this pretty little character.
Statistics, backstory and everything you can see under the alias profile.

Alternatively like i said i would play

Forgot to include her personality. Elen is shy and retiring, but warms up to someone once she gets to know them. (Her CHA will be 8 or 7 to reflect this lack of social comfort.) She would like to learn every language spoken on Golarion, although she realizes this is a very difficult task. She's a nerd in a lot of ways -- bookish, fascinated by reading and learning more about the world.

She has no desire to be in the thick of things. Her MO in combat is to shut her foes down from a distance. Slumber and Misfortune hexes, and battlefield control spells will be her preferred methods. If she feels it necessary to save her spells, she'll shoot her ranged weapon, either a crossbow or a shortbow depending on circumstances. She does carry a longsword at her side, but if she has to draw it, chances are something's gone terribly wrong (unless she's using it to coup-de-grace a foe she's caused to go to sleep).

Good luck Elen!

I am still working on my character. In a debate between human ranged inquisitor or a dwarven meleer.

@Filius- the starting village is the small town of Heldren, located in Taldor.

Presenting for consideration: Lionna, human Arctic Druid (with giant weasel animal companion).

Any and all feedback is appreciated - I've never built or played a druid before, and I'm very conscious of the fact that my backstories are usually bland.

Greetings, I would like to express my interest in this campaign. The concept I am considering is a half-orc ranger (Kagan Wolfbrother), one that I have been wanting to actually play for some time. Right now it is a straight up ranger no archetype or the like. A skirmisher type, one that would start with his bow but be able take the fight to the enemy with his blade/axe.

I will get on the character and should hopefully have him ready tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest.

Thanks,
Songdragon

Almost finished with crunch on my gunslinger, just a little more gold to spend. Just wanted to ask, for bullets, can i be assumed to craft any starting ammunition with the gunsmithing feat.

Here is my character sheet so far.

I've decided a new picture is needed for Elen as she wouldn't be tanned due to years in the deserts of Qadira in this incarnation.

Now she's... a blonde!

My concept of her appearance is that she doesn't fit the stereotype of tall, willowy elves -- she's shorter than usual and has an almost human-like plumpness to her. For an elf, she's definitely got a few more pounds than one would expect. (This is insulation, built up over years in the cold.)

As a winter witch, she would be able to endure the cold much more than usual, so she wears ordinary light dresses, skirts, and tunics, not bothering with heavy clothes, other than boots and snowshoes when needed, since you still have to walk in the snow (or on it) even if the cold doesn't bother you.

Her witches' coven made sure to infuse her with the ability to endure cold as soon as possible -- hard to dance skyclad under the full moon if you're shivering your butt off and getting hypothermia.