Just a bump to say that I'm still working on my character, and she'll be ready soon!
Ok! Well, I'd already given notes on the PCs that are finished. I know that there are many recruitments going, and that there are lots of days remaining.
Here are my stats, figured I should get something up, story still to come once I figure out one that I actually like (currently leaning towards being the son of one of the Riftwarden council).
LG Large dragon (cold)
Init +4; Senses dragon senses; Perception +15
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Defense
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AC 28, touch 15, flat-footed 24; (+4 Dex, +13 natural, –1 size, +2 deflection)
hp 115 (10d12+40)
Fort +15, Ref +13, Will +13
Immune acid, cold, paralysis, sleep
Weaknesses vulnerability to fire
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Offense
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Speed 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (average); cloudwalking, graceful flight
Melee +2 bite +20 (2d6+14), 2 claws +18 (1d8+8), 2 wings +16 (1d6+4), tail +16 (1d8+12)
Power Attack bite +17 (3d6+21), 2 claws +15 (1d8+14), 2 wings +13 (1d6+7), tail +13 (1d8+21)
Space 10 ft., Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with bite)
Special Attacks breath weapon (40-ft. cone, DC 20, 6d8 cold), paralyzing breath
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th)
At will—detect evil
Spells Known (CL 1st)
1st (5/day)—Mage Armor, Silent Image
0 (at will)—detect magic, prestidigitation, detect fiendish presence, dancing lights
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Statistics
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Str 26, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 16, Wis 15, Cha 20
Base Atk +10; CMB +18; CMD 31 (35 vs. trip)
Feats Multiattack, Power Attack, Flyby Attack, Improved Natural Attack (Bite), Slow Exhalation
Skills Intimidate +18, Perception +15, Knowledge (arcana, religion, planes, local, nobility) +16, Spellcraft +16, Fly +17, Sense Motive +15, Linguistics +16
Languages Draconic, Common, Celestial, Fiendish, Elven, Dwarven, Abyssal, Ignan, Auran, Aquan, Terran, Protean, Azlanti, Thassilonian, Sylvan
SQ change shape (polymorph, 3/day)
Well, one of my two players is entertaining family, who are visiting internationally. Thus, the game has temporarily stalled until he can return, since they are basically deciding what to do while they investigate.
So you guys have plenty of time to figure things out, as long as y'all are interested.
How would you feel about awakened animals?
Such as an Awakened Giant Crab?
Sir Crunchy was awakened on the fabled Isle of Hermea as part of an intricate plot to overthrow the Gold Dragon Mengkare.
With his newfound free will and intelligence, Sir Crunchy decided to scuttle off into the ocean, never to return.
After some mis-adventures involving a pack of hungry grindylows, stealing an sleeping Merfolk's waterproof spellbook, and nearly being turned into an Aboleth slave, Sir Crunchy has somehow managed to find himself at a Riftwarden post on the Plane of Air, of all places, where he has finally found his true calling.
Class wise, I am undecided, though of top priority I will be able to cast Create Water, to work around his water dependency.
Also, might be an Alchemist/Take an Alchemist dip depending on your thoughts on if Two Claws can be treated as Two hands for the purposes of wielding stuff, opening stuff, basic adventuring, ext. ext.
An awakened crab something is hilarious and awesome, I have to say. Literally made me laugh, and I am not in a good mood today.
Two claws could do whatever two claws could reasonably be expected to do. You could open doors with them, for instance, and read an appropriately-sized book. However, you probably couldn't make Disable Device checks. You could do something like hold and use a wand, but not a sword or other melee weapon. Stuff like that.
I don't see anyone mentioning a shaman. ?? The thread sounds very interesting and looks like there's still enough time to put together a shaman.
That looks usable. Trying to keep it simple (and I don't have some of the books listed) I'll stick with a human. Details should be worked out this weekend.
Well, before I do any crunch for Sir Crunchy, I should see what the dice gods have to say about the Intelligence gained from awakening:
Hmm, that's promising! Shoot, I was thinking about just building a beat-em-up crab, but that INT is super tempting.
Of note, Sir Crunchy the Awakened Crab is initially a CR 3 Monster without any class levels yet: His type changes to become a Magical Beast, He gains 2 hd, and he loses his immunity to mind-effecting effects.
Now, typically The type change to Magical beast does not effect the current "chassis" of the creature, so using the monster/pc rules you presented I will build Sir Crunchy's first 5 HD in accordance to Vermin rules (d8 hd, 3/4 BaB progression, ext.) Leaving him with 5 class levels to work with. (Assuming I understand everything correctly, and don't hear otherwise)
Sir Crunchy the Awakened Crab as a magical beast should gain 3d10 magical beast hit dice, as per the rules linked above. Being a monster doesn't give you additional hit dice, and your hit dice should = CR.
Hmmmm, I should look at this! :D
And here lies the tale of Sir Crunchy the Crab:
LN Awakened Giant Crab Wizard (Worldseeker) 7
Init+6; Senses Darkvision 60ft, Smokesight; Perception+19
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Defense
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AC 26, touch 12, Flat-Footed 22; (+4 Mage Armor, +4 Shield, +2 deflection, +6 Natural)
hp 93 (3d10+7d6+40(Con)+7(Favored Class)
Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +10
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft., Swim 20 ft.
Melee Two +1 Claws +9 (1d4+3 Plus Grab)
Special attacks Constrict (1d4+3)
---------------------------------------------------
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th; Concentration+13)
Constant-Endure Elements
At Will (Self only)- Feather Fall, Levitate
---------------------------------------------------
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 7th; Concentration+13)
4th- Black Tentacles (DC 20), Dimension Door
3rd- Blink, Dispel Magic, Lightning Bolt (DC 19), Major Image
2nd- Aboleth's Lung (2) (DC 18), Mage's Crawlspace, Mirror Image, Gust of Wind (2) (DC 18)
1st-Ant Haul, Expeditious retreat, Mage's Armor, Secluded Grimoir, Shocking Grasp (3) (DC 17)
Arcane School: Air (Smoke Subschool)
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Statistics
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Str 15 Dex 11 Con 18 Int 22 Wis 13 Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB+8 (+12 Grapple); CMD 18 (30 vs Trip)
Feats Combat Casting, Improved Initiative, Shield Focus, Shield Proficiency, Unhindered Shield
Traits Dangerously Curious, Reactionary
Skills Appraise +15,Fly +15, Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Religion) +15, Knowledge (Engineering, Geology, History, Nobility) +10, Knowledge (Planes) +20, Linguistics +15, Perception +19, Profession (Accountant) +12, Spellcraft +15, Survival +10, Swim +14, Use Magic Device +10 (Racial Bonuses) Perception +4, Swim +8
Languages Common, Aboleth, Abyssal, Aquan, Auran, Celestial, Draconic, Infernal, Ignan, Sylvan, Terran, Protean
SQ: Improved Familiar (Kami, Shikigami), Planar Associates, Walk the Planes, Water Dependency
Combat Gear: Lesser Extend Metamagic Rod, Wand of Cure Light Wounds (x50)
Other Gear: Blessed Book, Decanter of endless water, Handy Haversack, 150 gp
Wizard Spells Learned (Italics indicate learned from a purchased scroll)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
4th-Anywhere But Here, Black Tentacles, Dimension Door, Lesser Planar Ally
3rd-Blink, Dispel Magic, Fly, Gaseous Form, Lightning Bolt, Major Image, Nondetection, Stormstep
2nd-Aboleth's Lung, Aggressive Thundercloud, Create Pit, Flurry of Snowballs, Gust of Wind, Mage's Crawlspace, Mirror Image, See Invisibility
1st-Ant Haul, Expeditious Retreat, Grease, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Protection from Evil, Secluded Grimoir, Shocking Grasp, Silent Image, Ventriloquism
At the end of the adventuring day, Sir Crunchy uses his Lesser Extend Metamagic Rod to cast an Extended Mage's Crawlspace. Inside, he uses his Decanter of Endless water to fill the hole to a suitable content before going to sleep. (Naturally, this routine changes based on daily circumstances, dangers and events.)
One nameless druid thought it would be wise to turn all the local flora and Fauna into a network of eyes and ears, and so he went about Awakening various creatures in secret. Sir Crunchy was an Ordinary Crab scuttling about the beaches of the island when he was blessed with the gift of intelligence and free will. For awhile, Sir Crunchy did his part, spying for the druid. But when the Druid awakened his next target, Sir Crunchy was no longer bound to obey- And so, The Giant Crab scuttled into the Ocean, never to be seen again...
Sir Crunchy's mind was opened to the many mysteries of the world- What causes the currents of the Ocean? Why do plants taste different than prey? What are these wrecks made of wood lying on the seafloor?
Sir Crunchy had many misadventures as he walked the path of enlightenment. He was attacked by some Hungry Grindylow. He made friends with some Aquatic Elves. But his career as an adventurer truly took off when he discovered a waterproof spellbook near a dying Merfolk. He couldn't save the Merfolk, but the Spellbook was unusually receptive to the Giant Crab, and before long Sir Crunchy had become a fledgling Wizard. The rest of the loot on the Merfolk also helped the Giant Crab as he began to gain levels and experience.
However, These newfound powers also put Sir Crunchy in newfound danger, for the Merfolk he had looted was an Aboleth Slave- And the Aboleth Master was displeased to find his minion killed and looted. In time, the Aboleth tracked Sir Crunchy down, and a fight broke out- Or, more correctly, Sir Crunchy swam for his life. Free will was a precious gift, and by then The Awakened Crab had learned the fate of those who cross an Aboleth.
Sir Crunchy quickly found himself trapped in some ancient ruins, The Aboleth thinking two steps ahead of the poor Crab. In a Panic, Sir Crunchy began trying out all the fancy toys he had looted from the Merfolk. "What does this wand do? Acid? That's useless. What about this Sword? No, can't wield that-" It was at the last second that Sir Crunchy found a Waterproof Scroll, activating it right As the Aboleth was closing in- And the Scroll worked!
Sir Crunchy would have found a scroll of Plane Shift keyed towards Axis, the Plane of Law. Out of Danger, and in the vast and daunting plane of Law, Sir Crunchy began to learn the ways of civilization, being arrested multiple times for inadvertently breaking various niche laws. Regardless of this accidental criminal history, Sir Crunchy soon found he had a talent for crunching numbers, and picked up work as an accountant for a small firm responsible for helping petitioners make the transformation into Axiomites.
Sir Crunchy would have been working a late night in the office when a group of nefarious Blackfire Adepts burst into reality. It wasn't that these criminals where attacking the office- Rather, the Office just happened to be the location they arrived.
Blackfire spread through the office, burning countless hours worth of files and documents- This made Sir Crunchy's blood boil, for that was work he had painstakingly handled. With his Wizardly spells and gnashing pincers, he managed to hold the adepts long enough for the Inevitable police to arrive and provide back up. By morning every Blackfire Adept was under arrest... But the resulting conflagration had destroyed most of the office, and all of the documentation.
The work could be recovered through various magics- But this would take time, and Sir Crunchy had no way to help. A Stranger approached the Giant Crab with a Job offer- They needed an Accountant on the Plane of Air, and were impressed with Sir Crunchy's handle of the situation: and with nothing Better to do, Sir Crunchy accepted.
Sir Crunchy would end up spending several years working at a small outpost on the Plane of Air. He would often witness many mysterious figures coming and Going, and would eventually learn the truth- And be accepted into the secretive Riftwarden Society as an accountant.
Sir Crunchy has learned a few Riftwarden secrets, retraining from a generalist Wizard to a WorldSeeker Wizard with the smoke Arcane school. Sir Crunchy would have just finished compiling a ledger of Blackfire attacks across the Inner Sea region when he might be given a new job on the Plane of Fire. A more... Hands on Job than managing paperwork.
In addition, his defining fashion statement is a Comically Large Wizard Hat, held atop his shell with various cords. In truth, this "Hat" is actually a Handy Haversack that has been designed to look like a hat: It is Red with several golden stars and moons stitched on.
Aside his Buckler and Handy Haversack, he looks like a Regular Giant Crab... Which tends to stick out on the various planes, leaving the occasional outsider incredibly confused.
Looking over the monster rules... would a pseudodragon be workable? They're actually surprisingly strong for a CR 1 monster, so I can see that there might be concerns.
Its fine, i don't think it would be OP.
All right! I'm thinking of basically re-creating Terex as a Riftwarden--with his curiosity and friendly personality, I could see him loving exploring the planes if he found a way to do so, and ending up dedicated to protecting them due to this.
Hmmm... given that you've already got an investigator, I'm guessing I probably shouldn't go for a psychic detective?
Oh, for abilities like Spell Resistance and Poison DC's that usually increase based on 1/2 HD, would they increase by 1/2 my total level (so 15 + the relevant stat)?
Whether or not your character is a psychic detective isnt as important to me as that they wont overshadow or compete with my existing investigator.
Yeah, that's kind of what I meant--I'd be nervous about stepping on toes.
I mean, Terex is small and light, so him stepping on your toes probably wouldn't hurt much, but I still wouldn't want him to do it.
I'm starting to look at the Trickster class from Kobold Press. Hopefully that wouldn't compete as much with an investigator.
Lemming here again. If this game is still pending please review the CS for this alias. (my Life Shaman) If there is any issue please PM me.
Thanks!
Hmmm... looking at possibilities, I'm actually leaning Unchained Rogue... but still not wanting to step on the Investigator's toes. Thinking of building to emphasize stealth, sneak attacks, and lots and lots of skills (particularly ALL THE KNOWLEDGE). Would that conflict too badly with the Investigator?
As said investigator, allow me to answer that.
I'm more built with a social bent since he's supposed to be a detective/secret agent type deal. While he can be fairly stealthy, it's not his focus. Frankly, he could probably support a sneaky rogue fairly well. He does have some knowledge skills, but they're mostly focused on things he'd know specifically (Planes and Local mostly).
John Doe-
As per ABP headbands and belts of +stat dont exist, so go ahead and refund those items and deduct 2 from all stats.
What is John's personal stake in the Riftwardens? Why does he care about doing what they are doing?
I'll have a better audit later, i just wanted to mention that.
Hmmm... looking at possibilities, I'm actually leaning Unchained Rogue... but still not wanting to step on the Investigator's toes. Thinking of building to emphasize stealth, sneak attacks, and lots and lots of skills (particularly ALL THE KNOWLEDGE). Would that conflict too badly with the Investigator?
As a note, while my pixie will probably not be as knowledgeable, I will be working on a naturally invisible character with as many dice of sneak attack as I can wring from the build.
Hmm.... Thanks. I didn't see that they weren't available. I'll adjust.
Personal stake with Riftwardens is at the end of his history. Modified the actual story to include a Riftwarden joining the last quest and working with him to stop him from detonating a permanent gate to the abyss.
Hey leinathan, looks fun! a couple questions:
1) would you approve a leprechaun?
2) ABP: for monster PCs is it by HD or by CR?
Thanks!
As a note, while my pixie will probably not be as knowledgeable, I will be working on a naturally invisible character with as many dice of sneak attack as I can wring from the build.
Hmmm... maybe I should go with the Psion build, then.
gyrfalcon:
1.) Yes
2.) Look again at the rules: HD and CR should be equal, so: Yes!
Stonecutter:
I more meant to ask if your PC has any internal philosophical reason to be with the Riftwardens, or, indeed, what his internal compass is. What's his core motivation?
Between two and four, depending on how many interesting applicants there are.
Don't worry about the time.
He doesn’t give much thought to where his powers come from, his god who disappeared protecting Golorian or from Iomadae who can trace her divineness “genealogy” back to Amaznen through Aroden.Sorry to say, but this won't fly. Like a cleric, warpriest, or inquisitor, a paladin is a religious class. Their powers come from devotion to a deity in Golarion, so you must choose a deity to follow and you must cleave to that deity's teachings.
When was Raziel an apprentice mortician or necromancer, as per the Anatomist trait?
Sorry for the delay in a response, it's been a bit busy here.
I apologize if I didn't make it clear, Raziel is a worshiper of Amaznen. Amaznen disappeared during Earthfall. After his disappearance he started working with Aroden who was a whorshiper of Amaznen. When Aroden died, he worked with Iomadae. This is what I meant by he doesn't give much thought to where his powers come from. It's not a philosophical question he dwells on. Is his god still around giving him powers or is Iomadae doing it? It also leaves a hook for you. If this isn't ok with you I can come up with another to receive his power from.
Raziel was never a mortician or necromancer. I figured as a being thousands of years old he would know where to stick a sword in just about any creature he runs into. I can pick another trait if need be.
Ah, valid question. Pretty much the same reason he chose to worship Sarenrae. He wants to help people, keep people living and healthy, and stop those that want to hurt others. So joining the war against nihilists that want to destroy everything just seems like the perfect next step.
CS updated.
Question about the game play. Will it be PBP on this board? Or chat on somewhere else? And what is the expected speed of play?
@Raziel - Amaznen disappeared/is dead. He no longer grants spells to clerics. Thus, you must choose another deity to actively follow.
Please pick another trait whose flavor fits your character.
@John Doe Stonecutter - It is PBP on these boards. You can check the gameplay thread for our current gameplay (which is not long. Two players don't write fast).
Expected speed of play is ~1 post a day from each player. I expect it will take several months to finish the module.
Much as I want to, I think I don't have the time and energy right now to build Terexaltherin like I'd wish to. Have fun all!
leinathan: whoops, yes I'd totally missed that one only gets HD = to CR.
Also looking at gancanagh azata
Ok, I've update Raziel's backstory and traits. Let me know if you see any more issues.
The gancanagh azata is a very charming idea, I like it.
The gancanagh azata is a very charming idea, I like it.
Great, thanks!
Do you want to keep ability scores below a certain threshold? Or, more generally, what are your thoughts about how to--or not to?--balance PCs against each other?
Rolling ability scores is already somewhat swingy, since we'll end up with applicants with equivalent point buys between 15 to 40...but your monster character rules could allow much higher scores.
My current concept is a gancanagh devotee of Desna's aspect as The Tender of Dreams and The Great Dreamer, who was "born" in Cynosure, and from there defends the Dimension of Dreams from evil incursions. Crunch-wise, he'd be a PoW Zealot with an emphasis on the Sleeping Goddess domain. (If you allowed Drawbacks, he'd have sleepy too, but that part I can just roleplay.)
I started statting him up as follows:
Str 10 (12 -2 race), Dex 28 (21 +4 race +2 ABP +1 level), Con 18 (16 +2 race), Int 15, Wis 14 (12 +2 race), Cha 28 (21 +4 race +2 ABP +1 level)
...and realized that that'll allow a to-hit chance and maneuver DCs far beyond what non-monster characters can have. Is that going to be a problem? Do you want to set certain limits? Or should we just build as we wish within the rules you've laid out so far?
Thanks!
Oh! One more Q. I think you've said no to Spheres of Power. Does that also rule out Spheres of Might (the martial rules by Drop Dead Studios)?
I have a different concept for a Shaitan I'm playing with too, but it seems easier to build with SoM so I figured I'd ask!
I don't think it's a major problem to have one powerful character, as long as multiple people aren't competing for the same role. Not to mention that a dedicated martial character can reach similar attack/damage totals as a zealot with such high physical scores.
I think it would rule out Spheres of Might.
He's a Wilder, good at blasting things, smart about planar goings-on, and some flexibility w/ 'reformation' (in case we need to plane hop or something).
I stayed away from social skills (and skills in general, really...9 Int) and focused on being sharp/perceptive.
@DeviousDevious - Appropriate, reasonable, and useful. Thanks for the submission!
Hey guys, I'm bumping the thread! I think I have... four complete submissions?
Sir Crunchy, the awakened crab wizard
JonDoe Stonecutter, the life shaman who worships Sarenrae
Raziel, the legion archon paladin
Rem di Tron, the human wilder
It's the last few days. If anyone else wants to jump in on this, now's the time.
The 6th is the deadline, right? Maybe this coming weekend I'll have time...
Been busy with other things and didn't prioritise this because of the late deadline, but am still 100% planning on submitting.
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Including "subtractions" to drop the lowest die for each roll.
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 5) - 2 = 12
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 3) - 1 = 6
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 2) - 1 = 11
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 4, 6, 6) - 1 = 16
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 2) - 2 = 14
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3) - 1 = 11There's a 13pt buy :/
So, the re-roll:
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 6) - 2 = 16
4d6 - 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 3) - 3 = 12
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 2) - 2 = 11
4d6 - 5 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 6) - 5 = 18
4d6 - 4 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 4) - 4 = 15
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 6) - 2 = 14And now a 42pt buy :O
Dotted!
Time to start pondering the fluff first (before assigning those scores).
I think so, yeah.Sounds like amongst that group there's nothing particularly unexpected there.
My attempt at fluff:Who is your character?Saevel Zylnorin
Where are they from? TBD in GolarionWhat are they like? Outwardly he is very optimistic and upbeat. Inwardly he is often depressed, and self-doubtful that his life's mission is an effective path. Further, he feels isolated from his family since his first run-in with the Blackfires decades ago (see below).
What's their alignment? Neutral Good
What do they look like? TBD
What is your character? Elf Wizard (or maybe Arcanist -- he will most definitely have a spellbook)
How did they become their class? He became a wizard at first to not only out of interest in collecting the arcane knowledge of the multiverse, but to search for historical clues about Old Mage Jatembe, who was thought to have formed the first formal arcane school in Golarion.
What's their role, both in 'society in general' and also in 'a party'? In society, he tends to take temporary positions at colleges and universities where we can advance his general mission, and pick up additional arcane knowledge. He's fascinated by "specialists", such as artificers and summoners, but himself sticks to generalization so that he can most readily absorb what they have to offer.
In a party, he prefers to be the versatile swiss-army knife of arcane gadgets. He believes that the field-levelling fireball isn't always the way to go. Maybe it's a well-placed illusion, or an undesired polymorph to the foe.
Why did your character join the Riftwardens? He joined to help aid developing civilizations in their harmony with magic. He believes that all such civilizations should benefit from an objective understanding of magic forces, such that power-seeking groups can't use its less understood nature to subjugate masses.
How long have they been a Riftwarden? Forty years.
How did your character reach level 10? TBD
What silly Blackfire-utilizing plot have you foiled recently that you can brag about to your fellow Riftwardens? Four decades ago, while exploring another 'verse, he inadvertently discovered a Blackfire Adepts plot to infiltrate the leadership of a primitive people and install religion that could be use to subvert their masses. He built a grassroots effort to spread fundamental knowledge of magic and resist the Blackfire's effort, so that they ultimately failed and became unwelcome in this society. It turns out that in doing so he caught the ire of a particularly secretive Wizard's Guild of the Adepts. He's been watching his back for them ever since, and hasn't returned home since. This technically isn't recent, but he likes to tell this as the story that got the Riftwardens' attention.
I'm running out of time, but I'd like to flesh out a couple of ideas if I can before the deadline (if I don't make it, it's my own fault, just declaring that I'm still trying :) ).
-------- Option 1 --------- (adjustment to previously given fluff)
So the above Blackfire-utilizing plot didn't pass snuff, but how about the following simple alternative:
This character is a voracious consumer of arcane lore, particularly related to the elements, and he wanted to acquire or steal a relic that the Adepts also had their eye on (either he stole it from the same museum they intended to, or swapped it for a fake at an auction). Ever since, a small faction of the adepts (perhaps a particular captain, lieutenant, etc.) has had it out for him.
-------- Option 2 ---------
Mongrel mage is a sorcerer with very weak and mixed bloodline. Each day they get to choose any valid/known bloodline as "active".
Story-wise, this character would be somehow cursed or "touched" but all elemental bloodlines, and be solely affected by those. Perhaps he was the victim of horrible experiments conducted by some mad mage. Gameplay-wise, he would rotate through the elemental bloodlines on a daily basis. He *might* even have drastically different personalities (and alignments?) associated to those elements.
-------- Option 3 ---------
An eldritch scion magus with an elemental bloodline. Although he was originally training and working as a simple mercenary for hire, a traumatic experience with the adepts (incidental, but unfortunately direct) caused his bloodline to awaken.
-------- Option 4 ---------
A paladin of an ancient elemental Dragon. Seems to have memories from those ancient times and doesn't seem to remember anything before a certain time in this timeline.
--------------------------
Clearly, the later options are less fleshed out, but those are my working ideas right now.
Figured I may as well roll, and see what the dice guide me towards.
Well, I'll take those rolls. Now it's time for the ideas to start flowing.
Backstory is up, I've finished up my crunch but it's all on dead tree so far. I'll get that transcribed tomorrow night.
Until then:
The multiverse operates much like a finely crafted and oiled machine. Every piece has its place and function, and like any well-designed machine there is some contingency for slop. But in this machine, some parts seek to disrupt the mechanisms and accelerate the decline of the whole. The gunslinger Eli follows the path that Brigh lays before him, destroying the defective parts and repairing what remains to keep the multiverse working as intended.
Eli always knew he wasn’t like the other children, growing up on dirty streets in the shadows of the gleaming spires of Quantium. It took him a long time to earn the trust of the other street urchins. He was pallid, gassy, fragile, and wasn’t very good with words, but he was also quick and perceptive. He could also reach places that the other children couldn’t, and that more than anything earned him a valuable place among them. They scrounged together, and they stole, and they planned great deeds as children do. Eli longed to be counted as a Magic Warrior, studying Old Mage Jatembe’s greatest secrets at the far-off Maga-ambya. Most importantly, he longed to gain the strength to protect the weak, like himself. The other children mocked his dream for its impossiblity and for its distance. Why travel so far to learn magic when they lived beneath the greatest arcane nexus on the planet? But Eli’s dreams were set, and as soon as he had saved up enough coin to buy passage, he joined in a caravan headed by river to Nantambu and on to Bloodcove.
The day of departure, Eli knew the trip would be fortuitous. They were joined by three Nexian wizards, undoubtedly great and powerful heroes! Although Eli’s friendly advances were politely rebuffed, he nevertheless found himself studying the mages and their spells as the caravan travelled. He did not intend to reach the Maga-Ambya without even basic arcane knowledge! However, their entry into the Mana Wastes complicated this study. But the young aspirant was soon to be delighted again as another legendary figure joined the ranks of the caravan just outside of Alkenstar - a real, living Shieldmarshal! Eager to ingratiate himself with this new hero, Eli appointed himself as lookout for the caravan, helpfully pointing out any possible dangers as they traveled through the wastelands. But the shieldmarshal could charitably be classified as gruff, and Eli had as much success earning her friendship as he did with the wizards. Not to be discouraged, he continued to provide all of the aid and guidance he could to the heroes he traveled with.
As the caravan left the Mana Wastes, preparing for an overland transit of their skiffs from Lake Draxmere to the source of the Tpishi River, Eli began to notice signs of peril. A growing number of apes were appearing and watching the caravan more carefully than apes ever should. When Eli sought out the heroes to alert them, they brushed him off as they’d always done previously. In the end, Eli was the only one paying attention when the Anghazani warparty attacked. He begged for help as the charau-ka went to work slaughtering the mercenary guards. As he fled back towards his fellow Nexians, however, nightmares appears before his eyes. With a flash of black fire that incinerated several of the attacking apes, fiendish creatures rent through the planes with their claws and stepped on to the battleground, ready to fight for the Nexians. The spellcasters gathered their few belongings in the time that the fiends bought them, then the disappeared in another flash. Their fiendish thralls, now freed of direct control, began to indiscriminately tear through the battlefield. Now Eli had two enemies to flee, but he soon found he didn’t have anywhere to go. The caravan was a mass of panic and confusion, all sense of order was gone. He no longer heard the reports from the Shieldmarshal’s gun. The were no heroes left to save him, as the Anghazani and the fiendish creatures reaped across the caravan. The caravan master knocked Eli to the ground in a panic as he fled. When Eli looked back up, one of the slavering fiends was upon him, wreathed in black fire.
His heroes were dead or gone. No heroes were left to save him.
A serrated claw knocked him aside and he rolled through the dust, leaving a trail of blood. There beside him lay the Shieldmarshal’s blood-flecked pistol. He saw, too, a face embossed above the grip of the pistol: a bronze maiden’s mask with a rune enscribed on the forehead. Time seemed to slow as his eyes met hers, and she whispered as if in a dream. “Take me, defend yourself. Together we will quench the flame”
He reached out, grasped the gun in a blood-soaked tentacle, and fired a shot through the demon’s head as he lost consciousness.
When he awoke, the Anghazani were gone, having dragged off anything they could find of value. The demons were gone as well, with only blasted circles of black fire to mark their arrival. The caravan members were fled, captured by the charau-ka, or dead. Eli surmised that he had been left for dead. Weighing his options, he could risk the dangers of the jungle and further encounters with the Anghazani to head through unfamiliar territory to pursue his dream of being a...being a hero. For whatever that was worth. Or, he could follow this lady on his gun. Over the next month, he slowly made his way back through the wasteland to Alkenstar. He spent another week gaining access to the city, and two after that explaining to the Shieldmarshals how he had come to possess one of their pistols. In due time, he came to the Alkenstar temple of Brigh.
The priesthood of Brigh, such that it was, took him in. Eli’s self reliance served him well in his ecclesiastic studies, as the clergy proved themselves to be more technically than socially adept. But after he had seen the world of his heroes burnt to ashes in an extraplanar conflagration, the mechanical order of the church of the goddess of invention provided him a blueprint with which to build his worldview back up. While the complexities of the finest mechanisms proved to be beyond him, he began to explore the more esoteric aspects of Brigh’s portfolio - alchemy, creation, the nature of thought. As his investigations delved deeper, Brigh empowered him to reach further and further. He began to realize that reality is a mechanism far more complex than any mere clockwork toy. Brigh blessed him with wisdom, and with purpose. As any machine will periodically need a mechanic, so does the universe needs fixers. As a millstone will eventually grind itself to dust as it works, so too will the black flame turn the universe to ash in time. To prolong life, action must follow thought to reverse the decay wrought by entropy.
Eli could only learn so much in Alkenstar. Their archives had little beyond the basics in esoterica, and the mana wastes are not the most suitable place for magical learning. Four years after leaving, Eli returned to Nex. Among the spires of Quantium, the young gunslinger learned of the Blackfire Adepts. He also studied the cult’s favored servants, and the best ways of defeating them. What he couldn’t find in tomes, he discovered in a roar of red flame and black soot. A trail of soft words and cold iron led eventually to the tower of the mages who had failed to live up to the dreams of a hopeful child. When Eli burst in, he was disappointed to find his work already done. A kindly old man flipped through spellbooks over the red goo that used to be the Blackfire Adepts. The Riftwarden introduced himself as Maxwell, and with that Eli was brought into a much bigger universe.
The pair adventured together for the next decade, hunting down Blackfire conspiracies among strange and wonderful societies and delving into the mysteries of the multiverse, patching the cracks and greasing the gears whenever the opportunity arose. One year ago, Maxwell announced his retirement from the adventuring life. They summoned a handful of their closest Riftwarden allies for a retirement party and whiskey from a dozen realities was flowing freely. As the crew lit a round of celebratory cigars, the flames dimmed and became black. Reality tore yet again, and fell creatures strode through. Mirth turned to pain as the slaughter began and the Blackfire Adepts made good their revenge. The next morning, again, Eli found himself the only survivor. This time, it seemed personal. Eli was no longer a naive child, praying for fabled heroes to do his dirty work for him. He picked up his gun in a pale, scarred tentacle, wiped the blood from his eyestalks, and spewed only one thing from his air bladders.
Revenge.
Hello everyone, I am the other current player (Zadok having already posted earlier). I have been checking the submissions, and there is some really cool ideas. I am looking forward to playing with those selected!
Also, I have been looking at the submissions, and I have one or two questions, mostly curious about Raziel's motivation/personality. He's an angel, so bound to do good, but why has he gone on a personal crusade against blackfire? Also, what distinguishes him from other angels (personality, drive, etc).
Similar question about Rem di Tron, why is he so dedicated to fighting the blackfire adepts? What makes him so devoted to the Riftwardens?
Raziel is a worshiper of Kelinahat, goddess of intelligence, spies, stealth. He was sent on a mission to help Iomadae battle the Whispering Tyrant. This brought him into contact with the Blackfire Adepts. On one of his follow missions gathering intelligence, he missed some research being sent by the group he was working against to another group of Blackfire Adepts. Ultimately, that information led to the invention of blackfire. He regrets that his failure to follow that research lead to such destruction and is now trying to undo his failure.
In a lot of ways he his a typical angel, he loves to sing and do good. One of his favorite things is to bring reconciliation within families and close friends with his diplomatic skills. He is dedicated to wipe out blackfire and the knowledge of it's creation. While serious in doing his job, he has spent more time with mortals than most angels and has developed more of a mortals sense of humor, he gets their jokes that most angels miss. He expects to be the focus of his enemies attacks so his teammates can operate unhindered.