A Dinner for Party of Five, Presented by DM Salsa (Inactive)

Game Master AdamWarnock

Character Concept
Schneez Grummoth, Gnomish Arcanist Extordinare!
STR: 8
DEX: 14
CON: 15
INT: 15
WIS: 6
CHA: 9

Personality
Schneez is a brilliant gnomish wizard that was wrongfully deprived of his proper place as an Archmage of the Ninth Circle in the city of Aranioxis, in his own mind. He is an arcanist of some skill, but has gone mad over the years, probably from the fumes of his own potions. He has a quick temper and is easily angered by mentions of his height being less than three feet. He is three feet tall, thank you! If your measurements have him pegged as two feet eight and 5/32 inches, then you must have calibrated them wrong!

He has a love of dauschunds and waffles. His manic tendencies are only exacerbated by his seconds long attention span. He's easily distracted by any and everything and has no sense of personal boundaries, often asking highly personal and inappropriate questions.

Background
Schneez was born to a couple of assistants to Doomfoodle the Boned. In time Schneez showed talent for the arcane and found himself Doomfoodle's apprentice. After Doomfoodle's defeat, Schneez left for Aranioxis where he was rejected time and again by the archmages there, claiming he was too unstable and foolhardy for them to teach. He persisted, brewing potions to make a living in the meantime. Finally, he was jailed and tried for harassment, only to be acquitted on a technicality. He's made his way from town to town since then, selling potions and plotting his revenge, which often involve childish pranks and hopelessly optimistic assumptions.

Questionnaire
- What does your character look like? What do they wear?
Schneez is a short, wiry gnome with pasty white skin and a shock of pink hair that stands out from his head and face like dandelion fuzz. His fingers are stained with a dozen different colors from his potion making and his middle makes him look like he ate a melon whole. He wears robes that have been stained and frayed by the years, preferring the one that is purple and blue with gold trim. His low-cut boots are too big for his feet and he often runs out of them when in a hurry. He wears a golden rope as a belt that he hangs his spellbook from, or tries to. More often than not, the book and rope wind up around his ankles.

- What is your character's biggest fear?
Schneez fears nothing more than cats. He believes they steal souls.

- What is their favorite food?
Cabbage and bean soup with a healthy dollop of sweetened and whipped cream.

- Can you or your character cook? How good are you/they?
I can cook. Schneez... well he's wanted for poisoning his last party a few counties over the last time he tried. I at least haven't made anyone die of food poisoning. :P

- What do you expect from me as the DM?
I hope I make this a fun and memorable adventure for all of you. Please put what you really want out of me here. I'll do my best to live up to those expectations.

- What kinds of humor do you like?
I like puns and wordplay and things that are slightly absurd. I have a tendency to rely on situational humor for my characters. i'm not a big fan of toilet humor or most of the jokes and gags I've found in Family Guy, the Simpsons, Southpark, etc. I like a lot of the humor in Calvin and Hobbes, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Dragon Prince.

str 18
dex 14
con 10
int 14
wis 12
cha 14

HP 38
AC 20 (14 armor +2 dex +2 shield +1 style +1 cloak)
Proficiency Bonus +3

Saves: Str: +8; Dex: +6; Con: +4; Int: +3; Wis: +2; Cha: +3

Speed 30'

Weapons:
1) Longsword: +7 to hit; 1d8+4 damage

Skills:
Animal Handling +4
Athletics +7
History +5
Insight +4
Perception +4
Persuasion +5
Stealth +5

Languages:
Common
Deep Speech
Elven
Goblin
Primordial

Class Features:
*Action Surge (1/rest)
*Extra Attack (1 extra attack)
*Fighting Style (Defense)
*Martial Archetype (Cavalier)
*Second Wind (1/rest; bonus action; heals 1d10+fighter level)

*Cavalier Features:
- Born to the Saddle (advantage on saves to avoid being dismounted, and if I get knocked off and fall less than 10', land on feet; Dismounting only costs 5')

- Unwavering Mark (when I hit a creature with a melee attack, I can mark them. while a marked target is within 5' of me, they have disadvantage on attacks that don't target me; in addition, if a marked target deals damage to anyone other than me, I can get an attack as a bonus action on my next turn. special attack, if it hits, deals extra damage equal to half my level. Can only make 3 special attacks/long rest)

Feats:
Resilient (Dex)

Equipment:
Mithral Breastplate (Uncommon)
Cloak of Protection (Uncommon; Attuned)
Prosthetic Limb (Common; Attuned) -100 gp
Armblade (Longsword built into Prosthetic Limb; Common; Attuned) -100 gp
Shiftweave (Common; Fine Clothes: 5 different styles) -100 gp

Riding Horse -75 gp
Bit and Bridle -2 gp

Wealthy Lifestyle (1 month) -120 gp

3 gp

Bond: The commonfolk must see me as a hero of the people.
Ideal: Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity.
Personality Trait: Despite my noble birth, I do not place myself above other folk. We all have the same blood.

Flaw: I hide a truly scandalous secret that could ruin my family forever.

Race = Bugbear
• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Age. Bugbears reach adulthood at age 16 and live up to 80 years.
• Alignment. Bugbears endure a harsh existence that demands each of them to remain self-sufficient, even at the expense of their fellows. They tend to be chaotic evil.
• Size. Bugbears are between 6 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 250 and 350 pounds. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Long-Limbed. When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.
• Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
• Sneaky. You are proficient in the Stealth skill.
• Surprise Attack. If you surprise a creature and hit it with an attack on your first turn in combat, the attack deals an extra 2d6 damage to it. You can use this trait only once per combat.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Goblin.

Class = Monk (Way of the Open Hand)
What? A monk? Really? So, the thought is that he is a reskinned version of a brawler. Unskilled and untrained in combat with weapons. Simply claws and fury (not flurry)!

Feat
1st = Observant:
• Increase your Intelligence or Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• If you can see a creature’s mouth while it is speaking a language you understand, you can interpret what it’s saying by reading its lips.
• You have a +5 bonus to your passive Wisdom (Perception) and passive Intelligence (Investigation) scores.

Background = Slave/Henchman (Heavily customized Pirate)
• Feature (Bad Reputation) = No matter where you go, people are afraid of you due to your race's reputation. When you are in a civilized settlement, you can get away with minor criminal offenses, such as refusing to pay for food at a tavern or breaking down doors at a local shop, since most people will not report your activity to the authorities.
• Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Perception Deception, Survival
• Tool Proficiencies: Navigator’s tools Cook’s utensils, vehicles (water land)
• Equipment: A belaying pin (club), 50 feet of silk rope A bandolier, cook’s utensils, a mess kit, a lucky charm such as a rabbit foot or a small stone with a hole in the center (or you may roll for a random trinket on the Trinkets table in chapter 5), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp

Personality
Teegor is a survivor and servant. He knows the band are winners, so he stays with and serves them. He has kept his temper in check for so long that almost nothing bothers him. It takes a near death experience of a band member to trigger his temper. He has become very maternal for the band ensuring that they eat enough and take care of themselves, and he always sacrifices his comfort for there's. Their health is his calling.

Background
Teegor was raised beaten and a slave of hobgoblins and older bugbears. He swatted the goblins away when they got uppity, because it was expected. He hunted, stepped, and fetched for his tribe during his childhood. Until one week when a party of adventurer's systematically murdered his entire tribe that lived in a collection of caves. Fortune smiled on him that day when the mass murderers arrived, Teegor was tied to a wall and whipped within an inch of his life as his defiant behavior had been made an example that day. The band (his saviors) cut him down and left him laying on the cave floor.

Teegor spent two days recovering and salvaging what his saviors had left behind. Leaving the only home that he had ever known, he saw his saviors ahead of him, so he followed. He knew that they would kill him if he approached, so he started leaving things near their campsite in the morning: stacked firewood, freshly killed and skinned game, gourds of water, whatever they seemed to need. The band enjoyed the treats and ignored him.

When his saviors finally went into a village, Teegor stayed outside and waited. When they departed the village, he started leaving treats again. On the morning of the second day out from the village, they laid in wait for him. When he was going to leave his treat, the band ambushed him. That was years ago. Teegor has been serving the band ever since. He makes the campsite, cooks the food, handles the wagon when there is one, and carries the loot.

Questionnaire

- What does your character look like? What do they wear?
Teegor looks like a typical bugbear to any non-goblinoid. He stands over seven feet tall with a lanky build. His whole body is covered in long brownish hair. He has wedge-shaped ears and orange-colored eyes. He wears a large, leather bandolier with many pockets over one shoulder. Think Chewbacca with pointy ears.

- What is your character's biggest fear?
Teegor fears whips, the preferred tool of hobgoblins to keep goblins in line, that are wielded by someone who knows how to use it for torture.

- What is their favorite food?
Teegor loves sugar and sugary foods. He has only ever encountered them in certain towns and unconsciously purrs when he eats them.

- Can you or your character cook? How good are you/they?
Yes. Teegor can cook. He cooks all of the time. His extensive menu has been developed from two things: 1) what ingredients are available along the trail, either carried or found; and 2) what the band likes to eat from what they have ever eaten. Teegor by himself will eat and has eaten just about anything; however, his keen senses of smell and taste help him prepare what the band enjoys.

- What do you expect from me as the DM?
Momentum = posting frequency, at least once every two days. Please roll Initiatives and Saving Throws if you wait for players. Please bot me as necessary, and push us if we start dithering for direction. Please be open-minded and easy-going for game-mechanics and typos. We all make mistakes, because we're human.

- What kinds of humor do you like?
Similar to yours. Less toilet humor. More Monty Python. I also enjoy quoting/paraphrasing popular culture movies, TV, etc. to see if others recognize it.

str 15
dex 14
con 14
int 14
wis 12
cha 12

HP 32
AC 15 (13 armor +2 dex)
Proficiency Bonus +3

Saves: Str: +3; Dex: +2; Con: +2; Int: +5; Wis: +4; Cha: +1

Speed 30'

Weapons:
1) Spell Attack: +5 to hit

Skills:
Animal Handling +4
Arcana +5
Athletics +5
Insight +4
Investigation +5

Tools:
Land Vehicles +3

Languages:
Common
Undercommon

Class Features:
*Arcane Recovery (1/day after a short rest; regain 2 spell levels of spell slots)

*Arcane Tradition
- Arcane Deflection: as a reaction, gain +2 to AC vs the attack or +4 bonus to the saving throw. Only spells castable on the next turn are cantrips

- Tactical Wit: Add Int to Initiative

Feats:
*Linguist (

*Observant (

Spells:
*Spell DC: 15
*Spells/Day: 4/3/2

*Cantrips:
Acid Splash
Control Flames
Gust
Sword Burst

*First: 10
Alarm
Comprehend Languages
Detect Magic
Earth Tremor
Expeditious Retreat
False Life
Fog Cloud
Longstrider
Mage Armor
Unseen Servant

*Second: 6
Darkvision
Gust of Wind
Misty Step
See Invisibility
Shatter
Web

*Third: 3
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Thunder Step

Equipment:
*Cloak of Protection (+1 to AC and Saving Throws; Uncommon; Attuned)

*Staff (Wand) of the Warmage +1 (+1 bonus gain a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls. In addition, ignore half cover when making a spell attack; uncommon; attuned)

9 levels of spells into my spellbook: 1 3rd, 2 2nd, 2 1st

50 gp

Bond: I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.
Ideal: I do the job, I get paid.
Personality Trait: My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what.

Flaw: Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation.

Like many people around that age, Mark got married and soon had a young daughter, Aria.

Mark was working on the docks the day when a battle broke out between a group of adventurers and the pirate crew who were also wererats.

During the battle, the docks were set on fire as magic was flung on both sides, including multiple teleportation spells, one of which opened underneath Mark's family who promptly fell...somewhere.

Mark watched all this happen while he tried to get to his family before the portal closed.

Mark was not successful.

The battle ended shortly thereafter, with the death of the wererats and the adventurers being arrested.

Shortly before the arrests, Mark begged the wizard in the group to explain where the portal went. Unfortunately, he was so overcome with grief that he couldn't explain clearly.

The wizard told him he had no idea.

As the guard hauled the adventurers away, Mark noticed that a small book had fallen during the fight. Picking it up, Mark put it in his pocket and went home. He then promptly forgot about it while trying to find out an answer as to where his family had gone.

Several weeks later, Mark found the book again and started flipping through it. It was written in a wierd language he'd never seen before, but looked like something he could understand. So, with no other options, Mark started translating the book.

As he worked, he realized that the book was written in multiple languages, which he found himself picking up.

Once he was able to read the languages, his belief was confirmed: this was a spellbook.

Now he just had to figure out how to cast spells.

This was easier than it seemed however; All he did was buy some wizards beer in exchange for 'explaining how magic works.' Soon, he had figured out both cantrips and lower level spells. He knew what the higher level spells were, but he couldn't cast them yet.

So, Mark became an adventurer, hoping to become strong enough to be able to cast magic necessary to discover where his family went.

Concept
Yuan-Ti Pureblood spy who masquerades as a human bard and who wants to make his own way in the world. Human name and persona: Nessi Tassi. Yuan-ti name and true thoughts: Huiszui.

Background
Nestis Tassi is the name of an Imperial bard who wanders through the coastal cities, with some adventures to his name, and many pleased crowds to his credit.

Huiszui, a spy assigned to deceive the humans and their Empire, was born to a pureblood family, in a nest within the Scaled Peaks, inside the borders of the Empire. His parents Uhsa and Thekih are relatively respected purebloods, capable in magic. Though they have disowned him after his fall from grace. He has three brothers (Oshu, Shizsihu, Szaztu) and two sisters (Thetsi, Zhitshuthah) remaining. None will likely survive.

His second cousin Zsolia - damn her golden eyes - is very much alive. Hopefully not for much longer.

Zsolia. They had plotted together to rob the half-blood wizard Hiztlozill, with three others. Those three are no longer breathing, betrayed by Zsolia. Only a deal made at the last minute gave Huiszui a reprieve.

Huiszui left behind the Scaled Peaks. Full of family, allies, betrayal: the familiar things of home.

Huiszui wants away from the manipulations and subtle torments of the other yuan-ti. He wants power over his own life, in truth for the first time. If that takes continuing to pretendi to be Nestis Tassi, so be it.

Personality
Nessi Tassi is a cheery, vibrant man, and a fine speaker and musician to boot! A pleasure to be around and eager to help out the group that he's with.

**************

Cold. Logical. Self-serving.

Huiszui is all of these, and more.

He believes in advancing himself without other yuan-ti claws in him. But he is far-sighted enough to know that will require assistance. He will earn it with a smile on his face.

Questionnaire

- What does your character look like? What do they wear?
Nestis/Huiszui has glossy waves of black hair, smouldering dark eyes, and sun-kissed skin - every bit the picture of an Imperial citizen. Average height and weight. Any evidence that he is in fact a Pureblood is hidden, a reason that he was assigned to become a spy.

- What is your character's biggest fear?
That the yuan-ti will actually bother to come after him.

- What is their favorite food?
Flightless birds. Even more than human meat.

- Can you or your character cook? How good are you/they?
He lacks any special training but has learned some basics. He is also extremely intelligent and can follow recipies so long as he has context for the ingredients etc.

- What do you expect from me as the DM?
Clarity in communication. If you have expectations, whether for the campaign or for a scene, please state them clearly.

- What kinds of humor do you like?

Dry and pitch dark. Or ribald.

str 15
dex 14
con 14
int 14
wis 12
cha 12
HP 32
AC 15 (13 armor +2 dex)
Proficiency Bonus +3
Saves: Str: +3; Dex: +2; Con: +2; Int: +5; Wis: +4; Cha: +1
Speed 30'
Weapons:
1) Spell Attack: +5 to hit
Skills:
Animal Handling +4
Arcana +5
Athletics +5
Insight +4
Investigation +5
Tools:
Land Vehicles +3
Languages:
Common
Undercommon
Class Features:
*Arcane Recovery (1/day after a short rest; regain 2 spell levels of spell slots)
*Arcane Tradition
- Arcane Deflection: as a reaction, gain +2 to AC vs the attack or +4 bonus to the saving throw. Only spells castable on the next turn are cantrips
- Tactical Wit: Add Int to Initiative
Feats:
*Linguist (
*Observant (
Spells:
*Spell DC: 15
*Spells/Day: 4/3/2
*Cantrips:
Acid Splash
Control Flames
Gust
Sword Burst
*First: 10
Alarm
Comprehend Languages
Detect Magic
Earth Tremor
Expeditious Retreat
False Life
Fog Cloud
Longstrider
Mage Armor
Unseen Servant
*Second: 6
Darkvision
Gust of Wind
Misty Step
See Invisibility
Shatter
Web
*Third: 3
Counterspell
Dispel Magic
Thunder Step
Equipment:
*Cloak of Protection (+1 to AC and Saving Throws; Uncommon; Attuned)
*Staff (Wand) of the Warmage +1 (+1 bonus gain a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls. In addition, ignore half cover when making a spell attack; uncommon; attuned)
9 levels of spells into my spellbook: 1 3rd, 2 2nd, 2 1st
50 gp

Bond: I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again.
Ideal: I do the job, I get paid.
Personality Trait: My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what.
Flaw: Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation.

Like many people around that age, Mark got married and soon had a young daughter, Aria.

Mark was working on the docks the day when a battle broke out between a group of adventurers and the pirate crew who were also wererats.
During the battle, the docks were set on fire as magic was flung on both sides, including multiple teleportation spells, one of which opened underneath Mark's family who promptly fell...somewhere.
Mark watched all this happen while he tried to get to his family before the portal closed.

Mark was not successful.

The battle ended shortly thereafter, with the death of the wererats and the adventurers being arrested.

Shortly before the arrests, Mark begged the wizard in the group to explain where the portal went. Unfortunately, he was so overcome with grief that he couldn't explain clearly.

The wizard told him he had no idea.

As the guard hauled the adventurers away, Mark noticed that a small book had fallen during the fight. Picking it up, Mark put it in his pocket and went home. He then promptly forgot about it while trying to find out an answer as to where his family had gone.

Several weeks later, Mark found the book again and started flipping through it. It was written in a wierd language he'd never seen before, but looked like something he could understand. So, with no other options, Mark started translating the book.

As he worked, he realized that the book was written in multiple languages, which he found himself picking up. Once he was able to read the languages, his belief was confirmed: this was a spellbook.

Now he just had to figure out how to cast spells.

This was easier than it seemed however; All he did was buy some wizards beer in exchange for 'explaining how magic works.' Soon, he had figured out both cantrips and lower level spells. He knew what the higher level spells were, but he couldn't cast them yet.

So, Mark became an adventurer, hoping to become strong enough to be able to cast magic necessary to discover where his family went.

Mark looks like any other Dock Worker: stout, large forearms, and short hair.

- What is your character's biggest fear?

That's his family is gone forever.

- What is their favorite food?

One of the taverns on the docks makes a mutton stew that is fantastic.

- Can you or your character cook? How good are you/they?

I can cook; Mark not so much. I was trained by my half Polish/half Italian Great Grandmother. My specialties are Spinish and Sausage Lasagna and Fried Chicken.

- What do you expect from me as the DM?

To be entertained and tell a good story.

- What kinds of humor do you like?

Dark mostly, but anything that makes me chuckle is good.

4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 4) = 14 11
4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 2) = 13 11
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 4) = 15 13

4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 6) = 20 16
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 3) = 13 11
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 6) = 15 14

Str 11
Dex 16[18 +1 half elf, +1 4th lvl]
Con 14[16 +1 half elf, +1 4th lvl]

Int 11
Wis 11
Cha 18

Question the First: What does your character look like? What do they wear?

Kara is an -adorable- little half-elf. She wears mostly red, and favors dresses with good girdle-support. She abhors loose or flimsy garments, because such things tend to get caught in fire. And this is important.

2) What is your character's biggest fear?
Kara's biggest fear is not having anything to set on fire. And drowning. And being alone. And having to follow all of the rules all of the time. Wait, what was the question?

3) - What is their favorite food?
Anything charbroiled. Like, dark dark hockey-puck dark. If it bleeds, it's going back. Ha ha, not really. She'll just set it on fire herself. If the restaurant didn't want their patrons setting their own steaks on fire, they should've hired a decent cook.

4) - Can you or your character cook? How good are you/they?
If you count "putting it on fire until it runs out of feathers/flesh/blood to burn" and then eating it, then, yes, Kara is an _excellent_ cook.

5) - What do you expect from me as the DM?

Answer my questions. Don't ignore or disrespect my posts. If you have a problem with me or my posting idiom, say so. Don't reflexively say no. Try and find a way to say yes and I'll work with you. Don't wait on slow posters. Rule of Two, and Two day Rule. Don't have the whole party wait on one guy who needs to make one lousy role and already said he'd be away that day. I'd rather be botted out of care for the party then to realize that everyone was waiting on me (especially if it doesn't take my witty humor or exceptional role-playing and just needs some dice--anyone else is just as likely to roll as bad as I do =).

6) - What kinds of humor do you like?

All. If you're trying, I'm laughing. I don't like stupid prop humor (you know Carrottop is now some mid-level gym rat? Go figure!) but that's not a worry in PbP so it's not a factor. Betimes it can be funny to note that someone rolled a 1, but as long as its done out of love, everyone wins. There's a difference. Dark humor is fair game. I'm Irish. =)

Personality?

Kara is a Chaotic-Neutral Sorcererer...ess. Of Fire! She's currently with the party because she finds them funny. But she finds most things funny. And even if its not funny she tends to enjoy herself so don't worry about it. She finds that most problems can be solved with fire, and, if it can't, you're not using enough fire.

Her lack of taking things seriously can get her in trouble, but she's good at getting out of it again. And it moves the plot along, and that's important too.

Background?

Kara grew up in HardWheat, a non-descript farming community. It was nice for awhile as it had lots of cute boys who didn't mind playing rough.

Unfortunately it also had lots of things that burn quite well. When her powers started spontaneously manifesting, things got out of hand. No one got hurt, but a barn full of fresh hay was lost, and her mom gave her a good pack, some warm shoes, and a friendly pat out the door.

One time she was wandering through this salty marsh. She met this friendly girl named Allysen. She was married to some guy named Liam. They seemed happy.

She can't say she's sorry for getting kicked out of her home town. There's a whole big world out there...and if she sets the -right- things on fire, fewer people yell at her. They even pay sometimes.