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Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Count Strahd Von Zarovhich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind’s howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia.
Far below, yet not beyond his keep eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd’s face forms the barest hint of a smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came-all according to his plan.
A lighting flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guest for dinner. And you are invited.
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Tally ho!
After not having played a bard in 4 out of 4 D&D editions, I've recently become completely fascinated with how 5E is making them, not just not-complete-butt, but even relevant, maybe competent.
I'll be making a Blade Bard. (Well, College of Swords I guess is the technical term.)
Am fully open to knowing some or even all of the party. As a bard, Knowing All The Peoples is kinda my thing. ^_^
Dotting in! Not sure with what yet!
I am a tentative dot! I am seeing how my other recruitments go before I throw myself into this one. If I have the bandwidth for it though, I am definitely here for it.
Interesting character creation rules, that will certainly inject our characters with pure nitroglycerin...even +1s are a big deal in 5th.
The Domains are really interesting to me because they stretch across different time periods. Some are ancient, some renaissance, some medieval, others almost steampunk or victorian. Most are rich with creative lore and rather intriguing settings just on their own. Having all that able to come together in one place adds to the bizarreness.
All that said, in a game focused on Strahd, and from past experience, it would be distracting to myself and harder to immerse if I was constantly referencing some other Domain and another Dark Lord who only vaguely might even matter here. So I'll be a Barovian native.
I'm thinking of a survivalist street-urchin type (Reborn lineage rogue/thief). Someone who has seen what the nights of Barovia have to offer first hand (and died as a result). Haven't decided if I want to be more of a ghost or undead in appearance...leaning towards the former, with a plagued or diseased appearance. That creepy homeless person with leprosy hiding a horrific past, whose eyes glow with etherealness in the corner of your eye. I want to try writing up a few serious/heavy story elements for it and avoid comedy.
I've done the Phantom subclass thing before which is rather similar to Reborn lineage (and a total blast). Reborn offers the same theme starting at level 1, with a more general boon that I find attractive. The Thief's Fast Hands ability has always been a favorite of mine, and it would be cool to combine with some sort of ghostly phantom limb from Reborn I think...a hand missing 3 fingers that becomes hyper-dexterous when the shadowy echoes return.
Also a question, would you allow rolled gold instead of the standard starting equipment packages? I like the extra customization.
x10=110gp
Sure, you can roll for coin instead of the initial starting equipment that is fine, still add one healing potion to that coin as well.
Also a question, would you allow rolled gold instead of the standard starting equipment packages? I like the extra customization.
[dice=If so...]4d4x10=110gp
Sure you can roll for gold. Add a healing potion as well just like would if took starting equipment options. You can't be a Barovian Native though. You can come from other Domains, or from outside Ravenloft, but not from Barovia it just doesn't fit with the narrative or motivations of Strahd for you to be native.
Ok, no problem. To clarify, do we need to be just arrived in Barovia or could we have already been here a few years? Thanks.
Dotting for definite interest. Probably looking at putting together a Dhampir (Half-Elf) Hexblade Warlock. Not completely sold on the Dhampir part, if not it will be a Half-Elf.
@5E DM - With your intention to start the game on March 14th, I assume the submission deadline is something closer to March 4th?
Ok, no problem. To clarify, do we need to be just arrived in Barovia or could we have already been here a few years? Thanks.
Yes just arrived. And if you like the flavor of other Domains, but don't want to be constantly reminded of it don't worry I might add one encounter involving that, but it won't haunt you the entire campaign. I am going to try my best to stick to the book for the main story as much as possible and only tweek encounters to fit this play style and throw off some veterans that have already ran this.
@Talomyr Great question let's make the deadline March 11th. Gives everyone plenty of time since this is a short month, and I will have a weekend to go over the submissions.
I originally made Garrett for a Ravenloft game. I would like to submit him. I need to go through and fix a few things for your character creation.
Cool I will start the list of interested parties to keep track
Atlas2112 Possible Bard (College of Swords)
seinneadair not sure yet
Kinghottrash tentative
mishima Reborn Rogue/theif
Talomyr Warlok Hexblade Dhampire or Half Elf
Garrett Goodbarrel Warlok halfling
I think I'll go for a Druid. I haven't played the class often, and the Circle of Stars appeals to me.
I would be interrsted in playing a cleric
Since Ravenloft pulls in from all realms would it be possible to have a non FR god?
Any Deity is fine. Ezra from Van Richten's is also available.
I am thinking a cleric of Paladine with the light domain?
or a cleric of Mishakel
Oh Dragonlance sure. You will all be strangers in a strange land for the most part.
Does D and D Beyond support your character creation rules?
Hello! I'm very interested in this, I've heard great things about this campaign and have wanted to play it for a while now.
I will be available to post most weekdays, though I'll have some camping vacay in the summer and will be out of cell range. Likely never more than a week at a time.
Looks like magic and sneakiness are going to be covered, so I'll go melee. I'm leaning to barbarian, as it's been ages since I've played one. Could also go monk instead.
Happy to have my player know others from before, or have travelled with them, if it makes sense to the backstory.
Do you want fully formed character sheets before you make your decisions? Or will you choose 5 based on concept and then crunch is finalized?
I've made a profile for Malaya. She's a human cleric with the arcana domain. I know Terevalis was also building a cleric, but it's such a versatile class that I think there's room for more than one.
Malaya is a frontliner built to punish anyone trying to get past her. She has 18 ac, (decent for level 1), and will liberally use Booming Blade against anyone trying to go for someone squishier.
As written her backstory is pretty self-contained. That being said, she could easily be traveling with one or more other characters, so long as they're okay with hunting down rumors of hags. (Not the hags themselves just yet; she's well aware she wouldn't stand a chance. But one day...)
Does D and D Beyond support your character creation rules?
It might, I have only used it for Adventure league, but I think you can purchase expansions that might make it work.
@Angie I would like full character sheets. As far as taking breaks in the summer that is fine, we all have lives. As long as it's a known break I can bot your character until your return.
Looks like I need to update the list.
atlas2112 Possible Bard (College of Swords)
seinneadair not sure yet
Kinghottrash tentative
mishima Reborn Rogue/theif
Talomyr Warlok Hexblade Dhampire or Half Elf
Garrett Goodbarrel Warlok halfling
JonGarret Druid
Terevalis Cleric
Angie H Barbarian
Clearspring Malaya-Cleric of arcane domain.
Have some neat ideas so far, thanks for all the interest I wasn't expecting so much I am very pleased.
x 10 = 120 gp.
Going with the Dhampir:
18
15 +2 campaign, + 1 racial
13 +1 racial
11 + 1 campaign
10
9 +1 racial
Yields:
Str: 10
Dex: 14
Con: 18
Int: 10
Wis: 12
Cha: 18
Here is my submission. Being human he gets a +1 to all stats and I gave the +1 to STR and the +2 to Con.
https://ddb.ac/characters/68611389/w5qEGQ
Revered Son Talinthal Uth Mondor or Revered Son Talin, as he is known to family and friends is the 3rd
son of Sir Frederick Uth Mondor, a ranking Knight of the Rose. His older brothers are both in the Knights
of Solamania. Talin, however, had more interest in matters theological perhaps because as his mother
was having him she had a vision of the Platinum Dragon telling her that this child was to be special to
him.
As a result as a young boy he was sent to the Temple of Paladine in Palanthus to study and learn about
the Church. He soon demonstrated leadership qualities that few of the other boys did and was quite
popular as an aspirant to the faith.
Recently named a Revered Son of Paladine, he has been sent out into the world to bring the light of the
Father Light into the World that is in desperate need of Paladine's love, guidance, and protection.
Thanks, and this reminds me please let me know who is who. I can look into your aliases, but some of you have ALOT of aliases so can be tedious.
Here's my submission: Blaze Goldenhoof, a centaur barbarian.
I'd love to have her come in with another character. She's a pretty dim bulb, and loves taking orders. As she got lost from her herd, she would have glommed on to the first friendly person she came across.
Appearance
Blaze’s human half has dark brown skin and long black hair with a white streak at the front. She has a vicious scar, thick and ropey, on the right side of the head, cutting across her temple and nearly to her eye. She wears her thick black hair in small braids which run down the length of her back. Her large gold hoop earrings, bracelets and necklaces are adorned with claws, teeth, and small bones of enemies she’s killed in combat. She also wears a necklace of small blue river stones because they’re pretty.
Her only clothes is a snug leather vest, which doubles as a harness for her weapons. She carries a thick fur coat for when it’s cold.
Blaze’s horse half is even darker black, though scars cutting through the short black hair of her coat show signs of frequent battle. Her front, left hoof shines golden, from an enchanted puddle she once stepped in. It aches when it’s cold.
Personality
Blaze is a generally happy person, who thrived in the army. She likes being useful, helping people, and taking orders. She has a hard time remembering those orders, sometimes; after she survived the axe to the head, she hasn’t been quite the same. Blaze isn’t quick to anger, but when something does trigger her rage, it’s best to run away.
Background
Blaze was born in a large herd of centaurs in a valley in the mountains. Her parents are artisans, and she has a younger sister. She grew up happy and well-loved, though she had an aggressive streak her parents didn’t know how to handle.
When she came of age, she decided to join the army. The mountains were full of monsters which frequently attacked the valley, and the next valley over was home to a tribe of orcs who often raided them. Blaze thrived in the army – she liked fitting in with the other soldiers, and the structure and training was good for her. The occasional battles helped channel the rage she often felt.
In one particularly brutal fight, in which the orcs brought some troll friends to the party, Blaze took an axe to the head. She should have died, but her commanding officer rescued her from the battlefield. She spent weeks in a coma, and when she finally awoke, she was never quite the same. She has a hard time with her short term memory sometimes.
Perhaps it’s her struggle with memory and instructions that explains why she got lost. Perhaps it was the mist.
He was originally a PF1E DL character that I played for a bit but the game fizzled.
He was originally a PF1E DL character that I played for a bit but the game fizzled.
I mean that you are Terevalis submission so I am not adding you to the list twice.
That is correct, I was just giving a little backstory.
Here's my submission: Blaze Goldenhoof, a centaur barbarian.
I'd love to have her come in with another character. She's a pretty dim bulb, and loves taking orders. As she got lost from her herd, she would have glommed on to the first friendly person she came across.
** spoiler omitted **...
I am not familiar with centaurs as PCs in 5E. Can you tell me which book they are in?
I am not familiar with centaurs as PCs in 5E. Can you tell me which book they are in?
Centaurs are in Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica. There were minor updates in Mordenkainen’s Monsters of the Multiverse. The basic stats can be found here - the only important change in MMM is that hoof damage went up to 1d6.
If it's not a race you feel comfortable including, that's totally fair, but I think it looks fun. Also some fun opportunities for roleplaying with a ridable character.
@Malaya - I love the novella. There could be some interesting RP opportunites considering Blaze's love of orders, and Malaya's complicated history with them.
Garrett and Talinthal look interesting too; I'm enjoying reading everybody's character concepts.
Ok cool. I like centaurs and might look into that book. I am comfortable with you playing one, certainly enough odd things you will encounter that you will not be too unusual.
atlas2112 Possible Bard (College of Swords)
seinneadair not sure yet
Kinghottrash tentative
mishima Reborn Rogue/theif
Talomyr Warlok Hexblade Dhampire or Half Elf
Garrett Goodbarrel Warlok halfling
JonGarret Druid
Terevalis Talinthal Cleric
Angie H Barbarian
Clearspring Malaya-Cleric of arcane
Arrius-Gabriel Belmont
Those of you that have full submissions already I will look at what you presented and try to give some feedback this weekend.
Light cleric :)
- Ogre's tooth with the glyph for moon carved in it.
- Charm shaped like a sprite
- Chicken foot on a chord.
Hi!
I love me some good DnD5, and would love to get through this campaign. I started it once, and the game faded when we were about 5th level, leaving me half-way through the experience. Now's the chance to finish what I've started!
I'm looking to play some kind of gish - bladesinger, sorcadin or something similar. Just give me the weekend to think of a good character and see what fits mechanically.
Think I'll pull out of the running here, looks like a nice pool of players and I'm already in some 5e games. :) Have fun all.
I think maybe we need someone to take some blows... An Artificer tank would be great, wouldn't it? ;)
@DM: So can we use all Arcana Unearthed content?
Let's stay away from the playtest stuff for now. I am new to DMing 5E.
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@DM: So can we use all Arcana Unearthed content?Let's stay away from the playtest stuff for now. I am new to DMing 5E.
I concur with this. I've been lukewarm on most of the UA stuff. It seems interesting, but I don't judge much of it to be necessary.
Except for the UA Ranger. Their argument for adjusting the class is a solid one, and all the points they bring up ring true.
Reading their justification actually starts to make you feel sorry for the Ranger class!
Warforged Circle of Stars Druid 1
Chaotic Neutral
Initiative; +2 Passive Perception 17
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 17
hp 11
Saving Throws
Strength +0, Dexterity +2, Constitution +3, Intelligence +2, Wisdom +7, Charisma +0.
--------------------
Offence
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Druidic Magic
Spell Saving Throw - 15
Spell Attack Modifier - +7
Cantrips
Shillelagh - As a bonus action switch a stick or staff to a magic weapon that inflicts 1d8 damage and uses casting modifier instead of strength for damage.
Thorn Whip - Inflict 1d8 damage and drag the target up to 10ft.
Spells - 2 Per Day - 1st Level Spells
Cure Wounds - Heal 1d8 per spell level used plus Wisdom modifier..
Healing Word - As an immediate action heal 1d4 + Wisdom modifier.
Speak With Animals - Ritual - Communicate and perhaps bargain with animals.
[i]Purify Food and Water - Ritual - All food and water within 5ft becomes free of taint and poison.
Goodberry - Create up to 10 Goodberries, each of which heals 1 hit point and provides food for a day.
Create or Destroy Water - Create or destroy 10 gallons of water per level, summon rain to put out fires or destroy fog.
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 20, Cha 10,
Proficiency Bonus +2
Racial Traits - Warforged
Constructed Resilience - Immune to sleep and disease, resistant to poison, do not need to eat, breath or sleep.
Sentry’s Rest - Remain awake and aware but unmoving for six hours to gain the benefits of a night’s sleep.
Integrated Protection - Gain +1 AC, and integrate a suit of armour over 1 hour. This armour cannot be forcibly removed.
Specialized Design - Gain 1 skill proficiency (Medicine) and one tool kit (Thieve’s Tools)
Tool Proficiency - Violin, Thieve’s Tools, Herbalism Kit.
Skills Acrobatics +2, Animal Handling +5, Athletics +0, History +0, Investigation +1, Nature +0, Persuasion +2, Religion +1, Sleight of Hand +2, Stealth +2
Proficient Skills Survival +7, Deception +2, Medicine +7, Insight +7, Perception +7,
Languages Common, Sylvan, Dragonic, Druidic.
Combat Gear Hide Armour, Shield, Druidic Focus (Staff), Component Pouch
Gear 1 x Common Clothes, Violin
Consumables 1x Health Potion
Cash 10gp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Background - Feylost - The character spent time in the Feywilds, and was changed by the experience.
- Fey Mark - Smell like honey and nectar.
- Feywild Visitor - Dryad
- Feywild Connection - Know the customs and habits of the Feywilds.
It is hard to see any of the Warforged’s physical form, however, as he wears a massive robe of dark greens, purple and blues with different star patterns and a voluminous hood. Dyed hide is integrated into the warforged’s form as well, further adding to it’s unusual, freakish appearance. His ruined metal face is covered by a carved wooden mask that covers the front and top of his head, with two branches like stag’s antlers, each carved with runes in Druidic.
One hand, covered in a leather gauntlet up to his elbow which glutches his staff, a long branch with a polished, rune covered stone bound in its branches at the top with several charms - and ogre’s tooth with a carved rune, a wire sprite, a dried chicken foot, etc and one the other is a wooden shield, still coated in bark. Redemption smells oddly sweet, like a vanilla cake that was freshly baked. When he speaks it is a deep, resonate tone that rare rises very high in volume.
They are cautious, preferring not to fight when at all possible, and are skilled at healing and aiding others. Yet at the moment they don’t feel a great drive to use those skills and talents for other people. They understand suffering, however, and don’t like to see it. They don’t really have a reason not to help, either, and usually will unless there’s a reason not to.
Although somewhat nascent, Redemption understands that some things are good, and others are bad, and that these things are not the same for every person. At this point of their existence Redemption is trying to ascertain what they believe is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and is very willing to find out by asking questions. They are curious, wanting to understand the why of everything. Sometimes, the answers aren’t good answers, but knowledge is always useful.
Then there was a fight. The Fey. Magic all over. A portal. A cell. And then, The Archfey.
Redemption had no idea who it was, but what it was could never be questioned. It made it clear that it did not like the metal being, who wore the cursed iron in its very soul, nor were they happy that a being of iron even had a soul, however nascent it may be. It demanded to know if such a cast-iron soul could change, could be an ally to the Fey. The thing that would be Redemption had no answers at the time, other than pointing out that not all was metal. Some of the Warforged was formed of wood. ”Then let more wood be added, until something changes.”
The process of that change was not enjoyable, not comfortable. Not good to remember. There was a human who shared space with him, healed him as best he could. The man spoke to him, of his life before the Fey. Of being a bandit, a wielder of divine fire. Of betrayal. His? Of Him? Redemption wasn’t sure. But the man was hopeless, for now he was old, and broken, and would never be able to right the wrongs he had made. He couldn’t even remember his name, as that had been taken by the Fey.
But Redemption knew they would not get old, and promised they would do good things in the man’s name. He cried, and gave Redemption their name, as it was all he could remember of himself - the bandit group he had been part of, before.
Redemption learned magic, the ways and the language of Druids. Their body was changing too, at the hands of the Fey and perhaps at the hands of Redemption. Then, the Archfey demanded to see if Redemption was ready. He was pleased that the metal creature had been changed, become more alive, become more one of with nature. The Warforged’s body contained life.
Now, it was time to see if that life could be defended.
Redemption was told to run. They didn’t really understand the why, but they got that they would be ended if they was caught. He decided that they did not want that. They ran, hethey hid. Some of the Fey hunted for them. A handful helped them though, with a Druid hiding them in the branches of her tree, other taking him while he rested.
The Warforged was far more duable than a human, but there are limits, and magic was a new gift to a new being. After days of being hunted Redemption heard the horns behind them, heard the hounds baying. And then they ran into a mist, and the noises faded behind him…
I had developed this guy for another Curse of Strahd game that doesn’t seem to have gotten off the ground — Marijohn Dell, Warlock (unread patron), who’s basically the main character of the song “Long Black Veil,” with a bit of “Hang ‘em High” thrown in.
Marijohn Dell
Reborn Warlock (Undead Patron) 1 N
AC 13 HP 10 Speed 30ft
Str 10 (0) Dex 14 (2) Con 14 (2) Wis 8 (-1) Int 12 (1) Cha 17 (3)
Attacks
Eldritch Blast +4 1d10
Dagger +4 1d4
Club (arcane focus) +3 1d6
[/b]
[b]
Skills
Insight (background) +1
Persuasion (background) +5
Investigation (race) +3
Stealth (race) +4
Deception (class) +5
History (class) +3
Background (Guild Artisan-Locksmith)
Reborn (+2 Cha, +1 Con)
Ancestral Legacy (2 bonus skills, Stealth, investigation)
Deathless (Advantage vs. disease/poison, resistance to poison)
Advantage Death Saves
Sleepless. Long rests take 4 hours.
Knowledge from a past life (+d6 to skill check, prof. times/long rest.
Otherwordly Patron: Undead
Bonus spells
Form of Dread (1 min prof bonus/day)
- 1d10+1 temp hp
- 1/turn, force struck creature to make WIS save or be frightened for encounter
- Immune to frightened
Dell was a conniving thief and a cad executed for killing a priest. He was innocent of that crime — he was in bed with Marah, a prominent (and married) townswoman at the time of the murder. Unwilling to expose her as an adulteress (and ashamed of his life overall), he refused to give her up as an alibi, and accepted the noose.
He may not have been a murderer, but years of lying, cheating and petty crimes surely outweighed a last noble turn. and as the light left him he felt the pit beneath — and heard, in his mind, a whispered lifeline. To his shame, he snatched at it.
He awoke sprawled across a grave marked only by purple flowers — Marah's favorite color. He felt at his throat, still scarred by the noose. Going back was an impossibility, he knew: the townsfolk would make doubly sure of his death, and he feared dying again even more than he feared the bargain he had struck with who-knows-what. Even if he had wanted to, he's not sure if he could return, for his heart already seemed to pull him toward the road, his feet moving surely, as if they knew they were returning home.
A good-looking face, but seems a bit underweight and though he has a nice smile, his lips are often pressed together. The scar from the noose is still visible; he wears a black scarf to cover it.
Trying to be better the second time around. Worried that he's not. (This is a new worry for him, he used to be more devil-may-care, back when the Devil was a lot more abstract). Still can be charming and affable when he’s relaxed.
Updated list of new interest and removed dropouts.
I will be looking at stuff today.
atlas2112 Possible Bard (College of Swords)
seinneadair not sure yet
Kinghottrash tentative
Talomyr Warlok Hexblade Dhampire or Half Elf
Garrett Goodbarrel Warlok halfling
JonGarret Circle of Stars Druid
TerevalisTalinthal light Cleric
Angie H Barbarian
Clearspring Malaya-Cleric of arcane
Arrius-Gabriel Belmont
jereru Artificer tank
Marijohn Dell Reborn Warlok Undead Patron