I'm not going to lie; I'm getting some Bastion from Overwatch vibes from Redemption.
I like it a lot.
That's ironic, I only played Overwatch once on one of the free weekends.
So my other recruitment has gone super dead and quiet; I'm giving them to the end of the day to have any action before I focus here.
I am considering a Vistana here for vengeance; maybe an Oath of Vengeance paladin or a Fighter/Rogue multiclass. I'm also interested in maybe taking the "Mist Walker" Dark Gift, if that is available. I think it'd fit the character story and we'll be moving around quite a bit in Curse of Strahd.
One question for the DM:
Can we get an estimation of what would be the level of the characters at the end of the campaign? I'm shuffling some ideas, but it would be let down if the game ended without the character achieving at least a decent build status.
While you think about it, I'll start writing some background - that won't change much, I guess.
One question for the DM:
Can we get an estimation of what would be the level of the characters at the end of the campaign? I'm shuffling some ideas, but it would be let down if the game ended without the character achieving at least a decent build status.
While you think about it, I'll start writing some background - that won't change much, I guess.
the campaign goes to lvl 10, maybe 11.
I think I sent PMs to everyone that had a mostly completed character. If you did not get one and you feel you are mostly complete let me know. If you have not had a chance to complete your character yet still plenty of time, I am just trying to get a head of things since there is quite a lot of you which I am grateful for.
I think that something that would add to the story is that he was on his way to the High Clerist's Tower with his nephew or a younger brother's knighting ceremony when the mists over took him.
Can we use some of the NPCs as reference in our backstory? You said we were to explain how we got there, so is it okay to mentio Ireena?
PS: As I said, I've started the campaign but never got past 5th or 6th level. I also habe some knowledge due to CoS events being old enough for them to have spread between the old style RPG dinosaursplayers. I hope that's not a problem - I promise to separate knowledge from fun.
Can we use some of the NPCs as reference in our backstory? You said we were to explain how we got there, so is it okay to mentio Ireena?
PS: As I said, I've started the campaign but never got past 5th or 6th level. I also habe some knowledge due to CoS events being old enough for them to have spread between the old style RPG
dinosaursplayers. I hope that's not a problem - I promise to separate knowledge from fun.
I'd rather your characters were completely new to the setting. If you can reference them as maybe just meeting them in a dream or something maybe.
Okay, so the alias is up here:
He's got a bit of background there already. He's an Artificer, planning of picking the Armorer subclass and multiclassing Bladesinger later on for a bit more spell control and defensive support. I've modified the fluff of the Artificer as something closer to a Runesmith - he engraves runes on items instead of engineering them.
Oh btw, can we sell some items from the initial gear? I don't really need three weapons XD
Ey is this starting from level 1? I've got an interesting idea for a barbarian/druid combo and also an arcane trickster rogue, thinking of running Human for the barb/druid and the updated kenku for the rogue.
As for stats just for clarification you get 18,15,13,11,10,9 whatever bonus's your race/lineage gives you and then an additional +2 to one +1 to another. Or simply 18,15,13,11,10,9 and then +2 to one/+1 to another, and Racial abilities/extras but not stat adjustments?
Hello everyone! I am very interested in this adventure, I have long wanted to find something close in spirit to play in 5e and this seems to me an ideal option. I've never played Ravenloft, but I've heard a lot about this wonderful setting and most of all I adore the horror genre in tabletop role-playing games.
I'm thinking of making a wizard, as I see that the party just lacks a diverse arcane caster for balance.
So, let's move on to the idea of the character. I really love Eberron and that's what I want to do. Keith Baker's relatively recently published book "Dread Metrol" contains the idea that the Cyre was not just destroyed, but became one of the Domains of Dread. My character was a mercenary in this cursed country but was outside the capital when the disaster happened. He got lost in the mists and was also transferred to Domains, but eventually came out alive in another domain... Barovia.
I'm thinking about the Haunted One theme. That might explain why he's alive. Some dark force allowed him to survive a terrible event in the past and saved him during the Day of Mourning for its mysterious purposes...
I'll make the full version of the character in another day or two .)
Lots and lots of submissions for this one. Given that I haven't gotten around to finalizing a submission yet, I will withdraw from consideration.
5E DM, thanks for running the game and good luck sorting through the submissions.
I haven't received a PM, DM.
I didn't realize that your initial post was also your submission. I will take a look later this week.
Yes, this is starting at lvl 1
One final question and then I think I can get to writing stuff do you consider UA as official? I had another idea that might fit the ravenloft setting a bit better than the other characters in the form of an undead warlock who's patron is the raven queen.
Key there is the Undead patron, which grants the Dread form which was in the 2020 subclasses UA versus the Undying Warlock which is from sword coast adv guide and much less fitting for what I'm wanting to do.
I'm thinking Human warlock who was an assistant to Van Ricten in his travels to explore the mists and the various realms of Ravenloft. Though if you'd rather someone with zero ties to any lore characters I can just as easily say he's an independent researcher of the planes namely the shadow-fell who had to strike a bargain with the raven queen for trespassing in her domain so that he could continue to do his research without suffering from the wasting effects of the plane. During his prolonged expeditions he slipped into Ravenloft via campaign shenanigans and just believes it to be another pocket of the shadows, unaware at this moment of the true nature of the place. His pact I could discuss further in DMs if Undead Patron is acceptable otherwise I'll draft up the other characters and work from there.
@Azil, Undead patron was polished off and made official in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. Most (all?) of the stuff in these latter year splats started out as UA and went through a bunch of changes before official publishing.
The final Form of Dread is posted below, if you want to compare to whatever UA version you are looking at:
Form of Dread
1st-level Undead feature
You manifest an aspect of your patron’s dreadful power. As a bonus action, you transform for 1 minute. You gain the following benefits while transformed:
You gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 + your warlock level.
Once during each of your turns, when you hit a creature with an attack roll, you can force it to make a Wisdom saving throw, and if the saving throw fails, the target is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.
You are immune to the frightened condition.
You can transform a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
The appearance of your Form of Dread reflects some aspect of your patron. For example, your form could be a shroud of shadows forming the crown and robes of your lich patron, or your body might glow with glyphs from ancient funerary rites and be surrounded by desert winds, suggesting your mummy patron.
Huh okay, for some reason 5efight still has it listed as a UA which I think is where I was getting confused. I'll go ahead and make a profile for the character for submission. Thanks @Mishima
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Hi everybody!
Character submission from Atlas2112!
I blacked out, and died.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
I am Agnar, front-man for the world-famous band The Narg Nasty Six. Tonight we had just finished a gig at a two-star watering hole, the Sweet Doomed Angel...when she walked in.
You could tell she had money. When you get used to living on free beer and borrowed peanuts, you develop a talent for knowing who's gonna pay you, and who's gonna have a sudden emergency at payment time.
"I enjoyed your show," she said to us in a voice low and husky, like molasses poured over silver. "We'd like you to play a little at an after-party I'm having. Just a little soiree I'm having for me and my friends. I live just down the road, on the hill. This should cover things."
And she handed over a small bag with some coins. Paying in advance? Well that makes her a preferred customer. It also made her unique, so we should've guessed at trouble, but it's had to give money back. Ever.
"We'll be there," I said at her with my number 3 smile.
********
"Don't like this," Chuck said, lugging our kit and a few provisions we 'liberated' from the Angel. She didn't say if there would be refreshments and we hadn't eaten after the show.
"I like it," said RockOn, our drummer. "Money, woman. More'n we had most times. Got foggy quick, though." His statement was followed by a little giggle by the comely wench at his side. Anya followed the band, and no one could remember when she started following them. She was just always there.
RockOn wasn't lying. We had walked 'down the road' and thought we were getting near 'the hill' when this pea soup fog rolled in.
"Fog's as thick as peanut butter!" complained John. He was a roadie, so he was always complaining.
"No, it's as thick as pea soup!" countered Hector the Halfling. He was my back-up lewtist and liked to get into arguments. So we were good friends.
"Quiet, all a yous," Chuck barked at us. He wasn't our 'leader' per se, but he knew when we were getting out of hand and needed to be less so. "Someone's coming."
Sure enough, someone was coming down the road. Fast! A lone man, running like the Hounds of the Hunter were on his very heals. We could hear him panting as his footfalls slapped on the ground long before we could see him. When he finally broke through the fog he stopped and said:
"What are you doing!? You can't be here!"
"Ya got that right," I concurred, casually. I tend to have a calming effect on people. "We were looking for a castle--"
"No!" the man shouted, rudely interrupting. "You don't understand. I am DEAD! You hear me? DEAD! And you CAN'T be here!"
He hefted the axe in his hands. I didn't know he had an axe until now. I answered by drawing my sword. It was my father's and I knew how to use it, but it wasn't anything special.
Behind me the Narg Nasty boys and girl drew answering weapons of their own, but I think a few picked up nearby sticks too.
"Let's just calm down--" is all Chuck got out before some...THING attacked the man.
Was it a wolf? A thief? A camel? A cat? There was no way to tell. Out of the fog this black THING came and attached itself to the man, instantly spurting blood over the the uncaring road.
We were hungry, lost, confused, not a little scared, and we were armed. We did the only sane thing. We got busy.
As one we advanced and stabbed at the thing. It let go of the man, but then turned on us! It was a chaotic maelstrom of battle and blood and screams and blood and terror and blood and death. And blood.
I lay on my back, sword in my right hand, bleeding out from...somewhere. Chuck still stood, to my left, next to Anya, and everything was eerily quiet. So we won? I guess?
As my eyes closed and the world faded away I wondered about the man. 'I never even knew his name,' I thought.
'I have a name,' came some voice, to my right.
Then I blacked out, and died.
So how am I still alive? Don't know! But I feel great!
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"Oh ho!" Agnar laughs in a friendly way as the traveler offers the sweet biscuits. "A rare treat this! I accept gratefully, friend. Though no payment is needed, I accept it out of friendship.
Chuck, Anya, please see to our guest."
A large man, Charles Martel, once de facto leader of the Narg Nasty Six, bent to the kettle and poured a generous helping into a tin cup before offering it to the newcomer. He was used to doing what was necessary, and he saw no need to change now. Agnar was always an acceptable front-man, and that seemed a thing most needed now.
"One or two eggs, with your bacon?" Agnar asks.
Anya, a pretty woman, bends over a sizzling pan where pleasant bacon-scents and smells come wafting. She scoops up a generous portion of well-cooked yumminess before offering this, too, to the guest.
Anya had always preferred RockOn, but he was dead now. One could suppose Agnar is a step up, as some people counted such things.
"Help yourself to toast."
Another man comes over and offers a wooden platter well-laden with toast'n'drippings. Over his throat is a deep scar, most likely the source of his muteness. This was Nameless, a local who currently survives. Alas, the attack took not only his voice but his sanity, and though he responds to direct orders well enough, if not actively engaged, he stands unresponsive to stimulii.
"My friend, I am Agnar Valbrandr. And by what might you be called?"
Hi again! It's ‘Eκάτη and this is my character submission.
I've been stuck here too long. I have to get out of here. Home…
An attractive woman with thick black hair and large earrings looked sullenly into a plate of poor peasant food. She has been living in this godforsaken village in this strange place for a month now… Barovia… A place full of fear and dangers waiting for a person in the darkness of night…
But Shandi is no stranger to seeing evil. She was too young to remember all the details. Something came from below, from the mines. From Khyber itself. Something of indistinct shapes, with the wrong number of limbs and as if merging with the darkness of a moonless thick night. It killed everyone in the mining village… Everyone except Shandi.
The main mystery of her life is the simple question «Why?». Why was she spared? Why did this creature, being in absolute proximity to Shandi, only "studied" her and then left? (it was something strange between sniffing and some kind of inspection - but not in the way animals and humanoids are used to it, something different and otherworldly). Why?
Shandi didn't know all this. But she did know that after that night, strange, writhing patterns appeared on her forearms. Something in between a birthmark, a tattoo and a parasite. An inner voice told her that she needed to hide it and not show it to anyone.
Having spent her entire childhood in an orphanage, she dreamed of only one thing. To understand. To discover. And to prevent this in the future. She did everything possible to get an education at the local temple of the Sovereign Host and passed the exams to the Cyre Academy of Guardians of Order (the Faculty of Applied and Combat Magic) with honors. Having gained access to libraries, she plunged headlong into arcane sciences, studying at night volume after volume about old horrors, terrible creatures and unspeakable rituals.
But she never found something about the monster that turned her life upside down and killed all her loved ones. The riddle remained a riddle. The only thing she could figure out was that these drawings on her hands is an aberrant dragonmark. This mark is enough to be hunted and killed all over Eberron, as people associate it with the dark and forbidden rituals of the past…
She never managed to graduate from the Academy. Students were taken to the front of the Hundred Years' War in huge numbers. She was on duty as part of patrol groups, being involved in those places where ordinary soldiers might need magic and special expertise. She dreamed of returning to her goal, her obsession, but it was not to be.
When the armies of three countries went on a massive offensive at once, the great Cyre army stopped coping. The Queen Dannel decided to gather all the military units to the capital to give a final rebuff at its gates. Shandi's squad failed to break through and got stuck in the woods halfway, cut off from the main forces and hiding from the undead army coming from Karrnath. And then…
...then everything became foggy. She heard screams of pain and terror. Somewhere very very very far away… Thousands of throats roared from something unspeakable. Covering her ears with her hands, distraught with fear, she rushed into this fog, immediately losing sight of her comrades. Soon the screams subsided, and in the unnatural silence she saw the silhouette of THAT creature again. Numb with fear, she watched it. And something told her that it was looking at her, too.
After a couple of moments that seemed like an eternity to her, the creature disappeared into the fog. Shandi, who had forgotten all her magic at once and lost faith in herself, burst into tears…
After several days of wandering through the fog, she finally came to a village. Hungry, dirty, tired, she found shelter in some village.
I still don't understand where I am. Isn't that Eberron? Where is my home? How to get out of here? - Shandi has been struggling with these issues for a month now. She was given shelter, food, clothes in the Barovian peasant fashion (in another world and at another time it would be called gypsy) and the opportunity to work it all out with her hands, helping around the yard. For a month, as if in a stupor, she leads a life that is not familiar to her. And at night, over and over again, she hears those screams in her nightmares. But the stupor began to gradually pass.
It's time to get down to business. I need to get out of here. And also... these people need help. As I see, quite a lot of evil can happen here. And someone has to protect these good people if something terrible comes here at night… By the way. What if that monster from my past, what if it came from the mists and Barovia is its home? Then I can find out here more about it… It's time to get ready and start acting. But how?… I need a sign...
I had the same question.
One final question and then I think I can get to writing stuff do you consider UA as official? I had another idea that might fit the ravenloft setting a bit better than the other characters in the form of an undead warlock who's patron is the raven queen.
Please nothing from UA at this time.
Oh btw, can we sell some items from the initial gear? I don't really need three weapons XD
Having different damage types might be good. You may sell items for 2/3rds listed price.
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"Ha! A fey bargain? No good, I've known too many feys!" he answers, laughing. Then he flicks a finger near his ear to highlight his own sort-of pointed ears.
Agnar tries to sit more comfortably on his camp-chair, sinking in and taking all the comfort it can give up. He still strums idly, but softly, on his lewt. "Do I give the appearance of a refugee? No no, don't answer that. In truth I'm not quite sure what my status is. Or, really, where I am.
The noble band you see before you is what is left of the world-famous Narg Nasty Six." Chuck and Anya pause in their chores to bow to Gabriel. "The name is all my own, I assure you. Well, there were rumors that our halfling came up with it first, but the man was erratic, so you can't truest him. He's also dead now, killed in the encounter that brought us the strong, silent Nameless one you see over there. Nameless! Take a bow for our guest!"
The mute continues to chop wood, unheeding of the request.
"You must excuse him. We managed to save his life, but, alas, that seems as all we were able to save."
Agnar sighs, looking pensive, before returning to the present.
"Ah, where was I? Oh yes. And you, Mister Gabriel Belmont of Micreoch? Are you also a wanderer? Or are perhaps on some celestial task and you require the help of the noble and pure of heart?"
Agnar holds out his teacup and Anya refills it.
On impulse he holds his cup up in greetings to the attractive woman with thick black hair and large earrings. He smiles and sips, toasting her health.
Alright, in any case, since I decided to go with a lighter armor and I need some expensive buying, I'm gonna try with th gold roll. Worst could happen is I can buy the same I'm given, more or less.
x10=150 gp
Now on to check the shopping list. Other than that, the character is finished.
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Gotta get gear and a proper description and picture on the profile but here he is, Markus Von Dricher. Researcher of the planes turned walking soul stealy lad.
Background is in the profile in full but the long short of it is. That he was a researcher looking into ways to harness the emotion charging and dampening effects of the fey wild and shadowfell respectively. Him and the rest of his team got a little full of their progress when they successfully(!) Distilled shadow essence and needing a test subject and being a tinge unwise and overconfident Markus took the plunge and woke up with a case of dead friends and a new backseat driver telling him he'd get him back home if he collected a few groceries(souls) while he's on his unintentional vacation in the Realms of Dread.
If picked I would like to discuss a bit more in pms about the warlock pact. Good luck to all and to whomever is picked I wish a good venture.
@Gabriel
I saw a very interesting video dealing with how to make a Trevor Belmont build if you'd care for the link for more inspiration on what other folks have tried?
Yes, please!@Gabriel
I saw a very interesting video dealing with how to make a Trevor Belmont build if you'd care for the link for more inspiration on what other folks have tried?
Here ya be
You must be the Belmont
Ah woops been a long while since I saw it so couldn't recall if it had UA. Tbh though you could su substitute the UA fighter subclass for battle Master, or since we know we're only going to 10-11 you could drop the majority of fighter levels(2 for that sweet sweet action surge) and then go 8 kensei monk and you'd get almost the same benefits and you'd still have an auto magical 10ft long shortsword that you can whip the crap out of people with. Maybe snag a 3rd level of fighter for either battle Master or champion for maneuvers and expanded crit respectively.
Everybody got their PM?
Not I, but I didn't know if the Dm had sent out more pm's again.
I'll be doing more before I leave for vacation on the 9th. Plan on starting the 14th so next weekend I'll make final decisions
@Azil: True, but I saw another build that can make me pretty well-rounded and capable (conceptually at least) to be a better solo player.
Starting as paladin for proficiencies (whip among them), self-heals, Holy whip Smites, and rogue for sneak attack, expertise, cunning action for supreme mobility, etc.
I wonder how I can make Grand Cross...Anyway, my first level is going to be paladin, but I'm a paladin/rogue multiclass and have proficiency in thieves' tools by background.
Spiritual weapon for a single one, flame strike for a large single aoe strike, or even spirit guardians flavored as a swirling storm of holy(radiant) crosses. Idk if we will reach the level necessary to get those kind of spells, flame strike is 5th level and paladin is like a 1/3rd caster. Also that grand cross link is borked XD
Good to hear DM hope you have a good vacation you've got a good swatch of players and PCs to choose from. Anything you think the group/entries need more of?
I know I am late but here is my submission.
AC: 12 HP: 8 Speed: 30’
Str:9(-1) Dex:15(2) Con:14(2) Int:11(0) Wis:13(1) Cha:20(5)
Skills
Deception +7, Intimidation +7, Persuasion +7, Stealth +4
Background- Urban Bounty Hunter
Saving Throw
Con +4, Cha +7
Race
Hellish Resistance
Dark Vision
Class
Origin- Shadow
Taint of Shadows
Evil Eye
Background Trait
Ear to the Ground, Thieves Tools Training
Spells
0- Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Minor illusion, Prestidigitation
1- Magic Armor, Thunderwave
Equipment
x20 Bolts
Arcane Focus Orb
x2 Daggers
backpack, a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days of rations, and a waterskin
50' Hemp Rope
Coin Pouch
Hand Mirror with Medusa Motiff
Currency
20Gp
Languages
Common, Infernal
Personality Traits-
Slow to Trust, Plodding, Fickle, Melancholic, Unhurried
Ideals-
Wants to do better but feels like this is the only lot in life
Bonds
Stuck in a debtors prison and willing to by any means to pay it back
Flaws
Will turn tail and run if things look to be going bad
Description
A tiefling of relatively average height with dark blue skin and curled black hair, curled horns like a sheep or goat jutting out from it. She wears dark clothing, primarily consisting of simple cloth fabrics and travelers cloak, with worn boots that come up just below the knee. Daggers are hidden through her attire, with a small crossbow held to her well worn backpack.
Background-
An orphan from birth, Velspira was raised in the city of Baldur’s Gate, quickly earning herself as a member of the criminal underworld at a young due to her natural magical abilities and aptitude for illusion spells as a pickpocket. When she was older, Velspira would continue these criminal pursuits in far less novel ways, attempting to push into the higher levels of crime one could find as a proper member of a thieves guild. Luck was not on her side however as the first chance she had, a job robbing a wealthy merchants home proved to be a trap without her knowledge. Spending a month in jail, only to be bailed out by said wealthy merchant under a lengthy contract of which would see her forced to repay back every last coin to guarantee her freedom.
Against her will, Velspira has had to do everything she can to pay off her terrible debt, including many things that she was not proud of. She had taken part in far greater thefts, rival assassinations and strong arming, including her more current line of work for her debtor, taking up the role thinly veiled and politically motivated bounty hunting, all to pay for her freedom. All these things overtime has soured her outlook on life, becoming rather dour.
Her only real possession she tolerates is an old mirror, said to be the only keepsake of her still yet unknown mother. It’s strange medusa head design on the back has drawn her to keeping it.