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Under the leadership of a zealous paladin of Iomedae - goddess of honor, justice, and valor - a new knightly order called the Glorious Reclamation seeks to purge Cheliax of its diabolical taint by overthrowing the House of Thrune and reclaim the country for its people in the name of Iomedae. As the uprising gathers strength, the evil adventurers must defeat the valiant knights and their celestial allies to stop the rebellion's spread through Cheliax and preserve Thrune's oppressive rule. Will the wicked antiheroes quell dissent and uphold the infernal laws of Cheliax and its diabolic rulers, or will the heroic knights of the Glorious Reclamation overthrow the corrupt House of Thrune and usher Cheliax into a new age of peace, prosperity, and glory?
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This will be my first time DMing here, though I have been DMing a few games before (though they petered out). I am sure that some of you already know what this Hell's Vengeance Adventure Path is all about, but for those who don't know, Hell's Vengeance is essentially an evil adventure path for evil characters. Instead of heroically killing monsters and tyrants, you will become the agents of evil, serving an evil despot/monarch, curbing down heroic uprisings and being essentially the villains of the story. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to let you be evil maniacs who disregard laws and orders. This will be addressed below.
The most important thing to look forward here is to have fun, and if you have fun at the expense of others, then that isn't fun at all. Keep that in mind.
For those interested, I strongly recommend you to download and read Hell's Vengeance Player's Guide before building your characters. Ideally, I am looking for a group of five players, and I'd like it to be fairly balanced (like not all of them are martial-oriented or not all of them are spellcasters, stuff like that).
Open the spoiler below to learn more about character creation.
Alignment: In case if you haven't noticed already, this is an evil campaign. The most preferred evil alignment is Lawful Evil, though Neutral Evil is acceptable as well. Chaotic Evil can be a little tricky and difficult to be accepted, though that doesn't mean this particular alignment is prohibited. Lawful Neutral and Neutral may get accepted, though it's a guarantee that your characters will slip to evil over the course of the game. Good alignments have no place here.
Stat Generation: 25 point buy.
Race: Cheliax is many things, but racially diverse is not one of them. Races like halfling, tieflings and gnomes are marginalized, so expect difficulty while playing as these races in place like Cheliax. Humans are greatly preferred here, though that doesn't mean I'll reject dwarves, elves, half-elves or half-orcs. Races outside of the core ones may have difficulty to be accepted.
Class: Any of the core and base classes. However, gunslingers, ninjas and samurais are going to have a hard time being accepted. Obviously, paladin is unavailable, with antipaladin taking its place. Archetypes are also allowed.
Traits: In addition to a Campaign Trait that you can find in the Player's Guide, you can also take another trait.
Background: Write up your character's background and history. There's no need to write something long, just something that tells about your character's history. Make sure to match the history with your character's Campaign Trait.
Starting Wealth: Average
Background Skills: Sure, why not?
Experience Progression: Experience points.
Like mentioned above, I'm looking for five players for this game. Looking forward to see anyone interested in joining.
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Ahh, pragmatic villainy, my favorite!
Kind of torn between NE Urban Bloodrager and an Insinuator (more interesting Antipaladin archetype).
How about thieflings?
The character concept I had in mind was a formerly noble bastard, formerly noble because it was discovered that his/her heritage is Abyssal rather the infernal! Que Horreur!
The most just and universally welcome Sire Devil Casonovus has been captured by a coven of vile Succubi, who then impersonated his august personage to spread their filth throughout Cheliax! What brutish prank by the much accursed Lady in Shadow!
And then, after 6 times 6 years, revealed the status of their ploy to all the world! Alas, few would know if they unveiled all, or if Casanovus was the only Sire Devil they captured, perhaps, even now, the dastardly agents of Midnight blackmail other Chelish families with similar scandals!
Needless to say, all of the children sired by these unholy unions have been immidiatly disowned, and now are in the ranks of commoners!
Although, should such children succeed in striking a blow against their Abyssal "parents", or show merit in other ways, perhaps a reennoblement is to be considered.
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I've got a tiefling bloodrager concept I've tried before but has yet to actually get into the game.
Edit: reread the Op and saw you mention tieflings specifically, lol.
I've got a tiefling bloodrager concept I've tried before but has yet to actually get into the game. Would you accept a tiefling? They're probably still not *common* in Cheliax, but more common there than elsewhere.
Well, I'd accept a tiefling if it feels right. If I feel this particular tiefling is suitable for the group, then I'd accept the tiefling.
dotting.
Thinking of cleric or warpriest, have to decide on a deity though.
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I've got a tiefling bloodrager concept I've tried before but has yet to actually get into the game. Would you accept a tiefling? They're probably still not *common* in Cheliax, but more common there than elsewhere.Well, I'd accept a tiefling if it feels right. If I feel this particular tiefling is suitable for the group, then I'd accept the tiefling.
I think I'll give that a shot again. He'll be an Ex-Iomedaean, who was once zealous in her faith and tried to become a paladin, but after years of bullying and discrimination and finally being framed for a heinous crime, he was drummed out of the paladin academy and, full of spite and bitterness, turned to the worship of Moloch. He's sort of *almost* an Antipaladin in his background, being a martial devotee of an Archdevil, but in game terms he'll be a Bloodrager who's been gifted power over fire (ie the Elemental (Fire) bloodline) by his patron, the better to burn and destroy everything Iomedae holds dear.
dotting.
Thinking of cleric or warpriest, have to decide on a deity though.
Asmodeus or Zon-Kuthon are obvious choices, but there are also other evil deities like Norgorber and Urgathoa. There are also assortments of archfiends you can choose to worship.
Also, since I can no longer edit the first post, the deadline for recruitment is around this 30th of June, though if I somehow manage to decide the party early, we may start the game a bit earlier than that.
Dotting for interest.
I’ve got a burning desire to play a gunslinger next though so that seems out*, I do have a tiefling fiend flayer magus who followed Zon Kuthon that I started long ago and had the game fizzle, I suppose I could consider updating and submitting him.
*if it’s a background thing and not mechanical thing, I’ve got an idea of a traitor/double agent/spy for the Chileaxan Navy who had to flee The Shackles after things got too hot.
Dotting but not sure what I would go with yet.
***Edit***
Sorry, I know EXACTLY what I will build for this. A Grey Maiden. Fighter into Sanguine Angel. This is the perfect campaign for this idea.
Hi GM Arjuna,
Thanks for hosting it! I'd like to submit here Samara - she's a kitsune vigilante. Hell's Vengeance is honestly a great chance to play the serial killer archetype! I know she isn't a common race, but hoping to get your approval - between her background and her skills, it's fairly easy for her to be treated as a human.
Cheers!
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I finished Hell's Rebels with a real-time online group back in March. The same GM was then running Hell's Vengeance, but I had a daughter due in June and couldn't commit to any live games. I already had a character and concept ready that I think would be a great thematic fit.
Two figures scramble over the mountainside, their clothes ragged and faded. One of them, a halfling, stops to catch her breath. In a second, the tiefling is on her, club smashing bone as she falls in a spray of blood. The other figure, a man, sprints away at full speed, but is soon toppled by bolas. Before walking over to the man, the half-devil gives the halfling a good kick to the side.
"A little parting present from ol' Vergio, you filthy halfie."
"Think you're smarter than House Narikopolus," he says as he approaches the man struggling to free his injured legs from the cord wrapped around them.
"That was a bad bet, chum." He chuckles as he claps a pair of manacles on the man's ankles.
"Now tell me: Who's organizing the fugitive slaves in the Menander Mounters," he says as he takes his dagger from its sheeth. "Or . . .," he licks his lip as he gauges the dagger's sharpness, "don't. More fun for me that way."
Amidst the screams along the mountainside, the plodding of armored footsteps can be heard. The tiefling's ears perk as he reaches for his bow. A Hellknight appears over a ridge, carrying a sealed scroll.
"Vergio Calla," the Hellknight intones through his helmet, "you are hereby immediately summoned to serve your Infernal Magistrix in whatever way she deems fit."
Vergio Calla
Male kyton-spawn tiefling slayer (bounty hunter) 1 (Pathfinder Player Companion: Blood of Fiends 22, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 53, 118, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 264)
CE Medium outsider (native)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +3
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +2 Dex, +1 shield)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will -1
Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee club +4 (1d6+3) or
. . cold iron dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20) or
. . sap +4 (1d6+3 nonlethal)
Ranged bolas +3 (1d4+3 nonlethal) or
. . shortbow +3 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks studied target +1 (1st, move action)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +2)
. . 1/day—web (DC 13)
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Nemesis
Traits erratic malefactor, pain artist
Skills Acrobatics +4, Bluff +5, Escape Artist +2, Heal +3, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (geography) +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Perception +3, Sense Motive +3, Sleight of Hand +1, Stealth +4, Survival +3; Racial Modifiers +2 Escape Artist, +2 Intimidate
Languages Abyssal, Common, Halfling, Infernal
SQ track +1
Combat Gear smelling salts[APG]; Other Gear studded leather, light wooden shield, arrows (40), bolas (2), club, cold iron dagger, sap, shortbow, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, branding iron, custom shape, flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), hip flask[UE], leechwort[UW], manacles, trail rations (10), winter blanket, 18 gp, 5 sp
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Special Abilities
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white only).
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Energy Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Fire attacks.
Studied Target +1 (move action, 1 at a time) (Ex) Study foe as a Move action, gain +1 to att/dam & some skills vs. them.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to Survival checks made to track.
Also, at the start of the game, you will be doing some petty thievery/burglary which may not have anything to do with Thrune, but this will be a case of one thing leads to another, so please keep that in mind.
Antipaladin for sure. Will try and see if I can throw something together.
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Okay, this is Ouachitonian's submission. Guillaume grew up wanting to be a paladin of Iomedae. He really did. But after years of being shunned, bullied, discriminated against, and finally framed for murder and expelled from the paladin academy, he forsook Iomedae, who had never answered his fervent prayers, and took up the worship of Moloch, determined to burn Iomedae's worshippers and everything she held dear. (Sorry if I got a little carried away with the backstory in the alias. It's just one of those things that kind of writes itself sometimes.)
Mechanically, he's a Bloodrager. I chose the Elemental (Fire) bloodline rather than Abyssal or Infernal partly because those overlap partly with stuff tieflings get already, but more because I want the "burn and destroy his enemies" shtick. Moloch has the fire Domain, and is even called the God of Fires, so I figure it makes sense. He'll hold down a frontline well, has some skills, but mostly he hits people and takes hits in return. I don't really plan to do anything fancy, probably just ride bloodrager all the way up. Depending on the course the AP takes I could see him maybe becoming a Hellknight, but I'll figure that out when we get to it. As long as he gets to burn Iomedaeans and their temples, he'll be happy.
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Here's my Ruthless Agent Investigator, still a work in progress.
I haven't written his backstory yet, as I am still mulling over ideas.
His crunch is done, minus a couple minor equipment purchases.
Like mentioned before, I'm looking for a balanced team, which means I'd like to see if there's anyone interested in getting a spellcaster or anything like that.
Interested in making either an asmodean advocate, or an infernal binder wizard, will try and get something up later
Also: Not to killjoy half the recruitment, but the initial post said core and base classes only. Are hybrid classes like bloodrager, warpriest, and investigator allowed? If so, I might have to rethink not playing an arcanist :)
I would also highly consider/enjoy playing a cleric, probably of Asmodeus, likely into Signifier as the game progresses.
If a gunslinger is off the table.
Yeah, I’ll put together a cleric. Get the guide read and one together this weekend. I’ve never done an evil cleric and it sounds fun.
Interested in making either an asmodean advocate, or an infernal binder wizard, will try and get something up later
Also: Not to killjoy half the recruitment, but the initial post said core and base classes only. Are hybrid classes like bloodrager, warpriest, and investigator allowed? If so, I might have to rethink not playing an arcanist :)
Well, it's just preference, but if the characters seem fun to have in the game despite them having hybrid classes, then I may accept them.
So, I am also rethinking things given you are asking about spellcasters. A druid makes a great 5th man I think but not entirely sure it fits in the AP well. Would a druid be out of place in it? An Urban Druid even? ***edit**
So, I am also rethinking things given you are asking about spellcasters. A druid makes a great 5th man I think but not entirely sure it fits in the AP well. Would a druid be out of place in it?An Urban Druid even?***edit**
It depends. A neutral evil druid isn't exactly unheard of.
If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
Level 1, Human, NE, Cleric of Asmodeus, Domains Trickery and Ash (Fire)
Traits: Asmodean Acolyte, Beacon of Faith
Feats: Selective Channel, Toughness
Role: Basic Cleric, backup striker (longspear), healing will have to be done with cure spells and infernal healing, channels for combat.
Skills: focus on diplomacy and know religion or planes
Background (not fully fleshed out): Raised in the church of Asmodeus, abandoned on the steps and spent his early days both learning the faith as well as working as a lawyer associate (I'll go background skills in profession lawyer and maybe scribe).
Personality will be generally friendly, in a slimy way, and the rest will be fleshed out a bit more when I get to play him some, I always like to kinda get a feel for the game and adjust to see how it all fits in.
I have a full character sheet available if you want GM, these are just the short notes.
If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
** spoiler omitted **
Once you finish with your sheet (Google Doc or whatever), please send it to me so that I can review it and see if I want to have you join or not.
Once you finish with your sheet (Google Doc or whatever), please send it to me so that I can review it and see if I want to have you join or not.If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
** spoiler omitted **
Hi GM Arjuna,
Thanks for hosting it! I'd like to submit here Samara - she's a kitsune vigilante. Hell's Vengeance is honestly a great chance to play the serial killer archetype! I know she isn't a common race, but hoping to get your approval - between her background and her skills, it's fairly easy for her to be treated as a human.
Cheers!
Hi GM! Just to make sure you saw it. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Hi GM! Just to make sure you saw it. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!Hi GM Arjuna,
Thanks for hosting it! I'd like to submit here Samara - she's a kitsune vigilante. Hell's Vengeance is honestly a great chance to play the serial killer archetype! I know she isn't a common race, but hoping to get your approval - between her background and her skills, it's fairly easy for her to be treated as a human.
Cheers!
Looks good to me, though whether I will accept her or not depends on what other people bring on the table.
Once you finish with your sheet (Google Doc or whatever), please send it to me so that I can review it and see if I want to have you join or not.If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
** spoiler omitted **
Well, you should also write his background/history as well. Other than that, you're doing good, though still need to wait for other characters to compare so that I can decide whether to choose him or not.
Dotting for interest - mulling a Dwarven Oracle of Metal; Volgg the Tarnisher: Follower of Droskar, enslaver and utterly amoral mercenary.
@Arjuna332: Is Additional Traits permitted as a 1st Level Feat? I'm a big fan of Traits, like weaving them into origins (more for the fluff than crunch).
Question pertaining to Trait/Backstory:
I am going with Thrune Informant. To whom would he report? Would he work for the Queen directly, another high-ranking member of House Thrune, or would there be some Spymaster who receives all his reports?
I am trying to get clarity for the purposes of writing up Kehlysch's backstory.
Dotting for interest - mulling a Dwarven Oracle of Metal; Volgg the Tarnisher: Follower of Droskar, enslaver and utterly amoral mercenary.
@Arjuna332: Is Additional Traits permitted as a 1st Level Feat? I'm a big fan of Traits, like weaving them into origins (more for the fluff than crunch).
Hmm... well, I'd prefer that everyone gets the same amount of traits, so I'm afraid that I cannot allow Additional Traits feat for you.
Hmm... well, I'd prefer that everyone gets the same amount of traits, so I'm afraid that I cannot allow Additional Traits feat for you.Dotting for interest - mulling a Dwarven Oracle of Metal; Volgg the Tarnisher: Follower of Droskar, enslaver and utterly amoral mercenary.
@Arjuna332: Is Additional Traits permitted as a 1st Level Feat? I'm a big fan of Traits, like weaving them into origins (more for the fluff than crunch).
Cool - not a problem. Will build Volgg accordingly.
Well, you should also write his background/history as well. Other than that, you're doing good, though still need to wait for other characters to compare so that I can decide whether to choose him or not.Once you finish with your sheet (Google Doc or whatever), please send it to me so that I can review it and see if I want to have you join or not.If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
** spoiler omitted **
You know what, on second thought I think I'll just drop from consideration. There seems to be plenty of interest and I'm not feeling this character.
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Question pertaining to Trait/Backstory:
I am going with Thrune Informant. To whom would he report? Would he work for the Queen directly, another high-ranking member of House Thrune, or would there be some Spymaster who receives all his reports?
I am trying to get clarity for the purposes of writing up Kehlysch's backstory.
Hmm... I don't think he works for the Queen directly because he's a level 1 scrub, so I guess what makes sense the most is that there's a Spymaster who receives all his reports and is the middleman between him and the Queen. In case if he's accepted, I'm sure he'll go up and become the Queen's direct agent once his level is high enough.
You know what, on second thought I think I'll just drop from consideration. There seems to be plenty of interest and I'm not feeling this character.Well, you should also write his background/history as well. Other than that, you're doing good, though still need to wait for other characters to compare so that I can decide whether to choose him or not.Once you finish with your sheet (Google Doc or whatever), please send it to me so that I can review it and see if I want to have you join or not.If you don't mind, I'll avoid making yet another alias until selection, so as to not clutter up all my aliases.
I'll submit Melaxus, Cleric of Asmodeus
** spoiler omitted **
Alright. It's fine if you don't feel like joining.
So far, the applications are looking pretty good, though while I did mention that we need spellcasters for a balanced team, seeing martial-oriented characters would be nice too. We still have plenty of time left, so the application is still open, and since things are going pretty smoothly, I'm sure we can start the game earlier than expected.
GM how do you feel about the Antagonise feat? I was thinking about building a mouthy little git and that feat has wonderful flavour. It used to be very controversial (I think it got changed at one point) so I thought I'd ask before getting excited.
GM how do you feel about the Antagonise feat? I was thinking about building a mouthy little git and that feat has wonderful flavour. It used to be very controversial (I think it got changed at one point) so I thought I'd ask before getting excited.
Hmm... well, you're not kidding when you said it used to be very controversial. Well, after careful consideration, I've decided that you are allowed to use it, but only in combat situation. You are not allowed to use it outside of combat. Is that okay with you?
I had actually missed the restriction on classes. I can retool to a barbarian without losing too much.
Yeah that's fine, it makes sense being combat only.
Looking at the Alignment part I have to ask, have you read the books? and/or have you ran Way of the Wicked before?
Backstory and Crunch are complete.
I believe Kehlysch is ready for the application process.
Let me know if there's anything I missed or miscalculated.
I'm going to drop out as well folks - concept not coming together as I'd hoped.
Cheers
BD