Hi, we are looking to recruit one or possibly two players to join our ongoing play-by-post Red Hand of Doom campaign, updated from D&D 3rd edition to Pathfinder rules. Our group has been on the go for a good while and some of our players have moved on, but having come so far we’d really like to finish the campaign arc!
The game is lurching along at the moment, but the goal is to be able to update the game every few days.
The game is epic high fantasy. The lands and peoples of Elsir Vale are being overrun by an army of hobgoblins and their allies, calling themselves the Horde of the Red Hand. Our heroes have been attempting to stave off the horde’s advance through the Vale, enlist allies and find means to defeat the enemy. The gameplay thread can be found here.
If this sounds like fun, get in touch! At the moment I’m canvassing more for interest and character ideas than the builds themselves. I’m thinking to run this thread until probably this Saturday (8th Oct.) and see what response we get.
Just looking for character concepts at the moment, but as an aid here are the general guidelines for character creation:
1. 8th level characters, using high fantasy 20-point character builds.
2. Generally standard races from the core rulebook, though I wouldn’t say no to a character of another race with an intriguing background.
3. Classes can be drawn from the core rulebook, Advanced Player’s Guide, Advanced Class Guide, and magus. Samurai and ninja I’ll allow as well, though they might represent individuals who come from exotic lands far from Elsir Vale. Other classes I might allow as well by request, if there is a compelling character background.
4. Archetypes, traits, feats, spells etc from the above books, Ultimate Combat and Ultimate Magic are fine. Material from other sourcebooks are generally fine, just run it past me first.
Our party currently includes:
- Human Cavalier (emissary), a member of the elite Lions of Brindol.
- Human Druid (lion shaman), a devotee of one of the Old Faiths
- Elf Ranger/Wizard, from the mysterious elven kingdom
So, lots of scope for players to play other roles within the party. What’s your story gonna be?
female Dwarf Oracle 2 / Summoner 2 AC14 (18 with ice armor, 20 in cold environs); HP 30; Percept +2, darkvision; Init +0
Wow! Amazing strike Kronek! That oughta do some damage. I'm loving the vomit swarm as well. I've been dying for an opportunity to use that in my other games.
female Dwarf Oracle 2 / Summoner 2 AC14 (18 with ice armor, 20 in cold environs); HP 30; Percept +2, darkvision; Init +0
Hey, should I start feeling left out? :)
The Shrine (everyone but Cara, Kronek, and Geedra):
Asgrid's eyes narrow at Brother Halzberg's explanations. "This Birgit, is she the woman at the White Weasel? I had a bad feeling about her. Hmm, I have a friend who might be able to help me find some gunar root. If not, can you suggest anything this Birgit might take in trade?"
Asgrid turns back to Heldrid. "We'll help, if we can. I'll need to gather some supplies, it could take a wee while. In the meantime, let's try to make you as warm and comfortable as possible. Heldrid, have you been anywhere unusual recently?"
Can I attempt another Heal check to try to slow the spread of the illness that's gripping her, to give us time to try to find the ingredients needed? Time to get back and tell the others.
female Dwarf Oracle 2 / Summoner 2 AC14 (18 with ice armor, 20 in cold environs); HP 30; Percept +2, darkvision; Init +0
Asgrid compliments Kashka on the broth. "Mmm, this is lovely, thank you. My mother makes a similar venison broth, but this is delicious. And what lovely children!" She helps herself to a slice of the thick, dark bread.
Diplomacy:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
After the meal, Asgrid joins in the fun with Orm and Mjoli and the others. "Sadly children, Geedra was born that way. Gruff, I mean. But give her a chance and she'll tell you some great jokes. Like, what side of a bear's the furriest?"
female Dwarf Oracle 2 / Summoner 2 AC14 (18 with ice armor, 20 in cold environs); HP 30; Percept +2, darkvision; Init +0
I'll level up Asgrid soon. She'll be taking another level in oracle, which by the way is her favoured class. I noticed it wasn't in my character stats, but have added it, under dwarf traits.
Geedra: can't wait to see you use those new spells in action, they sound purpose made for her.
My posting is going to be a bit spotty over next week and a half, am volunteering at Commonwealth Games as well as being out of town. I will do my best to keep updates coming while I still have access to computer, but after the weekend it will be week of 11th august before I'm back posting regularly again.
Apart from that, I'm doing my best to up the frequency of updates, but for now RL is conspiring against me. Thanks for being patient so far, I'm excited about where these games are going and intend to keep going as long as we still have active players.
Ahoy! I would be willing to GM this AP. To be honest, I've been dying to join a Skulls & Shackles game as a player as well, but seem to keep missing the recruitments. Had the same experience with the Serpent Skull AP, so since I couldn't get on a game as a player decided to run a game myself.
I don't have any of the modules in the Skulls & Shackles path, but I'll have a look in the new year, and perhaps get a game up and running at the end of January (if you can wait that long!). I can message you then to see if you are still interested. I'm currently running two games at the moment, "Serpent Skull" and "Red Hand of Doom" if you want to check my GMing style. I think I could manage to take on another game easily enough.
Now, if only someone was recruiting for a Legacy of Fire game!
The cannibals seem moderately intimidated by Yekskya's waving an arrow at their faces, and Aerys suddenly finds they are much more responsive to her questioning. Through her translating, you learn that the savage with the small pentagram tattooes all over his body is called Gellius. The other with the skull-like tattoo on his face is Pavo, and the other with the fang amulets is Manius. A lot of what they say is gibberish, even with Aerys trying to translate it - they clearly seem to be verging on insanity. They claim that they have always lived on the island, but that their ancestors arrived on a ship from the north long ago.
The trio were part of a hunting party heading north across the island from their camp. Eventually discovering your presence on the island, they at first tried to capture one of your members - Faey - to take back to their camp for the next feast. However, realizing that you are powerful warriors, they instead decided to lay an ambush for you. The cannibals seem imprecise about how many there are on the island altogether, perhaps because they are unable to count so high, but you gather there are at least another dozen.
Despite their fear, the cannibals seem convinced that it is only a matter of time before your flesh will be fed to Mother Thrunefang.
Taking a break, Aerys looks up at you. "Do we have to keep these creeps? I'm not sure what else we can get out of them."
The afternoon sun beats down on you; the air is hot and still. The sparsely settled lands of Elsir Vale are starting to grow monotonous, with a seemingly endless line of dusty flyspecks of towns. Down the road, the town of Drellin's Ferry lies a few miles ahead of you. It's a settlement hard on the borders of the Witchwood, and the best place from which to begin exploring the nearby forest.
And exploration is one of the things that has brought you to Elsir Vale. After a successful career as an adventuring group in the prosperous realms to the nort-west, you felt it was time to head to new lands. Luckily, a rumor came your way that the abandoned Vraath Keep in the Witchwood contained treasure for anyone willing to delve its vaults.
For some of you, there might be other reasons that bring you to Elsir Vale. Perhaps you grew up in the communities of the Vale, or perhaps something else brings you here.
So far, your voyage south to Eleder has been unexpectedly uneventful. Or so you think as you stand on the Jenivere’s deck, watching the placid sunset alongside several other of the ship’s passengers. The Jenivere’s resourceful Captain Kovack and his crew have been fortunate enough to avoid known dangers such as that dreaded whirlpool known as the Eye of Abednego, and the vicious Shackles pirates. Soon, the ship will be arriving at the Sargavan port of Eleder, along with the challenges and opportunities of that exotic city.
You turn from watching as the sun sinks down towards the western ocean, fluffy clouds turning pastel pinks and reds, and observe your fellow passengers. Nearby you see Savah Nevah, her hair flashing red as bright as the evening’s sky. You notice that since boarding at Ilizmagorti, she has gradually become more friendly and relaxed. Of course, anyone would be on edge in that city of assassins! At the moment she is conversing with the gnome passenger, Gelik Aberwhinge, who you see holding a small sketch of the sunset. It is amazing to see him quiet for a change, as he is usually speaking non-stop about his past adventures, notable persons that he has met, or generally dominate any conversation that includes him.
Further on you see the Tian man, Ishirou. The scruffy human appears as if he would fill the sails with his own breath if he could, and if he felt it would make the ship arrive in port any faster. Behind him, you see another fellow traveller, the bookish Varisian scholar Ieana, talking amicably with Captain Alizandru Kovack, then you watch them turn as the captain escorts the scholar down midship. Scattered about the deck, out of the way of the hardworking sailors, you see most of the other passengers, for the most part they look like scruffy adventurers – much like yourself. Notable by her absence, you don’t see the half-elven maiden, Aerys Mavato. You have exchanged few words with her on this voyage, and she appears to prefer to keep to her cabin. Likewise, you don’t see the human prisoner, Jask Derindi, who is kept in the small ship’s brig. You wonder, what need would there be to transport a prisoner on this voyage?
The sound of someone clearing their throat causes you to whip around. The friendly first mate, Alton Devers, stands at your elbow. “Pardon for disturbing you, but the captain wished me on his behalf to invite you to dine with him, this evening in the ship’s galley. Terillo, our ship’s cook, says it should be ready within the next bell.” Having given his invitation, he moves along, telling each of the passengers in turn.
Just as you turn to go, in order to look your best, the sun finally dips down below the horizon. Just then, you see an emerald flash on the horizon! When you stop First Mate Devers to ask about what you’ve just seen, he remarks, “Oh that, that be a green flash. Happens sometimes when the sun sets over water. Don’t ask me what makes it happen, most landlubbers see it as an omen, but when you’ve been sailing for a few years, you’ve seen your share of them. Will you join the captain for dinner? I think Terillo is making soup this evening. Then again, Terillo always makes soup, ha ha.”
Sometime later…
A Fortitude check from everyone, if you please. Except perhaps Slicingsong - are you still stowed away at this point, or do the passengers/crew know about you?
