Vharg Half-Man's page

Good Evening All,

Just want to let you all know that I have opened recruitment for my first PbP as a GM: Hearts of Darkness: Way of the Wicked. I welcome all of you to come and apply!

-Vharg

Agreed! I thought when we lost Calavas and Cassandra we had gotten over the "hump".

This is Ramos:

Thanks, I'll make a post. Oh Beastmorph/Viv is a really strong combo I have one in another campaign and he is great! I also liked Markus's suggestion about a Half-Orc. I'm currently in a campaign that I think is ending. Our GM disappeared on us. I might go with him. I'm posting from his profile.

I understand French Wolf. I am very active on the boards and its frustrating when disappears. DMJ, I'm here and hoping that you will be coming back and that everything is alright on your end.

DMJ, you ok mate? Its been almost a week.

Looking foward to it!

Glad to have you back. I'm here.

Everything ok DMJ?

Same here!

Hi guys! Back from vacation, and finally have access to a computer so i'll be posting shortly.

Taking that as his cue Vharg tightens his grip on his Guisarme and moves into the hall towards the unexplored western area of Harrowstone.

Vharg not need salts to wake someone up. Miming the motion of slapping a downed comrade Vharg gives a boombing laugh. If that not them wake up, then what would salt do?

Pawing though the recovered supply's Vharg picks up a vial of the antitoxin and the antiplague. Vharg still have cure potions, not need more. Vharg think Alexei should take half of them. Some things here Vharg cannot kill. We put weapons where best used. Grab what you need. Waiting for his companions to finish gathering the supply's Vharg moves towards the double doors to the main hallway and prepare to explore the western region of the first floor.

Mortimer! Vharg bellows as the syringe flys past his head. Will holy water work on Polyergist? Without waiting for a response Vharg takes one hand off of his guisarme and reaches for a vial of holy water, readying himself to throw it at the feet of the Polyergist when it wails again.

Move Action: Retieve a vial of holy water, Standard Action: Ready an attack based on the Polyergists wails.

Evening guys!

Just want to give you a heads up that my posting will be limited from this wednesday to the next wednesday. My wife and I are going to be in Hawaii for our anniversary. I'll try to post, but don't hesitate to DMPC me if I can't respond. I will be following along, but whatever I do post will be succinct. Thanks!

-Vharg

Vharg not see spirit! The hulking half-orc snarls eyes whipping about trying to anticipate where the next attack is going to come from. Free Action: End Rage: Fatigued for (2) rounds. -2 Str/Dex. Standard Action: Total Defense: +4 AC, New AC: 20

I agree DMJ, right now I have a list of about 5 item concepts I have rejected for one reason or an other. This will be my 4th year trying and I think my submissions get better each time. Like you said, if nothing else it's good practice.

Screaming an orcish curse, Vharg steps back and slams down his Guisarme at the last place he saw the spirit at.

Rage (2 rounds remaining)
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage Roll: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (1, 1) + 9 = 11
Miss chance for being invisible 1-50 hit/50-100 miss 1d100 ⇒ 38
Miss chance for being incorporeal 1-50 hit/51-100 miss1d100 ⇒ 21

Dun Dun Dunnnnnn!

Of course Alexei. I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Vharg will make it so. The half-orc gruffly intones. When we leave here we will make formal blood oath. For now, this is enough.

Ha ha ha Booms Vharg, his laughter echoing in the room. Here, Ilya, Vharg will help. Putting statement into action Vharg lifts the halfling with one arm, his bicep rippling as he bring him to the rim of the furnace. Pensively Vharg watches as the halfling scoots around inside of the furnace. If Haunt returns, Littleman not able to make it out.... Vharg will have to grab him. Imagining the furnace suddenly coming to life and flames enveloping the diminutive halfling, Vharg grimaces. It would hurt, be he could probably pull him out in time, probably.

Much to Vharg's relief he watches as Ilya inspects the furnace and finding nothing he gives the soot covered trickster a hand down. Vharg not sure how long spirit rest for, but Vharg think it best if we not go in this room again. Lets move on. Waiting for Mortimer and the rest of the group to ready themselves Vharg moves towards unopened door in the furnace room. Giving a resigned nod he moves to open the door, letting Mortimer cover him with his gilded crossbow. Just before he opens it he quietly says to Mortimer. Each room has been worse than last. First blistering cold, then flaming skull and now Demonic Furnace. Vharg not know what next. You promise Vharg if he falls you take him out of this place. Build bonfire, burn body until nothing left. Not leave Vharg for worms, no way for warrior to die. Having said what he needed to say, Vharg takes a steadying breath before throwing open the door, while keeping his Guisarme at the ready for whatever horror lays beyond.

I'm sure it will prove useful eventually. Some roles tend to shine more then others depending on the situation, what about Distrupt Undead? Despite it only being 1d6 damage vs undead it might be usable vs. haunts as it is specifically stated as doing positive energy. Also since it is a 0lv spell you could use it all day long.

We need to make sure that we keep you stocked with cure bombs. Even if it takes us spending some gold on additional potions, it could be the difference between life and death. Right now you and Ilya are our heavy hitters.

I did too. Heck, if it had hit any of us with that first blast it would have gotten ugly quick.

Chest heaving like a set of blacksmiths bellows, Vharg slowly returns to a normal state. Winded from the brief but terrifying haunt Vharg looks at each of his friends. Vharg could not run Mortimer. Not when Ilya and Alexei still in room. You hunter, you understand. Why do you protect the pinkskins and explain your actions to them? Wispers a dark voice inside of him. They are chattel. Let them burn, you owe them nothing! Continues the insidious voice. No, they friends! The followed Shran-Tok! That is old life. Nothing there for Vharg any longer. Willing away the darkness of his preadator spirit away, Vharg rises and begins to examine the area.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

As Vharg searches the area around the furnace, as he gets closer and closer to the cursed machine he grips his ebon talismin tighter and tighter. Examining the space he rumbles to Hunter. Mortimer, you know much about haunts. Can you make this spirit go away for good?

Well the furnace was described as huge. Shouldn't be that hard to hit it.

This is going to suck but at least Vharg might be able to take the hit, Ilya probably wouldent. Feeling like I just went "all in".

As the rest of the group begins to flee out of the room Vharg pauses in mid-stride towards the door. Paleskin and Littleman not make it out before next attack. Eyes narrowing he beings to reach into his pack retrieving his Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. As he makes ready to throw the blue vial, Vharg feels his talismin grow hot against his chest and and he feels a near overwhelming urge to flee. Vharg never flee! Not while draw breath, not while friends in danger. Screaming in defiance Vharg hurls the potion at the furnace, trying to draw its attention away from Ilya and Alexei.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage Roll: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 = 5

As the vial splashes onto the furnace the liquid begins to sizzle and pop. Ilya! Get behind Vharg the huge half-Orc roars doing everything possible to keep the attention of the demonic furnace. Rage (3 rounds remaining: New HP 15/16

I would give you one Alexei, but it's still the surprise round and I'm unable to act. I am surprised though that out of the two caches of potions we found you dident get one. I have three and I would have given you one if I had known.

Cool, thanks!

Question: I read the article, and it specifically stated positive energy like channels and cure spells would work. Would you allow a potion of cure light wounds to work in the same way against it?

Shit, that was 15 damage, I'm really lucky that it missed. I say we use the haunt siphons/channel/holy water. I don't want to risk someone taking another hit like that.

Easing his way into the room Vharg slowly takes point. Keeping his Guisarme out in front of him with one hand while gripping his black talisman with the other he warily examines the space, looking, but touching nothing. Muttering muted catechisms under his breath and feeling certain that at any moment he is about to be attacked by a flaming skull or a howling spirit, Vharg feels the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Perhaps it was from being half burned to death not a few moments before, Vharg suddenly did not feel the kinship to fire that he usually had. Fire was supposed to drive away not spirits, not kindle them.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Sniffing the musty air of the ruined prison Vharg walks over to the large hole and peers into its depths, as he passes Ilya he gives the diminutative halfling a nod that almost conveys respect. Vharg should not have asked you to talk to spirits about axe Ilya. Spirits are dangerous. Vharg will not do so again.

Dark Vision: Dark Hole Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

After a long glance into the gaping hole in the floor, Vharg picks up his pack that had somehow fallen to the floor during the combat. Vharg say we move north. Clear this floor first, leave no foes at back.

Thanks! Can't believe that I got crit'ed by that skull!

There are some fantastic applications here! Good luck to everyone!

Roaring as he is enveloped in flames, Vharg gives a sigh as his blisters and charred skin returns to a deep green-grey hue. Dodging back towards Randu, Vharg bellows towards Ilya. You think Lopper made heads?! Vharg wonder how? We have his Axe... It not make sense, but if Lopper did kill them... Vharg not sure but think it might be important. You ask board about axe next.

That sucks man! I copy and paste everything before I post it now, just in case that happens.

Ok, I should have caught that, sorry DMJ, but hey, at least I dident try to strike my target from 5' away like last time... So progress right?

As the ground shutters and the the flaming skulls rise out of the charred hole Vhargs eyes widen in shock. Rrrraaaaahhhhhh!!!! Vharg roars, his muscles swelling and skin rippling as adrenaline floods his veins. (Free Action) Rage: +4 Str, +4 Con, +2 Will (4 rounds remaining) Screaming out a battlecry Vharg raises his Guisarme with both hands while simultaneously diving back away from the skull towards Randu. Acrobatics check to avoid an attack of opportunity moving to the square to the left of Randu. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Using the added reach of his weapon Vharg brings it down towards the abomination while howling bloody warcries.

Attack Roll: Flaming Skull in square Vharg previously occupied 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage Roll 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

Oh prep rolls... Cue the ominous music...

DMJ: Character history and crunch are almost done. I wanted to ask, what level do you think this campaign is going to go to? I am trying to determine mechanically if a feat chain is worth it.

-Thanks!

Yes, here Perra, you take torch, Vharg not need.

Evening DMJ,

After doing some thinking following my inital brainstorming I decided to go with my Human Bard (Sound Striker). I liked all of the concepts, but I felt this characters plot hooks and backstory would tie in the best with the Campaign. I'll post my usual "prologue" either late tomorrow or Friday.

For thoese who are interested, there was a novel that was put out years ago called I, Strahd If you can find it in a e-book format it is totally worth the read. It deals with how (back in 2nd edition) Strahd became a Darklord and was pulled into Ravenloft. It was quite good.

DMJ! Vharg here from your Carrion Crown AP. For years I have been a fan of the Ravenloft setting. And I love gothic horror. I also know you don’t pull punches in your games and I like a challenge. I am considering several character concepts right now, and I want something that would do the campaign justice. In all disclosure I have played the first part of the Campaign though years ago when Wizards of the Coast started releasing their “Return” adventures. I remember the general gist of it, but not a lot of the details. As for posting, I have no problems with one post a day and I can post more than once if we are in the middle of a combat or a RP heavy event.

Some themes ideas I am kicking around:

Viskag the Eyeless
A Tiefling (Damodand-Spawn) Paladin of Abadar; I imagine him wearing full plate with a eyeless helm, wrought with the image of an angelic face. He constantly wears the helmet to hide his deformities and secretly worries that he will never be able to overcome his base nature. Rarely is he seen outside of the company of his pet raven whom he regularly feeds snippets of raw meat to. A beast of a man, he would wade into combat with an almost suicidal effort. Outside of combat this character would see himself as a grim judge of the lawless, imbued with the right to judge from Abadar, There are no morally grey areas. Only what is right and wrong. Mechanically this character would act as the group’s defensive shield, able to step up and protect other characters from hits and force his opponents to attack him in place of another.

Professor Martin Van Sickle
A Human Bard (Sound Striker) Archetype: A mind without purpose shall wander in dark places. And when you look into the darkness, the darkness looks back into you. I imagine this character to have a haunted background, he is someone who, through his research has pierced the veil of our reality and found the lurking horror of the beyond. Once a respected professor of linguistics at the University of Lepidstadt, this man delved too deeply into the hidden languages of the world and it had an indelible effect on his psyche. The concept of this character would have several tie-in’s to the lovecrafting mythos. Via his archetype (Sound Striker) he has gained access through his research to “un-words” the proto-language of creation and he can use them to devastating effect. I would play the character less as a musician and more as a learned scholar who is slightly un-hinged. Mechanically he would act a group support character via his Inspire Courage and spells while also retaining the ability to act offensively via his Weird Words ability.

Lucine Rhun
A Mordant Spire Half-Elf Magus/Lore Warden : For every sunrise there is a sunset, and without darkness there would not be light. Survivors of the fabled age of Azlant, the Mordant Spire elves are the inheritors of a once great empire. Rumored to have been the original creators of the legendary Sunsword this character has been dispatched to the rural mountains of Ustalav following the rumors of the legendary swords reappearance. Seeing his orders as little more than an exile from the Moredant Spire this character is standoffish and reserved due to having never been around non-elves. Mechanically this character would act as a melee support hybrid with a focus on two handed weapons, combat maneuvers (tripping) and raw damage.

So that’s where I am at right now DMJ. I’ll give each some though and decide what premise I want to go with. I am kinda leaning away from the Paladin right now since I think he would fill a similar role as Vharg. I think my favorite is the Sound Striker, but I also dig the Magus angle. Like I said I’ll give it some more though and post something solid in a day or two.

Hey DMJ! I played in a return to Castle Ravenloft years ago when it came out. We dident get very far as I remember. As it happens I had 2 campaigns fall through in the last few weeks and I have been looking for another game. I'll take a look. As I recall there was some sort of Raven Paladin prestige class that had a good flavor. I would love to apply.

None the worse for wear aside from some slightly blackened skin spot Vharg gives a grunt of appreciation as Ilya's holy energy flows into him curing his frost blisters and returning the warmth to his limbs.

Mortimer, you say spot should not fill whole room? About size of large bonfire? Fine... Vharg will check. You all stay back.

Breaking apart one of the decrepit wooden benches with his hobnailed boot Vharg picks up a long splinted piece and uses his flint and steel to put a spark to wooden slat, creating a makeshift torch. Gripping the burning torch now in one hand and his Guisarme in the other, Vharg cautiously edges around the center of the disturbance while holding the torch out in front of him, making his way to the double doors on the eastern side of the room.

Vharg think that if the cold is centered on one place then torch will go out if it gets too close. That way Vharg know to back up.

Bhaqk gojz bhooj! Vharg roars as the hoarfrost erupts over his skin, causing frost blisters to erupt all over his skin. Gritting his teeth it's obvious that he is extreme pain. Ilya! Heal me! Vharg demands, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Cowardice spirits! Vharg bellows. Noone listen to Vharg! Vharg say burn. You trust Vharg now. We get out torches. There spirit here. We burn some benches, drive spirit away!