*Quietly draws a card*
The Teamster... an external force that drives one on. Perhaps the force of our GM's preferences, encouraging us to make the characters most appealing for the kind of game he wants to run. I think I'm going to have to side with Kasyomnite here...
Whatever happens, Ishtar protects me. I just hope I get to go along for the ride.
*Quietly draws a card*
1d6 + 1d9
The Teamster... an external force that drives one on. Perhaps the force of our GM's preferences, encouraging us to make the characters most appealing for the kind of game he wants to run. I think I'm going to have to side with Kasyomnite here...
"We do have the OP, which we can assume applicants have read and followed as it does list the GM's preferences.
But if everyone has followed it, then you can assume that everyone has a nearly equal chance."
I would like to take the Drawback "Occult Bargain", with the Trait "Marked by Unknown Forces", both are not very strong by themselves, so I rather see them as flavorful hooks.
IF picked, would you be willing to work something out there, something that makes sense in the story? That is, work with the hooks provided?
I would indeed.
Age of Worms has an investigation and archaeology kind of theme that I aspire to stress, in lieu of having NPCs tell you everything. PCs interested in digging up the forgotten or suppressed past should find much to do.
This trait should also represent how you are indebted or connected to Zummabu, the Wizard of of Dalath and inclined to do him a possibly dangerous favor or two.
You can write as much as you like. I’ll be looking for who the PC is, how they behave, what their values are, how well they fit into Unther and Dalath, and how they seem likely to mesh with others. I place much more stock in this than I do in strict mechanical considerations. If a non-traditional party emerges, that’s just as good as the classic fighter/rogue/cleric/wizard to me and I’ll adjust things accordingly.
"He'll surely know by now that there is no one more interested in finding, figuring out and experiencing new things than me. My enthusiasm is sure to be infectious and drive things forward."
Suddenly his voice grows a bit worried as he continues. "I do love my tricks, but who doesn't like a little joke or prank here or there? I'm sure I've seen him laugh more often than not. Besides, playing all this tricks has taught me skills useful in many a situation. If you show or tell someone what they want to see, they'll be much more likely to help you in turn, even if they wouldn't normally do so.
I might value a good joke or discovering something cool. But I wouldn't someone to be harmed over it. Well, I guess unless said someone was doing bad things. If someone is tormenting others just for their own enjoyment they shouldn't be allowed to continue. This slavery you have down here is quite foreign to me, we didn't have anything like it back in Yuriwood. It's not foreign in a good way, I don't like it. Still it's not like I'm going to try to fundamentally change the things you do. Things down here right after arriving. Now if Zummambu started to see things my way, that would be great. Maybe I can work him over with time?" Somehow amidst the uncertainty of not fitting in there is an intense optimism. Kasyomnite really believes that things can work out.
Though his voice grow more somber as he mentions the worst moment of his life to date. "I do hope there is no one on the mission who reacts to me like Neria though. That wouldn't be pleasant for either of us. In that regard what Saeri said worries me, maybe i'll find love only to be vehemently rejected. Though she also said I'll easily be able to make close friends, maybe it's hope that I'll get along with the others."
Sorry for flooding the thread. I Guess people are anoxious to know the results.
I don't mind. Seven and two-thirds hours to go at this writing.
Hello! I know I'm a bit late, but I thought I would submit a character, Chaïa Pomala, a wizard/oracle, whose character sheet is available here. It took me awhile to throw a backstory together, and I'm not all that familiar with Realmslore or Near Eastern history, so I'm not sure if I've quite captured the theme I wanted to get going in it.
I gather that this game is set before the Time of Troubles makes wild magic somewhat more familiar to the folks of the Realms, but that was the idea that drew me (by way of Paizo's primalist and Spellscar archetypes from Inner Sea Magic), but I figured any magic that's old enough might start acting a bit weird, and, you know, Tiamat and primordial chaos and all that. :)
Also, Chaïa's backstory currently has her as a worshipper of Hanali Celanil as an aspect of Angharradh, which I would like to think has some overlap with Ishtar's portfolio, and as an oracle Chaïa's relationship to the divine is a bit fuzzier, but if that's too weird I can just move her closer to Ishtar in her own right. Incidentally, I know Common's not quite a thing here; what would be right for a character originally from about the Silver Marches, or should I just replace it with Untheric?
Sigh. I'm not anywhere near as familiar with Near Eastern mythology as I would like to be, and what I know that's closest to Ishtar in particular is the Enheduanna hymns, my copy of De Shong Meador's translation of which is at home while I'm studying away at college... Ah well!
"Be it known that you are lofty as the heavens! Be it known that you are broad as the earth! Be it known that you destroy the rebel lands! Be it known that you roar at the foreign lands! Be it known that you crush heads! Be it known that you devour corpses like a dog! Be it known that your gaze is terrible! Be it known that you lift your terrible gaze! Be it known that you have flashing eyes! Be it known that you are unshakeable and unyielding! Be it known that you always stand triumphant!"
Hmm... Carry on then, I guess. Good luck everyone! :)
Also, Chaïa's backstory currently has her as a worshipper of Hanali Celanil as an aspect of Angharradh, which I would like to think has some overlap with Ishtar's portfolio, and as an oracle Chaïa's relationship to the divine is a bit fuzzier, but if that's too weird I can just move her closer to Ishtar in her own right. Incidentally, I know Common's not quite a thing here; what would be right for a character originally from about the Silver Marches, or should I just replace it with Untheric?
Illuskan would be the main human language back home, but you can claim Untheric as a freebie unless you want to deal with the RP of needing translation.
Ingrid looks at Kasyomnite with her silver eyes and replies
"I hope Zummabu's next venture is profitable and I can take part in it, as Alchemical experiments can get expensive, that and the market for alchemical items tends to be a hard sell.
Even performing at the local taverns makes just enough to pay needed life expenses."
"And I agree with you, New experiences are a Spice in Life, and finding an answer on your own or with friends can be in itself a reward.
Now I also agree with your physiological trick, in that if people want to believe in the trick, they will accept the trick over the truth of it being a trick.
On hearing the mention of someone being harmed she makes a saddened face as if recalling some bad memories
"I can relate to that in a way, but it also sucks when you can't help those in need because you lack the skill to do so.
I originally wanted to learn medicine, but let's just say I kept messing up a few things and had a knack for the related field of Alchemy.
It sucked, but I was able to find the route I want with Alchemy since I can make items that help people, including cure potions."
she then leans forward at the table towards Kasyomnite with her hands near her ears and as she leans further forward her hands push and pull her hair away from her Half-elf ears and quietly adds
"Of I do know of the area's racism and it can be a pain, I was lucky enough to know someone who went here before me and gave me the heads up."
she sits back into her chair
"You'll keep that quiet right?"
I would indeed.I would like to take the Drawback "Occult Bargain", with the Trait "Marked by Unknown Forces", both are not very strong by themselves, so I rather see them as flavorful hooks.
IF picked, would you be willing to work something out there, something that makes sense in the story? That is, work with the hooks provided?
Excellent, thanks, I "locked" them in. I picked up Haunted Curse, btw. I feel both the traits and the curse match splendidly with the Spirit Guide Archetype for Oracle(and the origin of becoming an Oracle in the first place).
That means Janus should be finished, now that the background is added, as well. And I even have several hours left.
Also, Chaïa's backstory currently has her as a worshipper of Hanali Celanil as an aspect of Angharradh, which I would like to think has some overlap with Ishtar's portfolio, and as an oracle Chaïa's relationship to the divine is a bit fuzzier, but if that's too weird I can just move her closer to Ishtar in her own right. Incidentally, I know Common's not quite a thing here; what would be right for a character originally from about the Silver Marches, or should I just replace it with Untheric?Illuskan would be the main human language back home, but you can claim Untheric as a freebie unless you want to deal with the RP of needing translation.
Thanks, I will take Untheric as a freebie; I was mainly wondering idly with the hope of avoiding being sucked into the abyss of various Forgotten Realms wikis. The setting is gloriously rich, and I've dabbled in some of it before, but apparently languages are part of what escaped my attention in making sure I could surface again. :)
I couldn't get the Slayer/Arcanist to come together like I wanted so here is Hakak Death-Bringer for your consideration.
A neutral half-orc bloodrager / sorcerer with the Pass for Human feat.
I couldn't get the Slayer/Arcanist to come together like I wanted so here is Hakak Death-Bringer for your consideration.
A neutral half-orc bloodrager / sorcerer with the Pass for Human feat.
You're on the doc.
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Whooof. I just can't quite get the character I wanna do 100%. There's a couple things that just aren't clicking for me (not just mechanical concerns, either).
This game looks amazing, but I just don't think I'm going to have something I'm happy with before the cutoff.
Good luck to all who submitted, and good adventuring to those who are selected!
Well...this is a bit awkward. You know the phrase embarrassment of riches? I’m embarrassed. There’s a lot of really solid PCs in here that I’m loathe to take a pass on, but there’s no way I can run a party of 10 or 12.
Here’s a compromise. I mentioned previously in the thread that I thought about doing two tables. This is something that’s crossed my mind for ⅔ of my previous PBPs. Logistically it’s easy for me to do. The adventures are the same, stat work done on one goes for both. I can make most of you happy and be happy myself. I’ve spent more time the past few days, as PCs have come in, trying to talk myself out of this than into it so I’m pretty sure I’m on board. :)
But there’s a catch in this. This is an Unther game. I marketed it as such and have arranged things in my adaptation notes so that the game rarely leaves Unther. Depending on how things play out, it might not leave the empire at all. And if I run two Unther games in parallel I’ll probably get sick of it. One of the ways I keep interest for myself is by having my games all feel a little different; that’s not going to happen with a straight clone.
This is what I can do. I know it’s not exactly the game everyone signed up for, but I could run a second table with the adaptation notes that came with the AP. (I’ll almost certainly be tweaking them down the road. I love to meddle with setting stuff.) That sets things mostly in Waterdeep, Daggerford, and environs. This is a pretty well-known area of FR, so it may be more familiar turf.
Several PCs are actually from the area, or reasonably near, so shifting things over shouldn’t be too disruptive. Others had backstories or concepts that struck me as relatively flexible. I want to stress here that I don’t mean that as a knock on anybody. If I really wanted Unther-only PCs, I’d have said as much in the chargen. It just worked out that there’s a contingent of strong PCs who make as much or more sense elsewhere as there are who work in Unther.
The biggest difference would be that slavery is not legal in the area, so if you’ve got slavery in your backstory it would change to be rescued from slavers who want to sell you down into the South (stereotypically to Calimshan) or to things worse than human (probably drow, but also other evil beings). Getting out could mean you were rescued by someone who sent you to see the wizard, or that you were freed by a previous group of adventurers in his employ who have moved on.
Secondarily, Waterdeep, the North, and the Western Heartlands are all temperate-to-cool climates so you can have heavy armor without worries.
Aside that, I think we can get by with minimal adaptation of PCs. (You can adapt them further if you want.) This is a relatively standard RPG fantasy area of FR. There are remnant elven communities in the forests and all that. Daggerford, at least recently, is as awful a place as Dalath. Mining isn’t the only industry in town (it’s on a major trade route) but it is an important one. The local duke was murdered by persons unknown two years back and since then things have settled into corruption and increasing oppression. Happy times!
I know it’s not the game advertised, but I’m just as committed to the second table as the first. If it’s cool with you, we can get going on it in pretty short order. You are, naturally, free to adjust your PCs and background to the new setting.
Without further ado, then, here are the tables.
Team Unther
Amarekeshu the Bronze
Arundel
Dommer
Namtar
Regin Ald
Tribim
Team Waterdeep
Chaia Pomala
Haytham Raventree
Janus Alistair Eden
Kasyomnite Farcaller
Lucrecia Willow
Saeri
dude! two tables!? that's so awesome!!!
I freely admit that Saeri's background is pretty flexible - as a traveler from unspecified distant areas, she has a ready-made excuse for being wherever. I'll go ahead and whip up that alias now. XD
Good gaming to those that got in.
Thanks!
I know exactly how you feel on the plethora of good characters thing. I once ran a recruitment for the Tomb of the Iron Medusa and ended up with four tables.
Thanks again. I'm super looking forward to this!
Here we go. ^^
wow, two games, thank you Samnell for being willing to do that, Good gaming everyone!
I will post here in "Samnell's Ziggurat of Worms" game and discussion threads when they are open.
Congrats to those that made it. Condolences to those that didn't.
Thank you so much for allowing more of us to game. Waterdeep is more familiar to me than Unther and my character is from far away. I'm not actually sure where Waterdeep is in relation to Yuriwood though. It's also a really a really long time ago i've read anything about it, so I would have to brush up for it. Will you make a blurb for us Waterdeepians? Thank you for having me. I'm not too sad about being relocated.
This should be a great set of tables, good gaming all. This is my favorite AP by far.
I did the same thing for my Eberron game, so many good submission I just ran two tables :-)
Team Unther's Discussion is up. See you there, players.
And so is Team Waterdeep. See you over there also.
Thank you so much for allowing more of us to game. Waterdeep is more familiar to me than Unther and my character is from far away. I'm not actually sure where Waterdeep is in relation to Yuriwood though. It's also a really a really long time ago i've read anything about it, so I would have to brush up for it. Will you make a blurb for us Waterdeepians? Thank you for having me. I'm not too sad about being relocated.
I'll probably not have it up tonight, but I will have some stuff for you soon. Super-short version: Waterdeep is on the far side of the continent from Unther, but it's near to several places with elf communities that would fit your backstory very well.