French Wolf's Homebrew Adventure

[French Wolf]

lordzack wrote:

Maybe he refused to accept an arranged marriage or something? I dunno, it might help if I knew a bit more about the dwarves' society. The information you've provided seems a little sparse.

It is deliberately sparse to help you guys be creative. Once we have the party together then there will be an element of re-jigging to fit the start of the adventure but I wanted everyone to have as much opportunity to go for it.

Cheers

P.S. As a nice side effect I see French sounding nobles and that is something I hadn't envisaged but it fits well. Especially as the Islands are sort of Scottish and the two historically got on well.

[Mothman]

It is little wonder that many half-elves feel divided, conflicted, less than whole; it is in the nature of their race. Neither one nor the other, not quite both.

As a boy, Talfen Gar felt this perhaps more keenly than most of his race. He and his mother had moved to a small town in the southern isles when he was a small boy, and it did not take him long to realize that he was different. No elves lived nearby, and precious few half-elves; none his own age. Children can be cruel, adults too, and young Talfen was made to feel different, an outsider. This may well have stemmed, as much as anything, from the fact that he was new to town, that he was small, an easy target, that he did not have a father, but the things that stood out most to Talfen were the taunts about his looks, his pointed ears, that ‘the elves did not want you, and neither do we humans!’

Probably many half-elves have endured this, and many have risen above it, but Talfen found it difficult. He felt human. His family was human. He did not know his father, did not know anything of his elven heritage. He had heard of the war between the high elves and the wood elves – he did not even know which side of that conflict his father had been on, whether he was good or evil, noble or selfish. Whether he had left his mother through choice or … well, what the circumstances might have been.

Talfen’s mother loved him, and did her best to protect him, but she would not speak of his father. When asked about him, she would grow sad, or angry, or try to change the subject. “I am just trying to protect you,” was the most she would say, when pressed.

Talfen was … incomplete. As he grew older, he retreated into himself, into study. To try to reconcile his other half, he learnt as much as he could of the elves, their history, their war. He painstakingly began to learn the rudiments of their language. He studied what made elves unique, he learnt about their magic.

This was the key, he decided. He knew, in his heart, that he was unlikely to be accepted anymore by elves than he felt he was by humans, at least not how he was. He needed something, he needed to prove, to himself, to everyone, that he could become great, that he could master something that the elves had created, that they were the masters of. He would learn magic, become a great wizard.

Talfen knew (or thought he knew) that a poor half-elven boy from a small town would not gain entry to one of the great colleges, or find an apprenticeship with a high elven wizard, but through his research into things elven, and magic, he had heard tell of a half-elven wizard of small renown who dwelt some days travel away. Talfen decided that he would do whatever it took to gain an apprenticeship with the wizard, even if just long enough to properly learn the elven tongue and the basics of spellcasting. That would be the beginning of his journey to be a whole person.

The decision made, he gathered his meager possessions, kissed his mother goodbye, and set out to begin his life.

[Mothman]

There's a background idea for the wizard. I've left the stuff about the half-elven tutor and the later training vague or out all together, in case you have something in mind for that FW, though I'm happy to tkae it further if not.

Not completely convinced on the name yet ... I think Talfen works for me, I might try for a better last name ...

[French Wolf]

Thanks Mothman, looks good, apart from the name. Maybe it will grow on you?

[French Wolf]

Because of the problems with accessing the boards, I'm going to delay my decisions on this until Sunday. It would have just been an extra day but I am camping all weekend.

Sorry to leave you chaps (and chapess) hanging but I'll let you know Sunday evening UK time.

cheers

[Brett1815]

I'm interested as usual mate, if you need an extra player?

Just let me know.

[thefishcometh]

French Wolf wrote:

P.S. As a nice side effect I see French sounding nobles and that is something I hadn't envisaged but it fits well. Especially as the Islands are sort of Scottish and the two historically got on well.

For my druid I used Welsh names. I wanted a bit of the "Celtic" feel, but I thought the Welsh sounded a bit more exotic. Hope that fits.

[Duckies]

I would like to apply for the Dwarf. Here goes:

Dwarves, it is generally accepted, have two basic guiding principles that govern their every interaction. The first is their straightforward, direct manners. The second is their literal bloodimindedness towards everything. Gileas is no exception.

Gileas is, however, an exception when it came to his peers. Instead of mining or armoursmithing or even a master brewer, Gil found himself saddled with the troubadour duties for his part of town. Being the good, level-headed dwarf he is, he took it upon himself to set upon the task in the traditional manner of his people, figure out what it is that makes it go 'tick' and then make it go 'tock' even better. He resolved, upon his Day of Duty, that though he may not be the best suited, someone's got to do it, and by <insert dwarven king here>, that was going to be him, and it would be done RIGHT.

And so, for the next twenty years, Gileas plied his trade. He learned the hammer-dulcimer, he learned the lute and it's many and varied chords. He was taught the songs of the Dwarves of both the court and the tavern. In all of this, he was praised by his masters for being the most dutiful student of music they had ever seen, even if he reproduced every note they gave him without a single ounce of his own personality within it. Technically speaking, they had never had a more accurate or correct musician in the guild.

When finally he was conferred his journeyman's hammers, he did as any good dwarf would do: he proceeded straight to the alehouse and got roaring toasted. A good time was had by all, well into the night and some of the next morning; for when you are underground, time has little meaning and circadian rhythm becomes your clock of choice. At last, the session came to a close and he was asked to perform his trade for them, one last time. A bawdy pub tune, they cried to him for.

And so he began, stein in one hand, lute in the other, he sang the bawdiest tune he knew; a tune his masters had never, and have never since, admitted to teaching him. Technically, it was perfectly recreated... and a rather good buzz kill for just about everyone in the crowd. By the end, they had all scratched their heads a few times, trying to figure it out. It had all the bits, everyone agreed. Wenches, ale, even an angry innkeep and his less angry and rather more lusty wife. There was even a bit about a lizard and how he lost his tail in a strategically advantageous position. And since, as all dwarves know, if you have all the bits and put them all together the right way, it should be a good tune, they all concluded the only logical conclusion.

There must be something missing from the tune.

And so, Gileas was charged with finding out exactly what it was that was missing from his tune. What could make a right and proper bawdy song? And so, off he went, for he'd learned all the songs he could learn in the mountain, down into the outlying towns and villages, in search of the bawdiest songs the taverns could offer, taking meticulous notes and learning note-for-note reproductions of them, that later he might compare them to his and, since his was sub-par, compile, finally, the land's bawdiest song ever.

And so, he continues his search. To scour the lands for the tavern songs and their singers, plaguing them with questions and for their notes on songsmithing and construction. Meter and verse. Timing and tempo and clever choice of wink-wink-nudge-nudge words to make the men laugh, the women blush and the children repeat it at the dinner table in a loud and thoroughly inappropriate way.

/app

[Kram Coreval]

Hi French Wolf

I would really like to play in your game, sorry for the late post.

I would like to play Slot 5

Waynir always found it difficult fitting in with his peers. He was small 3'11" weighed only 153lb and just couldn’t grow a beard so was always being bullied and laughed at. He was a good fighter but couldn’t handle the usual Dverge weapons and preferred the Dagger, Rapier and Shortbow. He didn't mind living underground but at every opportunity would disappear and get outside into the small copses of trees that met the lower slopes of the mountain range where he lived. Most of the time, Waynir would keep out of the way and operate on the fringes of Dwarf society. This is where he met Piaget a 8th Level Dverge Druid who taught him the Druidic language, his skills and also how to craft fine clothes. Waynir also had a mischievous side and would sometimes pick a wealthy persons pocket, then tap them on the shoulder and say; “Have you dropped this?” The person would be grateful and give Waynir a few coins as thanks. This money he would spend in his favourite drinking hole, “The Pickled Rat”, a den of iniquity in the poorest section of the city. In this place of filth and squalor Waynir learnt his skills as a Rogue from non other than Raggar “Razor” Zanther a 7th Level Rogue and master acrobat.

Waynir’s father holds a very respectable position in the city; Faenir trains Fighters in the use of the Warhammer, Greataxe and Greatsword. He no longer fights himself due to loosing a hand and a leg in a battle with a Dragon some 35 years ago. He was saved by the Marquis and his cohort of Knights, Faenir owes the Marquis his life and promised that if he ever needed his help all he had to do was to send word and what could be done would be done.

Faenir receives a letter from the Marquis asking for his help, included in the letter is an amulet/brooch with the royal crest and a note within the letter saying wear this and it should not hinder you on your journey to the port on Lochaude where someone will be there to meet you, the last line of the letter says; “Come as quick as you can, time is of the essence.
As Faenir is too disabled to fulfil the request, he asks Waynir if he will go in his place and pay his fathers debt to the Marquis.

I hope this meets some of the requirements to play

[French Wolf]

Sorry for the delay on this response but I wanted to give you all something proper and I didn't get home from camping until late last night.

This was harder than I expected but in a very good way. Some of you really stepped up to the plate and I hope you will not feel too disappointed if not chosen.

The five that stood out for me are as follows;

1) EloraRose's knight
2) Robert's paladin
3) Wrath's gnome bard
4) Mothman's half-elf wizard
5) Kram's dwarf

thefishcometh and Colin Stewart please consider yourselves my reserves in case anything happens along the way (and it often does). That druid was very good, thefishcometh.

lordzack, the ones I chose all put lots of effort in without knowing much and that makes them stand out.

brett you are in my other game so I'd like to give some different players a chance.

duckies, unfortunately you put in a good dwarf but it was a bard and I chose Wrath because I know him already. A small but important detail when you are looking for reliable players. Therefore it looks like Kram's is a better fit.

Thanks everyone again for having a go.

-----

Later today I'll start the process of building the characters. Meanwhile I hope all of you have copies of the Pathfinder Rules either in your hands or on your PC. Otherwise there is a Pathfinder Resource Document which can be used.

Cheers

[Mothman]

Thanks FW! Glad I made an impression. I have the PDF of the new rules, though havent really read it closely yet, I'm not sure how much wizards (or half elves for that matter) have changed from the Beta.

[Wrath]

Thanks French Wolf, I'm looking forward to it. Homebrews are great games for the fact I never truly know what to expect.

A quick question, are you building the characters or are we? (not quite sure from what you wrote above).

And yes, I have the PDF's for the new rules so good to go when you are.

Cheers

[Mothman]

Wrath wrote:

A quick question, are you building the characters or are we? (not quite sure from what you wrote above).

That was going to be my next question! Either way is ok for me (I love coming up with character concepts, but I sometimes find doing the numbers a bit on the tedious side) or a bit of both, but would be good to know.

[French Wolf]

Let's move this over to the discussion thread for this game.

Behind the Scenes of Lochaude Keep

Cheers

[thefishcometh]

Thanks French Wolf. I'll keep my out in case you need a sub-in, I'm very reliable about that sort of thing. :D

Thanks for the opportunity!

[French Wolf]

In case it isn't clear, you, tfc, are my first reserve and Colin is second.

Cheers