Interest Check and Recruitment for a long term Homebrew Pathfinder Campaign


Recruitment

51 to 100 of 246 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | next > last >>
Liberty's Edge

There may be some Khal Drogo inspiration here.

Background:
Bjorkus the Lesser (or Junior if you want to get on his bad side) was born on the sea into a crew of crew of pirate scum as crude and greasy as they come. Born as the result of legendary sea-reaver Bjorkus 'The Bull that Mounts the Sea', escaped minotaur slave turned pirate lord, and one of his many dalliances, Junior wasn't especially close to his mother and never met his father for more than a passing moment. As a babe he was raised on a mixture of goat milk and grog and tended to by ship's cook most hours while his mother was seeing to her duties.

Despite growing up in a less than nurturing environment, Bjorkus took to the sea like a babe to the tit. He was strong, even as a calf, and was pulling his own weight above decks not long after he could walk. And he was fearless, eagerly joining in battle amid the cannon-fire and din of cutlass on cutlass melee as soon as he was old enough to hold a weapon.

As soon as he was old enough to be considered grown, he was given control of his own ship amid The Bull that Mounts the Sea's fleet. Like everything else that came with pirating, Bjorkus was a natural and easily earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. What he lacked was the experience.

His downfall started, as they often do, with a woman. He'd just captured an afluent merchant vessel and learned that the captain, whom been taken alive, had his beautiful young wife aboard. With little effort she succumbed to the young bull's charms and he bedded her, repeatedly, in front of her defeated husband. During their post coital lull, she mentioned a practically unguarded outpost not far from their current location. She encouraged the virile young pirate captain to seek it out and capture its riches.

High on victory, Bjorkus took a skeleton crew with him to find the outpost his conquest had told him about while the rest of his men took the captured merchant vessel to one of the fleet stores to stripped before it was decommissioned. Of course, the 'unguarded outpost' was a trap for pirates such as himself and without the full strength of his crew he and what men he had with him was subdued and captured. Suddenly he was in chains, likely en-route for a swift execution.

At this point there'd be a blurb about being spared the noose in exchange for service to the military but I'll need a little more campaign background to fill this part in.

Persona:
Bjorkus takes a lot after his father. He's loud, crude, and blunt but also honorable, loyal, and courageous. Living in the shadow of his sire's living legacy, has made him bold, often foolishly so, hoping somehow that his accomplishments will establish him as more than 'a calf sired by the Bull that Mounts the Sea'.

Like most pirates, his interests are simple – booty, fighting, drinking, and rutting. Beyond a normal pirate's limits, he seems to have inherited his father's passion and talent for impressing and attracting the fairer sex. Rumors of the first Bjorkus's harem is one of the most pervasive legends he's constantly hounded by.

Appearance:
As a half-minotaur, Bjorkus looks like a lesser version of his beastly sire. Although he’d never measure up to a full-blooded minotaur, he towers over most. His massively built frame wears its power well, with broad shoulders, a barrel chest, and limbs otherwise thick with bulging sinew. A bovine head sits atop his shoulders, complete with a set of meticulously cared for thick horns, but broken up by very human green eyes. His ruddy skin is covered with dense dark body hair, especially across his chest and arms.

Bjorkus will end up being barbarian 1, sorcerer X but I’m considering dragon disciple in there somewhere.

I’ll get you a herolab export when I get off work tonight. Is there a limit on drawbacks? I’m considering Vain, Proud, and possibly Unschooled.


One more thing. You have a bit of say in what lies in my world. I said this in the original post and it has really helped a few people flesh out their characters. Our druid is part of a council that has problems with the war and destruction of the forest, the stonelord paladin is involved in the politics of the dwarven clans and their conflict with the human war as well as the emerging technology. The half-minotaur is probably involved with the minotaur slavery in the east. If it makes sense, I can expand and include part of your involvement into the campaign. You, the players, are catalysts in my world. I cannot predict how you will act, I can only put the pieces around you and watch the chips fall. Even I cannot foresee how this will end once you all have had your say in the destiny of the land.


Darien is actually from the low end of the technology scale, so his adaptability might be a good thing for the dwarf to judge as Darien grows from a simple blacksmith to a crafting person.

I haven't started a 1st-level character in a while, and the low skill points are appalling - just 4 skill points at Level One? Argh.


@Feral. Keep in mind you are a level 1 character and haven't truly made a name for yourself yet. Having a crew of undead is rather powerful. I do like generally where you're going with the story though.

As you are aware, remember to involve Geoffrey somewhere. I'm sure you'll get to that when you expand the background.

All drawbacks are subject to my approval. Max 2. In my opinion Pride and Unlearned are your better choices, but any 2 is fine.

Remember you can't spellcast when you're raging. It is very hard to make a barbarian/caster class without going rage prophet.

Liberty's Edge

Bjorkus wouldn’t likely start out with intentions to interfere with the minotaur slave trade because he’ll start out pretty selfish and self-serving but I could definitely see that becoming one of his major goals as the story progresses and he grows into this heroics business. =P

Was there anything you’d like me to expand on?


@Darien. You can use your favored class bonus for another skill point per level. Yup, sorcerers have a lack-o-skills.

Liberty's Edge

He doesn’t have a crew of undead. He HAD a crew (of living folks) before his defeat and capture. Who is the major military power that we’re going to start out fighting for?

Was something about my backstory confusing? I didn’t proofread it super hard.

I’m aware of the limitations from raging. His spellcasting will be largely a pre/early combat gimmick or an option when melee isn’t possible (like against flying opponents).


@The slavery involvement was just a guess on my part, pay it no mind if you wish.

Who is this woman, and why would she bed with him then betray him? Who are some other NPC's that knew him before he was captured? What are their relationships with him? How did he get from the coast all the way to Andril instead of being executed in the nearest town? What does he do in the military? How is Geoffrey involved? What are his experiences on the march through Xilres? I want to know more about him. I see a gem in there, keep digging.


@Feral. If you ninja me one more time I'm going to eat your face with my face. Look at my avatar if you want an image of that.

Understood, my bad. The major military power is Andril, who have the most undisputed military force. Which is why this war is a little one sided.

Not confusing, I just want to know more.

Sounds good.

Liberty's Edge

The woman was the wife of the captain of the merchant vessel he captured. Was that unclear? Her motives should have been obvious, she went to bed with Bjorkus to feed him the information that would lead to his capture. She did it in order to get revenge for the loss of her husband’s ship. Do you want me to elaborate on this scene instead of just summarizing it? I can give them names but I’d planned on them just being background characters.

I can write up some more background on his friends and crew.

Can you tell me more about Xilres and what’s going on at the beginning of the campaign?


DM Omen sent ya a PM with an idea

Liberty's Edge

Are we fighting against Andril or on behalf of Andril?


Im thinking about a drow cleric who is some sort of spy in the army. Maybe a double agent of sorts working for his people and also the army. Do you think that would work?


Maybe a rogue would fit better im not sure.


Holy crap. Guy passes out with a bit of a fever and wakes up to find a whole new page to the thread he was keeping an eye on. Geez, that's a lot of competition to quietly murder. DM omen, just to clarify, the Stonelord paladin is different enough that you'll allow him and Gabriel in right? (That's the tiefling I'm working on. I'll have a back story for you soon actually.)


@Feral. I understood who she is and why she did it, but it's not an average woman who would be willing to sleep with you just to trick you. Essentially, I want to you give her more detail so I can make her into an influential NPC. I do not need an elaboration on the scene, but possibly an elaboration on just her, and what she said. By all means name them.

Xilres is a large, well fortified city a bit off the coast. Their nation is full of natural resources and has many relations with the other nations. They have the same government as Andril, but less stable as the noble houses constantly squabble with each other, causing trouble and demanding change from the king or queen. Anything in particular you're looking for?

@Edward. Responded.

@Feral. That is in the original post if it wasn't clear. You are fighting on behalf of Andril, and are about to siege the capitol of Xilres.

@True Repentance. I'm a little confused on the spy idea. What people are you working for? Where are your loyalties at?

A rogue certainly has more skills, while a cleric is more of a threat and might be able to socially effect things more. I would say it depends on what kind of spy you have in mind. One that stays unnoticed and steals information or resources, or a spy that makes themselves a pillar of society and has access and influence to decisions. Tell me your thoughts on this.

@Marko. Quietly murder, lol. Yes I can see both working, neither of you will be thrown out due to class choice.

Liberty's Edge

Alright, I gotcha. You want story fodder. =P

I’ll elaborate on her a bit. I’m thinking her husband, is weak/submissive, and she’s the sort to take matters into her own hands when she sees her husband defeated and humiliated. Think Lucy Lawless’s character in Spartacus.


@Feral. Oooh, good reference. I was thinking Angelica from Pirates of the Caribbean, but perhaps that's just because of the pirating aspect.


Toramin doesn't know how one would go about mounting the sea, and is positive that he doesn't want to learn. ;-)


DM Omen, whats the limit on a backgrounds size?


Working on a character: minor noble of Xilres, for the past three months held by the Andril army for ransom. Fully believing the war is lost, he agrees to help Colonel Geoffrey so that the siege ends sooner and more lives are spared. He is the son of an ambassador to Andril (who died seven years ago). Oldest brother died early during the war. Class, most likely rogue. Alignment, most likely chaotic good.

Does each country and people have a unique language? Is there “Common”?


will work on an updated story later tonight. based on PM.

if good then will work on crunchy bits


OK.

What's your opinion of the Artificer class.

I see him as a scholar on loan to the university in Taryin. He's from an arabian-flavoured part of Yenrick, from a famous Library/Acadamy. Met Geoffrey a few years back doing a demonstration for the military, gunpowder and gadgets. Geoffrey was impressed by the possibilities.

Fast forward a few years and the war was in full, our scholar is "asked" to join Geoffrey at the front, as an advisor of sorts.


A warning, then! XD I take silence as permission to go crazy. You have been warned. :P


@Marko. If you write something large enough that I feel I need to create a limit I will be impressed.

@tomtesserae. Interesting idea. If you roll with it PM me what you're thinking. Your character would have more knowledge on the inner workings of Xilres.

Common is the 'common' language. Standard pathfinder languages.

@Edward Sobel. I await with bated breath.

@Spazmodeus. Interesting conceptually, but far too homebrew for my taste. No, sorry.

However a tech adviser is a good idea. Geoffrey is about as tech savvy as my grandmother.

@Marko. Make my head pop mate.


As a warning, there is actually more to come. I plan to go into his childhood and his training a bit more. There's even a whole other character I didn't get to hint at. All the characters I mentioned save Geoffrey will also be getting a blurb about them. Gabriel especially.

I just have to go shopping now and I'm in desperate need of some food. XD

Gabriel

Spoiler:
Gabriel. The boy that was given the name considered it ironic when he was younger. 'Strength of god' or 'god's strong one'. No one looking at the lad qould ever consider him truly blessed. The worst thing about it, the harshest thing that always rested on his mind, was the fact that he was so close to being a beautiful child. Though he never knew it, and may never know it, his ancestory was far less ruley then devils. He was born of a far more chaotic evil. His horns, two ram horns curled along the side of his head, turn in different directions. And his eyes change color almost every day, a physical embodiment of the chaos he was born of. Even his tail is an thing. Long and thin, only half of it has the typical arrow head ending that one expects of such a creature. The other half is layered with small spines instead, soft to the touch. And yet, even evil, even by mistake, can sometimes forge something beautiful, the way a dark time might bring out the best in a person, or a horrid event might inspire heroism rather then hate. The chaos inherent in his nature formed something beautiful, if a bit uneven. Despite the demonic features he bore, Gabriel had fair features, fair skin, long blonde hair, and his eyes, ever changing in color, always seemed to find the most beautiful form of a color and often looked like gems.

So close was he. So close to looking like a normal lad. And yet, in another city, in another country perhaps he could have lived that normal life. But not in Hielra. The city was controlled by several lesser nobles, those who knew for a fact that they had not enough power to contend with their grander rivals in the capitol and instead settled in this trade town for their schemeing and games. They ruled the city with an iron fist, and much that would be seen as depraved or horrid was allowed behind closed doors. Gabriel, for instance, was born a slave. His young mother, abandoned by her husband and his father and left destitute, had to self herself into service to pay off her debts. The birth of Gabriel eight months later, a month after the last she had seen of her husband, only added further to the cost of housing and feeding her, making her freedom all the more distant.

In this, as in many things, Gabriel was actually lucky. His mother, abandoned by her husband and left to pay off all of his debts, could have hated the child that made it all the harder to earn her freedom, and she could have hated the child simply for what he was. But she took one look at the stubbed forhead, one look at the swinging tail, and one look at those eyes that, in his earlier life, changed colors every few seconds and... and she smiled. Gabriel. It was not a name of what was, but a prayer of one could be one day. 'Let his true beauty shine through, let him find a god, a purpose, a life.' She kissed her forhead then, just between the two bumps that would one day curl backward and forward to become the mismatched ram horns. It earned a giggle from the child. 'Let him always have a reason to smile.'

Gabriel grew up knowing both love and hate. Though it was hard, he never had to steal for his food, never had to resort to violence to gt along. He had to work the day he was old enough to, at 6, and each year the work got harder and harder. But in his mind, and in truth, he was helping work his mothers debts away that much quicker. So he was not resentful of his servittude, but grateful that he could do something for his mother.

But not all was perfect. By the age of 9, Gabriel already had scars that would last him the rest of his life. Thugs, bullies, children and adults loved to pick on him. Whether they truly feared his contenance or whether they simply vented their frustrations on him Gabriel was often the but of many jokes and the victim of many attacks. Once, it may have very well been his death. Nine years of age, tough and quick of tongue, Gabriel was still pressed to his limits. Beaten to a bloody pulp, left to die in an alley way with the scattered remains of his and his mothers groceries, the young tiefling wept, the pain lancing through his body all that he could think of.

Despite having one longer, pointed ear he did not hear the footsteps that echoed through the alley way. He did not hear the curses from such a musical voice. He hardly felt the hand gently touch his shoulder. All he could think of was his pain. A broken arm, cracked ribs, a couple knife wounds. All he could think was of the pain they brought, and all he could do was cry. A brilliant light filled the alley way, accompanied with the soft sound of a singing voice praying. A woman's voice. Another joined it shortly there after, the light growing. A young girls voice sang along with the womans. Slowly, the pain receded and his body began to put itself back together. Bones shifted beneath him without ellicting pain, melding back together into their original positions. The knife wounds closed, the skin forming together again as if it had never been touched. Blood began to fill his body, somehow, though the blood he had lost still stained the ground.
In seconds, Gabriel felt strong. In minutes, he was fully healed and slowly pushing hismelf to a sitting positon. The rough cobblestone beneath his hands felt warm, damp with his pale red blood. But now it was this he failed to notice. For, standing before him, were two glowing angels. One, looking to be a full grown woman, wore billowing white robes with a golden circle emblazoned on her chest. In the center, a bird with a tail of many colors, each as fantastical and brilliant as the colors his eyes took on. The woman, of dark skin and a large smile, continued the song, though instead of bseeaching her goddess now she thanked the deity. The other, a small girl, wore a much simpler robe, though the same bird rested on her clothings chest as well. She was grinning and no longer singing. A hand raised up and a finger pointed at Gabriel. The young man trembled, fearing the angel before him shining with such radiance. "Look at his eyes! I've never seen such eyes before!"

Gabriel would learn that neither the girl nor the woman were angels. The woman, Aries, was the mentor to the girl, Arlene. The latter was studying under the former to become a cleric of their goddess Shelyn. They had been walking home when they spotted Gabriel in the alley way bleeding to death. At this point, the young lad asked them why they would save one such as him. The two looked to each other and laughed. "Why wouldn't we? There is beauty in all life, young one, including yours. We would not condemn you for that beauty simply taking another form."

His mother was hysterical when she learned of what happened and tried to stir the guards into action. But not even Aries word to them could get them to act on behalf of a tiefling. So, to make up for the cruelty of the world, Aries offered Gabriel something else. "Shelter and sanctuary, should you and your mother ever need it. And a friend to show you around the temple." She gestures to Arlene, who laughed and, with a nod of permission from her mentor, quickly grabbed at Gabriels hands and began showing him around. The two would become fast friends, and over the years Gabriel would learn to love this girl as she became a young woman. The love of a friend or family, but perhaps of something more?

Arelene was an interesting girl, even when she was young. Gifted in many forms of art, she had been chosen as one with potential to be a cleric of Shelyn not for her magical prowess but for her artistic skill. She was bubbly, cheerful, and far more intelligent then one might expect of such a happy go lucky girl. Though much of her mind was often focused on spacial and aestethic things, she had more then once stumped her tutors with questions of philosphy. In Gabriel, she found a curiosity first, but soon found a friend beneath that. She accepted him for what he was with never a moments doubt or concern, and showed him all the kindness she would anyone. Together they often stole sweets from the temples larder. She taught him to sing, though he did so poorly for the most part. Though she was three years his senior, Arlene never looked down on Gabriel for his youth. And as they grew older, it became clear to all but them that there was definitely something more between them. What that was, however, they would never know. Their chance to find out would, unfortuantely, be shattered on the day of his 16th birthday.

Arlene was not the only friend Gabriel had, but she was probably the most reliable. Another of note would be Helen. Helen was a tiefling, like Gabriel. But unlike Gabriel, she was a full red skinned, horned, devilish tiefling with glowing eyes. Unlike Gabriel, who grew up with at least a mother that loved him, Helen had nothing and no one. Save her gang that is. See, she was an orphan on the streets of Hielra. Crime was... hard to get away with unless you had influence. and the punishments for it were much harsher. Thieves lost hands for the first offence, and their heads for the second. So leading a small gang of orphan thieves required intellect. More over, there were other gangs to compete with, some with the backing of merchants trying to make more money, or older criminals with gangs of their own. So one had to be strong and merciless too.

Helen was both. In abundance. And instead of hating her appearance as Gabriel sometimes did, she reveled in it, using her devilish nature to scare away other gangs and cut out a territory for herself and those that followed. She was Gabriels age, 13, when they met. And she was preparing to move on up to the more adult gangs, stepping up from pick pocketing to drugs. They happened to... stumble across each other. In truth, Helen tried to pick pocket him, but Gabriels tail got in the way. The two tumbled into an alley way and, for the first time, met another tiefling. Oh, there were others about the city of course. But they chose to keep to themselves and any attempt for Helen or Gabriel to ask questions often earned the two a slap or a strike to the head.

So instead of turning her in, or instead of running from him, the two, amazed as they were simply talked. They spoke of their lives, and each envied the other. Gabriel envied her for her friends and allies and freedom, while she envied him for his home and his mother and his friend Arlene. Though he tried, time and again, Helen refused to give up her thieving ways, and refused to believe the church of Shelyn would really take her in. Experience had taught her that the only way to live life was to do it on your own terms. When they were 15, Helen vanished from the city, and Gabriel never saw her again.

The army of Andril had come not a week earlier. With the help of some treacherous nobles seeking to stay in power, the army easily swept aside the defenders and took control of the city. Little blood was lost and Andril was now free to continue on their way. But little changed for the residents. Whether the nobles simple hid much of the horrible things they did and allowed, or whether the army didn't care, Gabriel did not know. What he did know was that in another year he and his mother would both be free. No longer would they have to accept slave wages. And she had been saving too, slowly earning enough to buy their own home! Gabriel was estatic, and using his own money had purchased, what was to him at least, a large meal and enjoyed it with both his mother and his friend Arlene at the temple. The temple and her people took any excuse to celebrate, and taking what little he had offered them, they made it into a large party in his honor. Many of the clerics and priests of Shelyn looked on Gabriel not as a monster but as another lad. Some of their artists, Arlene included, took inspiration from him to compose songs or paint portraits of exceptional quality. Though the city as a whole still hated him. Gabriel had found a place that accepted him for who he was.
His mother and he, slightly drunk on both the fun and the ale that had been passed around, set off for home in the middle of the night. Their steps were swaying and their stomachs threatening to let loose their fine dinner, yet each wore a brilliant smile. What a night it had been! The only reason they had left the party, still going on, was because they did not wish to cause trouble with their owner. A year yet and they would be free. A year yet, if they weren't late a day and did not break a thing. Only a year.

And then a shadow fell upon them, cast by one of the street lamps behind them. A figure of platinum hair and waring beautiful silver armor stood behind them, smiling. As if to contrast Gabriels fair skin, the mans own was deep bronze, no less brilliant for it. Gabriels pointed ear twitched and strained, yet he heard no footsteps upon the hard stone road as the armored man stepped forward. Gabriel had never seen an Aasimar before. He had heard the stories of course, and perhaps even prayed once to wake up as one of them instead, but he had never seen or met one. It is unfortunate then that this was his first meeting with such a well spoken of creature. On any other day, a man of any other race armed like that, Gabriel would have taken his mothers run them back to the church. He had a large greatsword on his hip and his hand was resting on it. But the week had gotten him used to seeing armed and armored men, and the tails of an Aasimars kind nature stayed his suspicion. He should have known. He, a tiefling not anything like the stories, should have known never to trust rumor and fairy tale.

It.... it cost him his mothers life. In a blurr, the Aasimar charged, his feet carrying him far too fast along the cobble stone for one as heavily armored as he. With a hiss, his sword was freed from his scabard, and along the blade a brilliant white fire erupted. The mans smile was twisted now, crazed. Before his eyes, Gabriel saw his mothers head taken from her shoulders. The man laughed as he did it and turned his attention to Gabriel. "Tsk tsk. Stupid woman should have drowned you when you were born. Is what she gets for letting something like you come into this world."

Gabriel trembled and fell to his knees. He had seen violence before, suffered at the hands of cruel men and women all his life, but never... never this... never his mother. A hand reached out to one of hers, splayed out limply across the ground. He ignored the blood pooling around her, ignored the sightless eyes of the head that had rolled away. It was a dream. He had passed out at the party, had too much ale. He was dreaming. And sure enough, when he grasped her hand, he could feel warmth. For a moment, for a brief moment, hope flickered in his heart. But it snapped away. The mans sword descended again, removing the arm from the shoulder. Gabriel blinked. Then he screamed.

As always, Gabriel was a lucky one. Perhaps he wished that luck had been with his mother instead, but as always, it was his. Someone heard the scream, the raw pain and horror in the sound, and quickly made his way to the scene. Standing over a now bleeding, burnt and horribly injured Gabriel, the crazed Aasimar, lit as much by his sword burning with white flames as he was by the dim street lamps, razed the blade up high to end it. "SMITE..."

The Aasimar turned and just in time. He stepped back quickly, avoiding the blade the very nearly took his life. "EVIL!" Geoffrey charged onto the scene, his sword nicked the mans cheek, drawing pale red blood that matched Gabriels blood almost perfectly. The blade, a longsword of much simpler quality then the Aasimars, shone with a golden light. It did not burn, as some swords did in a paladins hands. It did not radiate with brilliance unmatched as others did. No, it shone with a simple, solid gold light, unwavering. Even as he turned, Geoffrey was slowly gaining that same golden light around him. He leveled his sword at the Aasimar and prepared for battle.

The sound of armor clinking against stone rang out across the night. The Aasimar turned left, then right, and saw that the soldiers of the conquering army, a dozen all told, were swarming down the street trying to catch up to their Colonel. He grimaced and eyed the tiefling, then the paladin, as if trying to judge whether he could take them both before the soldiers arrived. And then he vanished. The guards cried out and Geoffrey immediately organized them into a search party, but he knew it was too late. Whatever he was, the criminal had escaped. The paladin glances down to the womans body and grimaces. That grimace turns darker when he sees the tiefling, bloodied and surely dying, trying to reach out to the womans hand. He had seen the like before, had suffered the loss of his parents himself. He watched for only a moment as Gabriel wept, and then he knelt down and poured what healing he could into the lad, saving his life.

He recalls waking up in a very soft bed. It was too soft to be his own, the sheets to clean and the room to large and bright. No, he was not in the manor of the noble he belonged to. He was in the temple of Shelyn. There was pain when he sat up, incredible pain, but he forced himself to do so anyway. His chest was wrapped in cloth bandages smelling faintly of herbs. Likely he was to be healed again shortly, but to clean the wounds these had been left around him over night. He knew that only because time and again Arlene and told him that, every time he got himself injured. His mother would always lecture him about avoiding fights, at least the ones he could avoid, and Elanore and always made him thank the clerics in the temple for tending to his injuries.

It took Gabriel several moments to realize why his hands were wet and his cheeks were warm. Before he had more then a few moments to cry alone, Arlene was there, carefully hugging the injured tiefling. She said little, after all what could be said after what had happened, but when she was certain he was calmed down enough she healed the rest of his injuries and removed the bandages. But the pain he felt, the incredible pain that made keeping his eyes open every moment agonizing, did not recede. The injuries had, for the most part, been healed or numbed by magic and medicine. The pain was the hole in his heart threatening to consume him.

The funeral was a day later. Gabriel's mother had saved a great deal over the years, but the tiefling refused to touch it for his own gain. He spent it on a grave marked, a relatively fine one, and a nice place in the cities local cemetery. Her body was not buried there of course, it had been damaged beyond recognition by the Aasimars tieflings. But her ashes were. That was enough for Gabriel.

He sang that night. He had been learning, with Arlene's help, for years. In truth, he had quite the singing voice and a head for songs most did not, but always before his fear of being judged kept him from doing so in public. That night, Gabriel didn't care who migt mock in. In front of the dozen or so of Shelyns followers that knew him and his mother, he stepped forward and sang the first song that came to mind.

'Do not mourn, do not cry.
They are heroes, of their time.
Do not mourn, do not weep.
Just turn around, and see.
Gaze upon, the paths they've paved.
Walk among, the flowers they've laid.
Do not mourn, do not cry.
Thank them...'

"Thank... thank you mom. For your sacrifice. For all you've done. I..." Tears streamed down the young mans face, but he did not shake this time, and when he spoke he refused to let his voice waver. "I love you mother."

He was one of the last to leave the funeral, mostly because he did not for the entire night. He sat there before the gravestone with Arlene, who had fallen asleep beside him, and simply recalled all the good times he had spent with his mother. The emptiness continued to hurt, and he did not think the pain would ever lessen, but beside it something else began to grow. Were Arlene awake, she might have seen the fire in his eyes, the determination that overcame his expression, and the anger and hate that screwed his features into a scowl.

Gabriel has always been a lucky one. A loving mother, a wonderful friend or two, a place he could truly relax in most of the time. Despite all that had gone wrong in his life, he could have honestly said that he was happy. Until she was taken from him. Gabriel let the image of the Aasimar and his grinning, sick features fill his mind, burn into his memories. "I'll find him. I'll find him and kill him, no matter the-"

A gauntleted hand rested on his shoulder, the cold steel biting through the simple cloth shirt he wore. Despite the metal, the grasp was somehow gentle and supportive. Gabriel stopped before the last of that horrid oath could be muttered and looked up. His eyes met that of his saviors, Colonel Geoffrey. "That was a beautiful song you sang for her lad."

Not a word was ever spoken of what he had almost over heard, of the dark vow he interrupted. Instead, Geoffrey spent the evening and early morning asking about Elanore and her life. With gentle prompting, he brought back all those good memories of her that Gabriel had spent the night thinking over, only shining a new light on them. By the end, Gabriel, tears in his eyes, was smiling just a little as he recounted the time his mother chased him from the temple of Shelyn for nabbing a couple cookies with his tail while no one was looking. The clerics and priests had laughed, not really caring, but Elanore had always been careful to be respectful to the people that watched after her son and gave him a home away from home. Geoffrey was laughing along with him, the sound deep despite the mans own youth.

In the end, the man had given Gabriel what even Arlene, pretending to rest not a foot away, could not. An unbiased ear to listen, someone who understood the sorrow he was going throw but did not share in it and did not pity Gabriel for it. In the end, he had stopped Gabriel from making an oath that would have destroyed the lad. And he took it one step further. "I... know what you're going through lad. And I can tell you that there's ways to go on. You've got a friend here beside you who will always be there for you. You've got a place at the temple. Likely, with a voice like yours, you might even be able to become a cleric or a priest for them one day. Whatever path you choose, just make sure... make sure its for the right reasons. Make sure its a path your mother would be proud of."

Gabriel turned away from the man and toward the grave marker. It said simply 'Loving Woman, may the good gods watch over her.' He read those words again and again, and then asked a question he was pretty sure he knew the answer to already. "What path did you choose?" He wasn't sure why he asked those words in particular. Little about Geoffrey suggested a similar choice had ever been before him and Gabriel wasn't keen enough with people to pick up on the small hints. But they felt right to say, and Gabriel often went with his gut when it came to things like that.

Geoffrey hesitated for a moment. He knew what the lads next question would be if he was forward with his answer. But he couldn't deny the lad the choice, and he knew, he just knew, that if the lad asked it he would take up the responsibility of guiding him down that path. "I chose the path that would see me protecting people from the same fate I suffered."

Gabriel stood, gently laying Arlene down on the grass, and turned to look at the Colonel. He asked the question Geoffrey knew he would.

The day the army of Andril left, Gabriel went with it, squire to Geoffrey, and paladin in training to the goddess Iomedae. The Colonel knew why the lad had chosen as he did and refused to argue or try to change the mans mind. He was no longer a child, after all. And Iomedae, though a bit more direct then his preference as a judge of Abadar might have preffered, was a fine goddess to serve. Gabriel, showing maturity few his age did, payed respects to all the good gods. He had grown up sheltered by Shelyns followers, had been saved by a follower of Abadar, and knew in his heart that Iomedae was his goddess to serve. But he saw in all of them good, and to all of them he offered a prayer and respect.

The Colonel had, unfortunately, thrown around some weight to see the lad freed of his indentured servitude. While it was technically still legal under Hielran law, Geoffrey was certain foul play was involved in keeping a servant for 16 years, nonetheless a mother and her son. He was right, of course. To avoid needing to buy off yet more debts, the lesser noble that had owned Gabriel and his mother had been fudging the payments for years. In truth, Gabriel and his mother had only needed to serve four years. The lesser noble was handed over to a judge by Geoffrey with a recommendation for less leniancy then one might normally get. The man was sentanced to serve time equal to that of all of his servants wronged in such a way. 320 years. It was too bad, perhaps, that the man was human.

Gabriels life continued. His training was harsh and as his mentor suspected the tiefling excelled at both the physical and spiritual aspects of the training. There was some trouble, at first, with the other squires. Still some see him as an offense to the good gods. A tiefling as a paladin? They still laugh and scorn him. But the worst of them, Joshua, quickly learned when Gabriel saved his life from a pack of wolves that appearance was not all.

It is, perhaps, Gabriels first time of truly fighting. Given the issues he faced as a tiefling seeking the way of a paladin, he often avoided the sparring grounds the army would set up. He spent enough time their with Geoffrey to learn what he needed, but when he went alone he would often be insulted, derided or even attacked (though that only happened once). The other squires in particular, especially those to paladins rather then just knights, looked on him with disdain and disgust. But Joshua was the worst. He saw only evil in Gabriels form, and believed Geoffrey and the other paladins that accepted him to be deceived by Gabriels quick tongue. So, one night, he followed the tiefling during the evening, and waited until Gabriel tired himself out against the trunk of a tree from a small forest the army was skirting. Then he attacked, attempting to kill the one he thought was deceiving his comrades.

Or he tried too. Unknown to him, a group of wolves, afraid to hunt their usual pray because of the large army foraging in their woods, had been chased to the edge. Angry and hungry, they prowled through the underbrush, coming across Joshua in wait. They attacked just as Joshua sprang up and tried to attack Gabriel. And in this moment, the young tiefling showed his true colors. Instead of turning and running, or simply calling for help, the exhausted tiefling fought side by side with Joshua to defend against the wolves. They did not kill a one, but they managed to do enough harm to scare them away. Gabriel, however, was injured in the fight, taking an attack meant for Joshua. The human was left with a decision. He could lie, and leave the tiefling be, and no one would ever be the wiser. Or... he could help the young man that just saved his life.

Joshua revealed his true colors too that night. And after dragging the tiefling back to the army, and accepting punishment for what he tried to do, the two have been friends ever since. Though sometimes Joshua does show his more bias nature, Gabriel has been a good influence on the lad, and now Joshua tries his best to give everyone a chance. He does not always succeed, but he tries.

They are now brothers in arms and close friends, and though Joshua follows the ways of Abadar, the two are like real brothers now, four years later. Gabriel still writes weekly to Arlene, and thrice a year has gone back to visit her. But what they once had seemed... stalled. Their love for each other as friends was still there, and the visits rekindled often their feelings for more. But Gabriel was no longer willing to settle down and live such a normal life. And Arlene, one who had been chosen at a very young age and one who was quite intelligent, understood completely what it was like to be swept up into the service of a god or goddess.

Now Gabriel trains daily, learning to harness the power gifted to him by his service to Iomedae to protect those around him. The events of his 16th birthday were a spark that lit a flame of passion he would have never known he had. Perhaps he sometimes wishes he had never learned, but he is determined to make the most of his life now and do his mother proud.


@Marko. Small, unimporatant corrections/changes:

You said "the tiefling charged"

I like the description of the light on Geoffrey's sword, it suits him. However, his melee weapon of choice is a longsword.

Geoffrey is a paladin of Abadar, but he respects a paladin of any faith and if your choice was Iomedae he would teach you with her lessons in mind. Not really a correction, just a note. You hit the nail on the head.

Geoffrey avidly avoids being a judge, he believes himself to young and foolish to make such decision, although he might send a letter with the man expressing what he believes the punishment should be. And the way Andril treats slavery, yes that is probably a realistic sentence for him.

OK, so overall, I am extremely happy about this background. It's detailed, set in the world, gives me an understanding of Gabriel, and has NPC's that influence the world. I truly understand the struggles and strife he went through.

Liberty's Edge

Okay, I expanded on the woman that fed Bjorkus the info that got him in hot water, some people from his past, and a bit about his interaction with Geoffrey.

Background - Origins:
Bjorkus the Lesser (or Junior if you want to get on his bad side) was born on the sea into a crew of crew of pirate scum as crude and greasy as they come. Born as the result of legendary sea-reaver Bjorkus 'The Bull that Mounts the Sea', escaped minotaur slave turned pirate lord, and one of his many dalliances, Junior wasn't especially close to his mother and never met his father for more than a passing moment. As a babe he was raised on a mixture of goat milk and grog and tended to by ship's cook most hours while his mother was seeing to her duties.

Despite growing up in a less than nurturing environment, Bjorkus took to the sea like a babe to the tit. He was strong, even as a calf, and was pulling his own weight above decks not long after he could walk. And he was fearless, eagerly joining in battle amid the cannon-fire and din of cutlass on cutlass melee as soon as he was old enough to hold a weapon.

Background - Rise and Fall:
As soon as he was old enough to be considered grown, he was given control of his own ship amid The Bull that Mounts the Sea's fleet. Like everything else that came with pirating, Bjorkus was a natural and easily earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. What he lacked was the experience.

His downfall started, as they often do, with a woman. While working his way through the hold of a freshly captured merchant vessel captained by the affluent Gauis Batiatus, Bjorkus heard from one of his crew that the captain had a rare treat hidden in his cabin – his young beautiful wife. Interested enough to see for himself, he left the work of counting the booty to his crew and went to see this treasure for himself.

Word of Ilythia’s beauty was not exaggerated and the young half-minotaur quickly went to work seducing her. He had his finest rum brought to the room along with her defeated husband, bloodied and bound. She succumbed easily to Bjorkus’s powerful charm and raw animal magnetism and soon they were lost in the throes of passion. They got lost this way several times. Through the night. In front of her humiliated husband.

After she was physically exhausted, Ilythia was left to reflect on the rutting she’s just received and the circumstances of her life. She looked to her defeated humiliated husband and then the animal that had bedded her and she realized that without her husband, as weak and useless as he was, he future would be one of poverty. She’d grown accustomed to the extravegences that came with being the wife of a wealthy merchant and she had to interest in giving that up, even for a night of intense lovemaking with a dominant pirate captain. News of a recently fortified coastal Xilris outpost suddenly filled her thoughts and through it, her return to prominence.

Even though exhaustion was lulling her to sleep, she leaned against the young half-minotaur and whispered in his ear. She whispered praising his prowess and mentioned a practically unguarded outpost not far from their current location. She encouraged the virile young pirate captain to seek it out and capture its riches.

Background - Death Row and Second Chances:
High on victory, Bjorkus took a skeleton crew with him, along with his most recent conquest – Ilythiea Batiatus - to find the outpost she’d told him about. He sent the rest of his men along with the captured merchant vessel to one of the fleet stores to be stripped and decommissioned. The outpost looked innocent enough but it was, of course, a trap set for pirates such as himself. Without the full strength of his crew he and what men he had with him were easily subdued and captured. Most of his crew were put to the sword but when word came down that the young half-minotaur may be a spawn of the bull that had been terrorizing shipping lanes for years now, he was spared in the interest of a public execution.

Beaten and bound in chains, Bjorkus was on his way to a messy and public execution in the capital of Xilres when the convoy bearing him was waylaid by outriders fighting for Andril. The convoy was crushed but the soldiers were surprised by the cargo they discovered - a prisoner. Despite his haggard state, the Andrilan soldiers eventually made the connection based on Bjorkus’s appearance and the orders they found on the slain Xilres men. Unsure what to do with such a potentially valuable prisoner themselves, the soldiers packed up the young bull and dragged him across the landscape to Colonel Geoffrey himself.

The good colonel was faced with a dilemma. Bjorkus was the son of a dangerous and wanted pirate lord but he was not eager to end a life and he had potential. The half-minotaur was strong and he had a way of inspiring men. He could be a useful asset if pointed in the right direction…

The Geoffrey made Bjorkus a deal. His life would be spared in exchange for his service to Andril in the war. If his service was exemplary, he might even be granted his freedom.

Bjorkus was defiant, even in the face of execution, but with little other choice he agreed. He’d serve in chains if it meant a second chance at building his own legend.

Notable Persons:

Bjorkus, the Bull the Mounts the Sea – Distant practically unknown father and legendary pirate lord. After a daring escape from bondage, Bjorkus found his way onto a pirate crew where he made his way through the ranks until he was powerful enough to overthrow the ship’s cruel captain. From there his single ship grew into a fleet that now terrorizes sections of the high seas.

He’s known for his fearsome rage, bellowing warcries, and talents with the ladies. He doesn’t do much to track the products of his loins and probably doesn’t even know that Junior’s been captured.

This is my character from Skull and Shackles and the character I spoke of as the inspiration for the current character. I can get you’re his stat block if you actually end up needing it for something.

Luthor – A young human brawler that grew up alongside Bjorkus (junior) and is the closest thing he has to a best friend. Luthor stuck by Bjorkus when he was given his own ship to captain and was with him during his capture. They were separated after his capture and Bjorkus isn’t sure what’s become of him.

Illythia Batiatus – Beautiful human woman that was seduced by Bjorkus after her husband’s defeat and the capture of his vessel. After their intense joining, she regretted the decision but moved to take advantage of the situation by implanting the suggestion that Bjorkus should attack a military outpost with ties to Xilres. This suggestion was a trap that ultimately lead to the young half-minotaur’s capture.

She was with Bjorkus when his ship was captured by Xilres forces. Her whereabouts are unknown.

Titus Blakros – A cruel brutal half-orc captain, in charge of the outpost Bjorkus blundered into at the behest of his most recent conquest. At his order, the young half-minotaur’s ship was practically blown out of the water and most of her crew, put to the sword without a second’s thought. Bjorkus was going to meet a similar fate but he was spared when one of Blakros’s men made the connection between Bjorkus and his father, the legendary pirate lord. Hoping to earn some favor from his higher ups, Titus sent Bjorkus towards the capitol for a public execution.

Persona:
Bjorkus takes a lot after his father. He's loud, crude, and blunt but also honorable, loyal, and courageous. Living in the shadow of his sire's living legacy, has made him bold, often foolishly so, hoping somehow that his accomplishments will establish him as more than 'a calf sired by the Bull that Mounts the Sea'.

Like most pirates, his interests are simple – booty, fighting, drinking, and rutting. Beyond a normal pirate's limits, he seems to have inherited his father's passion and talent for impressing and attracting the fairer sex. Rumors of the first Bjorkus's harem is one of the most pervasive legends he's constantly hounded by.

Appearance:
As a half-minotaur, Bjorkus looks like a lesser version of his beastly sire. Although he’d never measure up to a full-blooded minotaur, he towers over most. His massively built frame wears its power well, with broad shoulders, a barrel chest, and limbs otherwise thick with bulging sinew. A bovine head sits atop his shoulders, complete with a set of meticulously cared for thick horns, but broken up by very human green eyes. His ruddy skin is covered with dense dark body hair, especially across his chest and arms.


Is there any particular reasons for disallowing the cavalier class? It would seem to me it fits fight in with the military - ish theme.


@Feral. I like the character. One tip I would give you is to sprinkle his persona in his background.

So you are saying his only tie to the military is that he doesn't want to be hung? So his only goal is to not die? While I have no problem with somebody that doesn't actually care for loyalty in the Andril army, you need to have some sort of goal in life.

Generally, you have a good foundation to work on.

@Btimmy. Despite the opening of the game, a horse would quickly prove too bulky in a lot of the fighting. I won't spoil the details, but long story short a mount would be left outside more often than not. I have no problem with the cavalier class, I just know a PC would regret playing one.

Liberty's Edge

His persona is in his background – earning the loyalty of his crew, bedding the captain’s wife, and falling into a trap in the interest of proving that he’s more than his father’s son are all big parts of who he is and his motivations. Would you like me to elaborate on his thought processes and such?

Yeah, like I said earlier, his intro to the story is entirely self-serving and he’s definitely more of an anti-hero. He’s a pirate at heart and he’s fighting for Andril to save his own skin. As the story progresses he’ll start bonding with the party and growing his own connections, allowing him to develop into more of a heroic figure with goals beyond shaking his chains and getting back to the sea.


@Feral. Yes, I like to see what the characters think as they experience life.

Sounds good

So this is what we have so far.

jhspace1-Darien Smith-LG Human Conjuring Sorcerer

Ixos-Toramin Gearsmith-LG Dwarven Stonelord Paladin

Fomiel-?-?? ? Some sort of alchemist

Edward Sobel-Velterra-CG Human Oracle of Stone

Drayen-Alleran-?? Human Falconer Trapper Ranger

Marko-Gabriel-LG Tiefling Paladin

Walter das Sombras-?-?? ? Druid (probably)

Feral-Bjorkus the Lesser-CN? Half-Minotaur Barbarian (multiclass into sorcerer)

tomtesserae-?-CG? ? Rogue

If there is a question mark in the row with your name, please tell me the information necessary to fill it in.

If I missed you, please tell me so I can include you.


Cool. And yeah, I expected a few corrections like that. XD I just went with what I felt with the smiting light. Gabriels is going to be a bit unique too.

The blurbs will give a bit more personality to the characters. I did what I could with that background, but I'm honestly not a perfect writer, so I take advantage of things like blurbs to make up for my failings.

And lastly, currently Gabriel views himself as Iomedae's paladin. While I don't think he'll ever stray from her, one of the central ideas of the character is that he grew up with different faiths affecting him. I plan to weave that into his personality and his mechanics, with influences of Abadar, Iomedae and Shelyn showing themselves in both how he acts and how his power manifests.

Liberty's Edge

Added a few bits.

Background – Origins:
Bjorkus the Lesser (or Junior if you want to get on his bad side) was born on the sea into a crew of crew of pirate scum as crude and greasy as they come. Born as the result of legendary sea-reaver Bjorkus 'The Bull that Mounts the Sea', escaped minotaur slave turned pirate lord, and one of his many dalliances, Junior wasn't especially close to his mother and never met his father for more than a passing moment. As a babe he was raised on a mixture of goat milk and grog and tended to by ship's cook most hours while his mother was seeing to her duties.

Despite growing up in a less than nurturing environment, Bjorkus took to the sea like a babe to the tit. He was strong, even as a calf, and was pulling his own weight above decks not long after he could walk. And he was fearless, eagerly joining in battle amid the cannon-fire and din of cutlass on cutlass melee as soon as he was old enough to hold a weapon.

Background - Rise and Fall:
As soon as he was old enough to be considered grown, he was given control of his own ship amid The Bull that Mounts the Sea's fleet. Like everything else that came with pirating, Bjorkus was a natural and easily earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. What he lacked was the experience.

His downfall started, as they often do, with a woman. While working his way through the hold of a freshly captured merchant vessel captained by the affluent Gauis Batiatus, Bjorkus heard from one of his crew that the captain had a rare treat hidden in his cabin – his young beautiful wife. Interested enough to see for himself, he left the work of counting the booty to his crew and went to see this treasure for himself.

What a day, the young bull thought. Booty to make the crew fat and wealthy and a neglected young beauty in need of a powerful pirate captain. With how easily we took him, I doubt the captain’s been doin’ much to satisfy her. She’ll be begging for it…

Word of Ilythia’s beauty was not exaggerated and the young half-minotaur quickly went to work seducing her. He had his finest rum brought to the room along with her defeated husband, bloodied and bound. She succumbed easily to Bjorkus’s powerful charm and raw animal magnetism and soon they were lost in the throes of passion. They got lost this way several times. Through the night. In front of her humiliated husband.

After she was physically exhausted, Ilythia was left to reflect on the rutting she’s just received and the circumstances of her life. She looked to her defeated humiliated husband and then the animal that had bedded her and she realized that without her husband, as weak and useless as he was, he future would be one of poverty. She’d grown accustomed to the extravegences that came with being the wife of a wealthy merchant and she had to interest in giving that up, even for a night of intense lovemaking with a dominant pirate captain. News of a recently fortified coastal Xilris outpost suddenly filled her thoughts and through it, her return to prominence.

Even though exhaustion was lulling her to sleep, she leaned against the young half-minotaur and whispered in his ear. She whispered praising his prowess and mentioned a practically unguarded outpost not far from their current location. She encouraged the virile young pirate captain to seek it out and capture its riches.

Bjorkus mulled over the information as he chewed on a pungent cigar, Why shouldn’t I take it? It’s on the mainland which is a bit risker than the crew is used to but it’s about time I start striking out on my own. Maybe takin’ a Xilres outpost is just what I need. Plus the dame seemed to love the idea…

Background - Death Row and Second Chances:
High on victory, Bjorkus took a skeleton crew with him, along with his most recent conquest – Ilythiea Batiatus - to find the outpost she’d told him about. He sent the rest of his men along with the captured merchant vessel to one of the fleet stores to be stripped and decommissioned. The outpost looked innocent enough but it was, of course, a trap set for pirates such as himself. Without the full strength of his crew he and what men he had with him were easily subdued and captured. Most of his crew were put to the sword but when word came down that the young half-minotaur may be a spawn of the bull that had been terrorizing shipping lanes for years now, he was spared in the interest of a public execution.

Beaten and bound in chains, Bjorkus was on his way to a messy and public execution in the capital of Xilres when the convoy bearing him was waylaid by outriders fighting for Andril. The convoy was crushed but the soldiers were surprised by the cargo they discovered - a prisoner. Despite his haggard state, the Andrilan soldiers eventually made the connection based on Bjorkus’s appearance and the orders they found on the slain Xilres men. Unsure what to do with such a potentially valuable prisoner themselves, the soldiers packed up the young bull and dragged him across the landscape to Colonel Geoffrey himself.

The good colonel was faced with a dilemma. Bjorkus was the son of a dangerous and wanted pirate lord but he was not eager to end a life and he had potential. The half-minotaur was strong and he had a way of inspiring men. He could be a useful asset if pointed in the right direction…

Geoffrey made Bjorkus a deal. His life would be spared in exchange for his service to Andril in the war. If his service was exemplary, he might even be granted his freedom.
Bjorkus was defiant, even in the face of execution, but with little other choice he agreed. He’d serve in chains if it meant a second chance at building his own legend.

I won’t die. Not here. Not like this. I’ll play their game – be a good soldier – if that’s what it takes to get me back to the sea.

If the DM isn't opposed I like the idea of pre-established character links. Is anyone interested in being a part of Bjorkus's background, perhaps as one of the soldiers that suggests bringing him to the Colonel instead of taking him to be executed.


@Marko. Sounds good, keep up the good work.

@Feral. There we go, that little bit of thought helps. However I want two more things. One, I want you to expand on the trial (or what they substituted in for one) and Geoffrey's influence in it. Also there's a gap in time before they reached the capitol, so I want you to tell me how his experiences were with the army before that point. What did he do on a daily basis? How was he treated? What was his job during missions? Any people of note?

I am not opposed to the idea, but it must be worked in to the story

Liberty's Edge

Sure. What kind of gap in time are we talking about? Day, weeks, months?

You mentioned that Colonel Geoffrey is a paladin but is the rest of the military so noble? How would they react to a half-breed son of a wanted minotaur pirate lord?


@Feral. Probably a month or two. Long enough to get into the swing of things but not enough that everybody knows you.

Down to the individual man? They're about as noble as my armpit. Ever read a dark fantasy book? While there are people who truly strive for the best in my world, things are deadly realistic. I'm sure there are random soldiers in the army who would love nothing more than to skin you for a trophy.


So . . .. Do you have any cultural preconceptions about your nations (or areas within them)? Are they all loosely based off medieval Europe? Is the culture in the deserts of the South-East closer to that of our Bedouins? I saw no terrain descriptions that would seem to link towards plains/Savannah/tundra nomads, our Far Eastern cultures (unless the large, wealthy nation is more Russian than French), island cultures or even dedicated coastal cultures (most of the Mediterranean or Northman raiding cultures). I've always found that I am happier with a character's background and story when I start by placing him culturally, and then grow the character out of a specific environment.

I freely admit to having a really old, really simple story for a character that I loved that started his adventuring career by being impressed as a foot soldier into an army so that the nobles involved could start a siege. I am looking for a different hook, for an inspiration for a new character I should be able to look back on with fondness . . ..


@hustonj. I will address your second paragraph first. This is the place to try that out.

I put a loose description of the areas within the original post, as well as the emerging technology. I don't intend to post the entire world here (partly because it's 30 pages and partly because of spoilers) but ask questions and I will answer. Is there a specific kind of culture you are looking to find, or do you just want some bullet points for inspiration?


I was after bullet points for inspiration, honestly.

I have based character decisions on exactly that sort of sketchy information before. Once my success was so great that the guys who wrote the game chose my character as the stereo-typical example of the type . . ..

And I wouldn't be trying that character concept out, I played him for around 3 years. The story seems a really good fit (though, again, inherently simple), but I've already played that guy!


You sorta missed me in that list.

Im thinking cleric would be more interesting.

What if he was meant to get close to the general as a first or second mission. Or maybe someone close to the general that would be easier to influence.

As for who he works for, let me know what sort of Drow organisation would be getting involved in the rest of the world. Maybe they want access to some of this technology that is emerging. And the cleric is part of that plan.


Added Helen to the backstory. Working on the rest of the edits I need now, and then I'll work on the character blurbs. Helen is... honestly I didn't do as good a job with her as I hoped to in adding her, but to do any more would be to decide to much. She supposed to be a brief acquaintance he had for a couple years, one that showed Gabriel what could have been in some ways for him. And she's supposed to be a potential thread for future story lines. If you think I'm better off not adding her feel free to say so and I'll remove her again.

Helen

Spoiler:
Arlene was not the only friend Gabriel had, but she was probably the most reliable. Another of note would be Helen. Helen was a tiefling, like Gabriel. But unlike Gabriel, she was a full red skinned, horned, devilish tiefling with glowing eyes. Unlike Gabriel, who grew up with at least a mother that loved him, Helen had nothing and no one. Save her gang that is. See, she was an orphan on the streets of Hielra. Crime was... hard to get away with unless you had influence. and the punishments for it were much harsher. Thieves lost hands for the first offence, and their heads for the second. So leading a small gang of orphan thieves required intellect. More over, there were other gangs to compete with, some with the backing of merchants trying to make more money, or older criminals with gangs of their own. So one had to be strong and merciless too.

Helen was both. In abundance. And instead of hating her appearance as Gabriel sometimes did, she reveled in it, using her devilish nature to scare away other gangs and cut out a territory for herself and those that followed. She was Gabriels age, 13, when they met. And she was preparing to move on up to the more adult gangs, stepping up from pick pocketing to drugs. They happened to... stumble across each other. In truth, Helen tried to pick pocket him, but Gabriels tail got in the way. The two tumbled into an alley way and, for the first time, met another tiefling. Oh, there were others about the city of course. But they chose to keep to themselves and any attempt for Helen or Gabriel to ask questions often earned the two a slap or a strike to the head.

So instead of turning her in, or instead of running from him, the two, amazed as they were simply talked. They spoke of their lives, and each envied the other. Gabriel envied her for her friends and allies and freedom, while she envied him for his home and his mother and his friend Arlene. Though he tried, time and again, Helen refused to give up her thieving ways, and refused to believe the church of Shelyn would really take her in. Experience had taught her that the only way to live life was to do it on your own terms. When they were 15, Helen vanished from the city, and Gabriel never saw her again.


For clarity, the bullet points can be as simple as:

Mongolian steppes.
A Solomon Kane style Eastern Europe feel.
Isolated woodsmen who distrust outsiders, but live and let live

Yep, as little as one comment for an area can be enough to inspire . . ..

The last sounds like a potential description for your Gesthil, as an example of how simple these can be, and still provide inspiration.


For everyone's entertainment, I've taken a spreadsheet on Google Docs and made a very basic map based upon DM Omen's words.

What DM Omen said in the first post:

The north is encompassed by the coast. In the north center are a vast span of freezing mountains where mostly creatures and outlaws live. South of that is Xilres, the nation with the largest amount of land and natural resources, although the noble houses often bicker and squabble, causing more than just local problems. To their east is Andril who lead the area in military power and science, their capitol Taryin is the largest city in the world. Surrounding Andril from east to south are Yenrick (A dry, flat area with patches of desert. Has many caves with gems and natural resources), Gesthil (A nation of outsiders, only small villages are present and they are very in tune with nature. They will accept anybody in their borders), and Brumik (Center of trade due to their position in the middle of every nation. Often has to deal with barbarians in the southern forest).

Map link here


And here's a bit more about how Joshua and Gabriel became friends. Adding it to the background as well. Blurbs to follow. And then, with your approval, I'll work on Gabriel's crunch.

Spoiler:

It is, perhaps, Gabriels first time of fighting real danger. Given the issues he faced as a tiefling seeking the way of a paladin, he often avoided the sparring grounds the army would set up. He spent enough time their with Geoffrey to learn what he needed, but when he went alone he would often be insulted, derided or even attacked (though that only happened once). The other squires in particular, especially those to paladins rather then just knights, looked on him with disdain and disgust. But Joshua was the worst. He saw only evil in Gabriels form, and believed Geoffrey and the other paladins that accepted him to be deceived by Gabriels quick tongue. So, one night, he followed the tiefling during the evening, and waited until Gabriel tired himself out against the trunk of a tree from a small forest the army was skirting. Then he attacked, attempting to kill the one he thought was deceiving his comrades.

Or he tried too. Unknown to him, a group of wolves, afraid to hunt their usual pray because of the large army foraging in their woods, had been chased to the edge. Angry and hungry, they prowled through the underbrush, coming across Joshua in wait. They attacked just as Joshua sprang up and tried to attack Gabriel. And in this moment, the young tiefling showed his true colors. Instead of turning and running, or simply calling for help, the exhausted tiefling fought side by side with Joshua to defend against the wolves. They did not kill a one, but they managed to do enough harm to scare them away. Gabriel, however, was injured in the fight, taking an attack meant for Joshua. The human was left with a decision. He could lie, and leave the tiefling be, and no one would ever be the wiser. Or... he could help the young man that just saved his life.

Joshua revealed his true colors too that night. And after dragging the tiefling back to the army, and accepting punishment for what he tried to do, the two have been friends ever since. Though sometimes Joshua does show his more bias nature, Gabriel has been a good influence on the lad, and now Joshua tries his best to give everyone a chance. He does not always succeed, but he tries.


@hustonj. You misunderstood me, I was saying this is the place to try new things out.

Yenrick is to the east and it is full of hard labor and slavery, whoever strikes first and has the bigger sword is in charge. There are vast deserts with small oasis's where towns are, and the mining is rich under the desert. They look at outsiders as new meat and normally only respect those they directly deal with in business. You either try to rule and hit anybody that challenges you, or hide in your corner of the world and nip anybody that pokes their nose into your hole. It's a tough life.

Southwest of them is Gesthil, who no culture or race lays claim to. Any and all outsiders are welcome long as you don't cause too much trouble. People are open and honest, although they are aware that their wide open borders often attract some less desirable travelers. They have no large town save for their capitol, which is mostly filled with humans who keep the nation running.

Brumik is south central and controls trade throughout the area. They have the perfect geographical location, control of most waterways, access to much natural resources, and has the most connections with others. They are full of diplomats and aristocrats with cutthroat new age strategies to stay on top.

Xilres is often seen only as a nation existing for it's natural resources. It's abundance is astounding, as they have everything from lumber to gems to coastal resources and about everything else you can imagine. It's mostly simple life there, where you either help gather some of the resources or help transport them. However, due to the low activity, the noble houses often squabble and cause problems where their aren't any, particularly with their government and neighboring nations.

Andril is a nation that strives to advance into the next era. They work closely with the dwarves, evolving and developing new technology. It is a nation as varied as the world itself, but the capitol is a work of modern art.

How's that? Anything jump out at you?

@True Repentance. When you say general, do you mean Colonel Geoffrey? Are you telling me you want to play a evil character working with the drow tribes?

@Marko. I like her. You can finish updating, any further information will not influence my decision.


So, here is the plan for my alchemist Fasdir.

Primary plan -- adopt mindchemist archetype, pick elven feat breadth of experience (+2 to know and profession skills) and use traits to bolster knowledge skills (e.g.) child of temple.

Fasdir is an ivory tower intellectual who has read about everything in books, but has no life experience. He 'knows everything' because he is an elf, has lived many years, is incredibly smart, and is well read.

Backup plan if there is a wizard to cover most knowledge skills. Alchemist Fasdir is an alchemist that has trained to fight some too.

Fasdir is a grenadier. Traits and feats will be more suited to combat and combat support.


@jhspace1. That's actually not bad. If you allowed me to edit it I could put some finishing touches on it.


DM Omen sent a PM with an updated backstory.

an post it here if you want me to, otherwise I will add it to the alias when created and the crunch is done

51 to 100 of 246 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Recruitment / Interest Check and Recruitment for a long term Homebrew Pathfinder Campaign All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.