The World as You Know It
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It is a dark time.
The great Lantian Empire has fallen. The Empire of Man, as it was known to the Elven and Dwarven kingdoms who grudgingly lived as its vassal states for a thousand years, was the light of civilization that held back the darkness of barbarism.
In the three generations since the last emperor abdicated his throne, the formerly great cities quickly succumbed to pillaging and the greedy hold of the encroaching wild. Great universities were dismantled stone by stone to repair the aqueducts and the wells. With the mighty Lantian Legions disbanded, orcs and giants overran the northern provinces, pirates roam the seas, and highwayman steal with impunity on what was once called the Imperial Road.
Humanity lives constantly in the shadow of its former greatness, impoverished and left to ponder where they went wrong.
The elves and the dwarves, long lived as they are, were ill prepared for the change as the yoke of human rule was lifted from their kingdoms, and have not yet had the time or the resources to restore their former greatness. The Age of Man may have changed them forever.
The halflings, though long acclimated to Lantian society, have largely retreated to their ancestral homes in tight knit provincial farming communities, and have not suffered as greatly as the tall folk. None the less, halfling pickpockets in the larger human cities are not uncommon, and many a halfling village has known a hard winter on account of bandits.
Whimsical and mysterious, Gnomes are a very rare sight. They live in the Fey Wild and rarely venture into the territory of the mundane races. The fall of Lantia may have affected them little, if at all.
Recent History
125 years ago, in the year 960 of the Imperial Reckoning, the emperor sent an army nearly a million strong through the wilds. More than a decade passed and fewer than 10,000 troops returned, having lost nearly half their force along the way, and most of the rest in a brutal siege which lasted years. They had breached the city of Stormguard, and accepted the surrender of its defenders, but did not have the forces to maintain control the city. The war, which emptied the Imperial coffers and left the majority of the legions slain, had been fought, apparently, for nothing.
The poorly defended provinces fell victim to banditry and orcish raids. Finally, there were no funds to pay the remaining legions, too little food for too many mouths, and the Emperor could no longer maintain the illusion of authority.
67 years ago, in year 1018 IR, Corwin, last Emperor of Lantia, abdicated his rule and disbanded the empire. His fate is unknown.
Campaign Overview
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The PCs will be among the mightiest adventurers in the realm, tasked with accomplishing nearly impossible goals because no one else can. They will have the opportunity learn much of their world's history, and, perhaps, to change it.
This will be a high magic, high fantasy campaign. The initial setting will be one where magic is rare and highly prized, with society in a state analogous to Europe's dark ages, however over the course of the campaign the PCs will travel to other planes and alternate timelines.
The goals of the campaign will be essentially heroic, but there will be plenty of room for characters who are acting out of their own self interest. I'll be looking for a diverse group of PCs, and even the possibility of tension or conflict between them.
I'll be aiming for a balance of RP encounters, skill based challenges, and combat.
Character Creation
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I currently have 2 players, and will be looking for 4 more. All I'll need to pick the group is a few paragraphs describing your concept, but feel free to include stats if you want.
I may ask more detailed questions or ask for a sample post in your character's tone. First time posters are welcome.
Ability Scores
Roll 3d6, subtract the lowest die, then add 6. Roll 6 times, assign to abilities as desired.
You may roll your own dice or use the forum roller, it's up to you.
Starting Level:[b] 7
[b]Starting Wealth:
23,500 gold. Spend no more than 10,000 on a single item. No firearms.
Races:
Core races, half-ogre (Tome of Horrors Complete/Unlimited).
No 3rd party or homebrew races (except the aforementioned half-ogre).
Classes:
Any base or prestige class or combination of classes from the core rulebook, APG, UM, or UC, except gunslinger.
Feel free to use any class variants from any of those books. No 3rd party or homebrew classes.
Alignments:
Any, but I discourage evil unless you have a concept that can work well with a basically heroic party.
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The mention about a Dark Ages analogy is intriguing. I would like to suggest a human witch, very much the village wisewoman type, reading portents and making cures. Her life was good, until a meddling do-gooder showed up and started stirring up trouble, getting everybody to start pointing fingers and offering women up for consorting with dark powers. She was betrayed by her own husband (the fact that the accusations weren't false did nothing to sooth her hurt feelings). So, she cursed the village and fled. She's looking for payback against the do-gooder's organization (church, government, whatever). She would be using deception and guile to accomplish her goals, so she could easily end up in the company if heroes - plus, she's not actually evil, just free-thinking in her ethics.
Starting at level 7? I may also add a few levels of mind chemist alchemist, too.
The son of an Imperial guardsman and landed noble in his own right our nameless hero searches for clues to the whereabouts of the Imperial line. The hero is convinced that the reemergence of the former Imperial line, destruction of those pretenders that have arisen and restoration of the Imperial throne will right the wrongs in the world and set it on a better path. While he understands that is simplistic, he also strongly believes in the power of symbols to aid people to the cause of right.
His titled lands were overrun by orc and other humanoids over a hundred years ago and are completely inaccessable, so he is a noble in name. He continues to attempt to live up to the ideals of the Empire.
The Empire seems to be humanocentric. If this is true, than those that venerate the ideals of the Empire might be racist.
I also wonder if a Paladin of the Empire or simply a fighter is the appropriate class. Do you feel comfortable with paladins in your campaign?
Throwing some rolls out there and dotting for interest.
15 - 4 + 6 =
12 - 1 + 6 =
16 - 4 + 6 =
7 - 1 + 6 =
16 - 4 + 6 =
10 - 1 + 6 =
Some nice rolls. I'm looking towards a roguish type, just still figuring out his background.
If it helps those making concepts, I'm one of the two existing players. My character is a Female Half-Elf multi-classer; Enchanter/Chameleon/TWF (1/3/3). Profile coming soon.
Aight, here's Gliressa, one of the existing PCs (this is downrightamazed's character, I just posted above). Full build is in the profile.
@ZetaGilgamesh A paladin would be acceptible, but a paladin wouldn't necessarily support the return of the empire. It was lawful, orderly, and with many public comforts, but not good. It wasn't racist, the elven and dwarven nations were conquered and forced to become vassal states to the empire, but individual elves and dwarves were not broadly or systematically persecuted, however there was slavery in various forms, and great periods of imperialist conquest.
Although the empire would represent a higher standard of living for most people, and the current situation is neither lawful nor good. I like that concept, and if you'd be open to the idea of having to question your allegiances I think it could work very well.
@Nazard Intriguing. A witch would be very interesting indeed.
@Nazard Intriguing. A witch would be very interesting indeed.
I will try to upgrade her to level 7 if I get a chance tonight...otherwise, tomorrow.
Maybe it was a paladin who was the meddler in her village. Pesky paladins, always causing trouble for servants of dark and unknown powers.
Greetings,
For your review, I submit to you Mah`lyn.
A half-elf, Mah`lyn was raised by her Elven mother in the Lem`tare clan. She is an accomplished swordswoman known for being well-versed in the art of engaging and destroying enemy spellcasters in hand-to-hand combat without allowing them the opportunity to bring their magic to bear (Two-Weapon Fighter concept based around the feats "Step Up" and "Disruptive").
As a sell-sword, she has made a name for herself - not only for her skill, but also for her loyalty and dedication to whatever cause she allies herself with. Although she is quite the mercenary, rumor has it that she has taken a few jobs for no fee when true wrongs needed righting; Mah`lyn, however, denies this vehemently if questioned and maintains the image of a cold, professional blade-for-hire.
Character Portrait:
http://i55.tinypic.com/2w2iq01.png
(Whether or not I am chosen for this campaign, I would like you to contact me at your leisure (thalaen@gmail.com) regarding a question I had about an exotic mount for this character, and how you as a GM would rule on it. I can't find anything in the rules relating to it, so I'd like to pick someone's brain who has had more experience than I with this system. For background purposes, I've been a 3.5 player/GM for several years, and am looking for an opportunity to try out the PFRPG rules before attempting to incorporate them into my tabletop gaming group.)
I'm thinking of a fighter (tactician)
He is a student of the great tactical deeds of the Empire, he considers himself half-scholar and half-fighter. Personality-wise he would be a very easy going person about most matters but have a very serious side when a fight comes. He would sometimes try to direct others in battle but will accept that he is not a general and the other party members are not his soldiers.
Mechanically he would be a fighter with several weapons and a penchant for using the most adequate for each situation. If there's any kind of weapon that was typical of the Empire he would most probably have a preference for it but not be oblivious to its weaknesses. He would take a defensive approach to most fights until he can asses his enemies.
His rolls would be
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Hope he gets your interest!
I'm thinking of a half-orc oracle of the ancestor mystery, possessed archetype with the tongues curse.
He will be a character whose interpretation of the ancestor mystery is honor your ancestors and use them as a grounds upon which to build a new future.
He will have ancestors from both race lineages being the source of his "possession" and his power.
I was also hoping for a slight variant concession to the curse. Instead of one of the typically listed languages to choose for restriction I was hoping to be able to speak an ancient version of the empire's language. I am also hoping that the language chosen at 5th level as second to speak in combat could be orcish. These are variants from the typical language choice but seem appropriate to the setting and the character concept.
So, those stats would be...
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Youzas, bad. But, if need be, I can work with it.
General Character Background
Alrich has the (dilluted) blood of nobility/royalty in his veins and the blood of orcs also. His parents were each the child (one male and one female) of two differing noblewomen who suffered the terrible fate of falling into orcish hands but being rescued. They were each cast out by their families before meeting and wedding. But, their blood ran strong and their ancestors have forced their way to the surface in Alrich's mind and soul.
Irina can be found here.
I have left her old background (intended for a Legacy of Fire game) intact, as the basic premise is there, but I am unfamiliar with the specific names of your homebrew to make changes. If selected, I am happy to work with you to choose appropriate names for her place of origin and adversaries/locales.
Irina is the potion-queen, as well as an enchantress and manipulator. In combat, she is equal parts party buffer and enemy debuffer. I realize that there already is an enchanter in the party, but I thought there could be some interesting dynamics between the two - one more savoury and socially acceptable, the other darker and more sinister, and since you mentioned there being a good deal of role-playing opportunities, can you really have too many enchanters? If this is too much overlap, however, I'm also willing to explore the cursing side of Irina a bit more fully.
I also didn't know if you were using traits or not. I picked two which fit her background and style.
@Keddah: Your PC and Gliressa would get along well, methinks. Her original concept was a "book-smart fighter", but she morphed into more of a "rogue scholar who can hold her own."
iI also didn't know if you were using traits or not. I picked two which fit her background and style.
Yes, everyone can select two traits.
@Nazard Love it. You're in.
We can work on the names for things, but apart from the major locations, I've left things pretty open to incorporate player ideas, so you won't need to change much.
Sorry for the delay in getting a character concept up. I was out and about trying Pathfinder Society for the first time
As a brief idea of what I'm thinking about, I'm envisioning a half-elf ninja who has found himself in the acquisition trade as he wanders about looking for work. This could be in terms of items, information, or even people (Which he specializes in bringing back alive).
I hope to get something a bit more concrete up later today or tomorrow as I will likely be away from my computer almost all day again.
This is Keddah with Sevram Septimus, the stats are done, pending DM approval, before I get to the background I want to ask a few questions about the setting. My idea is for Sevram to have been a weakling until his teenage years and have been sent by his family to a monastery or similar place were old knowledge is still preserved, there he became an expert in military history and tactics, and when his body finally began to grow he decided to set those learnings to practice.
My questions are:
Are ther monasteries/schools/anything were old books and knowledge are kept?
What about religions? Is this a pantheist setting like most D&D settings? Do gods have anything to do with mortals or are they distant entities?
What would be the common opinion about magic nowadays? And before the fall of the empire?
#Gliressa, I had a look at your character and I think Sevram would find her really interesting both as a scholar and as a person. A knowledgeable woman able to keep herself in a fight? He certainly would be impressed.
Hello, I am the other player mentioned above. I am a moderately experienced gamer, but this will be my first foray into both PBP and the Pathfinder ruleset. I'm quite familiar with D&D from the old red box "Dungeons & Dragons" to AD&D, 2nd addition, and on through 3.5, but please bear with me as I catch myself up on Pathfinder. At this point I have no idea what I'm going to be playing as, but I'm leaning toward a divine caster type. I'm looking forward to a good game. For those of you that don't know him, I've been gaming with aLittleTooQuiet for almost 10 years both as player and a DM and I assure you, for those of you that are selected for this campaign, you're in for a treat.
Yeah, ditto to what Nomadpk says above; I, too, have the pleasure of knowing DM aLittleTooQuiet IRL and have been gaming with him in Pathfinder and CoC on and off for a couple years now, and he's a terrific gamer and GM. Y'all are gonna have a blast. :-)
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Let me introduce Mayve, wizard extraordinaire. Mayve's grandfather was one of the last court wizards to Emperor Corwin. Raised in a small remote village, her grandfather often spoke of the wonders of the Empire. As such, she has grown to believe the demise of the Empire to be a tragedy. She aspires to find Corwin, or his descendants, and establish a new Empire, in the rosy image presented by her late grandfather.
Mayve is generally friendly in nature, but will not easily abide ill talk of the Empire. Her good nature allows her to make friends easily, and rarely holds a grudge, believing the best of people until proven otherwise. She spent the last few years learning the arcane arts form her grandfather, and with his passing has decided to set out on her own quest. Mayve's belief in the spirit and glory of the Empire engenders a belief system of laws. She carries a very old book of some of the first laws set down by the Empire hundreds of years ago, it was one of her grandfather's prized possessions. There are some laws that she figures are beyond their use and chooses to ignore them.
Mayve brook's no mercy for those that take advantage of others, and will often stop at villages to assist the plight of those less able. She expects that those she helps will accept a return to the laws of the old empire.
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Alright, here is the updated profile for Mah`lyn - my character proposal for this game. I rolled the following statistics for her using my own dice.
4 4 1 = 14
3 6 6 = 18
2 2 4 = 12
5 4 5 = 16
3 1 4 = 13
6 1 1 = 13
If you need any further information regarding her backstory or the character itself, please feel free to let me know.
The party so far:
Downrightamazed - Gliressa
F Half-Elf Chameleon 3/Two Weapon Warrior 3/Enchanter 1
Nazard - Irina
F Human Witch 5/Mindchemist 2
Nomadpk - ???
M Lizardfolk Barbarian 2/Druid 5
Looks like we have 3 highly versatile characters, with skills, combat, arcane casting, and healing covered, so all roles are still open for consideration.
With this great choice of candidates I hope to have a party selected by the end of the week. With any luck, we should be able to start the campaign next week.
If Dndsheets.net is fine with you I'll post a link.
Yeah, that's fine with me.
@Keddah Sevram would be a great fit. You're high on my list.
@Thal`aen I think Mah'lyn might be too close to Gliressa, both being female, half-elf, two-weapon fighters. I'd be inclined to give preference to a character who adds more diversity to the group. That said, I like the character and would definitely consider you if someone drops out.
@fnord72 Mayve is also a great fit.
@The Thing From Beyond the Edge Go ahead and re-roll those if you'd like. I like the concept. I'm playing an oracle in a RL campaign, and I've found it to be a very interesting and strange class.
I'm working on the mechanics and background still, but I'm envisioning a Batman-like character. He will be a rogue build specializing in nonlethal, but capable of lethal damage with daggers from his rough life as a child.
In need of a way to survive in a time of great need, Kyras would set out into the world doing what he had to in order to live. Unfortunately, he would become what he hated over the next six years as he traveled from town to town stealing where he could, running when he found his skills lacking, and acting as a highwayman when chances arose.
One fateful day, an inquisitor of Calistria would find the sight of the young Kyras standing in front of her wagon with a dagger amusing. Light-hearted and finding the young man quite a looker, she would test his skills and show Kyras he had much to learn. Willing to give him a chance, she would offer him the chance to make something more of himself under the lady of lust and revenge.
Sick of what he had become and seeking vengeance upon those that had helped him down the path he was on, Kyras would accept her offer. Honing the skills he already possessed under her guiding hand, while learning that a worse fate could be met out at the hands of the majority, Kyras learned to take his foes alive and became the bounty hunter Sapping Man.
@DM aLittleTooQuiet: Well, crap - I didn't realize until now that what I thought was an enchanter was infact a two-weapon fighter. My bad.. is it too late for me to roll a different concept up for you?
@Keddah Sevram would be a great fit. You're high on my list.
@Thal`aen I think Mah'lyn might be too close to Gliressa, both being female, half-elf, two-weapon fighters. I'd be inclined to give preference to a character who adds more diversity to the group. That said, I like the character and would definitely consider you if someone drops out.
@fnord72 Mayve is also a great fit.
@The Thing From Beyond the Edge Go ahead and re-roll those if you'd like. I like the concept. I'm playing an oracle in a RL campaign, and I've found it to be a very interesting and strange class.
Consideration is much appreciated, but after re-evaluating my time requirements, I am going to pass.
Campaign sounds great, though.
Thal`aen Not at all, go ahead,
I added two traits, and changed the skill points distribution a little to have different knowledges and be able to recognise different enemies. Hope it's alright DM.
Ok, this is my first time using the forum dice roller, so please bear with me if it doesn't work.
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For your consideration, I submit Rhane Far-Reach.
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Rhane is a Human Cavalier, pledged to the Order of the Tome. He takes it as his personal mission to seek out and reclaim the knowledge that has been lost since the fall of the empire - purportedly for the benefit of all of mankind. However, his true quest is that he caught wind of some terrible secret that the former Empire held, which would disillusion all of those who clung to the ideals of the Empire.
In fact, if such knowledge came to light it could prove to be so damning that the very IDEA of a Human empire being formed would cause many of the other races to rally together and... but I digress. No-one knows for certain the truth of the matter; at the current time, it is nothing but a foul rumor. However, for Rhane, it has become his life's work to find out what really happened - and, if need be, to bury it forever.
I added a background to the profile, tried to keep it generic so it fits a yet growing setting, I didn't put many plot hooks in it since I don't know if you'd like me to do it... Oh I couldn't help but write that last sentence as the quote came to the front of my mind.
Woo hoo! Very excited. Since you don't mind the name, I'll keep it as it is.
Before I finish off her inventory, I wanted to ask if I can add potions at crafting prices, or if you would prefer I account for them at market price.
Is this campaign full up already?
I wanted to ask if I can add potions at crafting prices, or if you would prefer I account for them at market price.
Crafting prices.
I added a background to the profile, tried to keep it generic so it fits a yet growing setting, I didn't put many plot hooks in it since I don't know if you'd like me to do it... Oh I couldn't help but write that last sentence as the quote came to the front of my mind.
That's great.
Go ahead and come up with some plot hooks if you want. I may change some things to keep you on your toes, but I'm a firm believer in taking the campaign where the players are interested in going.
@Thal`aen Ooh, excellent!
Is this campaign full up already?
Nope. At least 2 slots open.
No real opinion on my character concept?
I have added a Plot Hook Ideas section to the profile, will be adding more as they cross my mind. Hope some of them pick your attention if I manage to get in the game.
@Joshua HirtzSorry, I think I missed a couple of people. I've been trying to keep up with the thread but it's been a hectic week. I'll make sure to read it over tonight and give you some feedback.
Gustavus began his service to [god of knowledge/civilisation/reason] as an earnest scholar and priest. His own past, reflected the land’s, having lost his family and had his world upended by the destructive chaos of invading barbarians. He was an orphan raised by the church and came to see it as the final bulwark of civilisation, and, its potential saviour. A group of like-minded, young priests including Gustavus wanted to take the church’s passive stance and upend it, going out in the world to reclaim the knowledge lost during the fall of the Lantian Empire and spread learning to people all over. They called themselves The Rekindlers and over the protests of the higher clergy, they set out into the dangerous world as proactive agents of change.
Gustavus was the youngest amongst them, but he had experienced more of the world than his fellows, most of whom were merchants’ children or city children. Even so, he was naïve and impressed with his older cohorts. Over the course of seven years, The Rekindlers met with some success, some failure and much death at the hands of bandits, beasts and natural hazards as they ventured forth into hostile lands to reclaim lost lore in the name of their god. Those seven years were challenging, often terrifying, often miserable, but even if they wore on Gustavus, paring him down from idealistic young scribe to a suspicious, practical warrior for his god, his faith only strengthened, and his hatred for barbarism increased. Hardship and violence winnowed the numbers of the original Rekindlers down to two, Gustavus and Clodia, who retired to start her own church on the frontier.
Gustavus presently lives in uncertain times. While he remains certain in his faith, he is unsure of the viability of the Rekindlers’ original mission, especially since he is now the only active one left. Does he recruit more Rekindlers or go it alone, perhaps hiring mercenaries to assist him? Does he retire to start his own church and settle down to preach the word of his god and teach the people so that they can become stronger? Does he pledge himself to a lord who wishes to push back the barbarian hordes? He feels tired, alone and bitter, but perhaps it’s time for a second wind, a fresh start fighting the good fight, stoking the fire of civilisation.
(Gustavus would be a Human, Level 7 Inquisitor, Neutral Good)
Still here, rebuilding the profile (first one got lost upon attempt to save), still interested, and willing to adjust play style as needed to mesh with group.
Dotting for interest...
I'm thinking a Human Monk (Ki Mystic / Master of Many Styles) who was exiled from his monastery for supporting the previous Sensei after a change of leadership among the monks. The monastery was renowned for it's library that scholars, mages and other knowledge seekers sought out. However, since the change in power, the library does not allow outside scholars to use it...
4+4+6 = 14
5+2+6 = 13
6+6+6 = 18
1+2+6 = 9
1+6+6 = 13
5+3+6 = 14