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Sometimes bad things happen for no reason. Sometimes we’re the reason.
The Kingdom of Talingarde is perhaps the noblest, most virtuous and peaceful nation yet founded. The royalty of this dominion has rescued a dispirited people from the brink of despair and darkness. They dealt with their enemies honorably and their allies faithfully. Talingarde is a paragon of the age, a bright shining city upon a hill. Yet the nation faces now its greatest test.That test is you. It is the ambition of our protagonists to do nothing less than destroy Talingarde utterly.
Welcome to my Way of the Wicked campaign recruitment. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts, I thought I would explain what exact you are signing up for.
Combat
There will be no grid based combat. Combat will be held in the theatre of the mind. I will still post dungeon maps and the like, for orientation purposes, but we won’t be moving tokens on a board. This requires a few alterations to work smoothly.
1. No reach weapons.
2. There will be limited AoOs. Casting or using a ranged weapon in melee will probably be about it.
3. Flanking and the like. In short, gone. I’m going to be co-opting the advantage/disadvantage system from the new iteration of D&D. In brief, either roll 2d20s and keep the highest or roll 2d20s and keep the lowest. I think this system will be great for speeding up PbP combat. I intend to use it for most, if not all , situational combat bonuses. Also, I intend to use it for flat numerical advantage. More PCs than enemies? Then you have the advantage and vice versa.
4. Sneak attacks: Extra dice apply when you have the advantage. This also applies to ranged attacks.
5. Gentleman’s agreement: It will be mutually agreed that casters and ranged PCs and enemies are protected from melee attacks while melee defenders are still standing. I.e. I won’t bum rush your casters if you don’t bum rush mine.
The goal here is not to trivialize combat, but to speed it up. Also, I think that having the advantage/disadvantage system might promote some creative combat set ups.
Posting rate
I usually am able to check the boards daily, but my posting can be a little erratic depending on my workload and familial responsibilities. Generally, I fluctuate between daily and a couple times a week. As such, I’m not particular about my players posing habits, but try not to hold up the game. I will say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so I generally will keep up with the pace set by my players, whatever that might be.
Posting style
I generally post shorter posts and I am fine with my players doing so as well. If you want to write more in depth posts, you are welcome to, but don’t make everyone read a novella. I prefer the RP that grows out of inter-PC interaction, than via epic flashbacks and inner monologue.
Commitment: Realistically, by applying to this game you are looking at a four year commitment, at least. Obviously things come up and interests change, but if you’re applying, try to think of it as getting a low maintenance pet. It doesn’t require much attention, but it does require it every day or so. That being said, I will be taking board history and number of previous posts into account during my evaluations. I don’t have any hard cutoff point, but if you’re just starting out, this might not be the best place to apply.
So you still want to apply...
Character Creation
1. Fluff:
Guilty. You are a lawbreaker – the worst of the worst. Too dangerous to live amongst the good people of Talingarde, they dragged you in chains before a magistrate and condemned you. They sent you to the worst prison in the land and there they forever marked you. They held you down and branded you with a runic F. You are forsaken. You won’t be at Branderscar Prison for long. Branderscar is only a holding pen. In three days – justice comes. In three days – everything ends.
What a pity. If only there was a way out of this stinking rat-hole. If only there was a way to escape. If only...
Background:
Talingarde is basically the end result of what happens when the least flexible paladin ever gets to make a country. Everything is black or white. There is no room for grey in Talingarde and woe to any who see things differently.
Each PC was once a member of the Red Feather Gang. A band of robbers that up until recently plied their trade along a forested trade route. The band was made up of misfits of all colours, petty thieves running from the law, peasants that failed to pay their taxes, practitioners of non-Mitran religions, disenfranchised minor nobility, barbarians from the wildlands that ran afoul of the laws of civilized lands and even, just maybe, the odd Asmodean missionary trying to bring a wayward flock back to the darkness.
What originally started as simple robberies of taxmen and the like quickly escalated as the Crown devoted more and more resources to eradicating you all. Eventually they sent in the big stick and the collected might of the Knights of the Alerion was sent against you. They burned you out and ran you down. In a night of blood and fire, the Red Feather Gang was no more. Except for you. For you there was Branderscar
In short, all the PCs know each other, they don’t have to been friends, but they all have lived and fought together. All I need from you is to tell me how you ended up in the gang in the first place.
I will be taking 4 PCs for the AP and I am planning on making a balanced party both in terms of mechanics and personality. With that in mind, I will be looking for one PC that represents each of the four fundamental personality types, sanguine (pleasure-seeking and sociable), choleric (ambitious and leader-like), melancholic (analytical and quiet), and phlegmatic (relaxed and peaceful). Here’s a link to the tv tropes site, if you want more details. Feel free to use other tropes to describe your character as well. I don’t need reams of background, but paint a bit of a picture. Comparisons to other popular characters works too.
Ablity Scores
Focus and Foible:
Choose a Focus, an ability score at which you excel. You receive an 18 in that score.
Choose a Foible, an ability score that is your weakness. You receive an 8 in that score.
The other four, roll 1d10+7 four times in order. There are no rerolls or moving of ability scores. Those are your other four scores. ONLY INCLUDE YOUR FOCUS AND FOIBLE IN YOUR APPLICATION. The rest of the rolls will be done after selection.
Alignment
Now, this is a campaign where you will do bad things, like killing LG angels bad, but that doesn’t mean you have to start off evil. Outright good characters won’t work, but neutrals with solid convictions will probably be fine. There are lots of reasons to want to see a regime change in Talingarde and you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
That being said, this is not the campaign for chaotic loners or free- spirited vagabonds. Those campaigns exist in abundance and if they are what you are looking for, perhaps you are in the wrong place. This is a campaign about joining an evil organization with a wicked agenda. Eventually, you may even come to control that evil organization. As such chaotic characters are discouraged.
Races
Core only, unless you give me a fabulous reason, and even then, human are overwhelmingly the dominant race followed by half-elves and dwarves in a distant third. The previous ruling house before the Mitran revolution was half-elven and human conquerors destroyed the existing dwarven cities when they initially invaded the island.
Classes
No paladins, summoners or gunslingers, everything is else if fine. Ninjas and samurais should be re-skinned to fit the campaign. A few other tweaks also apply, e.g. antipaladins aren’t restricted to CE, but we will deal with those case by case. If you are unsure, just ask.
Advanced classes from the playtest are allowed, but may need to be ‘fixed’ when the official book is released in August.
Traits
Any two traits are fine, no need to select a campaign trait (campaign traits from other APs are fine).
Starting Gold and Equipment
The characters begin with nothing. They have no money, no weapons or armor, no gear, no animal companions of any sort and no material possessions besides tattered, dirty prison clothes. Equipment will be acquired in game.
• Alchemists begin without their formulae book, extracts, bombs or mutagens. They must have access to an alchemical lab or chemicals to have any of these abilities restored.
• Bards begin without their instruments.
• Cavaliers have lost their mount. Presumably their mount was slain or given to another during their capture. It can be presumed that their week of mourning is already in the past.
• Clerics begin having chosen all their spells for the day. They do not have their holy symbol or any material components however.
• Druids also begin having chosen all their spells for the day. They do not, however, have their animal companion with them. Presumably such a companion was slain during their capture or escaped and awaits them outside. Regardless, such beasts would never be allowed inside the prison. Only if they escape from Branderscar prison will they have a chance to reunite with their companion or conduct the ceremony to acquire another.
• Inquisitors and Oracles lack their holy symbol if they need one.
• Witches, Wizards and Magi do not have their spell books, material components, familiars or bonded objects. They do however begin with a full selection of memorized spells from before their incarceration.
HP: Max to start. At each level you roll for hit points (re-roll 1s), however see Villain Points
Villain Points: All PCs start with 1 Villain point and gain 1 Villain Point each time they level up. The maximum number of Villain Points a PC can have at a time is 3. Hero Point feats and spells are allowed.
You can use 1 Villain Point to do any of the following actions. You can only use 1 Villain Point per turn for these actions.
1. Gain an extra standard action during your turn.
2. Gain a +8 bonus to a d20 roll if spent before or a +4 bonus if spent after. This can also be used to effectively increase the DC of a spell by lowering a single target's saving throw in the same manner.
3. Ready an action at any time. (Must be done before a post is made; no retcons.)
4. Regain a spell or use of a limited special ability.
5. Reroll a d20.
6. Reroll for HP at a new level.
You can use 2 Villain Points to do the following, regardless of if you have used a Villain Point this turn.
7. Survive a fatal attack at -10, unconscious, and stable. (2 points)
I will be taking a balanced party. I have no particular class biases, but the final party will include arcane and divine casting, trapfinding, and have at least one female PC.
Recruitment will be open until I find what I’m looking for, but probably a week or so. I don’t need full profiles and only minimal crunch for submission. I’m looking for interesting characters and reliable players. Also feel free to apply as duos, trios or complete parties if you so wish.
Lastly, this is not a roleplay tavern, so please don’t clutter things up.
Thanks, and good luck.
Hmmmm...
Me likey. Me likey very much. I already have an idea for an arcanist. Lemme post one of his thoughts...
I was close. So close! Finding the Crown of Anveglamar was my key to power. All I had left to do was to find somebody to bind an erinyes to bind... So close. So very, very close. Then, I was caught. Damn Knights busted me, and I had to run fast, get out of Dodge.
Then, by chance, I found the Red Feather gang. Somehow, I convinced them to let me in. I was their key to success, I threw around some good ol' fashioned hellfire and unholy lightning, and the little guys started pissing in their pants. Half of the time, they didn't even need to draw weapons. I, of course, demanded only some of the loot that interested me: bindings, stuff on Hell, anything that I could learn about that could help me find the Crown... Only some of my books got spared from the burning of my home, but it was enough. I even eventually convinced the gang to take captive a certain Asmodean priest. Again, the little hellfire trick convinced him to do the binding for me.
Then, bam! Somehow they found me, in the middle of the ritual. The inquisitors of Mitra locked down the binding circle like it was a child's chalk drawing, and then they proceeded to slaughter the rest of the gang. Just. Like. That. But, they had to make an example out of all of us. So four others and I-most likely the most dangerous out of all of the motley crew-were rounded up, branded, and sent to Branderscar. The mark of Forsaken burns with hatred on my shoulder even as I think. I will not die here. I WILL get my revenge. And I WILL find the crown.
Dot for interest. I was thinking in a ranger maybe dualclassing barbarian
Focus: Dexterity
Foible: Wisdom
Personality type: Melancholic
HHmmm Ha. HAHA. HHmm Haaa. These fools, perhaps I should try a reaping. an Urgothan priest had told him about that once, sounded like immense fun. Reaping the priest had been fun. Oh such fun, power, sex, wealth. Zerram indulged himself in whatever he could get his hands on.
There had been lots of fun call girls in the tavern. Of course, they were all afraid of him now, who didn't like a bit of burning now and then? Damn this city! with a cruel smile, and villainous light in his eye, the wicked man walked behind the tavern and set it alight. In moments people began to flee, and soon screams rang out from the inside. Zerram danced in the street, screaming right along with them, racked with laughter, until the guards came for him. He fled the city. Eventually he fell in with the Red Feather Gang, good guys, Zerrams type of people, though none of them really had the stomach for torture he had.
He was in the midst of a rather violent romantic tryst with a several captives when the Knights of Alerion set upon them. They had the audacity to drag HIM! off to prison. At least they hadn't branded his face. His beautiful face. He had laughed the whole time spewing curses of the foulest nature at his captors.
Focus: Strength
Foible: Wisdom
Personality Type: Sanguine
Build: Human NE Antipaladin of Zon-Kuthon. A nefarious madman and pleasure seeker. Capable of working with other, for the comedic value of course.
GM Fanguar, concept sounds good, very interested! I'm also really glad you outlined expectations from the start, I'm sure many people submitting characters don't consider the long-term ramifications of signing up to a slower-paced PbP AP campaign. As for me, I'm in for the long haul :)
Lucetta de Leon
Born to a minor branch of noble house Barca, from a very young age Lucetta was told that she should set aside her own desires in favor of whatever her family needed of her. This eventually led to their placing her in to the care of the local temple, the family's gift to Mitra as a purely political move, for her to be trained as a priestess. Lucetta did her best to study, but around this time her own dark powers began to manifest, and though she delighted in them, she was swiftly expelled from the temple with suspicions raised about her family itself. They admonished her and forced her to conceal them, treating her like she was worse than nothing, as if she had deliberately chosen to bring down the wrath of the priesthood. Eventually the inquisition came for her, and she ran.
By herself for the first time ever, her new powers came in to their own, and she found a natural talent at thieving in order to feed herself. Eventually she was spotted by a member of the Red Feather gang, and offered a place with others like her on the edge of society, where they would be happy to use her gifts for the benefit of everyone and they would protect her in turn. This new life, where she might be able to just be herself at long last, appealed greatly and she accepted on the spot. The next few months were the very best of her life, where she found common ground and acceptance for the first time. It was here that she developed her code of morality, her own experiences of the so called 'good' people had soured her otherwise benevolent nature. Instead she found that her new family, the ones she chose to be with, were the most important thing and all others were secondary. She has no qualms doing what needs to be done in order for her and her new friends to survive, yet still finds the space to live by a code. She is not cruel, doesn't kill for sport and easily accepts rules made for the society she chooses to take a part in.
The destruction of her new family and her capture along with a few of her friends has re-opened her burning hatred of the existing government and laws, she will stop at nothing to seek vengeance for her slain gang and tear town the stained ivory towers of Talingarde.
Party role: Arcane might, social, infiltration
Focus: CHA
Foible: CON
Personality: Phlegmatic
Build: Half-elf LE shadow(Umbral) sorcerer
Paladin, dark lord archetype if allowed
Focus: charisma
Foible: wisdom
Personality: ambitious leader
Race: unknown yet
Bare bones info: 4th son whose father was a leader of a group in the gang. Wants to see Talingarde in distress for seeing his father die at their hands.
Interested as a Slayer, with a Focus in Str and Foible in Cha. Melancholic for personality. Rough concept - an ex-Watchman with a murderous streak, that is happy to work for anyone who gives him a chance to hone his killing skills. Will expand on the background later today.
While this alias is new, I'm not a total stranger to PbP, having participated in 1+ year games in the past, spanning up to 4 levels.
dotting for interest. Will post a character within 3hrs
Focus: Strength
Fobi: Intelligence
Personality: Phlegmatic
Build: LE male human sword and board fighter.
Thoughts on character - I am but a simple man.
Background will follow.
Looks interesting, but, yet again, another summoner hating game.
Why the dislike of summoners?
Name: Alucard Xavier
Race: Human Male
Class: Alchemist
Focus: Intelligence
Foible: Strength
Personality: Melancholic
Note:
- If you just want to learn how he came to join the Red Feather Gang, read only the Birds of the Red Feather.
Alucard was accepted into a university at a young age of 12 in Absalom. He excelled so much in alchemy and underlying mysteries of the arcane that by 16 years old many discoveries proudly announced by the university was attributed to him. However, his genius has always been hated by his colleagues. With no one to call a friend since he started there, Alucard has taken alchemy as his companion. An art that will only keep going closer to perfection as he gives it more time and effort. It became an obsession!
Without care of what may happen, now 20 years of age, Alucard is secretly performing experiments using various mixtures of bombs and potions on smuggled creatures, and even various mutagen variants on himself. With no consequence so far, and it only heightened his pride with himself and his work as it enabled him to explore his art without restriction.
When the Grand Lodge was finally hired to slam down smuggling operations however, many of Alucard's contacts disappeared without a trace. It did not take long for them to crack and lead the Pathfinders to him, where he was immediately taken away from his lab, stripped of his possessions, and imprisoned upon discovery of his experiments. Due to his reputation however, Alucard escaped the death penalty and was exiled to Brandscar Prison in Talingarde as a result. The ship Pathfinders used was disguised as a merchant ship to prevent any contacts of Alucard to attempt a rescue.
An explosion suddenly rocked the 'merchant' ship as it docked at the last port before Talingarde. Inside the large crate where his undercover Pathfinder escorts held him, Alucard hears the sounds of battle. Steel clashing on steel can be heard over the shouts and growls of men fighting, while the occassional flash of a spell brightens the inside of the crate. Faster than expected however, the sounds of battle faded as one side was defeated.
Alucard soon learned who won as he felt and heard *thunk* of a crowbar hitting the edge of the crate's lid. With a mighty heave, the crate cracked open, finally exposing Alucard to the outside world again. Hands still bound, Alucard took his time to stand up only to see a scarred and aging strongarm press the side of his falchion on the left his neck. Alucard settled on a straight-backed stand as he felt a shallow cut on his neck. Taking a closer look, Alucard notices that the man in front him has a large red feather strapped to the side of his upper arm whose gaze is now on a piece of paper which he apparently got from the corpse on the deck beside them both.
"So.." still not looking, the man says in a rough voice, "it seems that there is nothing of worth in this ship after all; except for a few crates of clothing and food. Barely worth our effort!" Finally, he turns to look at Alucard before saying, "But then there's you..." gesturing with the hand holding the paper, he adds "It says here that you are Alucard, an alchemist with an... immoral... passion for research headed for Brandscar Prison. Is that right?"
Alucard only smiles at the word, "Ha! So that's how they describe me? No words can describe what I have done and they record it with such weak words? I suppose my 'colleagues' needed some form of comfort to see me as merely their equal."
The man lets the arm holding his blade to fall at his side as he laughs. His companions seem to have finished scouring the ship as they gathered behind him. "No fear of death? And with a pride that seeks it to boot! It's a combination no man has lived long enough to brag to their children." To which Alucard responds with a shrug, "I have no wish to have children, only the perfection of my art matters."
The man moves closer to Alucard, staring him in the eyes and says "Well I, Grain, have an offer to you. It just so happens that we lost some men during this assault, and a man of your talent would more than compensate for that. Help us execute our plans, maybe even provide us alternative weapons to use, and we'll provide you with a lab and whatever 'materials' you need to continue your... art. It would make both our trips here worth it." He steps back before adding, "Otherwise, the sharks of the sea may have more food tonight..."
Despite the open threat, Alucard did not respond. He only raise both his hands, to which Grain responded to by cut the rope binding it with a slash. Alucard let his left hand fall, but his right remained as he tilted his head slightly with a devious smile as he looked at the man in front of him. Grain grinned, shook his hand and says, "Welcome to the Red Feather Gang."
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Myrian
Human Shaman of Lore
Focus: Charisma
Foible: Strength
Personality: Choleric
Myrian is the last scion of House Sonor, who refused to give up their worship of Asmodeus and adherence to the pre-Mitran ways. In turns their house was destroyed, and as the survivors scattered they were hunted down one by one. Myrian is the last, the last memory is a Ferret given to her as a gift by her brother, the night before he vanished. Myrian found the creature a catalyst for awakening her magic.
She fell in with the Red Feathers after months moving around. Seeming to gain some stability. She tried to manipulate them to her ends, but they were too few in number and power to achieve a great deal, and now even that pathetic life is over. No-one escapes Brandescar.
Name: Nicolae Constantinescu
Human Wizard
Focus: Intelligence
Foible: Strength
Personality: Rationsl (Choleric/Melancholic)
A former noble scion and protegee of the University of Talingarde, Nicolae fell from favor upon publishing his thesis, offering proof, both mathematical and theological, demonstrating that is was the gods who were dependent upon the faith of man for their survival and power.
Disowned by his family, ejected from the university, and named an enemy of the state. Ever pragmatic, Nicolae ran, seeking refuge in the only place beyond the reach of Talingarde's law, among the bandits and outlaws preying upon society's fringes.
Here's the background for my Slayer submission:
Edgar was introverted and insecure from childhood. Largely left to his own devices, he has turned into a mean and cruel bully by adolescence. After his family has realized what he was becoming, they put him into a boarding school run by a local Mithran church, to 'fix' him - Edgar has rightly suspected that this was their way of quietly disowning him, so after graduating he has refused to return home. His parents did not insist.
The school wasn't about to keep him as an adult either, so they have protege'd him into the Talingarde border patrol. This seemed to work for all parties involved. Edgar himself did not object, he has made a good first impression on his employer, showing aptitude for both scouting and combat, and for the head of the boarding school, an influential priest of Mitra, this was another example of how Mitran faith cures wayward souls and turns misfits into valuable society members.
It came to bite him back soon, as Edgar's law enforcement career was quick but brutal. The real reason Edgar agreed for his job was that he came to hold deep contempt for the Mitran religion and wanted to be as far away from it as possible. As an added insult, he viewed his badge of office as a license to kill or mutilate anyone whom he found trespassing. A few reports by incredulous comrades were enough to bring him to trial for murder.
He would face the gallows if not for the influence of his old mentor/nemesis, the head of the boarding school. An expensive attorney hired on his expense has achieved the softest possible sentence - a few years of forced labor - yet Edgar has seen through the ruse. He was sure that the old priest could not care less for his soul - all he really cared about was the flawless image of his school, which he couldn't afford to be tarnished.
Edgar would have none of it. He stayed silent during the trial, but as he was escorted to the labor camp during the night, he attacked the guards and escaped through sheer luck and determination. His hunting and survival skills, as well as a dagger stolen from one of the guards, allowed him to stay alive in the Talingarde forests for a couple of weeks, until one day he has heard loud noises coming from a road. Coming closer, he discovered that an armed robbery was in progress. Without hesitation, he has joined the winning side - the robbers, who were all wearing red feathers. He asked for a place in the gang, and after a grueling test he was welcomed into the Red Feathers.
For a few months that followed, Edgar was finally at terms with his life, but after the gang was all but destroyed in a raid last week, it would seem that fate had some other plans for him.
Alignment would be LE, and I can fill the Trapfinding niche starting from 2nd level if needed.
Looks interesting, but, yet again, another summoner hating game.
Why the dislike of summoners?
It's not a dislike, they are just broken good. You get two characters for the price of one. Really, you could probably just run any AP with 2-3 summoners and call it a day. So guess its a balance issue, more than anything else, coupled with the fact that I want to take 4 PCs not 5.
Anywho, looking good folks. Let me know if you have any questions.
How much background do you want and how do you prefer it?
I am leaning more and more towards NE rather than LE as I work with the character.
How much background do you want and how do you prefer it?
I am leaning more and more towards NE rather than LE as I work with the character.
NE works as well as anything. As for background, I don't require much at all, but I will read whatever you put together. Descriptive text in a spoiler is fine. I'm just trying to get an idea of your PC's personality and motivations are.
Name: Bobbity Ormsby Mordecai Boram (yep bomb)
Halfling alchemist
Focus: Intelligence
Foible: Strength
Personality: Oh yeah.
Can I adjust my submission to have CON as its foible? Looking back, it would be a better fit to his backstory due to extreme self-experimentation.
For motivation of future events, here's what I had in mind.
"So close..." he thought. "Just when I was about to attain pinnacle of my art, those blasted Knights of Alerion just had to come and take it all away from me."
*flashbacks on the raid for the Crown's Knights on the final fort of the Red Feather Gang*
Now Alucard sits in the corner of his cell in Brandscar Prison, sunlight from the small window shining a small spot upon his left shoulder, highlighting the runic F branded upon it. He looks up at the window in recollection. From his gaze alone, with eyes glowing faintly green as a consequence of his experiments; anybody from the outside looking in would feel his fury. It's as if the man in rags inside the cell, probably sentenced to die, can walk out at any time and is only waiting for the right time to inflict pain upon his captors along the way.
Pondering further, "It would take me years to redo my work, but I suspect the Knights would have kept my records, and probably handed it over to the Crown in the process. Fools.... they understand the value of research such as mine. If I can get it back, it'll take me less than a month to re-construct the results from last time with the right materials."
Alucard unconsciously raises his a grimy hand to finger the outline of the brand on his shoulder, "But if I ever find out that they destroyed my research... well... perhaps a plague is a good start."
An idea I had for this...
Name: Iacobus
LN Human Investigator (can fulfill trap-finding, be support and skill checks)(Also lawful to his own code of conduct, which tends towards evil but not for the sake of evil)
Focus: Intelligence
Foible: Strength
Personality: Choleric
Intelligence will always rule over and direct strength
This is one of the first things Iacobus learned, along with "life is not fair" and "you often have to steal to survive."
While Talingarde may seem and often is a land of peace and virtue, there are still elements, especially in the larger cities, where people have to live by stealing, killing and generally fighting with each other. Sometimes people just want to or enjoy this, other times they have to to survive. Iacobus grew up in a situation where this was true for most of the people around him.
At a young age he was orphaned, whether it was from his parents abandoning him or from them dying he does not know, nor do the people who found and raised him. This group was part of the underbelly of Talingarde, and lived off of it much like a leech. Iacobus quickly realized that while the strong people may seem to hold the power, often the intelligent actually wield it. With this concept and some of the skills he learned, Iacobus soon made his own family of people he could manipulate and control.
When a pest becomes too much of a problem it is often attacked with extreme prejudice, such was the case for Iacobus' organization. It was quickly dismantled and soon scattered with people either fleeing or being taken prisoner. Iacobus was able to escape into the country side where he discovered the Red Feather Gang and joined, convinced he could soon become leader. However, before he could really even start, the gang faced a similar fate as his organization had, but this time he was not so lucky.
I am in for the long haul.
Age: 45
Class: Cleric
Domains: Darkness, Death
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Occupation: Doctor
Focus: Constitution
Foible: Dexterity
Personality: Melancholic
Arthur
Focus: Strength
Fobi: Intelligence
Personality: Phlegmatic
Build: NE male human sword and board fighter.
Thoughts on character - I am but a simple man.
A small band of soldiers were riding through a wood in the heartland of Talingarde. Thinking rather highly of themselves the talked and jested as if they riding to a feast. "And then there is the stupid one, strong as an ox and almost as clever," they laughed at that one. "I heard he deserted when they tried to make him a sergeant in the army, guess they needed someone who the bugbears could relate to," that one almost knocked one the saddle. "Wait, wait," another one said "Did you know he tried to return to his homestead and family. Who does that after having deserted?"
"Someone who loves them," came the interruption, the laughing died quickly. "Now gentlemen, I am but a simple man, but my friends tell me you owe us a tax for trespassing," a muscular man stood sword in hand and made a sweeping gesture to the side of the road where the rest of the Red Feather Gang waited bows drawn.
I'd like to apply with Poki Blackfern, a Gnome Blight Druid. She was created for an earlier WotW campaign which died very early (we never made it out of the prison).
I'm happy to redo any parts of it you like, but the character creation guidelines look essentially the same.
Focus: Wisdom
Foible: Intelligence
Two Word Description: Smurf Gollum
But fear not -- Poki is not a humor character. She appears cute, harmless, and adorable, but she will cut out your liver and devour it without a second thought.
There's are plenty of good submissions and not a lot of traffic, so I think I'll leave submissions open until Saturday and make my decision on Sunday. Feel free to tweak or change anything up until the deadline.
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My final submission.
Name: Alucard Xavier
Race: Human Male
Class: Alchemist
Focus: Intelligence
Foible: Constitution
Personality: Melancholic
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Note: If you just want to learn how he came to join the Red Feather Gang, read only the Birds of the Red Feather.
Alucard was accepted into a university at a young age of 12 in Absalom. He excelled so much in alchemy and underlying mysteries of the arcane that by 16 years old many discoveries proudly announced by the university was attributed to him. However, his genius has always been hated by his colleagues. With no one to call a friend since he started there, Alucard has taken alchemy as his companion. An art that will only keep going closer to perfection as he gives it more time and effort. It became an obsession!
Without care of what may happen, now 20 years of age, Alucard is secretly performing experiments using various mixtures of bombs and potions on smuggled creatures, and even various mutagen variants on himself. With no consequence so far, and it only heightened his pride with himself and his work as it enabled him to explore his art without restriction.
When the Grand Lodge was finally hired to slam down smuggling operations however, many of Alucard's contacts disappeared without a trace. It did not take long for them to crack and lead the Pathfinders to him, where he was immediately taken away from his lab, stripped of his possessions, and imprisoned upon discovery of his experiments. Due to his reputation however, Alucard escaped the death penalty and was exiled to Brandscar Prison in Talingarde as a result. The ship Pathfinders used was disguised as a merchant ship to prevent any contacts of Alucard to attempt a rescue.
An explosion suddenly rocked the 'merchant' ship as it docked at the last port before Talingarde. Inside the large crate where his undercover Pathfinder escorts held him, Alucard hears the sounds of battle. Steel clashing on steel can be heard over the shouts and growls of men fighting, while the occassional flash of a spell brightens the inside of the crate. Faster than expected however, the sounds of battle faded as one side was defeated.
Alucard soon learned who won as he felt and heard *thunk* of a crowbar hitting the edge of the crate's lid. With a mighty heave, the crate cracked open, finally exposing Alucard to the outside world again. Hands still bound, Alucard took his time to stand up only to see a scarred and aging strongarm press the side of his falchion on the left his neck. Alucard settled on a straight-backed stand as he felt a shallow cut on his neck. Taking a closer look, Alucard notices that the man in front him has a large red feather strapped to the side of his upper arm whose gaze is now on a piece of paper which he apparently got from the corpse on the deck beside them both.
"So.." still not looking, the man says in a rough voice, "it seems that there is nothing of worth in this ship after all; except for a few crates of clothing and food. Barely worth our effort!" Finally, he turns to look at Alucard before saying, "But then there's you..." gesturing with the hand holding the paper, he adds "It says here that you are Alucard, an alchemist with an... immoral... passion for research headed for Brandscar Prison. Is that right?"
Alucard only smiles at the word, "Ha! So that's how they describe me? No words can describe what I have done and they record it with such weak words? I suppose my 'colleagues' needed some form of comfort to see me as merely their equal."
The man lets the arm holding his blade to fall at his side as he laughs. His companions seem to have finished scouring the ship as they gathered behind him. "No fear of death? And with a pride that seeks it to boot! It's a combination no man has lived long enough to brag to their children." To which Alucard responds with a shrug, "I have no wish to have children, only the perfection of my art matters."
The man moves closer to Alucard, staring him in the eyes and says "Well I, Grain, have an offer to you. It just so happens that we lost some men during this assault, and a man of your talent would more than compensate for that. Help us execute our plans, maybe even provide us alternative weapons to use, and we'll provide you with a lab and whatever 'materials' you need to continue your... art. It would make both our trips here worth it." He steps back before adding, "Otherwise, the sharks of the sea may have more food tonight..."
Despite the open threat, Alucard did not respond. He only raise both his hands, to which Grain responded to by cut the rope binding it with a slash. Alucard let his left hand fall, but his right remained as he tilted his head slightly with a devious smile as he looked at the man in front of him. Grain grinned, shook his hand and says, "Welcome to the Red Feather Gang."
"So close..." he thought. "Just when I was about to attain pinnacle of my art, those blasted Knights of Alerion just had to come and take it all away from me."
*flashbacks on the raid for the Crown's Knights on the final fort of the Red Feather Gang*
Now Alucard sits in the corner of his cell in Brandscar Prison, sunlight from the small window shining a small spot upon his left shoulder, highlighting the runic F branded upon it. He looks up at the window in recollection. From his gaze alone, with eyes glowing faintly green as a consequence of his experiments; anybody from the outside looking in would feel his fury. It's as if the man in rags inside the cell, probably sentenced to die, can walk out at any time and is only waiting for the right time to inflict pain upon his captors along the way.
Pondering further, "It would take me years to redo my work, but I suspect the Knights would have kept my records, and probably handed it over to the Crown in the process. Fools.... they understand the value of research such as mine. If I can get it back, it'll take me less than a month to re-construct the results from last time with the right materials."
Alucard unconsciously raises his a grimy hand to finger the outline of the brand on his shoulder, "But if I ever find out that they destroyed my research... well... perhaps a plague is a good start."
Elevator Pitch.
Name: Zurn Thorn
Age: 45
Race: Human Male
Class: Cleric
Deity: Zon-Kuthon
Domains: Darkness, Death
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Occupation: Doctor
Focus: Constitution
Foible: Dexterity
Personality: Melancholic
Just thought I would collect the submissions. Let me know if I missed anyone.
Sanguine (pleasure-seeking and sociable)
Zerram - Bane88 (Antipaladin)
Choleric (ambitious and leader-like)
Myrian -spinningdice- (Shaman of Lore )
Iacobus -Sedoriku- (Investigator)
Melancholic (analytical and quiet)
'Nine-toes' Sherrick (Rogue)
Zurn Thorn (Cleric)
Alucard Xavier - DFang- (Alchemist)
CyberMephit (Slayer)
Nicolae Constantinescu (Wizard)
Phlegmatic (relaxed and peaceful)
Lucetta de Leon - Fiendish Zen- (Sorcerer)
Arthur -Big OM- (Fighter)
Unspecified/Incomplete:
Tsiron Ragmar (Arcanist)
Gilthanis (Anitpaladin)
Bobbity (Alchemist)
Poki Blackfern (Druid)
Here is a little more:
Personality: Definitely Sanguine but the pleasure he seeks is usually pain in others. I am trying to go for the Joker but with my own twists.
Age: Unkown (not middle aged though)
Well that's all she wrote folks.
Thank you for your interesting character concepts and thanks to those who PMed me more info.
I'll take some time to review the submissions and make my selection. I'll PM those who make the cut.
To those who are left behind, better luck next time and know you did not make it easy.
Thanks everyone.
I missed seeing the personality types first time through; my apologies for leaving that off.
Of the four choices, I would describe Poki as Phlegmatic.
Good luck everyone!
Could you also post here those that made it so the rest of us know if we can move on to other games?
