So, as im basically working forward from the Earthfall to build this guy and his organization up I need to know how many years has it been since the end of the 4th crusade?
So, as im basically working forward from the Earthfall to build this guy and his organization up I need to know how many years has it been since the end of the 4th crusade?
I want to say it has been about six years.
Six years is correct, though some crusaders insist it's still ongoing.
Wow, lie your head down and get bombarded with ten posts overnight! Alright, seeing what I can do...
Starting from the top: Kevin Hurly & Heinrick Stonewright: Aside from having startlingly common names, I say that you're looking alright!
Tieflings and aasimirs are the children of humans or other humanoids. It seems to me that they should have common names like their "normal" siblings. In any case Kevin is the loved child of two humans who are servants of good deities. They would never stigmatize their child with a name that was out of the ordinary. :)
I was just following the traditions of the Middle ages.
Last names were generally ones trade.
Ex.
Wainwright - Wagon maker.
Cooper - Barrel Maker
Cobbler - Shoe maker
Stonewright - Mason.
Will have him meeting your game creation guidelines by tomorrow evening.
I believe that Tippy has been updated, and his backstory expanded and rebuilt for this setting. Originally, he was a guy on his way to join the crusade against his will and jumped ship. This time, he didn't get the chance but is now on board with helping out.
Working out the details, including the background but this is the framework "crunch" and will be the alias I use for my Half-Orc Paladin. (Mr. Nevets, here)
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Now going back and forth between arcanist, bard and alchemist. I want to make a character that has good buffs for the party and preferably also some martial/casting potential. I guess all three qualify; bard is very hotly contested atm and I'm looking at the other two, also because I haven't played either before and there's currently no full arcane casters in the submissions.
Two questions: while the player's guide mentions a particular mythic path is bound to one of the traits, how 'hard' is this? Is it forbidden to take a trait and go a different mythic path?
Second: is reflavoring of vivisectionist alchemist allowed into a rogue-type character that simply uses extracts to enhance his abilities? The archetype trades out bombs for sneak attack, but the fluff associated with it is normally being an evil doctor. Would said rogue or a good-aligned doctor qualify for that toolkit as well?
I'm not sure how "hard" I want to bind the traits to their mythic paths, but my impulse is to say "reasonably closely." If you want to reflavor the specifics of the story of your chosen trait, I would be amenable to it, but grabbing one trait for the mechanics and then going for a different mythic path makes me somewhat wary.
Let's see, for the vivisectionist question... the sneak attack isn't the moral problem, I think, nor is the medical switch. Really, the most morally problematic feature I see with the archetype is the "torturous transformation." Which is, uh... pretty damn dark, if you ask me. Cruelty to animals and all that. How would you flavor that particular feature's effects in a less morally dark manner?
Hmm, after some thought, I've moved away from my original bard idea and I'm now working on an Archon-Blooded (Lawbringer) Inquisitor (Cold Iron Warden).
Wyneiss has her background now. It went a little long I suppose, but it's not super complicated. I still have to add some to the Appearance/Personality section and finish up gear.
I switched the Infiltrator archetype for Transporter. The two things about Ranger I don't care for are the animal companion and Favored Terrain. Transporter changes the two of them into a really nice and flexible package.
This sounds like a blast. I have played in some Wrath of the Righteous games before, but they never finished and some were heavily modified. Something about Forgotten Realms elements making it's way into the game at least gave me such an impression.
After taking some time to look around, I'm considering a half-elf archaeologist bard of Desna. This character would not fit the classic roll of the bard, but more of a skill monkey with divine insight and luck. The goals later down the road being to take evangelist as a prestige class and pick up the trickster as a mythic path.
The character was pulled towards Desna not only because she is the goddess of luck and travel, but also because of her affinity to butterflies. Having lived with the prejudices of a mixed ancestry, the character feels an kindred spirit in butterflies and wishes for a metamorphosis of their own.
They are drawn to the crusades for it's welcoming demeanor towards most races willing to help the cause, which in and of itself is something the character finds worth fighting for. Although they do express a distinct interest in seeing the ruined land so that they might learn how to better prevent such things from happening again in the future.
Desna does play a significant role in the AP. One somewhat less obvious than Iomedae (whose presence is loud and in your face), as is her wont, but definitely perceptible.
EDIT: Speaking of which: A brief list of recommended deities based purely on my own thoughts.
- Iomedae
- Desna
- Shelyn or Sarenrae
- Torag
- Empyrean Lords of various sorts
...
...
- Abadar
In approximate order of suggestion.
Yeah, I was taking another look through the Player's Guide for the Wrath of the Righteous adventure path to start pulling some fresh inspiration from. Desna was mentioned there, so it felt right for the character I was looking at. I'll work on flushing out the background and getting the mechanics put into a new profile to present to you.
Bards Bards Bards everywhere! Perhaps I'll whip up something different! (Or at least not an inspire courage bard) Trying to let the ideas flow, but I'm used to bouncing ideas off a table, as opposed to auditioning for a slot!
I do hope that my bard was not helping push you away from bard. Mine acts more like a rogue than a bard as they will not be granting bonuses through bardic performance, since they lack that ability.
Ok. Getting Dain Bramage, Inquisitor of Mordain up and running
Though I do concede that I have some reservations about Ragathiel, if that's the angle you're going for, I think I'd be fine with it.
Oho, is this an invitation to expound upon my version of Ragathiel's faith and why the edgelords are wrong about him being their patron god? I think it is!
Let's address the second question first. We already have a full fledged goddess of revenge for the sake of revenge, Calistria. If you want to seek vengeance because it feels good and/or poetic justice amuses you, she's your goddess. Ragathiel pursues evildoers because he upholds the law, and more importantly, so the perpetrator can't hurt anyone else in the future. His paladin code addresses this:
The paladins of Ragathiel are shining beacons of furious resolve on the battlefield, and they are careful stewards of valor everywhere. These paladins disproportionately come from cultures that are typically hostile to paladin training, including those of half-orcs, hobgoblins, Gebbites, and the Nidalese. The tenets of Ragathiel’s paladins include the following affirmations.
- I will avenge evil wrought upon the innocent.
- I will not give my word lightly, but once it is given, I will uphold a promise until my last breath.
- Those proven guilty must be punished for their crimes. I will not turn a blind eye to wrongdoing.
- Rage is a virtue and a strength only when focused against the deserving. I will never seek disproportionate retribution.
- Redemption finds hearts from even the cruelest origins. I will strive not to act upon prejudice against fellow mortals based on race or origin.
He's an angry guy, don't get me wrong, but he's learned to control and channel that anger within strict limits in order to use it as a weapon against evil. It makes sense to me that his followers would teach the importance of control as well. Chivalry is one of his areas of concern, which implies a code of honor and good conduct. This would be particularly important for half-orcs and tieflings like Merixia, who struggle with their emotions. Looking at the creeds of Iomedae and Sarenrae, it seems that their worshipers place anger in a negative light, something that a real priest doesn't allow to influence them. That's just not realistic for a race with such strong passions. They need an outlet, and Ragathiel provides that within a code which limits collateral damage.
Finally, there's the matter of prejudice and redemption. I imagine Ragathiel would get a lot of followers like Merixia and her mentor, members of minority races who are discriminated against in polite society. He knows their issues like no other deity. So he's an unofficial god of outcasts along with his official portfolio. Merixia will always offer a chance to surrender even if her opponent looks completely evil. Granted, it usually sounds something like "SURRENDER OR DIE, DEMON SCUM!", but if someone takes her up on it she'll treat them honorably and escort them to the nearest lawful authority for judgement. If they express a sincere desire to repent for their sins, she'll either try to convert them or find them a priest of their chosen good-aligned deity to guide them in their journey of atonement. Ragathiel was born half devil and redeemed himself, so mortals should be able to do the same thing.
If you read all this, wow, I'm impressed! Let me know if you have any questions.
In other news, I took your advice and switched Merixia's free outfit out for cold weather gear. Hopefully her cold resistance 5 will help there too.
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Now going back and forth between arcanist, bard and alchemist. I want to make a character that has good buffs for the party and preferably also some martial/casting potential. I guess all three qualify; bard is very hotly contested atm and I'm looking at the other two, also because I haven't played either before and there's currently no full arcane casters in the submissions.
If my vote counts for anything, I vote for arcanist. We're going to need the firepower that a full arcane caster brings to the table.
Currently thinking about either a half-orc order of the flame cavalier building towards stalwart, or my patented spell-proof dwarven fighter build. I'd love some feedback from anyone, on what they think would be be more useful!
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Hi Kazmanaught, Yeah navigating the application process for games can take some getting used to. It's a gamble for everyone involved. The interested players have to make a guess about what a GM will prefer. Then the GM has to look at all the submissions and try to assemble a party out of them, both in terms of what they think will work, and which ones best meet their vision of what the game will be like.
There are sort of two ways you can go.
1. Look at the submissions so far and find a niche that few people are covering. Make a character that covers that niche. For example, the recruitment is getting crowded with martial and skills (Bards) characters. so don't make one of them. There aren't any full arcane casters (I think so far) so make one of them. It simply increases your odds because the pool you're in is smaller.
2. If you really prefer a particular play style in characters, like for example martial, and don't have much fun with other character types, make a martial. Yes, there are more martial choices so your odds go down. But if you don't have fun with other character types, who cares? You won't be having fun playing the other kind of character if you're chosen, so why be in the game at that cost?
Regardless of which you do, work on your backstory. The "fluff" aspects of the character are how you present your vision of how your character will act, think, and interact with other characters. If you think of PbP as an exercise in collaborative writing, sort of the text version of improvisational acting, you'll see why the GM needs to care about it a great deal. If the mechanics delineate the character, the backstory delineates the player. It doesn't have to be incredibly long and complicated, just show your ideas for the character so the GM has an idea of where you want to go with the character.
I've substantially changed up my concept. My character is starting with a level in swashbuckler, but will continue with dusk knight paladin and then shadowdancer, with a general theme of being a blade in the dark for the forces of good.
Hm... I'm a bit reluctant to do this, if only 'cause I don't want to see a disproportionate number of alchemical doohickies and acid flasks, etc. So I'm going to go with "no" on that, I'm afraid.
Of course, that's why I thought to ask. It wasn't for use-items. It was for random non-use items such as inkpens and such fyi, just so you don't think of me as wanting to powergame.. In any case, I'll spend full gold. Not a problem.
I believe I am finished. There may be the occasional tweak here and there as inspiration comes, but this should resemble a finished product. Nicolette Yardley! I also went with the original Aasimar over the lawbringer.
Bards Bards Bards everywhere! Perhaps I'll whip up something different! (Or at least not an inspire courage bard) Trying to let the ideas flow, but I'm used to bouncing ideas off a table, as opposed to auditioning for a slot!
Try a bard with satire. Penalties and making fun of demons can always be entertaining.
Right had to stop myself because I was getting too deep into stuff that's better just revealed through rp and I was in a mood.
To discuss the history of the Steel Razorwinds one must first look to its parent organization, the vaunted Silver Razorwinds of Kyonin.
An organization older than that elven nation itself legend states that when the great Elven empires of old fled the coming Earthfall soldiers and mages fleeing from the devastation combined their skills to preserve what was left of their culture and defend those few settlements waiting to evacuate off world to escape death.
Little is known about its history in Sovyrian outside of Kyonin. Whether the group developed its skills in that distant place or they had always existed and are merely part of the group's mission of preservation few can speculate.
What is known is that upon the elves return to Golarion the Silver Razorwinds came with them. With their penchant for archery, light armor, and wearing face obscuring masks many an observer and spy mistook them for rangers or other such covert operatives. Such assumptions were quickly put to rest as raiders and bandits testing the relatively new nation's strength found rows of masked elves atop walls, hilltops or perched in trees raining storms of arrows and spellfire in unison. These actions, combined with the vigilance of its border rangers and the strength of its mages did much to build the fearsome reputation of Kyonin's borders and build on to the mystique of that mysterious place.
Part knightly order, part school of the arcane, the Silver Razorwinds operate almost exclusively within Kyonin never leaving the country unless an important Elven envoy or religious figure requests them as bodyguards to accompany them into uncivilized lands.
Those few bodyguards and envoys willing to speak of them described the order as staunchly traditionalist even among elves, and though their worldview tends to favor elven culture and history above all others they are at their heart a good organization that does much charitable work and raise a good number of elven orphans both from within and outside the borders of Kyonin.
When the worldwound opened Kyonin, as normal, responded slowly. Citing that many of the martial orders within Kyonin operated independently of the royal house, the queen effectively sidestepped any cooperation with non-Elven powers in the Mendevian crusades and the potential internal struggles such support, or lack of it, might cause..
As the 1st crusade was winding down many Elven seers, cut from the same cloth as those who predicted the Earthfall, gazed into the future and foresaw disaster coming from the worldwound itself. Describing dread armies and corrupting influences sweeping across the planet if the Elves continued their refusal to act.
As with all things the Elves reaction was mixed. The royal house dispatched a noncommittal message to its citizens neither encouraging or discouraging participation. Many martial orders rejected the idea outright, claiming misinterpretation at best and sedition at worst. The Silver Razorwinds were divided in opinion but two companies nevertheless made the decision to make the long journey to Kenabres where, surrounded by monsters and barbarians, they would face destiny head on .
Destiny came in the form of the second wave of 4638. The Four Hundred Martyrs as their songs would call them barely had unpacked into their new barracks when the attack came. Legends and tales speak well of their valor and unwillingness to retreat as the demonic hordes poured in the thousands over the wall, but dispassionate historians would cite their inexperience against the forces of the abyss having grown too accustomed to warding off orcs and bandits forgetting hard won lessons against the demon Treerazer and his abyssal forces in Kyonin itself.
Whatever the truth it died with over half of those elves in the first waves of attack upon the city's walls. Arrows and spells that would tear flesh and burn souls deflected harmlessly off demonic fury and abyssal hide. Half of the remaining elves died later in the following crusade even as they adjusted both their attitudes towards their comrades and their tactics to fit this horrible conflict.
Of those that remained at the crusades end all were forever changed. The xenophobia and distrust that marked the earlier march into Kenabres was all but burnt away in the fires of war. Not only had the remaining elves discarded the stiff traditions that caused them so much suffering but they realized that despite the success of Kyonin versus the forces of the abyss in earlier conflicts there were greater horrors still that the nation was woefully unprepared to face.
The remaining martyrs were fully committed to the cause. Taking oaths of retribution and swearing themselves fully to the cause of Mendev they resolved to not return home again until the worldwound had been closed forever.
Yet, even as they laid new foundations for a proper housing and training complex word reached them from home that the scant fifty elves that were left were required back home. That the defense of "unwashed animals' ' was a waste of precious elven blood and experience. All were equally outraged and most flatly refused instead sending a strongly worded message back to those of their number that remained in their homeland about the importance of the crusade, the depth of the evil they face, and the shame their worthless prejudice brings to those who died on those blackened fields outside the walls.
Of the 50 elves remaining 10 returned to kyonin with the message. Two wished simply to return home, troubled by the horrors they witnessed and wanting to be free of war. Four wanted to bring back the lessons they learned to the homeland seeking reform for their order and their people. Three left in disgust not wishing to let the blood of their brethren wash away their pride as proper elves. One was taken involuntarily to seek treatment with the clerics in Kyonin as their experience drove them completely mad.
The remaining forty spent the better part of the years between and during the 3rd and 4th crusades rebuilding their numbers and revising their philosophy and tactics to fit this new theater of war. Relying on the staunch faith of paladins and priests over the pride of elven magic and steel as well as entertaining concepts of non-elven members into their order were subjects that caused many nights spent in hot debates over how to proceed.
The first change was the obvious one. No longer referring themselves as the Silver Razorwinds they opted for Steel Razorwinds instead. This name change had many layers as would be expected of elves. Silver was pretty but impractical as a weapon and all but worthless against demons. Steel was similar in look, but tempered by fire into a hard and flexible metal that could hold an edge extremely well. It was both a statement of separation and a criticism of the old order. The Steel Razorwinds would not allow its pride to blind it any longer to the evils of the world, nor would it suffer the blatant racism and xenophobia of the home country.
Next were the tactics. Adherents to the wisdom that a dead foe was one that could not do any more harm the razorwinds would rain devastating volleys of arrows and spells to destroy enemies outright. While this tactic worked well enough against the cultists and undead that the demons would often field alongside their hordes of minions the demons themselves often proved resilient in the extreme, laughing in the face of terrible storms and swimming through lakes of lava and acid only to snatch up crusaders and drown them in the same.
Working with fewer numbers than ever and relying more on the holy steel of those who face the demons in hand to hand the steel razorwinds focus now on hindrance and support whittling down enemy numbers with precise arrow fire as the demons struggle to move through an array of spells built to ignore their resistances and stop their ability to teleport in and amongst them. Until recently the order operated in small squads between two and five people supporting larger groups of archers and infantry to target down important enemy targets or limit the capability of the enemy's elite formations. And in the case of cultists and undead the tried and true tactic of burning them all and shooting down the survivors is still a tried and true strategy.
The final point, and the one most controversial, the point where essentially all Silver Razorwinds would call them traitors for, is the introduction of non-humans into their ranks. This was more than a change of policy. This required an adjustment in thinking, training, and discipline of the whole order. A student couldnt be expected to spend several months mastering a spell to perfection. An insubordinate soldier couldnt be sent into the forest to meditate on their failings for six seasons and a day. Time, and the demands of warfare, simply did not allow for the patience and nuance of elven tradition. On the other hand there were some races just not suited to the training, even modified, that would see them through to becoming competent Razorwinds.
In the end the remaining martyrs attacked the problem from two fronts. Traditionally razorwinds would come either as foundling elves from lands in and beyond Kyonin, being raised within the order by older members to eventually become members themselves should they have the talent, or as children of the members themselves following in the footsteps of their forebears. This tradition was kept and the remaining martyrs had already adopted a number of children rescued from the horrors of war while they were on campaign.
The second was to accept those who came to the order for training. However these aspirants had to be young, no older than adolescents, they had to speak fluent elven, had to know how to fire a bow and prove to have a talent for magic.
The modern Steel Razorwinds are not all that dissimilar in appearance from the silver. They still wear the full faced masks as a means of protection, intimidation, and obfuscation to prevent the targeting of officers. They still train and work speaking exclusively elven to one another. And their philosophy still revolves around the preservation of elven ideals and history.
At its heart the razorwinds are an elven organization and many would-be students dropped out quickly when they realized the remaining thirty or so martyrs would train them for hours on end about elven history, culture and etiquette with little instruction on the bow or the arcane arts. The faces and ethics may have changed but the mission remains the same and numerous elven relics and personal belongings lay in the storehouse on the razorwinds complex awaiting the return of the one forced by war to abandon to come and reclaim it. Carefully catalogued, this storehouse may be one of the few places where one can get a glimpse of old Sarkoris before its destruction.
Recently the razorwinds, now consisting mainly of half elves, humans, tieflings, aasimar, and others but especially a large number of elves left orphaned by the first and second crusades, have reached numbers where they can field entire companies again. No longer needing to limit themselves to small squads seconded to larger platoons they now have the forces to make real impacts on much larger fields of battle. With rumors of a 5th crusade in the works and promising results of the new tactics with large numbers of the razorwinds taming the fields the martyrs are excited about proving their concept to those who insulted them in their homeland and providing a meaningful contribution to the crusade as a whole both to satisfy their oaths of retribution and triumph over their past failings once and for all.
Ferranel represents the first of the new generation of Steel Razorwinds. Found as a small child wandering the remains of a slaughtered refugee camp covered in blood and filth by the then lieutenant Leiara of the second company her fellow Razorwinds tried to discourage her from taking the boy in telling her that priests would be along shortly to retrieve him and take him to safety. Having just recently lost her husband and still overwhelmed by grief she threw their misgivings in their face reminding them of their duty and their mission. Despite the desperation in their crusade and the massive casualties they would take in nearly every conflict protecting Ferranel and other orphans they picked up along the way gave them some hope and a real goal to strive for when those around them seemed satisfied with short sighted and petty gains against their immortal and unimaginably corrupt foes.
In Elven terms Ferranel’s life on campaign as a child was relatively short but had an extreme impact on his life. He knew little to nothing of his birth parents save the nightmares it gave him when he dwelled on it too long before trancing. Growing up among the Razorwinds in the early days of their campaign at the worldwound allowed Ferranel the rare opportunity to witness their history first hand from the fracturing of the Martyrs to the founding of the Steel Razorwind Academy proper. Though his training as a Razorwind began much earlier than even that as almost from that first day he was found he was taught how to defend himself in the brutal Mendev battlefields.
Despite all this time spent training and living with the Razorwinds, being immersed in the culture and history they brought with them, and appreciating the causes they fought for he never himself truly identified with his people as a whole. He had never walked the pristine vales of Kyonin, listened to the polite and pointed banter of Iadaran merchants, felt the stomach churning rush of stepping through an aiudara gate, or seen the world on the other side of the sovyrian stone. And despite his occasional requests to visit, his foster mother, now known as Martyr Leiara, can only speak wistfully of her homeland while simultaneously denying the idea of going there outright. For him, the history and pride of his people and all their accomplishments feel like an obligation thrust upon him rather than a solemn duty.
Instead more than half his life has been spent in a bustling city forever on a war footing scrambling around the feet and sneaking coins out of the pockets of crusaders more concerned with keeping their chins up and their eyes towards the horizon rather than on their coin purse. He grew up around children who outgrew him rapidly, and some who became full grown adults and went off to war to die far in the time it took for him to age an equivalent year. Despite the discouragement from his elders to avoid too much interaction with the shorter lived races for the pain it would cause him he can’t help but feel drawn to them remembering all their names and faces as if doing so would keep them alive even as their ravaged bodies became part of the bloodsoaked soil.
As he’s grown older and come more of age he’s become far more gregarious than one would expect for his kin and laughs easily until the ale starts flowing and he starts to remember the faces of those who left the city to die outside the walls while he was still considered little more than a child, or worse still the screams of those poor souls being rent apart in the refugee camp.
His one endless source of frustration is the speed with which he picks up the skills of his peers. While his tutors and foster mother assure him this is a natural part of being such a long lived and near eternal race he can’t get over the fact that many of the half elves and humans who joined the academy a scant few years ago are already as skilled at the bow as he is who practiced for decades to get anywhere near where he is today. Moreover his skills and those of his fellows are expected to be honed on the battlefield, just how far behind will he be and just how much suffering will his own ineptitude cause his younger peers?
As such he’s constantly trying to prove his worth to those among his comrades much younger than he. Casual observers would consider this as part of the elven inferiority complex, where he has to prove his superiority over the younger races. In truth it’s closer to the opposite, where he has to prove he is just as skilled as they are and not inept in the way he feels in his mind. He seeks the perfection of his craft as an extension of his frustrations and as a means to enact his own form of payback against the monsters that destroyed his old life.
In terms of his old life he remembers almost nothing. He has done some research on the birthmark located on the back of his left shoulder and identified it as a symbol belonging to the riftwardens but has done nothing to approach that secretive group having suspicions of his own and not wishing to complicate his foster family live’s further with their involvement.
Currently, with talks about him and his peers going out into the field properly for the first time Ferranel has felt disquiet. His bow is uncomfortable in his hands, the magical words that come easily to him with each pull of the string have rung hollow in his head and each release of the arrow has felt like an oncoming wave as sure as death itself. While his friends spend the opportunity to get drunk, make bets, and woo women he finds himself staring in the direction of the worldwound itself wondering at the cause of his discomfort.
Sheet's in the link in the profile. Please let me know if you have any questions or clarification needs.
i'm formulating my character still but atm my general idea is a caster warrior hybrid. still deciding what i'm doing as i have a few ideas. speaking of which... i have an idea i've been wanting to try using Drow, specially one that's Lawful neutral. Gm, would you allow Drow?
i'm formulating my character still but atm my general idea is a caster warrior hybrid. still deciding what i'm doing as i have a few ideas. speaking of which... i have an idea i've been wanting to try using Drow, specially one that's Lawful neutral. Gm, would you allow Drow?
I'd lean towards a "probably not." If you can give me a good explanation as to why there's a (LN, no less) drow on the surface fighting against the demons, then I would be happy to accept it. It's just that there're relatively few of those explanations available.
I'll read the stuff that requires more thought later, when I'm more awake.
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I'm liking all the elf/Kyonin stuff going on here.
Basics of my bard Child of the Crusade half-elf are that his parents were both adventuring bards who joined the Crusade in an attempt to document and understand the demonic forces. Their plan was to send that information back to Greengold and help the elven wizards and other sages find a way to knock back Treerazer once and for all.
Of course, they got tangled up in the Crusade, got stuck in Mendev as soldiers/healers/storytellers, and eventually just settled in for the long haul.
More to follow.
Current submissions:
Solid Characters:
Wyniess Morgethai, elf ranger (Tanglebriar Demonslayer/Transporter), by rdknight
Kevin Hurly, tiefling paladin of Sarenrae by trawets71
Heinrick Stonewright, human cleric of Iomedae by Mokshai
Merixia, tiefling cleric of Ragathiel, by Linnea the Diviner
Baradim Walks-The-Earth, half-orc unchained rogue, by KingHotTrash
Tippy Fullbottle, halfling unchained rogue (knife master), by Nazard
Elliot Stormbane, aasimar (musetouched) bard (Argent Voice), by Trevor86
Khaleros, half-orc paladin of Iomedae, by Mr Nevets
Dain Bramage, dwarf inquisitor (living grimoire) of Torag, by Andrea1
Ferranel Branchfire, elf magus (eldritch archer), by TarkXTPlanned Characters:
Half-Orc Bard, by CucumberTree
Human Cleric of Cayden Cailean, by TheWaskally
shadowdancer, ultimately by Simeon
Bard?, by Kazmanaught
Aasimar (lawbringer) Inquisitor (Cold Iron Warden), by Ariarh Kane
Aasimar (archon-blooded) Shaman (Speaker of the Past) of Life, by SmooshieBanana
Halfling Oracle (Shadow Mystery, Deafness Curse)/Rogue VMC, by The Vagrant Erudite
Human Fighter into Cleric by rorek55
Half-Elf Bard into Marshal by psionichamster
Half-Elf Bard (Archeologist) of Desna, by “The Lucky Halfling”Interest Expressed:
Archae
Ironperenti
pad300
Rorek55
I'm going to take a look at people's backstories later today, and give some feedback.
As promised, here is the Backstory Feedback. I’m going to use spoilers not because I think no one should read anyone else’s, but so that this doesn’t end up looking like a huge wall of text, and to help people find the relevant bits.
A minor note - I don’t know that Kyonin would bother sending her as an official representative, but they wouldn’t stop her from going. It’s not a huge deal to keep it as is, because they might do it! But if she wasn’t allowed to go into Tanglebriar, they wouldn’t stop her from helping in Mendev, most likely.
Minor quibble/question - why were there crusaders in Absalom? Like, I get that Absalom’s the city at the center of the world, but most crusaders who are wounded/unable to keep fighting probably don’t go quite that far. Maybe make a single one or a pair who helped teach him and his about it? Dunno. Just thoughts for consideration.
Anyways. On to Merixia’s backstory. I think it makes sense, as you’ve said, for her to pick up on Ragathiel, but I also feel like there’s potential for her to occasionally have doubts/confusion about his rites, because she has had only a single teacher who she has since left behind. Might need to rely more on divinely inspired intuition for how best to do things in the right ritually pleasing way. :P
Other than that, looks good to me.
So, why did he/his family decide to go to Mendev, rather than somewhere else? One would have to go from Lastwall, through Ustalav, through Numeria, into Mendev. It’s not exactly an easy trip.
Other than that, it looks good to me.
If, for instance, his family came from Kintargo originally, and one of his grandparents or suchlike taught him the first few bars of the song, to which he attuned himself, it would be more acceptable to me than to just have him… y’know, learn it.
Alternately, you can grab Silver Balladeer, which is similar thematically, if not mechanically.
In any case, one thing I might suggest to you is to consider is that growing up in Mendev, especially on the border, is a horrible experience. Even without that, being a young elf who has to grow up to watch everyone he’s ever known die rapidly before him is a quick recipe to become Forlorn. You may want to consider how that impacts him.
Other than that, I have nothing much to add. Looks good!
Wyniess isn't meant to be an official representative of Kyonin like an ambassador or an attaché. She's just a military observer. Really her commander sent her so she'd do as she's told and convalesce while feeling like she has a purpose. She's not supposed to be an active combatant in Mendev. Maybe she would go on a few patrols to see how they're conducted, and visit some outposts around Mendev to see how they're run. Mostly though she's supposed to remain in Nerosyan and Kenabres to learn what she can about how Mendev conducts it's campaigns strategically, tactically, and operationally. She not a spy by any means, it's a way for allied militaries to share best practices.
Of course things are going to go very sideways in Kenabres and after that, all bets are off. Observers are going to have to do something.
However, if there are reasons why this particular take on why she's in Mendev doesn't work, she could as easily have decided to use her three years to half a decade of enforced leave to just go fight demons in Mendev on her own.
One thing I'll bring up in case it's significant in some way. Her backstory does change around the events as written for her Exposed to Awfulness campaign trait. If there's a reason that can't be done, she could switch to Chance Encounter instead without wrecking her background as is. One of the patrols she went along on went bad and she needed rescue as a survivor of it. Wyniess is eager enough to tippy-toe over a line from safe observation to maybe not so safe observation for sure.
On Elliot: A good connection to the Storm King - I like it. The big question is - at least for me - why he has Argent Voice as an archetype. While I acknowledge that it’s a great archetype mechanically, in Golarion it’s specifically associated with the Song of Silver, from Kintargo and a big thing in Hell’s Rebels. I can think of a few ideas relating to that, however.
If, for instance, his family came from Kintargo originally, and one of his grandparents or suchlike taught him the first few bars of the song, to which he attuned himself, it would be more acceptable to me than to just have him… y’know, learn it.
Alternately, you can grab Silver Balladeer, which is similar thematically, if not mechanically.
Thanks, I'm glad you like the connection. You're right in that I didn't explain why he's an ardent voice, and flavor-wise base bard or said silver balladeer, which I actually didn't know of, would be better. I might just snag that one for a different campaign sometime as it leaves most of the skill-goodness of the bard intact as well and seems to have broader applications too!
That said, given the huge competition for Bard this time around, I think I'll instead make Elliot an arcanist and rewrite his backstory from the ground up (@Merixia, your vote mattered :) ). I've never actually played that class before, much less so a mythic version, and Peri-blooded aasimar (which best fit the class) also has good base for an interesting character background. Probably better than the current writeup, which feels slightly bare-bones to me as I read it back.
Current concept: Combined with the archmage's campaign trait, which locks his parents into being (presumably?) dead riftwardens, it leaves him to presumably atone for the sins of a fallen angel somewhere further down in his ancestry. Might make for a good tie in to a villain somewhere? And since peri-blooded aasimar feel a tug towards both good and evil and have innate fire magic, I can see him being on the closely-watched/s+$*-list of the inquisition and the prelate, depending on how overzealous they are. I'll be working on expanding this further as I go along. Mechanically he'll be a full arcane caster focussing on utility, buffs, blasting and some control, I think.
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I think I'll instead make Elliot an arcanist and rewrite his backstory from the ground up.
Arcanists are my favorite class. Especially with spell lattices and pearls of power. So much versatility!
I think I'll instead make Elliot an arcanist and rewrite his backstory from the ground up.Arcanists are my favorite class. Especially with spell lattices and pearls of power. So much versatility!
Then I will will definitely take a look at those, thanks :) I'm familiar with the pearls but not the lattices.
Arcanists are great! If you're tempted, try one out!
Working on background still, but this is the idea so far. Eventually splashing (lightly) into another class either sorc or bloodrager to go dragon disciple.
Wrath of the Righteous is just too good to pass, so I am throwing my hat in the ring also.
I do not have a crunch yet, but I have a concept - Reknar is a no-nonsense ex-army sergeant who has been through a lot. One of the things he has learned in recent years is a strong arm and a nice blade will usually not be enough to win you a scuffle on its own - you need to use your brain. And if you manage to have a handful of people you can trust with you, then you have got a real chance to succeed.
He had a really tough time in his youth because of his half-breed orcish heritage, was in prison for something terrible, and ended up serving in the military - when he left what was left of the Badger company, he was rugged and callous. Those who care to look a bit deeper however, are many times surprised at the lengths he will go to stand by the ones he believes in.
His story in such an epic game, would be one of redemption and improvement of oneself. For now he does not care about those around him, and his attitude is mercenary like. A disillusioned soldier, troubled by mistakes of his past... But in the future, who knows? Surrounded by the right people? Maybe discovering again what it is to trust someone, and to believe in something? That can change a man. Or not...
Crunch wise, I am thinking of making him a martially inclined Bard (Inspire Courage = the gruff sergeant barking orders :D), but with as many options as possible, a tactical mind, some spontaneous magic, etc.
And this is the short gist of it :D
In any case, I do not want to step on CucumberTree's plan for putting an half-orc bard forward, so will wait to see if he does it or not.
Elliot: Understood, good luck! We are a bit lacking on full arcane casters.
Wyniess: No need to change! I just wanted to point it out there.
Albion: If you want a more martially inclined inspirational character, I'm pretty sure there's a cavalier archetype to that effect... Strategist might be the one I'm thinking of? Anyways, just keep that in mind.
@Worldwound GM: Definitely there are some really interesting Cavalier possibilities, and Strategist is one of my favorites. The character most likely will require a dip into a martial class, to make him more of a well-rounded ex-soldier, and Cavalier might be a perfect fit (now you have got me mulling it over :D)
But I really like the chassis of the Bard as a Martial/Support character, and the spells also offer him very different and varied options in many situations. Yeah, I am a big fan of the class.
I'm not sure how you mean different racial variants. I don't want more than one submission per potential player, if that's what you're asking.
I don't have much hesitancy regarding multiple rarer races, no. It can happen - especially since you all will be mythic heroes, who are infinitely rarer than any sort of oddball group.
i'm formulating my character still but atm my general idea is a caster warrior hybrid. still deciding what i'm doing as i have a few ideas. speaking of which... i have an idea i've been wanting to try using Drow, specially one that's Lawful neutral. Gm, would you allow Drow?I'd lean towards a "probably not." If you can give me a good explanation as to why there's a (LN, no less) drow on the surface fighting against the demons, then I would be happy to accept it. It's just that there're relatively few of those explanations available.
I'll read the stuff that requires more thought later, when I'm more awake.
Essentially it comes down to backstory, She was due to be heir of her house but would much rather have studied history and magics. Her mother deemed her too distracted and basically killed everyone distracting her, including her father. This lead her to leave drow society out of spite, wanting to pursue her own paths, and a bit of hatred towards her own people.
She's killing demons for her own beliefs and reasons but one is because thinking it might effect her people and because she simply thinks demon/ devil worship is... illogical and doesn't make sense long term. And well she also believes that people should get to live without threat towards their normal lives.
Not sure if that's good enough or not but thats more or less whats up
Hmm, from what I've heard of the AP, this might be a good opportunity to play something that I'd normally consider pretty low powered. I've wanted to create an elven transmuter character headed into Eldritch Knight with the intention of being a polymorph focused warrior for a while, so I think I'll submit that. Although looking at how many people are making interesting submissions, I guess my chances of getting in might be low.
I encourage you to not give up before you've started.
Essentially it comes down to backstory, She was due to be heir of her house but would much rather have studied history and magics. Her mother deemed her too distracted and basically killed everyone distracting her, including her father. This lead her to leave drow society out of spite, wanting to pursue her own paths, and a bit of hatred towards her own people.
She's killing demons for her own beliefs and reasons but one is because thinking it might effect her people and because she simply thinks demon/ devil worship is... illogical and doesn't make sense long term. And well she also believes that people should get to live without threat towards their normal lives.
Not sure if that's good enough or not but thats more or less what's up
It seems as reasonable as anything, so it would fall down to how much I like the specifics of the backstory.
My story had them head directly northwest, through what I imagine would be those horrendous mountains between the Hold and The Worldwound. However, looking at a map that shows more of the cities also shows that Kenabres is way on the other side of the Worldwound too. Which is a story problem for certain.
Maybe I'll revisit the monk idea. It puts him in competition against the other martials more but it may fit storyline better. I got plenty of time before game starts so I'll consider it for sure.
Arcanists are the most fun full arcane casters IMO, wizards are technically "stronger", but a school savant arcanist has way more on the spot versatility. Plus, they get really nifty tricks, like boosts DCs, minor blasts, move action teleports, etc etc.
Of her friends, two stood above the rest, Maia Locke, the lone daughter of a retired crusader. And Geoffrey Brocker, the son of an Absolom merchant seeking to take advantage of the crusades and make a fortune. Maia, was two years older than Amelia and like her father followed the faith of Sarenrea. Geoffrey, Amelia's own age, was a boy engrossed in tales of knights and heroes, much to his fathers chargrin. This love of tales of heroic deeds and knights was shared by Amelia, and they often pretended to be such heroes together and both had plans to go off one day, join the crusades, and live the legends.
However, her rather peaceful life would soon be dyed in blood. As many are when living close to the worldwound. At the age of 13, she and a group of her friends were playing along the edge of the town, near the woods at twilight. A stick breaking, the shaking of a brush the only warning to ensuing bloodbath. A demon, a Hezrou, erupted from the nearby treeline, and tore into the one adult watching the children, feasting in a ravenous fervor. In seconds, before even the children had had time to process what had happened, it turned towards them, and in an instant, almost as if it hadn't even needed to move, was among them and had one of the 3 other children in its grasp. They scattered as a spray of blood splashed across their faces as it had its feast. Though Maia had managed to keep her, Amelia, and Geoffrey together as they ran covered in blood. However, this only made them a larger target for the demon. It appeared in front of them, as if out of thin air. The only thing that saved Geoffrey was a rock which caused him to trip as the demon grabbed for him. Maia shoved Amelia away, yelling for her to run before pulling out a small dagger her father had given to her. The dagger was suddenly set alight with a golden hued flame that glowed almost as if from sunlight. The demon paused, yet Geoffrey was petrified in fear, unable to stand, or even tremble. When the demon reached for him, Maia swung wildly, and for another brief moment the demon seemed to take a step back. However it soon let out a laugh that haunts Amelia to this day. The demon swatted Maia aside, sending her sprawling away. Acting on sheer instinct and adrenaline, Amelia ran up and grabbed Geoffrey, forcing him to stand and began to pull him away. Suddenly, there was an intense pain in her left arm, then nothing, then she felt a hot liquid running down her side. She stood in shock, looking at her arm hanging loosely, almost severed clean off. She began to feel dizzy, all the while that horrible laughter seemed to echo from everywhere. The demon went in for the final strike, but as it stepped forward Amelia heard it growl in surprise. She managed to see a battered and bloody Maia leaning on the monster, her dagger buried deeply in its side as it seemed to burn the creatures flesh. Time seemed to freeze as the demon turned with a fury on Maia, and there, on her face, Amelia saw a smile... where was the fear? She saw a warm light, before a cold wind snuffed it out in a single blow. Amelia fell to her knees as Geoffrey seemed to finally find his feet and flee sobbing, leaving her there. The corners of her world were going black as she silently watched on in shock as the demon approached her. It seemed to be savoring this, she thought to herself. She thought she saw a man running towards them, as the demon stretched out his hand to grab her. Her world went dark to the echoing laughter of a creature made from pure evil.
She awoke a week later, laying on a cot in an unfamiliar place. A man muttering deep in prayer next to her. She instinctively went to check her arm, it was there, somehow, it was still there. Though it felt slightly weakened, and there was a terrible scar running almost the entire length of the shoulder blade. She sat silent for minutes before tears came. Slowly at first, then as if a dam gave way, a river.
After that, she learned she was in kenabras, where the hero that saved her by killing the Hezrou had taken her. Where she had been healed, and by a miracle, managed to keep her arm. She remained distant for months after the event, she seemed devoid of emotion, and over that period voiced many troublesome thoughts about uncaring gods. It would be Maia's father that would finally break her from her stupor. With a little support, and a little hard love he managed to seemingly bring Amelia back.
"SO what, you're just going to quit and sulk? You're just going to let my daughters sacrifice go in vain? Were you even her friend?!" How that statement had angered Amelia, how it had filled her with indignation. He didn't know, couldn't understand! Yet, as the anger left, she realized suddenly. She had felt something again. And as she realized this, and her temper cooled she realized how foolish it was to say he couldn't understand.
She would return to Maia's father, and after a talk, she agreed to let him teach her how to fight. He also managed to restore a modicum of faith in the goodly gods, not mending, but covering up enough to redirect the anger she felt towards them to something else more deserving. In the end however, she gave little praise to the deities, for it had not been them that saved her, it had been other people just like her.
Today, Amelia has joined on the crusades as a fresh recruit. The tragedy from her past turned into a driving force for her. She would never let that happen to another could she help it. To her dismay however, Geoffrey did not join. Ever since the incident, she had watched him grow more and more like his father. It infuriated her, how could he? After what Maia had sacrificed for them? She and him had a large the day she formally signed on. Her pushing him to follow her, and him trying to convince her not to sign on and to come with him. They hadn't spoken in the following weeks since.
She also had a quiet thought in her mind in addition to all the others. A small one, but one that was there, right below the surface. Now that she was to be a crusader, she would surely see the wonders and deeds that the gods performed to defend them. She would surely see what kept their eyes and attention from her and her friends those many years ago. She'd see first hand how wonderful the gods like Sarenea and Iomeade were, like Maia and her father believed they were.
Like her, her brother Had joined the crusades, though he discovered his gift for magic, and has been sent to better hone his abilities with it.
Fiery, driven, Antagonistic, overbearing, and independent all can be used to describe Amelia, but so can friendly, caring, Determined, passionate, supportive, and protective as well. She has a mind set of if you don't do something, then no one will. If everyone is watching, no one is. She has reservations about the gods, having seen little evidence in her life of their greatness, the only real gift being her left arm. And even then, it was a person, just like her, that had given that. She however is determined to see for herself what inspires others so. She is not one to give up or quit, and is openly dismissive and almost hostile to those that do. Though that is, largely, because it frustrates her because she knows they can do better. (Like Geoffrey) Or because them giving up endangers the well being of others. That isn't to say she doesn't try to inspire them, but that was never her strongest suit.
Still, "no one has more heart than a hart." Has become a common saying for her and those that know her. She is hard working, and comes off as rough and abrasive. Though, she does have a truly tender and soft side to her. Often showing it to children, or those going through particularly rough times.
Appearance- Image for Amelia Save with a tint of crimson red to it as well.
I may add a bit more detail (such as naming everyone, and possibly adding in dialogue.), and edit it over the next couple days, but this is the general idea. I tried to hit all the key points for her, while still providing enough substance.
Cool, I'll write it up, should come quicker than the deciding my class. Deciding between Magus and Oracle atm
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Alright, but more info. Decided on a Human. Probably going to end up going Strangler Brawler, but I might go a strange Fighter VMC route, need to look into VMC more but I believe it was mentioned as okay? Please correct me if that's wrong.
I'm going to build up into the best (and often hilarious) mythic path ability ever, Uncanny Grapple.
For a swing, you can use the target as a weapon against another creature, treating the grappled creature as a twohanded weapon. If you succeed at a melee attack against an opponent adjacent to the target, both that opponent and the grappled creature take 1d8 points of bludgeoning damage from this attack + 1-1/2 × your Strength modifier.
I absolutely adore this ability.