[Eberron] What Lurks Below - (Full)

The Baron · Mar 30, 2005

"We should be close now."

The guide's lantern emits a weak light against the overcast night. Shadows dance among the fields of grain smothering you on each side of the tiny dirt road. Jannis, who says he's merely a messanger, hired you and your companions for a simple escort mission form Passage to Windshire, and with the War over and you without a job, it seemed like an easy way to make a 100 gold. He never mentioned why he needed an escort, however. And as the first rain drops fall on the dark dirt road, you begin to wonder why he would need such expensive protection.

So I'm gonna give it a try. I've been waiting for an Eberron game to open for a while and it hasn't happened, so I've decided I'd try to run my own game. This will be my first attempt at DMing a pbp game, but with a little help from my players, I hope to make it an enjoyable experience for all.

I'm looking for 4 to 6 players. I also plan to use this game as a chance to polish up my writing skills. I'm currently studying creative writing (screenplays), but I'd like to work on my prose some more. I'd love players who are on the same wavelength. In other, more pompous terms, I hope you have a good understanding of the english language and would enjoy taking the time to write more than just a sentence or two when you post - creative descriptions are encouraged! Also I post on average 4 to 5 times per week - sometimes more. Hopefully you would share close to this ROP (Rate of Postage).

The setting is Aundair on the border of the Eldeen Reaches. The game will probably be more enjoyable if you pick someone native to one of those areas, though a fish out of water (or two) would also be fine. Expect a mix of outdoor adventuring and dungeon crawling, roleplaying and combat. I want to give every type of a character a chance to shine. The tone will be dark fantasy in a frontier setting (think Brotherhood of the Wolf with more dungeons and magic).

You were in Passage (for whatever reason you come up with) when you were offered some quick, easy gold. You must help escort Jannis (he says he's just a messanger) from Passage to Windshire for 100 gp. Little did you know, 3 to 5 other adventurers were also hired. The trip along the Wynarn River was uneventful and you've gotten to know your companions a little bit. You docked this morning and have spent the entire day walking to Windshire. Now you're tired, it's dark, and it just started to rain - and why would your client need this protection?

Now for the character creation rules:

2nd level character
28 points buy
NO PSIONICS
Any Basic or Eberron Race (except for Kalashtar)
Moster Manual races will be allowed if they have a good back story
I will allow ECL+1 races if they have a good back story
900 gp - if you want to blow all your money on one item, be my guest

Books Allowed:
PHB
DMG
MM
"Complete" books (adventurer, warrior, etc - though I don't have arcane and divine and would need more info from players using material from those)
Eberron Core book
*Please keep you character confined to these books. If you try to add other material, don't expect to get approved.*

I will approve characters once a player presents a character sheet AND background. You're second level, so you probably were involved with the War in some capacity. Feel free to work on the character and discuss options and party configuration (perhaps even character relationships or connections) with me and your fellow potential players.

Wyrmslayer · Mar 30, 2005

I want to claim a spot first as the party's arcane power. I like to play as one of the region's wizard who is invloved in the Last War, but currently is set on adventuring after a tenure of working as a spell scriber for Aundair's nobles.

P0L · Mar 30, 2005

I´d like to play a melee character. I need to get to my books this afternoon for a decent background/concept but here's a quick draft (no name yet):

Halfling Barbarian1 / Fighter1

STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 16
INT: 8
WIS: 10
CHA: 8

Feats:
-Weapon focus Greatsword
-Power attack

Attacks:
Melee +7, Mwk Greatsword (1d10+3 19-10/x2, slashing)
Melee +5, spiked gauntlet (1d3+2 20/x2, piercing)

Ranged +6, Composite longbow +2 (1d6+2 20/x3, piercing)
Ranged +7, Composite longbow +2 (1d6+2 20/x3, piercing) mwk arrows

AC: 17, touch 14, ff. 14

Equipement:
Studded leather armor
Spiked gauntlets
Composite longbow 300gp
- 20 mwk arrows 120gp
- 30 arrows
Masterwork Greatsword 350gp
Knife
Misterious medallion

A halfling orphaned in an accident (actually the heir of a Great House, may manifest a dragonmark later) in the reaches. Adopted by a primitive tribe he has been brought up as a barbaric and fearless berserker. Drafted into the army for the last years of the great war, he polished a little his style but his short temper usually gets him into trouble. Not being very bright, he follows his adopted half-orc father advice: "Son: cleave first, ask questions later".

Wishing to see the world, and find his true origin. The only clue he has to his past, a strange ornate medallion he was found with.

Progression:
Mostly barbarian, maybe another fighter level. Will review prestige clasess.

Player:
26 y.o, male human Engineer from Uruguay (GMT-3)
I love RPG, but my schedule leaves little time for RL play, after GREAT toil I finally managed to get into a PbP game, and I think I have time for a couple more. I'm able to post every day (slower on weekends) but enjoy the roleplaying and the chance to improve my written english.

taitzu52 · Mar 30, 2005

This sounds very interesting, with all of the Sharn stuff spinning around, I'd loveto get into the Eldeen side of things. Since this is outdoorsy, I think I'll throw in for a ranger, sincethe Core book has a good amount of detail on the different factions. I don't know how much of the politics and clan agendas you're offing up, and it's not like my heart is set. But and Eldeen area ranger of a yet to be determined race sounds great for me, if you'll have it. And I AM down for your ROP, I hope everyone else is too!

TZ

The Baron · Mar 30, 2005

taitzu52: A ranger would be a great idea. Since we will be in the Reeches and will be doing a fair amount of outdoor things, he/she would definitely come in handy.

POL: I like the character concept. Who did your character work for? If you had a half-orc mentor, you might have worked for a mercenary company since most half-orcs are in the Shadow Marches and were not directly involved in the war. The other option is that he worked for the Gatekeepers, a sect in the Reeches with a fair amount of orcs/half-orcs.

Wyrmslayer: Definitely gonna need an arcanist, and Aundair has a rich arcane tradition. Keep developing the idea. Did he spend any time near the front lines, or was he mostly in the background? Where did he recieve his training? Was it a personal mentor or did he go to a school/university to study?

I have a friend who wants to play a Cleric, so he should be posting soon. That makes the preliminary setup as Ranger, Fighter/Barbarian, arcanist, and Cleric. Looks like we might need a rogue and some other wildcard in the 6th slot. (Of course if someone else posts up a different character this may change).

By the way, Max HP at first level. After that, 1/2 HD + 1 (i.e. d4 = 3, d6 = 4, d8 = 5 and so on)

I've attached the character sheet form that I would like you all to use if possible.

sleepystyle · Mar 30, 2005

Wildcard please!

How about a rural shifter trained in an unarmed fighting style based around shapeshifting and his beast-heritage(boar)? Honestly I'd like to mix in the Monastic Training feat and the resulting multiclass would be monk/druid to maximize the shapeshifting, with a resulting shamanistic beastial warrior type- but if that sounds like too much I could work it with monk only.

Just wanted to run that initial bit by you for feedback before I get down to working out the details.

-d

The Baron · Mar 30, 2005

sleepystyle: Love the character concept! I think Druid/Monk is a really fun combo and I'd love to see it in action.

PlotMonster · Mar 30, 2005

Gedward, cleric

Hey all, here's my sheet.

Code:

[B]Name:[/B] Gedward d'Velderan
[B]Class:[/B] Cleric (War, Community)
[B]Race:[/B] Human
[B]Size:[/B] Medium
[B]Gender:[/B] Male
[B]Alignment:[/B] NG
[B]Deity:[/B] Sovereign Host

[B]Str:[/B] 13 +1  ( 5p.)      [B]Level:[/B] 2        [B]XP:[/B] 1000
[B]Dex:[/B]  9 -1  ( 1p.)      [B]BAB:[/B] +1         [B]HP:[/B] 15 (2d8+2)
[B]Con:[/B] 12 +1 ( 4p.)      [B]Grapple:[/B] +2     
[B]Int:[/B]  8 -1   ( 0p.)      [B]Speed:[/B] 30'      
[B]Wis:[/B] 17 +3 (13p.)      [B]Init:[/B] -1        [B]Spell Save:[/B] +3
[B]Cha:[/B] 13 +1 ( 5p.)      [B]ACP:[/B] -7(-5 w/o shield)         

                   [B]Base  Armor Shld   Dex  Size   Nat  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Armor:[/B]        10    +6    +2    -1                              17
[B]Touch:[/B] 9              [B]Flatfooted:[/B] 17

                         [B]Base   Mod  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Fort:[/B]               +3       +1	     +4
[B]Ref:[/B]                +0	   -1	     -1
[B]Will:[/B]                +3	   +3	     +6

[B]Weapon                  Attack   Damage     Critical[/B]
Masterwork Longsword     +3       1d8+1      19-20/x2
Shortbow                      +0        1d6              x3

[B]Languages:[/B] Common

[B]Abilities:[/B] Turn Undead (Class), calm emotions 1/day (Domain)

[B]Feats:[/B] Weapon Focus (longsword) [War domain]
	      Least Dragonmark, Mark of Finding (identify 1/day)
	      Combat Casting

[B]Skill Points:[/B] 10       [B]Max Ranks:[/B] 5/2.5
[B]Skills                   Ranks  Mod  Misc       Total[/B]
Concentration               2      +1  (+4casting)  +3/+7
Diplomacy                    3      +1  (+2 domain)  +6
Knowledge(religion)        3	   -1                    +2
Survival                       2      +3                    +5

[B]Equipment:               Cost     Weight[/B]
Banded Mail (master)      400 gp    35 lb
Heavy Steel Shield         20 gp      15 lb
Longsword(master)	        315 gp     4lb
ID papers (portrait)        5 gp     
Traveling papers	        2 sp
Shortbow                     30 gp       2 lb
arrows (20)	        1 gp        3 lb
Cure light wounds (p) x2 100 gp

[B]Total Weight:[/B] 59lb     [B]Money:[/B] 28 gp 8 sp 0 cp

                              [B]Lgt   Med   Hvy  Lift  Push[/B]
[B]Max Weight:[/B]               50    100   150  

[B]Age:[/B] 23
[B]Height:[/B] 5'4"
[B]Weight:[/B] 156 lb
[B]Eyes:[/B] green
[B]Hair:[/B] black
[B]Skin:[/B] ebony

Appearance: A human stands before you. At first you notice the weaponry he carries, which seems odd because of his short stature. He is covered in banded mail that is dark as night, and holds a longsword and a heavy steel shield. His skin is almost as dark as his armor. He seems to be a stalwart warrior at first sight, but after your eyes meet you get the impression of something more.

Background: Gedward spent most of his life in Urthhold in the Shadowy Marshes, a Tharashk stronghold. From here, his family has overseen the dragonshard operations in Balinor's Sorrow for the past 200 years. During the Last Great War, these operations continued. However, the outpost was also used to apprehend outlaws wanted by other nations. His first accomplishment for his house was eradicating a pirate's hold that had been attacking Breland from the penisula south of Balinor's Sorrow. Since then, he has also helped stop two attacks from clans in the Vile Marshes and spent 1 year helping to manage a dragonshard field between Urthhold and Dhavin's Port.

Gedward first learned of the Sovereign Host seven years ago while in Zarash'ak. He met traders from Breland who had a cleric with them. This cleric, Valino, did not push Gedward into following the Sovereign Host. While they were spending time in the city, a fight broke out between two foreign humans and three young orcs. The humans had almost beat the orcs to death when Valino cast two spells: one held the largest human immobile and the second spell calmed the other combatants. This gave the orcs time to escape, while the humans were taken by forces of House Tharashk. This display of both kindness and power set Gedward onto a path towards understanding the Sovereign Host more fully. He has been offered an opportunity to work for the Finder's Guild in Aundair and gladly taken it to experience the world more and perhaps learn about more about the pantheon that has been his guiding force.

So here's my character. I'm running a campaign that The Baron is playing in, so I'm taking this chance to play a character. I like the balance in the party right now. This should be fun.

P0L, what's going on in Uruguay? I'm an aspiring Latin American Studies scholar, so I am stoked to play with someone from there.

dru.

Krug · Mar 30, 2005

I wouldn't mind playing a Shifter rogue, who has an aspect of the rat. Not too good at direct combat and fond of staying in the back and firing arrows, or a quick dagger in the back.

P0L · Mar 31, 2005

Kort, male halfling bbn1/ftr1

Kort posing near a human paladin friend (grayed out)

Code:

[b]Name:[/b] Kort
[b]Class:[/b] Barbarian 1 / Fighter 1
[b]Race:[/b] Halfling
[b]Size:[/b] Small
[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b]Alignment:[/b] CG
[b]Deity:[/b] -

[b]Str:[/b] 14 +2 (10p.)	[b]Level:[/b] 2		[b]XP:[/b] 1000
[b]Dex:[/b] 16 +3 ( 6p.)	[b]BAB:[/b] +2		 [b]HP:[/b] 24 (1d12+1d10+6)
[b]Con:[/b] 16 +3 (10p.)	[b]Grapple:[/b] +0	 [b]Dmg Red:[/b] -
[b]Int:[/b]  8 -1 ( 0p.)	[b]Speed:[/b] 30'	  [b]Spell Res:[/b] -
[b]Wis:[/b] 10 +0 ( 2p.)	[b]Init:[/b] +3		[b]Spell Save:[/b] -
[b]Cha:[/b]  8 -1 ( 0p.)	[b]ACP:[/b] -1		 [b]Spell Fail:[/b] -

				   [b]Base  Armor Shld   Dex  Size   Nat  Misc  Total[/b]
[b]Armor:[/b]		 10	+3	+0 +3	+1	+0 +0	17
[b]Touch:[/b] 14			  [b]Flatfooted:[/b] 14

						 [b]Base   Mod  Misc  Total[/b]
[b]Fort:[/b]				 4	+3	 +1	+8
[b]Ref:[/b]				 0	+3	 +1	+4
[b]Will:[/b]				 0	+0	 +1	+1

[b]Weapon			 Attack Damage	 Critical[/b]
Mwk Greatsword		 +7	 1d10+3	 19-20/x2
Spiked Gauntlet		 +5	 1d3+2		20/x2
Knife					 +5	 1d3+2	 19-20/x2

Knife					 +6
Comp.Longbow +2		 +6	 1d6+2		20/x3
	mwk arrow			 +7	 1d6+2		20/x3

[b]Languages:[/b] Common/Orc

[b]Abilities:[/b]
-Fast movement
-illiteracy
-rage 1/day (8 rounds)


[b]Feats:[/b]
-Weapon Focus: Greatsword
-Power attack

[b]Skill Points:[/b] 13   [b]Max Ranks:[/b] 5/2.5
[b]Skills				   Ranks  Mod  Misc  Total[/b]

Climb					 0	+2 +2	 +4
Jump						 0	+2 +2	 +4
Intimidate				 4	-1		 +3
Handle animal			 3	-1		 +2
Hide						 0	+3 +4	 +7
Listen					 3	+0 +2	 +5
Move Silently			 0	+3 +2	 +5
Survival					 3	+0		 +3


[b]Equipment:				Cost  Weight[/b]
Masterwork Greatsword (s)	350gp	4lb
Composite Longbow +2  (s)	300gp  1.5lb
	Arrows x30			 1gp  1.5lb
		Mwk Arrows x20	   120gp
Spiked gauntlets (s)		  10gp	1lb
Knife (s)					 2gp 0.5lb

Studded leather armor (s)	 25gp   10lb

Potion Cure light wounds x1	50gp	 -
Alchemist fire x1			  20gp   1lb

Misterious Medallion

Backpack					 2gp	1lb +12.5lb
Waterskin				 1gp	2lb
    Bedroll				    1sp  2.5lb
	Rations x1				 5sp	1lb
	Silk rope 50'			 10gp	5lb
	Grappling Hook			 1gp	2lb
    Flint/Steel			    1gp	-

--------------------------------------------
TOTALS					 873gp 19.5lb (31lb)

[b]Total Weight:[/b]18.5lb (32lb)   [b]Money:[/b] 5gp 20sp 0cp

						 [b]Lgt   Med   Hvy  Lift  Push[/b]
[b]Max Weight:[/b]		   43.5	87   131   262   655

HALFLINGS
• +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear

[b]Age:[/b] 22
[b]Height:[/b] 3'02"
[b]Weight:[/b] 39lb
[b]Eyes:[/b] blue
[b]Hair:[/b] blonde
[b]Skin:[/b] white

Appearance:

Long dark blonde hair, tied on the back with a copper band and a short unkempt beard. Penetrating blue eyes that narrow to slits when he gets angry.

Kort wields his adopted father's bastard sword, swinging it as a small greatsword with his two hands, clad in mean looking spiked gauntlets.

A studded leather armor, stained two shades of dark brown and with darkened studs allows him to better meld with his background while stalking prey with a small composite longbow so tough to draw that average humans twice his height find too hard to use.

Background:

A halfling orphaned in an accident (actually the heir of a Great House, may manifest a dragonmark later) in the Eldeen Reaches. The caravan his parents traveled with was attacked by bandits, and when help arrived he was the only survivor, hidden by his mother under a low cart.
One of the rescuing Wardens of the Wood, a half-orc named Krag adopted him and raised the halfling with the help of his human druid wife.

He earned his adult name and inherited his father sword showing braveness and ferociousness in fighting the bandit lords.Now, in this new era of peace, he decided to investigate his true origin. The only hint of it a golden medallion of strange design he was found with, Kort left with his parent´s blessing to the city of Passage.

Personality:
Tough good hearted and noble, Kort doesnt have much brains and has a short temper. He is usually in a festive mood and loves to party at the tavern after a good fight..