The Tol Haggerun Prophecy 3.5 D&D - [Ended]

Insight · Apr 25, 2005

This thread is intended to recruit up to 6 starters and 2 alternates into this new PBP campaign. The game itself may shift off EN World at a later date (I may create a website for this game), but at present, it will be run on the EN World boards.

Because of the nature of this game, players will need to submit character concepts before being approved. Please read all of the setup posts below before submitting a character. I don't want to waste your time any more than I want to waste my own.

Players will be expected to post at least three times a week unless otherwise directed. Because of the special situations inherent in running combat via play by post, this will be addressed in a subsequent post.

The team so far:

Clare Karaby - Human Cleric 1 (Pistis Sophia)

Isida
[*]Chue'l Sae Dang - Human Druid 1 (Bharrai) JamesHeard
[*]Jacoby - Halfling Fighter 1 (Bahamut?) Ambrus
[*]Misha “Burning Rose” Koldun - Human Fighter 1 (Raziel) Evil Ujio
[*]Ralan - Human Rogue 1 (Ayailla) Steve Gorak
[*]Sharma - Human Bard 1 (Chaav or Lastai) Ferrix

Using the 3.5 Edition D&D Rules, we will explore a battle between the forces of Good and Evil. The characters will be integral in an ongoing plot of monumental proportions, and will be expected to be strong in their faith and devotion to the cause of Good in the land.

The campaign setting is my own, and will differ in some ways from the standard D&D tropes. It is not necessarily a low or high magic campaign, but items of power (as well as higher level spells and abilities) may be granted based on devotion to an otherworldly power as opposed to mere level gains. In addition, devotion to your otherworldly power may grant you additional abilities beyond those listed in your character's class abilities and spells.

In fact, service to your 'deity' (may not actually be a Deity, but some other power that serves the cause of Good) will be tracked, and you may receive special abilities, items, or other boons for stalwart service, or lose abilities for poor service. Your patron may or may not contact you to apprise you of your standing. We will be discussing this issue at length during the course of the game.

A series of subsequent posts will describe the campaign setting and rules.

Next Post: Powers of the Campaign World

Insight · Apr 25, 2005

Powers of the Campaign World

Velara, the 'Prime Material Plane' of the campaign world, is a place of great intrigue between the forces of Good and Evil. These otherworldly powers vie for the hearts and minds of mortals, as these powers cannot directly control what happens on Velara. It is perhaps because these powers have no hand on mortal matters that they covet mortals so.

There are many, many powers that play a part in Velara, in one way or another. They are called by various names, and most serve some sort of master higher in the hierarchy. In fact, most of the names familiar to mortals belong only to the lowest rung of the ladder; the higher-ups generally do not get involved at all in the affairs of mortals on a daily basis.

In essence, what you have, at least on the level that mortals can perceive, are Devils and Angels*, though they are often known by other names as well. These intermediaries can sometimes interface with mortals, but can rarely force mortals to act one way or another. For reasons that are not clearly understood, Devils and Angels draw power from acts of Good or Evil in the world, and thus tend to promote these actions whenever possible.

Higher powers are known, but mortals rarely if ever interact with these beings. Mortals do tend to worship these beings beyond their perception, usually in the form of organized churches. Exceptionally powerful mortals can interpret the words of divine beings (or at least allege that they can interpret these words), and are often the leaders of such churches.

Here are the Powers of the forces of Good that are known to the mortals of Velara:

The Celestial Hebdomad

Barachiel (1, 3): The Messenger. Rules the Silver Heaven. Commands the defenses of the Celestium. Domains: Good, Herald, and Law. His followers should exemplify defense of the helpless and protection of the hopeless.
Domiel (1, 3): The Mercy Bringer. Rules the Golden Heaven. Sworn to protect all under his charges. Domains: Celestial, Good, and Law. Domiel expects from his followers great mercy and actions against tyranny.
Erathaol (1, 3): The Seer. Rules the Pearly Heaven. Patron of Prophets and Seers. Domains: Good, Knowledge, and Law. Erathaol expects peaceful actions from his followers, as well as the pursuit of knowledge.
Pistis Sophia (1, 3): The Ascetic. Rules the Crystal Heaven. Always speaks the unclouded and undiluted truth. Domains: Celestial, Good, and Law. Pistis Sophia expects her followers to always speak the truth, and to never lose one's temper.
Raziel (1, 3): The Crusader. Rules the Platinum Heaven. Provides counsel to Paladins and those who defend the helpless. Domains: Good, Law, and War. Raziel, a warlike being, expects his followers to wage war against the Forces of Evil, but also to care for those wounded in battle in just causes.
Sealtiel (1, 3): The Defender. Rules the Glittering Heaven. Defends the Celestium against Fiendish incursions. Responsible for the destruction of impure beings. Domains: Good, Law, and Protection. Sealtiel expects from his followers resilience in the face of Evil and the leadership to muster forces to battle the Forces of Evil.
Zaphkiel (1): The Watcher. Rules the Illuminated Heaven. Only the most exalted beings may stand in his presence. Provides guidance to the rest of the Hebdomad. Domains: Good, Healing, and Law. Zaphkiel's followers should avoid combat whenever possible, and should promote peace and harmony.

Talisid and the Five Companions

Bharrai (1, 3): The Great Bear. She is very protective of her flock and those she is charged to protect. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Bharrai's followers are expected to protect the helpless and promote safety and the preservation of natural places.
Kharash (1, 3): The Stalker. The right hand to Talisid, he is the master of the hunt and is also a very social being. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Kharash expects his followers to be skilled hunters and diplomats, and to use cunning to defeat the Forces of Evil.
Manath (1): The Horned Duke. Patron to all good-aligned Fey. Shows a keen wit and sense of humor. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Manath expects from his followers a good relationship with the Fey, as well as intellect and social skills.
Sathia (1): The Sky Duchess. Patron of all airborne good-aligned creatures as well as to painters and sculptors. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Sathia's followers are expected to pursue the arts in some form or another, and should dwell in high places.
Talisid (1, 3): The Celestial Lion. Resides in the Blessed Fields of Elysium and is the de facto ruler, though he claims not to be. Protects all natural places. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Followers of Talisid are expected to preserve natural places and protect animals, and to maintain a good relationship with beings of the forest and the wild.
Vhara (1): Duchess of the Fields. Has a generous and emotional spirit. Fond of flowers, poetry, and riddles. Grants Druid and Ranger spells and powers. Vhara expects from her followers grace and generosity, as well as the pursuit of ascetic beauty.

The Court of Stars

Faerinaal (1): The Queen's Consort. Provides company and counsel to Queen Morwel. Oversees defense of Arboreum and the Court. Does not grant Divine spells. Faerinaal expects his followers to give counsel to rulers and provide defense of the needy.
Gwynharwyf (1, 3): The Whirling Fury. Patron of good-aligned barbarians as well as Queen Morwel's champion. Does not grant Divine spells. Gwynharwyf's followers are almost always barbarians, and are expected to use their abilities to bolster the Forces of Good and protect nature.
Morwel (1): The Queen of Stars. Rules the Court of Stars as well as a great deal of the plane of Arboreum. Thought to be the source of many Fey powers, though Morwel does not directly grant any Divine spells or abilities. Queen Morwel expects her followers to be benevolent rulers, to maintain a good relationship with the Fey, and to protect natural places.

Other Powers of the Forces of Good

Ayailla (1): The Brilliant Mistress and Goddess of Light. Watches over the Good creatures of the sky. Domains: Glory, Good, and Sun. Ayailla's followers are expected to use their powers to destroy undead and combat the Forces of Evil in the world.
Bahamut (1, 3): The Great Dragon, patron of all Good dragons. Domains: Air, Good, Luck, and Protection. Bahamut expects his followers to revere Good dragons, be generous, and defeat the Forces of Evil wherever they may be found.
Chaav (1): The Smiling God and Lord of Joy. Teaches of enjoyment, pleasure, and delight. Domains: Chaos, Good, Joy, and Trickery. Followers of Chaav are expected to use mirth and joy to ease others' pain and suffering.
Estanna (1): The Hearth-tender. Goddess of home and the hearth. teaches the simple virtues of home and family life. Domains: Community, Good, and Protection. Estanna's followers are expected to protect homes and communities, and to keep safe the family.
Lastai (1): Goddess of pleasure, love, and passions. Domains: Chaos, Good, and Pleasure. Lastai expects her followers to promote love, beauty, and the pursuit of romance, and to defeat those who would use manipulation to Evil ends.
Valarian (1, 3): The Dusk Unicorn. God of the forests and and natural creatures. Teaches respect and protection of natural places. Domains: Animal, Fey, and Good. Valarian's followers are expected to protect natural places and beings of nature, as well as to maintain a good relationship with the Fey.

Here are the Powers of the forces of Evil that are known to the mortals of Velara:

The Archdevils

Asmodeus (2): Lord of the Ninth. Older than all other Devils known to exist, Asmodeus rules Nessus, also known as the Ninth Hell. He is a masterful strategist, cruel dictator, and evil genius. Mortals do not know much of Asmodeus' true nature, as he is apt to use lies and illusion to disguise his plots. Mortal followers of Asmodeus are few, but powerful.
Baalzebul (2): Lord of the Seventh. He is also known as the Lord of the Flies, Lord of Lies, and the Fallen One. Though he once boasted a powerful humanoid form, Baalzebul has been transformed into the form of a giant slug. Baalzebul not only has a stong following among Devils, but also among mortals who seek mastery of lies.
Bel (2): Lord of the First. He is most concerned about the war between the Demons and Devils (also known as the Blood War) than anything relative to the mortal world. Bel does not have mortal followers, but does have quite a following among Devils.
Belial/Fierna (2): Lord of the Fourth. Though Fierna is technically the ruler of the Fourth Hell, her father Belial is the true power behind the throne. While Belial is a consumer of beautiful females, Fierna a consumer of handsome males. Fierna does not have mortal followers, though Belial boasts a few powerful mortal diabolists among his flock.
Dispater (2): Lord of the Second. Also known as the Iron Duke. He rules the Iron City of Dis in the Second Hell, and is a master of strategy and planning. Dispater's mortal followers number among goblins, hobgoblins, and other warlike humanoids.
The Hag Countess (2): Lord of the Sixth. The Hag Countess rose to her current position after seducing and destroying Moloch, the previous ruler. Mortals are not known to follow the Hag Countess... yet.
Levistus (2): Lord of the Fifth. He has ruled the Fifth Hell, also known as Stygia, since time immemorial. He has a small mortal following, who revere Levistus as a patron of vengeance and betrayal.
Mammon (2): Lord of the Third. He is a many-formed being who most often resembles a tainted, serpentine being. His followers revere Mammon as a patron of lust and greed.
Mephistopheles (2): Lord of the Eighth. Holding a great deal of power in all of Infernum, Mephistopheles rules Cania, the Eighth Hell. Mortals get the impression of the Hells as a place of fire and pain from Mephistopheles, as this depiction is very close to Cania's environs. Mortals often confuse Mephistopheles and Asmodeus, and their mortal followers are often following both without even knowing it.

The Demon Lords

Demogorgon (2): The Prince of Demons. Ruler of the 88th layer of the Abyss. Continually at war with the other Demon Lords. His followers are more likely to be scaly things of the night than humanoids, but exceptions are known. They tend to wear serpentine clothing and accents.
Graz'zt (2): The Dark Prince. Ruler of three separate layers of the Abyss. He is a deeply sexual being, and tends to be swayed by beautiful females. His followers are normally female, and make living sacrifices to their demonic patron.
Jubilex (2): The Faceless Lord. This amorphous demon is also known as the Lord of Nothing. He embodies many aspects of the shapeless terrors of the world, such as oozes and slimes. His followers are a demented lot, but thankfully, are few in number.
Orcus (2): Demon Prince of the Undead. Orcus rules the Abyssal layer known as Thanatos, and he is constantly at war with both Demogorgon and Graz'zt. His followers are necromancers, evil giants, and intelligent undead. Orcus demands living sacrifices from his followers, and his cult is one of the most dangerous and pervasive in the world.
Yeenoghu (2): Demon Prince of Gnolls. For some reason unknown to mortals, Yeenoghu has taken Gnolls has his flock, though it is possible that Yeenoghu was once a Gnoll himself. His followers are, not surprisingly, Gnolls, but also on occasion other bestial humanoids.

Other Powers of the Forces of Evil

Karaan (2): The Beast God. Represents the dark side of nature. Patron of Lycanthropes and other bestial humanoids. His followers are likewise bestial, and prefer remote locales.
The Patient One (2): Also known as the Dark Watcher. A strange, alien being, the Patient One has many eyes, mouths, and limbs. His followers are normally Aberrations - generally speaking, humanoids cannot fathom the beliefs of the Patient One.
Rallaster (2): The Razor God. Deity of murder, torture, and psychoses. His followers are psychopaths and mass murderers, and prefer to stay in urban locations, where they can cause the most damage.
Scahrossar (2): Mistress of Exquisite Pain. She revels in selfishness, cruelty, and domination. Her followers are sado-masochists, and are more interested in the giving (and sometimes receiving) of pain than in killing or overt violence.
Tiamat: Goddess of Evil dragons. She is a multi-headed beast that is said to rule an entire plane of existence, its name unknown to mortals. Tiamat is concerned mainly with the propagation of Evil dragons, as it is through them that she may rule the mortal world.
The Xammux (2): Comprised of six individual beings that make one, the Xammux is utterly uncaring and alien. Its followers are fascinated by the pursuit of dark, unholy knowledge.
Yeathon (2): God of the Evil Depths. Largely unknown among surface-dwellers. Followers are generally found only under the sea.

The forces of Good and Evil have their own extraplanar spaces set aside, and generally stick to these places, though it is not unheard of to see the lowest servitors of these Powers roaming Velara from time to time.

The Powers of Good reside in a place called Celestium, which is comprised of a number of smaller regions. The one most familiar to mortals is a place called the Seven Heavens. This is where the Celestial Hebdomad reside and rule. In addition, areas known as Elysium (where Talisid and the Five Companions can be found) and Arboreum (where the Court of Stars can be found) are also known to exist.

The Powers of Evil reside in a place called Infernum (also sometimes known as the Void), which is likewise comprised of a number of smaller regions. The one most familiar to mortals is the Nine Hells. Contrary to popular belief, the 'Nine Hells' name is actually a misnomer; there are far more than nine separate Hells in this domain. In addition, areas known as the Abyss and Limbo are also known to exist.

There are higher powers, but these are largely unknown to the general population of the mortal world. Among the names that are known are the following:

Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty
Hades, God of Evil (also known as Set or Hel)
Isis, Goddess of Magic
Loki, God of Mischief (sometimes associated with Evil)
Osiris, God of Death and Renewal
Poseidon, the Sea God
Thoth, God of Knowledge
Thor, the Thunder God
Tyr, God of War (also known as Ares)
Zeus, the Weather God (also known as Odin)

* Note that the usage of the words Devil and Angel are not intended to convey any specific real world religious meaning. No intention is made on the author's part to implicitly use any real world religion in this campaign.

1 From the Book of Exalted Deeds.
2 From the Book of Vile Darkness.
3 The campaign has a Prestige Class associated with this Power.

Next Post: Rules & Variants

Evil Ujio · Apr 25, 2005

I could get down with this, put me down for a Rogue

horrigan666 · Apr 26, 2005

cool ill join,characters a fighter
uhh,first pbp ive ever played,where do i post my character
also when does it start

Ferrix · Apr 26, 2005

want a standard long form PbPer? Looks like an interesting take on existing power struggles.

Jdvn1 · Apr 26, 2005

Let's have some patience, guys.

Please do not throw in for this campaign until the title says 'Recruiting'. That way, you will know that I am ready for applicants.

Insight · Apr 26, 2005

Yeah, I'm not quite ready for players yet. There will be several more posts about the setting, rules changes, etc before I am ready for player submissions. When I do ask for player submissions, it will not be first come, first served. You will need to convince me that you're going to be able to play this sort of game, since it's not quite the standard D&D fare.

Ranger Rick · Apr 26, 2005

I do not own "Book of Exalted Deeds". I have no store nearby that can sell me that book. Internet shopping is undoable. Does this mean I can not play?

Any chance you can give a very brief (1/2 sentence) writeup on these dieties?

Insight · Apr 26, 2005

I can provide a short description of the Powers in the campaign. Owning the Book of Exalted Deeds is not essential, although it will help in certain places, especially when it comes to selecting Exalted feats down the road.

I'm still working on the post above, so expect to see some more detail on the Powers as time goes on. Heck, I haven't even posted the bad guys yet :lol:

EDIT 1: If you don't own the Book of Exalted Deeds and the lack thereof is going to hinder your ability to make the character you want, I will probably be able to provide details by email off the list so that you will be on equal footing with those players who own the BoED.

EDIT 2: OK the bad guys have been added, as well as descriptions of all of the major Divine Powers.

Ranger Rick · Apr 26, 2005

Thanks. I was just wondering if I should follow the thread or write it off as an undoable proposition. I look forward to the chance I can write up a submission.