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Well.... as I'm a glutton for pain I'm thinking to try my hand at running a 4e PbP game. I'm going to try to run this module for my group in a few months so if I run it here, I might get to see it in action for a little before the RL group catches up.
So...down to the details:
Who: 5 brave adventurer's to travel beneath the Thunderspire Mountains...
What: Beneath Thunderspire Mountain lies a sprawling network of mazes, tombs, and caverns collectively known as the Labyrinth of Lost Souls. In recent years, this vast labyrinth has become a living dungeon where trade between the surface and subterranean worlds is possible. However, beyond the well-lit halls where prospectors, merchants, and traders convene lies a darker world where adventurers battle monsters and fiendish beings perform secret rituals for their dark masters. . .
H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth is a D&D adventure designed for heroic-tier characters of levels 4-6.
Where: Here, of course! Here being ENWorld. (to quote stonegod )
Why: To try out some higher level characters and see this module in action to prepare for my RL game
How: Recruitment will begin now and close Sunday, August 17th, meaning I'll make my selections on the 18th.
Submitting Concepts:
To submit for a slot, please let me know who you would choose and how you would make the character your own (i.e., quirks, distinguishing abilities, etc.). Do not provide a character sheet, just a concept sketch.
Character Creation:
To simplify the creation of concepts, the following will be allowed during final character creation: PHB... that's it. No MM, no DDI, etc. just the PHB and you.
Decision Process:
Players will be picked based upon the cohesion of the concepts to form a group, and the "fun-to-play-with" factor of the ideas. I'll be selecting at least one of each of the four archetypes, the fifth will be the wildcard.
I've been hoping to play in a 4e PbP for a while. Would you be accepting new lvl 4 characters? I have a loose idea for a grumpy dwarven cleric I haven't had a chance to play yet...
Name: Baern Underedge Race: Dwarf Class: Ranger Background: Baern comes from a small dwarven stronghold hidden in the (nearby mountain range) and has made a decent living over the past few years guiding caravans and merchants through the mountain passes and deep tunnels of the region. The farther the world gets from the ancient empires, the wilder the wilderness gets...and the toughner Baern gets to beat (well, slice) the wild creatures terrorizing what's left of civilization. Appearance: A small and well-toned dwarf, Baern gives people an immediate sense of wildness. He rarely does any sort of hygene with his hair and beard, so it tends to mat in hard to identify colors all aorund his face. His eyes are piercing blue, breaking through the darkness of his face. His armor appears to be the hide of some subterrainean lizard with two big axes strapped to his back. Personality (including quirks): Baern likes dark, tight places. He gets very nervous, twitchy, and ornery whenever he can't see stone (or some ceiling) overhead. When in his element, he is confident, bold, and decisive. Whenever he takes a guide/escort job, he stakes his personal honor on getting people where they want to go and takes pride in a job done, well or otherwise.
I'd love to include a hook that ties in to either the plot or someone else's background (Dwarven Cleric...brothers?). With my somewhat mercenary outlook, that should be easy.
Last edited by ShaggySpellsword; 7th August 2008 at 03:30 AM..
Background: Raised by miners, his extraordinary strength attracted much attention (and trouble) during his teenage years. When a particularly nasty fight nearly ended in the death of one his classmates, he was sent away to a religious boarding school. It was there he discovered his love for Moradin, and the different kind of strength granted by faith. His aptitude (and enthusiasm) for fighting gave some of the school priests pause, but he was taken under the wing of the headmaster, himself something of a trouble maker in his youth.
After his school years, he came home to find his village embroiled in a bitter dispute with a neighboring clan. His father joined the local militia, but refused to allow Bardur to fight in the conflict. His father was slain in battle, and Bardur feels to this day that his father would have survived had he insisted on fighting or disobeyed the order to stay at home. Guilt weighs heavily on his conscience, and he is almost psychotically over-protective of his mother, the only close relative who survived the conflict.
He lost a few years to drink, but has recently begun to put his life together again.
Appearance: Short (he's a dwarf, what were you expecting), brown hair, eyes blue as the ocean. He's a bit on the pudgy side, but there's no shortage of musculature underneath.
Personality (including quirks): A bit of a sour-puss, he always finds something to complain about, even when he's having a good time. His loyalty towards his friends and comrades is great, but he finds direct expressions of affection awkward and embarassing. He has a bad habit of mocking both his friends and enemies on the field of battle. He is also an inveterate story teller, especially when there's ale to be had.
Last edited by nerdytenor; 12th August 2008 at 07:48 AM..
Reason: updates
Background: Beregil comes from an elven city in the (nearby forest) and trained to be one of the cities guards. As much as he enjoyed the woods and serving his people, after a decade of idle guard duty, Belegil felt the need to go out and meet threats to the peace head on. That, and he enjoys swordplay more than might be strictly proper.
Appearance: Beregil is tall for an elf (6') and fairly robust as well (175 lbs.). Though 37, as an elf he looks much like an early 20-something human. Beregil's hair is a deep forest green, his eyes are a crystal blue, and his skin is an almond brown. His scale armor is fashioned in the appearance of oak leaves, his shield is broad and bears the symbol of his former city, and his longsword is bright and obviously well-cared for.
Personality (including quirks): Beregil is at home in the forest, like most elves, but he's truly most at home in a good fight. His unabashed enjoyment of battle makes other elves uneasy at times, and this also played into his decision to see the world. He's looking for friends who can appreciate him for who he is, and not see him as falling short of what they think an should be.
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
I know I'm gonna get busted for posting before I've updated the threads I'm DMing...
Name: Yanwer (also sometimes Blind Yanwer) Race: Human Class: Warlock (Starlock) Background: Yanwer was always a dreamer, looking up at the stars. He'd spend his days dozing in his parents small hut near the edge of the forest and his nights staring up at the stars.
His father was really his uncle, a woodsman, he'd loved his sister deeply and took in her son after goblins raid claimed them. He considered the fact that the boy, always strange, survived the goblin attack was nothing less than a miracle and left the disfigured child alone to do as he liked. His wife, the town mid-wife, could bear no children of her own; they never grew close.
As he comes of age Yanwer has begun to have powerful dreams; he hears strange piping in the night and sings songs that no-one has heard of that don't seem to be in a proper language. Appearance: A skinny young man with ragged reddish-brown hair. His most distinctive feature is his right eye, rough scars like a star running out from the milky orb. It moves about in his head sometimes, like it can still see, but it never seems to be looking the same place as his good eye. Personality (including quirks): Yanwer is considered quiet and odd by the town. People who get to know him find he's a faster talker and a bigger thinker than he lets on. He feels like he's been alseep his whole life he says, and he's just awakened.
__________________
Interested in playing 4th edition online? The Living 4th EnWorld Campaign is open! [character creationwikiforum]
I am in an interesting period of my life; I will post in games that I run three times a week (M,W,F); and try to maintain obligations in existing games.
...disquieting...
There was no end to his patience and endurance. He played day and night, his obsession was somewhat disquieting. It was less as if he were playing to dispel gloom or beguile tedium than as if he were giving himself up to the fangs of gaming devils."
Kawabata Yasunari - The Master of Go
Background: Deron was raised in a dwarven kingdom (maybe part of whatever kingdom the dwarves in this group are coming from). He was told his family fell victim to an orc raid. His mother had smeared him with her blood and used her body to cover his. A group of warriors passed by an saw the village being attacked and slaughtered the orc raiders. They were on their way to a different sort of adventure, and had no room to take a child along with them. They passed the dwarven village and decided to leave the child there. The good graces of the king allowed the human child to stay. Deron grew up wanting to fit in, but had a difficult time of it as he was neither as strong or tough as the dwarves he loved. He took to studying magic in order to make up for his physical deficienties. He even began to volunteer to help clear the tunnels of the creatures that would halt the dwarves progress.
Appearance: He stands 6'0'' and weighs approximately 160lbs. He has short black hair and a long (for a human) beard. He had his mother braid his beard for him (which makes it look strangely similar to a handlebar mustache).
Personality (including quirks): Deron has taken on many of the dwarven personality traits. He is rather serious, hard working, tenacious person. He has a deep respect for his elders, both in the clan and of other races. He is somewhat eager to show that he is not a weak person, even if his body's build would suggest it. He has grown less eager to show off his strength over the years, as he has come to be accepted by his peers. Deron has grown to hate orcs with a passion few of the dwarves can match. He will never forget what they did to his family, and blames the entire race for the evils of the few. Half-orcs somewhat confuse Deron though, as he is not entirely sure they should die but he would never go out of his way to aid one.
Background: Raised on one of the farms outside of Winterhaven, Saphalaxis was taught from an early age the lessons of a hard day's work. His father, mother and brothers all getting up at the crack of dawn every day to work the farm... plowing, milking the cows, feeding the livestock, harvesting etc. The lessons were taught well. The wonderful example was set.
Unfortunately, Saphalaxis just chose to ignore them.
You would be hard-pressed to find a lazier, less motivated, whiny, scheming, pile of dung in all of Nethyr Vale. For whatever reason, the lessons just never seemed to penetrate his thick, dragonborn skull. He was a constant pain in the you-know-what to his entire family, as he constantly found reasons to not work the fields, to not do his job, to disappear for hours on end, to basically leech off of other people. And boy, was he good at that!
Eventually, after being carried by his friends and family for several years, the stern disciplinarian that was his father finally kicked his behind off the farm. If the lessons of hard work were lost on the boy while he could just skip his way through life on the farm... perhaps Saphalaxis needed to live in the real world to get a kick in the pants. Great idea!
Unfortunately, it didn't work.
Released from the constraints that his family had put on him, Saphalaxis became even lazier, if that was even possible. The young man learned how to scam other people for what he needed, and whatever he wasn't able to bilk from others, he just swiped. And the few times he actually needed to do a job to get some cash, he worked as a bodyguard or a bouncer... because so long as the person or place he was guarding ended up surviving, it didn't matter what he did (or more specifically didn't) do while watching them.
Now his newest gig is to watch over some guy who is heading into the mountains or something... some sort of thunder thing... he doesn't really know, he wasn't actually listening... but hey, it pays!
Appearance: Saphalaxis is very large, even for a dragonborn. His scales are a deep blue and they ripple with bulging muscles, the size of his arms almost as large as a pair of human legs together. His clothing is a mismatch of colors, styles, quality, and sizes... as each and every piece has been "won" or stolen from someone else.
Personality (including quirks): Lazy. Lazy, lazy. Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, laaaaaaaazzzzzzzzy!!! There is no job too big or small that he won't find a way to put the least amount of effort into it. And why should he? The way he towers over everybody, what are they going to do to him? Complain?!? Yeah, right. He learned from the begin it is easy to slack off when no one will stand up to you about it.
Besides... he does what he needs to when he needs to. He can run a scam or pick a pocket when it's required, or bash someone over the head when they get uppity. He just doesn't feel the need to do so that often. Why put in extra-effort for twice the pain? It's not worth it.
It's for this reason that his family always refered to him as 'Saph-Ast'... because that's pretty much how he did everything.
Name: Patresh
Race: Dragonborn
Class: Warlord
Background: Patresh found himself torn between two passions as he reached adulthood. He had always loved the stories of ancient Arkhosia that his parents told him as a child. He was fascinated by the stories of Arkhosian knights and lords, and the glorious adventures of its champions. Once he had mastered reading, he could often be found engrossed in a historical tome, enthralled in visions of dragonborn glory.
Later, as his growth made him one of the largest, strongest members of his hatching-year, he learned the joy of battle. He thrilled at the age-worn and sweat-hardened feel of leather wrapped around a strong hilt. His heart sang with the music of the sword, the windlike hum as it cut the air and metallic percussion as it met blade or shield. He found a new peace of mind while he released himself to the dance of steel.
As his training became more complex, and included multiple allies and opponents, his true calling emerged. He excelled at teamwork and leadership, guiding his allies to thrilling victories on the sparring field, driving them to feats of skill they shouldn’t have been able to accomplish. He earned a glowing reputation for his leadership. As a result, shortly after being welcomed into adulthood, he was given command of a patrol squad. He was very proud of this honor, and he was sure that he was destined for glory, to carry on the traditions of Arkhosia. Finally he had found a blending for both of his passions. Sadly, reality rarely matches up to such lofty dreams, and Patresh suffered a drastic turn.
Barely two weeks into his command, Patresh unknowingly led his squad into an ambush. They were surrounded by giants before they knew they were in danger, and they never stood a chance. Despite the odds, Patresh rallied his men to mount an impressive defense, and they managed to take down two giants, but eventually they were cut down to a man. Despite taking a vicious club hit to the head, Patresh managed to survive the battle, left for dead by the giants.
When another patrol from his home village, they found Patresh still breathing and brought him back. There he was nursed back to health, much to his frustration. While nobody else blamed him for what happened, Patresh knew that he had failed. He was responsible for his squad and he had let them down. In the process, Patresh knew, he had dishonored himself and everyone associated with him. As soon as he was healthy enough he left his home, ritually severing his ties to clan and family to spare them that dishonor.
With no other way to earn a living, Patresh joined a mercenary company, and used his skill with the blade to great effect. He earned a reputation for charging into battle, disregarding his own safety to secure victory, but he steadfastly avoided giving any hint as to his leadership abilities, afraid of being responsible for any more lives.
Eventually this caught up to him, and during a massive battle, he watched as the men he had fought beside for two years were outmaneuvered and killed one by one. Finally driven to act as he and the last of his allies were surrounded, Patresh started issuing commands and challenges to his men (they became his as soon as he chose to speak). Thanks to Patresh’s guidance, the few survivors were able to hold out long enough for reinforcements to arrive, and the battle turned. Despite saving those lives, Patresh once again felt guilt for the deaths of the others. In a moment of emotional agony, he prayed to Bahamut for the first time since he had left home. In that moment he felt the god’s pride and acceptance, and he found he was able to forgive himself, although only with the promise to never again stand by and watch those under his protection die.
He knew that he could no longer sell his sword to the highest bidder, but was not yet ready to return to his village, having no clan or family that he could claim as his own. Searching his heart he knew that his best option was to serve Bahamut and continue to make restitution for his prior failures through fighting various evils in the world, and so he took up the life of an adventurer.
Appearance: A towering dragonborn, Patresh stands at 6’8” and weighs an impressive 314 pounds. His bronze scales are somewhat ragged, and they still show the crushing effect of the giant’s club on the left side of his face. Those scales are discolored, dulling to a cracked brown. His red eyes glow with excitement as battle approaches, but become instantly calm and at peace once the fight is engaged.
Personality (including quirks): Patresh is still fascinated by history, but he finds himself wanting compared to the heroes of Arkhosia, and thus his knowledge is often tinged with a bitter sense of inadequacy. His guilt has made him reserved in dealing with others in any situation outside of battle, and idealistic enthusiasm gave way to a somewhat brooding nature. His recent rediscovery of Bahamut has eased his fatalistic approach to life, however. His determination to protect others has returned his air of command at key moments, but his past mistakes give him some sense of self-doubt. Despite all of this, he has not lost his sense of honor, and he never knowingly breaks his word or his sense of what is right.
His biggest quirk is his obsession with restoring his honor, even though at his heart he doesn’t believe that anything he does can undo what was done. Thus his life is dedicated to a quest that he doesn’t think he can ever accomplish, and that adds a bit of desperation and nihilism, in alternating bouts, to his actions.
Last edited by Redclaw; 8th August 2008 at 07:49 PM..
Background: Know simply as "The Coin" Druggle has made a name for himself in Hammerfast as a "protector" of funds. Raised by a priest of Moradin Druggle should have grown up to live the life of a cleric, that is if the guilds hadn't show interest in him. Brought under the wing of Hammerfast's governing body, Druggle was trained as an enforcer, to track down those indebted to the guilds and exact payment.
Druggle displayed incredible talent for his job and was soon put incharge of his own storehouse where he provided storage and protection for money and valuables. Over time he also began to "invest" in the lives of others, which is a nice way of saying he loaned money. Threw the brutal and intimidating tactics Druggle used to make sure he was repayed his nickname was born.
As The Coin grew older he developed many enemies due to his unsavory business practices as such he took great precausions against retaliation. Unfortunaly he hadn't counted on an individual in desperation targeting his family, which is how he eventually lost his wife. The Coin went on a violent rampage as he fervently sought vengance for his wifes death not only killing those responsible but any one connected to them. This wanton behavior spurred an outcry form the citizens of Hammer fast forcing the leaders of the city to take action against one of thier own. The guilds not wanting to imprison or exicute one of thier most loyal employees desided to banish The Coin from Hammerfast as punishment.
Now The Coin wanders the Nentir Vale a broken dwarf longing for the day when he can return to his storehouse, which the guilds allowed him to leave in the care of his children, and the work that he loves.
Appearance: Prior to his exile The Coin used to shave his red hair while braiding his long beard into 3 broad strands. His bald head and ornately styled beard where a striking augment to the Dwarfs impossing body. But in the year since his banishment he has allowed his hair to grow and no longer attempts to groom his beard giving him the apperance of an odd hermet as opposed to an intimidating warrior. Tho his body still holds the frame for a powerful fighter his wild appearance makes him look more humorous than formidable.
Personality (including quirks): Druggle is very warm to those he knows and is often seen toasting a flaggon of ale with friend and enemy alike. He loves to tell sorries of former "business associates" he's had "dealings" with (which is usually code for individuals who owned him money whom he ultimately maimed or killed) speaking of them as if they were long lost friends.
Druggle can be very generous and will foot the bill for group activities on certain occasion, but when it comes to loans he follows a strict code and makes it a point of honor to ensure he's paid back along with the agreed interest. Druggle doesn't like to talk about his past in specifics and usually tries to keep his stories as vague as possible a task he usually fails at.
Side Note:
I'm fairly new to dnd and this would not only be my first pbp game but my first game as a PC. Thus far my only experience with the game is as a DM b/c I'm the only member of my play group whose read the rules and can adiquetly enforce them.
I've read several pbp games on the boards and would love the opportunity to be apart of one. Especially Thunderspire I love the idea behind the campaign and these boards are probly my only shot at running it as a PC. I usually pick up on things fairly quickly and I love to use my imagination so if your willing to deal with my initial slip ups and random questions I'd love a shot at this story arc with this character.
Random question #1:
Could any one tell me how to make one the those condensed windows to hide side notes and what not until the down arrow is clicked?
Last edited by Niehaus; 9th August 2008 at 07:12 AM..
Reason: Edited for spelling and presentation
Random question #1:
Could any one tell me how to make one the those condensed windows to hide side notes and what not until the down arrow is clicked?
Welcome to the boards!
In answer to your question, the code for the hidden boxes is {sblock=Title}text{/sblock}, with ['s replacing the {'s, and whatever header you want where I put "Title."
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
As an additional FYI Niehaus, you can always hit the quote button on someone who's post you want to copy (i.e. if you want to see how they did something)
I looks as if you've got more than enough people to get on with this but I thought I'd throw this bugger in anyway, possibly as the 'wildcard', just to see what you think - and yes, as you might have guessed Renau - I seem to be currently obsessed with 'wee folk'.
Garrick Grey, Halfling Rogue/Paladin* of the Raven Queen
Garrick started life in the gutter. He never knew who his parents were, nor did he have any other family except for the other street kids. Growing up his size was both a blessing and a curse. He could hide in the smallest of spaces and he could sneak into places where no one expected anyone to be able to enter. This kept him at least minimally fed and sheltered but his size also meant he was the runt of the group. He was the butt of the jokes and was always the one to be beaten up when someone needed beating up.
Perversely even this proved ultimately to be a good thing. As he grew older he developed the skills necessary to deal with these situations. He learnt how to talk his way out of almost anything - and those situations he couldn’t talk his way out of he avoided, either by stealth or by the his dextrous acrobatics. There were, of course, times when his ploys were to no avail and then he had to resort to violence. But even here his quickness and his guile proved of immeasurable worth. He became respected as a adept wielder of dagger and shuriken and even more so as a purveyor of sudden death.
Although never a religious person, there came a time when he began to feel the presence of the Dark Queen at his shoulder. The more he thought upon it the more he realised that his path lay less in the world of the rogue and more on the path of the paladin and so it has been thus far.
Garrick is slim and quite tall for a halfling. His eyes are grey and cold looking, seldom showing much in the way of expression. His hair, which is quite long and tied in a single braid, is dark brown although, surprisingly given his youth, it is heavily streaked with grey. His face is pale, his cheeks sunken, presumably a result of his early trials and tribulations. He seldom smiles and makes few friends but more from lack of opportunity than from lack of desire.
(*Soldier of the Faith taken at Level 4)
I say wildcard coz I'm not sure where he might fit in. I would plan on taking the multiclass feats (Acolyte etc) in order to drop in more Paladinny Aoe powers.
I looks as if you've got more than enough people to get on with this but I thought I'd throw this bugger in anyway, possibly as the 'wildcard', just to see what you think - and yes, as you might have guessed Renau - I seem to be currently obsessed with 'wee folk'.
I also enjoy the wee folk (although I much better prefer the Hobbit fluff from previous editions to the 4e fluff, but that's neither here nor there, or at least belongs in the RPG discussion board)
Also, you can never have enough applicants, especially with the attrition rate of PbP, alternates will always be needed.
Name: Viodron
Race: Eladrin
Class: Orb Wizard
Background:
Viodron grew up in the small Eladrin village of Hytormen. Although small, the village had one of the more prestigious wizard colleges in the area. The college was large and well funded, for it often employed adventurers to bring back treasures from far away lands for study. Viodron, or just Vio, began an apprenticeship at the college at a young age. His parents were adventurers, and figured he would be cared for well there. Plus they could afford the outrageous tuition.
Vio excelled at the wizardly tradition, quickly gaining noteriety among it's students for his creative use of magics. Adventuring was in his blood though, and upon his graduation, he set off with his parents to make his own money and gather wider fame.
While exploring ancient tiefling ruins, Vio found a tome of forgotten magic. The tome a heavy brass covered piece, and appeared to be written in dark red ink. It contained the secrets of blood magic. Vio was entranced by the thoughts and ideas contained within, he brought it with him wherever he went. His parents and those at the College found of his obscession. They forbade him entrance to the College and never called him son again. The blood magus ideas were forbidden among the Eladrin of his village. Vio paid them no mind, he left the village, and spoke that his parents were only afraid of the power that he would command. Vio continues to study the tome, continues to unlock secrets that would lead to his greater destiny. Vio is currently making his way in a party of companions, although his actions and appearance are disturbing, they are not evil.
Appearance: Vio is silver haired and has very pale skin. He wears silver robes that are trimmed in red. Scars crisscross his forearms, where he deliberately cuts himself. Long thin scabs can be seen where scars are newly forming. His face in painted in a pattern of red and black, a stark contrast to his pale skin.
Personality: Vio is dark minded and very intelligent. Though he keeps mostly quiet, his appearance can be unsettling for some. He will often imtimidate those that seem wary of his appearance. Vio is obcessed with blood, he doesn't shy away from the blood of his enemies. He considers blood a creature's life energy, and thusly hates undead in all their forms. Blood and knowledge are power in his mind. The more blood he can spill and the more knowledge he can gain the better.
)
***
