@r1: Your Mythic PC can be anyone at all in history - a relative, a villain, a hero - anyone. An Exarch of Kord...?
The easy way to get your PC down into the cavern is that he drew a Duty stone when Zlatan and Heskrash came by. As to where he is exactly, he can 'tada!' become one of the Dragonborn NPCs already mentioned or be relatively seamlessly integrated into any of the scenes without Dragonborn.
And for the Bonding, that's just fine.
@hafrogman: Wow! Gutwick! It was so hard to pick between all those entries, they were fun!
Let's add another group to the 'citizens' of Naedur. A labor class that doesn't enjoy the same rights as the other citizens, but are tolerated because of some Oath or other. Dwarves are very serious about their Oaths. Especially the ancient ones. The Goblins! Periodically as they reproduce beyond the levels allowed, they're cast out of the City (maybe even how the Dragh found the City in the first place).
I'm totally game to let you stat Ehrero Khan up.
@garyh: Welcome back! Bring on Resolute... I never did figure out what the Warforged were doing in Naedur exactly. I did have some thoughts that they were put into stasis as part of the City's defense (or maybe caught up inadvertently in the warding magic), and that there are caches of Warforged here and there. Some are "statues" around the City. That would make Resolute's memories an issue, he'd remember Naedur from over 1000 years ago! Thoughts? Would you prefer an integration more like the Balash, Dragh or Goblins?
@garyh: Welcome back! Bring on Resolute... I never did figure out what the Warforged were doing in Naedur exactly. I did have some thoughts that they were put into stasis as part of the City's defense (or maybe caught up inadvertently in the warding magic), and that there are caches of Warforged here and there. Some are "statues" around the City. That would make Resolute's memories an issue, he'd remember Naedur from over 1000 years ago! Thoughts? Would you prefer an integration more like the Balash, Dragh or Goblins?
Thanks! I'm happy with the "just awoken" defense perimeter idea. It's a fun concept, and helps explain anything I miss based on not following the game after it left the planning stages.
I'll try to post Resolute and Freedom (my mythic PC) tonight. Tomorrow night at the latest. Huzzah, DDI Character Builder! Do you have the character creation guidelines handy? Sounds like Martial Power is an option (I'd like to use some of the Warlord options therein).
This may be too geeky or you may not be real familiar with the concepts, but here's a Transformers fanfic wherein an Autobot left behind in stasis on Earth activates to defend humanity from a Decepticon threat. It's a lot like the basic premise you suggested for Resolute, and will be an inspiration for me in playing that background.
Brash Assault: +33 vs. AC
Hit: 2d12+24 damage, reroll all 1's (2d12+42, reroll all 1's with Bloodclaw)
Crit: 3d12+6d6+48 damage, reroll all 1's (3d12+6d6+66, reroll all 1's with Bloodclaw)
At-will Powers: brash assault, wolf pack tactics
Encounter Powers: dragon breath, hail of steel, headstrong bravery, tempest of triumph, warlord's indignation
Daily Powers: inexorable surge, inspiring charge, path of the storm, victory surge
Utility Powers: blood-tested inspiration, divine regeneration, guileful switch, heart of the titan, instant planning, shake it off, warlord's banner
Gear:
+6 bloodclaw fullblade
+6 javelin
+6 dwarven elderscale armor
+6 healer's brooch
Battlestrider greaves
Gauntlets of destruction
Healer's sash (epic tier)
Helm of heroes (epic tier)
Iron armbands of power +6
Nullifying ring
Ring of the dragonborn emperor
Standard adventurer's kit
Well, Sparky. Your comments on the oath gave me inspiration. So I set aside my plans for Ehrero Khan, and came up with this, the story of my epic character, her relation to the Khan, and the oath with the dwarves. I'll try and stat her and my PC up tonight.
Natalia, The Goblin Queen: Half-Elven Warlock/Divine Oracle/Something
Gutwick, Goblin Rogue (Multiclass: Paladin of the Goblin Queen)
The Goblin Queen
The people of my village were fools and cowards. They always found reason to hate me, no matter what I did for them. They muttered curses against my mixed blood when I was a child, and then when the power found me they were terrified of the spirits and fey. Couldn’t they see that the power was mine to control? They whispered their fears to each other, conspired behind my back, and then they had the temerity to tell me to leave. They were nothing in the face of the powers that I could call forth from beyond the veil. I would have shared my power with them, brought them glory, but the weak-minded fear the unknown. I should have destroyed them for their arrogance, but I let them languish in their ignorant little lives. I took to wandering, gaining more and more power as I gained deeper knowledge of the secrets before me.
It was during my wanderings that I found the goblins. They were pathetic then, wallowing in their misery. They struggled to survive while all other races worked against them. They truly were pitiful, and indeed I did pity them. They, too, were afraid of my powers. But unlike the fears of the humans, this was not the weak-willed fear of the unknown. This was a healthy fear brought on by full understanding. They feared me because I could destroy them, and with that fear came respect. I had found a people who would value what I could give them. They had nothing, and I gave them everything. I gave them civilization, I gave them knowledge, and I gave them power. I gave them a queen.
As the Goblin Queen I ruled the small tribe that I had found, and in time, I came to unite more tribes under my banner. My powers aided in the conquest, but even more so my presence gave the Goblins strength, a cause, a faith that they had lacked. No longer were they the least among people, they were my people, and I brought them greatness.
My powers grew as did that of my newfound people. I could see the strands of fate twisting ahead of me, and I shaped them to my liking. It was among the strands that I first found myself gazing upon Ehrero, he who would be Khan. He was an outcast from his people, much like me, and I could see the power that dwelt within him, waiting for release. If I had been stronger, had understood my powers more deeply then, perhaps I would have chosen differently. As it was, I could see his rise to glory; I could see all other peoples driven before his power. If the goblins stood against him, they would fall, returning to the state where I had found them. Best to stand beside such a power, rather than fall in his wake. I went to Ehrero then, and shared with him my vision of his future. I foretold his destiny as the Conqueror, king above all, Ehrero Khan. I showed him the path he must take to unlock his true potential, and I pledged him the service of my people.
The goblins were merely the first to flock to Ehrero’s banner. In time there came many that joined his horde, those that saw the wisdom in being conquerors instead of conquered. But my people were the first, and woe to those who spoke ill of the goblins. Ehrero Khan could not be stopped, his powers were endless and he crushed all those who opposed him. My people fought along side him and brought ruin upon the world. It was only after the shattering of the Egg that the mists cleared once more and I began to truly understand the future that I had helped to shape. Ehrero would not be content with ruling the world; destruction was all that fueled him now. And in the end his wrath would be terrible. In time he would turn upon those most loyal; my powers would not be enough to save the goblins. Worse still, I foresaw no mere fall from grace, but a total destruction. The goblin race would not survive his fury. I had to act to save my people. I was their queen, it was my duty.
I looked into the strands of fate for an answer, and found the refugees that sought to escape Ehrero’s conquest, a band of survivors, dwarves, humans and the dragonfolk. A pitifully small remnant, they sought to escape to some far off sanctuary. And I could see the diverging paths that lay before them. Even then the new Khan scoured the lands looking for the last survivors. He would find them, and he would destroy them . . . unless he was distracted from his task.
I went to them, then, and spoke to the dwarves. And I struck a bargain, the only path I could see open. They swore an oath to take with them some of my people to their safe hold, the women, the children, enough to sustain, enough to survive. In exchange, I would protect them from Ehrero’s search. I had to. To ensure the survival of my people, I would do anything.
I returned to the Khan then. I attempted to dissuade him from his search, but he would not stop. The more adamant I became, the more suspicious he grew. If I could not delay his search, the survivors would be found and destroyed along with the last hope of the goblins. And so I gathered my powers to me and struck at him with all of my might. He stood unscathed and his eyes were empty as he turned his gaze upon me. But even as he killed me, I stared once more into the future, and I could see that I had succeeded. Ehrero would spend his time rooting out treachery in his ranks, and grow distracted from his search. The survivors would escape to their hidden city, and my goblins with them. I followed the strands of fate as long as I could before the darkness took me.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
Ok, so for my mythic PC, he'd have been the leader of the Dragh tribe before the coming of the darkness.
"Before the coming of the warforged, those constructs who all but wiped out our great people, we lived in an uneasy peace with the Balash after defeating them in times ancient even then. As was customary, our leader was selected by ritual combat, only the strongest should lead our group. The chief had been getting older and many number of young males were pining for the opportunity to challenge the elder dragonborn. It was then that a new figure emerged in the city, one whom we had all heard the legends of, Axabraxas, the dragon-slayer. He stood a head taller than the largest warrior of our tribe, his muscles rippled with power and he stood with an air of confidence that none could shake. The blade across his back was nearly as legendary as its wielder, Dragonbane, had served its wielder well and with it the dragonborn had slain four dragons in single combat. When he spoke the words of challenge all other contenders stepped down, leaving just him and the chieftain. Stubborn and proud, the older dragonborn refused to yield leadership and so they battled. It took Axabraxas less than a minute to defeat the elder and claim the chieftain role for his own. People spoke in whispers about the prodigal son returned home, with the eye of Kord himself watching over the warrior. He threw himself into any battle that the small city was involved in and personally lead any warriors to battle, he was able to inspire them with his bravery and courage. This all changed when the warforged came.
Axabraxas had grown accustomed to leading and had defeated any foes that he had come into conflict with, but when the warforged attacked the city his courage faltered, he doubted himself and his bretheren. Despite their sacred duty to guard the Egg, given by Kord, Axabraxas fled. With their leader gone and the enemy on their doorsteps, the remaining Dragh fled the city and hid themselves in the mountains that their ancestors had used during ancient times.
Kord brought Axabraxas to his plane and has been punishing him ever since for his cowardice on the battlefield and his weakness in defending the religious artifact."
- from unknown author
Last edited by renau1g; 12th February 2009 at 10:06 PM..
I forgot a goofy chargen rule - none of the PCs can have names that start with the same letter. Gutwick is in the clear, but Kriv conflicts with Krik.
Names so far...
Belleros
Gutwick
Heskrash
Krik
Mask
Resolute
So names starting with, B, G, H, K, M and R are off-limits. The reason for this is when we get into combat, I use an ASCII map system where a PC's first initial designates him on the map. Sorry I didn't mention this sooner.
I'm now toying with the idea of making Resolute a cleric instead of warlord... still thinking though...
Works a bit better with the group, and I'm thinking of having him look upon the warforged liberators of old (such as Freedom, my mythic PC) with a religious reverence.
__________________ Gary Hoggatt - www.garyh.net "Such heroic nonsense..."
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
renau1g: Axabraxas' mechanics and back story look good. I dig that he's being punished for wavering. I would like to know more about the four dragons he slew and why he slew them. Keep in mind that dragons aren't sentient in this setting. I'm also curious about what Axabraxas' punishment entails.
I would also like to see some background on your 1st level PC. The Dragh relatively recently discovered Naedur (through outcast Goblins)
hafrogman: The Goblin Queen's background is really something. I'd like to see what you cook up for her mechanics (remember the focus on her gear).
For what the Goblins do and what their lives are like, I'm happy to give you your head. I was thinking that maybe adult males are cast out of the City (since the orginal Oath covered the women and children) because they are not protected by the letter of the original Oath somehow or other. But how the Goblin population is mananged (I'm thinking Goblins are, by necessity, rather prolific) is up to you. And who Gutwick is is up to you as well. Interested to see what you come up with.
garyh: Cleric is totally fine. I have D&Di tools too, so anything in there is fine by me.
renau1g: Axabraxas' mechanics and back story look good. I dig that he's being punished for wavering. I would like to know more about the four dragons he slew and why he slew them. Keep in mind that dragons aren't sentient in this setting. I'm also curious about what Axabraxas' punishment entails.
I would also like to see some background on your 1st level PC. The Dragh relatively recently discovered Naedur (through outcast Goblins)
Sure, thanks for the feedback. I'll be changing it to 5 dragons, 1 for each of the chromatic dragons. These were a test from Kord to prove Axabraxas' Strength and Courage, and these creatures are an anathema to dragonborn as they represent a true threat to them. A perfect hunter. Also, Kord is typically a foe of evil dragons, which might have some ties to Bahamut in that respect.
As for his punishment, the coward dragonborn would be made in body what his spirit has shown (at least according to Kord). He would have his guts ripped out each day by a gold dragon, only to be healed of his wounds by servants of Kord.
You probably already know this, Renau, but there was a whole article on dragonslayers in one of the previous issues of Dragon. It had Paragon Pathways for each of the original classes as well as equipment. Definitely sounds like good material for Axabraxas.
Actually I didn't, I'll look back through the issues. I'll keep it in mind for Arogosin as I like the fluff of the Battlelord of Kord with the backstory.
For what the Goblins do and what their lives are like, I'm happy to give you your head. I was thinking that maybe adult males are cast out of the City (since the orginal Oath covered the women and children) because they are not protected by the letter of the original Oath somehow or other. But how the Goblin population is mananged (I'm thinking Goblins are, by necessity, rather prolific) is up to you. And who Gutwick is is up to you as well. Interested to see what you come up with.
Well, I'm not certain that the dwarves would neccessarily want a community composed entirely of adult male goblins (with grudges) camping on their doorstep. And, they're probably not going to for a simple extermination policy. So I figure the best method would be enforced gender segregation, prevent little goblins in the first place.
On Being a Goblin
The goblins work as servants, assistants or laborers under strict supervision. If they're not working, they're confined to their own portions of the city. The male quarters and the female quarters are at opposite ends of the city, and kept under watch to prevent illicit visitations. Any goblin caught violating curfew and attempting to circumvent the population control laws immediately forfeits their citizenship and is ejected from the city. It is from one of these exiles that the Dragh learned of Naedur.
The right for a goblin to become a parent is a fiercely fought over honor, administered by the dwarves (of course). Such selective breeding might imply that only the best and brightest among the goblins would be chosen, and over a thousand years, goblins could be a very different people than they once were. However, the best and the brightest are also those most likely to chafe against the dwarven rule. Thus it is that those most often chosen are the helpful, subservient and complacent, leading to a race that is much the same. However, occasionally fate twists in unseen ways and throws back a reject, a goblin that harkens back to their glory days under the reign of the Goblin Queen.
The Queen herself is worshipped among the city's goblins. Soon after the founding of Naedur, goblins began whispering among themselves of dreams and portents given to them by the Queen. The tale began to circulate of her sacrifice, despite no Naedur goblin having witnessed the event. Over the ensuing milenium, real memories of the Goblin Queen quickly faded and were replaced only by legend. Any rough edges she may have possessed in life were quickly worn away by the adoration of her people. She was worshipped as a goddess, a kind and benevolent spirit. One who would provide shelter and hope to the downtrodden.
Sadly, my computer erased my character file for The Goblin Queen. So no stats yet, but I had everything worked out in my head, so it'll go fairly quickly once I'm no longer at work. Gutwick's story to follow. . .
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
Argosin was born in the Dragh Clan, of around 200 members. He never
met his father, Tyrnan, as he had perished defended the clan during the 'dark times' before the egg had hatched. Tyrnan had been in charge of leading the defenders of their small clan. Balthasar's mother, Jasra, raised him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a glorious battle commander. She told him stories of his father's noble conquests and exploits, and of the dragonborn race's valiant effort against the unending attacks of the warforged..
Trynan's blood truly did flow through Argosin's veins, as he quickly honed his skill as both a ferocious fighter and a competent leader. He became captain of the guard at age 25. In the spring after his 28th birthday, he married a woman from his father's clan, Shekara. She bore a healthy egg in the summertime. He never understood why he was drawn to her, and had grown to resent both her and their egg.
Argosin was out with the rest of the guard hunting boar for the clan's winter stockpile. They had killed all they could carry back with them, and Argosin told his comrades to carry the carcasses back while he finished one last kill. He did so, and headed back toward the clan.
As he was nearing it, he heard terrible commotion from within the current villiage, screams of terror, furniture being destroyed, and, to his most terrifying horror, the creaking of wood and metal from the warforged.
"They've finally found us" Argosin thought
He dropped the heavy load on his back and quickly drew his sword darting out from the trees. Tents were lying burned and in ruins, fires raged in all directions, smoke billowed from almost everywhere. Through the ash, he spotted a group of warforged threatening his tent. Argosin roared, raised his blade above his head and charged at the group. His actions did not go unanswered, as they turned their heads in unison and spotted Balthasar's plan. Even with the pounding of five pairs of arms, Argosin managed to overcome their attacks and beat back the warforged. He saw his fellows had managed the same.
Following the attack, Argosin cautiously peeked inside the tent and immediately wished he hadn't. The corpse of his wife lie curled protectingly around their crushed egg, she had tried to keep it safe at the cost of her own life. He bent down over egg and wept. A deep gash had been cut in his honor, knowing he was so powerless to defend the ones who he loved. He took a small piece of his unborn son's shell and his wife's necklace, and placed the shell on it as its pendant. Another scouting party of the clan had captured a fleeing goblin from the mountain range a few miles away and the creature had an interesting story to tell of a city still standing, although it was under the mountain.
The clan elder ordered everyone to head that way, and it was there that they discovered Naedur, and there longtime enemies, the Balash. It had been a long few years and tensions still ran very high amongst the two clans, but so far they'd managed to live together without their longstanding enmity coming to a boil.
The dwarves didn't trust Argosin to lead, or even have a place, in their defense force, saying he was too reckless and would endanger their clan. He was reduced to little more than a simple miner, his great strength allowing him to dig for great periods of time. Argosin had turned to dwarven spirits to ease his pain and feelings of hopelessness and uselessness. He had received his Duty stone from Zlatan and Heskrash, when things took a change.
Well, here's the mechanics for Gutwick and Natalia. Hopefully the character sheets will do for you to review. Once you approve them I'll put them into the wiki, but this way I only have to type them up once.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
The sound of my bare feet on the stone floor resounded noisily as I run full speed for the craft district. I dodged around people in my way, ducking and weaving, offering a continual blanket apology and ignoring the angry mutterings that followed in my wake.
"Sorry, sorry, excuse me, can't be late, sorry, oops, sorry!"
I was still running so fast when I reached the shop that I nearly flew past the door, unable to stop. I reached out a hand, grabbing the door jamb and using it to swing myself inside. My feet scrabbled for purchase as I thrust myself through the doorway and I tried to right myself. I allowed myself a single ragged breath before instantly standing straight and, feigning nonchalance I didn't feel, looking around the store. Nobody. Did I beat him here? I quickly grabbed a broom and started sweeping industriously. I'd hardly been at it for a few seconds when he spoke from behind me.
"You're late."
I jumped in surprise, and dropped the broom with a clatter. My head drooped. I was caught. I turned sheepishly, my best hangdog expression on my face, but the scowl on Hargin's face told me that it wasn't going to work this time. I blanched slightly. I liked working for the dwarven smith. He was a better taskmaster than most, and the work was more interesting than the menial labor most of my kin are charged with. Not that I was actually allowed to help in any of the forging, but running errands and assisting the smith was better than drudgery.
He seemed to hold goblins in a better light than many dwarves. He was even friendly on occasion, he'd given me a simple blade on my naming day. Nothing fancy, but a real sword. Just like I'd always dreamed of having as a youngling. I'd listen to the tales of the Goblin Queen and dream of being a hero in her service.
"I'm sorry, Master Hargin, I was just. . ."
He cut me off, still scowling.
"You were just daydreaming again. Damn it boy, you know I'm supposed to report you to the truant guards. Now I don't want to lose my assistant, and you don't want to end up in their bad books. Nobody's happy about what happened with the last exile. The gods only know what they'll get it into their heads to do next time one of you damn fools gets caught."
His scowl softened a little as he spoke. He was probably more disappointed than angry, but it would still be best not to antagonize him further. I ducked my head, retrieved my broom and got back to work as fast as was seemly.
I tried to remain vigilant in my battle against dust, but my heart wasn't in it today. Still, I kept up a steady effort, watching the people pass on the street outside to pass my time. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her walking past. She worked nearby in the district, at a tailor's shop. I saw her every so often walking past on the street. Of course I couldn't talk to her, but I'd managed to find out her name through subtle inquiry. Jezra. She was beautiful. But if I ever wanted to have a shot at that kind of life, I had to do better, I had to be better. Hargin liked me well enough, but that wasn't good enough to get me in with the Population Council. I'd have to do something great for the city.
I was still sighing to myself and gazing outside when I heard Hargin's voice from behind me for the second time that morning.
"Bah, you're useless this morning."
He took the broom from my hands and handed me a duty stone.
"If you've time enough to stare into space, you have time enough to help with the harvest. They're short of people today. Come back here when your mind in back where it belongs."
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
![[OOC] Toranthar (Full)](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/talking-talk/ooc-toranthar-full_ltr.gif)
It was so hard to pick between all those entries, they were fun!
Thoughts? Would you prefer an integration more like the Balash, Dragh or Goblins?
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