[4e]Adventures in The Chaos Scar [recruitment closed; OOC]

hero4hire · 24th October 2009, 05:39 AM

Long ago, a dark power traveled through the space between worlds, intent on finding world upon which to wreak havoc. After seeding countless wars on many worlds, it found a new world to ruin. There it crash-landed, embedding itself deep in the ground and carving a valley-sized furrow in its wake. Patient beyond mortal comprehension, it began to sow the seeds of evil and reach out to those of a perverse and corruptible bent.

The Chaos Scar is a long, wide valley carved long ago by the fall of a massive meteor. As the giant rock passed overhead, milk curdled, livestock fell over dead, and ill fortune befell all. The meteor crashed into the earth with deafening force, and red radiance lit the sky for a week. Then it vanished.

The meteor had carved its massive gash in a dark and wild place between points of civilization. Where once had stood a wild forest and swamp between a line of small hills was this new valley—the Chaos Scar.

Over a mile long and several hundred feet deep, the Chaos Scar is a testament to the vast power of the meteor’s impact. As it carved its path through the earth, shards and fragments of the meteor tore away until only its heart remained, embedded in an escarpment at the far end of its new home. There, it sent out its call. Over the centuries, creatures of evil spirit have been drawn to this beacon. The meteor's dark sentience spurred competition among them so that they fought with one another. The weak were killed or pushed to the edges of the meteor’s influence, while the strong and cruel rose to the top of the pecking order.

Following years of conflict, a group has emerged to rule the valley. It calls itself the Brotherhood of the Scar. Some nearby cities and nation states believe them to be worshipers of Bane. Others think them servitors of Zehir, or possibly a demon prince. The order seems to have reached some sort of understanding with the meteor, because while the conflicts between the monsters of the Chaos Scar continue, the Brotherhood is left to its own devices. The Brotherhood built a keep around the meteor, and the other denizens of the Scar have carved out their own dominions within the valley’s many caves. The weakest settle near the mouth of the valley and the plain beyond, while the strongest lair closer to the valley’s terminus and in the fortress that now encloses the valley’s upper wall.

Some cities have tried to hem in the threat of the Chaos Scar, with little to no success. A long-forgotten ruler who fancied himself a king erected a wall across the valley’s mouth long ago. It still stands, partly in ruins, its gates open and unguarded. Towers that once ringed the valley have fallen to ruin as well. Some are inhabited by monsters; others are simply empty.

The Chaos Scar itself is death to most who wander in. It is filled with evil and riddled with caves both natural and tunneled by generations of monstrous denizens. The deeper one travels into the valley, the deadlier the foes lurking in its caves and hollows. Strange features have been raised, or have simply appeared, within the Scar—circles of standing stones, bizarre towers, grotesque cottages, and other more otherworldly features. Capping off the valley is the fortress of Hallowgaunt, home to the mysterious Brotherhood of the Scar, crowned by a perpetual storm of black clouds and crackling lightning.

Many adventurers have entered the Chaos Scar. Few have returned. Those that do weave dark stories of monsters working in concert as never before. Others tell of monstrous creatures working against one another. Welcome to the Chaos Scar.

After a long hiatus from Enworld, I have decided to come back with a vengeance and DM some 4th edition.

Adventures in the Chaos Scar is the newest "Adventure Path" in Dungeon Magazine. Characters will start at Level One and I plan on taking them as far as they can make it Level-wise in PbP.

Submissions must include completed characters preferably using the Character Builder. All Wizard sources allowed as they hit the Compendium save for Hybrid characters. Characters will be built using standard point buy and will have 100gp to buy equipment.

I will be choosing characters, one from each role, based on legibility, interesting concepts and from players willing to post regularly.
If you cannot post at least every other day (more during combat) please do not apply.

Any questions? Lay 'em on me!

BarrelRider · 24th October 2009, 03:02 PM

Removing the final strap from his travel-soiled armor, Torash allowed himself to release the tension he always carried with him on the road. Another caravan safely arrived at its destination, he thought with some satisfaction.

But even as he allowed himself that moment of enjoyment, the dream returned.

With a sudden flash of color, the dragonborn found himself once again in the unknown valley. The smell of war was thick and foul, a nauseating blend of blood, smoke and unwashed leather. He held a sword unlike any he'd seen in the waking world, but as familiar to him as his own. Around him other dragonborn crouched, waiting for the attack they knew would come, and not one of them was free of injury.

Forcing himself to look for a sign of where he was, Torash turned to behold the mighty wall at his back. There he saw the flag of ancient Arkhosia, something he only recognized from his grandsire's descriptions. It flew as battle standard over the force defending the wall.

A rising rumble of shouts tore his attention back to the battlefield just in time to see an explosion of arcane fire rip through the front ranks of the dragonborn. He held his arm up in a futile attempt to protect himself from the rolling wave of power that was churning toward him. Just as it hit, his world shifted again.

He was sitting on the floor of the common room of the inn, his armor laying haphazardly on the floor next to him. I need to figure out what's going on, he thought to himself for the hundredth time, before I lose all sense of what is real.

CG Summary

Bluenose · 24th October 2009, 10:50 PM

Chaihana watched as the guards searched her gear. As she expected, they confiscated most of her valuables as contraband. Now they were arguing over her runecards, whether they were magical and should be confiscated or merely used for gambling and hence taxed. Perhaps they should be asking me, she thought before her mind turned to the argument of a week ago.

Her father had insisted she abandon her plans to be an independent mercenary. It would never do for the daughter of a noble house to be exposed to the prejudices of commoners or the dangers involved. In the end, the argument had ended with them yelling at each other, before he stormed off and ordered the guards to confine her to her room. Since that overlooked the stable, it wasn't hard for her to climb out onto the roof and away from the manor. Although it was likely that her father would have hired people to come after her, so she'd made an effort to hide her identity from people, doubled back on her trail, and done what she could to alter her appearance by cutting and dyeing her hair. But even so that won't fool people for long, and perhaps a period out of sight would help, though then...

"All right, tiefling, get a move on. Take your things and go. But don't think there won't be guards watching you. We know what your kind is like." The guard shoved her gear roughly towards her, and stood watching with a sneer as she packed. What was that about? Or does he dislike tieflings for some reason? Ah well. Shouldering her gear she moved towards the nearest inn.

Spoiler:

hero4hire · 25th October 2009, 09:25 AM

Barrelrider & Bluenose,

Great Job on the submissions guys. You definitely have set the bar.

Phaezen · 26th October 2009, 12:00 AM

Ruz took a moment to rest, leaning against a wall. The changeling had been on the run for several weeks after a botched assassination attempt, not his fault really, the client had given misleading information on the mark, hoping for a cheaper price.

Unfortunately Ruz was now paying the price of the clients stinginess, with both a powerful merchant family and the clients associates after him he had to flee the city for a while and disappear into the countryside. On the other hand, his innate talents as a changeling helped in blend in better than others would, and he had not seem his trackers for several days now, although he was still wary.

He looked around the small town, small enough that he might notice strangers entering, but large enough that he could blend in and decided to wait for a few days, to see if he had thrown off the hounds. Perhaps there might be work around suitable for him to practice his talents.

He found a quiet place and took the form of a human warrior, similar to many mercenaries plying their trade throughout the area, slung his blade onto his back and moved to the town square listening out for any possible rumors.

Spoiler:

hero4hire · 26th October 2009, 06:54 AM

I must now familiarize myself with assassins!

Which is good; I have been meaning to do so for a little while now.

Phaezen · 26th October 2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hero4hire

I must now familiarize myself with assassins!

Which is good; I have been meaning to do so for a little while now.

From the oneshot I did with one, very mobile, very fragile, very dangerous and lots of fun to play.

hero4hire · 26th October 2009, 10:13 AM

I don't usually do 1st come 1st serve but so far the three submissions I have are very nice. I think it is safe to assume that the roles of Defender, Leader & Striker are now filled.

I now need a Controller and one wildcard slot which can be of any role.

hero4hire · 26th October 2009, 10:30 AM

A couple of things do not import to the generator.

Languages, alignments, dieties, height, weight, age etc.

The 1st two are must knows for me. So if you all can provide me with that info I will be appreciative.

hero4hire · 26th October 2009, 10:41 AM

Also I will be making tokens for maps to represent your characters on battlemaps. If you find a picture or image you want for your character please post it or the link to it.

Walking Dad · 26th October 2009, 11:00 AM

I can post every day, but the weekend, and I sadly have no access to the character builder. Are the options from primal power in? I would be interested in a Duergar (Swarm) Druid:

Destinedto be sacrificed on his 21th birthday, he flew his underdark city. After some unsavory contacts with humans ("A monster! Kill it!") he searches for some companions that appreciate his special talents.

Still wild and dangerous, he still values the friendship of the other characters and accepts the rules of the surface out of respect for them.

Short-time before Ursug Steelbark's 21th birthday:
To satisfy his own curiosity and to gain additional respect from the other young warriors, spied at the city rulers (using his swarm shape) another time.
Listening carefully, he begins to understand the old priest's brittle words: "... and therefore we have to kill him before it is to late. My visions warn us of a great traitor to our race and gods. We cannot let him live any longer. Tomorrow, Ursug has to be sacrificed..."
Scared and shocked, Ursug sneaked back to the underwild mushroom forest he calls home, gathering his few possessions: his staff, spare clothes, the hide (chitin) armor and his backpack.
Feeling like coward for fleeing and abandoning his chosen task, he entered the old priest's privat estate later for a last time and killed him in his sleep, stinging and biting him death.
Afterward, he carved his name on the dead man's forehead and on it's breast: "Ursug is dead. Now there is only the Swarm, scrooge to the ones who were willing to sacrifice one of their own!"

Alignment: Unaligned (near to hard-hearted ignorance, but can improve during the adventure)
Languages: Common, Dwarven, Deepspeech
Diety: No longer follows the Duergar cults, but venerates the spirits.
Background: Underwild

Stats

Phaezen · 26th October 2009, 11:16 AM

@hero4hire I will upload thecharacter file to this thread when I get home this evening. Alignment is unaligned.

BarrelRider · 26th October 2009, 01:43 PM

@Hero: I'm glad my submission was successful, and I'm excited to get started. Torash is unaligned, and he speaks common and draconic.

@ WalkingDad, the builder hasn't updated since Primal Power came out. The update is usually during the last week of the month, however, so it will likely happen in the next few days.

Phaezen · 26th October 2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarrelRider

@ WalkingDad, the builder hasn't updated since Primal Power came out. The update is usually during the last week of the month, however, so it will likely happen in the next few days.

The update is usualy 1st Tuesday of the month, but WOTC have communicated that due to holidays the update will be in the 3rd or 4th Tuesday fro the November through December period. SO as far as I know the Primal Power material will only be available late November.

Walking Dad · 26th October 2009, 02:27 PM

Noooo

Could I start then as guardian and change in-play?

Bluenose · 26th October 2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hero4hire

A couple of things do not import to the generator.

Languages, alignments, dieties, height, weight, age etc.

The 1st two are must knows for me. So if you all can provide me with that info I will be appreciative.

Chaihana speaks Common and Goblin; is Unaligned; when she remembers to worships most of the deities but favours Erathis; is 5'8", 155lbs; age 21. I'll look for a suitable picture.

I'm happy to be accepted, and should be able to post every day most of the time.

BarrelRider · 26th October 2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaezen

The update is usualy 1st Tuesday of the month, but WOTC have communicated that due to holidays the update will be in the 3rd or 4th Tuesday fro the November through December period. SO as far as I know the Primal Power material will only be available late November.

D'oh. Got my info all messed up. Thanks for putting me straight, Phaezen.

Phaezen · 27th October 2009, 10:10 AM

Ruz is unaligned and speaks common

He acknowledges the whole pantheon, but tends towards the worship of the Raven Queen and Bane. The Raven Queen for the safe travel of those souls he sends to the otherword, and Bane in his aspect of the god of the triumph civilisation over chaos.

I have uploaded him to Iplay4e

Shayuri · 27th October 2009, 03:15 PM

I've got a Deva Invoker that might fit in here.

I'll post the character summary sheet when I get home tonight.

Voda Vosa · 27th October 2009, 10:24 PM

Is there any slot available?

Her tribe was not home anymore. Since that cruel warlord took over the leadership of Sitha's tribe, she has wondered the land, searching for enlightenment. Many terrible things she behold, as she ventured into the wild lands, or even into the "civilized" cities, where her kin is not well seen. Many nasty things people has said to her, many mean things they attempted to do. The world seemed grinner every time the sun arose from the horizon.
Every day, Sitha behold another calamity.
However, something in her blood kept her going. A feeling hard to describe. She felt incomplete somehow, and thus kept searching, although she didn't know what was she searching for.
A day, not different from any other, or perhaps it was, Sitha came across an old ruined building. Inside the once known as Temple of the Earth, the shifter found a man, elderly, sitting quietly in the middle of the disrepair room.
The man heard her approaching, and fast as lightning, he stood up, and greet her politely.
It came out that this man, Fulmen Shan, was an old master and philosopher of the way of the Elements, an old philosophical school. Fulmen taught Sitha that the world was out of balance, and if there was to be a future for the world, as they knew it, something had to be done. Fulmen told Sitha that he was too old, and that his days were counted. He felt that the shifter could prove a good pupil, and instruct her in the ways of the Earth, the side Sitha was strong in. After some years of trainings, Fulmen had nothing more to teach her, and told her to search for her destiny.
Sitha walked away, but now, she wondered the world with a purpose, now she knew what was she searching for.

Today, the shifter is sitting on an empty table, quietly, as she watches the people come and go.

Sitha