OOC: Endur's Return to TOEE part 2

[Manzanita]

I think your character conception of Rowena is great. (and either the battle cleric or the fighter/barbarian would be a good choice for this group).

I do have some questions. They don't need to be answered right now. Just some things to think about.

I have some issues with Rowena. I would like to see her as having made a Faustian bargain with Hextor, and somewhat regretting it. She's certainly not evil, and might switch to good at some point if forced to choose between her god and, say, Sigmund's life. .

However, I'm not sure if that's an appropriate attitude for a cleric. Perhaps I should take a somewhat different path. There are tons of Greyhawk dieties, but I'm not so familiar with them. I considered Wastri, but he's just too vile. Are there rules about switching dieties? It's possible I would want to take that route at some point.

Does Rowena perceive her role as an instrument of vengence as a divine mission from Hextor? Or is vengence how she expresses her "worship"? Or is vengence separate from her "occupation" as a priest of Hextor?

Her worship of Hextor is how she expresses her divine vengeance. Hextor is her path to power.

Does she hate all humanoids? Orcs only? all non-humans?

She hates orcs in particular, but all that allied with Turrosh Mak in his sack of the wild coast get her gander up. That would include ogres, and...not sure exactly who that would entail, actually. Probably all of 'em.

How old is her son now?

Her son would be about 6. It might be nice if he were 15 or so, so he could enter the picture sooner, but that would make her older than I'd want.

 

[Seonaid]

Yay! Manzanita, welcome! Rowena sounds awesome. I have one question to add to Endur's: how old is Rowena when she comes to the party?

 

[Endur]

My understanding of Greyhawk Gods and Demigods.

Some Gods are banned and worship is forbidden in the area around Hommlet. Iuz, Vecna, Erthynuul, etc. (basically all Chaotic Evil gods and demon lords). Also channeling negative energy and casting evil spells is illegal and banned as witchcraft.

Some aren't banned, but nobody openly worships them in the area around Hommlet. Hextor would fall in this category. Although not Chaotic Evil, he is one of the Patron Gods of the Great Kingdom and fiends were rumored to control the Great Kingdom during the Greyhawk wars. He also has the title Herald of Hell. So he would make people very uncomfortable.

The most popular Gods around Hommlet are Pelor and St. Cuthbert. With Pelor being the most popular God of the Old Faith (including Beory the Earth Mother, Ehlonnna, Obad Hai, and Nerull as Death). St. Cuthbert is the most popular of the newer Gods in the area. Other Gods that have a small amount of worship would include Tritheron.

Although worshipping Hextor is not banned, there are few other worshippers in the area, so there is the question as to why a priestess of Hextor would be here instead of in the Great Kingdom where there are millions of worshippers. The current head of the Church of Hextor rules part of the Old Great Kingdom called the North Kingdom. Most ambitious members of the Church of Hextor would be there.

St. Cuthbert has an order of Inquisitors known as the Order of the Stars. This is a mostly lawful neutral order of clerics (St. Cuthbert himself is Lawful Good in Greyhawk). The Inquisitors are a sulphur and brimstone group of clerics who happily burn and destroy evildoers. Their primary goal is to instill doctrinal purity in the faith and prevent backsliding into evil ways. So inflicting vengence on the orcs of the Pomarj, the scarlet brotherhood, and any other evildoers they can find is their primary occupation. Hommlet is currently experiencing a visit from the Inquisition. St. Cuthbert has these domains: Destruction, Law, Strength, Good, Protection.

Trithereon is a Chaotic Good god of Individuality, Liberty, Retribution, and Self-Defense. His symbol is the rune of pursuit, representing his relentlessness in hunting down oppressors and tyrants. He has three magical weapons (sword, shortspear, and scepter) and three animals (hound, falcon, and sea lizard). Trithereon's clerics are rugged individualists, never afraid to question authority. Domains: Chaos, Good, Protection, Strength.

Joramy is a Neutral (NG) lesser goddess of Fire, Volcanoes, Wrath, Anger, and Quarrels. The Goddess of arguments. Domains: Destruction, Fire, War.

 

[Endur]

Also, just a note that Craven, the Paladin of St. Cuthbert in the party, is a member of the Order of the Chalice. They are dedicated to destroying evil fiends of all types (but focused on the Demons summoned by Iuz).

 

[Manzanita]

Thanks for your support Seonaid. Nice to game with you again. As for her age, early 20s, I would think. I realize my Greyhawk notes aren't complete. What was the year when the Pomarj invaded the wild coast? She was about 15 then, per her background, and its now CY591, right?

Endur, thanks for the diety feedback. I've been reading the first IC thread & really enjoying it. If you don't mind, I'll take another day to think about the diety thing. I realized that Hextor would not be popular around Verbobonc. The wild coast was kind of anything goes, so I figured there'd be some Hextorites there, and the would have been chased out like anyone else. As for why she'd end up in this adventure, I don't really know. Perhaps It would make more sense if she were good -aligned, though Hextor despises Iuz as much as anyone. When I first picked up the 3E players handbook several years back, the first PC I wanted to play was a cleric of Heironeous. I've never done so. Perhaps its time. I liked the Hextor angle in the background, but other dieties would work as well.

 

[Endur]

Take as long as you need to make your decisions regarding the deity.

 

[Manzanita]

I've decided to go with a more traditional character, and have modified Rowena's background to reflect this. I've stated her out and will post her here for your feedback. I included no equipment per your comment earlier on. I've left the end of her background blank as well, pending suggestions as to how to get her on board.

I've read the IC thread up to page 4 of the 2nd thread. It's awesome. I'm very psyched to get going.

Torn (Rowena Eldred)
Female Human Cleric 7
Alignment: Lawful Good
Deity: Heironeous
Height: 5' 7''
Weight: 145lbs
Hair: orange-red
Eyes: Green
Age: 21

Str: 14 (+2) [6 points]
Dex: 10 (+0) [2 points]
Con: 14 (+2) [6 points]
Int: 10 (+0) [2 points]
Wis: 15 (+2) [6 points, +1 level]
Cha: 11 (+1) [3 points]

Class and Racial Abilities: Extra feat at first level, 4 extra skill points at level 1, one additional skill point for each level thereafter..

Hit Dice: 7d8+14
HP: 49
AC: --]
ACP: )
Init: +4 (+0 Dex)
Speed: 20ft

Saves:
Fortitude +7 [+5 base, +2 Con]
Reflex +2 [+2 base, +0 Dex]
Will +7 [+5 base, +2 Wis]

BAB: +5
Melee Atk
Melee Atk: +)
Ranged Atk: +)
Ranged Atk: +

Skills:
Concentration +12 (10 ranks)
Heal +7 (5 ranks)
Knowledge (religion) +5 (5 ranks, +0 Int)
Spellcraft +10 (10 ranks)

Feats:
Improved Turning (human bonus 1st level)
Endurance (1st level)
Extra Turning (3rd level)
Improved initiative(6th level)

Languages: Common

Domains: War and Good

Standard Spells (6/5+1/4+1/2+1/1+1)
1st – Protection from Evil(D), Comprehend Languages, obscuring mist, shield of faith, hide from undead, command
2nd – Spiritual Weapon (D), Augury, Bulls Strength, Silence, Zone of Truth
3rd – Magic Circle against Evil(D), Dispel Magic, Stone Shape
4th – Holy Smite(D), Summon Monster IV


Equipment:

Description: Description: Polly. Rowena is active and alert. She has reddish brown hair, and pale, freckled skin.

Background: Rowena was born the only daughter of The Lord Mayor of Elredd, on the wild coast, in CY 570. Her three older brothers each was destined for a post in the government, but Rowena’s best hope was being assigned a husband who wouldn’t beat her. Her eldest brother, Sigmund, was a redoubtable warrior, 10 years her senior. He second and third brothers, Karl and Dane turned out to be more of playboys. When the wild coast was attacked by the forces of the Pomarj, she didn’t recognize the danger, and didn’t flee in time. The Elredd militia was no match for the orcs hoards, and Rowena was captured. She endured a brutal, harrowing week in captivity. Then one night, she was shaken awake. It was no brutal orc shake, but the gentle touch of love. Looking up, there was her eldest brother Sigmund. He had escaped the battle, hidden in the Suss forest, and now returned to rescue her. After a week of hunger and fear, slipping through orc patrols, they escaped to Verbobonc, where her brother Karl and others of the court had fled. Her parents and Dane had been killed in the battle and subsequent slaughter.

Having escaped, she realized the worst of it. She was pregnant. Young, foolish, and full of shame, she concealed her condition as long as possible. Finally, she knew the baby would come soon. Unable to face her family, she took a horse and fled the city.

She fled to the only safe place she could think of, a monestary of Heironeous outside of town. There she arrived, anonymous, and took refuge for the last few days of her pregnancy. She had come to the right place. Trained midwives prepared her, the coaxed her through the hard labor. A cleric healed her tears afterwards. The baby’s head was large, and the labor difficult, but the result was a healthy half orc boy. She pushed the baby away, and refused to name him. But the midwives insisted she nurse the child, for otherwise, he would die.

Rowena stayed at the Monestary for the next two years. She told no one her real name, referring to herself only as Torn. She nursed her child, and slowly came to love him, eventually naming him Dane, after her dead brother. But she was full of shame and had no desire to see her family. Yet one day, there was a knock on the door of her small chamber, and she opened it to see her beloved brother Sigmund. He had tracked her down after nearly a year of searching. She embraced him and eventually told him everything. Sigmund was a capable warrior, and a fair minded and responsible man. He had risen high in the Verbobonc military, and was now a captain, in charge of supply and support. Her other brother, Karl, had not come along so well. Unable to turn his life around after losing his wealth and position, he had turned to drink, and only held onto a guard position in the army by Sigmund’s good word.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Belaver will probably be delighted to be able to free up some of his spell slots for non-healing applications. Or, given the way things are going, simply to have to replenish those healing spells more often.

 

[Endur]

Torn looks great.

With regards to introducing Torn...

Currently, the party is in a underground dungeon in a mountain (Mount Stalagos) on the border between the Lortmil Mountains and the Kron Hills.

So, assuming you don't want to wait for the party to return to Verbobonc (and that could take some time), we need a reason for your character to travel to Mount Stalagos.

Once we identify that reason, there would seem to be at least two different ways to introduce your character to the party: a) by wandering encounter (look who is in the next room) or b) your character has been taken prisoner by the monsters in the next room and the party frees your character after defeating the monsters.

There are probably other ways for introductions as well. Those are just some of the most commons methods.

 

[Dalamar]

Some old-fashioned Lady in Distress wouldn't hurt