‘Lo, let it be known to all that in the Year of Our Most Revenant & Eternal Queen, Morgan le Fay, 1889, Long May She Rein, that I <<Insert Your Name here>> do most solemnly swear, to pledge my life and my soul to the Order of Shadows. That I will execute the duties of the Order at all times. That I shall protect the citizens of the Empire from those forces most foul. That I will obey the orders of my superiors and act with honor and bravery at all times. Unto my last breath I thee swear!’
This is the Rogue’s Gallery Thread for the Radiance ‘Monster Hunters’ Game –the Order
OOC Thread
IC thread
When you have your final character finished please post them here.
[sblock=Brief History of the World]The origins of the world and its creation myths are based out of the Radiance player’s book, pg. 128, updated with the following.
In the early days, great beast roamed the lands but there were no sentient creation but the gods themselves, so caught up in their wars and petty disagreements. The end of the war almost destroyed the world and the various gods crafted and changed the beasts to aid them in this war.
Nature sent the Great Deluge to flood the world and destroy most of these abominations(this happened maybe 10,000 years ago). She then set up the 3 Rules (as per Radiance).
Humans and the other Races came into being now with the various gods and even the Creator, Nature and the Void, crafting those in their own images and ideals. There civilizations rose and fell as the world age.
Around 2,000 years ago there was a great awaking and many of the great civilizations of this time remain today. The British Empire being the strongest and with one the oldest continual ruler (not that oldest though as the Dragon Emperor is older) but there are many others.
Around 1,000 years ago, there was a great gathering of dark and undead forces in what is called the Holy Lands (in this world, these lands are said to be where the Creature and Nature first stepped onto the World they had created, and where the gods all sprang from. This is also where the Void came and tricked Nature). These armies spread out all across the world and threatened all life (called the Black Death today). Only an alliance of the great Empires was able to push them back.
It was during this time that the New World (North and South America) were discovered. Only the coastlands have colonies on them even today, with most of the native peoples pushing back against expansion. Australia was also settled at this time but only the coastlands, as the Aboriginals preformed some magic that kept the colonists from entering the heartlands.
But the peace between the Great Empires that has lasted since the Black Death is waning and the rumors and rumbling of War can be heard again…[/sblock]
[sblock=Important Empires and Places of the World]The British Empire: Argubly the strongest nation on Earth, the Empire controls not only the home British Islands, it also controls most of Italy and the Mediterranean Sea (the Holy Roman Empire), the 13 colonies of North America and the 2 Canadian Provinces, the Horn of Africa (Union of South Africa), the Kingdom of Iran and India, the islands of Japan and the province of Manchuria along with the coastlands of Australia. The Elf Queen, Morgan le Fay, has ruled the empire for 1889 years.
The Kingdom of Prussia: the main rival for world dominance with the British Empire is the Kingdom of Prussia. The empire includes the states of Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic and Switzerland. Their leaders, by tradition, are all drawn from the Teutonic Order of Knights, and are called the High Marshal. For the last fifty years they have been going into a huge technological advancements, and are said to be the world leaders in Electrotechnology. Their colonies include the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of Brazil (whom they took from the Spanish), and the Republic of Pakistan. Their agents are spread throughout the world in some mad search for something. The present leader is the Hobgoblin High Marshal Fredgrum Ironheart.
The Empire of Spain: Once the rival of the British Empire, her scientist created the Mech (both Labormechs and Warmechs) some 300 years ago and once controlled much of the New Worlds of South and Central America (other nations copied this design and used them extensively). Spain lost a number of important wars to both the British and Prussians as their empire waned. The final straw was when the Mechs of the Caribbean Islands rebelled 20 years ago and became the independent Free Islands of Brass. Spain remains a strong nation internally but their days of Empire and influence militarily have passed. The present ruler is a the Human, King Alfonso XIII.
The French Republic: Another former great power, they have never recovered from the Napoleonic Wars of last century. They still control the important trading towns of New Orleans and St. Louis in North America and are allied with the Kingdoms of the Keora and Vietnam in the Eastern Lands. The present leader is the Asimar Chancellor Marie Francois Sadi Carnot.
The Kingdom of Greater Congo: One of the strongest nations outside of Europe, the rules of this central highland nation made strong trading agreements with the Middle East and the Ming Dynasty in the early days after the Black Death. With their huge natural wealth and population they are an economic powerhouse with a military second only to the British. Their nation is non-expansionist though and they rarely have dealings with other nations, except when they make advances into nearby nations. The present ruler is the Halfling Yethin Incen Trionth.
The River Kingdoms of Egypt: Ruled by the Immortal Hierian (scions) of the Titans, beings that were supposedly all destroyed during the Great Deluge. These lands are steeped in magic and psionic energy but they lag a bit behind most of the other great nations in the area of technology, especially Eltrotech. The present leaders are a group of Hierian sons and daughters (including Ra, Anubis, Set and Iriss).
The Persian Empire: Making up most of Iraqi and Saudi Arabia and the Persian Sea, this Empire is only 500 years old. Most of the old empires of this region were destroyed during the Black Death, baring the brunt of the undead armies’ attacks. Mostly wandering tribesmen and a few smaller city dwellers resided here and the lands were never consider worth conquering. That was not until Steam and Electrotech started making headway and the huge reserves of Oil and natural gas were discovered here. The rules of the lands quickly consolidated their power and seized control of these oil fields before other world powers could grab them. They used their new found wealth to quickly improve the lives of their subjects and grow their army. The present leader, the Gnome is King Fairsal bin Hussian II.
The Empire of Russia: This ancient Empire controls huge vast lands (it is one of the largest single nations on Earth) and is rich with natural resources but for such a large land it is sparsely populated. While the Empire is important on the world stage they never had enough peoples to harbor any ambitions of world conquest or colonies. It is only within the last century where the rules have started investing in technology to improve the peasants’ lives and a push for a population increase. They have also invested heavily into military technology but mostly purchased from other nations (although they are developing their own, just not as fast as most of the other power houses). The present leader is the Dwarf, Tsar Alexander IIV Goldblood, the Peacemaker.
The Ming Dynasty: The large central China nation is one of the oldest continual nations on Earth, and is where the invented gun powered and firearms (and cannons) was made. The Dragon Emperor has sat on the Gem Throne for almost 2,500 years and guided his nation with a soft touch (claw?). He is not especially interested in expansion but he has invested heavily in technology that not only improved the lives of his subjects but made them very strong militarily. It is said that the Great Wall was conjured up by him during the Black Death, and that this might have weakened him in some way for now he sleeps, sometimes for years, within the Forbidden City. His administrators and general often dream his wishes and at least so far, seem to continue his wishes even while he slumbers. The rules is the immoral Dragon Emperor.
The Alchemist Republic of Texas - this nation gained its independence from the Spanish Empire 40 years ago when radical free-thinkers convinced the large Warmech army stationed there to join the cause. They offered the Mechs freedom and citizenship within the newly created nation. The citizens are ex-pact British, France and Spanish scholars, scientists and artificers along with a large number of native peoples. The army is still made up predominately of Warmechs and they are a major world exporter of alchemist formula and stream powered technology. The present lead is the Half-Elf President Sam Houston III.
Other Places…
Antarctica: the mysterious Lands of Ice and Wind are almost completely unexplored. Expedition sent here almost never return, no matter how well funded or equipped. Legends say this land is cursed with the spirits and ghosts of its inhabitants that died off during the Great Deluge.
Atlantis: legends say that this once great island nation fell to the worship of Nefriti, the Mistress of the Veil and that in one blood soaked night, turned the entire population to undeath. Her generals and undead warlocks lead the armies of the Black Death and when they fell to the nations of the living, the masters of the island hide it away somehow. Memory of the where the great island was formerly located was forgotten and no one has ever been able to prove they have found it since.
Melstrum: this is the mysterious underdark nation of the Illithid and their slave races (located under Europe and Great Britain). No nation willingly (or at least openly) trades with this aliens from the Void. Why they choose to live so far underground is unknown. Occasionally the slave armies of this nation spill forth on wild berserk raids for their masters.
The Sunken Island of Mul: This island nation was supposedly the greatest and most powerful lands before the Great Deluge and it sank beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean during this great cataclysm. The Mul were said to have discovered Electrotech and developed beyond anything by the modern empires. Their magic was said to be on par with the Gods themselves. Many expeditions have been launched by the various nations to find this sunken island but so far to no avail.
The Lands of Thule: These lands are said to lie somewhere in the waters of the North Pole, hidden by mist and clouds and blocked by walls of ice. This was the first nation to rise after the Great Deluge and its people were said to be some of the first of the humanoid races to join together to build a great nation. It disappeared for some unknown reason some 6,000 years ago.
[/sblock]
[sblock=Order of Shadows] FIND DC: DC 18 History or Streetwise check once daily.
CONSTELLATION SIGIL: A stylized open Eye on a black field.
ENTRY: Invitation only.
PROFILE: The Order of Shadows acts as troubleshooters and monster hunters within the Empire. They were formed over a thousand years ago when the forces of the Undead and creatures from beyond the Veil threatened to overrun the world during the Black Death. The Order’s main charge it to make sure these forced never again become strong enough to threaten the Empire (and the world secondarily). Many of the creatures operate in secret and from behind others and so the Order acts in a similar fashion.
MEMBERS: Almost any race or class, but no Evil alignments allowed.
FACTION SKILLS: Appraise +15, Arcana +10, Craft +5, Dungeoneering +15, Heal +5, History +20, Insight +15, Literacy +20, Mechanics +5, Nature +5, Perception +5, Religion +10, Stealth +15, Trick +15, Warcraft +10.
MULTICLASSING: None. Instead the Order provides some basic training in a few important skills. All members of the Order add +2 to the following Skills: Arcane, Dungeoneering, History, Nature, Religion, Streetwise, Warcraft
SPECIAL: Will cast Raise Dead for members in good standing within the order. This occurs at a Chapter House and includes the material components at a great savings. Cost: 2,000gp. Will teach you any 1 basic ability of which you qualify for any class that is not your own. Use the class’s prime attribute to resolve the abilities. Cost: 2,000gp. Finally they provide mission gear and equipment at either reduced cost or for free, depending on the mission, the characters levels and standing. Will also discount magical items costs by at least 10% listed price. The Order acts as a Patron (Royal level when the heroes make Paragon level).[/sblock]
[sblock=Character sheet]NAME:
RACE:
CLASS/LEVEL: /level
ALIGNMENT:
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SENSES:
PERCEPTION +0; STELATH +0
LANGUAGES: Common
INITIATIVE: +0
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SPEED: 30ft
ATTACK: d20+ (special)
WEAPON:
DAMAGE:
---
ARMOR: ; DR:
WOUNDS:
VITALITY:
FORTITUDE 10, REFLEX 10, WILL 10
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STR 10 (+0), CON 10 (+0), DEX 10 (+0), INT 10 (+0), WIS 10 (+0), CHA 10 (+0)
PRIME ATTRIBUTE:
SKILLS Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Arcane (Int), Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Dungeoneering (Int), Endurance (Con), Handle Animals (Wis), Heal (Wis), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Str), Literacy (Int), Mechanics (Dex), Music (Cha), Nature (Int), Nobility (Cha), Perception (Wis), Pilot (Dex), Religion (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Streetwise (Cha), Survival (Wis), Trick (Dex), Warcraft (Int)
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AGE:, COMELINESS:
MULTICLASS OPTION:
DEITY:
THEME:
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EQUIPMENT:
ENCUMBRANCE SLOTS:; MAX:
COIN:
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RACIAL ABILITIES:
CLASS ABILITIES:
MINOR BOON:[/sblock]
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