[Recruitment][PBP] Nightmares Campaign

[Paragon Badger]

Recently a posting has been showing up throughout the major cities of Faerun. The posting reads…

Experienced adventurers
wanted for daring missions.

Build your legend by rescuing innocents.

Substantial Rewards.
Must be willing to venture into the unknown.

Visit the Temple of Silver Stars in Silverymoon for further details.

Those lured by the post learn the frightening details and often leave not willing to take the risks. However a few heroes have risen to the challenge and dare to face their fears.

The truth is several people have been captured by an unknown force. These unfortunates are caught within their own nightmares, unable to wake and forced to witness their greatest fears. The clerics of Selune are putting together a group of adventurers to enter the dreams of these people and rescue them. Also, they hope by defeating the creatures that bind the dreamers they will be able to track the assaults to their source.

In this PBP the PCs are the group of adventurers selected by the clerics to enter the dreams. This is based off the idea in Dragon 287 that each dreamer forms their own temporary demiplane on the ethereal. When the PCs enter the dream, they become part of the dream. Therefore they can effect the dream and the dream effects them. Death in the dream is death in the waking world. The PCs must track a single elusive creature in each dream recognize by it’s insubstantial rainbow-hued form.

Dreams can run the gamut from an artic land to an endless forest to a massive dungeon to the Limbo to a town that appears normal…

The campaign is set in the Realms (but assumes the Great Wheel cosmology) and begins at 9th level. Non-evil alignments only. Any character concept that makes sense and isn’t blatantly abusing the rules is allowed.

There is no set post quota or time. It will go as fast as the posting allows.

The stat system is a point assignment system with a tax on high scores. Only the largest tax applies. You have 84 points to distribute among your stats, but you are taxed 1 pt on scores 14-15, 2 pts on scores 16-17, 3 pts on scores 18-19, and 4 pts on a 20. These stats include your level-based increases. You do not get them in addition.
For example:
13, 10, 10, 16(+2 tax), 12, 18(+3 tax) = 84 points total

Max HP at 1st and 2nd level and average for the rest. In game I’ll do the actual rolling for combat, skills, etc.

The starting wealth is 24,000 gp with an item max of 4000 gp (with the exception of +2 armors). Also items created by the PCs can get around this limit and the XP cost is deducted from the 1st XP awards.

The books allowed are:
Core Rulebooks
PsiHB (and the ITCK version of the prestige classes)
The Splatbooks
The FR books
MotP
Book of Eldritch Might version of the Bard is allowed.
The Monte Cook Ranger is allowed.

Anything not on this list might still be allowed just check with me.

I have some tests coming up so you have awhile to put your characters together. I’m aiming at around 6 PCs. I’m choosing based on unique concept/good backstory/party balance/etc. not by first come first serve. Also, I’m getting opinions from my better half who loves a good story.

Finally, the title of the game will probably be one of the following (suggestions are welcome)
Gifts of the Sandman
Prison of the Sandman
The Sandman’s Blessing
The Sandman’s Binding
Enter Sandman (Had to have that one!)
Dream Within a Dream
Only a Dream…

I’ll answer any questions about the campaign (except plot things like who’s behind it all of course!)

 

[Krug]

You've got my attention!
Could I? I'll play a Gnome something...
haven't quite decided yet.

 

[drs]

Hey Paragon Badger, well since I didn't make it into Matt's game I'd love to play. I'm currently only in one other Pbp, that being HeavyG's non-iconic adventures. The CoC/DnD game I was in wasn't up for too long.

I was a little bored after Matt's game started off, so I re-worked my character for the hell of it, funnily enough this popped up. I'll most likely add/remove a few things. I might add a personality section though I think that is sort of covered in the tone of his background.

Here's the character:

Sean Reaver, male human Bbn2/Rog7: CR 9; ECL 9; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 7d6+2d12+9; hp 57; Init +4; Spd 40 ft; AC 19 (+5 chain shirt, +4 Dex); Melee +1 long sword +10/+5 (1d8+4/crit 19-20), or war hammer +9/+4 (1d8+3/crit x3), or dagger +9/+4 (1d4+2/crit 19-20); Ranged +1 musket +13/+8 (1d12/crit x3), or mw pistol +12/+7 (1d10/crit x3); SA rage, sneak attack; SQ evasion, fast movement, uncanny dodge; AL CG; SV Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +3; Str 14, Dex 16 (18), Con 12, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: Balance 10 (11), Bluff 10, Climb 6, Disable Device 8, Escape Artist 9 (10), Forgery 6, Hide 13 (14), Intimidate 5, Jump 7, Listen 12, Move Silently 13 (24), Open Lock 11 (12), Pick Pocket 9 (10), Read Lips 6, Spot 12, Tumble 13 (14), Wilderness Lore 7; Alertness, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Point Blank Shot, Run, Quick Draw.
SA–Rage (Ex): 1/day, Sean can fly into a screaming blood frenzy for 6 rounds. Sean gains +4 Str, +4 Con, and a +2 morale bonus vs. fear, but suffers -2 to AC. After the rage, Sean is winded.
Changes: AC 17; hp 61; Melee +1 long sword +12/+7 (1d8+7/crit 19-20).
SA–Sneak Attack (Ex): Sean deals +4d6 damage against an opponent with a discernable anatomy who is denied a Dex bonus or is flanked.
SQ–Uncanny Dodge: Dex bonus to AC, can’t be flanked.
Equipment:
In pack: Silvered dagger, artisan's outfit, bedroll*, crown of silver gem, jet gem, powder horn, powder keg x 2, bullets (10) x 15, military uniform, mw thieves’ tools*, sack (2), silk rope 50ft, smoke stick (5), sunrod (5), tinder twig (4), trail rations per day (5), water skin*, whetstone – everburning rod, stone of alarm, cure light wounds potion x 5, darkvision potion x 4, hiding potion x 2.
In pouch: 4 platinum pieces, 63 gold pieces, 8 silver, and 2 copper.
In potion belt: Cure light wounds potion x 7, darkvision potion x 2, hiding potion.
On person: War hammer - +1 musket*, mw pistol*, +1 long sword, +1 mithril chain shirt* - powder horn, bullets (10) x 2, explorer's outfit, mw potion belt, pouch, handy haversack*, boots of striding and springing, gray travel clock*, cloth belt of silence (Move silently +10), gloves of dexterity (+2).
* See Equipment Details.

Miscellaneous data:
Height 6'1", weight 180 lb, short brown hair, brown-green eyes. Sean's patron deity is the Lord of Shadows (Mask). Sean can speak the following languages; Chessentan, Chondathan, Common, Damaran, Mulhorandi, Orc.

Equipment Details:
Items marked with an astrix were all previously property of Voe'Zien's military, therefore have small markings that identify them as such. These markings are something along the lines of | -#- |, where the # is a green stitched hawk and the lines are cross-stitched in black. The design is commonly known in north western Chessenta as the emblem of Voe's military.

Background:
So, you want to hear my story?
Sean Reaver is the name, freelance reconnaissance and infiltration is what I do. I'm originally from a place called Voe'Zien, a small town in the north west of Chessenta. Part of the 2nd musket surveying patrol, ranked sergeant I was. Not a bad life I had, my own place next door to the blacksmith, my own hard earned money, and my lovers.

Well why am I here you ask? I'll tell you why, it's 'cause a filthy general couldn't take the blame for his own F'en mistake. Instead he used a person like me, someone who goes about his business, keeping the province borders safe and with no complaints about the little wage earned! To use as a scapegoat, that bastard. All about honor and respect they said at the start, then sh*t like this happens and it's overlooked with the help of a few coins. So you know what I did before they could catch me and throw me in the lockup? I shot him, didn't kill him, nah I'm better than that, I just made sure he couldn't 'have fun' anymore, if you get my meaning.

Well five years of my life went by in that small dank prison cell. Two for the accidental shooting of five civilians blamed on me, and three for shooting the generals' privates, would have been more if the clerics weren't nearby. Once I had served my time I was told that if I ever set foot in Voe I'd be slaughtered. So taking what was rightfully mine I headed off over the hills and across the rivers. Now I do the odd job for people with enough to pay my fees, or else I just pick up the sellable goods off the carcasses I down.

Personality:
Sean had a steady upbringing compared to most adventures, having two very good parents and living in a well protected town. With experience he learnt to think morally and with compassion. His joining the military helped mold him into a person who could take a beating and still stay up, a person who would not complain about marching through a desert or traversing a snake infested river. Though due to being wrongly sentenced, Sean sometimes questions the validity of certain laws and law keepers.

Description:
Sean is tall man of medium build with a slightly tanned complexion. His face is a mark of experience, with a large scar down the right side of his lower jaw. He wears a black long sleeved shirt over his chain armor and padding, thick brown pants and a small black brimless cap over the top of his short brown hair. Given the situation he also wears his gray clock, pack and weapons. Pistol on his right side torso, sword left side torso, war hammer and musket attached to his packs left side.

 

[Paragon Badger]

Krug: Sure, anyone is welcome to sumbit a charaacter and there are no restrictions on character race (as long as it's playable and makes sense in the Realms).

drs: Feel free to work up the character from DM_Matt's campaign. I'll have to look at it closer when I get more time later in the day.

I'm not making any decisions on who gets in for at least a week so everyone has plenty of time to sumbit. (Molecular Biology tomorrow, and Microbial Physiology next Tues. preclude me from starting the campaign any sooner than that at least.)

A house rule that may effect characters...
Reduce armor speed penalty by half (25' for medium and 20' for heavy)

If you have any interesting nightmare ideas feel free to mention those too. This campaign gives me a lot of freedom in what I can do.

 

[Ravellion]

(double post)

 

[Ravellion]

Well, since a regular game will be out of the question for me the next nine months (I'll be an expatriate soon), I'd love to play PbP!

I am thinking Neutral human cleric of Azuth, very inquisitive personality, using a quarterstaff, access to Knowledge and Magic Domains. I'll edit the post once I'm completely done with his stat block.

Stats: 13,16,12,14,16,8

(perhaps change STR to 14, and Drop Con by 2)

Rav

 

[Storminator]

Hi Paragon,

Here's my audition...

Dorn Hardwood

Human Fighter 9
S14 D12 C18 I15 W8 Ch12
AC:21 (+10 full plate, +1 Dex)
hp:101 (9d10 + 36 con +6 feat)
Init:+1 Speed:20
Melee: +1 Greataxe +13/+8 (1d12+6/crit 19-20/x3)
Ranged: Mighty Comp. Longbow +10/+5 (1d8+2/crit x3)
AL: LG
F/R/W: 12/6/6

Skills: Climb 3, Craft: carpentry 6, Craft: Woodcarving 5, Heal 2 (4), Jump 35, Listen 3, Ride 7, Spot 3, Use Rope 4 (6), Wilderness Lore 4.
Feats: Alertness, Close Quarters Fighting, Dwarven Toughness, Faster Healing, Improved Crit: Greataxe, Iron Will, Power Attack, Survivor, Weapon Focus: Greataxe, Weapon Spec: Greataxe

Languages: Chondathan, Illuskan, Dwarven, Elven, Orc, Midani, and Comman

Equipment: +2 Full Plate, +1 Greataxe, Cloak of Resistance +2, Ring of Jumping, Headband* of Ferocity, Periapt of Proof Against Poison, Potions of CLW (2), CMW, CSW, and Blur. Heavy warhorse w/Banded barding, 2 mules, explorers outfit, traveller's outfit, and noble's outfit (just went to a ball, needed to look good), carpentry tools, woodcarving knives, many personally carved holy symbols of Ilmater, flask of holy water. Healer's kit, climbing kit, silk rope.
*I hate headbands, make it a coif or a helmet

Dorn's story: It's all about staying power. I've lived in the North all my life, and I've seen 'em come and go. Plenty of men can deal out pain and death, but they never last. You have to take the pain too, and if you do, you're a survivor.

My family grew up in the Moonwood, as tough a place to make a living as you'll find. Logging and building, making it thru the winters, no weaklings there! But trees ain't all there is to cut in the Wood. Black Blooders, orcs a plenty, monsters and creatures, evils walk the land. At least 'til I get there.

Started young and never stopped. Got a good hold, free to work your land, but plagued by monsters? I'm here to help. Anywhere good, honest, hardworking folk need a blade, you'll find me.

I stayed in Silverymoon all winter. Living easy after nearly a year of fighting trolls and giants, but it's time to get back to work. What we got here, that ain't right. Somebody's gotta stop it, and that's what I do. Who else is in?

Description: Short and stocky, Dorn's a hard man. When ready for action, Dorn's a wall of metal, full plate, visor down, big-ass axe in hand. Bow on his back and a light pack. Outside of the armor, Dorn's tanned and blonde with shaggy hair and clean shave. Scars on the knuckles and not on the face...think about it.

PS

 

[Storminator]

Sorry, double post...

 

[Crowe9107]

I'd be interested in giving it a shot.

 

[Paragon Badger]

Storminator, did you accidently delete the line where it says what race / classes Dorn is? No problem, I just can't seem to see where it says that info.