D&D 5E (2014) The Light of Civilization - A 5e Renaissance Story [OOC]

[Shayuri]

And I think that the whole 'science' thing probably came from alchemy...as people tried to fill the void left by magic, the ones who knew the most about the natural world...the ones with knowledge of alchemy and engineering, were left to take up the slack.

They'd always been rather sidelined before, but now everyone was interested. Suddenly math was hip!

The study of magic now could be considered dangerous at worst, and quixotic at best. Why would anyone waste time studying spells that may not even work anymore when you can do something very similar with a ball of pitch, a vial of exothermic solution, and a catapult??

 

[tglassy]

So...is this actually recruiting, or are y'all full? Cause I love the idea, but skimming through the last 23 pages, it seemed like you already had six players, and that's a full party. Just wondering, since this seems like a game I'd love to play.

 

[Thateous]

So basically the church of a cult is not only run by a draco-lich but that draco-lich is also a powerful fiend that has made pacts with some of the higher members of the order. In fact, to be even more cliche, the Mr. Lich perpetrated the whole Harrowing by promising powerful wizards that the key to unlimited cosmic power required a massive ritual...

The cliche train is here, all aboard.

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[Jago]

Why would anyone waste time studying spells that may not even work anymore when you can do something very similar with a ball of pitch, a vial of exothermic solution, and a catapult??

Catapults are always the answer. Any D&D game not solved by Catapult is a game lacking something intrinsic.

So...is this actually recruiting, or are y'all full? Cause I love the idea, but skimming through the last 23 pages, it seemed like you already had six players, and that's a full party. Just wondering, since this seems like a game I'd love to play.

Hm, well, I know Trogdor1992 I believe is on vacation, I want to say? And is around ... somewhere.

I ... Hm. Do you have an idea for a character? If you've read all the way here, I'm remiss to just turn you away, especially if you're down with the setting concept. I would be alright at 7, I can make 7 work, but I'd be putting a very firm "Please No More" after that.

 

[tglassy]

I actually have a character that I've played a few other places that I think would fit here perfectly, and he's becoming something of a favorite of mine. I don't mind rerolling him.

He's a monk, and at 3rd level he would take the Way of the Four Elements. Originally, I wanted him to be a Water Genasi, and only focus on water techniques, but I actually find that it works better if he's a Variant Human with the Magic Initiate Feat, taking some of the Cantrips from the Elemental Player's Handbook, such as Shape Water and Control Earth. Basically, I'd do that if I can't homebrew the Four Elements path, cause let's be honest, those elemental monks need some love. With those two cantrips, at least he can feel somewhat in tuned with the elements.

Anyway, in this setting, I see him as a monk in service to the Church of the Maker. At least, at first. The power inside, this connection with the elements, was revealed later, as he developed, and was forbidden him. I think he is touched the same way a sorcerer is, but instead of going that direction, he was raised a monk, and therefore his 'magic' only shows itself in the abilities he gets as a Monk of the Four Elements.

Anyway, the way I see it, he was forbidden to tap into this power, told it was heretical. But instead of listening, he secretly began to hone it. When he was discovered, he had to flee for his life or be burned alive. Now, he is traveling, training and trying to figure out who he is and why he has this connection with the elements.

He would be a minimalist, traveling with just his pack and his staff. He sees the best in all people, as were the teachings of his order (ironic, isn't it?). He trusts everyone equally, until they give him reason not to. Many consider him naïve because of this, but as he truly believes everyone is deserving of trust, he does not see it that way. Even when he knows someone is going to do him harm, he still extends trust, because they have not done it yet, and therefore deserve the chance to choose not to. He's not an idiot, he can and will defend himself, but this is just part of his philosophy, and I think it fits in a Renaissance era.

Does he make the cut?

 

[Jago]

I believe we can make something like that work. The Human Variant + Magic Initiate would definitely help sell the idea, and yeah, the spells chosen are apt.

The background would work, and in fact we may get some more character connections there, as we already have a Sorceress trying to figure herself and her Arcane connection out and a hunter of The Church trying to keep things protected, so your Monk seems like the middle of the road between those two: Indoctrinated to the wisdom of The Maker, but also still curious of and pursuing the power of Magic.

Granted, Wu Shu-Magic-Martial Arts is not really a Renaissance deal, but I can certainly see the appeal of a branch of The Church training to perfect the Physical Self: knowledge comes from within, the body is a temple, etc., etc., etc. All very apt for the philosophies of the time, factored in with your character's personal philosophy of "there is good within everyone", which certainly helps sell the philosophical arguments of the day (and launches him right into the Class Struggles of the setting, as he's probably dealt with the good and the bad on all sides of society).

Would this person be wanted by The Church, then? An Unregistered Magical Practitioner? Or is his branch of the doctrine not going to spread the word that they may want him captured/killed? As you mention that he "fled for his life", it would majorly affect the story if this character was openly pursued by the authorities of The Church (and perhaps others), or if this was something the Church wanted very hush-hush

 

[KahlessNestor]

*Magdalena sharpens her sword, sighs* Maker, work is getting busy lately. *eyes the monk*

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[Shayuri]

*pum pum*

Oh! Rock me, Magdalena!

*pum pum*

Oh! Rock me, Magdalena!

Magdalena Magdelana...Magdalena Magdalena...Magdalena Magdalena ohhhhhhhhhh Magdalena!

Yep. Now it's in your head.

You're welcome.

 

[tglassy]

Wu SHu maybe not, but monks and monasteries are definitely a thing in this time period. Think catholic monks. If we link the two, with the culture of the catholic monasteries and say part of their duties, along with maintaining the temples and actings as custodians, is to also act as peace keepers within the temples (plain clothed protectors that seem peaceful and part of the background...until you make trouble, then they put the smack down on you, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then deposit you outside and go back to their duties with no one the wiser).

So this was his training, servitude to the temple. Often people who could not take care of their children would leave them at the doorstep to a temple or monastery, and the child would be raised as a monk, a servant to the priesthood.

I feel like their searching for him would be much more hush hush, but I'm not sure why. He is, technically, an unlicensed magic practitioner, even though his magic seems to come from within himself rather than outside forces. It's a different kind of magic.

Perhaps, instead of trying to kill him, they were instead going to send him to a special 'assassin' organization to be retrained. Perhaps monks like him, who are able to tap in to their inner power, are used for the more shadowy side of the church, to be the 'left hand of the goddess' so to speak. Usually, they're trained as a Shadow Monk. Perhaps they don't even have elemental monks. Perhaps he's the first. Or if not the first, then they are rare enough that they want him desperately.

Perhaps a friend of his noticed this and told him to keep it quiet, so he wouldn't be taken away for the secret monastery. So he trained quietly, until he was found out. When they came for him, he escaped. Now, they're looking for him, but they aren't going to just announce that they're looking for him, because they don't want admit what he is, and they don't want some random Hunter to accidentally kill him.

So he spends his time training his powers, and trying to figure out where he came from, and why he has this connection to the elements that other monks don't.

 

[tglassy]

I really like the elemental cantrips, so at some point, he MIGHT take a level or two of Sorcerer, as he starts delving in to his magic, and pick up the Produce Flame and Gust, and maybe Frostbite and/or Firebolt, then focus any spells on elemental ones. Hey, if I'm going to make Aeng, I may as well make Aeng.


As an alternative, if you'd let me, I'd much prefer to use this reworking of the Four Elements Monk: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1pdYIcfHauwNDM2My1XeWFYSDA/view

It basically makes it more in line with the other types of monks, since those other types get all kinds of cool stuff that doesn't use Ki and the four elements monks just get more stuff that uses Ki points, making them less effective. They also only get a few actual elemental disciplines. This reworking helps with that. Also, if I could use this, I wouldn't need to do a sorcerer dip at all. Let me know if that works. Otherwise, I can work with the Phb rules.