VE's Shackled City Campaign

[Caliber]

Wow! My wife asked me to check this thread out and boy it grew fast! Color me interested (like apparently many, MANY others). I'd consider a Swordsage. My first idea was a sneaky, Shadowhand using one, but it looks like the group is light on the front line fighters, so maybe I'll go for a more defensive style (like Stone Dragon, perhaps). Alternatively, maybe I'll throw together a Marshall or something. Expect a character from me tonight (probably in an hour or two, I have free time today).

 

[drothgery]

Wow! My wife asked me to check this thread out and boy it grew fast! Color me interested (like apparently many, MANY others). I'd consider a Swordsage. My first idea was a sneaky, Shadowhand using one, but it looks like the group is light on the front line fighters, so maybe I'll go for a more defensive style (like Stone Dragon, perhaps). Alternatively, maybe I'll throw together a Marshall or something. Expect a character from me tonight (probably in an hour or two, I have free time today).

By my count we've got proposals (counting only people that have stats and/or a background) for...
5 arcanists/near arcanists (1 wizard,1 conjuror, 1 illusionist, 1 warlock, and 1 psion [telepath])
3 divine/healer/buffer types (1 dragon shaman, 1 druid, 1 cleric of Pelor)
2 skill monkeys (1 melee rogue, 1 factotum)
4 warriors (1 swordsage, 1 warblade, 1 crusader, 1 archer-type paladin of freedom)

... which is to say sneaky guys are probably a bigger need than front-line types (my warblade, the crusader, and the cleric of Pelor probably are sufficient)

 

[Shayuri]

Some background goodies for Thorn. Work in progress.

[sblock=In Wych The Backgrounde Of The Respekted Wyzardess Thorne Is Moste Humbly Rekounted.]Thorn herself has little knowledge of the circumstances surrounding her birth. Given her nature, she assumes it to be unpleasant, and is content to leave it at that. Research shows that she was brought to the Lantern Street Orphanage as a baby by a holy knight of St Cuthbert who did not elaborate on the circumstances by which he came by the infant, save that she was not his. It is instructive to note that only a day before, the church of St Cuthbert had delivered the killing blow to a small cult led by a half-demon who had been smuggled into the city by some of his followers. The cult was destroyed, though the details of the battle...and the fate of the cambion that led it...are not widely known.

Any further thought along those lines would, however, be purest speculation. Furthermore, since the identity of the knight is not recorded, and the whereabouts...indeed, even survival...of the creature unknown, the relevance of those events, if any, may never be revealed.

Despite being healthy, rarely falling ill, Thorn always looked a bit sickly. She was unhealthily pale, and far too quiet for a baby. More than one sister was unnerved by those dark, intelligent eyes staring silently at her. Indeed, Thorn recounts understanding what people were saying before she could actually make her mouth form the proper sounds to reply. She both spoke and walked as much as six months before anyone expected it from her. Even so, she responded to praise the same way she responded to punishment...that inscrutable, hollow stare.

Thorn's early life at the orphanage was lonely. Something about her pushed the other children away...be it her quiet, passionless demeanor or something more subtle. There was a sense of ominousness to her reported by many who worked there with her. A feeling more than one described as like a calm before a storm. Thorn was ten when the calm broke.

It was about the age where children stop merely ignoring or avoiding people they don't like, and start acting out against them. It was also an age where Thorn seemed to be reaching out at last to the other children, in her own way. The two imperatives collided with disastrous results. Thorn's differentness, her otherness, were easy targets. Scorned and ridiculed by most of the other kids, she made friends with a few others at the fringes of the orphanage microcosm. Even so, she spent most of her time by herself, haunting the places she could find privacy like a little ghost.

She tried once to run away, as much she recounts now out of boredom as out of fear of the other children. There were lessons at the orphanage, reading and writing, basic history...but Thorn moved too quickly. The old books and scrolls talked about the world...she could SEE it through her window every day. It had to be better than the orphanage. But the world outside was cold, and it was smelly, and it was full of people even scarier than the girls at the orphanage.

Already in a bleak mood when a constable returned her, Thorn experienced another first that evening. Her first fight. When the usual suspects started giving her trouble, her silence broke, and she told them everything she really thought about them...not a few of her jagged words all the worse because they were rooted in unpleasant truth. The response was to be attacked by a shrieking, enraged girl that outweighed her by...enough to hurt.

Her response, purely on instinct, was to douse the room in horribly inky darkness. The candles guttered low and burned faint, distorted green. The air seemed sluggish somehow, thickening slightly in the lungs and nose...not quite an odor, but still a suggestion of something awful. A sound like the flapping wings of some monstrous carrion eating bird, though felt in the heart more than anything else.

The sisters came running at the screams.

The children were crowded around the edges of the room, outside the globe of darkness. Thorn was still inside, wanting to get out, but afraid to try. A wizard from the Academy had to be summoned to dispel it...which was fortunate, because he also recognized that it was fairly ordinary magic...if used under extraordinary conditions. Clearly, Thorn's time at the orphanage was over. She left to go to the Academy at her young age, first as the wizard Yun's ward...then staying as a full student.

Thorn's time at the Academy was eye-opening. For the first time she found minds like hers...full of insight and questions. In fact, at first she rather resented it...she had always used her own mental superiority as a shield against her solitude. In time, grudgingly, she came to value it though. She also found students of magic to be much more...forgiving...of unusual traits. Slowly but surely, Thorn came cautiously out of her shell, though she would always bear the scars of her past. Still disillusioned with the frailties and mundanity of the material plane, Thorn focused her studies on the worlds beyond...the fantastical realms of energy and matter...the dreamlike worlds of the ethereal and astral...and the domains of the spirit among the great Outer planes. And yet, in learning of the planes, she also learned of herself...and a fear blossomed. For if she had the taint of fiends in her very blood...what could save her from the grip of Hells? Or worse, the Abyss?

It was in pursuit of an answer to that question that drove her back to the Orphanage, seeking answers about her origins. And it was then she learned of the kidnappings. Despite all the pain she'd suffered there, she knew by now that the sisters were good people, and the children there were just children. Surely her own personal quest could wait for this mystery to be solved? And perhaps there would be a measure of redemption to be involved in protecting children from a gruesome fate as well...[/sblock]

 

[James Heard]

Decided to write some possible Colo hooks:

Ariel & Hantra Tanara - While it's unlikely that Colo's family brewery matches up to the near nobility of the Tanara's, it's possible that his family beer is well-known enough to make it a Sasserine staple as much as in Cauldron. Other possible hooks might even include existing relationships between the families such as one of the younger Tanaran brothers being married to one of Colo's half-sisters.

Eladra - Colo would certainly take an interest in anything unusual happening around his usual haunts. Other than that it's hard to tell how they'd hook together.

Grimmjack - Colo's father's brewery + Dwarf...I think I everyone can imagine levels of intoxication that would provide adequate levels of hook with Grimmjack.

Thorn - Maybe as peers and sharing certain...aspects of heritage uncommon to the rest of the city, Thorn and Colo would know each other? Colo would know better than most the unique issues of rare bloodlines, and thanks to that dazzling Wisdom score of his be chock full of "good listener" stuff. A stronger connection might even be adoption (either real or assumed) into Colo's family household. After all, they've got (as I imagine them) lots of kids already and lots of sympathy for the "different."

Delkat - Might have met while delivering/picking up products from Hollowsky.

 

[gabrion]

Stats for Landas the Crusader of St. Cuthbert are here! (don't shout in excitement all at once now...)

Landas
Male Human
Crusader 1
Lawful Neutral
Worships St. Cuthbert

[sblock=stats]Str 18 (+4) (18 base)
Dex 15 (+2) (15 base)
Con 16 (+3) (16 base)
Int 13 (+1) (13 base)
Wis 14 (+2) (14 base)
Cha 12 (+1) (12 base)

Hit Points: 13 (10 + 3 con)
AC: 16 (10 base, +4 chain shirt, +2 dex), Touch: 12, Flatfooted: 14
Initiative: +2
BAB: +1, Grapple: +5
Speed: 30 feet

Saves

• Fort: +4 (+2 Crusader, +2 con)
• Ref: +2 (+0 Crusader, +2 dex)
• Will: +2 (+0 Crusader, +2 wis)

Attacks

• +3 longsword, 1d8+4, 19-20/x2 and +3 dagger, 1d6+2, 19-20/x2
• +2 longbow, 1d8, x3, 100' range

Skills (20 Crusader, 4 human)

• Concentration +7 (4 ranks, +3 con)
• Intimidate +5 (4 ranks, +1 ability)
• Knowledge (History) +5 (4 ranks, +1 int)
• Knowledge (Religion) +5 (4 ranks, +1 int)
• Listen +2 (0 ranks, +2 wis)
• Spot +4 (2 ranks[cc], +2 wis)
• Speaks Common and ???
• Armor Check Penalty: -2 (-2 armor)

Feats

• Two Weapon Fighting (Level 1 – Human Bonus)
• Extra Granted Maneuver (Level 1 – Character – Tome of Battle)

Human Racial Traits

• Medium Size
• 30’ Base Speed
• 4 bonus skill points at first level, 1 bonus skill point each level thereafter
• Bonus feat at first level
• Favored Class: Any

Special Abilities

• Furious Counterstrike (Crusader 1)
• Steely Resolve 5 (Crusader 1)

Maneuvers Known

• 1st level: Crusader’s Strike (DS Strike)*, Martial Spirit (DS Stance), Charging Minotaur (SD Strike)*, Stone Bones (SD Strike)*, Douse the Flames (WR Strike)*, Leading the Attack (WR Strike)*
• * = Readied Maneuver

Equipment

• Longsword – 15 gp, 4 lbs.
• Shortsword – 10 gp, 2 lbs.
• Longbow – 75 gp, 6 lbs.
  • 40 arrows – 2 gp, 6 lbs.
• Chain Shirt – 100 gp, 25 lbs.
• 38 gp

[/sblock]

[sblock=Background]Waiting in the antechamber to meet with Sarcem Delasharn was never a pleasant feeling. Of course for one strong in the faith it wasn't exactly frightful either, but Priest Delasharn's conviction was strong enough to make even the most stalwart question if they were living up to the St. Cuthbert's standards. Landas could still remember the day he met the old priest...

Mama, I don't want to go to that place! Why can't I go work in the mines like Relar and Fen? Church is always sooo boring, and I've never even been to this St. Cut - Cuth - whatever his name is, I've never been there. Why should I have to help them.

As they approached the steps of the temple of St. Cuthbert, the mother and her young son made quite a site. She, holding his arm in an iron grip, tried to force his compliance while simultaneously donning an air of complacence, as though everything was normal and she was not struggling at all to control a rebellious child.

You will understand some day child. Your father owes a great deal to the Church of St. Cuthbert - debts that cannot be repaid in gold or gems. You will serve the Church to pay this debt for your family. Do you understand?

As they entered the hall of the Church, the young lad showed his lack of understanding by executing a much practiced maneuver to twist and pry himself free of his mother's grip. Like a wild animal in flight, he gave little thought to direction or possible escape route. Instead he ran straight away from his mother, between the long rows of worship benches and toward the altar at the far end of the large room. Almost reaching it, his mind whirled - where to next?! That's when a man stepped forward from behind the curtain, a man who's countenance was powerful enough enough to stop Landas in his tracks.

Sarcem Delasharn was the very essence of priestly might standing there in his crimson and white robes with a look on his face stern enough to convince a fox that chickens didn't taste good after all. Reaching out his hand he laid it upon Landas' head - a gesture that was not threatening, but never-the-less was frightening. With a voice carrying both the might of the heavens and the gentle pressure of a morning breeze he said,

Welcome my son, I have been expecting you. The Church of St. Cuthbert welcomes you into our service, I can see that you are eager to serve - not many of our recruits come running to the altar. The last bit was delivered with a smile.

Eager to serve? But wait...strange as it seemed...he was eager to serve. In the thirty seconds this man stood before him, Landas had changed from an angry and rebellious youth to awestruck and humble servant. Lifting his face to look into the most penetrating gaze he had ever seen, Landas answered,

Yes father, I am ready.

...the mist of memory faded and Landas couldn't help but chuckle. Little did he know, he was anything but ready when he met the old priest 16 years ago. While his conviction certainly grew fast enough, the church's attempts to train him as an acolyte were complete a complete failure. For years Landas was afraid that he was out of favor with the lawbringing god.

Finally, on his 16th birthday, the age at which the church traditionally stopped training acolytes if they showed no promise in developing the divine powers of the clerics of St. Cuthbert, Father Delasharn gifted him with an ancient tome. Bound within were secrets of a rare group of servants called the Crusaders of St. Cuthbert. With the combined guidance of the book and father Delasharn, Landas was able to hone his martial skills far beyond those that the acolytes learned during their studies.

His strong arm and fast sword were not to be wasted either. Emphasizing the importance of law and order in society, the church made it a point to be involved in local affairs by taking on challenges that were sometimes above the local law enforcement. Only recently having finished his training - earning the official title of Crusader - Landas had rarely been involved in helping with such disturbances. Recent rumors though made him think that the Church would soon be involving itself in a series of kidnappings.

And so he waited in the antechamber of Father Delasharn - waited for his chance to prove himself to the man who changed his life so many years ago...[/sblock]

 

[Caliber]

Ok, so here is my character submission. In the long run Koen will likely focus more on the Shadow Hand discipline, making him pretty good at skulking and such out of combat. Plus, with Sense Motive he'll be a pretty good judge of people, with some nature knowledge to boot. In combat he'll be a damage dealer who can take some hits if need be.

Thanks for running this VE! Koen is an out of towner, but a good guy. Hates to see wrong win out.

I put Koen here together pretty fast, and he'll be my first ToB char, so let me know if I messed anything up ok?

[sblock=Stats]Koen Al'Veren

Class: Swordsage 1
Race: Human
Size: Medium
Gender: Male
Alignment: NG
Deity: Fharlanghn

Abilities:
STR: 14/+2
DEX: 15/+2
CON: 18/+4
INT: 12/+1
WIS: 16/+3
CHA: 13/+1

Derived:
Speed: 30'
Init: +3
HP: 12 (8+4)

Attacks:
BAB: +0
Grapple: +2
Melee: +2
Ranged: +2
Kukri (One Weapon): +3
Kukri (Dual Wield): +1/+1
Kukri (Main-Hand): 1d4+2/18-20/x2
Kukri (Off-Hand): 1d4+1/18-20/x2
Sling: +2, 1d4+2/x2, 50' RI

Defenses:
AC: 16, Touch 12, Flat Footed 14
Fort: +4
Ref: +4
Will: +6

Languages:
Common, Halfling

Perceptions:
Spot +3, Listen +7, Search +1, Sense Motive +7

Abilities:
Racial: +1 Skill/level, +1 Feat
Class: Quick to Act (+1 Init)
Class: Discipline Focus: Tiger Claw (Weapon Focus with kukri, kama, handaxe, greataxe, unarmed)

Feats:
Level: Two-Weapon Fighting
Racial: Extra Readied Maneuver

Maneuvers: Known - 6, Readied 5
1st -
Shadow Hand - Clinging Shadow Strike*
Tiger Claw - Wolf Fang Strike*
Stone Dragon - Stone Bones*
Diamond Mind - Sapphire Nightmare Blade*
Desert Wind - Wind Stride*, Burning Blade
Commonly Redied Maneuvers

Stances:
Shadow Hand - Island of Blades

Skills: (24 Ranks Total)
Balance: +4 (4 ranks)
Climb: +4 (4 ranks)
Concentration: +8 (4 ranks)
Hide: +4 (4 ranks)
Knowledge (Nature): +5 (4 ranks)
Listen: +7 (4 ranks)
Move Silently: +4 (4 ranks)
Sense Motive: +7 (4 ranks)

Equipment:
Carried / Worn
(2) Kukri ($16/4-lb)
Sling ($*/*-lb)
(10) Sling Bullets ($0.10/5-lbs)
Chain Shirt ($100/25-lbs)
Backpack ($2/2-lbs)
(2) Belt pouch ($2/1-lb)
Waterskin ($1/4-lbs)
8 oz Ink ($8/*-lbs)
Ink Pen ($0.10/*-lbs)
Personal Log ($20/*-lbs)
Chalk ($0.01/*-lbs)
Bedroll ($0.10/5-lbs)
Whetstone ($0.02/1-lb)
Hemp Rope ($10/10-lbs)
Fishhook ($0.10/*-lbs)
Cauldron Gate Fee ($0.10/*-lbs)
4sp, 7cp
WT: 52 lbs/Light Load[/sblock]

[sblock=Description]Age: 24
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 147 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Reddish-Brown, tied in the back
Skin: Light Olive
Distinctive Traits: Missing the ring finger of his left hand[/sblock]

[sblock=Background]"I had it all once, ya know? My wife, Giselle, was my childhood love. Our children, two girls, were the most precious you'd ever seen. Our little farmhouse was untroubled, and life was good.

And then it went bad. All of it, simply gone, in the span of a day. I was coming back from service with local militia when I saw the smoke. I ran as fast as I could, until I thought my heart would burst from my chest with the effort. I still wasn't able to run fast enough.

Our pleasant little house was aflame. Luckily, my nearest neighbors had seen the smoke, and with their aid the fire was doused. But my family was gone. Some suggested they had left me. But nothing they owned was missing ... nothing at all was missing, except my loved ones. Some nights I still have trouble sleeping, wondering why they were taken that day. wondering what they were taken for. They're out there still, alive, I think.

And that's why I travel friend. Nothing was left for me back there. I traded what little I could salvage from the farm to my commander, gave him the deed in exchange for some gear, and left. That was two years ago next week. I've wandered far and wide but found nothing to keep me in one place for long. I hear there’s a fair sized city to the north of here by the name of Cauldron. Who knows, maybe I'll find something up that way? [/sblock]

 

[Nazhkandrias]

Nazhkandrias
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting treats Bladed Boots as Exotic Weapons because of the way they are “wielded”. I don’t see why Complete Scoundrel handles hidden blades differently, but it does.

What if hidden blade weapons are treated as exotic weapons; and for special mount, you gain Exotic Weapon Prof (greatbow) at 1st level and Exotic Weapon Prof (hidden weapons) at 5th level?

It makes hidden weapons somewhat harder to use early on but entirely negates the penalties for using them by 5th level.

Would that work?

Now, when you say "entirely negate", does that imply removing that stupid -2 penalty associated with using a hidden weapon as well? Because I'm not sure that I want to invest a feat in an exotic weapon that essentially functions like an inferior short sword. I'd be totally fine with taking the Exotic Proficiency if, in turn for this proficiency being required, I could wipe that -2 penalty. They're mostly for flavor, but if that penalty goes bye-bye, then they could actually become a combat option worth investing in. Might even get a few extras - that wrist blade catches my eye! Anyway, other than that, are we good?

Oh, and concerning the Pantheon, yeah, I don't think my character will be particularly religious. Yeah, he might respect CG and generally good deities, but he isn't exactly fighting in their name. So, yeah, background should be up later tonight, and best of luck to all who applied!

 

[Valors_End]

Nazhkandrias
Yes. Hidden weapons will be considered exotic weapons, changing the attack penalty from -2 into a -4. By taking/gaining Exotic Weapon Prof (hidden weapon), you'll negate/remove the penalty.

To those that have submitted more than one character
Due to the huge response this thread generated, I am considering running two groups.

Spoiler

Madness, I know. The voices in my head have told me several times already

.

If I do, does anyone have a preferred character? I cannot guarantee that it'll be the one selected, but it'd help to know when splitting up things.

 

[Mandy Pandy]

Wow! My wife asked me to check this thread out and boy it grew fast! Color me interested (like apparently many, MANY others). I'd consider a Swordsage. My first idea was a sneaky, Shadowhand using one, but it looks like the group is light on the front line fighters, so maybe I'll go for a more defensive style (like Stone Dragon, perhaps). Alternatively, maybe I'll throw together a Marshall or something. Expect a character from me tonight (probably in an hour or two, I have free time today).

You make characters so fast! XD *has been working on hers all day*

 

[Insight]

Due to the fact that I probably have too many things going right now, and despite the fact that this should end up being fun (and playing psionics, which I never get to play)... and a myriad of other reasons, I'm going to bow out. VE has more than enough people to get a game (or two) going, and I'd be better off focusing my attention on things I've already started.

Good luck all, and see you around!