VE's Shackled City Campaign

[Nazhkandrias]

OK, I NEED this game. *Slobbers incoherently* FINALLY, a chance to pitch this idea! Two words, many syllables - Dragonborn Paladin. Basic character role is front-line basher (oversized weapon, ginourmous armor, high strength, ruthless disposition, the works) with SOME of the paladin-ish stuff on the side (I'm swapping the Special Mount for Charging Smite feature, I MIGHT keep the spellcasting, depending on the party, and his Charisma-based skills could be decent). He'll also be decent with the evil dragonslaying, but that will mostly be due to something like a Dragonbane weapon, rather than feats. Personality-wise, he's going to be a pretty fanatic l'il Paladin, completely merciless, but reliable.

So... this going to be alright? I haven't seen any Paladins pitched yet, and I've been thinking about this character for a while...

 

[drothgery]

One closer to your age, forgotten for the most part, no good in marrying off to anyone. We'd have some kinship, having been left to our own devices most of the time. Your character tended towards violence (you can come up with the reasons for that on your own!), while mine tended towards introspection, but eventually came out of her shell and now makes use of her beauty and social skills to get what she wants.

It's probably worth noting that we would have seen each other rarely over the last five years or so (since Ariel became Dame Iren's squire/apprentice). Ariel's always been something of a tomboy, and was often caught playing at swords (and winning!) with her brothers. She's never been entirely certain her father didn't arrange for her to meet Dame Iren, and has never wanted to ask either of them straight out. She's probably closer to your character than most of her other siblings because the other sisters are much older than she is (I'm picturing son [eldest, principal heir, mid-30s, has adolescent/early teen kids of his own]-daughter-daughter-son-son-son-daughter [your character]-daughter [Ariel, youngest, 19], roughly every other year, for the eight Tanara scions).

 

[James Heard]

Okay, here's a tentative proposal. I'm not certain I'm entirely happy with the (frankly bizarre sounding, even to me) background fluff I wrote. After considering the minimum level issue I'm not convinced that going for a prestige class is viable any longer in any case (getting stuck in Cleric for several more levels than I need to sounds concept-breaking) Still, I think she's interesting, and I'd be willing to entertain other people's thoughts on the character some (even if I don't promise to take things I disagree with to heart).

Basically the whole concept is very much owed to one of my favorite novels by HR Haggard.

Girl
Female Human Swordsage 1
[sblock]
LG Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +4; Senses Listen +4 Spot +4
Languages Common
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; + 3 dex, +4 chain shirt
hp 10 (1 HD)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +3 scimitar
Ranged +3
Special Actions Swordsage Maneuvers & Stances
Base Atk +0; Grp +2
Combat Gear scimitar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 15, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 13
SQ Quick to Act +1 (Ex), Discipline Focus(Desert Wind) (Ex)
Feats Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Light Armor, Martial Study (Crusader's Strike), Desert Fire
Skills Balance +7 (4 ranks), Concentration +6 (4 ranks), Hide +7 (4 ranks), Intimidate +5 (4 ranks), Move Silently +7 (4 ranks), Sense Motive +8 (4 ranks), Tumble +7 (4 ranks)
Experience Points: 0
Possessions combat gear plus backpack, belt pouch, bedroll, 50' silk rope, flint & steel, 2 blessed bandages
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[/sblock]
Appearance

Girl's hair pours across her shoulders like honey gold, and her lips are always red and bee-stung as if they were ready to be kissed. Despite that, most people agree that her eyes, her eyes either ruin her beauty or mark it by way of warning. Red, deep crimson, malevolent, knowing red - even in darkness they sometimes seem to glitter.

Beyond that, Girl is short in stature and compact in form. Some might even mistake her as too small to be an effective combatant (but those eyes, those eyes promise dark things). Her hands are tough, weathered things though, the hands of a lifelong swordsman - unusual in one so young. Those in the know also note that despite a certain hesitancy in her movements, easily blamed on her youth, Girl moves likes a hunting cat stalking her prey.

Background

Him was the greatest swordsman that ever lived. Trained by the finests shamans in the Nine Tribes in the Ruby Arts, he had slain warriors from every tribe within the jungle and some without. For six long years after and since he was her mother and father, mentor and most devoted servant. It was Him who taught Girl the way of blade and bow, the way of the whispering sands and the Perfect Death. She was born to be the vision of his goddess, he told her; and upon lap and knee, over corpse and campfire, Him trained her to be the perfect weapon - the marriage of death and desire, the continual yearning.

Him rescued Girl from savages as a child, though he was a simple man himself. To ward Her off, Him said, they would have sacrificed Girl to their dark masters. Pledged to Her service he was, to the old ways, the oldest ways some would whisper. Girl's own ruby eyes marked her for the Witch Goddess, but next to Him she faded. From the Hellfurnaces to the heart of their jungle homeland, Girl was raised watching the worst enemies of Her Eyes suffer Him's displeasure. When she would cry at the glances of Her darkest servants, Him would strike her and reprimand her for her foolishness. Even they serve, he would say, as do you.

He made his last stand on a lonely road on the way to Cauldron. A battle of fleeting shadows, a cry, and he was gone. A filthy place, Him had said, but She calls. Girl buried Him under a mound of stones, but did not weep for him. If the goddess has called then Him would answer Her, if only through Girl, who was his most devoted servant.


[sblock=Advancement]
L1>Swordsage 1 HP: 10 SP: +28
Skill (ranks)
Balance 4, Concentration 4, Hide 4, Intimidate 4, Move Silently 4, Sense Motive 4, Tumble 4
1^st Feat: Martial Study, Human Bonus: Desert Wind
Languages: Common, Sueloise
Maneuver's Known 6 + MS : Crusader's Strike (DS, Martial Study), Blistering Flourish (DW), Burning Blade (DW), Wind Stride (DW), Counter Charge (SS), Moment of Perfect Mind (DM), Sapphire Nightmare Blade (DM)
Stances Known 1 : Flame's Blessing (DW)
[/sblock]

Equipment Worksheet
[sblock]
Starting Gold = 160gp
000.00 traveller's outfit (one free outfit to hide naked adventurers)
000.10 entry fee to Cauldron
015.00 scimitar
100.00 chain shirt
002.00 backpack
000.10 bedroll
001.00 flint & steel
020.00 2 blessed bandages
010.00 50' silk rope
001.00 belt pouch
----
10 GP 8 SP
[/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

Edit: Consolidated everything upthread

 

[Shayuri]

Ho ho ho...everyone's so bright and shiny in this group.

...we need someone depressed and gothy.

I give you: Thorn!

Official description and background pending, but the basic summary is that she's had a pretty unpleasant life...the dual stigmas of being not quite human and being utterly brilliant hanging heavy on her. Things looked up a bit when she got into the wizarding school, though she'd never admit it, and she took up study of the planes because THIS world was so boring and insipid. At the same time though, she struggled with a swelling terror of the lower planes, to which she became terrified that she may be doomed to regardless of her actions because of her tainted nature. Therefore she refuses to have anything to do with them.

[sblock=Thorn]Name: Thorn
Race: Tiefling
Class/Level: Conjuror 1
Gender: Female
Exp

Desc

Strength (STR) 12
Dexterity (DEX) 18
Constitution (CON) 15
Intelligence (INT) 20
Wisdom (WIS) 13
Charisma (CHA) 12

Alignment: Neutral Good
AC: 14
Hit Points: 6/6
Movement: 30'

Init: +4
Base Attack Bonus: +0
Melee Attack: +1
Ranged Attack: +4
Fort: +2
Reflex: +4
Will: +3

Race Abilities
+2 dex, +2 int, -2 cha
Darkness 1/day, SLA
Darkvision 60'
+2 Hide, +2 Bluff
Resistances: Fire 5, Cold 5, Elec 5
Proficient with all simple & martial weaponry
Native Outsider type
Requires more exp (+100/level)

Class Abilities:
Prohibited Schools: Illusion, Enchantment
Augment Summoning
Rapid Summoning

Skills: 28
Concentration +6 (4 ranks + 2 con)
Craft +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)
Knowledge: Arcana +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)
Knowledge: The Planes +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)
Knowledge: Nature +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)
Knowledge: Religion +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)
Spellcraft +9 (4 ranks + 5 int)

Feats
1 Alacritous Cogitation

Languages - Common, Infernal, Draconic, Celestial, Terran, Auran, Ignan

Spellcasting (CL 1, DC 14+lvl)
Memorized
0 - Detect Magic, ?, Disrupt Undead, B Acid Splash
1 - Mage Armor, Magic Missile, ?, B Hail of Stones

? = Blank for use with Alacritous Cogitation
B = Bonus slot from specialist

Spellbook
0 - Resistance, Acid Splash, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Dancing Lights,

Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Disrupt Undead, Touch of Fatigue, Mage Hand, Mending,

Message, Open/Close, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation
1 - Protection from Evil, Shield, Grease, Mage Armor, True Strike, Magic Missile, Hail

of Stones, Summon Monster I

Money - 4sp

Weapons -
Light Crossbow, +4 to hit, 1d8 dmg, 80', 19-20 x2, mv to reload, 4lbs, 35gp
10 bolts, 1gp, 1lb

Armour -
Traveler clothing

Gear -
Backpack, 2gp, 2lbs
- Spellbook, 15gp, 3lbs
- Bedroll, 1sp, 5lbs
- Waterskin, 1gp, 4lbs

2 Belt pouches, 2gp, 1lb
- Caltrops, 1gp, 2lbs
- Soap, 5sp, 1lb
- 1 flask of acid, 10gp, 1lbs
- 1 flask alchemist's fire, 20gp, 1lbs

2 scroll cases, 2gp, 1lb

Spell component bag, 5gp, 2lbs
- 5 flecks of jade, 25gp, - (Hail of stones)

Magic -
None

Background:
Pending[/sblock]

As for linked backgrounds, I'm still totally up for that. Since we're both probably maxing Ints, it's likely that Thorn and your gnome were/are the top students of their respective classes. Professional rivalry/friendship is very likely!

 

[stonegod]

Updated potential Eladra-PC hooks w/ Thorn.

 

[drothgery]

I've consolidated Ariel's stuff at this post.

 

[stonegod]

Updated potential Eladra-PC hooks w/ Delkat.

 

[ethandrew]

Name: Hedowann the self-stylized "Shadow"
Race: Gnome
Class/Level: Illusionist 1
Gender: Male
Exp

Strength (STR) 10
Dexterity (DEX) 15
Constitution (CON) 18
Intelligence (INT) 18
Wisdom (WIS) 14
Charisma (CHA) 13

Alignment: Neutral Good
AC: 13
Hit Points: 8
Movement: 20'

Init: +2
Base Attack Bonus: +0
Melee Attack: +1 Quarterstaff +1 1d4 x2
Ranged Attack: +3 Dagger +3 1d2 19-20x2
Fort: +4
Reflex: +2
Will: +4

Race Abilities
+2 CON, -2 STR
Small Size (+1 AC, +1 Hit, +4 Hide)
20 Land Speed
Low-Light Vision
+2 racial bonus on saving throws versus illusions
+1 DC for all illusion spells cast
+1 to attack kobolds and goblinoids
+4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the Giant type
+2 Racial bonus on Listen
+2 Racial bonus on Craft (Alchemy)
Spell Like Abilities: 1/day: Speak With Animals (Burrowing mammals only, 
1 minute duration), dancing lights, ghost sound, prestidigitation; 
Caster level 1st, DC 11 + spell level

Class Abilities:
Prohibited Schools: Conjuration, Necromancy
Scribe Scroll
Chains of Disbelief: (UA, pg. 63)

Skills: 24
Listen +4 (0 Ranks + 2 Wis + 2 Gnome)
Spot +2 (0 Ranks + 2 Wis)
Concentration +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Con)
Hide +6 (0 Ranks + 2 Dex + 4 Gnome)
Knowledge: Arcana +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Int)
Knowledge: History +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Int)
Knowledge: Nature +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Int)
Knowledge: Dungeoneering +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Int)
Spellcraft +8 (4 Ranks + 4 Int)

Feats
Spell Focus (Illusion)

Languages - Common, Gnome, Draconic, Dwarven, Terran, Elven, Giant

Spellcasting (CL 1, DC 14 + level; Illusions DC 16 + Level)
Memorized
0 - Message, Light, Detect Magic
1 - Color Spray, Enlarge Person, Charm Person

Spellbook
0 - Resistance, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Daze, 
Dancing Lights, Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, 
Mending, Message, Open/Close, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation
1 - Color Spray, Charm Person, Disguise Self, Ventriloquism, Identify, 
Enlarge Person, Magic Missile

Money - 28gp, 7sp, 8cp

Weapons - Quarterstaff, 1lb; Dagger x4 8gp, 1lb

Armour - None

Gear -
Backpack, 2gp, .5lbs
 - Spellbook, 15gp, 3lbs
 - Bedroll, 1sp, 1.25lbs
 - Blanket, 5sp, .75lbs
 - Waterskin, 1gp, 1lb
 - Chalk, 1cp
 - Candle, 1cp
 - Flint and steel, 1gp
 - Smokestick, 20gp
 - Mirror, 10gp, .5lb
 - Soap, 5sp, 1lb
 - Bullseye Lantern, 12gp
 - Tent, 10gp, 5lbs
 - Trail Rations x8, 4gp, 2lbs
 - City Fee 1sp

2 scroll cases, 2gp, 1lb

Spell component bag, 5gp, 2lbs

Total Weight: 20lbs

Light Load: 24.75lbs or less; Medium Load: 24.76-49.5lbs; Heavy Load: 49.51-75

[sblock=Appearance]Gender: Male
Size: Small
Age: 49
Height: 3'5"
Weight: 45lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Skin: Fair

Hedowann, like all gnomes, was naturally predisposed to being well-groomed. Though quite young, he has a small mustache growing in nicely, thin upon the lip and just showing the slightest hint of a curl at the ends. His skin is fair, natural for growing up in Cauldron, but it parlays nicely with the dark of his hair, which he keeps shortly spiked around his head.[/sblock]

[sblock=Background]Hedowann was one of the many children raised at the Lantern Street Orphanage. That is where the similarity with his peers ended. As a gnome, he developed much more slowly than the other children, who would come and go in a matter of years. Hedowann, however, stayed. For near forty years he watched as human children would grow up in an instant, surprising him as toddlers and then reaching adulthood before he grew an inch. Any playmates he would attract would outgrow him too soon, develop faster, and figure themselves too old to be playing with Hedowann.

And so the young gnome found himself without very many friends. Though friendly, and at times attached to one lad or lass, those who grew up with him soon looked upon with pity at the perpetual youth carried on. Despite all this, Hedowann kept his head held high, accepted that he was different, and tried to make the best of his situation. His one constant companion was books. Though the orphanage had a modest collection, it was one Hedowann read to completion. No matter how boring or dull, each tome was read at least one time by the young gnome. He read as a crop of children came and went, the gnome a shadow in their eyes.

By the time his 'tricks' manifested, he was getting older and ready to leave the orphanage, despite his diminutive stature. Lantern Street enlisted him at Bluecrater when it was time, as was customary of all orphans, so that they can be integrated into society in some manner. Yet Hedowann showed aptitude in near all things. He was sharp, quick witted and determined, too good for mere trade skills. And so it was that he began his training as a wizard, albeit on a probationary period. Soon the temporary tag was withdrawn as Hedowann shot toward the lead of the class. His aptitudes gravitated toward illusion, natural for a gnome, but unlike most wizards, when someone broke through one of Hedowann's illusions, they still yet proved potent and tangible to all others until they themselves broke through.

When the kidnappings appeared, Hedowann had already 'graduated' his training. And, though he was still living at the academy, he had been spending his recent time performing odd jobs, cavorting around the city, waiting for the right opportunity to use and expand his talents. And this one was perfect.[/sblock]

 

[Valors_End]

Bloodcookie
Yes, a Favored Soul is an acceptable character submission.

Voda Vosa and Lorthanoth
This is not a first come, first serve deal. Just because some have shown an interest doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be playing. If you would like to submit a character, please do so before the deadline.

Nazhkandrias
Dragonborn, spellscales, and kobolds are not acceptable PC races. The list is here: http://valorsend.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=scap&action=display&thread=1190173816

Those that have already posted a character
I’m going to give the current submissions a quick look to see if there are any issues.