Kuroi and Filthy_Casual's thread

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Oct 24, 2018 1:48 am
Welcome to the game everyone. This thread is to catch you up to speed, so you don't have to spend the next few weeks reading through the story (although you are more than welcome to if you wish to lol). The start of this story will sound very familiar to you both.

The original characters all come from a city called Lion's Head in the Sapphire Iles. The were travelling on board a colony ship and heading to an unknown new colony known as the New World when their ship was attacked by pirates.
The party managed to save the day and blow up the pirate ship but at the cost of their own lives as they were all caught in the explosion.

Miraculously, the party somehow survived the explosion and wound up washed ashore near a very small village called Berda Trading Post in the nothernmost parts of the Immerald Empire. The Empire is well known and quite civilized. The trading post however, is a company secret run by the Western Trading Company, an international company that is also behind the founding of the new colony in the New World.

Without their weapons and equipment, the players made a deal with the company representative Mr. Sigmar and are currently working as freelancers for The Western Trading Company in exchange for passage to the New World.

While solving a case of missing animals they discovered a dungeon built by a long extinct race as a proving grounds for their heroes. They battled their way through the dungeon and at the end of it they felt a certain, unexplicable calling. They don't know how or why but each of them found an object of great power.

One of the items, a glowing green shard could talk to Tomas (the sorcerer/fighter) and telepathically told him that it had been created and sent forward in time to stop a powerful necromancer from destroying the world.

One night, while the heroes were sleeping at the inn, a group of assassins attacked the party seeking the green shard. The party managed to fight off the assassins who exploded in a pool of blood. Before the assassins died they told the party that the master now knew of their whereabouts and was sending an army to destroy the town.

The party called a town meeting to decide what to do. The party has decided to stay and help the town even though their only chance to get to the new world is to go via the supply ship that arrives today. They are currently on their way to visit a strange old recluse called Alik the Mad, a powerful magic user who lives nearby in an old lighthouse.

I have a couple of ideas for introducing you to the party. The first is that you end up washed ashore on the beach, as the party is travelling down the coast then this will work well. My second idea is that you could either work for Alik the Mad or be his apprentice or something. If you have your own ideas then please let me know :). I'll work with whatever you come up with.

You are free to come up with whatever backgrounds you like but at some point you all had a very odd feeling, you felt drawn to something due to some inexplicable feeling. You followed this odd feeling and it lead you to discover an item of great power. Please choose one from the list below:
OOC:
Dawn's Tears

This tin flute enchants almost all who hear its haunting melodies. It’s intricately carved handle is covered with mythical fey dancing and playing.

Frostsong

A beautiful longbow that appears to be made from blue ice that glows with a faint blue hue. The bowstring seems to be made from some kind of frozen sinew.

Soul Drinker

The wicked looking blade of this dagger is formed from volcanic glass. Demonic sigils are engraved onto the blade and glow with a strange orange light. The pommel of the hilt looks like a human woman screaming in unescapable torment.

A Firestone

You have found a warm red glowing stone about the size of an ostrich egg. The stone is sprinkled with orange and yellow fragments.

Titania's Reflection

A beautiful silver hand mirror with intricate filigree lines which adorn the frame and handle. On the back of it you see silver carvings depicting all sorts of fae like creatures getting into all sorts of mischief.
I would like you to include in your backstory how you found your item of power :)

Please post your backstory here and it should end with you feeling a strange almost compulsion to head north. You don't need to post fully in character just yet as there is a lot of information. Let's treat this thread as a workshop and if you need any additional information just let me know :)
Oct 27, 2018 12:22 am
Well, the only two that appeal to a wizard are the Firestone and the Mirror... without knowing which does what, I'll take the firestone.
I've decided to continue with Arwen, and leveled him. He has been submitted.
What would being a poor orphan child of the twon who became an apprentice of Alik the Mad entail?
Oct 27, 2018 1:18 am
First off, interesting colour choice lol. We can continue Arwen's personal story from the last game. He fought the Siren with the marines, was knocked unconscious but instead of arriving at the town if Berda he washed ashore about a days travel to the south where Alik the mad found him, recognised his potential and took him on as his apprentice. It doesn't require anything specifically from you. Just that you do the odd job around the lighthouse and help him with his experiments.Does that work for you?

If not, then please let me know.

Regarding the magic items, all of them could potentially work for a magic user although the fire stone is an excellent choice.

I would like you to tell me how you found it. At some point in your travels you felt something calling you, almost pulling you from the back of your head. You followed this calling and found the fire stone. But what exactly were you doing?
Oct 27, 2018 1:52 am
I like that alteration. If Arwen had to travel to the town on foot by himself I can't imagine he was able to go out and take anything from anyone... If the Firestone is an artifact, perhaps it was something uncovered in Alik's dusty basement, apparently lost forever until a certain force pulled Arwen to it.
Oct 27, 2018 5:19 am
You apprentiship begins well and you learn a lot about magical theory over the next couple of weeks or so. One day Alik has you dust out his basement. He warns you not to touch any of the items contained within as many of them are rare, fragile and dangerous.
Despite his warning you feel a strange pull coming from the back of your skull. You close your eyes and follow the pull and as you move you feel the pull get stronger and stronger as you approach your destination. You find the strongest point and open your eyes. In front of you is a strange oval shapped, dark red rock. Bright orange and yellow lines circumnavigate the rock like cracks. You reach put your hand and pick it up. It is warm to the touch and as you hold it, you feel it begin to vibrate.
OOC:
Please give me a nature and an arcana check.
Oct 28, 2018 2:26 am
OOC:
So sorry, found out that my character sheet got wiped and I had to throw it back together all over again! I think I got it mostly right, but it's built right for a character, so I'm happy to just go with it if that works for you.
This... looks like an egg... Arwen clutches it close to prevent it rocking out of his hands. He wouldn't want to drop it now.

Rolls

Arcana - (1d20+5)

(4) + 5 = 9

Nature - (1d20+3)

(13) + 3 = 16

Oct 28, 2018 5:10 am
Your instincts do you credit. This stone does indeed seem to be alive. However, it is clearly not a natural creature from the material plane.
OOC:
You may attempt another arcana check but I would like you to tell me how you plan on studying the creature.
Oct 28, 2018 6:52 pm
OOC:
I had flavor... It got wiped too. I've been having issues with the site ever since it went down for that hour.
Arwen thinks a moment on the realization that he was handling an extraplanar egg, probably about to hatch. Then it dawned on him. Considering the closest planes to material are the positive, negative, and four elementals, the warmth of the egg, and the coloring... he was likely dealing with a creature from... Fire. He looks up with wide eyes at a basement full of dust and paper, clutches the egg like a football, and sprints as fast as he can out of the tower.

But that doesn't solve the problem... Arwen thinks about his options and realizes he has two: chuck the egg into the ocean, or... hatch it. Curiosity getting the better of him again, he will clear a small space with mold earth, place the egg in the center, and look for anything dry and flammable for the egg. Oh, and try to take cover before a fiery, explosive hatching.
Last edited October 29, 2018 3:21 am

Rolls

Arcana - (1d20+5)

(15) + 5 = 20

Oct 29, 2018 1:10 am
OOC:
Just waiting for you to edit your previous post. Then I'll flavour it.
Oct 29, 2018 6:50 am
Again, your instincts do you credit. You build a fire in a controlled pit and take cover. You wait for a moment. Then another. Finally, you look at the egg. However, nothing has happened.

Then you recall something Alik taught you when you were doing a recent experiment. The fire on the fire elemental plane is not natural. It is, however, the source of all fire magic from the humble firebolt through to the mighty fireball. Your knowledge of arcana leads you to conclude that using fire magic on the egg may have some effect.
OOC:
Ah! I hate losing posts like that! Anyway, what is Arwen wearing?
Oct 29, 2018 9:32 am
Ok, sorry for being late. Can Moonless Night be "revived" into this alternative reality? Maybe even with her mysterious map still in her possession? :)
Oct 29, 2018 12:11 pm
OOC:
Yikes. That is a tough question. I think she'll need a little motivation to stick with the group though. I doubt they'll have any plans to leave Berda until they are sure it's safe.

Here's a thought, what if the map lead her to a dungeon where she found her magic item and that item called her to do something completely against her character and protect others?
Oct 29, 2018 12:22 pm
OOC:
Or maybe she did lost everything in that shipwreck, but after leaving the coast found some other map/clue to pursue?
Like she stumbled upon some ruins, found an artifact (mirror?) and some clues of some bigger ancient settlement. Or maybe even that mirror "talks" to her? Or sends her dreams? And through those she meets the current party.
Oct 29, 2018 12:49 pm
OOC:
Works for me. Although I really wanted you to choose the dagger lol. Still, the mirror is also an excellent choice.

I can't remember exactly why Night was so attached to that map. Anyway, I can elaborate on some details. She's an archaeologist, right?

She will have discovered that the people in this area are very religious and almost all tend to worship Pelor the God of Eternal and Everlasting Light, source of all things good and all good clerics and magic users too.

Night discovered an ancient dungeon, used by a lizard like species older than any other form of humanoids which predate the worship of Pelor. The lizard like creatures, called the Fenrir, clearly had advanced knowledge of magic and the excavation of their ancient sites could prove very profitable. Unfortunately, the idea that magic could come from somewhere other than Pelor or at least some other god of good is quite heretical and thus Night will have trouble convincing non-party members to help her.


Also, just to refresh your memory, Tabaxi are very rare in this part of the world, so people will remember he easily and probably judge her more harshly by her deeds and actions. Also, it will be very difficult for her to try and blend in or hide in plain sight.

How does that work for you so far?
Oct 29, 2018 1:08 pm
OOC:
She wasn't attached to the map. But it was her reason of travelling. She's in pursuit of Puzzle. And the map was her first clue, so when it disappeared - she was lost and without purpose.

Ancient civilization is a very nice "hook" for her, so I like that idea. How exactly she will deal with religious stupidity (from her POV) is a question for the "future Moon" :D She wouldn't care about being judged or stared at. Moon is used to this and her skin (fur?) is very thick :)

I've submitted the character to the game, tell me what she would have equipment wise.

Also - do the mirror send Moon any visions? :D
Oct 29, 2018 1:28 pm
OOC:
Hell yes it does!
Firstly, I wrote this at the beginning of the post but it is important, so I'll write it again. Moon felt some kind of irresistible pull that led her to travel, discover the ruins and ultimately, the mirror.

The first thing Moon notices is that the mirror she found in the ruins is not of this world. It definitely does not come from the material plane.

At first, when she looks in the mirror she sees her reflection, then the surface of the mirror ripples like the disturbed water of a pond. When it clears you see a large half-orc female staring back at you. You reach up and touch your face and you are surprised to see the orc figure do the same. You quickly draw your dagger and look at the blade. You see that you have changed and you look like a half orc woman. You also notice that you're wearing strange, elaborate and beautiful wrist guards. The armour seems to specific for the change to be random. You deduce that you must look like an actual person. But whether living or dead? You have no idea.

You look into the mirror again, and your appearance has returned to its normal self. The magic seemingly expended for now.
OOC:
For gaming purposes you now have Titania's Mirror. It will allow you to cast disguise self at will. You have a sneaking suspicion that it may hold other secrets that it may reveal in time.
Oct 29, 2018 2:43 pm
  Fascinated by this I inspect the mirror in great details and then try to remember if anything from that half-orcs outfit remind me of something I might've read about previously...
OOC:
I'd prefer the rolls to be other way around, but oh well... Arcana was to determine if Moon knows/heard/read about such spells, etc.

History was for recognizing half-orc's outfit
Last edited October 29, 2018 2:44 pm

Rolls

Arcana (not proficient) - (1d20+2)

(20) + 2 = 22

History - (1d20+4)

(3) + 4 = 7

Oct 29, 2018 2:47 pm
OOC:
I've also altered Moon's bond in the sheet to reflect the most recent condition
Oct 29, 2018 11:53 pm
Arwen is wearing... -sigh- robes. It's a wizard thing...

Arwen remembers this little tidbit about magical fire, and realizes that he's going to have to launch a firebolt at the egg... which means he has to get close enough to do this. Sure a blast is coming, he tries to hide his face, as he lets the bolt fly.
Oct 30, 2018 5:16 am
Moon now intuitively knows how to cast the spell disguise self but there is a strange limitation. She cannot take the form of another Tabaxi or change her Tabaxi appearance. She pracrices taking on other human and non-human guises without any problem.

She has no idea where the orc-female or the armour comes from but she has heard that orcish tribes live in the uncontrolled lands north of the Immerald Empire.
Oct 30, 2018 6:05 am
As Arwen's fire bolt strikes the egg it explodes in a raging inferno of fire. The fire reaches up into the sky and spreads to his right and left but luckily not towards him and he watches as as a bald eagle sized bird made of pure flame emerged from the inferno and flies straight towards him.

You watch as the light from the flame gets brighter and brighter until you are forced to close your eyes, while, simultaneously, the heat gets hotter and hotter. It's almost, but not quite painful.


In a flash the bright light instantly fades and the warm feeling slowly ebbs away. Yet, you still feel warm, as if sitting near a small campfire.

You open your eyes and immediately notice two things. First, the big, flaming bird has gone. Second, you are glowing. It is night but you can see your surroundings just as if you had cast the light cantrip on yourself.

You quickly remove your robes abd see that they now have a large red, orange and yellow phoenix symbol emblazed upon them.
OOC:
In game terms you have just acquired your new pet phoenix. While in your robes the phoenix grants you additional protection. Add +1 to your AC and you now have resistence to fire damage.
They also have the light spell cantrip cast permanently on them.
You are also always considerd warm and will not suffer damage or exhaustion from being exposed to the elements. Although, you will suffer cold damage from magical sources normally.

In addition, you may as an action attempt to summon the phoenix. Make a handle animal DC 12 check and on a success the phoenix will come out of your robes and aid you.

Acting on your initiative, you may have the phoenix either;
1. Aid you or an ally of your choice (gain advantage on attack rolls)
2. Blind an opponent (give disadvantage on attack rolls to a creature that relies on sight)

The Phoenix has a flight speed of 60 feet,
Ac 13
Hp 8

It can aid you for a maximum of one hour before it must return into your robes. Also, if its hps are reduced to 0 then it must also return to your robes. After either limitation has been reached you may not summon it again until after the next dawn.

At the moment, the phoenix is very young. You think that as it ages, its abilities can only get more powerful.
Oct 30, 2018 9:23 pm
OOC:
sweet. Baby phoenix. Almost makes me want to focus on fire spells, but dumbledore didn't so thats fine.
OOC:
A rules question comes to mind. If Arwen calls the phoenix out, does he lose the benefits of having it in his robes until it returns? Also if it returns because of having 0 hp, are those benefits also lost until the next dawn, because it is recovering?
And a third, is it an appropriate familiar to summor with find familiar? If so, how would that work rules wise?
Sorry, just looking to clear up in case it comes up later.
Last edited November 1, 2018 5:17 pm
Nov 2, 2018 12:52 am
OOC:
Sorry guys. Gamer's Plane has been bonkers but everything seems to be working fine now, so I think we can continue.

@Arwen: Yes, if the Phoenix leaves your robes you lose its protective qualities. But as soon as it returns to your robes the protective qualities return. Even if it has 0 hitpoints and you cannot summon it.
You cannot summon this particular phoenix as a summon
You could certainly summon another with the find familiar spell.
Nov 2, 2018 1:15 am
@Moon:
OOC:
First off, I'm going to change your time spent on the colony ship to time spent following your ancient map and that is where you found your mirror.
After finding your mirror, you travel north through the Immerald Empire. You arrive at the northernmost city of Northwatch, but you don't hear any signs of orcish activity.
One morning you wake up and your appearance has changed again. You look like some kind of bald priest, and in your hand you see a very unique looking coin. You take a good look at the coin and then, on sudden inspiration, you toss the coin into the air. You follow its flight but lose it as it heads directly into the path of the sun. You blink a couple of times and when your vision clears you are yourself again.

Shortly afterwards you hear that there are some farmers forging some kind of living for themselves in the dangerous frontier to the north. You also hear that there is a caravan that leaves once a week to bring supplies to the farmers.

Do you travel north alone or seek out this caravan?
Nov 2, 2018 1:16 am
@Arwen: What do you do after your phoenix hatches? Go back to the tower? Run away?
Nov 2, 2018 1:27 am
OOC:
First, clarification on equipment - do I have everything back? :)
Also, is Moon at the inn/tavern? And how locals treated her on the way to this town? If there was any hostility - she'd utilise mirror to disguise herself.
Nov 2, 2018 1:55 am
OOC:
Yes. You have all of your equipment as you were not on the colony ship.

Some hostility for sure. Some may have even tried to attack you and more than a few have accused you of being some kind of demon. I doubt you would have even been able to find lodgings without using the mirror.
Nov 3, 2018 12:00 am
Arwen will somewhat sheepishly go back to doing his original job of sorting out the basement. He will avoid bringing up the subject of his new robes until asked, which he's sure will happen eventually...
Nov 3, 2018 3:10 am
@Arwen:

You head back into Alik's tower and continue your job dusting out the basement while sheepishly trying to avoid your master Alik.

You successfully manage to do so until breakfast the next morning. As you bring in his food he takes one look at your new robes and asks. His tone is very pleasant but you know he has some prettg major mood swings.
Nice! New clothes. Where did you get them?
Nov 3, 2018 3:43 am
Having had the time to get an explanation he thought might work, Arwen replies with Ah, you remember asking me to dust out the basement? An egg fell off a stack I was dusting, and I had to catch it. It looked like a fire waiting to happen so I got it away from the books and scrolls, but this is the result. I'm just happy the basement is safe. Arwen sets the food in front of his benefactor, and backs away, waiting both to defend himself and to hear his opinion of the food.
Nov 3, 2018 4:47 am
OOC:
@Arwen: was any of that a lie?
Nov 3, 2018 6:16 am
OOC:
Hmmm... reading back, the only part that's technically a lie is the "it fell off" part. I'll roll deception then.

ehh... at 10...
Last edited November 3, 2018 6:16 am

Rolls

Deception - (1d20+1)

(9) + 1 = 10

Nov 3, 2018 10:08 am
OOC:
Great. Thank you
That is what you want to say. What you actually say is this:



Ah, you remember asking me to dust out the basement? An egg called to me and I couldn't help touching it. Then I felt that it wanted to be released, so I cast firebolt at it. When I did, a phoenix came out and entered into my robes. I really like my new robes and I hope that you're not mad. Please don't be made at me.
OOC:
You have a new character trait. You don't know why but you are now compelled to speak the truth at all times. You can use this to replace your flaw if you like.
Alik gives you a weighted look before replying.
Thank you for your honesty. It is simply amazing that a phoenix has bonded with you. You are incredibly lucky! With your consent, I would like to study this bonding in more detail. Could you summon it for me please?
Nov 3, 2018 11:47 am
  After coming back to my senses after the .... vision? I quickly grab my compass and some other tools from the backpack (cartographer’s tools) and try to determine what lies in the direction that coin dissapeared into.
OOC:
Basicaly Moon is triangulating the path according the sun's location at the moment of her coin-tossing.

After that she will inquire of the path that caravan will use to travel. If it doesn't goes too wide of her own - she will join it.
Nov 3, 2018 1:18 pm
OOC:
@Moon: Make a survival check with advantage
Nov 3, 2018 3:27 pm
OOC:
I'm a survivor...

Rolls

Survival - (1d20+6, 1d20+6)

1d20+6 : (9) + 6 = 15

1d20+6 : (19) + 6 = 25

Nov 3, 2018 11:26 pm
Based on the time of day and the position of the sun you believe you tossed the coin in a north-by north easterly direction. The caravan is travelling north which is pretty damned close to the same direction.
Nov 3, 2018 11:30 pm
OOC:
Just a note - Moon will disguise herself as a plain looking human male. Tanned skin, short black hair, no special features.
But she will keep most of her equipment the same.

Moon will join the caravan to move northward
Nov 4, 2018 1:26 pm
@Moon, you make your way north for a time but after a short while the snail's pace of the caravan begins to bore you. You feel a strange force pulling you to the north east. Following the feeling, you travel north up the coast, past a strange looking light house.

Shortly before lunch one day you hear the sounds of battle coming from around the next bend. You take a closer look and see the orc woman breathing heavily on the beach while her companions, two humans as far as you can make out, battle some fierce water elementals.

They have not spotted you yet.
Nov 4, 2018 2:09 pm
OOC:
Is orc woman the same as the one Moon transformed into previously?
Nov 4, 2018 4:06 pm
I will try... Arwen backs away from anything important, clutches a hand to his chest, and concentrates.

The phoenix refuses his call, and he looks around puzzled. I... might need training.
Last edited November 4, 2018 4:08 pm

Rolls

Animal Handling - (1d20+1)

(2) + 1 = 3

Nov 4, 2018 11:31 pm
  Intrigued, I come closer, while trying not to draw attention to myself...
OOC:
Our rolls... Damn the dice!
Last edited November 4, 2018 11:31 pm

Rolls

Stealth - (1d20+7)

(1) + 7 = 8

Nov 5, 2018 12:23 am
OOC:
I know. I'm glad there's passive benefits to the phoenix, haha.
Nov 5, 2018 6:43 am
@Kuroi you can jump into the main thread (Chapter 3)
Nov 5, 2018 6:48 am
@Arwen: just for fun, please keep rolling animal handling checks until you succeed. Just edit the same post over and over again.

Oh and what do you do to summon the phoenix?
Nov 8, 2018 1:25 am
Arwen focuses again, unsure if he reached the right part of himself last time.
OOC:
Oh good, okay. Next steps were to add incantations similar to firebolt... then to pathetically dangle food in front of the robes.
Last edited November 8, 2018 1:26 am

Rolls

Animal Handling - (1d20+1)

(15) + 1 = 16

Nov 8, 2018 4:33 am
After the phoenix materialises out of your robes, Alik gasps and watches as it flies around the tower. Then, he raises his hand and you watch as two bolts of fire, leave his hands and fly towards your pet. They strike it, but it doesn't seem to hurt the bird.

Then he turns to you and says

You'll need to feed it. Your fire spells will help to sustain it and eventually it will grow. I recommend a small firebolt once per day or a higher level spell once a week to start with.
Nov 9, 2018 4:42 am
Arwen bows slightly at Alik As you say Master. Is there any other wisdom you might share with me? Arwen's last animal companion was a small mouse, which sadly, did not survive being dunked into the ocean. Hopefully this creature will fare better.
Nov 10, 2018 2:50 am
Don't summon it in water or ask it to enter the water. That would be very bad for it. Also, don't summon it anywhere without air as it needs air to breathe. Other than that I don't have a lot of experience with fire elemental creatures. I do know someone who might be able to help you though. There is a mage guild in Northwatch and one of my old friends is the archmage of the guildhall. Master Axquis. He should be able to help you. It might be best not to mention my name to others in the city though. I'm not exactly living here by choice.
Nov 10, 2018 3:22 am
Taken aback at the last part, Arwen replies Sir, are you telling me to leave? I would like to care better for the phoenix, for sure, but do you not need me here anymore?
Nov 11, 2018 11:44 pm
Oh no! You don't have to leave! I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. The roads around here are very dangerous. There's a baron dells south east of here that is said to be infested with the living dead. I doubt you'd survive for longer than a day without help.
Eventually, I will ask you to travel to northwatch with a passing caravan, when I need sensitive supplies that I won't trust a caravan master with.

But not until you're a little stronger, eh?
Nov 15, 2018 12:08 pm
A short time later your master summons you to the lookout point. He gestures down to the beach far below the tower and says.
We have guests. Why don't you go and meet them?

You follow his gesture and see a few dots moving on the beach
Nov 17, 2018 5:17 am
Only shortly back from cleaning the morning meal, Arwen comes back for his master's summons. I shall! Do you have a message for them? He gets together what little gear he needs, his spellbook in a messenger bag carried on his back, simple gloves on his hands, and wand tucked safely within his robes.
Nov 17, 2018 3:33 pm
Yeah, tell them not to he too mad.
Nov 17, 2018 3:34 pm
OOC:
I'll write you into the main thread shortly.

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