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[D&D 4E OOC] The Second Son
robp85
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Alright, I'll admit. That's a lame image but I wanted something and had to make it.
Here we go. A second game for me to run. I'm enjoying my first game quite a bit and would like to see what the load feels like when you have two.
Couple of things you'll need to know about me:
1. I've played in a few games of 4E. I'm relatively comfortable with all the rules. However, I'm still working on learning a lot of the lore for D&D. I do not consider myself an expert in any way. I'm expecting that I may be corrected during the game so if you see something that you think is wrong, let me know in a polite way and we'll work to correct it. I just want this to be fun for everyone involved.
2. I do NOT have the skills in map making as some of the other DM's on Critical Failures. So, expect simple maps from me. I'll make sure things are explained as best as possible and try to fix up the maps as best as possible but honestly I'm looking to get through a game successfully more than making perfect maps at this point.
3. I am not the most interesting writer there is here. I'll be working to make this as much fun and as entertaining as possible, though. Hopefully we can all enjoy the time playing some D&D.
4. I post primarily between 8 am and 4 pm PST, Monday through Friday.
Some information about the adventure:
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We'll be playing the pre-made game "The Second Son." It is posted out there on the internet and some of you may have heard of it. If you've played in or DM'ed this game, please don't apply (though I'm hoping there are very few who've played it). I would like the game to be new to everyone who's playing it.
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I'm looking for six 1st-level characters. You can choose anything that is currently in DDI as well as the new Primal Power book excluding monster races. Standard character creation (22-point, etc, etc) except I'm giving everyone a Weapon/Implement Expertise feat of their choice as a bonus.
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The six characters class types will be: 1 Leader, 1 Defender, 1 Controller, 2 Strikers, and 1 bonus (whoever I really like, not limiting this character).
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No hybrid classes.
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Please post a short sample (one to two paragraphs) of your character doing something. I don't have a preference on what it is. It can be a short history, an important part of their lives, or even a fight scene.
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Please post a short sample of your character doing something. I don't have a preference on what it is. It can be a short history, an important part of their lives, or even a fight scene.
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Please have your character sheet on either
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Please limit your applications to
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I'm looking for people who can post at least once a weekday. I will be aiming for more than that myself as I am the DM but I can understand if there are times when people get busy and are unable to do this. One or two missing posts are fine. Get too many, though, and I'll have to look for a replacement.
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At this point, this will be a one shot dungeon delve. I don't plan on continuing after this adventure is finished.
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There will be little backstory or RPing outside of the fighting. Don't expect some elaborate background or epic story. Sorry. What I wouldn't give to be able to create something as cool as the games that I've been in/am currently playing. That'll have to come later in my career, though.
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Anyone in my other game right now (Den of the Slavetakers) are, unfortunately, not allowed to apply. I'm looking to spread the love
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We will be assuming that your party has been together for awhile now.
Here's the hook for your characters:
The Second Son wrote:The hero of the village of Jaspermoon has gone missing. More and more attacks by villainous beasts have tracked back to a previously undiscovered series of tunnels below the ruins of a ancient watch tower. Rakin Madrona traveled to these tunnels and has not been heard from since. Jantzen Madrona, the acting town's mayor and younger brother of Rakin Madrona, asks a band of traveling adventurers for help in locating his brother's body in the ruinous catacombs.
You will be reaching level two during this adventure so be prepared for that.
I'll be closing down applications on 11/23/09 at 11:59 PM PST (-8 GMT).
Feel free to ask any questions you may have. I'm sure we'll have many great submissions.
Good luck to everyone!
Skard, Shifter Warden
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
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Man, I sorta feel like applying. What class should I be?
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Hmm... you should play an... AWESOME Invoker. Can't be a normal one. Needs to be awesome!
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Primal Power is in the builder tomorrow; perhaps a Revenant Warden build is doable... this bears some investigation.
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Edit: yeah if primal power is out today i'm making a Swarm Druid. hellz yeah
PSN: ChemENGR
Nintendo Network ID: AzraelRose
DropBox invite link - get 500MB extra free.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
I'll be working on a background and stuff throughout the week. Just putting up the Character sheet.
Imagine a creature made out of sticks, dirt, and creepy crawlies with a black cloak and a scythe. Oh yeah.
The Hunt:
"Did you hear that? It was like a real low growl." A small wiry elf perked up and spoke.
"Nah man, the forest is playing tricks on you again. It doesn't exist, why are we even out here." A second elf added. He was obviously annoyed withthe whole situation.
"The bounty. If it didn't exist neither would the bounty. Let's just look a bit more." This time a human, strong in stature and voice.
As they walked the forest grew thick with trees, insects, and complaints from the elf about getting stung or bitten.
"Woah, I saw something." The human piped up.
"Ha now you're hallucinating too? Great, I love being lost in the forest with two--" The elf's voice trailed off and was replaced by the buzzing of bugs all going to the same place.
They found themselves in the middle of a small clearing, the forest thick enough to block the sunlight of the day. It wasn't just because a bunch of bugs were walking, it's that they were gathering. They were bringing leaves and twigs and mud with them. As a few bug flew past, the individuals were stung by the business end of a few. As the insects converged a figure began to rise from them.
"So they came looking for me." A disembodied voice began to speak and a cloak was being drug across the ground. "You know I really didn't do anything to be labeled 'monster', and yet they still come." A scythe began to crawl towards him. "Have you ever seen an ant colony at work? They all cover their target at the same time. Every part of the colony has it's own part, and knows how to perform it. It's called a hivemind." The figure donned his cloak. "Everyone working for the same goal." The two elves dropped to the ground. The figure picked up his scythe. "Don't worry, the most painful part is the sting. Plus, you won't be dying with them today."
The human began to weaken. "What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. You'll be paralyzed for a time. Once that's finished, I want you to go back and tell them this: I'm not a monster." The form dispersed into the insects from which it formed. Yet the voice remained...
"I do hope you survive the trip back through the forest...the others didn't..."
PSN: ChemENGR
Go for it. I don't see any problems with using it.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Gatha, Goliath Barbarian
Important Moment:
As he slowly ran his thumb over the finely honed edge of the axe, he let his mind drift back to the earlier years of his life. Always considered small for a Goliath at only 6'6", he'd endured the humiliation of being called "Dwarf" and "Gnome" by his peers growing up. He was always passed over for the larger and stronger members of the village when it came time to scout unknown territory or assist with an adventure. Why, one of the elders had even suggested that he not take part in the village melee for fear that he might get hurt! However, these indignities had only fueled his rage, pushing him to train his body and mind far harder then anyone thought was possible.
All of that effort had finally come to a head at the last melee. Like a man possessed, he had easily dispatched all comers to claim victory, and the battle axe that signified the warriors of his village. Now as he sat there watching a rivulet of his blood slowly creep down the face of the axe he felt a surprising calm.
It is time to show the world what I can do.
I know pretty much all the rules from reading, podcasts and what books I could get my hands on, and now that this pops up and it sounds awesome and perfect, I'm going to be away for a week
Oh well, opportunities will come around again, and sounds like it will be a fun adventure to follow
Weapon Expertise Feat is free in this game. You can select another feat as your "real" first level feat.
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Aw, man...I had a halfling monk as one of my character concepts. Stop snaking my ideas!
You should do a halfling monk and I'll do a halfling barbarian. The dualism could be fun.
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Zamiel, Tiefling Cleric of the Raven Queen
"Sermon go well?" asked the owner, his eladrin features exhibiting a wry smile as he took a seat across from Zamiel.
"Splendidly," Zamiel responded in his gravelly voice, graciously accepting the beverage and holding it to his swollen eye for relief, "afterwards, not so much, I'm afraid."
The Eladrin, veteran of many adventures before his retirement, rolled his eyes in disbelief, "you know you really should just get a bodyguard or two already, with how much trouble you catch."
"Can't afford 'em," Zamiel noted, gingerly taking a sip of his drink, "not everyone's got a hoard of gold like you, my friend."
"I hate to see you like this though, you should at least throw a punch or two, it'd be good for you."
Zamiel sighed, setting down his mug, "One punch would be both too many, and not enough. Punching problems away is a life-long career, and one that I have no fondness for."
It was the eladrin's turn to sigh, mockingly it seemed to Zamiel. "So you just stand there and take it, that's what your goddess says you should do?"
"The Queen says many things, but this is a personal choice. I can't blame people for being afraid of what's different, or the unknown, you of all people should understand that."
The eladrin nodded, lightly brushing a hand against one of the many scars that were a keepsake from their adventuring days. Zamiel knew at least two of the scars commemorated wounds that had ultimately been fatal, before the divine ritual of Raising stepped in, at least.
After a few silent minutes, Zamiel tipped his mug, draining the last of its contents before setting it on the table. "It was good talking to you, friend, but I must hurry off. I'll likely see you again this evening when we'll have more time to catch up."
"Oh? What have you got to do the rest of the day?"
"Someone, somewhere desperately needs my help, and that of the Queen," Zamiel replied with a faint smile, carefully flopping his hat over his horns, "I've just got to go find out who they are."
I see no problem with that. Go for it.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Much appreciated Cytorak. I've swapped out the feat in my sheet linked above, but is there any way to add both feats using the character creator so that it will add in the +1 from weapon expertise in the appropriate places?
Inquisitor77: Rius, you are Sisyphus and melee Wizard is your boulder
Tube: This must be what it felt like to be an Iraqi when Saddam was killed
Bookish Stickers - Mrs. Rius' Etsy shop with bumper stickers and vinyl decals.
Awesome, i'll give it one more update tonight after work.
The other members of The Order of the Iron Rose had seemed eager for Rune and Perrin to investigate the disappearance. The warlock knew that surely this man's whereabouts would be discovered by himself and other stalwart adventurers, but of what importance could there be in the disappearance of one man from a village? He would speak to the younger Madrona, if only to quiet the voice in his head. Surely, this mission furthered the goals of the Prisoner, but if Rune could revel in the slaying of some mindless beasts in the process, what harm could it be?
"This is a test; a test of our faith to the cause and to our abilities to help the Order," he said at last, breaking the silence in the frigid night air.
The small statured monk beside the giant metal man nodded. "Of course it is, Rune, my friend. But what if this human is simply passed out in a field somewhere, drunk on dwarven ale? I'd rather not waste my time and talents looking for a carouser."
Rune came to a halt and glared at the halfling. "You question the commands of Father Dolphys? Of the Prisoner herself?"
The halfling held up his hands in supplication. "I didn't say that. I'm just wondering if this isn't something better suited for town guardsmen than men of our pedigree."
A whirring noise, Rune's equivalent of a sigh. "The sooner we make it to Jaspermoon, the sooner we can find that out." Rune crumpled the note and tossed it aside, the infernal heat from his palm scattering the ashes to the ground outside the village. The snow was starting to pick up, and the two comrades continued on in silence.
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I can post multiple times a day on most days.
Rune:
Perrin
*note - the following is best read while listening to the song linked on the image*
Two humans stepped up to the building and looked at each other. They both were covered in torn leather armor, and each had a different weapon slung on their back. One a huge axe and the other looked like some form of sword-axe.
The one on the left growled, "What's taking them so long? Why aren't they back out here yet?"
"How should I know? Maybe they're enjoying themselves a bit more than they should be," came the other human's reply, followed by a chuckle.
"We have to get back. This raid wasn't supposed to take this long." The first human puts his hand on the door and pushes it open, light flooding into the large room. As the humans look through the doorway and into the room, they see a grisly sight before them.
An elf sitting against the far wall breaths slowly, eyes closed. His left hand traces a symbol on the floor between his legs. A trail of blood follows, spelling out the first few letters of the word "death" in common. The elf's arms are drenched in blood up to his elbows. Blood splatters cover the walls and floor around him. Human bodies lay ripped and slashed apart about the room. What looks to be a huge two handed sword lays at the elf's feet, broken and cracked over it's entire length, blood covering each jagged edge.
The elf raises his eye lids and stares up at the two humans in the entrance way. "...what in the..." is the last thing the two humans entering the building think before they start on their final journey into the Abyss.
You're welcome to submit a character. This isn't first come, first serve. I'll be choosing from the list of applications after the submission deadline ends so if you make an interesting character, you've got a good chance of getting in.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
If the deadline looms and you're still hurting for applicants I'll see if I can't spread the word to some folks who might be interested (Looking at you, here, FelixSomething).
Wow, I don't know how I missed the druid entry. So there is a controller. Sorry about that.
Basic Attack +26 vs AC -- Damage 1d10+19 (+5 if enemy is prone) (+2 if Longtooth Shifting is active)
Brief Bio: Born into a small mining town Galewin’s life was set a new path the day Douven Staul came to his town. Douven was looking for a new student to train and began testing the young men of the town at the sword, bow, spear, and arcane arts. Galewin had never practiced much with any save the quarter staff. Douven handed Galewin a spear with a look that said he expected little.
The sparring started and Galewin won his first match by speed alone. The next he thought perhaps he just got lucky, no one was dumb enough to try the same attack three times in a row he thought. One after another he bested the other boys in his village and each time Douven’s gaze become more intense. Though Galewin hardly noticed though because with each match he lost himself more and more in the battle dance. The last match had him facing three other boys and Douven himself. The three went down quick enough, but Douven seemed to always be a step ahead. A growing frustration in Galewin peaked and in a moment of pure rage Galewin vaulted using his spear over one of the fallen boys and seemed to fly through the air and as he passed over Douven’s head the butt of the spear found the back of the would be teacher’s head sending him the ground.
Douven took Galewin under his wing teaching him the arts of an adventurer, but that was several years ago. His master's last lesson was that if he was to become a true adventurer he would need to strike out on his own.
Brief Personality: Galewin is easy going and quick with a quip. He even treats battle as a game more often than not, but on the rare occasions where his skills are pushed too far he can snap unleashing a brutal display of carnage.
OR
Garwin Smelt of the lost Iron Smelter Clan of Blackrock Hold (Dwarf Invoker of Wrath)
Brief Bio:
Garwin was found as a young child of 4 wandering the caverns near a Dwarf stronghold gripping a holy symbol of Moradin. His father had given it to him just before telling him to run from the evil that had found its way into Blackrock Hold where the Iron Smelter Clan had made their home.
Garwin was taken in and cared for. His affinity for Moradin nurtured and he led a quiet and productive life, but there was always a calling in his heart to seek out his former clan. He needed to know if they had all been destroyed or if some still lived.
PSN: ChemENGR
Keldyn Sodosa - Human Illusionist Wizard
Background/Personality is on the sheet. Character action sample:
Keldyn wanders off, staring off into the woods, oblivous to his companions drawing their weapons and charging towards the goblins on the road ahead. Suddenly he stops in his tracks and tilts his head in confusion. "Goblins? What goblins?". The goblin archer's arrow flies directly at his head but at the last moment his body jerks violently to the side. "What did you do that for?". Looking curiously the arrow protruding from the tree beside him, Keldyn lets his eyes follow back to the arrow's source, finally noticing the battle commencing a short distance away. "Oh! Oh! Oh!". Keldyn scrambles for his orb and shuts his eyes, pointing his implement towards the combat. "Make them be dead now!" he screams as a burst of flame erupts from the center of the goblin line, leaving two dead and a third badly singed.
Play with me on Steam
"You can't rush a decision like this old man" said Mogu, looking regretfully at the large pile of coins sitting in the middle of the table, and then back down at his cards. Perhaps it hadn't been wise to put his remaining funds in so early on this hand, but he'd thought the merchant would fold damnit! His wife would kill him if he came home with empty pockets again!
"Listen Dwarf, I don't care if those are the last two copper to your name, you-" began Karvu, before the sound of shattering glass filled the room. The men around the table shot to their feet, giving Mogu the opportunity to "accidently" knock over the table, spilling the contents across the floor. Well, that's one bet I don't have to worry about thought Mogu as he surveyed the room. His eyes came to rest on a broken window, or more precisely the large grey wolf standing underneath it.
Although it had seemed disoriented, the wolf quickly gathered it's bearings and launched itself at a nearby serving girl. Well that just won't do, Mogu thought as he quickly scooped up his hammer and launched himself across the room, i've always liked her. The wolf was fast but the dwarf was faster, streaking across the room and pinning the wolf against the wall with his shield. "You may want to get out of here lass, I think things are going to get a bit bloody." The serving girl scurried off towards the kitchen as Mogu backed off to a more comfortable distance.
Mogu had heard stories of random creature attacks like this across the town for the last several weeks, but this was the first he had seen up close and personal. However there wasn't much time for reflection as the wolf lunged at his throat. Quickly swinging his hammer in an uppercut motion, Mogu felt a satisfying crunch as it connected solidly with the lower jaw of the creature. That seemed to be enough, as the wolf went crashing, unmoving, to the floor.
"I don't know what's going on in this town, but I intend to find out"
I've never done PbP before but I'm pretty familiar with how DND4E works. I think it would be nice to picked for this so I can pad out the time between my once a week IRL game. If there's anything I'm missing, or anything I've done wrong please let me know, I'm not used to using my computer to make character sheets!