DnD4E : Level 2 without TPK, Gratz

Stormgale

The Beginning:
Our Motley Crew of Brigand and mercenaries met in the Remote town of Evermill, to deal with the Kobold raiders plaguing them. Quickly springing into action they met the Raiders in the field of battle, tracking them back to their base of operations... a ruined tower. Piercing Deep into the darkness and facing traps (Most deadly apparently a simple Portcullis) they fought the chieftain in an Epic battle, Dal sharam coming close to death almost twice (Your not dying yet alecthar). However the Cargo they have been sent to fine was revealed to be dark texts of Necromantic Origin, raising questions about their employers. Before such questions could be answered however they found Evermill broken, A band of mercenaries ravaging them for the Relics of a Dragonborn paladin.

So the Choice is up to them, do they fight for vengance, for justice, which of the Evils is the greater, which is the most rewarding to fight...

Tune in next time For answers

DevoutlyApathetic

Man, I'm always around for the sign ups of gametable games run by people on the other side of the planet. My luck sucks.

Stormgale

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

Man, I'm always around for the sign ups of gametable games run by people on the other side of the planet. My luck sucks.

I'm a late night kinda guy, and if we set it on weekends might not be that hard to get some timezones to synch up

DevoutlyApathetic

Yea, sadly I'm not anymore. I might be able to work something out on the weekends but with you being a late night guy and the time difference (+6)....well maybe actually. I shall keep my eye on this thread.

I really can't get the hang of PbP, but again, I wouldn't hold anything up on my account since I don't know if I'll be able to sync up at all.

Stormgale

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

Yea, sadly I'm not anymore. I might be able to work something out on the weekends but with you being a late night guy and the time difference (+6)....well maybe actually. I shall keep my eye on this thread.

I really can't get the hang of PbP, but again, I wouldn't hold anything up on my account since I don't know if I'll be able to sync up at all.

Then (so long as most of the timezone is GMT or GMT +) I could run it at 12 midday my time which is only 6 yours :P everyone wins -plays FF victory music-

I require very little sleep

DevoutlyApathetic

I envy you. Unfortunately I'm in NY. I was stating your time in regards to mine (I think it's 6, but Daylights savings time does weird things. It's 11:30 PM now for me.)

Stormgale

DevoutlyApathetic wrote: »

I envy you. Unfortunately I'm in NY. I was stating your time in regards to mine (I think it's 6, but Daylights savings time does weird things. It's 11:30 PM now for me.)

Its 4:30 for me, so I just start late in GMT which is afternoon/evening for you, you can't escape this time gadget

Also new rule, every character will be uber min maxed with my help, just to be a dick to the discussion in the main thread :P

DevoutlyApathetic

You forgot a AM/PM there so I'm still not positive of the time difference but you are so I guess that's all that matters.

I almost always do stuff Saturday evenings but not earlier and Sunday's I intentionally leave open to relax (and bashing minions is very relaxing....)

I'll get my brain churning and post up a character in around...18 hours time or so. Sleep, then work...blargh.

Again, if this doesn't work for people I understand my schedule is tight. I don't expect you all to bend over backwards for me and I certainly do appreciate it Stormgale.

Stormgale

12 Evening of course :P Morning is for breakfast not goblin slaying :P

And As I said, I want people to play... its more fun that way after all

Either way we can work that out later

Foolish Chaos

Bah. I've always wanted to do a game via something like gametable. Alas, I don't think I will be able to for awhile.

My work load for Senior year is surprisingly light, but living with my parents pretty much destroys my chances. It would be difficult to explain to them that I would like to blot out a few uninterrupted hours each weekend to play games with people over the internet.

Plus, I'm living in California (GMT -8) while I believe Stormgale is at GMT+1 (london)? If I could make my parents understand then I am usually free Saturday's in the morning and afternoon. Saturday nights depend. Sunday's are usually taken up by my irl D&D game. Friday nights from 5pm (my time) up to about 2am are usually fine too, though the time difference would make it hell for you Stormgale.

And I think he meant AM Devout.

Cheeseliker

Well I'd be up for a pbp. Seems everytime I find a recruiting thread, twenty people have already posted up a character by the time I read it. Unfortunately, pbp is the only thing I could do right now.

Casual Eddy

is gametable comparable to maptools?

I'd love to join a campaign but I'm not that interested in PbP

psolms

i cant commit to a specific time, so pbp is better for me.
i think its important to decide on format early.

if its pbp, ill post a character, otherwise, enjoy your game.

Last Son

I would totally be down for a pbp game. I could also attend a real-time game if it was in Sunday Evening, but I think that would be like 1:00am your time so I doubt that'd work

LightRider

Interested! I'm in Central(-6), and daily activities restrict me to 9pm or later for most realtime things. Pbp can be done virtually any time of day though.

Here's the one general purpose character I've generated for virtual play:

Azulan, Half-Elf Paladin Divine Defender

Init +0 HP 31/31 Bloodied 15 Healing Surge 7 ( used /13)
AC 18 Fort 14 Reflex 12 Will 13 Speed 5
Str 14 (+2) Con 16 (+3) Dex 10 (+0) Int 13 (+1) Wis 14 (+2) Cha 14 (+2)
Second Wind
Divine Challenge
Lay on Hands
Bolstering Strike
Valiant Strike
Reaping Strike
Divine Mettle
Divine Strength
Piercing Strike
Paladin's Judgement

Background and Personality
Unable to lie, annoyingly honest and frank about his opinions about the current situation. Willing to fight any foe or overcome any challenge to end injustice. Always prepared to fight and to die for what is right. Never far away from his armor and greatsword. Very rarely will you see Azulan enjoying the mirth and merriment of others. Constantly looking for the next villain to defeat or the next commoner to help. Doesn't care for the constant bickering amongst various races. Grew up with humans, elves and dwarves, and learned all he could from them. Wishes to travel the lands and shine the light of Bahamut on the dark places and peoples of the world.

Appearance
Unusually tall and stocky for a Half-Elf. Generally accounted for by his constant training as a child. Darker skin than usual and a black head of hair make for an unassuming yet intimidating visage. Very little is known about him, and he likes to keep it that way. Carries a holy symbol crafted by his father, and a greatsword forged by the dwarven friends he grew up with as a child. Constantly mussed appearance shows little regard for personal appearance, as his focus is constantly shifting to more substantive endeavors. If there is one thing that sticks out about his appearance, it is his back, showing an elvish mark for each creature slain in service of Bahamut. There are not many now, but the road ahead shows promise of adventure.

Stormgale

Gametable is pretty much map tools, just I am used to gametable's system of making tokens etc

Simply put your preferred method of play in your post, then no harm (I might even make 2 seperate campaigns :P)

Hermenegilde

I'd be up for PBP. I will be posting a druid in here later.

Here it is :

Aneril Farstrider, Elf Druid

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=118041

The background is written in there...

desc

I could go either way, depending on timing. PBP is probably easiest and I guess I would lean in that direction, but then again, gametable would be quicker.

I'll cook up a dude and post him later today. I have yet to do any D&D 4e so I am antsy to see the rules in action.

Cheeseliker

Argh, I was planning on druid as well...Back to the drawing board it seems.

Casual Eddy

I still wanted to give my dwarf warlock a go

I may submit him

Toregreijer

If there's still room I would be interested in joining, never done DnD over these internets of yours. Might be fun. Thinking of playing a dragonborn sorcerer, or rolling up another character to cover any roll missing in the party.

DevoutlyApathetic

Flint, Shifter Barbarian here.

Need to flesh him out some, but I just figured hitting things, lots, hard, sounded fun.

PhDragon

I'd be interested in a game as well if you guys are going to be using gametable. I've never tried it before but I'd prefer it over PbP. I'm on pacific time and evenings would work best for me.

I also have a ventrilo server if you guys wanted to use that.

I'll be back later tonight to post my character if you guys have space as I need to head out for now. I've been considering making a dragonborn warlord but I could also make whatever the party needs.

Vic

Good lord, I have been hoping for a maptools/gametable game for ages. I'm GMT+1 so I fear the time you choose will be impossible for me, but I will follow the thread just in case.

I would love to play a Goliath Warden. I have a sheet made, but I need to work on his background.

Alecthar

Gonna post a character in just a bit. As long as the play occurs primarily in the evening hours, I should be good most days of the week, if we go gametable (which would be cool).

DevoutlyApathetic

Man, time zones people. It's always evening somewhere.

Alecthar

Good catch, man, I'm losin' my damn mind over here.

Anyway, I'm on CST (GMT-6). On the weekends I can be on anytime, but during the middle of the week (Tues-Thu) I wouldn't be able to be until 8ish. Mondays and Fridays I can be on starting in the early afternoon.

Stormgale

Well with the game table side, We can just have it evening for The Americans, I don't mind staying up on the weekends

But hell if everyone wants I could run 2 gametable groups, Depends on how crazy I feel

Casual Eddy

oh I'm EST, but willing to stay up late

Toregreijer

I'm GMT+1 and would prefer to play in the evening if we're doing gametable.
Though I could stay up a couple of hours later if need be.

nefffffffffff

crap. I'm PST and I already have a game going sunday mornings.

Stormgale

If the Gametable players are EST or earlier (from me) it will probably be on a weekend evening/afternoon

Vars

I've never played before, but if we're doing gametable, I'd be interested in playing a wizard or whatever is needed. Time doesn't matter for me if it's late or on the weekend, but for reference, I'm in EST.

Alecthar

Okay, Fighter, but really much more of a Striker build. Very little ability to control combat.

Crag Shortclaw, Tempest Fighter

Background: Crag Shortclaw grew up on the wrong side of the law. Born in the grimy underbelly of a city he cares not to name, Crag spent his younger days stealing coins from drunks and picking pockets. You'd expect him to still have some ability as a footpad, but as he says, his fingers don't remember the old ways, though his feet still carry him as fast as they ever did.

Juvenile criminality aside, their Crag's soul bore no real darkness. Perhaps the Guardsman who nabbed Crag with half a dozen purses from various and sundry citizens saw that goodness in him, or perhaps he merely noted that Crag was fleet of foot and fairly bright. One way or another, Crag found himself rather unceremoniously inducted into the City Guard as a message runner.

The occupation satisfied Crag for many years, and he worked his way up to a Captaincy in the Guard before bigotry and greed defeated him. Crag stumbled onto several senior guard officials taking bribes from underworld figures, but before he could obtain the proof he needed, he was drummed out of the guard and sent packing, accused of various and sundry crimes and ethical wrongdoings, not the least of which (apparently) was being a Shifter. His men stood behind him, but there was little they could do but send him off with some Guard supplies and wish him luck.

And so Crag wanders, directionless, but with a niggling certainty that something is in the offing, if he could only figure out what...

Personality Traits: Crag has an attitude to match his looks. He's not what one might call charming, and he certainly doesn't find friends easily, but those privileged enough to be known as his comrades are assured a helping hand from the fiercely loyal Shifter. He's nearly as adept imparting some of his accumulated experience as advice as he is guarding your back in a fierce melee.

Appearance and Mannerisms: Crag exists somewhere between "old grizzled veteran" and "young grizzled veteran." He's just that grizzled. His troops were all of the belief that he sprang from nothing, exactly as he is, and his age is merely a measure of how long he's been grizzled here on this plane. His clothes match his demeanor, worn, but clean. Other than looking rough around the edges, Crag shares the physical characteristics of his race. The claws of his namesake are just as short as advertised, though that doesn't mean they're dull, as some have found to their...dismay.

likethesearchengine

Just like that other poster, I am currently DMing a game in KOTS and I couldn't nail down a regular weekly time for a game by maptools. But I am interested in the custom campaign. Could you give us an overview?

I would be willing to play either a wizard or a sorc I have rolled up:

#1: Sothal, striker.

Drow Sorcerer (striker) with a lot of rage but a lot of patience.

#2: Tanthal, controller.

Eladrin Wizard (controller) with a good soul. Somewhat scarred from time in the military, dabbles in the lute to sooth his demons.

Sothal Appearance:

Sothal is a male Drow. About 5'10", he is slender but very lithe, but not particularly muscular. He has lightly glowing red eyes (typical of his race) when it is dark, that are more of a milky color when seen in the light. He has silvery-white hair, dulled significantly from its natural luster by exposure to the sun. His back and arms are covered with scars from the scourges of Lolth's (or other deity for this world) priestesses, forming shiny black ridges across his otherwise smooth jet black skin. When completely, uncontrollably enraged, his skin is suffused with a barely perceptible glow of angry red light. Barely perceptible in dusky conditions, it is almost impossible to see in more well lit settings. This is rare, however... he has a high degree of self control and the constantly smoldering rage in his soul is tempered by a cold, fastidious patience. He wears a copper ring on his left little finger, forged forged to contain several strands of the hair of his beloved sister, Thea.

Sothal Background:

Sothal was a male born to servitude in a lower house in Ahenizonan, but his heart was never in the right place for his setting. It must have somehow run in his family: his eldest brother was brave but kindhearted - weak, they called him - and his only sister also had a gentle soul. He was forced to watch his brother butchered by his father, in an attempt to appease the priestesses... and to teach him a lesson about his behavior. He learned a lesson indeed, but that was only that good acting was key to his survival. He acted hard-hearted and earned favor, until as he turned 20, he took his only chance and absconded with his baby sister. He lived by his wits, providing for himself and his sibling, surviving mainly by luck in their mercifully brief stay in the underdark. He stumbled upon ancient and abandoned dwarven mining caverns, and stealthily made his way to the surface. Learning to scavenge in sunlit forests nearly cost them their lives yet again, but, half-starved and desperate, they made it into the back alleys of (city) by night. In a big, jaded city like this one, a drow thief in the back alleys was little more than a curiosity. He certainly wasn't the first drow to make good an escape to the surface, and though he was met with distrust and hostility by more reputable people than him - that is to say, everyone - at least half of that was due to the fact that he stunk, and tended to be stealing from the people he met. Sothal had always been a little different - preternaturally quick or having uncanny force behind his blows - but he never had any inkling he was special. That is until a few years ago, when he returned to the alleyway corner he and his sister had been hiding in for a few weeks. He found smears of blood and tufts of torn silver hair, but no sign of his sister. He flew into a rage: unnatural thunder accompanied his stride, and bursts of raw energy crackled with his words - he was too blinded by fury to wonder at himself, but terrified slummers quickly pointed him toward a slaver gang, and then went and called the watch. Sothal murdered several gangers, using the very air as his butcher's knife and block. The aftermath looked like what the guards could only imagine as hell. Scorched corpses and coagulated blood, running in rivulets down the walls or jutting up in gory stalagmites from the ground. In the end, it was for nothing. Sothal only found that his sister had been already put on a slaver ship with a false name of the Maybelle, and she was long gone. For months, the city went back to normal, and Sothal disappeared. Then, certain of the viler members of society started disappearing in rather gory way, which suggested rather unpleasant ends. The cycle accelerated over the course of a year and more but was largely ignored by the authorities, who were not (in practice) against some homegrown vigilante work.

Suddenly, the murders stopped. Rumors abounded that the drow, The Reaper of (City), had been killed, had found peace, or had even found a god. The truth was simpler: he had found a clue... and he was moving to act on it. Not knowing whether his sister was alive or dead, but knowing one simple fact, Sothal slipped into the wilderness of the night.

Sothal is haunted by the hideous crimes he committed in the city, but in his heart he feels that he was right - he was killing evil men to protect the innocent, and the life of his sibling he weighs as for more valuable than the lives of the dockside scum he butchered.

DM can provide the city and the fact.

Tanthal appearance:

Tanthal is a male Eladrin, about 5'11", in shape but skinny. He has pale blond hair and green eyes. His skin is tan, even weathered for an elf, by long days in the sun when he was in the military. His left side is covered in burn scars, starting at chest level and ending past his ankle, a result from a terrible fight which ended his military career. This robbed him of some of his natural dexterity, which used to be extraordinary and is now merely good. The only normally visible portion of these scars are on his hand, pocked skin lining his two middle fingers. His face has a haughty cast when he is serious, but it is normally broken by a thoughtful expression or a smile.

Tanthal background:

Tanthal was born to a well-off pair of Eladrin living in a human city. He was treated cruelly by children his age (as children are likely to do to those who are different), and so he took to reading alone. His parents had quite an extensive library, and he discovered he had a passion for learning. History, politics, the arcane... he absorbed the information like a sponge. He was accepted on merit to the Arcanist's Academy (or similar), and received a scholarly education, as well as training in the arts, and instruction in how to bend the arcane threads of life to his will. Again, he had a natural aptitude for both the arts and the Art, and chose the way of the wizard over that of musician or barrister. Upon completion of his formal training, he felt that he had a debt to pay to his benefactors, so he joined the (regiment name) as the regimental mage.

Tanthal was part of several actions and formed fast friendships with the leadership of his section. As a mage, he reported to the captain and his lieutenants but was somewhat outside the normal rank structure, which allowed for easy fraternization with the officers. One dusky morning, his detachment caught up with what was thought to be a small organization of bandits who had been hounding the roadways through the forests to the west of the city. The truth, however, turned out to be much darker.

As they moved in to ambush the 'bandits', the ground broke apart beneath their feet, and foul abominations rose from the dirt. As men were torn limb from limb, a black robed figure with sunken eyes and broken, oozing skin strode into the melee. Tanthal desperately struck out with raining blows of force, but the creature regarded him, unfazed, and leered. Purple-black flames poured from its gaping mouth, drooling out onto the ground, and racing across the ground toward the broken survivors. Tanthal attempted to twist away, but the oily flames still clutched at his skin, and he descended into the maddening blackness of sickening pain.

Tanthal, alone out of over 100 men, was found as a survivor amidst a sea of corpses. Inexplicably, the cult had moved on immediately following the engagement, leaving Tanthal in a trancelike state, attempting to cope with his horrific injury.

To try to manage the pain, which was horrible and seemingly unending, and irreparable by clerical healing - a gift of the dark magic - he took up playing the lute, and instrument he had shown great aptitude for in scholam. His now clumsy left hand struggled to keep up with his previous skill, but he improved. He began with learning regimental ballads and laments, and then started obsessively studying songs of pain and comrades lost. There was no denying it, he was good. And he began, almost by accident, weaving his words with light magic. Patients from other wards started coming to hear him, and it was a sad day in the hospital when he was discharged.

As it stands now, his scars are as healed as they are going to get, and the pain is almost gone most of the time. Over time, Tanthal built up a sense of blame for himself not being faster or stronger and saving his comrades... so upon discharge, he set off on the road. In a sort of self-exile, he has decided he will travel and seek to atone for his failings. He is eager to please, and pained to play... but every evening whether he is alone or with company, he will break out his lute and play a sad song for his lost friends.

_____

The inn was empty, except for the innkeeper, his serving girl, a gruff man deep into the flagon, and the scarred elf-minstrel lounging by the hearth. The innkeeper was still and silent with a rag and mug in his hands. The girl was sitting on the floor, staring with red rimmed eyes, and the drunk was quietly sobbing. As the last ghostly notes died in the still air, the innkeeper took a sudden deep breath, and began cleaning the mug again. The girl slowly stood and whispered, "That was so sad... but so beautiful. I could listen to that all night, but I think my heart would break."
The eladrin smiled gently, carefully packing away his lute. "It was no more beautiful than my inspiration, " he said, inclining his head to her, paying the meaningless compliment.
It struck the right chord with her, as she almost gasped as she whispered, "What is your name?"
He regarded her with a gentle expression, and finished wrapping up the instrument.
He stood fully and sighed, "My name is Tanthal."
She looked into his eyes and stepped closer to him. Dangerously close - she was attractive, in her rough, human way, but he was not here for that. Not anymore. He let his face fall into an impassive mien. He could smell her perfume, coarse in his nostrils. She moved her face closer to his, but he brought up his unscarred hand, and laid it gently across her lips, restraining her more with force of will than with his feather-light touch. He had to leave, to keep moving.
"I am named Tanthal... but I am just a ghost."
He took his hand away, and slipped quietly out the door. The inn was left silent and darkened.

Out in the night, a cloaked figure strode softly into the forest.

Stormgale

To sum up the custom setting, you would have been called in by the messengers of The Merchants Of Thodril, a river town on the borderlands of the kingdom, They promise gold to any man (or woman) willing to bear arms in defense of their city

How you go about that task is entirely up to you, whether it be through cunning, force, or leading a host of your brethren into battle.

(In essence a freeform campaign with multiple plot threads You fellows could follow... I find that much more fun is had if the party isn't restricted)

In the general setting, I blur the line between Good and evil a tad... Monsters (especially humanoids) are not always evil... goblins are some of the best mercenaries around for example, used by some Parts of the kingdom for protection

Vic

Could you give some sample times you would be able to hold sessions Stormgale? Scheduling is always a problem when it comes to real time games.

DevoutlyApathetic

So....

Alecthar                      Gametable    CST (-6)    CST -6 Anytime on weekends, 8ish Tuesday-Thursday, Afternoon Monday, Friday
DevoutlyApathetic      Gametable    EDT (-4)    Friday Post 6pm, Saturday before 6pm, Sunday Whenever
Casual Eddy               Gametable    EDT (-4)    EST
Vic                              Gametable    GMT (+1)    GMT +1
PhDragon                   Gametable    PDT (-7)    Pacific Evenings
Vars                           Gametable        Anytime weekends, or Late EST

LightRider                   Either    CST (-6)    Post 9PM Central
Toregeijer                   either    GMT (+1)    GMT +1
desc                            either        Unspecified
Last Son                     Either        GameTable 1AM Sunday night (Time Zone?)
likethesearchengine                     unspecified

Cheeseliker               PbP
Psolms                      PbP
Hermenegilde           PbP
Jam Warrior             PbP

Gragh. Spacing sucks.

desc

I'm in PST, which might make it a stretch, but am still interested if everyone works out a time. Otherwise there's pbp?

I have this character with very basic descriptions, Eladrin two-sword ranger on Mythweavers: http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=117727

Made up a few others as well, just haven't put them in Myth-weavers yet. I'd be up to try pretty much any role as needed, really.

Alecthar

I'm dumb and I forget that Daylight savings time is different and stuff. I'm only 5 hours off GMT.

DevoutlyApathetic

Unless you say so or live on the east coast I haven't added in Daylights savings time since I know some places out west don't follow it. I can never keep track of which places. I might be wrong on some of the Eastern times if we have some Canadians around.

Edit: Also, fuck it. Screen Cap.