Sorry - I was going to comment, but as I mentioned I've been really busy at work.
I like these characters, small as they are, as they are so full of flavour - after reading some all of your character profiles, that little town is becoming quite the place! It reminds me of a book by Monte Cook - I've only ever seen one copy, it's called Ptollus, and it is a 1000+ page book dedicated to one city-state and its surroundings much as you have done with your characters. It is the most awe-inspiring detailed setting I've ever seen. (He actually introduced this really cool prestige class specific to a cult in the city (which is rife with cultists and necromancy) this Prestige class gains levels by dying, and replacing the "lost" level with one of this class, bringing dark and fell knowledge from beyond the grave. The death prerequisite is made up for wholly by the class abilities which are impressive.
But right, back on topic. I like the hippie gnome especially. Gnomeweed...Heh...
the White Fox Society which I have read so far as a relatively "good" force, has it out for the dwarf, whom i also see as "good" just in a different way. And plus the leader sounds crooked...I am reading it right that you have a cast of evil - or at least militaristic, and expansionist Eladrin in your campaign? That's so cool!
But seriously - another solid NPC stray, as I must say I've come to expect.
the White Fox Society which I have read so far as a relatively "good" force, has it out for the dwarf, whom i also see as "good" just in a different way. And plus the leader sounds crooked...I am reading it right that you have a cast of evil - or at least militaristic, and expansionist Eladrin in your campaign? That's so cool!
Yeah, it's the contest between Good and Lawful Good playing out in the streets of town. I should do a Ten-Minute Writeup of the White Fox Society...it's almost as much a character as the NPCs are. It's a bit more complicated than that, though...while the White Fox has Good-aligned goals, some of the lengths they are willing to go to achieve them get along that very gray borderline.
And yes, the Eladrin kingdoms are militaristic and expansionist. Not all the individual Eladrin are, but the ones in power are the ones using the underhanded means to promote their interests. One thing I'm thinking of doing is a bunch of write-ups of various factions as NPCs.
The Ten-Minute Background of The White Fox Society
Step 1: Five important concepts.
"Once upon a time, there was a wide forest, where all manner of beasts lived in peace, though not always harmony. One day..." --From "The Parable of The White Fox"
1) The White Fox Society is a secret society of "concerned citizens" who act as a check against government structures. The seek to oppose tyrannical individuals and power structures that encourage the privileged to exploit and debase the common worker. 2) The Society draws inspiration from an ancient parable about a fox who opposed a tyrannical army of ants who enslaved the denizens of a peaceful forest under the guise of protecting them for their own good. Most members believe the story is an allegory for some long-forgotten historical event. 3) The Society prefers to exert social and political pressures to encourage reform, but they are not above direct acts of violence or sabotage. Such means are considered last resorts, but they remain as options. And given the cell structure of the society, some leaders are more willing to break out the "last resorts" than others. 4) The Society operates in a loose cell structure, without a central hierarchy. The heads of each cell do keep in contact with each other, and members of cells can usually rely on other cells to aid and abet them if they make contact, but the society at large remains loose and there is a lot of variance in how the different cells carry out their mandate. This means the Society has to rely on special members that act as "internal affairs" to visit the different cells and make sure the Society as a whole is acting in the best interests of the people, not just the members. 5) Some White Foxes get the impression that there is an even more secret group within and between the cells that has its own agenda, but so far no evidence of this has been uncovered.
Step 2: Goals
"My Gods. Do you know what you've done!? You've ruined me!" "Your refusal to relinquish your ill-gotten power was what ruined you, sir. I merely opened the closet you hid your skeletons in." --Conversation between Councilman Lorenzo De'Beauchamps and "a concerned citizen"
1) The White fox Society is nominally a force for good, and thus acts as great patrons for the party. 2) However, the society is also a great hotbed for intrigue and espionage-related adventures, since it isn't strictly legal and could be interpreted as a terrorist organization without too much effort. It also provides me with many layers for the party to peel back and explore.
Step 3: Secrets
"Have you heard the parable of The White Fox?" "Indeed. I found the story heartening." "Did the tale lend you strength?" "Yes. I can do what must be done" --Traditional White Fox greeting.
1) The White Fox Society is, at least nominally, on the side of "the little guy." They have broken the power of tyrannical governors, overly-privileged noble houses, and corrupt guilds, and they also take the time to investigate other threats to society, from civil unrest to unstable wizards to thieves guilds and other organized crime. They like contracting adventuring parties to do their main work. 2) Some White Fox cells are corrupt, working more to enrich their own members than to promote the common man. And some criminal organizations have become aware of the society and work against them. 3) Spoiler:Show
The Eladrin Empire of Avaleron is responsible for the setup of the White Fox Society in Coralton. The White Fox Society actually began as an offshoot of Avaleron's secret police. Avaleron nobles make certain that all the White Fox cells have at least one member completely loyal to them in a position of influence, and try to steer the society into keeping the human lands somewhat weak, for they are planning an invasion of the human-controlled Coralton and wish to keep resistance as low as possible. Only a handful of White Fox leaders have figured out who is really pulling the strings.
Step 4: Contacts
"Our eyes are everywhere, milady. The people you are harming are the people you depend on. We clean your privies, cook your meals, manage your servants, drive you carriages, and guard you while you sleep. Do not mess with us." --The White Fox of Notre Dame to Lady Yvette Le'Claire
1) The White Fox Society likes to support ventures that offer the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In St. Clarice, for instance, the greatest supporter of the White Fox Society is the Lyceum of Amyra, the Goddess of Love. 2) The White Fox Society of St. Clarice also supports the formation of the Dockworkers Union, and members of the society are outspoken on their support of the Dockworker's efforts to gain equal footing with the more oppressive Merchant's Guild. 3) however, neither the law nor the criminals appreciate the White Fox efforts. The Town Guard sees the White Fox as rabble-rousing threats to the public order, and the halfling smuggling ring sees the society as competition and a direct threat to their bottom line, so both work against the society from different angles.
Just a note to those interested - I've added to Gabriel Kaine's profile, the wonderful goal that Hamster suggested, and to the Inspiration section, a bit about Dalaney Hargreaves, Gabriel's Sire.
Oh and re White Fox Society = D&D Communists!!! ...sorta.
Neat stuff - I like how everything in your setting even a nominally good organization has a dark underbelly, and things are rarely as simple as they first seem.
Oh, and again to those interested, please suggest names for Gabe's sire's first Childe - I'm thinking he's European of some kind, probably either German or French, or British like the rest. Hell, go Italian if you want, too.
Rhode, The cleric of the raven quee. Tell me what you think please and thankyou
Part 1 1. Everyone from his past besides his two best friends, hiroshi and Inwe, were either murdered or kidnapped. He dosent know which 2. He adventures now so that he may help others deal with the of losing someone you love, or an entire village of people you cared about in his such case 3. He is a holy man of the raven queen 4. He is sorta shut in and dosent like talking about the pass, each night he is in a town he goes to a local bar and haves a drink. 5. He hates undead, no one should ever live again specially if they had someone who loved them.
Part 2 1. To find out what happened to his village, he dosent want revenge just closeure. 2. To help people understand death 3. To meet up with Hiroshi and Inwe again, the had parted ways after the what happened.
Step 3 1. He is not welcomed in the port town of [im not sure what name my DM has given this city yet] for he punched the mayor one night in a drunken brawl 2. His home town that became a ghost town when everyone he knew, besides his best friends, vanished was actually the head-Quaters for a rebellion to over throw the kingdom.
Step 4 1. Hiroshi was one of the three children that survived what happened. Hiroshi and Rhode are still best friends. When Rhode became a cleric Hiroshi settled down and became an armor smith. 2. The other child that escaped the tradegy was a girl named Inwe. Rhode and Hiroshi took care of Inwe after what happened, she is like a little sister to him. Inwe was adopted by a rich noble from across the sea and now has alot of connections with other nobles and kings. 3. Vondal was Rhodes mentor at the church, he helped Rhode handle and come to terms with what had happened. Vondal is a Dwarf that took care of Rhode for three years, helping him kick the habit of drinking his problems away.
Step 5 1. Rhodes entire village was abandoned one night while He and his two best friends were playing in the forest. He was 9 years old at that time. 2. Hiroshi, Inwe and Rhode all grew up at a Orphanage after that. It was an ok life. 3. After he left the orphanage he drank alot, and he would drink for alot of reasons. Now he just drinks to drink.
I like your character, he is a very simple person who lacks an extensive background but I think that he is very playable and open for plenty of adjustment as a campaign he is involved in develops.
Does his excessive drinking impact him while he adventures? Does he take a bottle with him on the road?
I am almost as enthralled with your campaign world as I am with the Forgotten Realms these days lol. Thank you for working so hard and posting so much.
Why does Ithius grant power to an unwilling person? Is Oz the only hope of protection for the deity? Or was Oz tricked into unknowingly receiving his powers from a force that wants to destroy Ithius?
Wouldn't Ithius be aware of corruption within his own church? Or does the deity not care (or is Oz an unwilling tool of cleansing?)
Oz's beginning is mapped out clearly, I am interested in what his final destiny ends up becoming! Let me know as he progresses
The way you are playing this character he may be a Cleric in class but he is really a Warlock in flavor. Very neat.
I am almost as enthralled with your campaign world as I am with the Forgotten Realms these days lol. Thank you for working so hard and posting so much.
why thank you for the kind words! This is the sort of world I've been working on for many years, so it's nice to see my work appreciated. My players helped, though, since all of these NPCs gained details through interaction with them over the course of the first campaign.
It's nice to know my stuff is enjoyable, though. It encourages me to keep posting things!
why thank you for the kind words! This is the sort of world I've been working on for many years, so it's nice to see my work appreciated. My players helped, though, since all of these NPCs gained details through interaction with them over the course of the first campaign.
