This is your chance to earn extra XP before the first session. You can earn up to 999 free XP for roleplaying in this thread.
You each met one another yesterday when you received your first mission together as a party. You're being sent to the town of Njoror. This is in the Barony of Skalgard (top center of your map) directly west of the area known as the Temple of Elemental Evil. All you know of your mission thus far is that you're to meet with the headman of the town, discover what exactly the problem is, and help in any way you can. You also know that the company feels as though this is a task within your ability to remedy. Negotiations have already been made for payments.
Today is the first time you have a chance to sit and talk with one another. The ship you're aboard has just left harbor from Nera Bay (west side of the map about midway down). It will take 6 days to make the journey to your port in Skalgard.
In this thread, feel free to begin roleplaying your characters once you've created a character and background. Depending on the RP individuals will be awarded Xp up to 999. Meaning after the first session you're guaranteed to make second level. Just for RP. You'll have about 2 months real time to get that RP in, shouldn't be too difficult.
Since the first character background has been posted I suppose it's time I update this section.
While I am mostly looking for interactions between the characters any roleplay is acceptable. Thus, you should have some characters to work with. I'm going to make this easy, when you are interacting with other players it will be a play by post setting, you post and wait for the other player to reply. When interacting with npcs you can control both sides of the conversation. The ship has a full compliment of crew. Feel free to create anyone you need, just remember to respect the creations of other players. If someone creates the ships cook, and gives him a name and personality, keep that name and personality.
As far as premade npcs, you have the captain and first mate. The captain is a former adventurer, his past is rather dark and secretive. He's rather surly, hates making this run, and even more hates transporting a bunch as green as you folks. He's a former hgolden blade himself, and spends his retirement on the sea, which he loves, and has provided passage for hundreds of groups and heard all their tales ofbadventure. Few have impressed him.
Sorry, doing this on breaks from the tablet, so excuse the interruptions and bad spelling/punctuation and whatnot. The typing and the tablet to together like green beans and peanut butter.
Captain's name: Reginald Berrow Race: human
The captain doesn't talk much, though getting him to regale you with tales of some of the greatest adventurers he's transported isn't too difficult. You can create those stories yourself or talk to him and wheedle a story out of him and I'll post it.
The first mate is a horse of a different color. He too was an adventurer with the golden blade, but instead of retiring as an old man, he discovered his love for the sea early in his career and left the life of adventure to sign on with Reginald. He's easy going and friendly. Almost a complete contrast to the captain, except for his strict discipline with the crew and the seriousness with which he takes his job. He would make a good source for information about the world.
First mates name: Beglow Rorshfim Race: Bugbear
If you have questions about tue world you pose to the first mate I'll post the answers for you.
Leon walks to the deck during the early hours of the morning, to watch the sun rise. As he looks around, he sees the crew of the ship doing there morning preperations. Leon looks off into the distance of the ocean, then closes his eyes, says a prayer in honor of the light, then, walks back to his quarters to study his books, practice with his fullblade, and make sure his gear is ready at a moments notice.
As he reaches his cabin, leon closes and locks the door, sits on the bed, with his hands to his face. He mutters to himself,"How could I have goten myself into this situation?" "I was so skilled, so willing to please, and now, because of a brash decision, I am branded, and sent out into the world to be nothing but a tool." Taking his hands from his face, a small smile crosses his face for just a momment. "I suppose as bad as everything is, getting into the golden blade and having a group to work with has its advantages." Thinking to himself, leon has a flashback of how he met this group
It was raining, hard. Thunder struck every few moments. Buildings were in charred ruins, this infestation had been some of the worst Leon had ever seen. As he charged a zombie, loping the head off, with one clean sweep, but another one came in to grab at his exposed legs. Thankfully on this mission, Leon was not alone. A group of adventures called The golden blade had been sent to fight the infestation as well. Also, thank the light, there was an Invoker who blew the head off that zombie reaching for Leon's leg. The only thing running through Leon's head was this, "I hope by the grace of the Light that they invite me to stay"
After his morning meditation, Leon did his normal routine, checked his gear, studied his newest books he had purchased on the undead, and made sure he could still move his fullblade like it was greased lightning. The Arbiter opend his door, to see if anyone else had mustred, and to his delight, the crew's cook, Cookie, had just finished breakfast. Leon made note of this, and thought to himself this might be some of the last real cooked food he is going to get for a while again, and to take advantage while the getting was good. The young hero sat down on one of the wooden benches, eating the biscuts and salted meats put out for breakfast.
I love ot Travis. It adds a touch more back ground, some insight into what he does with himself now, and what goes on in his head. A quick woed of note, the party you were with and the invoker you met there aren't thw same as the party (and invoker) you're with nkw. It was a different (more veteran) party that you met whilst slaaying undead that time around.
Impressed with the young man, Leon, the leader of this party of adventurers invites him to return with them to where the Golden Blade Adventuring company make their home. As you enter the great hall you are immediatly struck by the trophies prominently displayed. The richness of the trophies doesn't impress you, howwver the skill they repreaent does. You see mounted heads lining the wall from all manner of beasts. In the midle of a large central chamber you even see the stuffed body of a drider. In one corner stretching nearly to the ceiling is the body of a giant. As you are led to the hall where the sentinal, the person in charge of recruiting, has their office, you see some tapestries along the wall.
One in particular stands out at you. It's a scene of battle, and it seems very familar to you. In your studies of the undead you have read of the battle of Dark Vines. It was an attempt some scores of years ago where a necromancer woeked to raise his own army of undead, that he might take a kingdom for his own.
Staring at the tapestry you don't even notice you guide looking on at you with knowing satisfaction. Even if you don't know it yet you've already madw the decision to work with the Company.
"Is that..." You begin, before the words die in your mouth.
Your gide smilea politely, "The batle of dark vines? Yes, it is. Prior to the battle several of the churches pooled their resources to send us to find the Orb of Darkness Binding. It was what allowed them to tap into the rituals sustaining the undead, and bring most of them down before the batle began. Many of our number even decided to help in the battle, off the books of course. Aftwrwards they gave us this as a gift."
Hearing al if this your mind shakes loose more of the story of that battle. Doing so sets off a chain reaction in you mind. You've heard of the golden blade before. They're a large group comprised of smaller parties. You think of the few ezploits you've heard of them, and even more, about those you've read. From what you recall, they seem to be something like a band of mercenary adventures, how ever unlike most mercenaries they only takew jobs that seem morally just...... (more tomorrow)
I like it a lot jack, as far as I can tell, what you wrote is another flashback.
Leon took a momment to look over his plate, say a prayer, then took to eating his food. Unlike most adventures, Leon took the time to enjoy his food when he could. He was all to used to either not eating for days on end at all, or having to shove his food into his mouth, and keep fighting. As of late, Leon's prayers had all been to thank the Light that he had found a group that accepted him, and he hoped that they would think of him more then just a tool for killing, but as a person. During the breakfast meal, Leon looked up to the Chef, and asked, "Cookie, how do you make food taste so good, being in such barren conditions?" Cookie scratched his thick, salt and pepper beard, looked at the young warrior and said, "Ye see me laddie, 'tis all aboot salt air, makes everythin' taste great." Leon thought about this for a momment; thinking on how the heck could salty air make food taste good. Never the less, the boy had started the conversation, and now, time to start asking questions that might save my life. "Cookie, I have a couple more questions, if you have any information about the area we are going to." "If you have any information on plant life in the area, that has medicinal effects, or, edibile, I would apreciate it."
Ill leave the character at that for ya jack, that way you can release information you feel a chef would know.
Yeah, it was a flashback, I figured with where you left it off I'd do your intro to the company. Meant to finish it but was falling asleep. When I get home from work I'll finish that story as well as what Cookie knows.
Yeah, it was a flashback, I figured with where you left it off I'd do your intro to the company. Meant to finish it but was falling asleep. When I get home from work I'll finish that story as well as what Cookie knows.
"Ahha! I'll just take my winnings as well as my leave." With a big grin Sever scooped up his winnings.
" 'E's cheatin' I tell ye, we should take 'is hide!" With that the men around the table hopped up as Sever slowly stood, grinning even more, the fire burning in his eyes. They surrounded him whilst drawing weapons, nothing special Sever knew as he had already taken stock of them before sitting down to cheat them. Sadly there was no one of any real caliber in the tavern, but this was the best he could get here, outside of the Elven woman in the corner, but he could tell provoking her into a fight might not be so easy, so he would try to draw her in with this scuffle.
"Well, come on then, I'd like to at least give you all a chance to make an attack!" He sung the words out with laughter in his voice. They came all at once and fell all at once, all but one, who flew across the room, and into the woman who had caught Sever's interest. With a sigh she stood and walked out the door drawing her rapier and light shield, him following closely behind her, slipping his sickle and dagger out. With no words he danced towards her, the blade of his sickle punching out towards her with his fist, being brushed aside by the shield at the very last moment while her rapier lashed out, chilling him as he rolled to the side, his grin growing ever wider knowing she held a magic weapon. He stopped in mid turn to swing back the other way now that the rapier was gone, his blade and fist slamming against her leather armor, and then with extraordinary speed his fist slammed into her again without a moment lost, a burning sensation shooting through her from the open wound as his body slid back away from her and she came in for another attack.
She pulled away, an appreciative nod with a grimace of pain. He would do well with some of the new recruits. "The Golden Blade. Join it, there is no reason for us to senselessly injure each other when you have such promise." He blade was instantly at his throat, his eyes widened in glee, oh how he would like to test himself against her, but she was his ticket to hopefully finding his rival, and she was no match for Belroar. "Ask for Deliya at the gates." She said as she handed him a map and headed back into the tavern.
He came back to the present, chuckling as he realized everyone told him where to go and left. Seemed like a recurring theme, but one day he would roam where he chose completely on a whim. As his thoughts cleared from his mind he hopped up and smiled, perhaps some of the crew had some loose coin they wouldn't mind wagering. With that he gracefully moved from the deck of the ship to look for a group he could cheat.
Hearing al if this your mind shakes loose more of the story of that battle. Doing so sets off a chain reaction in you mind. You've heard of the golden blade before. They're a large group comprised of smaller parties. You think of the few ezploits you've heard of them, and even more, about those you've read. From what you recall, they seem to be something like a band of mercenary adventures, how ever unlike most mercenaries they only takew jobs that seem morally just...... (more tomorrow)
Stepping into the office of Sentinal Morsout Leon sees a rather tall woman, her hair short cropped in a military fashion. She could never be called pretty, but handsome would work. She has several small scars marring her face, and one rather long scar across her forhead, but you can tell that whoever tended to her wound was an expert, as the scar is so small and so faint that were your eyesight not as keen as it is, you'd have missed it.
As you enter she comes around a desk and extends her hand, almost as a reflex you extend yours in return. You know a brief moment of shock as she notices your brand, "Arbiter? Fancy that. You must have some real potential." Seeing a mixed look of resignation and distress on your face she waves her hand in dismissal, "It doesn't matter. We're not order here, even if we've had a few of them pass through. You must be something special though, to have done something so heinous that the order would feel the only just punishment is death. At the same time, your potential must be even more impressive for Brahmen to decide that you were too useful a tool to be destroyed. The old man may be many things, but wasteful isn't one of them."
She sits back at her desk, as you stand there contemplating her casual use of the old master's name, and her apparent lack of care regarding your history. After a few seconds she looks back up at you, "Listen, we don't much care what came before. What we concern ourselves with is what you can do for us now, and what we can do for you. We can find you jobs, help you make some money, and at the same time, right some wrongs in the world. I know it's not the same as serving the Order. I also know though that there is something higher than the Order to serve, and that's the light. Here we get all kinds. We get people who are here for just the money. Others for glory. Some come because this is all they're good at. In the end everyone who comes here has their own reason. Your past doesn't matter any more than anyone else's. do your job, bring home the gold, make peoples life a little better, you'll be treated right. Fail..." She thought for a moment, "Well fail and you're probably dead, so it won't matter."
After a slight nod from you, she continues, "Glaspin will show you to your quarters. We should be able to put you on a team soon, and get you your first contract."
I took a couple liberties here, hope you don't mind, Travis. First I couldn't find a name for the old man in your history, so I assumed you hadn't given him one, so I made one for him. Needed the Sentinal to be able to drop the name. I figure that gives your character a few things to wonder about over the course of this adventure (and maybe future ones as well). Like... how well does she know the old man to call him by his first name so casually? If she knows him, how much does she know about the order? How does she know about the order?
The second liberty was to force him to reflexivly reach out to shake her hand. It was the best way I could give her a chance to see his brand, without giving him a physical. :P Hope you don't mind
