It's always a good day when you discover a vintage board game in the back of a sketchy antiques shop right? That's exactly what the gaming club president of Briarwood University thought when he found a legitimate copy of "Heroes of Auric: Into the Tangle". A vintage board game from the eighties, "Heroes" sees the players taking up the roles of four warriors of the Auric Kingdom who've been sent out to defeat an ancient evil: The Twilight Witch. Each hero offers a unique playstyle and players can work together or on their own to claim the glory of slaying the witch. Later expansions offered new quests and heroes to flesh out the game, but hardcore fans agree Into the Tangle was far and away the best version.

However... something is very wrong with this version of the game. Despite a clearly sketchy shopkeeper, the president buys the game on the spot and gathers the - very - small board game club to try it out at the next meeting. Each player chooses their characters and skillsheets. No sooner do the pieces touch the board when all the players find themselves suddenly being sucked into the game! Upon waking up, the players find themselves trapped within the world of "Heroes of Auric". Having been transformed into their respective characters, they must now navigate this strange new world if they want any hope of returning home!

The Base Game "Heroes" of Auric are as follows -
- Kaine the Traveler: A disgraced monk from the Aurican Temple. Kaine is a devout follower of the “Silver Dragon” Argent, one of the creator gods of Auric. Why he left the temple is a mystery, but now he travels to find his calling and “inner peace”. While having weapons training, Kaine prefers to battle with his iron fists. He also has some connections to the might of the Silver Dragon.
- Galeth the Magic Swordsman: A wandering mercenary with a heart of gold. Galeth's always on the lookout for coin and his next meal. In his travels through the kingdom, he's gained a unique talent for swordsmanship and he's mastered the minor magics (a rare feat for a commoner). With his powers, he's able to enchant his weaponry and allies to take on monsters most normal men might struggle against.
- Aqua the Merrick: An insatiably curious shapeshifter. Aqua's people are often looked down upon in polite society because their race has a history of being tricksters and deceivers. Aqua has the power to commune with nature and transform into any beast she's slain. After a battle, she collects a trophy from her fallen foe (hide, horn, claw, etc.). So long as she carries it with her, she may call upon the creature's power and transform!
- Rufus the Magus: A disgraced student from the Mage's Academy. Banished from his school after the "Potions Lab Incident", Rufus began to pursue his magical studies in secret. Whether it was pouring over ancient texts in forgotten libraries or wandering the ancient ruins across the continent, his knowledge of the major and minor magic rivals even that of the Royal Archmages! Rufus brings a blend of elemental and healing magic to the table.
- Lady Kira the Shadow The runaway princess of Auric, Kira longs for nothing more than to escape the confines of the royal palace and see the world. In the wake of the Twilight Witch's chaos, she's found her opportunity. Slipping out one night, Kira donned a disguise and enrolled herself at the local Adventurer's Guild. After several months of her double life, she's become handy with bow and dagger. Kira can maneuver the high society world with ease, or strike at her enemies from long distance.


As mentioned above, "Heroes of Auric" would eventually offer players several expansion packs due to its niche popularity back in the day. The expansions would offer players new storylines, locations, equipment, and most of all: New Heroes. While players could enjoy the expansion packs on their own, they were designed with the intent of being combined with the base game. Playing an expansion with only the two new heroes increased the difficulty significantly. While many fans preferred "Into the Tangle", some expansions found their own followings among fans. Two of the more popular ones being "The Savage North" and "Mechanical Mayhem".

"The Savage North" would take players on a journey to the Northern end of the continent after hearing rumors of beasts going wild, attacking settlements, and disrupting trade caravans. Players would ultimately be brought into conflict with the Yuki'r, an ancient winter deity sealed within a massive glacier.

"Mechanical Mayhem" saw players going west to Derolo, the "Land of Machines". While there on a diplomatic trip, the various automatons and machines that enabled daily life in the kingdom began to go haywire. Unlike previous campaigns, "Mechanical Mayhem" offered a story with more intrigue, espionage, and offered players a more "modern" setting as opposed to the high fantasy worlds in the other games.

The Savage North Heroes-
- Freyja the Savage: A barbarian from one of the northern tribes, Freyja is no stranger to hardship. Having lost her family early on during a mass blizzard, she vowed from a young age to never be "weak" or lose those close to her again. As a result, she's devoted her life to combat and survival. Freyja gets up close and personal with her enemies, ready to pummel foes with her axe, club, fists, or whatever item she's picked off the ground.
- Kida the Shaman: More grounded than his expansion counterpart, Kida devotes his time to learning the ways of the north. He's turned the vicious weather into his ally, and wild beasts become friends with a slight enchantment. Kida's tribe prefers isolation to interacting with the rest of the North, making Kida something of a black sheep as he travels to make sense of the chaos. His tribe worships and fears the Yuki'r.

Mechanical Mayhem Heroes-
- Wolfe the Inventor: Hailing from a noble family of Derolo, Wolfe von Valora's ancestor was the main who pioneered the "black powder" that serves as the basis for all Derolo's weaponry. Wolfe however, is a pariah among the nobility for his mad desire to innovate and improve upon his ancestor's work. It's quite a common occurrence to hear muffled explosions when passing the von Valora household on the capital streets. Wolfe brings his knowledge of 'advanced' weaponry (i.e. crude pistols and explosives) to the battle.
- A.U.T.0. the Bot: A custom automaton that loyally serves the von Valora household. Auto's name is an acronym for "Advanced Utility Technician Model: 0". Built by Wolfe's father, Auto is a bizarre combination of science and sorcery. Auto is a notoriously tricky character in the fanbase because many of his skills are made to support Wolfe. As a result, it's generally recommended that new players avoid using him until they've learned the game. (Fun fact: Years later at a panel, one of Auto's designers was asked whether Auto was male or female. His replay was "Auto is Auto. We always referred to Auto as "It")

Hey all. To those who didn't see the interest check, this is meant to be a simple fantasy story as I'm getting back into writing more. I'm not looking for a big group and want to fill out the first four slots. Expansion heroes have been provided for extra players. Since the interest check filled up pretty fast, I'm allowing first come first served for those players first. Anyone else and your CS will be judged based on the overall quality of the application. Not trying to exclude people, but I'm going to be picky with this one and don't want it blowing up on me. See below for your CS. Format/color them how you want.

Phew, got here in time!
Gotta head to work, but seeing as the four main heores got picked up in the Int.Chk, I'll start work on a CS for Freyja once I get back home.

Got in early in the CS but didn't really pick a character, so I guess I can take up an expansion character instead. I'm thinking I'll work on a Kida player once I get some time.

I'll wait a bit until I pick a character since I was last to show interest. I'll likely go with either Rufus or Auto, whichever ends up available.

What sort of age range are you looking for btw? I'm assuming it's an adult cast since the club is at a university.

I'm k with any of the original four. My spin on the mage is a 'my genius cannot be comprehended' sorta fellow tho, rather than a timid dude.

Yeah, I was going to go for the timid dude for Galeth. Because the shy guy would want to be the obvious main hero for once in his life.

I was going to use my character in Rift warriors. xD

Yeah, I was going to go for the timid dude for Galeth. Because the shy guy would want to be the obvious main hero for once in his life.

I was going to use my character in Rift warriors. xD

Oh, I meant more so the IC personality, i.e. the character or how the player plays them. Which brings up an interesting question: when the players are transferred over, do they also change personality wise? Or do they gain the memories, feelings, skills of the characters and it's up to them what to do with it? Either way, I could see the sudden new body and experiences changing them quite a lot.

Jumanji rules here. The players are themselves, just wearing the skin of the characters. The “blurbs” up top are basically meant to be your “intro” to a character you might see on a board game manual or such.

And I wouldn’t call Galeth the “protagonist” either. All the characters are protags in their own right. The core 4 are just playing out the stereotypes of an old school RPG

Jumanji rules here. The players are themselves, just wearing the skin of the characters. The “blurbs” up top are basically meant to be your “intro” to a character you might see on a board game manual or such.

And I wouldn’t call Galeth the “protagonist” either. All the characters are protags in their own right. The core 4 are just playing out the stereotypes of an old school RPG

So, just to confirm, they assume the physical appearance and the skills of the character they are playing, but not really the memories? They'd basically know only the character background/info about the character that they read for their role, yeah?

Yeah, but in every RPG, the swordsman is the main character. And I have big main character energy.

@SilverPaw yes.

Player Name: Nicolas “Nico” Moretti

Faceclaim:

Player Age: 20

Player Personality: Nico is kind-hearted, empathetic, and always ready to lend a hand in real life. He’s known for being the peacekeeper among his friends and is incredibly patient, always trying to make others feel comfortable. Outside of gaming, he’s the friend who bakes cookies for his circle and volunteers at an animal shelter. His soft-spoken nature makes him easy to approach, and he tends to avoid conflict, preferring to maintain harmony in his relationships. However, this conflict avoidance sometimes leads him to bottle up his own emotions, putting others’ needs before his own, which can build up until it all spills out in an unexpected burst of frustration or sadness.

Nico is a perfectionist, often holding himself to impossibly high standards. He can be overly critical of his mistakes. This self-criticism can sometimes cause him unnecessary stress, as he struggles with the fear of letting others down or not living up to his own expectations. He’s deeply loyal to his friends and family, but his desire to avoid disappointing them often leads him to take on more responsibility than he can handle.

Nico has a tendency to trust people easily, often seeing the best in others and giving them the benefit of the doubt. While this makes him well-liked and approachable, it also leaves him vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Despite this, he remains optimistic and resilient, always striving to see the good in the world and in people, even when things get tough.

Player Bio: Nico Moretti was born and raised in a neighborhood in New York City, in a close-knit, Italian-American family. Growing up, Nico’s household was always warm and full of love. His father, a hardworking man who ran a small family-owned bakery, was strict but loving, and his mother, a schoolteacher, nurtured Nico’s creativity. Though his family didn’t have much in terms of wealth, Nico never felt like he was missing out. He grew up with an abundance of love, even when things got tough financially. His close relationship with his family, particularly with his younger sister Sofia, has always been a source of strength for him.

Nico’s passion for gaming began at a young age. It was his older brother Marco who introduced him to games of all kinds, from video games to board games. He loved getting lost in the worlds and characters, finding comfort and escape in these fantastical places. When his brother left for college, he kept the tradition alive.

His love of narrative-driven games led him to explore Briarwood University’s board game club during his freshman year, where he immediately bonded with the quirky, tight-knit group of misfits. Now a sophomore majoring in English Literature, Nico enjoys the club as a place to chill and indulge in his love of immersive worlds. He balances his studies, volunteering at an animal shelter, and indulging in the club’s weekly game nights.

Likes:
- Baking
- Games of all kinds, from Tabletop to Video Games
- Animals

Dislikes:
- Trash Talk
- Disrespect
- Horror and Scary Stuff

Quirks:
- Wears a charm bracelet given to him by his little sister.
- He’s gay.
- Chose to play as Galeth because he’s hot.
- His favorite way to destress is by making themed cookies inspired by his favorite games.

Hero: Galeth the Magic Swordsman

Hero Faceclaim:

Hero Age: 26

Hero Story: Galeth is a wandering mercenary whose good looks and charming smile have gotten him out of more scrapes than his sword ever could. Born into poverty, Galeth’s natural charisma and knack for magic helped him rise above his station. Known for his sharp wit and heart of gold, he has a reputation as a charmer and a flirt, as well as a reluctant hero.

Galeth tries to avoid conflict where he can, preferring to use his charm and smarts to diffuse dangerous situations. But when innocents are at risk—or when coin is involved—he’s more than willing to fight. His skills with a blade, combined with his ability to enchant his weaponry, make him one of the most formidable adventurers in the kingdom.

Hero Skills: What your character is good at
- Swordplay: Galeth’s flashy, agile fighting style is as impressive as it is effective.
- Enchantment: He can infuse his weaponry or allies’ gear with magical buffs (e.g., glowing swords or enhanced armor)
- Charm: Whether through diplomacy or cheeky banter, Galeth can sway people to his side.

Magic: Does your character have it? Check up top. If yes, then include it.

- Minor: Weapon infusion, ally buffs, and protection enchantments.

- Major: Elemental enchantments (imbuing his sword with fire, frost, or lightning

Flaws:

Magic Drain: Galeth’s enchantments consume action points. Overuse in a single turn forces him to skip his next turn to recharge.

Overconfidence Penalty: If Galeth performs a critical success (e.g., slays an enemy outright), he must roll to avoid “Overconfidence,” a debuff that can lower his defenses for the next round.

Fragile Buffs: Enchanted weapons or armor have a limited duration (e.g., 3 turns) or can be disrupted if Galeth takes a critical hit, forcing him to spend another turn reapplying them.

Lmao. Not me who wanted Galeth. XD

I wanted the hot swordsman ok. 😏

Yeah, but I called dibs. Bro code, Flame. 😝

Are you full up for the first four spots? Are you open to others joining a waitlist?

@RisingRobin What kind of creatures can Aqua turn into? Actually a better question would be if she starts with any transformations whatsoever, and if so how many, or does she start with none?

@King Cosmos I’d grant that she’d have a few “starter” creatures in her equipment. Nothing big mind you, but I’d be cool with a land, sea, and sky animal respectively

Yeah, but I called dibs. Bro code, Flame. 😝

So uh… should I change characters?

@Crimson Flame I mean… I could just make a new character for the game. I realized as I was making the OOC that having the club president (my character) being the GM in universe wouldn’t make sense because the “villains” are the ones keeping the players stuck. So the GM playing the villains and making things harder is a weird thing. Idk. I can just add a core character, but yeah I really liked what I did for Galeth. If you want him, I’ll deal.