[OOC] Trouble in Korthos

[Lord Orgasmo]

"'Ello? Can you talk? Speak to me! Hoy, you ain't one o' them Undead are you?"

You open your eyes, and the afternoon sun is nearly blinding. As your vision adjusts, you find yourself on your back, lying down. A halfling man is shaking you violently, but stops as he looks into your now open eyes. He helps you up, and as you look around, there lies the remains of a large airship. You find yourself on a beach, and bodies and blood are strewn about all around you. Some have gotten up, others seem to be grasping at the air, but most seem to be motionless.

"Hoy! You awright? 'At big ol' ship came outta nowhere!

You think back to what happened. How this all came to be.

You were aboard The Wyndspire Falcon. One of the most advanced airships to date. Why you were on this ship is known only to you. The ship was on its way to Stormreach, a new land of prosperity. But things weren't quite so smooth.

You remember freezing cold, and shattering windows. Screaming from the passengers, and ear-splitting roaring. Out on the main deck, an enormous white dragon has attacked the ship, and he doesn't look done. There was more cold, falling, and then...

The halfling introduces himself as Jeets, and tells you you've landed on Korthos island, a remote island in the ocean on the way to Stormreach. He says the island has been having trouble as of late. A dragon has been terrorizing the island, and the Cultists of the Devourer have been running rampant.

How will you traverse the island? Will you do your best to escape and get to Stormreach? Will you Stand up against the Cultists and eventually, the dragon? Or perhaps... something else entirely?

---

Welcome one and all to Trouble in Korthos. Here you'll be surviving on Korthos Island, a small town on a remote island. What your objectives are, are up to you. For characters, you can play just about anything. Just try not to play anything blatantly overpowered or the living embodiment of edge.

We will be playing with "stats". You won't be rolling dice or anything, but they will be used for interactions. Say, you want to kick down a door, but have low strength, it probably isn't going to happen. Or, if you want to try and balance across a narrow passage, but have low Dexterity, you probably aren't going to make it across. Here's a calculator for stats.

I'll leave a list of playable races below, but I'll be pretty lenient on classes. We also will be using a skill proficiency system. When doing something along the lines the proficient skill, you are far more likely to succeed. You will pick three skills that you are proficient in, and some races may give you extras.

Playable Races

Human

Humans are the race that usually makes up most of the world. They are usually overly common and uninteresting. This does not however mean that they are useless. The strongest point of Humans is their versatility and adaptability. Humans start with a +1 to all stats, or +1 to two stats and an extra skill.

Elf

Elves are a graceful, magical, and beautiful people, who enjoy life to the fullest over their 800 year lives. Elves do not sleep, but rather, go into a trance, for about 4 hours, and gives them the rest of 8 hours of sleep to other races. During this trance, Elves are fully aware of their surroundings. Also, depending on their age, certain visions appear to them. Children and young adults see visions of their past lives, adults see visions of this life, and older Elves begin to see others past lives. To simplify, all elf souls exist inside a theoretical candy jar. When an Elf is born, a soul is taken out if said jar, and given to them, giving them a soul. When an elf dies, their soul is taken. And put back into the jar. And when the next Elf gets that soul, they get to see visions if that soul's life. Elves get +2 to dexterity and a +1 to intelligence or wisdom. Elves can see up to 60ft in the dark, have sharper senses than others, cannot be put to sleep, and have resistance to charm spells.

Drow

The Drow are a subspecies of Elf, having most of the same abilities. The Drow were, put simply Elves that worshipped the Spider God Lolth, and followed her to the Underdark. These Elves live underground and see surface races as inferior. There are Drow who live on the surface, however, and are more "peaceful" than Underdark Drow. These Surface Drow are nomads, usually living in swamp-like areas, and worship Eilistraee, the goddess of freedom to Drow. They try to be as unaffiliated as possible with other races, choosing to live lives of worship instead. Drow get +2 Dexterity, and +1 Charisma. Underdark Drow have 120ft of Darkvision, but are extremely sensitive to light, to the point where it's nearly blinding. Surface Drow have the same vision as normal Elves. Both Underdark and Surface Drow get the same abilities as normal Elves. Underdark Drow however also are able to cast Darkness and Faerie Fire once per day.

Halfling

Halflings are the royalty free version of Hobbits. They're short in size, but have more than enough personality to make up for it. Halflings love to enjoy life, drinking dancing and being merry is what life is all about. To them, you've been granted the privilege of life, and not enjoying it is basically a crime. As such, Halflings are friends, or at least on good terms, with just about every race. Halflings are naturally brave, and have resistance to fear effects. They also are luckier than other races, giving them a little luck where they need it, whether it's the wind blowing an arrow just slightly out of your way, to landing a lucky hit right in the jugular. This luck is limited however, and can only really be "used" once a day. Halflings get +2 to dexterity and +1 to Charisma or Constitution.

Dwarf

Dwarves, like Halflings, are short folk, around the 4 and half foot mark on average. Dwarves usually live underground, or on mountain tops in large communities. To Dwarves, all Dwarves are part of what is essentially a large family. Every Dwarf has a role, and is trained from a very young age. The two most prominent roles are Forgemasters, and Stoneworkers. Forgemasters make everything from tools to weapons to cutlery. Dwarven forging is said to be the best, and that they create only the highest quality. Stoneworkers are the architects and designers of the Dwarves. To them, stone is paint, and the whole world is their canvas. Entire cities, intricately detailed and luxurious beyond belief, all planned and performed by a handful of Dwarves. Dwarves are Hardy, giving them resistance to poison, and they also have darkvision up to 60ft. Dwarves get +2 to Constitution and +1 to either Strength or Wisdom. They are also very knowledgeable on history when it comes to stonework, architecture, or crafted things.

Dragonborn

There is a bit of debate over where the Dragonborn come from. Some scholars say they were an ancient group of humans who were cursed or blessed by dragons with their form. Others say they were the result of the dragon gods. Either way, Dragonborn are humanoid dragons that come in a variety of colors, the most common being a dull copper color. The scale color of a Dragonborn relates to their specific element, like full dragons. White for cold, red for fire, black for acid and so on. Most Dragonborn have a breath attack like full dragons, but they must train to do this, and some dragonborn go their entire lives without it. They are generally peaceful folk, living lives as simple people, but are fierce warriors when the time comes. The colors to elements are as follows: Black/Copper is Acid, Blue/Bronze is Lightning, Red/Gold is Fire, Silver/White is Frost, and Green is Poison. The metallic colored Dragonborn are far more rare, and are believed to be destined for greatness. Dragonborn gain a +2 to Strength, and a +1 to Charisma. They also have resistance to the element of their ancestry, as well as a breath weapon of the same type. So a blue Dragonborn is resistant to lightning, and can exhale a lightning breath. The breath attack can only be used every so often, not constantly. Like once every 10 minutes or so.

Aasimar

Aasimar are (usually) Humans with ancestry to the Celestials. Perhaps your father was and angel? Or his father before him, and it only now manifests? Aasimar are usually forced into a life of religion, however this is not always the case. A pair of farmers wouldn't know much about Aasimars, and they would be raised as a normal child. Aasimar have an innate ability known by many as "Healing Hands". It allows an Aasimar to channel a small amount of positive energy to heal light wounds once per day. Aasimar can also cause themselves to glow, providing light for themselves and their group. They also can cast the Light spell once per day, causing an item to glow, rather than them. Lastly, Aasimar are resistant to Radiant and Necrotic damage. They confer a +2 bonus to Charisma, and a +1 to either Constitution or Wisdom.

Tiefling

The opposite of Aasimar, Tieflings are (usually) humans with Fiendish heritage. This could be hidden for several generations, and manifest randomly. Tieflings are usually seen as untrustworthy and evil, and are often shunned because of their devilish appearance. Tieflings possess the ability to darken an area around them via the spell Darkness. They also can see in the dark, up to 60ft. They have resistance to fire, as well as necrotic damage. Tieflings gain a +2 to Charisma and a +1 to Dexterity, Constitution, or Intelligence.

Genasi

Genasi, much like Aasimar and Tieflings, are (usually) humans with magical ancestry. In the case of Genasi, it is to the Elemental Planes. Genasi generally have different personalities based on their heritage. Air Genasi are flamboyant and bombastic, Earth Genasi tend to be more secluded, Water Genasi are explorers, and Fire Genasi are hotheaded and bombastic. All Genasi gain a +2 to Constitution, and a +1 to Dexterity for Air, +1 to Strength for Earth, +1 to Intelligence for Fire, and +1 to Wisdom for Water. They also gain resistance to the element of their ancestry, as well as a special ability based on their ancestry. Air Genasi can Levitate, Earth Genasi can pass through difficult terrain such as swamps or dense forest unimpeded, Fire Genasi can see in the dark up to 60ft, and Water Genasi can breathe underwater.

Warforged

Warforged were made for one thing: to fight and die. Originally created as expendable soldiers in the great war, they are now every day citizens, looking for a peaceful life now that the war is over. Warforged are constructs, made of wood and iron, rather than flesh and blood. As constructs, they don't need to eat, sleep or drink, and are immune to poison and disease. They also have natural armor, not needing to wear it. Unfortunately, because they are constructs, normal healing magic isn't very effective, and more often than not need to be taken to an expert to be repaired, which can be expensive. Warforged gain a +1 to Constitution and a +2 to either Strength or Dexterity, or +1 to two stats.

Gnome

The last of the small folk, these Gnomes aren't quite what you find in a suburban yard. These Gnomes are instead are inventors, and lovers of life, curious, and impulsive, trying desperately to squeeze in as much as they can into their 300 year lives, living in forest communities or slightly underground. Gnomes, being somewhat of a magical race, have been granted Darkvision, and because of their superior intelligence, are resistant to most mind altering abilities. Gnomes gain a +2 to intelligence, and +1 to Charisma, Dexterity, or Constitution.

Half-Orc

Half-Orcs are the product of a Human and an Orc, as Humans are compatible with several races. Half-Orcs live short lives, about 60 years or so, but mature early, around 14 years old. Half-Orcs feel emotion far more passionately than most, from rage, to sadness, to joy. Speaking of rage, their orcish blood still boils within them, calling them to battle and action, rather than sit and talk. Half-Orcs have relentless endurance, granting them the ability to endure a hit that would normally knock them out. They are also naturally menacing, granting proficiency in Intimidation. Half-Orcs gain +2 to Strength and +1 to Constitution.

Half-Elf

The Product of an Elf and Human, Half-Elves are an incredibly social race. Making friends with everyone they meet, swapping tales, and just mingling in general. They generally find themselves as ambassadors or wanderers, due to their wanderlust from their Human side, or refinement from their Elf side. Half-Elves gain benefits from both sides of their ancestry. From the Elf side, they have Darkvision up to 60ft, immunity to sleep effects, and resistance to charm spells. From their Human side, they gain versatility in the form of two skill proficiencies, and +1 to two of any stat (except Charisma). Being such a social race, Half-Elves gain +2 Charisma.

Goliath

If (American) Footbal players were a race, they would be Goliaths. Distant cousins to Giants, Goliaths live high up in the mountains, choosing to live secluded lives. Among the Goliaths, the strong survive, and the weak will die. Survival of the fittest is important, but so is the concept of fair play. Everyone is treated fairly. Goliaths are a tough, rugged race, and as such, are naturally proficient in Athletics, and can occasionally shrug off damage from an attack. Goliaths gain a +2 to Strength, and a +1 to Constitution.

Skills

Athletics(Str)

Climbing, Swimming, lifting, etc.

Acrobatics(Dex)

Balancing, Flexible movement, tumbling, etc.

Sleight of Hand(Dex)

Manual Dexterity, fast hand movements.

Stealth(Dex)

Hiding from sight and moving silently.

Arcana(Int)

Knowledge of Arcana, such as arcane symbols or knowledge of magical creatures.

History(Int)

Knowledge of History.

Investigation(Int)

Looking for clues and hidden details.

Nature(Int)

Knowledge of the natural world, such as identifying plants.

Religion(Int)

Knowledge of Religion, such as local gods, and what they represent.

Animal Handling(Wis)

How well you can interact with Animals.

Insight

Your ability to see through bullshit.

Medicine(Wis)

Your knowledge of medicine and biology, and how well you can use medicine.

Perception(Wis)

Your ability to notice things, such as far off sounds or an unusual smell.

Survival(Wis)

Your ability to find food in the wild, identify tracks, tell directions based on the stars, etc.

Deception(Cha)

Lying or otherwise not being entirely truthful.

Intimidation(Cha)

Scaring people.

Performance(Cha)

Singing, dancing, and otherwise entertaining.

Persuasion(Cha)

Convincing others to do stuff or to listen to you.

Below is the Character template. Quote the post to grab it, and remove the quote coding

[Lord Orgasmo]

Character Sheet Example

Appearance

(Image and/or description)

"You may put a quote here if you'd like."

Name

Your name goes here

---

Race and Class

Are you an Elf Barbarian?

Skills and Stats

Your proficient skills, and your stats
Strength:
Dexterity:
Constitution:
Intelligence:
Wisdom:
Charisma:

Age and Sex

How old are you, and are you a man or woman?

Magic

Do you know any magic? Or have any racial magical abilities?

---

Equipment

Your surviving equipment. It wouldn't be a whole lot, just what you had on you at the time.

Motivation

What is your past? Why were you on your way to Heston? Or were you on the Wyndspire Falcon for a different reason?

Other

Put anything else here you feel we need to know.

[Sedjwick]

Definitely interested, but I'm not quite sure what race, class, or skills I want yet. I'm leaning toward Dragonborn for race, but everything else I'm not sure about yet. I'll get to work on a CS soon and see what I come up with.

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Sedjwick Sounds good. Don't forget to also pick your dragonborn's elemental ancestry if you decide to play one.

[HokumPocus]

Currently thinking of ideas rn

[Searat]

Will get a CS up within the week.
Thinking about going the Human Monk.

[Lauder]

Think I'm going to play as a Half-Orc who doesn't really want to be an Orc and just wants to do like wood-carving and music

[Lumiere]

Still rocking the plan of tiefling bard. The skills changed up a bit, but it so far sounds like a bunch of friends in the works!

\o/

[Lord Orgasmo]

I have only just now realized there's nowhere to put your stats. Will get right on that.

EDIT: Stats have been put under the skills section. Please update your character sheets, and remember that there is a calculator for stats in the first post.

[Gareth]

@Lord Orgasmo Warforged further Q: and A: Q:(Gareth): You said they were robotesque but with a soul? A:(Lord Orgasmo) Q2: (Gareth): In the race discription it says that they are created. Could a mage or alchemist create them? A2: (Lord Orgasmo): Q3: (Gareth): Would their soul/personality be heavily influenced by their creator? A3: (Lord Orgasmo): Q4/5/6 (Gareth): How well rounded can a Warforged’s personality be? Can they feel and express emotions just like humans? What about their speech, must it be clipped or can it like a normal human’s?

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Gareth
Q1: yes, they are like wooden automatons, and have souls.
Q2: Their bodies are created. A mage or alchemist could build the body, but they'd have to also infuse it with a soul. But again, still possible. Most were mass produced by the Artificers of House Cannith. We likely won't be going to House Cannith, but you can still be from there.
Q3: Their Personality comes from their soul, and each is different like you or I, but like children, when they are first created, they are heavily influenced by their surroundings.
Q4: Warforged can have a fully developed Personality, whether it's quiet and reserved, or loud and bombastic
Q5: While they can feel emotion, sympathy, and what not, they often have a bit of a hard time Expressing emotion. It is most often told through their voice, eyes, and gestures, if needed. They can smile and frown, but not very well.
Q6: Warforged speak just like normal people. They can roll their R's, get tongue-tied and even develop accents based on their language and homeland.

[Lumiere]

So, the point-buy calculator won't let you get over 17 in a score (15 without a +2 racial bonus).
Is...this just how its going to be?

EDIT: I see that this is a calculator with custom rules set, so I assume so.

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Lumiere Yes, that is how normal 5e point-buy goes. Up to 15, and 17 with a +2 from racial bonuses

[Lumiere]

Aaaaaand here we go! Let me know if anything needs revising/cleaning.
>_<

Luciel Nyvaal

Appearance

Standing at an androgynously lithe but physically unimposing 5'2", this tiefling is distinctive with its snow-white skin and wavy hair. While it would be shoulder length, the back is pulled into a bushy ponytail at about the point their horns emerge. With this natural separation, they left the front third combed forward to almost veil one side of their face if they did not have the tendency to push the unruly cluster of bangs back over an ear. Their horns ripple with a nearly translucent sheen, some hints to a jet black hue causing an opaqueness, likely from abuse of lacquer solvents to melt off paints, eventually resulting in the original black keratin being mostly bleached. They curl forward like a ram, tipped with polished silver caps. Both of their pointed ears hold a small collection of piercings; two orbitals, two helixs along with a standard lobe ring from which dangles a small green stone on a short thin chain. A stud in the left nostril of a mildly 'romanesque' nose, parallel bars in outer edge of their right brow and devil-bite ring piercings complete their array of face-metal.
Two large black orbs make up their eyes, solid in their color though shimmering a glint of crimson when caught in the light. They wear a pair of glasses with darkened lenses to ease eye strain as Luciel has a very mild sensitivity to light. While their teeth are white (a maw of fangs apart from their incisors which display a slight overbite), their gums and forked tongue contrast with an inky black.

While Luciel's luggage held more extravagant costumes and specific attire, their common taste in apparel is no less...eccentric.
Luci stands in a pair of insulated steel-toe'd knee-high boots with a flat heel elevating an extra inch and a half. From this, thick black thighhigh socks extend up just past the edge of a beaten gray canvas coat, split and stitched along the back to allow their tail proper mobility. A dyed black leather barding is strapped to the length of their tail in large scale section for as much flexibility as the tail needs without sacrificing too much defense. This, of course hints to the style of armor they tote. Under their coat, snug shorts are designed not to get in the way of similar armor riveted to a broad belt and strapped to their thighs. Some liberties were taken with the design to leave the sides of the chest piece open while still closely fitted to their abdomen and back, held in place with belts on the side of their ribs. This masterwork leather armor terminates in a turtleneck-type design reminiscent of a collar. This part, however, is covered by multiple wraps of a black, blue and red plaid scarf often kept pulled up to their nose bearing numerous faint scents of myriad perfumes and other curious scents. The sleeves of their coat, which may be a size too big, cover long gloves strapped with (you guessed it) forearm guards matching the set so far as well as layered upper arm armor sections secured to small pauldrons of sorts which make up the core section of chest protection. Curiously, this armor was not designed with hand protection on special request as it would interfere with their craft.

"Talking about music is like dancing about architecture."

Name

Luciel K. Nyvaal

---

Race and Class

Tiefling Bard

Skills

Performance: Skilled with a collection of string instruments as well as singing, though has a side-skill involving puppetry. This has taken the form of finger-contortionism, shadow puppetry and even sock puppets with the ventriloquism to back it up. The performances can seem awfully compelling at times, to the point where it may even appear Luci, himself, gets lost in them.
Deception: A silver tongue keened on spinning stories, a lie is can merely be another way of telling the truth, depending how you look at it. The mundane truth in its whole is hardly as interesting as the embellishments that set distinguishing borders between farcity and fantasy. Unfortunately for the tiefling, they occasionally lack the sense to feel out when reality will suffice.
Sleight of Hand: Fast and flexible hands make for the final corner in the street performer's trifecta. Contact juggling, shells and small "magic tricks" may be their specialty, though Luciel is no stranger to darker times where the skill meant the difference between eating for the day before finding means to apply the tact in a more constructive manner.

Strength: 8
Dexterity: 16 (15+1)
Constitution: 12
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 8
Charisma: 17 (15+2)

Age and Sex

27y/o (Appears 20ish) Male

Magic

Darkness - Light within 15ft of the caster is snuffed out by a magical nature such that even creatures with darkvision are unable to see through it and nonmagical light fails to cut into it. While it can last for an upwards of roughly ten minutes, it can be willed away by the caster, early.
Minor Illusions - While limited to a 5ft cube, the imagine is boundless and can manifest anything from a chair to the intricacies of a chest or creature. These illusions are able to make sounds on command, though are unable to physically interact with the world. Making contact with the illusion would instantly expose it as such due to the inability to do so, passing through it.
Mending - Boots wear out, blades dull, clothes tear and this spell answers the small knocks possessions take during everyday life. All things possess a "rightness" to their intention and design. It is the aspiration of the artisan that gives basic materials purpose, and this spell calls to it by reverting damage and restoring its form. Only works on non-magical inanimate objects, though, and one cubic ft of material at that.
Vicious Mockery - A string of insults typically used to rebuke hecklers, the words are laced with a magic that confounds the victim of the verbal assault in pace with how...odd...Luciel's foreign insults may sound. Certainly distracting and capable of inflicting a slight headache from the mental gymnastics involved in some of the terminology.
Inspiration - Encouragement or compelling music resonate within the focus of the words in a manner serving as the other side of the coin which Vicious Mockery mars. This is the spell which is referenced in such sayings as 'bards will sing of this', and the invigoration may be slight but certain by those affected, lending inspiration to temporarily perform beyond their limits. Sometimes, an inch may as well be a mile.
Arcane Respite - An infusion of arcane essence pulled through the weave imbues wounds with positive energy, causing them to rapidly heal. Although it is far more effective while making direct contact, the spell can be projected short distances at a significantly reduced effectiveness.
Enhance Ability - One of Luciel's more powerful tricks, with a touch and some very specific words of encouragement pertaining to a capability wished at the time, the target's abilities are temporarily improved. Shrugging off the pain and damage of wounds and unease, bolstered strength, quickened reflexes, sharper wit or a keener logic; each of these are potential boons which persist for some time. Sadly, such effects do not stack on a single target.
Luciel's Tiny Hut - With a minute of transcription, entrapping within a small crystal bead arcane purpose, Luciel conjures an opaque marble dome of energy. While inside, occupants may see out of the area with ease. The dome expands in a ten-foot radius around them. Creatures within the area may freely leave, though Luciel doing so will cause the dome to 'pop', ending the spell. Individuals outside of the spell when it is cast are unable to enter it (without breaking the spell, if they're so determined to smash it open). The dome is magically kept dry and at a cozy 70 degrees in spite of outside weather and Luciel can command the interior to be dimly lit or dark, though this does not impede nonmagical light sources. This spell persists for 8 hours or until Luciel exits the field.

---

Equipment

Aside from the clothes on their back, Luciel was in possession of their messenger bag at the time of the crash. The contents include
- A relatively thick-looking book with a hand-written title consisting of infernal script. Inside, the pages contain more of the same writing as well as small drawings of faces and various sceneries. Likely a journal.
- A box of assorted makeup.
- Coinpurse (Contains a small handful of copper pieces and a few silver).
- 1 steel dagger of excellent craftsmanship, but otherwise mundane.
- Writing instruments in their own wooden box to protect from bumps...or airship crashes.
- A sizable wad of fleece.
- A small bag of what appear to be glass beads.

Motivation

Luciel is a vagabond always on the move for where the humors are light and the money is real. After saving up for some time, they were able to book passage on The Wyndspire Falcon for verdant soils and promises of prosperity. It was a rumor like many others that he'd heard, but the conviction in voices and enthusiasm on the raised brows of passengers were convincing enough to risk taking their boots off of the ground. It is unfortunate how poorly his first and probably last (if he can help it) airship ride turned out to be.

Other

Luciel is lamentably foreign, hailing from a land far to the south and speak vith zee slightest ouf accents. They're not accustomed to the cold.

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Lumiere looks good to me.

[Gareth]

Is there a reason why @Lord Orgasmo your Cs is as brief as it is and your character @Lumiere is a 5000 page novel?

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Gareth Jeets is just a side character. The CS was more for fun than anything.

[Lumiere]

@Gareth
I couldn't find a pic I liked and got a bit carried away with the written description. Also, there wasn't any 'bio' or 'personality' section, so I just scattered it throughout the cs for flavor.

Sry if its a bit of a read. xP
Edit: At least more than it probably needed to be*

[Lord Orgasmo]

@Lumiere Your bio should be under the Motivation section.

[Lauder]

I’ll be getting started on my CS today hopefully!

We orks gotta smash and lootz tingz first