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 The world is a strange and dangerous place. Surviving requires skill, magic, and more than a little luck. In support of the survival of the strong and the death of the weak, the Goblin King is hosting his annual competition to celebrate the weakness of mortals. A lone gladiator of each of the 10 mortal realms is nominated to represent their people. A realm who doesn't submit a representative is severely punished by the Goblin King, who sends his minions to ravish the land and the people. Only once has a realm refused to send a gladiator, and that realm is no more. Upon arrival the Goblin King has more wicked that normal smirk on his face as he surveys those that have come this year in honor, or in sacrifice.  "Friends, comrades, mortals. I welcome you to my lands and I honor the tribute you represent. Normally my challenges are designed to cultivate the strong, the wise, and the resourceful of your lands. 10 strangers come together to battle the best I can offer. Many do not survive, but those who do leave as a beacon of hope to their homelands." The goblin king takes a long breath and sighs heavily before we addresses the crowd once more. "Unfortunately such games have become a bore to an immortal such as myself, so I decided this year we are in need of a change. To that end, we will no longer host a game that pits the best 10 of the mortal realms verse my challenges. Instead, you shall be separated into 2 teams and pitted against similar challenges. The team that achieves victory the fastest shall be granted a boon. The team that does not will be punished...severely. In fact if one team consistently lags behind, I may just have to send the other team to dispatch them mercilessly!" With that the goblin king takes on a truly evil smile as he looks over all the mortals before him. "Be strong, be fast, be wise, but most of all be merciless. For I will give you no quarter and you should expect none from your fellow mortals..." Hello and welcome to the recruitment thread for my 3rd 4E campaign on the play-by-post forum. For this, I have something truly special in mind. We're going for a hunger games themed campaign here. Instead of running the normal 5 player campaign, I'll be running 2 campaigns side-by-side. Each team will be confronted with the same challenge with the goal of besting the challenge better than the other team. The score system will work as follows. 1: Number of rounds needed to defeat the encounter (Each round grants a -10 penalty to your score). 2: Damage Taken (Total damage taken by the team is penalized from your team's score). 3: Damage Dealt (Total damage dealt is added to your score). 4: Innocents rescued (Each individual adds 5 to your score). 5: Allies dropped (Each ally dropped to unconscious subtracts 5 from your score). (Fair warning, I may tweak the scoring system to be more fair. It's a work in progress). Make no mistake, this will be a combat heavy campaign. We will also use Obsidian Skill Challenges and Advanced Puzzles. To that end, there will be a couple of rules. 1: DO NOT READ THE THREAD NOT ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR TEAM: I don't have a good way to enforce this yet, and I may end up having to do some kind of mafia style doc thing for team to converse outside the thread. This is because I don't want teams to read each others posts during puzzles to gain an unfair advantage. 2: COMBAT WILL BE DEADLY AND DANGEROUS: I have a rep of taking it easy on characters so they can enjoy the campaign (A rep I'm losing with the PDQ You vs. The Walking Dead campaign). To that end, I'm be using the optional Elite Villain Template for all solo boss encounters. This is the hunger games after all, people will die. 3: DO NOT READ THE THREAD NOT ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR TEAM: I know I posted this already, but I wanted to post it again. Please please please keep yourself limited following the thread associated with your team. There may be times when I specifically want the teams to interact with each other, but I will specifically post when those opportunities are available and when you are allowed to view/post in the opposing thread. SUBMISSIONS: Level 1 character 1: Free Expertise Feat 2: Free Improved Defenses feat 3: 1 Background. No Akanul, or any background that alters your hit points (Born Under a Bad Sign, Auspicious Birth). 4: Themes are fine. 5: As a part of your submission you must come up with the realm you are representing. Just as you would craft a back story for your character, craft some back story for your realm. Is your realm mostly made up of wandering tribes of orcs an half orcs, kept under the cruel rule of the goblin king. Does your realm contain a peaceful collaboration of elves and humans looking to topple the vicious Goblin King. This will be an important part of your submission. 6: Do you have any preference with who you'd like to be teamed up with? As I generate 2 teams I plan on making them a balance of strikers/defenders/leaders/controllers, but I'm willing to entertain requests to maintain fidelity. As a final note, I'm looking for quality posters who have done 4E PBP before. This is going to be an advanced and cut throat campaign, and I'm looking for reliable posters who can think outside the box. As my players will attest to, I'm a solid GM who posts updates on a regular basis, usually posting daily if not multiple times a day. I'm also very fair and I tend to rule in favor of what makes sense rather than what screws you. I'm still coming up with all the parameters and rules for this campaign, so I invite you to ask questions to help flesh out the campaign in more detail. Part of the reason I want you to post a backstory for your realm is because the players will help define the campaign world.  SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSEDHere are the campaigns threads. RED TEAM  pre:DapperDuck Ivan Gluze Controller/Invoker Messeria ltr Robinson Striker/Monk Mir'aj Manic_Misanthrope Wuya Striker/Avenger Lithenton Mustache Ride Zeke Leader/Bard Province of the Winds Axe Cop Sevastyan Defender/Knight Zarechny  pre:CommaToes Melandris Controller/Mage Thenaeum Nobodyelse Umbo Striker/Sorcerer The Scrapheap PyroDwarf Zelaran Striker/Roge The Soak Woods BioTech Mathor Leader/Warlord Damsain K Prime Pingbi Defender/Swordmage Daguo Korlac fucked around with this message at Feb 24, 2013 around 08:01 |
| # ? Feb 19, 2013 14:28 |
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| # ? May 19, 2013 22:14 |
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My elf ranger is just a girl from District 9 who something something, I haven't seen Labyrinth or Hunger Games so I can't really make a decent joke about literally rolling Katniss. But I assume we're not allowed to literally roll Katniss. Anyhow, I'm extremely on this.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 16:34 |
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 Zelaran, Rogue, Scoundrel, and Ne're-do-well "You know, Zel, I can still remember the day you wandered into this town of ours." The warden doesn't take his eye off of the elf sitting in one of the small cells in the local stockades as he takes another gulp from his large flagon. "I knew you were trouble, and it ain't just because your kind belongs in the forest neither. You had a look about you, like a rat wandering into the hold of a ship. Kept my eye on you ever since, I have. I may have let some minor transgressions slip by the wayside with the help of some coin before, but you've got the baron's attention this time. He's demanding you be hung." "How am I supposed to keep track of who his mistress is week to week?" Zelaren begins to take to his feet, but a cracked rib makes him reconsider. "Besides, if she really wants to keep all of that gaudy jewelry she should avoid Martellan reds, I hear they keep clerics on retainer to bless the feet of the virgins that crush their grapes." The Warden Brenn scoffs at the elf's flippant disregard of the gravity of the situation. "Well, she fingered you as the last person she remembers. So nice of you to walk her to her room like that." "Someone could have taken advantage of the poor girl. It's not my fault that all of the fences in town closed up shop this week, trying to keep their noses clean to avoid being snatched up by the goblin king no doubt." The warden's drink catches in his throat at the mention of the name. "Oh, don't act so surprised. It's no secret that your baron keeps the best and brightest for the good of his own lands and squeaks by with a tribute of some barbaric prisoner or a jealous husband. He only gets away with it because his tributes are usually rather bloodthirsty." The warden seems to have missed the last of Zel's words as a scheme formulates somewhere behind his eyes. "Funny you should mention that. You may notice that it is rather lonely in here." Brenn gestures to the row of cells, all but one is empty. "Maybe your coin will be useful to save your hide after all." Zelaran begins to regret bringing up the subject, but begins to warm to the idea as the cry of a crow draws his eye to the gallows in front of the stockade. "Who knows, you may even survive the ordeal." With that Brenn lifts his flagon in a mocking toast and drains the rest of his flagon. He chuckles to himself as he walks to the door. "Time to convince the baron that a quick death is too good for you, shouldn't be too hard." The realm of Som'dul came about after generations of warfare. The realm consists of five large islands and dozens of smaller ones, some only a few acres wide. Ages ago, each of the larger island were self sufficient and independently governed, but conflicts over control of the smaller islands led to all out warfare. After the bloody conflict, the war weary islanders were united under one banner. That is when the Goblin King arrived. His armies and warships quickly subjected the survivors of the war as they were working on rebuilding their homelands. The largest island, called Kun'do, holds several coastal fiefdoms all separated by a large forest in the middle of the island. Almost all types of geography and climate are represented in some way or another on the islands, save for arctic tundras. The responsibility of sending the annual tribute for the Goblin King rests with the principality of Haemun, the seat of the Goblin King's puppet baron, Logran, corrupt by even the standards set by the previous installed leaders. The practice of sending prisoners as tribute instead of a true champion began with the Goblin King's last installed leader, Bornod the Bloody. He had a particularly violent criminal in custody that twice broke free and had killed several jailers. On the day of his execution he deftly slipped his bonds and killed his would be executioner and several by-standards. The baron had ordered him captured instead of killed on sight. The criminal was captured and was sent away on the ship sent to collect tributes. The ship arrived at the game arena with half the crew dead. The criminal was still allowed to participate in the games, as the Goblin King was intrigued at the prospect of bloodier than usual games. The criminal won the challenges and for his victory requested a one man ship and some provisions. He sailed away a free man, but did not return to Som'dul. Zelaren was born on the second island called The Soak Woods. It is from this island that the majority of the realm's elf and other fey folk hail from. His had grown up as part of a clan responsible for organizing the various resources of the island for distribution through out the island chain. On a quick trip from his island to Kun'do, his ship was besieged by a small flotilla of goblin raiders. His ship was destroyed, and he was left to wash ashore on to the southernmost and poorest fiefdom of Kun'do, Farmer's Tears. As his ship was supposed to dock at Haemun, he was forced to live on the streets trying to raise money for the journey up to Haemun. By the time he had lied, cheated, and stole his way into some money, he had grown accustomed to a certain way of living. He still made his way up the coast toward Haemun, staying in towns only as long as he could before he worked up a reputation and had to leave to save his hide. PyroDwarf fucked around with this message at Feb 21, 2013 around 20:36 |
| # ? Feb 19, 2013 16:58 |
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Captain Walker posted:My elf ranger is just a girl from District 9 who something something, I haven't seen Labyrinth or Hunger Games so I can't really make a decent joke about literally rolling Katniss. But I assume we're not allowed to literally roll Katniss. I've got no problem with Ranged Characters (Rangers, Hunters, etc...), but since I'd like to avoid a litany of Katniss clones, lets just avoid her. It's a Hunger Games inspired game, but it's not a direct re-imagining of the source material.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 17:10 |
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I ended up making a ranger out of an existing character anyway  Actually I have a backup if this is not kosher. Geralt, Revenant Ranger Far to the north of the Goblin King's territory lies the mountain fortress of Kaer Morhen, where the secretive order of warrior-monks known as witchers make their home. Trained in the art of fighting with two swords (steel for men and silver for monsters) they are feared across the North...or would be, if there were more of them left after the Goblin King's whimsy decided he would not suffer an entire order of expert monster slayers to threaten him. So he had his forces march on Kaer Morhen and burn it to the ground, leaving none alive as an example. As an afterthought, they stole the secret ritual that gives witchers their incredible martial strength. Unfortunately, death did not spell the end of the witcher Geralt. It just made him angry, and for some reason the fickle Raven Queen saw fit to keep him in this world a little longer. Geralt fears that the mercurial Goblin King could decide at any time to use his stolen ritual to create an unstoppable army, so he's decided the best way to get close is to participate in the ridiculous Challenge of Goblin King.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 17:42 |
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@PyroDwarf: Looks good, I just need a name for your realm. @Captain Walker: You're solid.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 19:14 |
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Is the "Damage Taken" counter before or after healing is taken into account? It would seem kind of unfair if one side had, say, a pacifist cleric while the other had extra defenders or something.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 19:59 |
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AXE COP posted:Is the "Damage Taken" counter before or after healing is taken into account? It would seem kind of unfair if one side had, say, a pacifist cleric while the other had extra defenders or something. Good point. Healing will not affect the damage taken score. I'll keep a running total as the team continues through combat. As far as the extra defenders go, that becomes a balancing question during team makeup.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 20:02 |
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On reflection, I don't know if I can really justify this when I'm in in two Dungeon World games, a Gamma World thing, and trying to run a game in real life. Better get out while the getting's good. Submission withdrawn.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:10 |
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Captain Walker posted:On reflection, I don't know if I can really justify this when I'm in in two Dungeon World games, a Gamma World thing, and trying to run a game in real life. Better get out while the getting's good. Submission withdrawn. I completely understand dude, no worries.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:31 |
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Thinking of working on a defender. Out of curiosity any idea what levels this game is likely to get to? That may influence which idea I go with.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:35 |
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Wuya, Githzerai Avenger/Samurai Some view the Goblin Kings games as a cruel mockery, an attempt to rub in the salt that was his conquest of the realms. For the people of Lithenton, it is a grand opportunity. Lithenton is a realm of abnormalities. Unusual terrain, houses carved out of old mushrooms, zones where gravity is not exactly what everyone wants it to be. The Goblin King usually takes a surprisingly light touch to the realm of the bizarre: preferring to send only minions he dislikes or whose suffering he enjoys to patrol it. Nonetheless, the people have all sworn loyalty to him and that they would never rise against him: while holding crossed fingers behind their backs. Wuya is one of the chosen few to have graduated from Kord's academy of strength and will. A monastery famed for it's brutal training methods, as a result it's students are supposed to be able to move as fast as lightning itself. Being raised by the monastery for 16 years before graduating and seeing so many new students rise and fall like leaves in the wind: Wuya can be patient as a stone but otherwise lacks many social skills that would have normally developed in order to focus on her task. To be crowned victor of the Hunger games, then strike like lightning, killing the Goblin King in one fell swoop.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:41 |
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Ryuujin posted:Thinking of working on a defender. Out of curiosity any idea what levels this game is likely to get to? That may influence which idea I go with. Good question, I'm planning a fast track to level 30 for the group. Basically your teams will face "levels." Each level will consist of 3 challenges (Combat, skill challenge, puzzle, etc...). Beat a level, gain a level. Also we'll do loot differently. No more micro-managing loot. At the end of each level I will give you your gold piece total. The amount of gear your have on hand, including rituals and such, cannot exceed your GP value. This means no reselling loot, no dividing up parcels. One level you could a certain gear set and the next level its completely different. It's to make things easier for both of us.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:52 |
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Do summons count for 'allies dropped'? What about animal companions/spirit companions?
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:56 |
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Majuju posted:Do summons count for 'allies dropped'? What about animal companions/spirit companions? Those will not count towards allies dropped.
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 21:59 |
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Too busy to commit to any more games, but will definitely be keeping an eye on this to see how it goes (and send you all silver parachutes)!
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 23:04 |
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Klungar posted:Too busy to commit to any more games, but will definitely be keeping an eye on this to see how it goes (and send you all silver parachutes)! But my 4E campaigns don't feel right unless there's a Klungar character in them. 
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| # ? Feb 19, 2013 23:11 |
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 Zeke of the Black "What? You've never heard of me? Why I'm the most famous singing traveler known from the Province of the Winds, I've played in nearly every inn, and wooed every girl. I'm surprised you've never heard of me, I am quite famous." The Province of the Winds is a quiet realm, long ago conquered by the Goblin King, and largely left alone by his Goblin horders. It is a peaceful place that provides the Goblin Empire with its main source of foodstuffs, and as such most of the inhabitants are farmers. Zeke grew up as such a farmer. Eccentric and Overbearing as a child, his parents knew he would never be content to farm the fields of grain they planted, and so on his 15th nameday they presented him with a gift, a lute, and showed him the door. He hasn't been back since. Zeke makes his living playing in inns and taverns in the various realms of the Goblin Empire, and has even played in Labyrinth City on occasion. But as the Goblin Horde was looking for volunteers for the Goblin King's latest game, he was chosen to represent his realm. Little did they know how much magic lay behind his voice, and what lay behind the guard of his blade. I'll play to even Klungy out. I went with a bard. Mustache Ride fucked around with this message at Feb 20, 2013 around 05:50 |
| # ? Feb 19, 2013 23:42 |
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Sheet and story up soon.  Melandris, Eladrin Enchanter Under the Goblin King's rule, the realm of Thenaeum sacrifices much to protect the knowledge of a time since past. Despite the dearth of resources allowed for survival, the Academic Oligarchy which governs the realm still funnels resources into the great Thenaeic Academy and Library. Only the most promising students are admitted and trained to be formidable contestants in the Goblin King's games. The student who wins the convocation tournament is nominated to be the Thenaeic Champion. Melandris has always shown arcane affinity and excellent promise. Many older mages remarked at how, even at a young age, Melandris would most likely be a top student at the Academy and contender for the role of champion. When he came of age, however, he was turned away from the academy - despite not failing a single test they gave him. He was devastated and ran off to the woods. Nighttime fell before long, and Melandris was beginning to fear what lie in the dark. He heard some rustling in the bushes behind him, and a glowing sword crept into view. Holding the sword was an old hermit, who sensed the despair and fear in the young mage. The hermit offered some food and shelter to Melandris, and heard his tale of repudiation. The hermit gave a small frown and explained that the Academic Oligarchy recognizes politics before talent, and the current Archmage wields his power over others to spite those who he dislikes. "Long ago, the Archmage had many enemies and systematically has been seeking vengeance on all of them over the years. It is most likely that one of your relations had spurned him in the past - or at least the Archmage must have thought so. As for me, I was outcast from Thenaeum for beating the Archmage in a duel when we were children. He holds grudges, and always acts upon them." The hermit, sensing Melandris's pain offered to teach the young mage in the woods. Teach him the same magics that helped him beat the Archmage long ago, as well as some new spells he has been developing. They trained every day for years - shadowing the progress of the Academy's students. When it came time for the convocation tournament, Melandris applied for entry. While he was laughed away at first, the hermit then walked into the Academy and quoted an old statute that stated that anyone could apply for the tournament even if they were not students and as long as they were of age. The Archmage scowled at the hermit, but relented that the old ways were still to be followed. Melandris was let into the tournament, however he would have to face the top students of the class to progress. His unorthodox education proved to be too much for the top students, who had only ever been prepared for the spells they were warned about. Melandris managed to defeat all comers and win the tournament, with the hermit laughing the whole time. The Archmage, incensed but still trying to maintain decorum announced that Melandris would be the Thenaeic Champion and handed him a scroll denoting as much. The hermit came the young mage and handed him the sword that he held when they first met. "Hold this sword dearly, as it is a treasured family heirloom. But by the gods do not use it. You would be horrible with it." As Melandris head home to prepare for the games, he opened his Championship Scroll. Suddenly, glowing runes appeared on the scroll saying "You best die at the games, peasant. Your life here is over." With that threat in his heart, Melandris pledges to return victorious and ready to take on whoever opposes him. Whoo, longer than I thought it'd be. CommaToes fucked around with this message at Feb 20, 2013 around 01:24 |
| # ? Feb 19, 2013 23:56 |
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Working on a Goliath Battlemind.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 00:01 |
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Robinson, Human Monk The desert wastes of Mir'aj produce a hardy and resourceful type of person. The towns are small, normally surrounding an oasis to provide what little water is available. In these conditions, people strive to use the most of what they have, many shun the heavy metal weapons and armor of other realms for simpler, yet just as effective defenses. The most effective defenders come from the monasteries that dot the landscape. All Robinson has known is training to be a monk. He was taken in as an infant and given a new name like all other Initiates. His past didn't matter, he could have been the bastard son of a nobleman or an orphan who lost everyone who knew him during a bandit raid. Now one of the more skilled monks at his monastery, he was sent to capital of Mir'aj to take part in competitions to become the defender of Mir'aj in the challenge of the Goblin King. Outshining the others, he was then sent forward as this year's contestant.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 00:45 |
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Píngbě, Tower Defender The ancient empire of Daguo was great, once. A center of trade and technology, where all mingled and information flowed freely. Where every day a new mystery of the universe was solved, where to visitors every corner was a wonder. Then came the assassination of Emperor Sung Yi-Shen. Then came the Edict of Sealing. Through magic and might, the borders were barred to all comers. For centuries, the Empire hid behind its great wall. Those who attempted a breakthrough told tales of being hurled back by strange mechanical guardians, animated statues with only one purpose: to hold the line. Then came the Goblin King. And 300 years behind the times, the Empire found itself no match. But now the empire is open again. Technology catches up quickly, when set free. And the ancient mechanical guardians are made anew, magic baked into their very beings. Now given minds, given souls, they labor to free themselves and their people from the terror they live in. The greatest of them, the sole masterpiece of master artificer Kongming, is Píngbě. He has volunteered for this duty in hopes of finding a way to freedom.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 02:06 |
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 Ka'men, Hopeful Hero The Low Steppes were a harsh land where few could survive, let alone scrape out a living. Ka'men's clutch was an exception to that rule. They had long ago acclimated to the angry sun and scarce game that led other travelers to keep their distance. Despite their success they remained few in number, for the Steppes suffered no weakness in its inhabitants. The Goblin King's games were not helping the matter - in the last few decades, the clutch had lost many of their most capable hunters to the immortal's capriciousness. The elders feared they were rapidly reaching the point where they would no longer be able to sustain their way of life. Ka'men was oblivious to all of this. The young thri-kreen found the steppes incredibly dull. The challenges of daily life simply didn't hold his interest. He spent much of his free time daydreaming: he wanted to be a hero, like the legendary kreen of old that the tale-spinners spoke of as the hatchlings sat around the campfire at night. The hunters scowled at him in disdain and the other youngsters poked fun at him, but Ka'men didn't care. One day he'd leave this place and accomplish great deeds, helping those in need to overcome terrible danger. Then he could return and show his clutch that they didn't need to live on the edge of extinction, that there was some better way. He just hadn't figured out what that was yet. The Goblin King's message arrived as it did every year. The elders knew they could not afford to send another of their blooded hunters or the clutch would risk being unable to weather the next dry season. The thought of sending one of their young was repellent, but what choice did they have? Luckily they knew just the one. They consoled themselves with the thought that he wouldn't have survived long as a hunter anyway, and the shame of sending a weakling to the Games was easier to bear than the Goblin King's wrath if they sent no one. With eager eyes Ka'men set out for the Goblin King's castle. Here was his chance to be a hero and save his realm! The cruel reality of his situation never even occurred to him.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 03:18 |
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@Manic_Misanthrope: I love it. Great spin on the realm idea and the character concept. Very strong. Submission complete. @CommaToes: Great entry and I love the intrigue involved. Submission Complete. @ltr: Solid entry. Submission complete. @K Prime: I dig it, looks good. Submission complete. @Thundarr: I like the realm detail and the background. Submission complete. So as it is we have 4 strikers, 2 defenders, and 1 controller. We're very light on leaders and we could use 1 more controller to balance out the teams.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 03:47 |
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Ezmus, Shardmind Shaman When the realm of Evasarius heard the call for a champion to take place in the Goblin King's games, the entire populace started to panic. As a realm of scholars and elementalists who knew little of the ways of combat (and preferred to keep it that way), they still needed to provide some sort of warrior or risk being the next world to die at the hands of the tyrant. A grand council of representatives from the Seven Lands was called to think of a solution. Orthis, chancellor from the Starfall Mountains argued that they simply had to send the most capable warrior from what little selection they had. As long as they sent SOMEONE who didn't immediately keel over and die at the word go, the Goblin King would spare them, right? Morianna of the Spiral Ocean spoke out against such a cruel idea, but truthfully she could not think of another solution that would evade the tyrant's wrath. Ernest of the Jade Woodlands and his brother Horace of the Eternal Plains argued about ways to cut off the realm from the King's reach altogether, yet none would hear the twins' squabbling. Ezza, the representative from the Full-Moon Tundra simply sat silently. The two remaining in attendance, Dawn and Ashlyn of the Walking Desert and Sleepless Marsh schemed quietly among themselves, only occasionally glancing up at the others. It was Ezza who finally had the epiphany they were all searching for: why send a novice warrior when they could create their own champion? By combining the essence of the very land and the souls of the elements, a new creature would be born. A creature capable of fighting for the very essence it was composed of. They hadn't much time, but the council quickly went to work, summoning the best elementalists from every region to gather the purest energy from their homes. A great ritual soon followed, where the pride of the mountains, the vastness of the ocean, the life of the forest, the majesty of the plains, the pureness of the tundra, the steadfastness of the desert, and the conformity of the marsh combined. They called the result Ezmus, a being made of solidified energy of the homelands they loved so much. Acknowledging its fate and steeling itself to fight for its birthplace, Ezmus set off to conquer the Goblin King's games. Frocobo fucked around with this message at Feb 20, 2013 around 06:55 |
| # ? Feb 20, 2013 05:35 |
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Time to make a striker, haven't played one in a while. Now what to build...
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 06:23 |
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Thotham The Realm of Desolation. A bleak land of rocky hills and seemingly impassible mountains. A land where you would be lucky to walk 10 feet in a straight line. A land that no one wanted, so it begged the question what interest could the Goblin King have in it. Still the people of Desolation were of a hardy stock, they had to be to survive the harsh conditions. The population primarily consisted of Humans trying to farm what they could off the rocky soil of the hills, Dwarves living off edible mushrooms within the mountains, and Goliaths eking out a harsh existence atop the mountains themselves. Other realms have little interest in Desolation, except for the occasional Realm that sees the hardy citizens as ideal slaves. That said the population of Desolation can be vicious and difficult to capture, so such slave hunts are rare. When the call went out in search of a contestant for Desolation there was some difficulty in deciding who should go. The population was hardy, and often vicious, but many were simply farmers, hunters and gatherers. In the end Thotham was called for. He came down from his retreat atop the highest mountain. A master of the body, mind over matter. It was believed his control over himself that he would be the perfect choice. Thotham cared little for the simple, if harsh, lifestyle of the common people. Instead he honed his mind and body. In time his search for perfect control of his body drove him to leave the lower mountains in search of peace and isolation. Retreating to the highest point in Desolation Thotham continued his study, meditating for long periods of time. Now leaving Desolation for the first time he brings his skills, his strength of body, if not arm, and his great durability to the Game. He will win honor and glory for Desolation. Whatever the cost. Of course he does see this as an opportunity to test, and train, his body control.
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| # ? Feb 20, 2013 06:46 |
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Karkas Shaledigger, Sentinel Druid of the Whispering Vale owlbear the rest Karkas has returned home to his hillock for the evening, after a very taxing day. As he stoops to add some dried herbs from his secret collection to the stew, he reflects back on the day's events. It started with someone pounding on his door, and he had to rouse himself quickly to keep Drav from clawing the door down to get at the census-taker on the other side - a beetle-browed hobgoblin in too-nice armour who had come to inform Karkas that it was "his turn", and that he had one week to reach the capital - or else. While the population of the entire Whispering Vale numbered fewer than five hundred, it was, nevertheless, a realm of the Goblin King's empire. Treated as little more than a hunting preserve, it was home to a scattering of tiny hamlets, and the occasional lone hermit like Karkas. The wildlife kept the population in check as much as the Goblin King's edicts, but they were required to offer up a champion every year, same as the rest, and this year, it seemed, it was to be Karkas. He had resolved to make himself a fine last meal and then head out first thing the next morning. A massive stag had recently moved its pack into the woods near Karkas' home, and it was to be both his prey and his last memory of home. With Drav and Zegg skulking ahead of him, Karkas entered the woods, with only his quarterstaff and the clothes on his back. He made no effort to remain stealthy - it was not his way - and came across the pack of deer at the banks of a crystal-clear woodland lake. The stag perked its head up at his approach, noting the difference in their statures, and pawing the ground reluctantly. Karkas cracked his knuckles, stretched his arms, and signalled in a low, strangely melodic tone. Zegg burst from the bushes, beak snapping ferociously, pouncing on a deer and rending it savagely. Drav followed suit, crashing into the scattering herd of deer, driving them into the lake where they splashed and bleated. The stag stood its ground, fixing Karkas with a solemn, hateful eye, and then charged him. The muscular dwarf caught its antlers with a sweep of his staff, twisting and turning the creature's momentum around on itself to send it sprawling across the forest floor. Before it could scrabble to its feet again, Karkas had closed the distance between them and brought his weapon down square on the beast's skull. The massive cracking sound echoed through the woods, and then all was quiet, save for the sound of his companions feasting contentedly. Karkas tested the stew once more, and, finding it to his liking, scooped himself a bowl. He contemplated not reporting for the games - he had no real attachment to the people of the Whispering Vale - but it was unlikely the Goblin King's scorn would stop at its populace, and he felt a great kinship with the unspoiled wilderness. The next morning, Karkas departed for the capital...with his friends in tow. Majuju fucked around with this message at Feb 20, 2013 around 22:17 |
| # ? Feb 20, 2013 22:14 |
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So here's the current submission list.pre:Player Character Role Realm PyroDwarf Zelaran Rogue/Striker Manic_Misanthrope Wuya Avenger/Striker Lithenton Mustache Ride Zeke Bard/Leader Province of the Winds CommaToes Melandris Mage/Controller Thenaeum ltr Robinson Monk/Striker Mir'aj K Prime Pingbi Swordmage/Defender Daguo Thundarr Ka'men Fighter/Defender The Low Steppes Frocobo Ezmus Shaman/Leader Evasarius Ryuujin Thotham Battlemind/Defender Desolation Majuju Karkas Druid/Leader Whispering Vale The teams will be mostly random (it'll likely end up being a spread of 2 strikers, 1 leader, 1 defender, and 1 controller per group, unless the submissions start favoring another class) but if anyone has teammate preferences please let me know.
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 02:30 |
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Ivan Gluze It is time for great celebration in the realm Messeria, for once again it is time for the Goblin King's Hunger Games. Where many realms may dread and fear the coming of the Hunger Games, Messeria is the kind of place to embrace it. What else would be expected from the people who willingly blighted the land and skies? Vegetation no longer grows and what little remains has been reduced to mere brittle sticks. The skies overcast with a constant gray gloom, heavy mists choking all its denizens. And Messeria's people love it. To say they are chaotic would be an understatement. Messerians perform terrible experiments for the sake of science, creating the barren wasteland that Messeria is today. Using the land as their laboratory, Messerians have made giant leaps in deadly reagent and poison technology. Other realms may look down on Messerians but they cannot deny their advances in destructive arts. The Hunger Games offer a wonderful opportunity for Messerians to show off their trade in the best way possible: live demonstrations. Their ambassador this year is Professor Ivan Gluze, a highly renown practitioner of slime technology. He is a very proud human who views everything as expendable. Though ruthless, he is never wasteful and does not throw his assets away without a certain return of investment. His mastery over oozes and slimes is so pronounced that he is also a practicing "slime surgeon" which miraculously does heal aliments, albeit at the cost of creating other slimy problems. So, I was creating an Invoker to post and I was browsing the Themes when I stumbled upon Ooze Master. I stopped to think about it and ideas flew into my mind. I apologize if this concept is too far out there for this campaign, but I enjoyed writing it. My days have me next to a computer most of the day, so my activity should not be an issue. No preference on party members or group, drop me where ever you see fit. One last thing, my knowledge of Hunger Games is zero. Should I do research?
DapperDuck fucked around with this message at Feb 23, 2013 around 20:06 |
| # ? Feb 21, 2013 03:37 |
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DapperDuck posted:One last thing, my knowledge of Hunger Games is zero. Should I do research?[/i] To slightly spoil things, the hunger games is a dystopian future where a central government forces 12 outer colonies to randomly select a child to compete in the hunger games. The kids get trained in combat and survival, and there's a reality show twist to it as they're paraded around on TV and dressed up for people to cheer for them. After all the warm up, the kids are made to fight to the death till there's only one left. My campaign will be more of a Labyrinth/Hunger Games combo (Hence the Goblin King). Your teams will be forced to go through trials and challenges, but eventually the Goblin King may get tired of that and just have you kill each other. Don't worry though, I have plenty of surprises and twists in mind.
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 03:49 |
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Korlac posted:The teams will be mostly random (it'll likely end up being a spread of 2 strikers, 1 leader, 1 defender, and 1 controller per group, unless the submissions start favoring another class) but if anyone has teammate preferences please let me know. Ka'men is just so excited to meet new people that he would be happy regardless of whoever he gets teamed up with. 
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 04:33 |
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Sorry it took so long, but I updated with Realm info and little bit of back story for Zelaren.
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 10:30 |
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Making a sorceror, should be done tomorrow.
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| # ? Feb 21, 2013 14:49 |
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Sevastyan, the Fungus Knight (Plaguesoul "Genasi" Knight/Explorer) Far to the north-east of the Goblin King's palace lies Zarechny, the Realm of Fungus. It is aptly named, for the humans living within barely cling on to their settlements as riotously profuse fungi threaten to overwhelm them at all times. The spores they release twist bodies beyond recognition or take over minds and leave men as helpless slaves. Were it not for the Goblin King's whims, the realm would have been abandoned entirely long ago - but the monarch and his kin have developed a taste for some of the varieties found within, and so the subjugated workers within must stay and obey. Colonies of those affected by the fungus are thousands strong and grow by the day, but there are ever more workers being ferried in to keep the King's tastes satisfied. The only thing protecting the enslaved humans who gather the fungi are the Knights of Servitude. Every day they must ride out, slashing and burning back the fungi, slaying the mutated shroombeasts and doing whatever they can to survive. Every night, their efforts are undone as the infestation returns twice as strong as before. It is hazardous, hopeless and ultimately fruitless - and it is all done so the Goblin King may snack for one more day. Sevastyan was one of these Knights of Servitude. His last day of service was like any other; donning the inches-thick spore-proof armour, wielding the specialised spore-bursting hammer, and striding out to beat back the infection. He'd survived the ritual every day for over two decades. Perhaps it was old age getting to him, or something else, but today he was just a second too slow in reacting to an attack, and a shroombeast released a burst of spores straight into his face. Irrevocably infected with a fungus that was twisting and mutating his body, his sorrowful comrades offered him a choice - die a slow and painful death in a fungal leper colony, or offer himself up for the Goblin King's twisted games, and perhaps earn himself an honourable death. The choice was straightforward. Sevastyan was old and tired, but he still had his honour and his sense of purpose. He would not allow himself to simply fade away like so many who had been infected before. The fungus was painfully twisting his body, but it was also granting him some extraordinary abilities. He would join these games, and either die there, standing tall and proud on the battlefield - or he would kill the Goblin King for the tyrannical crimes he had committed against the people of Zarechny. Flavourwise a bunch of his abilities (like the Knight's defender aura, plagueborn/genasi abilities etc) are going to be due to the fungus. AXE COP fucked around with this message at Feb 21, 2013 around 16:13 |
| # ? Feb 21, 2013 15:58 |
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Umbo, Goblin Sorcechemist Not all goblins are favored by the Goblin King. Some are cast out from his presence, victims of his capriciousness, punished for slights real or imagined. Others are deemed unfit to work as slave or servant, in some hidden way inferior to the other goblins in the King's realms. And others still simply refuse to serve at all, saying they would rather die than bow to a tyrant like the King. All of these, the rejects and the rebels, are cast down, below the Goblin King's personal realm, into the Scrapheap. The Scrapheap is a terrible place. Generations of refuse from the King's grand banquets and wars have devastated it, filling it as far as the eye can see with towering mounds of discarded war machines, old bones, and rusted weaponry. Monsters, no longer amusing to the King's sensibilities, are sent to live out their lives in the heap, fighting tooth and nail for tiny pieces of territory to die in. Random bursts of chaotic magic swirl throughout the area, fueling constant raging storms. The lesser folk are forced to huddle in small groups, building makeshift shelters against the elements and praying the beasts don't find them. Umbo was born in one such community. Being born and raised in the scrapheaps can have an odd effect on a person, especially a small one like a goblin. Umbo himself was infused with the essence of the storms raging acrossed the land. Unfortunately, he wasn't infused with self control. While he was yet young, his powers manifested, tearing away the walls of his small clan's shelter. Exposed to the elements and a passing pack of murderbeasts, Umbo's clan was forced to flee, and scarcely half a dozen of them were left alive by the time they reached another clan to beg refuge. From that day onward, Umbo vowed to gain better control. And eventually he found a way. While his magic was simply too outrageous to hold inside himself, he could do it with outside aid. To that end, he began developing skills as a tinker and alchemist, roaming the heaps for discarded items to take apart. He found that he could bottle up his rampant energy, containing it inside cobbled together bombs and vials. No longer would his heritage loom as a threat to his clan. Unfortunately, the damage was already done. Even if he had things under control now, he was already a pariah from his past mistakes. Though the clan were loath to simply exile someone to fend for themselves and die, alone amongst the heaps, they didn't want to keep Umbo around either. Umbo was shuffled from clan to clan, never really accepted by any. The simple possibility of disaster, remote though it came to be, was enough for them to keep him at arms length, never truly one of them. And eventually, the Goblin King turned his eye to his former subjects. His calls for the scrapheap's strongest warrior came as a welcome oppurtunity to the beleagured clans. They could kill two birds with one stone, finally being rid of Umbo and diverting the King's wrath. And so Umbo did find himself sent to the courts of his ancient enemy, to die for his amusement. He's vaguely hopeful that he can get some payback, but being a realist he's mostly just resigned to fight and die. (Sorceror. Nonstorm powers reflavored as magic infused firebombs and the like.)
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| # ? Feb 22, 2013 06:02 |
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This looks great, when is the deadline? I'm thinking of a Half-Elf Warlord there to save innocent bystanders and ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good of the team, but I won't be able to get the character in till tomorrow. Is that a problem? With the lack of Controllers I wouldn't mind going for a Wizard instead if that improves my chances. Disclaimer; I played 3.5E for years, but this will be my first 4E game. I only have PHB 1 and 2, so if you think that might be an issue let me know. I do have the characterbuilder, so I can read/select Powers, Feats, etc. from other books if that is the only concern. BioTech fucked around with this message at Feb 22, 2013 around 09:44 |
| # ? Feb 22, 2013 09:38 |
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I plan on making the team selections this weekend, so if people are going to submit, now's the time to do it.
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| # ? Feb 22, 2013 15:13 |
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I will have mine in today then. Brook  Pristal is a wild and beautiful land, where power rests in the teeth of the strong, and in the name of Bane the meek are devoured by the strong. A just and ordered society, the Ladderback Throne assures the ranking of all upon the plane and a minimum of disruption of the natural order. Of course, no rung is higher than that held by the Goblin King. Each year, the challenge is issued, and the Ladderback updated. Each year, the king remains. So has it always been, so might it always be. Yet Bane smiles not for the timid, nor for the ranks of goblinkind, and his blessing is offered only to those brave enough to make the offerings, place their name upon the back of the throne, and face the Goblin. Brook is no goblin's meat, no meal waiting to be consumed by the strong. She is the pride of her people, and she has come with but one purpose. Slay or humble, beguile or betray, tempt or topple. The Goblin King sits at the top of the Ladderback, and until he is defeated, by the Law of Bane, he can command her obedience. She fights now not for the simple survival of the meek, but rather for dominion, for whosoever returns to the land of Pristal with proof of the Goblin's defeat can claim the long abandoned throne of Oak and Ebon. Brook is no goblin meat. Anias fucked around with this message at Feb 22, 2013 around 18:39 |
| # ? Feb 22, 2013 16:16 |
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| # ? May 19, 2013 22:14 |
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BioTech posted:This looks great, when is the deadline? I'm okay with newbie characters. Frankly 4E is a lot easier to play and build characters for (I'm working on a tank build for a pathfinder game and it's starting to piss me off how many hoops you have to jump through to make pathfinder work with tanking mechanics).
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| # ? Feb 23, 2013 04:41 |
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