Curse of Strahd [D&D 5e; Closed]

[Roleplay Frog]

Concept 1 (might come about with something else later!)

Melana Lionheart
LG Human female

Paladin of Tyr, Oath of Vengeance
Desired role: Tank, secondary combattant and potential face
High stats: Str, Charisma, might go high cons if we lack in frontlining otherwise. Low stats: dex

Personality: Once upon a time, Melana was an idealist, believing in the tales of heroes of old, in mercy and justice for all. Recent events in her history have left her more down to earth and practical about many things. Yes, one should strife to do good, but not without reason. Yes, one should strife for justice, but not recklessly. If you have to lock the cities gates down while there's a few peasants outside, that's horrible.. but still better than your town being taken by the enemy.
She is not quite Jaded, still able to rally people to her cause and defend the innocent, but she wont be fooled by evil. Not anymore.

Storystuff:
Melana was a princess, the elder sister of Imira Lionheart and first to the throne of an admittedly small, yet highly valued kingdom. She wore beautiful dresses, adorned in jewelry and pampered as only a firstborn princess to once be queen could be.
Still, she felt restricted by the chains of royalty, leaving her royal life for a soldiers mission, as goodly mercenary group.
She learned a multitude of strategical approaches to all situations of war and formed The Griphons, a mercenary company and soon, they became reknown throughout the land and beyond.
They fought for Lady Melana and for her, all evil fell. They followed her to battle and they'd have followed her to hell. To each and every one of them, she was queen already and so much more still.

But then, one day, Melana recieved word of her father becoming very ill and had to decide between her Griphons and the crown. Reluctantly, and, secretly, somewhat suspicious of her often scheming younger sister, Melana returned to the Lionheart castle.
What happened next, Melana refused to speak about.. to anyone. Only her Griphons can attest to it, for it was them who checked on her, recieving no word for many months. The first they sent was one of their best. He never returned.

More of the mercenaries soon came, rallying under the Griphons scream. They found their leaders uncle and aunt banished. They found the King long dead. And what happened to Melana.. they found out soon after.

When the Griphons and those of the royal guard loyal to Imira or just oblivious clashed for the right of sucession, and freedom of their beloved leader, it was a terrible bloodshed, but, ultimately, the training Melana had imparted and their devotion served the Griphons well.

The guards surrendered and Melana emerged from the dungeon of her very own castle, the iron hood used to hide her identity removed, but leaving a permanent scarring, usually hidden by her hair. When she recounted her sisters deeds to the royal guard, hostility immediatly ended and she was swiftly reinstated as rightful queen, turning her sister scheming to be for naught.
Still, ever since that day, she emerged.. changed from the experience. A shadow of betrayal and of torture hung over her hed forevermore. She watched her sisters own execution with a hardened smile and imposed new laws for the country, that in the long term ensured it's stability and prosperity, trying to rebuild and undo the chaos her mercenaries fighting against her sisters royal guard had inflicted upon the land, growing more distant from her old friends, the Griphons, as loyal as they may be, for the things they had done to her loyal guards, even with great need.
Just as she was now more distant from some of her people, for what they had allowed to happen to her.
She became by no means a cruel ruler, but a certain cheerful, human element seemed to often lack from her interactions

Dread Possibility for the character:

Melana's distance to her Griphons and changed personality is not at all due to torture, but, finding the tide of battle fading, the cruel younger sister took her name and place. They both looked similiar enough after all, and those scars of hers are not at all from capture and torture.. they are the result of a hasted surgery to look exactly like Melana. After all, the execution was witnessed by few people and one of those witnesses just.. disappeared soon after.

Melana had, after all, more than once told her Griphons of her sisters scheming ways and hunger for the throne.
Furthermore, whatever she knows of the Griphons, Imira could have learned by torturing the information out of her sister.
Imira, under Melana's name is actually not a Paladin of Justice for Tyr, but an Oathbreaker Paladin of Gargauth, who delights in her sucessful scheming as much as Tyr once did in Imira's sisters heroic displays.

[Florence]

I was originally thinking of going Way of the Open Hand, but as I've started working on her, a fairly different character sort of evolved, and I'm really digging it.

I'll get something more detailed put up later, probably including a character sheet, because I find it's easier to work out the details of a system character WHILE I'm building them.

But right now, the general idea is that she's an urchin from the ghetto of some big human city, did what she had to in order to get by, pickpocketing, burglary, etc. Somehow or another, she caught the attention of an order of ninja/shadowdancers, possibly the old "she tried picketing a master's pocket" trope. Regardless, she received formal training in stealth and martial arts.

I've got her name down right now as "Eirlys", though I'm still mulling it over. I'm thinking, being a street urchin, she probably doesn't have a surname. Her family couldn't afford one.

She's got a low charisma and intelligence, since she's not really 'refined' or 'elegant' by any stretch, and she damn sure never really received proper book learnin. Her strength is decent, but given her monk training she relies more on dexterity to get stuff done. She's also got a high wisdom thanks both to her training, and her growing up in pretty much the D&D version of the hood. Constitution is likewise pretty good, thanks to her training.

In regards to her personality, I'm still ironing it out, but the general concept is like... she's got a pretty good heart. I've got her down as Chaotic Good (ha, suck it old-school monk alignment restrictions!), and that's kind of reflective of her overall desire to help others and work for a greater good. But she's also really not good with authority. She views authority as inherently oppressive and so she has a degree of mistrust towards anyone she views as wielding too much power over others.

Also, she's a decent cook. Growing up on the streets she had to find ways stale bread and whatever she could steal into something palatable.

Combat role wise, she's all about stealth and damage dealing.

I may or may not be joking when I say her themesong is "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J.

[Roleplay Frog]

Concept 2
Alexander Gravenholme

TN Human Male
(Monsterhunter?) Fighter
Desired Role: Primary combattant with a hint of skills.(Gravedigger)
High stats: Str, Cons. Low stats: Prolly wis.
Random theme musics or this?

Personality:
Alexander is sombre, talkative, and average. For his profession and by his claims, anyway. To the average person he more likely comes over as a rather serious man with a more than healthy amount of dark humor, a side-effect of his trade. He is certainly not a bad man that would inflict pain on others without great need, nor is he a saint that would give away his belongings to the needy.
He was, for the longest time not an adventurer either and he has simple dreams of having a well kept business, perhaps with a wife that looks good in black to help him out, nothing too fancy.
However. He very much dislikes undead and even worse, those practicing necromancy. The rest of his clients are after all, very much reliant on him and his good name is on the line when ensuring such creatures eternal rest. He is not cowardly, but if he finds a few crossbow-bolts aimed at him he is more likely to surrender than fight on without need for some grand cause. On the other hand, when confronted by the undead, he just sighs, or even begins to humm a chipper tune and gets to work, even if the odds seem dangerous. He tries to always be dressed proper and presentably, as would be expected of a man of his profession.

Backstory
Alexander is a fourth-Generation Funeral home owner. From a young age, he knew he wanted to take on his fathers job. He enjoyed the peace and quiet.. and giving it to other people was something respectable. He sucessfully took over his fathers obligations after an untimely but natural death and was about to woo the perfect young maiden to aid him in his duties, but tragedy struck.

A necromancer raised an army of his and his fathers past clients to march against a nearby adventuring party that had opposed him, caring little for the townspeople, which just ment more soldiers for the undead army. For Alexander, who had the luck of sleeping behind a locked door, it ment losing who he thought the love of his young life.
When the necromancer was finally destroyed, Alexander was left with the thankless task of trying to bury a mass of old bones. He had to figure out out which bone belonged where.. and worse, much worse, bury many of the zombified versions of townsfolk he had known.. including her. There was little he could do but give her the most beautiful coffin he owned, one ment for a noble, and get to his grisly work. When he was done, it felt as if the young man had grown many years older and although he swallowed down his despair and sorrow, much of his serious and graven tone was no longer just an act for any relatives.

But that was not the end of his woes. Thanks to the Necromancers overly generous and desperate spellcasting, Alexanders little graveyard had become soaked in enough negative energy to cause corpses to spontaneously rise, occasionally, even years after the necromancer had been gone.
This was, of course, poison to his business and the man decided.. he would not let this stand.
He would bury all undead that still walked the earth and make sure they stayed where they belonged. His shovel had served him well enough against the average zombie after all.

And so he did and he headed out. Overall, no one complained about paying his 'burial fees' for undead, after all, he was a lot cheaper than most adventurers and more than one commoner could appreciate his sombre, respectful tone and dark but elegant outfit.
He vastly prefers fighting corporeal undead, putting them back into their resting place, but he somewhat afraid facing incorporeal undead and beasts of the land. His shovel is by now sharpened and rebuild to be more of a greataxe than a spade.
Over time he became actually quite good at his craft, and the varied application thereof, to at least handle the more common and simple types of undead.
He has heard of, and would be fascinated-scared trying to challenge something like a vampire or lich. For starters, he wondered, would they have to pay heir own burrial fees upfront? Unlike the unthinking dead, they had a choice of funeral home, of course. Then again, considering their kinds tendency to disturb the rest of others, they could not be allowed to continue as they pleased.
It is still his conviction that all undead simply require.. and desire, a proper bit of rest. He has even prepared a pamphlet extolling the virtues of Gravenholme-Family burrials, trying to make light of an otherwise dire situation.

Wherever the by now somewhat experienced undeadhunter went, he found more of his quarry to properly put into their graves, but not always someone to pay for the service, as it was hard to find the next-of-kin for a skeleton, still, where there was no pay, his conviction drove him on.
The thing he does not realize is that, after slaying a multitude of the undead and lacking a cleric or paladins precautions he himself has become soaked in excess necrotic energies, not harming him but oftentimes beckoning the undead to him, enticing them, like if he was a strange fishers lure. The world is not as filled with the living dead as he thinks it.

[Zaer Darkwail]

Jack 'blade' Steel

CN Human Male
Cleric (War Domain)
Desired Role: Combat support, healer
High stats: Str and Wis. Low; Cha.

Personality:
Jack is self-driven, mercenary minded and do nothing unless it entertains him or he is paid for it. He for personal reasons do not form deep bonds or attachments (avoids), but at times he grows attached but hardly admits it. He does enough good to be tolerable nor he would go shallow end of moral pool but he tips his toes there time to time. Usually stuff which harms no one (like robbing the dead belongings or break into abandoned house to steal stuff). But he does respect debts, oaths and contracts. They are absolute and he follows the letter usually than spirit of the contract.

Backstory

Jack was born to farm with parents who were born and raised in same village as their grandparents were. However early on his life he faced tragedy as bandits came and raided the village, killing his parents and butcher lifestock and burn the fields. Emotionally numb he joined the bandits where rest of village starved to death; he survived thanks his cold decision. But years later he betrayed the gang to local law forces as revenge for years ago done cruelty to him and thanks his cooperation he was set free.

Early on life as bandit he came to sort realization to brutality of violence and became entirely disconnected to ideals of nation, honor codes and such; violence was violence as was life was life and death was death. He embraced that simple philosophy and this then manifested in sudden 'miracles' he could perform when he willed it enough. He prays no gods, does not acknowledge any even popular war gods which all have agenda, he follows path of pure war. Unmasked, in all it's ugly glory it has.

So far only true blessing and meaningful benefit of violence; were spoils of battle and war. Coin, treasures, women and hookers. So he embraced it as well and became mercenary. Preach no god, carry miracles one hand and sturdy heavy blade in other as he carves and lives on life on his own indulgences. He finds joys in simple violence, but also practicing and creating brilliant stratagems and outsmarting foes which are stronger in size, might or numbers. Thus prove his superior finesse to arts of war which are largely self-taught to himself.

[iridum248]

So, I'm going with a classic Paladin, after the Wuthering Heights / House of Mystery archetype. She'd probably feel right at home...

Concept 1

Lady Arisa Ortensia
LG Human Female

Paladin of the Radiant One, Oath of Devotion
Desired role: Party Face, Tank
High Stats: Strength, Charisma.
Low Stats: Int, Wis

Personality:

Soft-spoken, a little wry, slightly fatalistic. Has a sense of humor, but prefers to play the noble - She had a classical education, after all. It's hard not to be *slightly* aloof...Though she's working on having a 'common touch'. Tends to be a little philosophical, but an optimist despite it all...What doesn't kill you, after all, makes you stronger. Generally reliable, with no major quirks...But tends to be overconfident, believing that she's invulnerable until she finds her destiny.

Actually kind of morbid - She's unfazed by grisly sights, given her training and the lore she's studied. She has a really poor beside manner, however...She's just not reassuring at all!

Like any Devotion Paladin, her word's her bond. It's just natural for her.

Background:

The youngest daughter of a minor noble house (distinguished by it's role in the knighthood!), Arisa's actually really unfortunate. Bad luck seems to follow her, like a shroud - Though it tends to target those around her, to their detriment. Her father died in a poorly-timed crusade, and her brother took over her education...Until her fiancee-to-be (a childhood friend) was killed in a carriage accident. Her sister alone escaped this fate by marrying out, and moving to a distant province.

Her brother took her to the only trade he knew: the knighthood. He used his contacts with the Order of Illumination to enrol her in training...Before he went off and got himself maimed in a border skirmish, one of the brushfire wars that happen now and again. To her own surprise, Arisa took to the training well - She's earned the title of Knight-Errant, and she's ventured forth to do good, as is her wont.

So far, she's only fought bandits, wolves and the occasional stray undead. But Arisa feels that bigger things are around the corner for her...One way or another. After all, she must have some great destiny in store, right?

Interestingly enough, Arisa's never had a lover. Some instinct has made her shy away from a serious commitment, and that's probably a good thing - It's spared some young nobleman a grisly fate. She's likely to be the last of her house, unless her brother makes a miraculous recovery. (He won't.)

(Note: Like any true gothic horror heroine, Lady Arisa has the title to her family's decaying estates, now neglected and falling to ruin. It's very likely that someday, it'll go up in a big fire, and she'll be in the middle of the inferno when it happens. She's throwing herself into her work, as a way to avoid going home.)

[Revelation]

Still looking for art, but...

Anton Petrovna

NG Human Male
Warlock (Pact of the Blade, Hexblade Patron)
Desired role: Gish, with face skills.
High stats: Cha, Con. Low stats: Lowest stat will probably be strength at around 10.

Personality: One might initially see Anton as a solitary individual, with little in the way of friends or comrades. While it is true he has been traveling alone, he is a man who gets deeply invested when working with others and seeks to help out friends when possible. However, despite being a compassionate man, Anton is somewhat haunted as well - knowing he serves a mysterious patron with vague motives, he's sometimes caught in the reflection of wondering whether he's merely a pawn in some greater game, or if it was free will that brought about his 'gifts' and he accepted the bargain willingly.

History: Born in one of countless, nameless farming villages, Anton was the son of the town Priest, an ardent follower of The Morninglord. Despite the god of dawn seemingly abandoning its people, he was able to keep faith strong in the village, their faith and desire for safety keeping the village hearty and hale. Expected to follow in his fathers footsteps and take on the reigns of the church when he was of age, Anton was a well liked child growing up, and even as a young adult aging into maturity, most looked to the kind young man with respect. While he lacked the zeal his father possessed, he was a good man who sought to help others and knew a hard days worth of work.

Much of this changed when Anton was out in the fields one day, helping an elderly couple with their farmwork. As the sun cast streaks of orange and violet across the sky as it fell, there was a sound no one had heard in years - the toll of a warning bell, quickly followed by the loud gongs and crashing noise of the church bell. The town was under attack, and it was a call for others to find shelter or hide. Bandits had decided that the town was ripe for the picking: Old walls, little in the way of guard, and plenty of food to take for themselves. What little militia there was was being overwhelmed by the time that he had ran back to the town proper, and not knowing how to fight himself, Anton simply did the best he could, seeking to get others to the safety of the parish.

Though, as he arrived at the church, he felt something strange - an immediate, stabbing pain in his mind. The needling was intense as his vision blurred, but was enough to tell him something. The town would fall, and he would die unless he did something. Whatever was causing the pain, was also seeking to give him aid. Seeing people he had known through the years fighting for their lives, Anton quickly accepted whatever this thing was - and before he knew it, something had changed. Where his hand was empty, it now held a blade, and where he had no gifts, he felt magic in him, calling out to be used! Fighting with the blade like he had been trained to since he could hold one, he was able to help turn the tide with blade and magic... Though the sudden gifts did not go unnoticed. As the bandits decided to cut their losses and try elsewhere, the townspeople had a new thing to fear: The priests son who suddenly new magic of a darker nature. With a heavy though firm heart, it was decided by his father that Anton was to leave the town as an exile, rather than face the noose for witchcraft, or another terrible fate.

It's been a few years since then. Anton has found himself called from place to place in dreams - usually to quell undead harassing other towns, or perhaps to just keep him on the road. Whatever gave him his gifts let him keep them, and more importantly, it seems to have a purpose for him of one sort or another...



Standard warlock stuff - though with a slightly religious bent to the backstory, and Anton himself still probably has some religious nature to his being, though rather than be a shining paladin, he's instead swinging his blade with a more ambiguous force behind his force of will!

[Lyku]

I am assuming that this is already full.  If there is an opening, I would be interested in either a Human Wizard (War Magic) or Half Elf Bard (College of Swords).

[Roleplay Frog]

I am assuming that this is already full.  If there is an opening, I would be interested in either a Human Wizard (War Magic) or Half Elf Bard (College of Swords).

DM is not going by first hugs the poodle principle, but by interestingness.. and meshing of characters.


... and I'm still tempted to do a curse of Strahd myself, looking at the interest boom. ^^

[Zaer Darkwail]

... and I'm still tempted to do a curse of Strahd myself, looking at the interest boom. ^^

Would be nice, if lots folks get here and do char concepts but do not get in, you got ready recruit pool take folks in to your game :). I would willing join if your using 'lady' version of Strahd (that could be quite a twist on the tale).

[Lyku]

At the same time my interest is based on what is the pace that's to be expected from players. I know some people run games where they expect one or two posts a week while others expect more rapid responses.

[Roleplay Frog]

Would be nice, if lots folks get here and do char concepts but do not get in, you got ready recruit pool take folks in to your game :). I would willing join if your using 'lady' version of Strahd (that could be quite a twist on the tale).

Female Strahd -really- tempts me. though not sure if she'd be looking for groom-Ire.. Irenus? Irelius? hrmn.. .. you know what, shouting up before I spoiler anything unwittingly.. ^^

I agree with the DM here that 2 posts a week should be going towards a minimum requirement.. ofc, there's wiggle room with rl troubles, we all understand that, anyway.

[iridum248]

Ha, I'm not really keen on a female Strahd. I think that'd change the dynamic of things way too much.

[Florence]

Still need to find art for her, but I've gotten the rest worked out I think:

Name: Eliane

CG Human Female
Monk (Path of Shadow)
Desired role: Stealth, Melee Damage
High Stats: DEX, WIS
Low Stats: INT, CHA

Concept: A streetwise and free-spirited shadowdancer. An idealist to a fault. A stealthy brawler who can quickly maneuver around the battlefield to deliver the hurt where it's needed.

Personality: Eliane has a strong sense of right and wrong that doesn't always coincide with the law. In fact, it frequently runs contrary to it. She has a strong sympathy for others that grew up in the lowly conditions like she did, and is highly suspicious and critical of authority figures. She has a tendency to say what she means, and doesn't try to hide her beliefs. Despite her strongly held beliefs, she is not a humorless person. In fact, she is equally adamant in her belief that life should be enjoyed to its fullest, so long as one doesn't harm others in doing so. Growing up dirt poor has taught her never to take simple pleasures for granted, like a hot meal, a strong drink, and beautiful women.

She has been trained in both mundane and mystical stealth techniques, and she is inclined to pursue strategies that take advantage of those skills; but when guile has failed and violence is needed, she is more than willing to bring her martial training into play. In fact, she quite enjoys a good brawl from time to time, especially after a few drinks. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she's made her share of dwarven friends, and eventually even became fluent in their language. She's also particularly fond of dwarven cuisine, and especially their ales.

Backstory: Growing up on the streets of Athkatla, she was born as less than nothing in the eyes of the powerful. She was a speck of dirt in a muck covered slum. Hunger, loss and injustice were her constant friends during her formative years. She soon took to pickpocketing and the occasional burglary to keep her stomach full. As she got better, she grew more bold, and after the despair of losing her parents to illness, she grew utterly reckless. She didn't imagine she'd live very long anyway, so she figured she may as well enjoy what she could and spite the rich doing it.

Her reckless, but gifted, thievery thankfully caught the attention of the local Shadowdancers before it caught the attention of the guards, and she was given the opportunity to join their order, and seeing little else to do with her life, she hesitantly accepted. She found she took well to their training, enjoyed it even. She studied how to operate more effectively in the shadows, and her body was forged into a weapon. She even learned to channel her ki into shadow magic. One master in particular took her under her wing personally, and constantly pushed her to limits.

When it came to start going out on missions, she took to it well, at first. She especially loved when she was hired out to take the rich and powerful down a peg. However, the order held no such allegiances, and she would find herself working occasionally for the very people she despised. She chafed against the strict traditions and rules of her station, and she despised not having more opportunity to put her talents to use for more worthy causes. Bringing these up to her master only ever got her chastised, told to be patient, to work her way up the ranks until she had more influence to decide what jobs were and weren't taken.

She, however, knew that she could never work from within such an organization to achieve the goals she wanted to fight for. So, one day, she cut and ran, taking what supplies she could with her for the road, and hitting the road out of town before they could even realize she was gone. She didn't know how they'd take her leaving. She wondered if they'd send people after her. Even if that were the case, she had to do what she believed was right. Her conscience would let her do nothing else. So she took to the life of an adventurer, choosing her own jobs and her own battles.

[nomadsoul]

Thanks for all the interest so far!  Characters are looking neat and interesting :-)

As I noted in the opening post, and again by Roleplay Frog, anyone is free to submit characters until this coming Sunday, at which point I'll look over all applicants and which ones I feel confident of providing a game for.

As for female Strahd... well, all I'll confirm for this one is that Strahd will be male.  If it's of importance, all players should assume their PCs originated from Faerun in the Forgotten Realms.  If you're not altogether familiar with the setting, a generic write up of their background works as well and there is no penalty for not being familiar with the Forgotten Realms since everything is more or less focused in Barovia.

[Florence]

Oh, ya know, I hadn't put much thought into it, since I wasn't entirely sure if that was the case. But if the characters ARE from Faerun, then I think I'll edit Eirlys' sheet later and clarify that she's from Athkatla.

I'd do it now, but my brain is barely holding onto consciousness right now, lol, so I think I need a nap.

[tobisquestion]

I'm relatively new to D&D but I'm super keen and will try to throw up a character by the deadline.

[nomadsoul]

No worries tobi; 5e is among the easier versions of D&D out there!  Will look forward to seeing what you come up with :-)

[Sye]

Is this game friendly towards people who haven't played 5th Ed or do you prefer those who know the system?

[nomadsoul]

I certainly have no real objection.  If help is needed, anyone can feel free to drop me a line and I'd be happy to help!  Judging from what I've seen so far, I'm sure other would too.

[Sye]

I certainly have no real objection.  If help is needed, anyone can feel free to drop me a line and I'd be happy to help!  Judging from what I've seen so far, I'm sure other would too.

Oh I see that you already have people with finished characters and you wished for only 3 or 4. That's what I get for not looking at the next page lol

[nomadsoul]

Lol!  I'll just quote this again

As I noted in the opening post, and again by Roleplay Frog, anyone is free to submit characters until this coming Sunday, at which point I'll look over all applicants and which ones I feel confident of providing a game for.

As noted in the opening, PCs won't be chosen on a first come first serve basis.

[Sye]

Lol!  I'll just quote this againAs noted in the opening, PCs won't be chosen on a first come first serve basis.

Well I will face palm myself XD

[nomadsoul]

No worries ;D

Also, now that I think about it, everyone is free to revise their character concepts or details made.  The final one I'll be looking over is what it looks like on Sunday when I close up.

[Revelation]

I'd be happy to help any newbies with the system as well as far as character creation or advice goes.

[Sye]

I'd be happy to help any newbies with the system as well as far as character creation or advice goes.

I looked over what everyones concepts were and deciding if I should try something different.