The Die is Cast | A Freeform D&D Adventure

[Fiadh]

A freeform, nobledark D&D adventure

To the Esteemed Dawnmaster Embros at the Temple of Lathander outside Seacomber,

Friend, dark tidings reach my ears, and so I set quill to parchment with urgency. I write to you from my tower in Shadowdale, where the winds send tell of a grim disturbance not so unlike our adventures of old. Reports of shambling corpses and restless spirits have grown too frequent to be mere coincidence.

My own divinations reveal veiled forces at work, obscured by magics ancient and foul. I fear it is no natural plague of the dead. The Weave shudders with their presence. I would investigate further, but even I cannot be everywhere at once.

I ask you to remain vigilant until my arrival. Watch for the signs: barrows unsettled, spectral lights, the stench of rot where none should be. The balance of life and death teeters, and I fear we have little time before the scale is forced to tilt. Even the Harpers have taken note—whispers of a forgotten power stirring beneath crypts.

Until then, guard yourself, and do not trust the silence of the grave.

Your sagacious confidant, Elminster

Ps. Kindly set aside a wedge of your finest aged Auroch cheddar.

Hello, traveller! I'm gathering an adventuring party who will travel the Sword Coast and beyond for Elminster's task. Although the hook is fairly linear, please consider this a GM-lite sandbox environment. I'll guide the group when necessary but would love for all players to have a hand in plotting. Let's explore character arcs and create a living world rather than "go to X and get Y" without any flavour between! Now, a few things to note:

Smut: Characters are free to engage in adult content, but this is foremost a plot-driven RP.

Courtesy: For the love of Mystra's bosom, be civil to your fellow writers 'else you'll get the boot. Negative attitudes, refusal to collaborate, and god-moding without the other writer's permission will not be tolerated.

Posting: One post per week from each member seems like a fair standard. I will make multiple threads for this story based on player requests, so there's no restriction on post order whilst in scenes apart from the main thread. Also let me know if you're going on hiatus or lose interest so we can arrange what to do with your character.

OOC: All the important notes will be updated in an official OOC thread. A Discord server is already made to keep track of plotting & connections, but joining it is not a requirement.

Please PM me your concept or this template for consideration. Any official D&D content is allowed (Tasha, Xanathar) as well as home brew lore within reason.

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[float=right max=45%][img height=350]http://pic goes here[/img][/float]
[font=Georgia][b][size=4]Name[/size][/b]
[i]Nickname, titles, and aliases go here[/i]

[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Gender | Orientation[/b]:
[b]Race[/b]:
[b]Class | Subclass[/b]: Class name > subclass if used

[b]Appearance:[/b] General appearance, distinguishing marks

[b]Personality:[/b] Paragraph format, bullet points, or list of positive and negative attributes

[b]Background: [/b]A few paragraphs or bullet points. Any secrets you would like to reveal to the GM may be listed here in a spoiler and removed once posted in the CS thread

[b]Equipment[/b]
Any note worthy items?  Link to attribute spread if used, and/or a description

[b]Abilities & Weaknesses[/b]
Link to attribute spread if used, and/or a description

[b]Additional Details[/b]
Dislikes, interests, non-combat talents and a general catch-all for character notes that may not have another place.

[b]World Building[/b]
Homebrew places and people you would like to add to the game![/font]

Link to Current Party Roster

Adventurers:

• Orisana {Eladrin druid} - Fiadh
  
• Chandrelle {High elf rogue} - TheFluffyOne
  
• Astrix {Tiefling wizard} - Eye of Horus
  
• Mercy {Tiefling cleric} - Raven Rawne
  
• Virelis {Shadar-kai blood hunter} - Layne Spooks
  
• Finnian {Gnome bard} - CyrodillicBrandy
  
• Kharn {Leonin warrior} - Aiden
  

[CyrodilicBrandy]

i am so interested. and i love the vaguely dragon age inquisition-style tarot card art! 

[Aiden]

I am interested in being a fighter or barbarian; the idea of nobledark sounds cool. 

Do you want full stats and skills? I can make one in D&D Beyond. Or this more free-formish for combat? No rolls and such. 

[Fiadh]

i am so interested. and i love the vaguely dragon age inquisition-style tarot card art!

Thank you and it'd be wonderful to have you join! I did, in fact, search that style of art. It's one of my favourite things to come out of the DA series.

I am interested in being a fighter or barbarian; the idea of nobledark sounds cool.

Do you want full stats and skills? I can make one in D&D Beyond. Or this more free-formish for combat? No rolls and such.

A fighter or barbarian would be perfect! A few of us created a stat spread on various platforms like dicecloud and D&D beyond to help pad out their character (ie. who's the most likely to charm an NPC?), though with the abilities/weaknesses section and this being predominantely freeform, that's completely optional. I will occasionally make secret rolls to facilitate events and combat. 

So, totally up to you. :)

[AndyZ]

I might go for a Celestial Warlock if that would work.  Nobledark is when you stay positive despite overwhelming odds, if I’m reading correctly?

[Fiadh]

I might go for a Celestial Warlock if that would work.  Nobledark is when you stay positive despite overwhelming odds, if I’m reading correctly?

We have a cleric and paladin currently so the need for additional healing isn't particularly strong. There is also a character with a muddled warlock background (Mercy) linked in the current CS's,

I believe nobledark is having heroic adventurers trying to endure through a morally complex dilemma/dark world, so yes, something like that!

[AndyZ]

Oh, okay.  Well, I’ll keep thinking.  It does look like you have all the bases covered as is.

[Aiden]

Thank you and it'd be wonderful to have you join! I did, in fact, search that style of art. It's one of my favourite things to come out of the DA series.

A fighter or barbarian would be perfect! A few of us created a stat spread on various platforms like dicecloud and D&D beyond to help pad out their character (ie. who's the most likely to charm an NPC?), though with the abilities/weaknesses section and this being predominantely freeform, that's completely optional. I will occasionally make secret rolls to facilitate events and combat.

So, totally up to you. :)

Ok I am thinking either Goliath, orc, or Leonin....and it may be warrior for tanking purposes. Assuming lvl 1...so no crazy monarchies brought or dragons slayed before he can choose his starter Pokémon. 

[Fiadh]

Ok I am thinking either Goliath, orc, or Leonin....and it may be warrior for tanking purposes. Assuming lvl 1...so no crazy monarchies brought or dragons slayed before he can choose his starter Pokémon.

All of those races for a tank are excellent options. I fully endorse this. :)

Re: level, we're starting at a middling range between 8-12 so anywhere in there is fine - not green novices in their field, but not the most veteran monster hunters either, so to speak. There can be events played out in game which would effectively "level up" a characters power down the line.

[AndyZ]

Let me toss a couple other ideas I had.

Way of the Kensei Monk should be fine.  I'm imagining acrobatic and attacks either at ranged or with boots.

Blessed of Corellon, which is in Volo's and lets you change gender.  I imagine she's usually mostly female intersex, female presenting I believe is the correct terminology, but sometimes changes to fully female or male if a woman with a specific orientation catches her eye.

The one questionable idea I had: firearms are a thing in D&D, so could I get away with some ki-powered twin pistols as magic items?  I imagine they have to be attuned by a ki user and shoot cyan-colored bolts of force that do standard monk levels of damage for a Kensei.  (A non-monk can't attune them; a monk would normally use them at maybe a d6 or so; a Kensei can do monk weapon damage by having one as a Kensei weapon.)  Specifically not more powerful than other weapons; I just love the aesthetic of an acrobatic double-pistoled warrior.

They wouldn't need actual ki points to work, just to be powered by a strong ki via attunement.  I imagine they came into being by a wizard attempting to replicate gunpowder using pure magic item crafting.  Sorry if it's a dumb idea.

[Fiadh]

Let me toss a couple other ideas I had.

Way of the Kensei Monk should be fine.  I'm imagining acrobatic and attacks either at ranged or with boots.

Blessed of Corellon, which is in Volo's and lets you change gender.  I imagine she's usually mostly female intersex, female presenting I believe is the correct terminology, but sometimes changes to fully female or male if a woman with a specific orientation catches her eye.

The one questionable idea I had: firearms are a thing in D&D, so could I get away with some ki-powered twin pistols as magic items?  I imagine they have to be attuned by a ki user and shoot cyan-colored bolts of force that do standard monk levels of damage for a Kensei.  (A non-monk can't attune them; a monk would normally use them at maybe a d6 or so; a Kensei can do monk weapon damage by having one as a Kensei weapon.)  Specifically not more powerful than other weapons; I just love the aesthetic of an acrobatic double-pistoled warrior.

They wouldn't need actual ki points to work, just to be powered by a strong ki via attunement.  I imagine they came into being by a wizard attempting to replicate gunpowder using pure magic item crafting.  Sorry if it's a dumb idea.

I would very tentatively allow pistols, and I like that concept overall. It's not a bad idea so much as I'm trying to... reconcile that playstyle with the rest of the abilities of our group.

Per the first post, please send me a CS and I'll let you know what I think! I'll be making my decision based on several factors. :)

[ThisOneGal]

> Any official D&D content is allowed (Tasha, Xanathar) as well as home brew lore within reason.

I've been trying to make the Illrigger work in a non-evil party for a while. Any interest in one of those showing up?

[AndyZ]

I would very tentatively allow pistols, and I like that concept overall. It's not a bad idea so much as I'm trying to... reconcile that playstyle with the rest of the abilities of our group.

Per the first post, please send me a CS and I'll let you know what I think! I'll be making my decision based on several factors. :)

I can also just go for a magic bow that creates magic arrows if that would be preferred ^_^

It may take me a day or two to come up with the concept altogether, but I just wanted to check off the big things and see what was good and what wasn’t there.  Thank you.

[Fiadh]

Thank you to those who sent in fantastic character profiles! The two remaining spots have been filled, so I'm locking this thread. I will re-open it in the future if I make plans to expand the roster and events. :)

[Fiadh]

Re-opening this for one or two more character slots! We are in need of frontline classes like barbarian, paladin, fighter, or maybe an artificer. Kindly review our current character roster or chat with me about ways to integrate yourself into the party. :)

[AndyZ]

How about a monk?

Edit: Not a Kensei from before focused on range but Open Hand.

[Fiadh]

How about a monk?

Edit: Not a Kensei from before focused on range but Open Hand.

Someone more durable would be my preference. :) 

A standard sword 'n board fighter who can also defend, a barbarian who can regenerate with rage, or a paladin who is both frontline and able to add a little to the heal pool since we've only the one cleric. 

If the artificer route is preferred I would have to dig into the mechanics of that class further, though if there's a heavy melee option that is ideal.

[Fiadh]

> Any official D&D content is allowed (Tasha, Xanathar) as well as home brew lore within reason.

I've been trying to make the Illrigger work in a non-evil party for a while. Any interest in one of those showing up?

This is certainly viable! If you're still interested, we could discuss via PM. :)

Otherwise, per the above, we're looking for a durable frontline fighter, paladin, or barbarian.

[ThisOneGal]

Hecc yeah; I'll reach out to you later today. I have errands I need to run first.

[Fiadh]

Hecc yeah; I'll reach out to you later today. I have errands I need to run first.

Looking forward to it!

[Laughing Hyena]

So this is free form 5e or do and requires no dice yes? I have a barbarian goblin gal that could work for you.