Kingdom of Dust (D&D 3.5 original setting)

[Rajah]

Aimon Raheru, the Scarblossom

Race: Djinn-born (Asherati)
Class: Sublime Way something-or-other
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

"Destiny is a choice. If you are wise, you make it yours."

SKETCH: Aimon is a monk, previously a devotee of the crocodile-bodied Iselene, one of a trio of desert deities, whose noted purviews include life, nature, and knowledge. His former sect, the Navigators of the Green Sea, believed in the dream of a verdant and wasteless world, relying on drugs to seek visions of oases to be discovered or created - and for their own indolent pleasure, grown rich and lazy on the wealth of the drug trade they manage across a dozen nations.

He abandoned their ranks after a harrowing incident: sent to escort a trade shipment meant to join a tibbit caravan, he was ambushed by bandits motivated not by greed but by a powerful lich of the wastes, whose voice was grinding glass and whose shadow brought sunstroke and madness. Such creatures were not uncommon; the undead plague the deserts, and the Asherati are themselves strangely prone to joining their number, especially in recent years...but these things had been distant, vague and unimportant. They had no relation to the blistering heat of sunsoaked iron manacles searing Aimon's wrists, no suggestion or forewarning of how the stench of his own blood could make him retch and gag. No preparation for the world-dimming sensation of a scarab entering a wound. Tortured, broken, and made to renounce and violate every vow and principle he believed in, he learned that there is evil that cannot be bought off or bartered with...and pain that no amount of pleasure can erase. Aimon spent almost a year being unmade for the amusement of a monster warped beyond all recognition of ever having shared mortality with him...and did not escape by his own power, rather by the sacrifice of a noble paladin who had come to slay the lich and chose ensuring Aimon's freedom over her own survival. Aimon didn't watch her die, but her eyes before he fled spoke of an acceptance he had never found even while pleading for his life to be ended.

That moment shattered something in him agony and cruelty could not, and he recognized for the first time the pointlessness of all he had done and made of himself. He realized fully what it was to be hollow. Returning home, Aimon relayed only the generalities of what had befallen him, and then retreated from the world into the long-neglected libraries and tapestry-hall kept by the priesthood, abandoning the addictions that had once compelled him as soon as he realized that no dulling of his mind would fully submerge its fresh scars.

It was in meditations on his savior's devotion that he found some glimmer of purpose; it was in half-forgotten parables and mosaics depicting ancient martial arts that he uncovered a means to see it fulfilled. There were sublime traditions among the Djinn-born, but they earned respect only in their flourishes and had been shorn of their once-deeper meaning. He uncovered hints of older purposes, ancient orders, a true Green Sea...a kingdom now of dust. And a name for those who had carried that knowledge and died with it, those whose sacrifices, like the paladin he had left behind, had no one left to honor them. The Teeth of Paradise.

In the past few years since discovering the frustratingly-vague suggestions of a greater culture now vanished, Aimon has made something of a name for himself as a fierce warrior and hunter after things escaped from the Dustlands, a boon to many a lost traveler and dangerously circumspect caravan. Now that the dust has settled, he perceives the unmistakable touch of Fate and divine will...

Weeper is the name for it.

This one? They're neat. Good balance, great flavor, and they have their own little niche + general competency that doesn't crowd out anyone else. (Also, like all the best homebrew, they offer some interesting things if you dip INTO them but there's really no way to play prestige roulette OUT, meaning a dedicated Weeper has to actually be a dedicated Weeper.) I like Leziad's stuff as a general rule.

Definitely doesn't occupy the "cleric" slot if Muse wants to play a cleric. They can do a bunch of cleric-y things, but they don't have domains, healing, summoning, face-bashing, or the all-important 9th-level spellcasting. They're more about debuffs and support and high sustained cold damage.

[Muse]

Sounds interesting.  :) 

Danil Bron--exiled third son of a nobleman, priest of lathander, and good hearted lecher.  (Current traveling while an angry father forgets who is responsible for deflowering his daughter.) 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A3z7SzSdbP54HE0SiBwGONAydlWBvUSQXU6ZNHpryjY/edit

Sleep now...

[Marie Reynolds]

Would the Scout Class from complete Adventurer be allowed?

[SmilingFox]

Scouts are absolutely alright. So, Currently we have a Factotum, a Sha'ir, a Favored Soul, a Monk, with someone working on a Scout. Weeper is... Interesting, but a bit too powerful for me to be comfortable with as a homebrew. (Notably the 1d6/level ranged touched attacks at will, that eventually stuns on hit)

Also, if you're going Scout, look into the Swift Hunter feat. It requires a level of Ranger, but 'apply precision damage to favored enemies' will let you skirmish against undead and constructs. (*wink wink nudge nudge*)

[Interdiction of words]

The 1d6 touch attack at will I cut out, I instead changed it to 4 times a day

[SmilingFox]

The 1d6 touch attack at will I cut out, I instead changed it to 4 times a day

I'd be fine with it at will if you shifted it over to the warlock damage progression for Eldritch Blast. It's just... It really seems like they're trying to shove way too much stuff into the Weeper class. It's like a warlock with double the invocations. I mean they get a 'save or die' at will against undead creatures, and eventually a 'save or die' gaze attack against anything. I'd just prefer if you played a non-homebrew class.

[Interdiction of words]

I'd be fine with it at will if you shifted it over to the warlock damage progression for Eldritch Blast. It's just... It really seems like they're trying to shove way too much stuff into the Weeper class. It's like a warlock with double the invocations. I mean they get a 'save or die' at will against undead creatures, and eventually a 'save or die' gaze attack against anything. I'd just prefer if you played a non-homebrew class.

Alright but I want to pitch one more thing your way, it is called the Zen Archer. I know it is homebrew but I have seen it before and I like it. Not to extremely powerful and all it changes is the monk's unarmed strike it more archery type fighting. If it doesn't work out I can just do a monk.

*Nevermind I am going monk but first minotaur*

[SmilingFox]

Sure. That looks reasonable. Reminds me in a way of the Soul Bow class.

[Interdiction of words]

Sure. That looks reasonable. Reminds me in a way of the Soul Bow class.

I changed my mind a bit and I am going a minotaur first followed by a monk through Savage species

[Interdiction of words]

Thalos

Thalos   CR 1
Male Minotaur, Minotaur 1
Diety: Ehlonna
CG Large Humanoid
Str+2 Con +2 Int -4 Cha -2; Senses Dark Vision 60 feet;
Languages Common, Giant
---------------------
AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 12
. . (+1 Dex, +2 natural armor -1 size)
hp 12 (1d8+4)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4
---------------------
Speed 30ft.
Melee weapon Unarmed strike (1d4) Gore (1d4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Combat Gear Robes, loin cloth
---------------------
Abilities Str 16+2 Dex 12 Con 16+2 Int 10-4 Wis 14 Cha 8-2
Feats Improved Unarmed Strike, Gore
Possessions combat gear plus Backpack (28 @ 20 lbs), Flask, Flint and steel, Holly and mistletoe,  Hot weather gear, Mirror, small steel, Money, Potion of Cure Light Wounds, Pouch, belt (8 @ 7.05 lbs), Rations, trail (per day), Soap (per), Sunrod, Traveller's Outfit (Free), Waterskin, Whetstone, rope 10 feet, chain twenty feet wrapped around his body. Robes, loin cloth, water jugs.
--------------------
Description:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Think Dante's inferno with the chains

Background:
Raised in a home where good wasn't always present, Thalos tried to get along with the others of his kind but they slowly turned on him. Finding him a minotaur that wasn't worth the time or effort they threw him out of the cave they lived in. He raised himself in the wilds but instead he learned of other races but just watching them. This continued till one faithful day when a traveler had fallen down. Thalos helped the traveler back to his older feet; the traveler was blind so that he didn't know that Thalos was a minotaur. The traveler pleaded that he would teach him all he knew to the kind soul that had saved him. Thalos was raised day by day into the minotaur he is now; looking to becoming a monk soon but he still has a long way to go.

[SmilingFox]

Thalos

Thalos   CR 1
Male Minotaur, Minotaur 1
Diety: Ehlonna
CG Large Humanoid
Str+2 Con +2 Int -4 Cha -2; Senses Dark Vision 60 feet;
Languages Common, Giant
---------------------
AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 12
. . (+1 Dex, +2 natural armor -1 size)
hp 12 (1d8+4)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4
---------------------
Speed 30ft.
Melee weapon Unarmed strike (1d4) Gore (1d4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +1; Grp +0
Combat Gear Robes, loin cloth
---------------------
Abilities Str 10 Dex 18 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 16
SQ Weeper, Racial Skill Bonus, Subtype - Catfolk, Type - Humanoid
Feats Improved Unarmed Strike, Gore
Possessions combat gear plus Backpack (28 @ 20 lbs), Flask, Flint and steel, Holly and mistletoe,  Hot weather gear, Mirror, small steel, Money, Potion of Cure Light Wounds, Pouch, belt (8 @ 7.05 lbs), Rations, trail (per day), Soap (per), Sunrod, Traveller's Outfit (Free), Waterskin, Whetstone, rope 10 feet, chain twenty feet wrapped around his body. Robes, loin cloth, water jugs.
--------------------
Description:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Think Dante's inferno with the chains

Background:
Raised in a home where good wasn't always present, Thalos tried to get along with the others of his kind but they slowly turned on him. Finding him a minotaur that wasn't worth the time or effort they threw him out of the cave they lived in. He raised himself in the wilds but instead he learned of other races but just watching them. This continued till one faithful day when a traveler had fallen down. Thalos helped the traveler back to his older feet; the traveler was blind so that he didn't know that Thalos was a minotaur. The traveler pleaded that he would teach him all he knew to the kind soul that had saved him. Thalos was raised day by day into the minotaur he is now; looking to becoming a monk soon but he still has a long way to go.

There's a serious problem with your stats. We're doing a point buy, so you need to use a point buy calculator. Start with a stat base of 8 in each and apply your racial mod last. The way your stats are set up now, you've spent 52 points, rather than 32.

Also, what's up with "SQ Weeper, Racial Skill Bonus, Subtype - Catfolk, Type - Humanoid"

[Interdiction of words]

sorry I converted the sheet I had over but I forgot to change some things

[Interdiction of words]

There's a serious problem with your stats. We're doing a point buy, so you need to use a point buy calculator. Start with a stat base of 8 in each and apply your racial mod last. The way your stats are set up now, you've spent 52 points, rather than 32.

Also, what's up with "SQ Weeper, Racial Skill Bonus, Subtype - Catfolk, Type - Humanoid"

I think it is fixed

[eBadger]

Smilingfox, I don't think I got a reply: any room left for an airship officer wizard?

[Green Goo Theory]

Since we have a monk I think I'll stay away from the Unarmed swordsage I've been considering.  And someone's cnosidering a wizard. 

I really want to avoid stronger characters even though an Artificer would be awesome thematically for a game like this.  Thinking maybe a psion or the Dragonborn of Bahamut Dragonfire Adept. 

[Rajah]

Since we have a monk I think I'll stay away from the Unarmed swordsage I've been considering.

"Monk", not monk. It would be sinful to play an asherati and not make use of my next-to-free proficiency with the incredibly cool eagle's claw, and while I am working with something with a maneuver progression, it tops out at 11 / 5 readied compared to the swordsage's 26 / bajillion readied and has access to neither Desert Wind nor Shadow Hand. Which is a shame because both Desert Wind (dem boosts) and Shadow Hand (dat Shadow Blade) go great with TWFing, which I really want to do, but I'm thinking I'll just, you know, deal.

Aimon is a devout martial artist, not a punching guy. But I don't know. I hate his background now that I've woken up and looked it over. I will play SOMETHING fight-y in any case.

Not to discourage you from those other ideas, which also sound awesome, just noting I'm not really in that "space."

[SmilingFox]

I have a Favored Soul, a Sha'ir and a Minotaur who've put in character sheets. I'll call it at 6, so the next three with completed characters get a buy in. Wizard is fine, Tome of Battle is fine as well.

[eBadger]

Adding the final touches to my character sheet here.  Let me know if you can access it!

I'll have the fluff posted shortly. 

[SmilingFox]

Looks good. Two slots open now.

[Interdiction of words]

Well a Minotaur right now but I can make him into something else if I so desire but it will be either monk or something of the unharmed line.

[Rajah]

Aimon Raheru, the Scarblossom

Race: Asherati
Class: "Meditant"

Refluff and stuff

A nature-worshipping flurry whose fighting styles all have names and aesthetics embodying the primordial ferocity of the mythic Green Sea, a once-and-future promised land where mortal and monster live as one. Sword-summoning is a big theme of the class, so that gets refluffed as phantom beasts and the fangs of a long-maligned goddess. Something like Magic: the Gathering's Nayan godspeakers.

Would like to substitute Sleeping Goddess for Iron Heart, gaining Autohypnosis as a class skill. Would normally lose Balance, but Stone Dragon is also Balance.

Ability Scores: Strength 10, Dexterity 16, Constitution 12, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 14, Charisma 8
Languages: Asherati, Common, Ignan, Elven, Draconic
Feat: Weapon Finesse
Skill Points: Autohypnosis 4, Balance 4 Concentration 4, Knowledge (Arcana) 4, Jump 4, Martial Lore 4, Tumble 4
Gear: A pair of masterwork eagle's claws made of ivory and obsidian (Sandstorm 96), a mithral shirt, a bracelet of Asherati koans written on papyrus and preserved in amber (masterwork Concentration tool), training manuals depicting the core concepts of half a dozen martial styles (masterwork Martial Lore tool), rations for a week

Maneuvers: Wolf Fang Strike (Strike), Ego-Wounding Strike (Strike), Blood in the Water (Stance)
Familiar: Mongoose (Rat)

Other Notes

I do want to redo the backstory in the next day or so, but that's the sheet completed. For the sake of expedience I don't have all the assorted derivative traits (Fortitude +3, Reflex +3, Will +4, HP 9, AC 17, et cetera) listed, because they're not choices I've made, they're just math. I'll put together a Google doc tomorrow with them in it.

M of B (pretentious name, I know) has all its design notes and stuff in-thread because jiriku does great documentation, and you can see some discussion and the relatively short revision history. The class is self-limiting with things like no bonus spells for high attributes and a very tightly controlled spell list, but like anything with any access to arcane magic whatsoever, there are stupid things you can do to break it. I will not do these things. I further offer my solemn vow I will not attempt to do anything shitty to your game, because I want to play in it.

If you're wondering what the class does in one sentences, it attacks, self-buffs, and summons swords that also attack. You can make something similar out of abjurant champion, except that doesn't really come into its own until like level 8 and then it's more like a full spellcaster that also kills things with swords on the side. M of B does a bunch less damage and is slightly less, I guess, "mage"-y than a duskblade but has much, much better utility. It does comparable damage to other ToB classes despite its slower maneuver progression. I personally might not, because I want to TWF, and ToB normally handles TWF through a trifecta of Desert Wind, Shadow Hand, and Tiger Claw.

[eBadger]

Lt. Charlotte Sterns

Stats are done: here. 

Lt. Charlotte Sterns of the Aeronaut’s and Navigator’s Guild

   

The Aeronaut’s and Navigator’s Guild represents a confederacy of merchants, crew, and mercenaries promoting trade in the airways.  By no means a monopoly, they are however one of the few civilian organizations which carefully monitor capability and professionalism; licensure as a Guild vessel is a powerful tool in negotiations and the organization is a powerful interest. 

Charlotte Sterns was born into this nationless fraternity, following at the heels of her father – an experienced and respected captain – ever since her mother died at young age.  It was a natural progression to apprenticeship.  Charlotte performed well by dint of courage, intelligence and moxy, earning her rank as a Lieutenant and midshipman on her father’s ship despite pirates, storms, and beasts. 

Nevertheless, professional life in the service and shadow of her father quickly began to chaff, despite their mutual fondness.   The expedition to the kingdom of Dust seemed like a perfect opportunity to prove her skills independently and, hopefully, obtain some riches that would purchase her own ship, or at least shares in the cargo she’s helping haul. 

Charlotte is generally open, ethical and honest.  She does possess a dry sense of sarcasm that isn’t always appropriate, but is usually formal and slightly aloof.  She prefers her Guild Marines uniform, with its embroidered frock coat, tall boots and shako, which lend her a military looks.  Her twin pistols rarely leave her side, and although she’s not remarkable for her combat prowess she does keep a level head. 

Her particular pleasures include romance novels, brandy, polished brass, quirky magical effects and lovely women, as well as a mercenary’s appreciation for coin. 

[CarnivalOfTheGoat]

I have a Favored Soul, a Sha'ir and a Minotaur who've put in character sheets. I'll call it at 6, so the next three with completed characters get a buy in. Wizard is fine, Tome of Battle is fine as well.

You should also have a Tibbit factotum. Did you not see my sheet in my post the other day? It's the link in giant look-at-me-point-font under the image and above the background, where I usually see people put such things... Sorry if that wasn't obvious. :)

[SmilingFox]

You should also have a Tibbit factotum.

Right, sorry. That makes six then, welcome aboard. I'll throw up an OOC and IC thread later on today and we can get started. Thank you all for your interest.

[Interdiction of words]

Yeah here we go but one quick question, with my minotaur is it ok if I throw in some flavor with those chains?