The Princess Escort [D&D 5e][NC / EX]

[PrincessBuggy]

Definitely a lot of lore the four who get in are going to have to hash out, at the very least. I'm fully prepared to geek out on the fey and fair folk as needed, since they'd be particularly relevant to my orc-y boy. I like that Laughing Hyena's putting in the time to already flesh out the world though! He's submitted some really cool gods and concepts already.

[1651Leviathan]

Speaking of orc boys, I'm going to jump in and push the character count closer to thirty! I've been following along with this for a few days and I'm excited to finally throw my hat in the ring.

Zerran the Black
Half-Orc Rogue (Swashbuckler/Arcane Trickster)

A bandit and outlaw, notorious throughout the lands of Eboria as an anarchic folk hero – or as a menace to decent men and women everywhere. As he likes to tell it, a loose floorboard changed his life and put him on the path to moral rectitude; albeit a rectitude enforced by the King’s infinite mercy.

Where are they from?
The gutters of the resplendent capital of Eboria, the product of a brothel wench’s poor judgment with respect to Orcish virility.  Zerran grew up a street rat, stealing and scrapping, indifferent to royal marriages, peace with nature, or the prosperity that comes with them. Except, of course, for gold that comes with peace and plenty. As soon as he could scrape together enough coin for a sword, he hired out as a guard on a merchant caravan, then realized that the real money was in robbing them.

What are they like? Do they have friends, family, relatives, connections?
For three years, Zerran wreaked havoc on the highways and byways of Eboria. Friends? Sure, so far as his gang of cutthroats might be called friendly now that he’s switched sides. Plenty of enemies, though; particularly the guildmasters and merchants of Eboria’s capital, but also lawmen who have been outwitted and embarrassed in their pursuit of Zerran. As for family, fuck family. His mother’s gone; his dad never existed in the first place except as a pair of hairy green balls. Connections, though? Plenty of those, and in all the right places: innkeepers who have their fingers in all the good pies, constables whose love of gold is greater than their love of justice, and pawnbrokers who don’t ask frivolous questions like ‘is this yours?’

Why has King Leo decided to trust them enough to hire you for his elite group of adventurers? How long have you been with the group?
Funny story, that. It began with Zerran and his mates, drunk as dwarves after a particularly lucrative haul, in a tavern beneath the walls of the royal castle. The phrase ‘fuck the King’ was uttered several times, after which some witty fellow or another bellowed ‘nah, fuck the Queen.’ At which point the cocksure highwayman declared that such a feat would be easy. In the company of gamblers and knaves, though, such a statement won’t go unchallenged, and before long Zerran has wagered a great deal of money on that fact that he’ll fuck the Queen that very night.

Scaling the wall was child’s play. So were the guards. They never expected anyone to climb the ivy of the Queen’s tower, let alone her would-be suitor. Here Zerran was, in the bedchamber of Eriphise herself, the Queen laid out in her bed for the taking, the King nowhere to be seen. But then, disaster! Zerran’s overeager stride caused a screeching of a loose floorboard; or perhaps a piece of porcelain was knocked from a shelf – the details change with every telling. After that, the game was up.

Taken before the King to explain his presence, Zerran answered crassly: “I was there to fuck your wife. She’s got a nice, fat ass, your Majesty. Shame to waste it.” There was a moment of steely silence, and then King Leo burst out in thunderous laughter. The rogue had saved himself from the noose by his bravado, but he didn’t keep his freedom. In payment for his crime, King Leo decreed that Zerran would have to use his talents for the good of the realm rather than his own anarchic aims.

What is your preconception of Princess Cliara?
Ask Zerran and he’ll tell you her ass isn’t nearly so fat as her mom’s. But if you get past the sardonic, crooked veneer, he might tell you that he admires her pursuit of freedom. Her willfulness is like his banditry, both little bits of rebellion against the King. But there’s also a deep-seated anger toward the rich and powerful that comes from his street-rat days. Besides, fair’s fair: if Leo can make him into a servant, why can’t Zerran do the same to Cliara? Fuck the King, and fuck his daughter too.

What are your ons/offs? What are your character’s ons/offs?
Zerran and I have similar tastes. I love the idea of sharing Cliara between the party, stuffing her from all sides or taking turns. Gangbangs are the best way to get a Short Rest during a busy adventuring day. Rough, wild sexual encounters are Zerran’s norm. Lots of choking, hair-pulling, etc. He’s got a crude wit, so dirty, degrading talk is another. He’s got a penchant for married women (stealing is his thing, after all), so if Cliara ever encounters NPC suitors, she can expect him not to respect their vows at all, and the same goes for other women he may envounter. His Orcish side means he won’t think twice about pinning her down and using her. Offs include the usual suspects (sexual gore, bathroom activities, etc) and being cuckolded.

Rok’marr Griffonblood
Orc Barbarian, Forge/War Cleric, or Ranger

In the far north, beyond the hearths of civilized men, wild hearts still beat. The Orcs of the Wastes have long hunted great monsters and marked themselves with their blood. Rok’marr earned his name by spearing a beast from the icy arctic sky, but now he and his brother-Orcs are in the service of King Leo – for in those years before the marriage of Eriphise, the King had desperate need of monster-hunters to stem the power leaking from the Planes.

Where are they from?
Deep in icy northern wastes, there is a place where fire and ice meet: an ancient volcano where the Orcs of the Beastslayer Clan dwell. It was here that Rok’marr was born, the child of a chieftain. The manticore entrails that were pulled by the shamans to seek the future of the newborn prophesied great things: they said he would be a mighty warrior whose spear would thrust deep into royal flesh. At this time, the northern tribes still harboured thoughts of war and resistance against King Leo’s conquering armies, and so Rok’marr’s birth was seen as a sign of great things. But it was not to be.

What are they like? Do they have friends, family, relatives, or connections?
Rok’marr was raised by his people, becoming a powerful warleader, traditionally-minded, strong in body and will. He earned his name by bringing down a griffon from mid-air. Some say the spirits guided his blow. Rok’marr doesn’t say much about it either way, but don’t let him catch you claiming it was all down to good fortune.

His family is his clan, but most of them have stayed in the north. A few ventured south with him when it was clear that King Leo’s conquest was complete to swear fealty. The King, newly victorious politically but faced with a growing elemental threat, saw a tribe of fearsome monster hunters as invaluable tools. So Rok’marr and his fellows were given gifts and honours, that they would remain and slay the King’s foes. He has won the respect of many of the King’s knights and soldiers through his deeds in Eboria, but he’ll always be a stranger in a strange land, never quite a friend.

Why has King Leo decided to trust them enough to hire you for his elite group of adventurers? How long have you been with the group?
Trust in Rok’marr comes from a blood oath that the Orc took when swearing fealty. He swore to protect the King and his realm, may the fire spirits burn him to ashes should he break his vow. Besides, as an experienced and merciless killer, Rok’marr was exactly the sort of man for the job of doing what others can’t. Consequently, he’s been with the group since its inception. Those who have served with him before know that the Orc is terse, rough, honourable, and driven. He will never shrink from a challenge or leave a foe standing.

What is your preconception of Princess Cliara?
A waif of a girl, unproven in both battle and her womanly duties. Which is to say, he doesn’t think she could hit him or get her lips around his cock. He swore his oath to her father, who was a mighty conqueror, not to this little princess. She’ll have to earn his respect, and that won’t be an easy task.

What are your ons/offs? What are your character’s ons/offs.
Like with Zerran, I love the idea of gangbanging the Princess into a mewling mess, and rough, wild sex will be the norm. Probably even rougher. Rok’marr is a full-blooded Orc with a strong animalistic side. Biting, growling, and brutal power won’t be unusual. There’ll be a sizeplay aspect to him as well; he’s a towering barbarian with a little delicate human. He could break her easily, and will. As for offs, they’re the same as above: no sexual gore, bathroom activities, or receiving cuckolding.

[Doomblade403xxx]

"A fellow northerner, though no kin of mine. A mere human with the audacity to call himself a wolf. Though I suppose the comparison is apt, for his kind are very much like wolves: cowardly pack hunters who have somehow stumbled into a reputation for being brave. Not only did they refuse to ally with Hailheim to face the king, he chose to bend the knee to him without even putting up a fight. He may have northern blood, but that feeble soul was surely forged further south"

"I bested his champion in single combat and we ALLIED with the king to make my tribe stronger. My people are tribal and have never heard of Hailhelm which is testament to his importance to the realm as a whole. Harsh rebukes made in solitude mean nothing. Saying them where one may hear, could be the last words one spoke in a very pitiful life."

[euanthe]

I'm so very much into adjusting my background to include other players in it if I get selected and would also love to write thoughts on everyone else's but given the amount I think I'd rather wait and see if I make it through the cut..

Me too!

[Gremgoblin]

Waiting honestly does sound like the more rational, smart choice.

[Pink Professional]

Waiting honestly does sound like the more rational, smart choice.

Jokes on you, I'm neither rational or smart. Why do you think my fantasy of choice was being a bratty Wizard GF?

[Gremgoblin]

Oh by all means, I'm not rational or smart either, it's just that, yknow, in hindsight.. filling out this list for 20-30 people is a lot more work than doing it for 3 people, and not doing it if I'm not picked. 

[PrincessBuggy]

Pssh, putting in way too much effort is the hallmark of unabashed nerdgasming. Also Pink wanting to apply a bratty wizard gal is iconic, my mind will not be changed on this.

[Pink Professional]

I enjoyed appreciating everyone's work, and at least Snow knows she isn't the only one who did it now.

[Gremgoblin]

I enjoyed it too.

[Pink Professional]

It goes without saying, I've enjoyed the new additions; even if each one makes me revise the Thoughts Post.

[1651Leviathan]

I'm gonna hold off on doing thoughts on the other characters too, it's a bit of a daunting prospect right now! But, for snowdrop's reference when picking the final team, I did a table of all the entries. Hopefully it helps! Anyone else, let me know if I got something wrong and I'll fix it.



   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Name	Race	Sex	Class(es)
Mortimer Blackthorn	Tiefling	Male	Cleric
Victoria Silverhoof	Tiefling	Futanari	Fighter
Cedevax	Human	Male	Barbarian
Tallia Faerun Evilin Trustin	Half Elf Elf	Female Female	Bard Rogue
Erkhardt of Eboria	Half Elf	Male	Paladin
Baerdur	Satyr	Male	Monk
Lady Liliane	Human/Eladrin	Female	Bard/Artificer
Delona Myth'ala	Half Elf	Female	Wizard
Jokull of Villirheim	Human(?)	Male	Ranger (possibly druid/paladin)
Princess Winona Ursyn	Shifter	Futanari	Fighter
Nuneyd Aalstrom	Human	Male	Sorcerer
Beldon (Belle) Ironsword	Human	It's complicated	Paladin
Melanthe	Half Elf	Female	Warlock
Arg'hash Pryor	Half Orc	Male	Druid
Carlness	Human	Male	Artificer/Ranger
Abigail Limner	Human	Female or Futanari	Artificer
Ashivon	Tiefling	Male	Hexadin/Roguadin/Warlock/Rogue/Monk
Roland Ebonhawke	Human	Male	Fighter
Cassian O'Cuinn	Human	Male	Fighter
Zerran the Black Rok'marr Griffonblood	Half Orc Orc	Male Male	Rogue Barbarian/Cleric/Ranger
Logan K'tra	Human	Male	Ranger

[PrincessBuggy]

It's complicated

Wew!

I'm sure snowdrop will appreciate this table, though she probably does have one of her own. Meanwhile we also get to be reminded of the other consideration she has to make of actually matching party roles from a game perspective. 

[Pink Professional]

I'd almost be tempted to further sub-divide it into 'Roles' if I was Snowdrop.

I will admit, seeing the hunger for this sort of story is very encouraging for other prospective DMs.

[PrincessBuggy]

I will admit, seeing the hunger for this sort of story is very encouraging for other prospective DMs.

Pssh, implying subs have organizational skills (not you snowdrop you're the exception because you're cool  )

I actually was considering throwing something together if I ever adjust to my work schedule any time soon! I probably wouldn't use a super subby character as a central plot device like snowdrop is though, so the interest probably wouldn't be even close to as through the roof :0 But it's a future possibility, shrug.

[Laughing Hyena]

Well I had the motivation to make a fourth god for it whom might be just a little bit pissed about the current state of Eboria.

Arehesa - Chaotic Neutral, Greater God
Domains: Arcane, Nature, Tempest
Titles: "The Queen of Chimera" "The Oaken Witch" "The Wyld"

Origins: "Always shall thou return to the soil in which I walk upon thee." Arehesa is not a goddess commonly worshipped anymore. Once in Eboria her name was spoken with reverence and fear for she was a Queen of Queens amongst the borders between mortals and the fey. Wielding the four elements like a painter works the canvas she once held control over the lands. However one of her own creations fell for the whims and fleeting lifespan of a mortal king ambitious and resourceful. In their union her influence was slowly but surely sapped from her. She resisted unable to comprehend why such a short lived creature much less so many of them would seek to undo her artistic vision. Her banishment was one of outright emotions that ran with the very same wild energy that had been so dangerous. The last felt of her was a shrieking howl of unyielding anger over her daughters betrayal. Most mortals would have assumed that it was the end of her.

They are wrong.

Beyond the realm of mortals within a vast wood of twisted trees that writhe like flesh, obsidian for leaves to shelter those within it in the alien light of the moon. The trees which bear fruits of crystalized hearts and blood for it's sap, and upon a vast throne of branches she resides, cultivating newly made mockeries of her likeness, each unique and beautiful without the flaws of mortality. She paints with the sap, and infuses the bodies with the fruit. She breathes life into new beings, new apex creatures of predatory intellect and soldiers that almost are able to mimic mortals, in posture and looks. Each is perfect, too perfect to be mistaken for natural within the mortal world. Standing higher than a minotaur, her body is of nubile twisted ashen oak. Her head is crowned by a set of stag antlers with amber locks of hair, tipped with red sap. She wears a crown that bears the alacorn of a unicorn. Eyes of jet black onyx survey all she sees, her face lacks distinction nor shape, like a scrying mirror of flesh. There she waits for the moment when the seed grows strong and ripens.

She is the primordial chaos... and she is angry.

Dogma: "Ants claim the soil, heedless of their trespass." The followers of Arehesa each believe they will ascend into a perfect body by following the Queen of Chimera. Transformation and alteration are part of their creed and their priests help the acolytes become more like their revered goddess and forcibly convert those they capture into vassals to try and break their mortal minds. They worship the primordial world and the wild magic it represents. They share their patron goddesses contempt for the loss of wild magic and the old world. Terrifying tales in times of old spoke of their worshippers stealing into villages in the dead of night to abduct worthy vessels and through unknown rituals transfer the crystal souls of the fey into the still living mortal bodies of those they kidnap.

Worshippers: "We are made in her vision. She brings clarity to this unnatural hell. Insight to our blunted and twisted ignorance." The mortal world has desecrated the natural order, the ever-changing primordial magics have been severed. Like losing ones hands the sense of touch is torn away. Swear loyalty and help heal this world, chase the ants away and be her vessels. Be her sight, be her hands and she shall reshape this world and make her chosen perfect once more. This line of thinking is everything to the followers of Arehesa. They done scaled robes of obsidian to match the woodlands of the kingdom she holds sway over. Each wears a faceless mask of ashen oak. Those of higher rank might even bear mutation in her images such as antlers or simply craft a crown.

Knights of Arehesa do not exist from the world of mortals. Instead they are often found from the Feywild crafted personally from Arehesa herself. They may look like Eldarin or Gensai, but never truly are of mortal perfection. But mock it enough to be able to pierce the veil dividing the worlds. The Oath is of the Ancients for what is Arehesa if not the more ancient of gods?

The Holy Symbol of Arehesa is a Clawed Hand holding a Crystal Heart. The Holy Weapon of Arehesa is a Greatsword.

[snowdrop]

Mostly because I think my question got washed away in the early furor; I asked if there are any interesting or common myths or urban legends in Eboria? Wise words about Hags? Stories about the dangers of Dragon's gold? Spooky stories about mishandled Spectres and Undead? I'm curious if there are any 'prevalent' threats that inhabitants of the land might know of.

Ah! So sorry, I must have missed that in the midst of all the lovely chatter... D:

The boring answer would be that if you can think of a monster or a fairy-tale that's prevalent in D&D lore, somewhere in Eboria there's bound to be myths and legends about it. The land is a very diverse collection of different cultures and different people, the eastern corner of Eboria will be very unlike the western corner. (On a more practical note, I'll lock down some of these corners in more detail once we have our group selected and can build more of the world around them!)

The most prevalent legends that are shared by all Eborian realms will all revolve around wild elemental magic, and how it's always been deeply intertwined with nature. Before the land was "tamed" some twenty years ago, it was quite common to hear tales of rivers and lakes coming *alive*, wild beasts raging with literal fire coming out of their eyes, winds talking to people's ears in a very real sense. How exactly all of this was interpreted varied among the cultures: many seemed to believe that all living things in nature have a shamanistic spirit in them; all rabbits are manifestations of the same Spirit of the Rabbit, and such. Since many people witnessed elemental beings manifest from seemingly out of the thin air, it wasn't difficult to believe these stories. Yet there were other, differing explanations as well, especially from cults, gods and religions.

Over the last two decades, these effects have all been far more subdued, and while it's still not too uncommon to see waterfalls glimmering with magic, lightning strike out of a cloudless sky, and other similar effects, they are nothing compared to the literal ethereal dragons some swear they saw decades ago. As such, many memories are getting hazier and many stories are getting more and more colorful. Exact details are getting harder to recall and every tale seems even more fantastical than it used to be... even for those who actually lived in the wilder days!

And what of the Fey? Are there any fair folk or fey courts to speak of and what they think of the whole situation? I have an idea for a Fey wild god or goddess. Give reasons for the Kings crusade or at least more morally grey.

Fey-folk have always been prevalent in Eboria, even though their physical presence has much diminished in the last twenty years as well. Specifically, the types of fey who today visit the Material Plane are mostly those who are very friendly towards mortal folk, which is not at all a given: most fey are a mischievous lot, full of weird traditions and trickery.

Everyone considers it a given that there are plenty of entrances to Feywild all around Eboria, but no one will admit to knowing where they may be located; everyone who has been allowed to return from Feywild has been made to swear an oath of secrecy (and the fey have their ways to ensure people keep their oaths!). Stories of the Feywild are all extremely unreliable, both because travelling between the planes seems to muddle memories, and because for every person who has actually visited Feywild, there are three others who only claim to have done so; but the common thread of many stories is that Feywild holds several seelie and unseelie courts, all of which are of some distant familial relation to each other, and all of which are constantly juggling for power and control of the Feywild; although almost always through complicated political plotting rather than brute warfare.

Of course, most people are quite convinced Queen Eriphise is of fey blood, at least to some amount. A boon for the land, or a danger to all if her fey relatives decide they have a claim to the material plane as well...?



As far as the King's motivations or justifications, and greater lore in general are concerned... there's plenty I haven't felt necessary to share with you just yet I want to leave a bunch for the players to uncover and (hopefully) get surprised by once the game is actually running!

[snowdrop]

Oh, and... tables? I have a whole damn spreadsheet at this point, and I haven't even tried to properly figure out how I'm supposed to select the final four!

I think D&D games are always popular here, at least from what I've seen. I think it's just the eternal struggle of there not being as many willing DMs as there are enthusiastic players!

[PrincessBuggy]

Oh, and... tables? I have a whole damn spreadsheet at this point, and I haven't even tried to properly figure out how I'm supposed to select the final four!

I think D&D games are always popular here, at least from what I've seen. I think it's just the eternal struggle of there not being as many willing DMs as there are enthusiastic players!

May I suggest trial by combat, last four standing?

But yeah, I guess they would be. Fantasy does seem to be the most popular genre of speculative fiction, both for reading and roleplaying, though I've never backed up that hunch with data. Especially a DM willing to bring to life to the group's kinky interests and pleasure (hi snowdrop  ) through NPCs, and in this case a full DMPC, that's a lot of bonus points for the inevitable flood of interested players to hook onto (there are still three days left for applications oh god)

Lore is noted! I'm sure all of us will be flexible with our character's lore details as long as the general core ideas can remain intact! I personally just threw together a whole story as an exercise in the theoretical possibilities to get the brain working.

[Pink Professional]

If I cast Rope Trick and just...dip, does that count as surviving the Trail by combat?

Asking for a friend.

[Laughing Hyena]

whom aligns with your vision for the game and most importantly with the eventual ons you had in mind for the princess?

[snowdrop]

If I cast Rope Trick and just...dip, does that count as surviving the Trail by combat?

Asking for a friend.

Coincidentally, as fun and quirky of a spell as Rope Trick is, for some reason I can't help but feel a bit disappointed... I mean, I don't know, I just expected something different from a spell called "Rope Trick"...

[Laughing Hyena]

Coincidentally, as fun and quirky of a spell as Rope Trick is, for some reason I can't help but feel a bit disappointed... I mean, I don't know, I just expected something different from a spell called "Rope Trick"...

Animate Rope. ^_^

[Snowball]

I've been keeping my hat out of the ring, but I wanted to say that this is a super neat thing you've got going here, snowdrop!

Good luck with picking your players - I've been on the side of having to sift through a ton of applications before. It's never easy, but go with your gut!

[PrincessBuggy]

But we could have had the snowball and snowdrop synergy though :0

Animate Rope. ^_^

tfw an arcane caster will be guaranteed a slot now