Return to the Keep on the Borderland / #fanfic

[Prince Herb]

Could people wishing to play in this game via IRC [9pm UK time on Sundays] sign up here, please?   Indicate also what kind of character you'd like to play, if you have an idea.

[Dracos]

I've got Rakhal and Herb and the board setup.  Anyone else will need to post or poke herb about it.

Dracos

[elisteran]

Moi, as a charistmatic idealistic sorceror intent on demonstrating the ultimate superiority of charm and finesse. (and covering up incidences where it's not)

[seriumu]

Hmm... I want to make a crazy int/dex fighter type character, but I guess I'll just make a more normal fighter instead...

How about this... Hidoyou, the typical mysterious silent warrior guy in a black cloak with a really big weapon :)

[gobleteer]

I don't know if I'll be able to make it, but I'd like to nun turned adventurer.  Class would be rogue.

[elisteran]

"Thorn Redbeer/Redberry"

Level 1 Chatoic Neutral elven sorceror

str 8/con 14/cha 17/dex 14/int 12/wis 9

Thorn is a friendly layabout who's made a name for himself around town for boastful discussion of how magic is responsible for the world's progress,and how subtle misdirection can transform everything. He typically earns money at local bars&casinos helping organize the staff during rush hours of the trade season, dealing with important clients, making sure merchants leave satisfied but a little poorer. His job is to be proactive and "man on the scene" for any situations, until the specialists show up. He showed up about 5 years go in town, having ridden in a wagon train, but has never shown too much inclination to talk about his past. He will shift jobs occasionally, refusing all offers to remain at previous employment, without providing any real reason why.


Skills: Knowledge (arcana): 4,
     Spellcraft: 3
         Concentration: 4
         Bluff: 1
Feats: Eschew Materials
Familiar: cat
Spells known:

Level 0: Resistance, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Message
Level 1: feather fall

Equipment: Backpack                          2
bell                              1
bedroll             .1
winter blanket                  .5
2 map cases         2
1 bucket         .5
crowbar            2
fishing net           4
flask            .03
inkpen           .1   
ink              8
hammer           .5
manacles            15
5 flasks oil           .5
tent               10
spell component pouch      5
peasant's outfit            .1
merchant's scale           2
scholar's outfit           5
traveler's outfit          1

leaving 20.67  gold pieces

[seriumu]

Hopefully this is okay...

Character name: Hidoyou
Player: Seriumu
Class: Fighter 1
Race: Human
Alignment: Neutral evil
Diety: Levistus, Lord of the Fifth
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 180
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue

Str: 17
Dex: 13
Con: 12
Int: 14
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 10

Skills:
4 climb
4 craft (weapon)
4 intimidate
2 survival
2 knowledge (the planes)

Bonus Languages:
Infernal
Abyssal

Feats:
Iron Will
Exotic weapon: Bastard sword
Weapon focus: Bastard sword

Equipment:
Bastard sword
Scalemail
Large wooden shield
Club
Sling
Bullets (20)
Cold weather outfit
Backpack
Bedroll
Winter blanket
Rations (12)
Whet stone
Hemp rope
Pot
Torches (8)
Water skin (2)
Twindertig
Flint and steel
Hammer
Pouch, belt
14 gold, 2 silver

Appearance:
Hidoyou is a tall man with a medium build. Most of his features are obscured by his long dark hair and heavy black cloak, but a single, vicious scar is clearly visible across the lower half of face. Beneath the hood of his locks, two icy blue eyes can be seen peering out impassively.

Personality:
Hidoyou is usually quiet and unobtrusive, but when he wants something, he gets something. He's not afraid of doing something unpleasant to achieve his goals, and he has few morals. Generally he prefers to leave people alone, but he's easily angered and holds a grudge. He doesn't acknowledge legitimite authority, but he respects the power it may hold.

Background:
Hidoyou has spent most of his life in the harsh climate of Stygia, the fifth level of Baator, serving in the army of Levistus. Hidoyou was born in a tiny swamp village near the river Styx. At a young age, Hidoyou was always stronger than most of the other children, a useful trait to be had in hell. He spent much of his time with the village smith, learning the fine arts of weapon crafting. One day, however, during his teenage years, the village was attacked by a small group of minor devils led by Zanth. As the other villagers began hopelessly pleading or running for their lives, Hidoyou armed several villagers with the crude weapons he had created, and ordered them to fight the invaders, or he would kill them himself. As the small army of shaken villagers approached the devils, Hidoyou snuck around them and attacked from behind with an unrelenting fury. Surprised by the sudden attack from behind, as well as the resistence of the villagers, the devils were somehow defeated. Zanth, who was watching the attack from nearby, was impressed by Hidoyou's strength and cunning. After killing all the tired villagers by himself, Zanth took Hidoyou with him to Tantlin, the City of Ice, to Levistus' army. He arranged for Hidoyou to be trained to fight. Hidoyou, striken with grief after the death of everyone in his village, as well as a deep anger for Zanth, took to the lessons well, and soon became a soldier in Levistus' army. Throughout the years, he came into contact with Zanth many times, and each encounter left him more and more imbittered towards the fiend. After years of fighting demon invaders and other outsiders in the name of Levistus, Hidoyou was finally taken before the glacier one day. There, Levistus told Hidoyou that he had learned through some sort of vision that the man could somehow end his inprisonment. Levistus commanded him to find a way to break through his icy prison. Though hardened through his years of battle, Hidoyou was impressed by Levistus' power and was eager to do his lord's bidding. He reasoned that if he completed such a task, Levistus would favor him greatly over Zanth, and Hidoyou could finally be rid of him. Swearing an oath to the great Lord of Stygia, Hidoyou set out immediately to do as he was commanded. He traveled greatly over the next few years, and somehow found himself searching on the material plane...

[Prince Herb]

Thorn Redbeer lacks 1 free language, & 1 1st level spell, otherwise fine.

[Iron Dragoon]

Character Name: Celanyth
Player: Iddy
Class: Rogue (Level 1) [Military Scout]
Race: Wood Elf
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Diety: (Undecided/None)
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 95
Hair: Sandy Blond
Eyes: Green

STR- 14
DEX- 20
CON- 12
INT- 10
WIS- 10
CHA- 8

Skills:
Appraise- 2
Balance- 2
Gather Information- 2
Hide- 4
Listen- 4
Move Silently- 4
Open Lock- 4
Search- 4
Sense Motive- 2
Spot- 4

Languages-
Elvish
Common

Feats:
Armor Proficiency (Light)
Simple Weapon Proficiency
Stealthy

Equipment:
Studded Leather Armor
Dagger (Punching) (x2)- Dam (1d4) Crit Multiplier (x3)
Dart (x15)- Dam (1d4) Range (20') Crit Multiplier (x2)
Outfit - Traveler's
Wrist Sheath (x2)

Backpack-
(Bedroll x1)
(Chalk x3)
(Dart x5)
(Flint and Steel x1)
(Grappleing Hook x1)
(Rope, Hemp/50 ft. x2)
(Waterskin x1)
(Whetstone x1)
(Theives' Tools x1)
(Rations, Trail x7)

Pouch, Belt-
(Chalk x1)
(Fish hook x1)
(Flint and Steel x1)
(Thieves' Tools x1)
(Whetstone x1)

Pouch, Belt-
(Dart x10)

Money-
17.32 Gold

Appearance:
Small and thin, he has sandy blond hair, cut short on the back and sides, comming down to just above his eyes in the front. His right ear is pierced twice on the upper part, while his left ear has a notch taken out of it mid-way up it. A thin, but dark scar leads to the notch in his ear in a line running from two finger widths from the corner of his left eye. His eyes are a almost luminecent emerald green.

Personality:
Celanyth tends to be an upbeat, cheerful person. But he is often indiffrent to the personal problems of others. However, he does show compassion for those who are suffering, especially children. His indiffrence to the desires of others frequently has him in tavern fights, as he simply shrugs off the blustering and intimidation of others. He often respons to threats and intimidation by wise cracking and sarcasim. He gives his loyalty to others rarely and always expects to be scammed.

Background:
Celanyth grew up through wandering. His father and mother were both Rangers and were considered 'worldly' by the other Wood Elves of his tribe. Because of this, they were often regulated by their tribesman to be the ones to deal with the humans of the lands.

They routinely were the ones who delt with the humans and who often planned out and set up the meetings for trade and information. One year, when Celanyth was 39, he traveled with his mother as she went to collect payment from a local village for some pelts. As they approached the village, they smelled smoke on the wind and saw the town in ruins. After a few hours of watching the villagers begining to clean up the town, they approached to find out what happened.

As they were speaking to the village council, they found out that the village was attacked by a group of bandits who demanded their stores of food and valuables, and that they were comming back. His mother resolved to confront the tribe and help the village to drive away the bandits.

Returning to his father, his mother told the story and they departed back to their tribe. The tribe agreed that the humans were on good enough terms, and the bandits should not be allowed to enter the forest in any way, and dispacted a group of ten of their warriors. Celanyth, not being considered an adult, was left behind. But, he followed and watched the battle. The elves were sucessful in driving off the bandits, but the bandits were more powerful than they were led to believe.

The bandits, having had difficulty in getting the village to submit to them, torched the town without having really gotten anything of value. They vowed to return and force the village to give up their stores and valuables. The first group of bandits was only ten strong, but the returning party was twice that number and included a mage. As the elves drove off the bandits, the mage, angry at having been defeated let loose one last fireball, which impacted on Celanyth's already wounded parents and killed them.

Seeing this, Celanyth fled after them in rage, all the way to a city, where he used what little knowlage he had to stalk and kill the mage who murdered his parents. Being inexperianced, he was quickly caught by the city guard. At his trial, he revealed his story, and was offered an alternitive to punishment; Serve in the Milita. He chose to serve, and was placed as a Scout due to the skills he already knew. After serving his term in the Milita, he was released, and decided to continue adventuring.

[Rakhal]

I give up, herewith is Chandor with the quick and dirty background. I'll try to get the full version tidied up later. Sorry.

Character name: Chandor
Player: Rakhal
Class: Cleric 1
Race: Human
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Diety: Wee Jas
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 160
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue

Str: 12
Dex: 10
Con: 14
Int: 12
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 14

Domains: Law and Magic

Skills:
4 concentration
4 spellcraft
4 heal
4 knowledge (religion)

Bonus Languages:
Halfling

Feats:
Combat Casting
Improved Turning

Equipment:
Very fine Clerics Vestments (cost as much as a Courtiers outfit)
Light Mace
Studded Leather Armour
Sling
Bullets (20)
Backpack
Bedroll
Winter blanket
10 candles
Crowbar
Flint and Steel
Mirror
Mug
Rations(10)
Sewing Needle
Soap (1lb)
Holy Symbol (silver)
Pouch, belt
5 gold, 6 silver, 8 copper


Appearance:
Chandor is 5'8" foot tall, with a somewhat effeminate looking face, but hard-looking eyes. There may be traces of makeup, but you are not sure. He is dressed in expensive-looking clerics vestments and it's immediately obvious that these vestments are a cut above the ordinary.They are carefully ironed and pressed. Shoes are immaculately polished, and the hair is carefully coiffed.

Personality:
Chandor is generally quiet, but determined when he thinks he is right. He is a great believer in rules and will follow them to the letter, Not afraid to get into the thick of things when the situation demands, he will however spend ages after the event neatening himself up again.

Background:
Chandor was born into a large farming family and was the youngest of seven children. All through his childhood years he was forced to wear hand-me-downs and as a result one of his fondest dreams was to one-day wear new clothes just for him.

At the age of 12 he went with one of his older brothers to the nearby town one day to sell some pigs. There he saw a statue.. a statue of a stunningly beautiful woman wearing fine clothing. For some reason the statue called to him, and, sneaking away from his brother, he snuck into the temple behind. This was the temple of Wee Jas. Inside he saw the priests, in their pristine robes and was immediately captivated.

On returning home, his imagination was fired. Every coin he received from that time on he saved in the hope of saving enough that he could strike out on his own once he was old enough, and sure enough, on his 15th birthday he announced to his surprised parents that the farming life was not for him.

Unfortunately his father wasn't so impressed and locked young Chandor in the cellar of his house. Chandor was allowed out into the fields during the day, but only under close supervision. Every night he was placed back in the cellar, and slowly, his hatred grew

Finally his chance came. One night when Chandor was being put back in the cellar, his father was distracted by a visitor. As a result he forgot to throw the bolt that would lock Chandor in.

Waiting til late at night, Chandor stole out and barricaded all the doors to the house from the outside, except the door into the kitchen. Then heset a fire in the kitchen. Rapidly he left the house, barred the last door and
retreated to the fringe of the nearby forest to watch.

He didn't have long to wait. The flames swiftly engulfed the wooden building and shortly afterwards the screams begain. No-one made it out alive.

The following day, Chandor made his way to town, and joined the temple that had so taken his fancy all those years ago. Swiftly he earned his place and now he is a respected member of the order. Every now and then the wanderlust hits him and he goes out to adventure and see the world for a bit but always he keeps to himself, and never has he told his tale...

[elisteran]

Also, I know draconic, elven (since I'm an elf) and the 1st level spell Mage Armor

[Sabre]

Well, here's my character.

Cheap background, but it fits the way I see him.

----------------------------------------


Character Name: Mitchigan Goodyear
Player: Rockman_Zero
Class: Fighter (Level 1)
Race: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Diety: Kord
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 247lb
Hair: Brown, short straight
Eyes: brown

STR   16   = +3
DEX   13   = +1
CON   14   = +2
INT   12   = +1
WIS   13   = +1
CHA   10   = +0


Skills:

Skill      Total   

Climb (Str) *   +6
Jump (Str)*   +5
Ride (Dex)*   +4
Swim (Str).*   +5
Listen(wiz)     +2
Search(Int)    +2
Spot(Wiz)    +2

* - Class Skills

Languages-
Common
Dwarven

Feats:
Power Attack
Cleave
Weapon Focus - Great Sword



Equipment:
Greatsword = 50gp
Hide Armour = 15gp
buckler =15gp

Backpack
bedroll
winter blanket
Waterskin
tent
Soap
Lantern, bullseye
sack
Rations-trail (2 weeks worth)
traveler's outfit x1
whetstone
Flint&steel
Pouch, belt

Money left=

36gp
2sp
8cp

Appearance:

Mitchigan has a strong solid build, standing at 6'2" and weighing at 247 lb. His posture conveys his confidence and his brown eyes carry a mischevious glint within them. His hair is kept short, and he wears simple travelling clothes as he tends to travell alot.

Personality: Mitchigan acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society.

Background: Mitchigan, for as long as he could remember, had aspired to become a Paladin.

Oh sure, he'd heard all the snide talk about them... the jokes, the insults, but such was nowhere near enough to deter him.

To be a shining example, a scion of justice, heroism, and the good way... That was his dream, and he would pursue it to the bitter end.

That was, until he failed to pass the acceptance tests. "Too undiciplined," they had said when he had asked why, "A paladin must demonstrate clear judgement, and follow things to the letter of the law, and clearely these are things that you are severely lacking in."

Bah! Laws, rules... What did those matter!? The fact that he wanted to travel the world and inspire good will and law should have been more than enough.

"I'll show them," He thought as he packed his gear, "I'll become the best damn paladin that's ever lived! Whenever evil exposes it's bare behind, I shall be there to spank it!"

And so, Mitchigan Goodyear set off into the world in search for a path towards his dream.

[seriumu]

Well, supposing that we all leveled up after that last encounter...

class:
Fighter: +1

skills:
Climb: +1
Craft (weapon): +1
Intimidate: +1
Survival: +1 (cc)
Knowledge (the planes): +1 (cc)

feats:
Combat expertise: +1

smilies:
':)': +1

Pretty boring level up, after all :P

[Sabre]

Mitchigan Goodyear died.

*Moment of silence*

Well, here's his older sister! ^^;


----------------------------------------

History

The town of Larsan was worn down to say the least. The weather was horrible (as usual) so everyone
was inside the local tavern The Broken Balls having drinks and chatting about the old days. No one
seemed to mind that the indoors was almost as affected by the rain as the outdoors. So many cracks in

well not be there. Perhaps it was just the thought that counted. Nothing out of the ordinary happened
here. Sure, occasionally someone would die, but hey, that's life.

Maybe that was why the girl seemed so mysterious when she entered. The door was flung open wide, revealing
a young girl, most likely still in her ealy twenties, dressed in chainmail marked with the sign of Heronious.
The sword that hung at her side was quickly overlooked as eyes fell upon a masterfully crafted, yet wicked
Gold and slilver sythe that was fastened to her back. She held the reigns to a pitch black horse, a
war-horse to be precise, which matched the color of her hair.

The people just stared at her for a moment, then one of them burst out "Well, come in already, and close
that door. After all, we don't want it to get cold, do we?" The rest laughed, and the girl obeyed, leaving
her horse at the front door. She ran her hand through her damp hair, which went down just past her shoulders.
She tied it at the back of her head into a simple ponytail then went and sat down at the bar.

"What'll you have?" Said the Bartender.

"Nothing, thanks. I just need some shelter from the storm."

"Well, best not stay here. Can't even keep a fire going inside in weather like this. Be better to sleep
in a tent."

"I don't have one."

"Well that's fine, it'd probably be better to sleep on the ground."

"Well, perhaps you could direct me to the nearest city. Is it nearby?"

The bartender laughed. "Evidently, gal, you don't know you're way around here much. The nearest settlement
asides this one's about forty miles away, but it's just as bad.

"The closest real city's about a hundred miles off."

The girl nodded. "Alright. Do you by any chance have a map I could borrow? Or perhaps I could buy it
from you?"

"Fine, sure," said the Bartender. "Ask for a map. I could draw one for you, if you like, but we don't
have many maps round here."

"Well, I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with a map."

"Right. Once I'm off here, I'll do that. 'Till then, I better not stray from my...ahem, work."

The girl nodded solemnly at the bright smiling bartender. The bartender stroked his chin for a moment.
"What is this? Are they all so serious on the outside, or is it just you? People here only act like that
when they've got something on their minds, and seeing as how few of us ever use those useless old things,
it dun't happen very often."

"It's nothing you need to worry about. I've just got things that... that I need to deal with. Take care
of. You understand, I'm on quite a journey."

"Where to?"

"A keep, further up north from here."

That's nearly two hundred miles off of here, ma'am."

"I know. It was six hundred from where I left."

"Well then, why such a long journey?"

"I've a quest. Or at least I think I do."

"What do you mean by that? A quest? Who're you, anyway, to be off in search for a quest?"

"I've come from the Order of the Shining Blade in Talonstar. I'm a Paladin of that order, in the
service of Heronius. I believe I was given this quest in a... a dream."

"Oh, right. Gotcha. Holy paladin, gettin' a holy vision. Go on."

The girl looked at him as if questioning. "I suppose there isn't any harm, though, is there?" She
said after a moments pause. "Back at the order, I had just turned twenty-two. Only a month or two back.
It was that night that I had the dream. I saw an angel, dressed in magnificent shining armor, come to me
and tell me I must go meet a group of travellers."

"Wow. Impressive. What'd you say your name was again?"

The girl grinnedm "I didn't. My name is Pirelli. Pirelli Goodyear."

The bartender looked surprised, "Goodyear you say? Hmm... A fellow came by a few weeks ago by that same
family name. Nice chap too, though he was somewhat roudy."

The girl blinked in surprise, "Was his name Mitchigan?"

"Ah yeah, that's him! Relative?"

The girl sighed, "I'm afraid so... He's my younger brother."

The bartender was curious, but decided not to press the topic further. "I'm Vaun, but it's not like you'll
be staying round here long enough to care. I do have one map... the only one, really, but I suppose that I
could let you have it. Being on a sacred quest, and whatnot. Let me fetch it."

"Thank you."

It was several minutes later that Pirelli received the map. Upon doing so she bade the bartender a
good evening and exited the The Broken Balls without much further adieu to continue to ride through
the night...