Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Master_Vega 04-15-08, 12:43 AM	Here's a character I want to play in some future campaign... I don't know how to go about making him class-wise, though. A little help on that, and on his backstory, would be appreciated. Thanks! So, without further to do... "They say his fingers are cold to the touch..." a middle-aged woman whispered to her friend a memory cued by the passing stranger, an exorcist they called him, and the small gathering of townsfolk following him. "Certainly a pale young man," the other replied as she finished replenishing the apples in her sales bin. "Th'house is down the road a bit longer, Mr. Cade," a concerned man assured the hooded young figure as they continued to advance. "Thank you," the man replied calmly, simply. His escorts nodded and turned their faces to the cottage as it came into view. "There's a specter hauntin' it... Mrs. Galen swears she saw her daughter there..." It was Cade's turn to nod, and he studied the small home for the remaining steps leading up to its door, "I'll speak with her." The men looked at each other nervously, then at the calm young man, "Just be careful. Mr. Galen hasn't yet recovered since his wife dragged him out of there." "I will see him later, then," Cade replied and then stepped into the home, brushing the hood of his traveler's cloak back and hefting a lantern from his belt. The lamp began to glow seemingly on its own accord as he raised it, lighting his pale face and dusty brown hair. His right eye shown a deathly light blue while his left reflected green in the lantern light as he scanned the area. "You can come out," he informed the resident, whose presence sent a chill down his spine, "I only mean to make a proposition." Suddenly his lantern flared furiously and blazed light behind him. Cade sidestepped quickly and whirled about to see a small spectral child float by in a rage. "Thanks, Clara," he said to the beacon, then whispered a quick incantation to freeze the ghost before him. "Lemme go!" she screamed furiously, "Leave me alone!" Where most would feel great terror at this sight, Cade only felt pity. The poor thing had such a short run at life, significantly shorter than his own, "Who did this to you, child?" "Uncle Fredric! Coward! COWARD!" "Hush!" Cade commanded, getting down on one knee and holding a finger up in front of the child's face, "Why is he a coward? What did he do?" The girl paused for a moment, then looked down, "He... before I died, I heard him talking to aunt Nelly... He was jealous of father, because they couldn't have children... th-then they argued and he left..." There were no tears on the little one's face, such things are only the privilege of the living, but Cade knew she was beginning to weep. Quickly and cautiously, he cast another spell to keep the spirit still and harmless. "HE KILLED ME! COWARD! COWARD UNCLE!" "Calm, down," he ordered again, brushing her transparent cheek. "I can help you, but in return you must help me." "Help me!? How can you help me!? I'm stuck here forever." she pouted. "I can carry you," he offered. "Carry me? L-like daddy did?" she asked, looking up innocently. Cade's gaze dropped to the floor. This was always difficult, seeing the last pure remnants of traumatized souls predominantly twisted by hate. He looked back up into her eyes and nodded, "Yes, after we see your uncle receives due punishment... but for now, I can only carry you within this lantern; the people cannot see you or they will be frightened, and we cannot expose your uncle. Do you understand?" She inclined her jaw in conformation. "Good. Can I have your name?" "Malissa." "All right, Malissa, there's another spirit inside this lantern. Her name is Clara, and she will keep you company until we get to your uncle's house. Is that fine?" "Yes." The next few days were consumed by investigation, and when Malissa and Cade were able to bring forth enough evidence that her uncle was indeed her killer, the townspeople saw the criminal hanged. Cade was rewarded for the exorcism, he had removed the evil spirit from the Galen home, and for bringing Malissa's murderer to trial. He handed Mrs. Galen half of the bounty so that she could commission a cleric to heal her husband, then after a few goodbyes he left town. Over the course of the investigation, Clara was able to heal Malissa's damaged soul, and relieve her of the burdens and hate that plagued her. A few witnesses said that, when he left, he appeared to hold something in his arms. While most simply shrugged it off as a harmless oddity, like the young man himself, some claimed that they saw a small girl staring back at them over his shoulder as she waved goodbye. Note: Cade only takes willing ghosts along his journey. If the ghost does not wish to aid him, he will dismiss it to whatever afterlife it merits (usually a good or neutral afterlife after it has been healed). Okay, I'm pretty sure Cade is either (un)dead, or was and became something else. Clara is the spirit of someone close to him, who has served as a guardian and companion, as well as a healer for specters like Malissa. Beyond that, I'm not sure what made Cade or Clara who they are in this piece... or what class Cade is. Does anyone have any idea? Thanks!
LadyLindis 04-15-08, 01:03 AM	I get three ideas for their relationship: 1- They were newly married. 2- they were simply friends. 3- Cade just bought her ring, and was going to propose the day they died...wait, he carries her ring, the ring he would have given her, in his pocket. (I'm a girl, I could literaly, pull romance out of a stone. :P)
Master_Vega 04-15-08, 12:17 PM	As much as I like the romantic ideas, especially number 3, if I intend to play this character in someone else's game, I probably don't want Cade and Clara to romantically involved; it's simply because that would get awkward very fast. If they were engaged or married, it would be neat to have the ring be a focus for calling Clara out of the lantern... By the way, does anyone have an idea about what class this guy should be? Would Binder work? I've never really read up on the Binder before, so if someone could determine if that would be a fitting class that'd be great. Is it possible that he's just a good cleric with the Control Undead class feature instead of Turn Undead? Thanks!
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 02:23 AM	:bump: For the purpose of making things less awkward for my group (and myself :P), I'm having Clara be Cade's childhood friend. Anyhow... here's more about Cade and Clara, for those who wish to read (or comment, commenting would be nice. XD) Thanks to some help on the classes forum, I'm going to speak with the GM about using an adaptation of the Binder class, as well as the Cleric and a few other classes from the Tome of Magic. A chill wind seemed to cling to each member of the caravan as it blew through the night, an ill though often ignored omen. Cade, a talented child of a wealthy family, slept in one of the coaches and merely shivered as he felt the cool air brush by him impossibly before it exited the small, closed cabin. He was bound for a wizard's college so that he could bring yet another diversity to his family's repertoire of talents and strengths. He was proud of this, and plainly of his ability. Only the servant girl sitting next to him noticed the wind, and that it blew through the solid walls of the coach. She shivered and looked around for where it had come from; perhaps a hole had been made by a branch as they passed it... but there was no large entrance through which the wind could enter; there were only the smaller ventilation holes to keep the cabin's occupants from suffocating. She whimpered quietly, always easy to scare, and curled into a ball on her seat. She could not wake the young master over her imagination. Though he was understanding and a friend of hers, more than willing to listen to her, he needed his rest for his arrive at the college in the morning. She wished she could tell someone else what she felt, but she had been ordered not to open the coach doors unless she and Cade were in danger and needed to exit it. Besides, no one would believe the daydreams of a ten-year-old... and so she remained curled, shivering and hoping the fell omen was only her imagination. Another hour passed and she finally broke her embrace of her own legs, relaxing finally, but still unable to sleep like her young master. She gazed out the window to see if she could make out the silhouette of one of the guardsmen, then after she succeeded in doing so, she turned curious green eyes to the sky to watch the stars. What greeted her there was not the comforting twinkle of the celestial entities, but instead a horrible, monstrous face that filled the window. She shrieked and leaped back, hands unconsciously reaching for Cade. When she reached him, she tried to wake the boy. There was shouting outside now, as the guards had no-doubt heard her scream and saw the devil at the window. Swords were drawn, spears readied and warnings and threats shouted at the beast. The little girl shook her friend violently to try and make him wake, but he did not. She looked back at the window to see if the monster was still there; it had left, but she heard the men fighting it outside. She shook the boy again, "Master Cade!" No reaction. "Master Cade, we're in danger! We must leave!" she pleaded. Again, there was no response. This was not at all like him to sleep as deeply as he now did, and she feared him dead... but he was still breathing. Remembering the boy's studies, and him reciting information to her in rehearsal for his tutors and teachers. She gathered that whatever fiend had been against the window cast an enchantment upon her friend. The servant girl became even more fearful now, and hoped whatever grip the beast had on Cade would disappear soon. Something slammed into the coach, rocking the vehicle and putting a large, splintering dent into the side of it. The girl saw the devil appear through the window again and pick up the guard it had just thrown against their carriage. She whimpered weakly and returned to Cade's side, now trying to pull him to the opposite door from the fiend. Her efforts were too late; the massive creature's claws dug into the wall near the seat she had rested in only moments ago and tore it apart. The icy air now made it's long-awaited greeting of the children, bringing all warmth away from them. The poor servant girl turned her attention to Cade as she frantically tried to wake him, "Cade, please! Please!" "...Please! Please!" And he was drawn out of his nightmare into another. He bolted awake and reached for the girl whose grasp just left him. She was screaming now, a terrible scream. He opened his blue eyes and saw before him a terrible scene. A giant monstrosity, a devil he unconsciously identified, now held his closest friend. "CLARA!" he cried out, standing on the torn bench. Foolishly he tried to attack the abomination and free the girl -then again, running would have done no good either-, only to find himself caught in the monster's grasp and forced to watch as it devoured her... and then turned its teeth upon him. Cade awoke again, feeling a seething, boiling air surrounding him. He groaned as he struggled to sit up and open his eyes. The world around him was a hideous, fiery place with molten spires reaching high into an ash-filled sky. He was so stunned by the sight that he failed to notice Clara until he and she bumped into one another. They both cried out in surprise before seeing each other and gripping hands. How long had they laid here? The wizard-to-be wondered. Before he could think too much on the question, he and Clara found themselves surrounded by a small platoon of pitifully proportioned, molten creatures. They advanced in toward them, claws bared and liquid mouths agape. The frightened children held one-another and tried to find a way out; there was none... but then as the first Lemure swung its arm at Clara, a massive, deep voice bellowed for it to cease. It obeyed and cowered away from the pair. Advancing on Clara and Cade now was a much larger, grander opponent with a vile, fang-filled grin, powerful wings and a twisted tail. There was nothing to do but watch as it stepped up to them and laughed wretchedly. Before anything more could happen, though, Cade felt something tug at his soul; it felt warm and comforting, calling him away from this dark place. Knowing he had to listen to its haling, he tightened his embrace around Clara as he allowed the invisible force to pull him out of this new, horrible world... and with him he brought Clara. And after a long, dreamless sleep, Cade awoke for a third time. He groaned tried to move, but his atrophied muscles would not let him yet. So instead he gazed about his new environment. It was a simple room with a bed and a window, a heavily warded window. On the other end of the room sat a woman, who studied a holy text as she waited for her watch to end. The boy tried to speak, but only coughed. Alerted, the sister looked at him and gasped before taking a stone from her pocket and speaking, "He's awake. Come quickly." "Hello?" "Hush, child. You can speak to the priest and your family when they arrive. Save your voice for then," the woman told him as she stroked his cheek. He nodded and kept quiet, and then noticed Clara lay next to him, still sleeping. He grinned broadly and hugged her, but his arms passed through her form. Cade blinked. "What's wrong?" his caretaker asked, noting his odd behavior. "What's wrong with Clara?" his voice wavered with fear. "Clara?" the woman asked. "The girl! The girl right there!" A troubled look crossed the adult's face, "There's no girl next to you, dear... You're imagining her." "I'm not! She's right there!" Cade barely even got to speak with his parents before they were dismissed. The boy's health was checked by the priest, who was baffled by his chill skin and green eye. The boy was made to stay at the church of Palor for several months before he was determined to still be sane, and perfectly healthy -despite the frailty that came from being a resurrected child-. Over the course of his stay, he and Clara learned that the poor girl was only a spirit now, bound to him by some unknown means -not even the priesthood was aware of her-. He was released back to his family, with whom he stayed for a half-year longer before he was confronted by a ghost. While everyone else fled when the mad soul showed itself to them, Cade and Clara stood firm and worked together to unbind it from this world and send it to the next. When asked how he accomplished this, he told his family he did not know. When they persisted to ask, and he slipped up and mentioned Clara to them, he made up his mind to run away before they institutionalized him again. And so he has been running ever since, a half-dead man with his dead friend in toe, making a living of removing dead things that remained in the material world... by peaceful or non-peaceful means. As for how he and Clara were resurrected so oddly, I figure that she was his first binding (remember, I'm altering the Binder class), and part of the price of bringing her back was taking on part of her -the green eye-. The deathly cold is her presence, though since he is merged with her, he cannot feel the cold himself. I'll have to work with the GM to see what powers Clara grants, but that's not what this thread is for... though ideas would be appreciated. :P So, what do you guys think?
LadyLindis 04-27-08, 02:47 AM	XD Yeah the couple thing was a long shot. :P But very nice work, Vega. I feel bad for the poor kids... having such a horrible experience and then losing each other. Hmm...some sort of benevolent... I have no idea. XD Looks like I didn't have much to say. ^_^
Firaeki 04-27-08, 12:57 PM	I'm actually considering modifying the Dread NEcromancer for this one. Make alignment any nonevil, remove charnel touch and lich progression. Clara is an example of a familiar which replaces the existing ability, and is essentially a sentient object possessed by a spirit and obtained at 1st level. Let the DN gain access to the cure spells as well as inflict, and give him the HoH feat Spirit Sense as a bonus feat at 1st level (no requirements, minimum of 1 minute). Additionally give it an ability similar to the ranger's Favored Enemy, but only works on Undead and increases by +2 every 5 levels. At 5th level, your weapons and armor function as though they had the ghost touch enchantment. At this point, you essentially have the White Necromancer, an exorciser of souls and commander of willing spirits, opponent to evil necromancers, and someone who struggles to give the art he practices a good name.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 01:06 PM	That's a neat idea, Firaeki. I'll have to check HoH out and look at the Dread Necromancer class. Could you tell me, without breaking CoC, what some of the other abilities the class has to begin with? Thanks for reading and replying to this; what do you think of the concept?
Firaeki 04-27-08, 01:25 PM	That's a neat idea, Firaeki. I'll have to check HoH out and look at the Dread Necromancer class. Could you tell me, without breaking CoC, what some of the other abilities the class has to begin with? Thanks for reading and replying to this; what do you think of the concept? Dread Necromancer is a light armor spellcaster that specialized in necromantic spells that command and summon the undead. In this form, it would essentially make you have the ability to control spirits who willingly serve you, and the familiar you have would replace the more vil, higher level familiar the DN gets. I would basically consider your familiar to be one of a few things, and give it certain traits based on what you pick. I haven't decided on other items, but here's the lantern: Lantern: Can produce light as the spell at will, continuous. Int, Wis, and Cha of lantern = rolled like an ordinary character. Can learn 2+Int Bonus (minimum 1) skill points per level of the White Necromancer, to put in any Knowledge skill. Spirit Sense basically makes you able to see the spirits (not ghosts, but actual spiritual forms) of the dead within a certain amount of time after they die, as they wait to become either the undead or pass into the next world.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 01:41 PM	So would Clara be considered his familiar, or are you saying the lantern would be? Is there any mechanic that would allow his lantern to contain and transport spirits, or would that just be fluff? If the lantern is an intelligent magical item, how much will that cost?
Firaeki 04-27-08, 01:46 PM	So would Clara be considered his familiar, or are you saying the lantern would be? Is there any mechanic that would allow his lantern to contain and transport spirits, or would that just be fluff? If the lantern is an intelligent magical item, how much will that cost? I would make Clara the familiar, but she is manifested in the possession of an ordinary lantern (price in PHB) and controls it using her own energy in that fashion.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 01:58 PM	Ah, now that... that is very cool. :P Thanks a great deal for your help! I have two books to look into, now. lol!
Firaeki 04-27-08, 02:01 PM	No problem. The Heroes of Horror book has both Spirit Sense, the Dread Necromancer, and a few feats you might want to look into, as well as several spells which are on the DN's spell list. Your character concept, I might add, is rather awesome. I would absolutely love to play alongside it if I had the opportunity.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 02:18 PM	If you live in the California Mojave Desert, you might be able to. :P Looking at your more recent character concept, it'd be a lot of fun to play alongside you as well. Thanks for the compliment on the concept, by the way; it's one I've been wanting to tie to mechanics for at least a year now.
Firaeki 04-27-08, 02:33 PM	If you live in the California Mojave Desert, you might be able to. :P Looking at your more recent character concept, it'd be a lot of fun to play alongside you as well. Thanks for the compliment on the concept, by the way; it's one I've been wanting to tie to mechanics for at least a year now. You mean Ainuan? And its a pity, I live on the other end of the country in Massachusetts.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 02:41 PM	You mean Ainuan? And its a pity, I live on the other end of the country in Massachusetts. Yes indeed. And that is a pity. Maybe in a play-by-post campaign sometime. :P On an off note, I've been wondering what it'd be like if there was a Character Development Board: Regular Attendee's game. The idea seems awesome enough to give a shot, though I don't know if my storytelling skills are enough to deem me worthy of GMing such a campaign, so I'm not offering to run it. :P
Firaeki 04-27-08, 02:42 PM	Go get Terjon. GO GET TERJON OF THE BLUE ROSE NOW. xD
Heliomance 04-28-08, 04:36 AM	He sounds rather like the Abhorsens from the Old Kingdom trilogy by Garth Nix. That said, it is an awesome concept.
Master_Vega 04-28-08, 11:32 AM	Just wiki'd it. I suppose he is kinda like them. I don't no much more about them, though, since the Wikipedia article doesn't say much. :P Glad people are actually enjoying the character. Thanks for the compliments, comments, and help! Oh, I've also found an additional adventuring motive: Gain enough funds, or the ability, to True Resurrect Clara... and considering my group's main GM's desire to run a low-magic game (with exceptions), I'd say that's a good long-term goal. Of course, that makes him a bit like Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist... what with having seen an afterlife, and come back with a disembodied friend, and making his primary goal to have said friend resurrected as a normal human being.
Master_Vega 04-29-08, 04:56 PM	Random encounter: I decided to focus on his spellcasting for this encounter... I also only used low-level spells because I'm not sure what the starting level of the next campaign I'll be attending is. Finally, Cade doesn't employ Malissa in this combat because I'm not sure he'll be keeping Malissa as an asset... what with her being the soul of a five-year-old girl and all. >_> Anyhow, here's this afternoon's boredom focused into a combat encounter: Cade never thought anything odd about traveling alone, but that is to be expected of a runaway. Unfortunately, this tended to draw the attention of highwaymen and other criminals looking for easy prey. Today's problem was a group of five goblins, javelins pointed toward Cade as the boldest rasped a demand. "Pack, human." The exorcist sighed and looked over the quintuple of pitiful creatures, then replied in a calm voice, "This is not worth your lives; leave me be." "Pack or life, smartmouth!" the lead goblin jabbed its javelin at him. He shot it an icy glare, his inconsistently colored eyes smoldering in wrath. Then with an inhumanly thunderous and terrifying voice he commanded, "Leave me be, goblin, or die. It is of little consequence to me." Cade would have preferred not to take a life, but he also would have preferred not to waste a fear-inducing spell on something so weak. If they pressed on after this, he would kill the with but a word. Fortunately, the thieves' resolve was no match for Cade's spell. They fled, tripping over each other as they did. Later, Clara whispered to the light necromancer that they were being followed. He glanced over his shoulder to see a pair of bugbears doing their best to remain undetected while keeping pace with him. The goblins' leaders, he assumed, then called his second spell of the day to memory. The human whirled about and shot a ray from his finger, easily landing the shot upon the left bugbear. The brute stumbled under the weight of its gear, obviously taking the spell's effect as illy as possible. The second bugbear roared and made a charge for him. It rammed into Cade's right side and sent him reeling, but not badly enough to bring him down. The mage quickly and carefully cast the last spell he was willing to dispense, making his hand crackle with lightning. Before the beast could react, he struck it upside the head and delivered a powerful shock to its brain. The bugbear fell in a heap, leaving only its enfeebled brother to deal with. Cade took a jagged longsword sword from beneath his cloak and advanced toward it, "I warned your underlings, and by attacking me you have forfeit your lives." It glared back at him, managing to remove enough gear so that it could move freely again. The beast wielded a mace like its friend had, and said nothing as it readied to combat Cade. The man let it strike at him first, sidestepping its attack and running his blade across its side. The goblinoid howled in pain and brought its mace down toward him, but its lack of strength made the attack easy to dodge. Cade took advantage of the opening, stepping in and plunging the vicious-bladed sword into his opponent's gut. "May your path to the afterlife be clear," he said dismissively and cleaned his sword on the creature's fur. He relieved the beasts of their purses and daggers, but left the rest of their things to rot with them. As adrenaline fled his body, the necromancer remembered the wound in his side and downed a potion he had purchased at the last church of Palor. The contents of the vial closed the cuts and soothed the bruise beneath his skin leaving him ready for travel once more... and so he left without another thought of the goblins or their fallen leaders.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-02-08, 07:36 PM	Very not bad. Seems a little cold to the goblins after their deaths but it's not neccessarily the wrong way to handle that. Have you considered Spirit Shaman? It looks to me like it would work out nicely with a lot less mechanical re-building? As for the idea of a PbP I'd be interested. MV and I are talking about it. I think he is trying to convince me to give a shot at running it. Might do it though as a DM I'm far less confident than as a character writer. We're discussing things through PM.
Master_Vega 05-03-08, 01:44 AM	Thanks, Terjon! Well, all he did to the goblins was cast Cause Fear on them. The bugbears on the other hand... I suppose he was a bit cold, but then he does not hold bandits in high regard, especially those who bash his side up. :P Heh... which book is Spirit Shaman in? I keep asking but no one answers. :P Well, if you don't feel up to running it, I suppose I could run the game. I just thought it would be most fitting for you to. lol On a slightly off note: Is it unhealthy to get excited about a mental picture of Cade, Ziyelle (Lindis' half-drow character), Anuian, Horik (the paladin of Oldimarra), Ol' Bill, a Stormwind Paladin, and a few other memorable character concepts from this forum in the same party? XD
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-03-08, 02:49 AM	Actually in combat I was fine with. It was the way he treated them after they were dead that gave pause. Spirit Shaman is complete divine I think I could run the game. I'd be willing to give it a try at least. Gonna have to work out times and a place I can access the net with a reasonable speed connection away from work. Maybe but if it is unhealthy you're not the only sick fellow here.
Heliomance 05-03-08, 10:06 AM	I would be interested in a PbP - a chance to learn from the masters!
Master_Vega 05-03-08, 10:25 AM	@ Terjon -- Oh, you mean taking their money and cleaning his sword the one's fur... and then leaving them to rot. That might've been a bit much. I'm not sure, though, if he's the type to go around burying adversaries, though. He might be like Porthos (or was it Athos...? It was the musketeer who prayed for his adversaries' souls after he killed them), though. that is, if I re-write that. Thanks, I'll look into that class. Well, keep us posted on your progress. :D I didn't think I'd ever feel good about knowing someone else is sick. :P @ Heliomance -- Glad to see people are interested. We'll have to wait for Terjon on his answer, though I don't think he'll have a problem. ^_^
Firaeki 05-08-08, 01:57 PM	Wow, I haven't been arounbd as much as I was previously. And I'd love to see that little party get together, it could be rather amazing to see I think.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-08-08, 07:19 PM	Check your PMs. MV has already sent one to you and Helio about this. We just haven't received any responses.