Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Satori 09-20-05, 12:37 AM	'ello, -I have a three DnD games in the works right now. One I DM for, and is a 1 on 1 RP intensive game, the other is a pure "Dungeon Crawl/Kick in the Door" , and the third is my personal favorite. The third campaign is run by a college history professor who has created an entirely original world, complete with divine abstractions, multiple layers of belief with elements of Buddhism/Hinduism/Judaism/Christianity/Norse, completely unique cities, and various "in house" rules that we find inhibiting. The first two games are played out of boredom, when we have time. The last game, however, is an epic in the making and is typically something we all prepare for MONTHS ahead of time. It is extremely RP intensive, with a rather loose rule set that rewards strategic character creation and play. Its one of those "Play what you want...but be prepared to deal with your shortcomings". Currently, we are all in the process of fleshing out our individual characters. So far we have a Gypsy Rogue with limited, plot hook style psychic powers ranging from premonitions to "Aura Reading" and "Object Impression Sight", a savage Gnomish Druid that personifies the harsh, violent nature of Winter, and a former military General who has somehow found her skills/abilities/prestige stripped from her...but not her haunted, everpresent memories of military valor and wars won and lost. My character concept is rather bizarre, so bear with me. Within this created world, there is a city (the name slips my mind) that has established a relatively peaceful coexistence with the Undead. The government is Lawful Neutral, and is ruled by an undead being that is only referred to by their title...and is otherwise kept completely hidden from the public. To keep the city from falling to tyranny, a budding council composed of various prominent undead leaders acts as a form of "Constitutional Monarchy" to keep the current ruler in check. A counter-council of prominent living leaders also holds influence in equal parts to the undead council...thereby creating a bizarre, continually shifting political power struggle within the upper echelons of the government. Why would a living situation such as this even work? Simple...they need each other. The city is set up to allow the living citizens a moderately peaceful, luxurous life. In fact, the quality of life within this city is MUCH higher than in predominantly human/living societies. Why? How? Think about it. If you strip away the superstition and stereotypes surrounding undead, you can begin to understand how incredibly economical their use would be. This city has recognized that, and utilizes various forms of undead to essentially run various "unclean" aspects of the city. Zombies/skeletons run the farms, build homes, and provide all the hard physical labor. Special wizard-locked and warded sewer lids seal in packs of ghouls with the underground sewage system to act as a continual recycling system (along with various oozes and slimes). Much loved professors and politicians are allowed "Delayed Retirement" and "Continued Service", and popular living politicians can even be "moved" to the undead council upon their natural death. Because most of the menial tasks are taken care of by tireless, mindless undead, the humans are free to pursue education and fill occupations better suited to "living folk". In order to keep the ranks of Undead full, there exists a form of Ancestor Worship. With this belief, it is held that a family member's duty to the family doesn't stop at death. After a family member's natural life has ended, the bodies are animated and bound to serve the family until destroyed. This way, a father can be sure to protect his family long after he has passed away. If you think about it, the idea is brilliant. The city is able to run on fewer resources, the amount of undead create an instant army in case of attack, and the human population is substantial and needed enough not to be taken advantage of (overtly, at least). In addition, unmotivated individuals can always sign up for "Society Donation", whereupon they are given a life of luxury...in exchange for daily contributions of blood, tissue, or life force. Now...this society is like any other and full of corruption and political mayhem. There exists the rather positive "Above Ground" view and practice...and then the rather dark "Underground" life that really keeps the city moving. Those within the "Underground" are continually trying to maintain the tenuous balance between living and unliving. Accidents occur, and some undead drink more than their fill...some humans over react or cause accidental fires, destroying undead...such incidences need to be covered up and explained. There also exists the ethical controversy concerning undead and necromancy in general. Some view that the body is nothing more than a shell, and that the substance of a person departs upon death. Others feel that the body is important...as such, a number of provocative political stances and opinions fly around day to day. Phew...sorry bout that. Now on to my character. I'm going to be playing a monk/cleric from within the "Underground" of this city. Raised within a one of the temples (there are hundreds of different religions, but almost all practice necromancy simply out of necessity), he begins his life as a rather lackluster, unmotivated monk that serves various purposes among the "Task Masters". Similar to the "Corpse Collectors" of Kaarnath, his responsibilities range from defending the church to acting as town law enforcement to covering up "Mishaps"....and to collecting "resources" to replenish the cities continual need for bodies. This is a rather prestigious occupation for one as unskilled as he (starting at 1st level), but is made possible because of his politically inclined parents. This is where I need your help. One of his parents is some type of politician, clergyman, etc... while the other is something...else. The union was arranged for political reasons , similar to marriages like Felician Heinze and John Kerry or other politically charged unions (though I hope they weren't arranged :-p). This ultimately means that my character is a grudging tool for the political machinations of his parents. Now...I need help deciding on what his "other" parent is. I'm shooting for something planar, with ties to a realm that would work for the city. I'm open to all suggestions, though PLEASE don't recommend a Half-Vampire...I've watched Blade and Vampire Hunter D far too many times to be comfortable with that. Keep in mind that the character will be L/N, and will be motivated by "Duty" more than personal greed. I'm looking for something that could either act as a mentor (literally or abstractly) or even as a reoccuring villain. Could be REALLY planar and never seen, or mundane and interacting with daily life. I just don't know. As a side, we're (the DM and I) planning on "fixing" my character's disregard for authority and religion by killing him at around 3rd or 4th level...maybe sooner if I decide to go Sacred Fist. Upon his death, he'll be summarily animated and used to do all sorts of fun things...after which the "Something Other" parent will intervene and basically grant the pc another chance (by resurrection...no undead pc for me). This is what causes his dynamic change of heart, and causes him to drop his monk training and throw himself into the cleric class. Wow, that was long. Thanking in advance for the help! Satori
DeeL 09-20-05, 09:03 PM	Have your DM introduce 3 characters. The first is a remarkably mundane politician type, a who is concerned for your chars welfare in a remarkably cold and detached fashion. Your character is an asset to this person, and although there is a clear fondness it should be clear that your character will be 'cut loose' if he turns into a liability. This one always keeps his hands clean, no matter what, and won't even commit to any religious sect for fear of offending any other. The second is a humble shop-keeper of some sort, at best an advisor to the Undead Council. It is clearly an Outsider, and rumor places it at the top of Celestial or Infernal hierarchy, but outcast. This creature takes an interest in your character that seems merely affable, but gradually begins to entail sacrifice after sacrifice for your characters sake, with only the occasional favor in return. Now why would such a being take such an interest in a humble mortal...? (Think the Andrew Robinson character Garak from ST: Deep Space Nine for inspiration) And the third should be some sort of Fae creature, almost an alien intelligence, a complete stranger in a city of the Undead, who seems to be living to complicate the life of your character. One of these creatures should be the person who got your character Resurrected. One of them should be your characters progenitor. And the DM should be the one who, secretly, decides which one. If indeed they are the same one...
Satori 09-20-05, 10:51 PM	Wow...I can tell that you actually read through my lengthy post. Those are some intriguing ideas. I'll definately discuss them with the DM when I can. With this in mind, it might be better if I simply create the character as a standard "Human", then allow the plot and the DMs machinations to ultimately decide WHAT I truly am. Thanks for taking the time to answer. Satori
DeeL 09-20-05, 10:59 PM	Your welcome. My strength as a DM lies not in building narratives, but in building characters. Consequently, a lot of my adventures involve moving from one conversation to another. It has it's strengths, and it's weaknesses...
Ashianyl 09-21-05, 01:19 AM	Wow, I just love that city! Filled with possibilities for adventure indeed! :) As for a suggestion on parent... you could take your standard male lich who preserved parts of his body well enough through the use of arcane magics to produce off spring (it's in a bottle, silly, not what you are thinking!) :p The lich appears quite human through the use of spells and only the council knows he is who he is... to the masses, he is alive and well (the lich does not need to be in the council, just a well to do businessman). That would also mean that mommy was never loved, has the affairs outside (and why shouldn't she since the lich isn't too bothered - he's got research to do and plots to plan) and attends numerous social functions for the sake of appearance. Mom is an expert statesman, highly charismatic and smart and her union with the lich has its own deep dark secret attached that she tells no one (something your DM should fully develop and make life miserable for your character - :D ) Well... that's my idea contribution to your DM's lovely campaign world. Hope you have lotsa fun fun fun in that campaign! :)
Satori 09-21-05, 09:55 AM	Deel- I personally prefer your "style" of DMing, where the rules take a back burner and characterization is key. Kind of like a Stanley Kubrick film vs a Steven Spielberg film. Send me a PM if you're ever in the San Diego, CA area. Ashianyl- Wow...thats a hard name to say. Thanks for taking the time to reply, and I like the idea of the "hidden lich"...it also provides numerous opportunities for comic relief ("Damnit, Zokor! I told you to throw away your stupid experiments when you're done! I swear...you'd rather play around in your lab than pay attention to me!! We haven't even kissed in 7 years!! You don't love me!! Are you listening??"). On a side note, the ambiguities concerning the "Ruler" of the city have already intrigued me...what if there is no ruler? What if the ruler is a living being trying to keep the city together under the guise of an undead? What if the ruler is really some extraplanar creature (good or evil) that is working towards its own goals? For playing purposes, what would you consider the "Offspring" of a Lich? Would he be human (or whatever his living parents were) since the...umm...baby batter was preserved while he was still alive? Would he be tainted enough to have maybe the "Deathtouched" race? Maybe just a really pale, moderately musty human that likes to stare? Thanks again folks. Satori
DeeL 09-21-05, 10:19 AM	Deathtouched, deathtouched... was that in Dragon?
Morka 09-21-05, 10:48 AM	Zombies/skeletons run the farms, I have no troubles with zombies/skeletons picking up garbage, but I wouldn't let them get too close from my farm. IMHO, a zombie is an animated corpse, still subject to withering and disease carrying.
Ashianyl 09-21-05, 01:15 PM	For playing purposes, what would you consider the "Offspring" of a Lich? Would he be human (or whatever his living parents were) since the...umm...baby batter was preserved while he was still alive? Would he be tainted enough to have maybe the "Deathtouched" race? Maybe just a really pale, moderately musty human that likes to stare? I'm not familiar with the Deathtouched that you are referring to... sorry, I failed my Knowledge: DnD check. :P Hrrmmm... you could be human I guess. Humans are usually the ambitious ones that take on lich-hood. Sorry, I'm no expert at races... as I usually do not stray from human or elf characters... or Elan (my new favorite thanks to the Expanded Psionics Handbook). I prefer to spice up my character with mostly flavor feats, like the Celestial Heritage (Planar Handbook) that your character could take. Which of course would make you wonder... just what the hell was dad before he turned into a lich?!?? Alternatively... you could take the Tomb Tainted Soul feat (Libris Mortis) and only get healed by negative energy spells.... From an optimization point though, these are bad bad feats to take... but if your DM is as understanding as mine (I play with power gamers), he usually allows me to sneak in the feat as a 'character trait' instead because I come up with a good story for it. and my name is pronounced - Ah She-an Nil - blame it on my elf parents for giving me a hard to pronounce name! :D :D