Motumbo Mid-night, Human Swordmage Templar of Gulg
- A Nganga that was betrayed by higher ranks of ngangas and is now an outcast from Gulg. Mid-night is a master in the art of "fishing" (the most gruesome public torture performed in Gulg, the victim is strapped off its clothes, having all its body pierced by giant piercings with giant fish-hook-heads. Then the victim is tied to a rope and dragged through the streets having some of its body-parts left behind in piercings hooked to the ground and trees)
Jchin, Elf Monk Sunwarped (New house-ruled theme that uses SPELLSCARRED powers as theme powers)
- The last of its tribe, sworn to kill a certain noble that ordered its merchantile clan wiped. He has a sunwarped arm, grotesque and animalisc. He was saved from dying and mutating completely by eladrins that took him to the Land Within the Wind.
Kraos, Gnoll Fighter former-Gladiator
- Its hunting pack was caught in a trap of slavers, being the most furious, Kraos met the arenas soon after in Nibenay. He crafted a Huge axe out of a Braxat's Skull.
Arlac, Tiefling Bard Noble Adept
- His tiefling family is very proeminent and secretive in the streets of Balic, murdering and backstabbing for a good price. Asthraf was sent to the psionic academy to train with other nobles, but what he learned was how to conceal his arcane mutterings. He helped a certain noble escape a doomed fate and is now wanted by its family.
Naram, Human Psion Wilder
- A noble from Balic that didn't want to be part of such political affairs. His family eventually turned on him, trying to force him to cooperate for the good of the clan but he used all his psionic abilities to escape, he was helped by a certain Tiefling, they consider themselves friends.
Lidda and/or Addil, Male halfling Rogue Wilder
- A halfling that once belonged to the Oba, its mother fled Gulg's clutches to die in the desert. This young halfling is a crafter of wood, his specialty: Wooden Knives. He belonged to a raiding group in the Ivory Plain but he was charged guilty for a crime against the band, though innocent he fled and disguised himself as Lidda, a female halfling ex-slave. Secretly plotting his revenge.
Trincks, Halfling Elan Sorcerer Wilder
- Trained both in The Way and the Arcane Arts the Elans from Athas took this little creature as their own. He was considered dead, lost in the desert but he's back now, as his own son, Trincks, the Second. He's immortal and he intends to live that immortality confortably rich and he's not caring if he needs to build a a moutain of corpses to have his kingdom.
EDITED: extra players
I'm DMing for 5 (soon to be 6) players:
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Jchin, Elf Monk Sunwarped (New house-ruled theme that uses SPELLSCARRED powers as theme powers)
- The last of its tribe, sworn to kill a certain noble that ordered its merchantile clan wiped. He has a sunwarped arm, grotesque and animalisc. He was saved from dying and mutating completely by eladrins that took him to the Land Within the Wind.
...
What a cool idea, thanks for sharing. I hope to post on this thread in a few weeks, after new Dm finishes his storyline.
-dray sorcerer-king-pact warlock/wilder
-human illusionist/templar
-human assault swordmage/templar
Three defilers, 2 of which are templars of Hamanu and the other might as well be. Rounding it out:
-kreen arena fighter/nomad
-human shaman/elemental priest
Mul Rageblood Barbarian (Wasteland Nomad)
Mul Wild Warden (Elemental Priest) - These two are going to be the last survivors of a tribe of escaped slaves that was wiped out by troops from Urik.
Thri-Kreen Archer ranger (Wilder, maybe wasteland Nomad) - No background yet and with this player I suspect I will only get a vague one once I get one.
Human Prescient Bard (Veiled Alliance) - Son of merchants who traded with the halflings of the forest ridge, picked up his art from them. Also the groups cook. That fact and his relationship with the halflings aren't related. Honest.
Human Assasin (no theme decided on yet) - No background yet either.
Eladrin Telekinetic Psion (Noble Adept) - Daughter of Eladrin Nobles, a spy for her people.
Human sorc king pact warlock (con based). Homebrew theme.
Human Warlord. Gladiator theme.
Mul fighter (arena or greatweapon. Gouge?). Gladiator theme.
Trikeen Ranger (Hunter or maurader. Wasteland Nomad theme.
Human Anima Mystic (Homebrew class: Primal, implement striker). Homebrew theme.
? Psion. Noble adept theme.
Elf ?
Halfling Druid?. Elemental priest theme?.
Wanted a variety but heavy on the Leadery stuff so they will be forced to work well together. I wanted to showcase darksun races so one of each and I don't want any of the far-off humanoids (eladrin, genasi, tiefling). Other suggestions?
We'll start with a one off, move to the new darksun adventure, and then see where it goes. Suggestions? comments?
- Mul, Warden-Gladiator
- Half-Giant, Barbarian-Gladiator
- Human, Monk-Noble
- Mul, Shaman-Elemental Priest
- Human, Wizard-Templar of Urik
Some of the races may change before we play but that's what they're talking about running now. Should prove interesting.
- (Feral) Halfling Stonefist Monk (Gladiator) leashed to the...
- Half-Giant Brawler Fighter (Gladiator)
- Human Swordmage (Templar)
- Half-Elf Bard (Athasian Minstrel)
- Wilden Guardian Druid (Elemental Priest)
Party #2:
- Human Psion (Noble Adept)
- Half-Tarek (Half-Orc) Rogue (Athasian Minstrel)
- Human Two-Weapon Fighter (Gladiator)
- Thri-kreen Stonefist Monk (Wilder)
- Human Animist Shaman (Elemental Priest)
The Half-Tarek and Wilden are kinda shoe-horns into the setting, but the Wilden has a *really* good backstory, and I just don't care all that much regarding the Half-Tarek. The Creature Catalog says to rework orcs to make more Tareks, so I just handwaved the Half-Orc as a Half-Tarek.
Dwarf Cleric (Wind) Elemental priest
Elf Ranger Nomad
Halfling Barbarian
Thri-Kreen Monk
After self exile from his dagada and the city-state of Gulg the newly vested human shaman and his apparent half-giant fighter/gladiator follower, Juba, meet up with members of a druidic circle in the Crescent Forest. There the they start to make a life and begin fighting a rebellious war against the primal oppressor Lalali-Puy of Gulg and the forest raper, Nibenay of Nibenay and their dark templars.
Female Tiefling Cunning Bard (Athasian Minstrel)- An Orphan from Draj and raised by two Half-Elf street urchins. Being as she was never told about the Blood Debt, it manifests in her as a "Dark Passenger." (Think Dexter)
Female Halfling Psion (Noble Adept)- Received training at a mountain monastery and had her village attacked and taken into slavery while she was away. Currently working on getting them freed. (I suspect they are for the sacrifice to the Dragon.)
Thri-Kreen Ranger (Wasteland Nomad)- Had his clutch taken over by a rival. Now in exile to get strong enough to take it back.
Half-Giant Warden (Wilder)- From Gulg and raised to be a judaga but left once he learned the Oba was corrupting nature for her goals.
and then we have a Battlemind who wants to be from another planet or something... I need to do a player-to-player intervention.
- Halfling Rageblood Barbarian (Dune Trader) named Master Chef. He likes to cook up the bodies of slain foes for survival days
- Dray Bloodbond Seeker (Escaped Slave) named Equius. He then uses the survival days to roll around in mud
- Kreen Hybrid Tempest Fighter/Rouge (Wasteland Nomad) named Robin. Easily one of my favorite characters in the party, especially considering his backstory. The darn bug had been out in the waste so long he's demented, and thinks he's a female human noble. Mix that in with decent roleplaying and you have well... something rather creepy actually.
- Half-Elf Enlightened Ardent (Wilder) named Zephyr. He wears a hyena cloak all the time and talks to it.
- Then we have our Tiefling SK-Pact Warlock, templar of course, named Skoros, who just wuvs Hamanu. He's a zealot, like more devoted than most Dragonborn paladins are to Bahamut, man!
Sometimes the Tiefling can't make it to sessions so I bring up the DMC Elven Warlord, he's a racists, makes for interesting conversation, especially when the Ardent does something stupid (read: all the time).
Great catch on the half Tarek = half orc... nice...
Like, more than I already do.
Here is an update on our group. We are now level 9. The ones crossed out are former characters either dead or mia.
Dramatis Personae
Solusandra (me) - Female Human/Elan Telekinetic Psion (Wilder); 9,000+ year old former Guardian of the Last Sea
Darrick - Male Human Resilient Battlemind (Noble Adept); Raamite noble, loves making lists and checking them twice. :P
Keph'kin - Male Thri-kreen Stone Fist Monk (Noble Adept); albino, last of its clutch, raised in Raam by vigilante master, extremely trigger happy
Gothel - Male Dwarf Animist Shaman (Elemental Priest); uniquely hirsute, warbles like a wookie
Grik - Male Mul Brawny Rogue (Athasian Minstrel); adherent of the Assassin's Creed
Thalik - Male Human Rogue (Veiled Alliance); survivor of Kalidnay/Raveloft, multilingual inquisitive (modeled after Batman, player has a 30+ page origin, too big to post haha)
Harbek - Male Mul Rageblood Barbarian (Dune Trader); caravaner from the Ringing Mts
Calig – Male Human SK Pact Warlock (Templar theme); former templar of Urik
Paelias – Male Eladrin Enlightened Ardent (Wasteland Nomad theme); missing, assumed dead
Borthomar
Male Mul Brawny Rogue ( Athasian Minstrel ) on the run from false accusation of a noble's murder
Roscoe lo Kag
Male Goliath Earth Warden ( Primal Guardian ) taken from his tribe after a large raiding party attacked his encapment
Xindia Corpy
Female Minotaur Telepathic Psion ( Noble Adept ) on the run from Raam after a dicree issued made sure nobles where of human blood only, all others to be executed (the final solution thought came to mind)
Larongar Talandren
Male Elf Telekinetic Psion ( Wilder ) thought he could do a better deal and doublecross another elf trader failed miserably
Myrtle Gamich
Female Halfling Fey Warlock ( Primal Guardian ) very much a wanderer, just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Yarnath's citadel caught her
Klas'trit Thar
Thri-Kreen Resilient Battlemind ( Primal Guardian ) seperated from the clutch by an attack from Yarnath's citadel sold into slavery
D'Ander - Halfling monk, will eat anyone except another halfling.
Giovanti - Halfling rogue, would eat anyone, including another halfling. Eaten by a Kank.
Blue'chez - Thri-kreen warrior, eaten by the halflings and Dray, with butter of course.
Thunderhoof - Minotaur warden (multiclass warlord).
Abraxus - Dray Ardent who turned against the party and is now Wyan of Bodach's right (and left) hand man. Potential BBEG at Paragon tier. Narrowly escaped getting killed by his own party.
Lucan - Elven rogue, killed in an ambush by Elves...oh the irony. Especially since his bow was considered the face of the group and named the "Negotiator".
Cinder - Minotaur fighter, sold into slavery in Nibinay by Elves, never seen again.
Bender the Johzal - Fled the arena in Nibinay after his public display of magic, and the Templars attempted to kill him. Luckily he has phasing powers. May return if the players other charcter doesn't work out.
Yet-to-be-named - 1/2 giant ranger dual wielding war axes.
Blackwyrm - Human ex-templar of Tyr. Killed by Nibinese templars.
Alrial - Femal elven scout ?
Buh'Gee - Thri-kreen rogue?
Kelm - Human ranger from Gulg. Killed by his wife.
Ben Dover - Eladrin psion, killed by Abraxus.
male Githzerai Monk, Veiled Alliance member. Origins from among savage gith, but manifestations of more Githzerai than Githyanki traits are not well understood. Raised by a cel of Alliance members.
Shaun
male Half-Elf Bard, Athasian Minstrel. Go-between, socialite and sneaky bastard. Preserver more out of self-preservation then anything.
Eganon
female Human Swordmage, Templar of Nibeney. Was in Tyr to investigate rumors of the revolution. Currently unknown to the group that she's a Templar.
Agnomen
male Human Druid, Elemental Priest. A formerly rich Tyrian noble who was kind of rich-person interested in things of the savage tribes of the deserts. Became a druid, strangely, out of that sort of research. Left due to issues with local politcs of Tyr, as well as his own magical abilities coming about.
Six Toes
male Tari Barbarian, Escaped Slave. I reskinned goblins as tari in my setting, realizing that you can make goblins into a pretty decent race of ratmen based on their stats. He's actually a reskinned bugbear, which I am seeing how the balance plays-out still. Former desert rat ogre who was enslaved as a shock-trooper jannesary. Managed to escape and currently working as a for-hire mercenary sort. Big scary one of the group.
And stuff.
Goro - Minotaur fighter (gladiator theme) brawler style. Brother to Bullshart, dreams of being an arena champion. Definitly lost in the only tournament so far. Paragon path is beastblooded minotaur.
Bullshart- Minotaur barbarian (gladiator theme). Younger brother to Goro, helping his brother not die in becoming the arena champion. Won the only tournament so far
Paragon path is Calm Fury.Alias - Changling Psion (wilder theme). Unsure of his true origins, he is seeking out who he really is. Doesn't know it yet, but he's actually the offspring of abalach-re. Paragon path is timebender.
Jekyl - Gnoll assassin (wasteland nomad). His pack was wiped out by a sorcerer kings forces, now he wants revenge. Has been working with Alias for some time before the party formed. Paragon path is Venomed Soul
Xen'ill - Thri-kreen monk (can't remember the theme). Helped overthrow Kalak and those he helped turned against him. Bit of a firebug. Now is part of an association that keeps tabs on the world for the Dragon of Tyr and helps keep the sorcerer kings in line. Paragon path is Initiate of the Dragon.
Interesting party so far. Minotaur brothers like to charge into situations rather than think about them, which has almost gotten them tpk'd a few times, but they always manage to pull out the win. They are currently working for House Tsalaxa, and in secret the Velied Alliance, in Nibenay where war is brewing with Gulg.
Our party is now level 10, on the cusp of paragon. Here are our decided paths
Solusandra - Female Human/Elan Telekinetic Psion (Wilder), Psionic Incarnate. I will most likely retrain her theme to Scholar to represent the return of her ancient memories.
Darrick - Male Human Resilient Battlemind (Noble Adept), Iron Guardian (that level 12 at-will is crazy!)
Keph'kin - Male Thri-kreen Stone Fist Monk (Noble Adept), Initiate of the Dragon. His paragon path was reflavored to Dragonfly instead since being a Dragon is unique and epic defiler only.
Gothel - Male Dwarf Animist Shaman (Elemental Priest), Raincaller
Grik - Male Mul Brawny Rogue (Athasian Minstrel), most likely a Daggermaster
Sa'Rulka: Thri-kreen Druid Wilder Theme. Background: Last of the Clutch.
Arad Zulkreaver: Mul Shaman Elemental Priest Theme. Background: Freed Slave of Tyr.
Nelruhl: Half-giant Fighter Gladiator Theme. Background: Half-giant Laborer.
Kursius Panakus: Dwarf Psion Noble Adept Theme. Background: Balic Patrician.
Hindralossua a.k.a. Hiss: Elf Ranger Athasian Ministrel Theme. Background: Market Thief.
Nelruhl is a beast of a tank, but Hindralossua actually has more hit points. They all are actually really healthy with Kursius having the lowest constitution of 13. Sa'Rulka at first sucked and is now almost doing as much damage as Hiss. Every session Arad has a completely different play style, and everything seems to work. Definately the most balanced character I have seen in 4e, but certainly not min/maxed. He seems to have something very useful to do every round.
It's been fun. Kursius has my favorite fluff. The player describes him as an ebony dwarf with a long beard intertwined with a silk veil that covers everyting but his violet eyes. He wears a huge, white turban and has a collection of magical and non-magical staves. He has psionically thrown people off rocks, towers, rooftops, and giant Athasian pack animals.
Oin Anvilcrown: Dwarf Warden. Theme: Iron Wolf. Background: Brother of Gloin, heir to a dwarven throne.
Gloin Anvilcrown: Dwarf Battlemind. Background: brother of Oin, heir to a dwarven throne.
Sun: Shifter Ranger. Background: Evil disciple of Zehir that keeps her alignment secret from her friends.
Gotz, The Black Swordsman
Mul
Pit Fighter/Rage-blood Barbarian
Gladiator
Vidocq, The Desert Ghost
Dark Elf (looks kind of like nightscrawler if he was a in the old West)
Hunter-Beastmaster Ranger/Shadowy Rogue
Veiled Alliance
Samael Antara, The Hollow Man
Human
Summoner Wizard/Binder Warlock
Vile Scholar
Elysia Mordenkrad, The Storm Mother
Sunsoul Genasi
Elemental Cleric of Water (Shielding Cleric)
Elemental Priest
Cha’Ka, Khan of the Kiltektet
Thri-Kreen
Iron Soul Monk/Swarm Druid
Primal Guardian
Nimue, Witch of the Wyrding Way
Incunabula of Dregoth (hb race, I have Dregoth standing in for Vecna and he created Incunabula instead of Dray, which were created by Borys)
Necro Phage Necromancer (hb class from the Shadow Done Right wiki and my own designs)
Wyrd (Fatedancer)
Karn, The Last Legion
Warforged (actually a cyborg from one of the moons where a great vampiric nobility exist in a technologically advanced but decaying world)
Warrior Forge Artificer
Alchemist
Captain Cid Harlock, The Pirate King
Eladrin
Resourceful Warlord
Outlaw
Oona M’ke, The Dream-Touched
Kalashtar/Shardmind (hb mash-up of the two races but with Kalashtar flavour appropriate to my setting)
Telepathic Awakened Psion/Soul Knife (hb from greatfrito)
Noble Adept
Taliesin, Who Remembers
Half-Elf
Prescient Bard
Athasian Minstrel or Yakuza
D.(Dracula/Django) Valentine, Inquisitor Iscariot of Guthay
Dhampir (Shade/Vryloka, hb mash-up of the two races with different flavour)
Vampire/Executioner Assassin
Krsnik (hb undead-hunting theme)
Gogo, The Clouded Mirror
Changeling (Pyreen in flavour)
Blue Mage/Mime (hb ff6shadow's version)
Scholar
Mog/Umaru, The Mascot Moogle
Pixie/Minotaur (hb mechanic allows it to transform when bloodied)
Seeker/Warden (keyed to transformation)
Tuathan?