Pathfinder campaign in the works

[holloway]

So yeah, currently creating a pathfinder game for 3-4 people that'll be running in september/october (if there's enough interest).

Couple preliminary facts:

• Starting level = 7
  
• Set in the equivalent of high middle ages
  
• Undead-orientated setting
  
• Classes that don't fit the setting will not be present (i.e gunslingers,ninja,samurai etc)
  
• Any use of 3.5 material is welcomed but should be discussed with me beforehand.
  
• 25 point buy, 47,000 gold starting currency with no single item cap (23.5k standard doubled for high fantasy)
  

Lemme know if you're interested by posting here.

EDIT: first player = Cleric Wyqåk (Simon)
second player = Owen
third player = Nathan

I am still accepting a fourth.

[Mouse]

The official declaration by Master Vampire Vjuneth Jummuxez to the Eldred Vestry of the Estries Cluster in explanation to his involvement in the failed operation at Farms.

Honoured members of the Eldred Vestry. I will bring before you my account of my travel to Camun which allegedly caused the failure of the operation at Farms because of the events concerning the mortal cleric Wyqåk. My conclusion is that I am not guilty of the failure as my operations there would be of little effect on the operation carried out at another location at least ten years later.

Great evil is best turned over by ages of planning and plotting. As a vampire I have realized that if it is not worth thinking over at least a couple of times it is not worth doing. After all I have, quite literally, all the time in the world. I have not always been the wise man I am today however. What could be considered my greatest failure, not because it was particularly great but rather because it was one of my very few failures, was concerning a human boy actually. It is funny how the most insignificant of things may cause great plans to never be.

The town of Cuman is considered a good place to stop on a pilgrimage. Mostly because they are on the way to some place, but I imagine they might stop because it has a minor church dedicated to several of some of the Gods they worship. I do not wish to tell you that all I do is for the good of mortals but I will say that I am a well behaved and good-natured superior being. I try to guide them to enlightenment and knowledge. Sometimes making an omelette requires cracking a few eggs though.

I had myself decided to create a disguise and went on this pilgrimage. I may not agree with their belief but I usually do not let such petty things affect my judgement. I just see it as an added bonus that I gain something for my hard work. Naturally I saw the horrors I imagined. I could see a great gap between the social classes. The rich would ride carts in great comfort while the poor would have to walk. Many starved to death; sometimes they did not even reach the goal of the pilgrimage before they succumbed to thirst or hunger. Their weak bodies could simply not take the forces it was put under during this travel. I, as a superior being, could not stand for this. Their leaders were tricking them into thinking travelling to these ruins and praying to non-existent beings would save them from hell, in an equally non-existent afterlife and it led to their deaths. Many times during my long life have I considered why I should let such leaders live at all. Humanity would clearly be better off if I simply used my great powers to take their positions and lead mortals to a greater destiny but Gods work in mysterious ways to make lesser beings find the right way of thinking, such as dominate person spells, or simply making them spawns.

So I had stopped in this city of Cuman and I thought I would end this plague that caused much unnecessary pain and suffering. Did I mention I wasn’t the wise man I am now? I think I did, didn’t I? Of course I made a rash quick decision. Together with two of my servants I decided that the best way was to make the mortals believe that the Gods had turned against them. The church in this mortal settlement would make a superb example. My plan was simple. I would enter the church together with my servants and make it look so that they had angered the Gods by destroying the altars in the shrine and planting a magic mouth that would trigger when the church was filled to the brim making the statue of Sun God Sarenrae speak out against pilgrimage. The plan might have worked out fine and I found that the church would be empty by around Mid Hunt. Had I made my planning more carefully I could have avoided what happened.

Entering the shrine at the time I found that I was not alone. A small altar boy, possibly around the age of ten was kneeling before the altar of Sarenrae. I never found out why he was there at time of human inactivity. I figured he would be easy to take care of but when I approached him I felt a great magical power surge toward me. I realized that the boy must have been in possession of some kind of artefact and therefore decided to speak to him. Perhaps he could run around screaming that the sacred thingy had been stolen and therefore increase the effect of my plan? I had hid my servants under dark robes so I should be fine. Here follows the record of our conversation:

- “Boy, give me the item and I shall not harm you.”
- “What, who? I don’t have an item” The boy seemed scared of my appearance although I was reasonably well disguised.
- “You hold and artefact of you religion, I wish to have it. If you do not cooperate with me I will end your pathetic state of existence.”
- “Y- You mean my p –pendant?” The boy stammered and threw it on the ground before me.

Upon picking it up I felt no particular magic coming from it so I was about to continue my barrage of threats when I sensed something remarkable. The power was not coming from an item on his body it was coming from the boy himself.

- “Grab him!” I commanded my servants.

As they sprung to motion I realized that in the time I had bent down to pick up the pendant the boy had reached to what appeared to be a holy symbol of Sarenrae on the altar. As my servants approached him they were both obliterated in a burst of blue light. I myself was shielded but as I approached him to grab him myself another wave washed over me and I hissed as smoke started to exude from my skin. I assume my fangs must have been exposed as I did so and the boy seemed frightened as such. He was also confused. I assumed it was because of the power he had manifested. He was obviously not aware of his potential. I tried to be aggressive when approaching him next as I circled around him so that the altar and him would be in between us I spoke.

- You are following a false God. She is a figment of your imagination. She confines your life to a short span of about 80 years in which you toil and work for worthless reward. Your so called Goddess will leave you to die in poverty and with unrealized dreams when you could be so much more. Simply accept that she DOES NOT EXIST and I shall show you another way. Your face is flustered, I assume you cannot do what you just did to me and my followers again. You are far too exhausted and even if you could you would realize that I far exceed them in power. There is nothing you could do to possibly harm me.

With those words I raised my fist and smashed the altar in half.

- See? I was not smitten by heavenly punishment.

Unfortunately this example of behaviour did not seem to convince the boy. In fact instead he seemed to have filled with rage over the desecration of the object in front of him. I sighed and walked up to him in order to grab him myself when he held out the symbol towards me again.

- I told you that will not...

I was cut off as I could feel the barrier between me and the boy. I simply could not step close enough to reach him before the symbol stopped me so I tried to tempt him with honeyed words instead.

- I mean no harm boy. Come with you and I shall teach you the secrets of this world and help you realize your dreams and unlock your true potential. Does the thought of eternal life not appeal to you?
- You destroyed the altar. The hallowed one teaches that sacrilege is to be punished. You are also an unnatural abomination which deserves death in her words.
- Oh, yes, you humans are touchy about such things. Hm, I could restore it for you if you wish? No? Fine, you are tired; I can see your eyelids flicker. I on the other hand do not need to sleep at all. When you fall asleep I will simply grab you and carry you where I wish.
We sat there and let an hour go by. The boy was exhausted and struggled to keep conscious. A few times I could see him almost fall until I saw him gather his remaining strength again. Unfortunately I had not prepared any spells suitably to detain him. I could have burned him to cinders but it did not fit my purpose. I checked my pack as the minutes ticked by. I assumed the sun would rise at about Night’s Wake.

- Curses, just one bottle of liquid night left and I need it to get back...

I waited until Night’s Wake but the boy did not seem to give in. I drank my last bottle and left. I did not kill him as I intended to get back to him later on but circumstances did not allow me. What I have heard since then is not much more than your Plants or Sources can tell you. He became a great cleric and annihilated hordes of servants in the battle at Farms. He appears to have a great hatred towards all unliving. Since I do not know the way mortals think I have no clue as to why. This concludes my account, I plead Not Guilty.

Recorded by Draugr Second to High General Harker of the Vestry. Signed by required witnesses from the Vestry.

[Deth Monkee]

I'm interested and will probably play a ranger.

[Dudeicuf]

I would be interested, when you say undead orientated, what exactly do you mean? Fighting them or being them? I would quite like to play a hellknight type character

[holloway]

By undead-orientated I mean that a large majority of the enemies you face will be undead, as well as the setting and plot revolving around them.

That doesn't mean you couldn't BE one if you really wanted to, but we'd have to have a discussion about how your character would fit/what their motivation is/why any paladin or cleric wouldn't smash them to bits on sight etc

As far as hellknight goes - do you mean this one? www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Hellknight_%283.5e_Prestige_Class%29

I'm fine with you playing this, and I can quite easily weave you into the 'plot' so to speak. However,there are one or two things I would change with this class: skills would drop to 2+int, as it says fighters/paladins/clerics go for it and they all have 2+int. 'Hellblade' ability would add charisma MODIFIER to damage,not your total score - that is a fucking joke. Also, 'Perfect Formation' would give allies within 30ft a bonus to their will saves equal to your charisma modifier for the rounds described. It was a little too vague(and very overpowered) so I tweaked it.

Or was that not the class you meant at all? Knowing my luck I just wasted my time with that.

ADDITIONAL: expect a setting/plot/story writeup as well as possible region map to be posted within the next few days. That should help with character design, as well as making it easier for people to decide if they want to play or not.

[Deth Monkee]

Could I use one of the inquisitor archetypes from Ultimate Magic? Specifically this one.

[holloway]

Looks good to me. Would appreciate a heads up as to whether you'll be good or evil though.

[Deth Monkee]

I'll definately be good.

[holloway]

A new dawn saved the people of Kresent 600 years ago from the devouring maw of hungry demons as they fled their home region to the main continent - but the warmth and security of The Day slips away as dusk approaches once more. The sea gives birth to evil yet again and the cycle continues as a new plague sweeps the land - it's deceased inhabitants rising into unlife and destroying everything. "Faith will prevail!" a young man clad in chain yells in fear and hysteria as his risen comrade cleaves his skull in the battle of 'Farms' - the latest settlement to fall to the undead.

A second call to arms ripples through the land of Hoden in vain - it's finest warriors are thought to have been slain in the clash of spells and metal at Farms. The people are desperate and blind in their zealous hope for divine intervention, mostly keeping in their settlements and using their faith as their guard.

But the land of Hoden is large, with many regions - perhaps there are more who wish to stand between the plague and the people? Regent Balk Kullin of Second Wind - the capital of the Moonliving Plains (otherwise known as the Rain Basin) - asks in his missive for those able to fight against the spreading undead to travel to the capital. Accomodated for with food and shelter, they are to wait for invitations to see the Regent to see how their talents could be best used.

---

This should be enough for you guys to craft backstories from. Feel free to create small villages/communities/cults if need be, and geographical-wise you can come from the desert/savannah/mountains/wetlands/ocean/fringe islands.

A rough map should be up tomorrow if that helps at all, and feel free to ask questions.

We could also still take a fourth player.

[Deth Monkee]

With regards to the missive of Regent Balk Kullin of Second Wind, I know of no one better to send than Belenus. His unique abilities will save many of the souls of those who have risen as undead. Furthermore, he has experience with the undead, but perhaps not on the scale described on the missive. In any case, as one of several undead hunters, I am sure that he will prove invaluable to the Regent. I shall send Belenus over to you as soon as he returns from his current mission.
Reverend Douglas Burke, Chief Inquisitor of Sarenrae

The following is an extract from the diary of Denholm Hilliard, acolyte of Sarenrae
There was a new boy in our classes today. I don’t think anyone would have noticed him if he didn’t walk in with a sword strapped on his back. Reverend Burnett didn’t even tell him to take it off. Just last week he sent Mark out of class because he had brought a belt knife. The boy didn’t pay attention in class either, it just seemed like he didn’t care. When we went on to the sparring grounds, the boy stayed separated from us. I peeked at him a few times during practise. He was sparring with Reverend Czekaj, who’s one of the best swordsmen at the temple. The boy was winning most of the time from what I saw. After sparring was over, the boy didn’t come back to classes with us. He seemed to be talking with Reverend Burke.
The next day, there were some rumours about the new boy. Stupid stuff like his mother had been killed by vampires. Like vampires really exist. In any case, he wasn’t in classes today.

The following is an extract from the written report of Belenus’ first mission
I had tracked the vampire to this crypt. As I entered, I could smell death. The light shining from my mother’s sword didn’t travel very far down, so I had to tread carefully. At the bottom of the stairs, there was a chamber where several candles were lit. There seemed to be nobody around. As I walked into the chamber, I heard the rock slab that served as the door to the crypt slam shut. Someone was walking down the stairs, so I hid behind one of the tombstones, with my mother’s sword ready. As the vampire came into view, I couldn’t help but give myself away. When I called out to my mother, she turned around and came over to embrace me. Then she bit deep into my neck. It took me half a minute to throw her off. I was still unable to act in a threatening manner, and she didn’t seem to remember me at all. In fact, she seemed angry that I had broken away from her grapple, so she stuck her finger in my eye. As her finger came back out, my eye went with it. At this point I was in so much pain and stopped thinking. In my rage I picked up my sword and chopped my mother’s head off. I sank to my knees and started praying to Sarenrae for forgiveness, for my mother, not myself. As the blood dripping from the hole where my eye once was landed on my mother’s forehead, I started to notice that the evil aura emanating from her had started to fade away. I felt a lessening of my pain, and a lightening of my heart, suggesting that Sarenrae had shown mercy to her, and to myself.

---

Two questions: 1. Is it ok that I'm saying that the sin eating is more about forgiving the sins of the soul, and 2. What penalties will I have for only having one eye?

[holloway]

1: that's fine and works quite nicely
2: I'm thinking -2 sight based perception checks, +3 to enemies flanking you (instead of +2), and a +2 on your fort save for avoiding gaze attacks

[Dudeicuf]

Entries of note from the Journal of the Elf, Marcius Ouska. Order of the Rack Hellknight Armger.

Year 1. Day 1. I’ve been accepted to train as a Hellknight. The last 129 years of my life seem to be making sense now. 40 years of training and the last 3 years trying to join the Hellknights, the sword fighting, horse riding, study of law and history, its all coming together. To commemorate, I am starting this journal.

Year 1. Day 3. I am start my training now as an Armger. Just a squire amongst the ranks of the Hellknights. I have joined the Order of the Rack. The quest for knowledge intrigues me and despite the quest to destroy forbidden knowledge, at least we still learn it. Annoyingly I am training with much younger and less experienced students, most of them have been picked after exceptional circumstances.

Year 3. Day 274. Today was a noteworthy day. It has been many months since I last put an entry into my Journal. Today I underwent the first half of my trial to ascend to the rank of Hellknight. A Barbazu was summoned, a bearded Devil. He was a difficult fight. He nearly killed me and would have if it were not for my horse. I have been told that tomorrow I shall receive my orders for the second half.

Year 3. Day 275. 600 years ago, there was a war. A great Undead war. One warrior in the war stood out from the rest. He was a Death Knight. The Order has heard rumors that knowledge about his existence and how to achieve it has surfaced. As these are rumors and as it seems unlikely this to be true, I have been commanded to either find this information or to remove the source of the rumors. I shall set off for a small town in the mountains a few days ride from Kresent called Bronstradt. This is where the rumors are believed to originate.

Year 3. Day 302. It has been a week since I arrived in Bronstradt. The people here are fearful of all. Riding in on a black steed, clad in parade armour and wearing Hellknight Armour myself did nothing to help my situation. It has been difficult to get any information out of the townsfolk so I’ve had to resort to threats. I have a lead. Apparently deep in the mountains there is a keep where the Death Knight ruled called Castle Fröm. I hope my fear tactics will stop the townsfolk of repeating the rumor any more.

Year 3. Day 311. I am truly lost now. Having spent the last week or so searching the mountains, I have reached a point where not only is my Wayfinder not working, but I have run out of food and cannot even tell which way is North. Maybe such difficulties are exactly what this trial is about. I am sure there is no Castle Fröm and soon I shall try and find a way out of these mountains.

Year 3. Day 312. I have found Castle Fröm. It is empty, abandoned and in disrepair. There seems to be two rooms that are still weather tight. The old storeroom still contains some dried meat and the Library seems to be in perfect condition. I shall spend some time here reading every book, parchment and note. I will not leave until I have uncovered all the knowledge in this place.

Year 3. Day 360. The books here are truly amazing. There is a lot of information about the undead, the war and magic. The magic interests me the least but I learn what I can never the less. I am feeling drawn in by these books. There are so many, I foresee being here a few more months yet. My horse dislikes being in the Library with me but as the weather draws in, it is the only warm and dry place available. I sometimes worry for my own sanity though, staying inside, reading such malicious texts. I fear 50 more years training as a Hellknight could only protect me against such things.

Year 4. Day unknown. I’ve found it. The Manual on Death Knight Ascension by Lord Otto Von Fröm. I’m sorry to myself for not writing here for a few weeks. I’ve had to read it so many times to understand. It has consumed me. I know I should burn this book, before I truly learn its secrets. But it feels good to read it. Just knowing the tasks one must undertake seem to give me power. The words seem to glow as I read them, turning each page feels as though power is surging through me. I must be going mad. The winter is starting to let up now, I shall be able to leave soon. I shall soon burn the books in here. If I can. On a side note, I have named my horse Renato. It was the name of Lord Fröm’s horse.

Year 4. Approximately day 110. It is strange. Today I found myself preparing to burn Castle Fröm down, along with all the books and yet there was such a strong desire to leave the Manual intact. Madness has surely consumed me, I jest to myself saying these things but there must be an element of truth. Almost subconsciously I prepared some of the rituals dictated in the book. Several months of reading has taken its toll. I am emancipated, cold and numb. Yet I feel strong. After I have finished this entry, I shall burn the Castle down and all the evil knowledge the resides within.

Year 4. Day unknown. What has happened to me? I write this entry in hope of collating some of my many confused thoughts. I have a very vague memory of what happened. It started off well, the books were all piles high, I lit them, went to get on Renato, but the flames were startling him. By the time I had him under control, the flames had reached the ceiling so I hurried for the door. It was jammed. My memory here gets blurry. I remember the flames consuming me and Renato as we were trapped. My last memory before waking was diving into the pile of books, searching for the Manual, in hope for something. For all I know millennia could have passed, or minutes. More likely a few days as the embers of the Castle still hold some warmth. I have since searched for Renato only to find his charred corpse. I cannot take my armor off, it feels like it has fused to me, like it is me. I feel completely numb now, and yet, so powerful. The sort of thing Lord Fröm talked about in the Manual. I’m confused as to whats happened, how I survived. I shall sit here for a day or two more and then set off by foot for the nearest town. Luckily my Wayfinder seems to be working again.

Year 4. Day unknown. I set off today and immediately wished I had Renato. From out of the ashes, he rose undead. I had to slay him where he stood. I will not tolerate such abominations in my presence, Castle Fröm seems to be infused with evil power and so I have left. The last few days have been very strange, I have felt no hunger, no thirst, no cold or warmth and I have not tired. Still my armour seems to be irremovable. Even the visor of my helmet seems welded shut.

Year 4. Day unknown. Last night I just sat there thinking about Renato, wishing I had him in his previous glory. When dawn came, he rose from the ground. At first, I drew my sword, feeling the need to slay him once again. Then it hit me. No feelings, no hunger, no need for rest, my armour, Renato rising from the dead, my survival of the flames. From my study of the Manual, I know that I am not as powerful as Lord Fröm, but he did mention his lieutenants, the Graveknights. I fear I may have become one. I know I have become one. I shall return to the Castle and think about what to do next.

Year 4. Approximately day 250. One hundred days I have sat here in the Castle. Not a movement, not a breath. No hunger in my belly, no thirst in my throat. My eyes have not gotten heavy from lack of meditation and my joints have not seized up. One hundred days I have sat here thinking about my future. I know that if I were to kill myself, I would only rise up once again. I must right what wrong I am. I must seek atonement and a cure. I must venture out, in search of the other undead, and if needs be, rip the knowledge from their heads, to change me back. I hereby, in writing, declare a war against any Undead of significant power, age or knowledge. I will become mortal again. I will continue to seek out forbidden knowledge in the aim to purge it. I WILL become a Hellknight. I WILL NOT let my condition dictate who I am. I will free myself.

Year 4. Day 279. I have been and gone through Bronstradt. I have been able to accurately date my journal. I have heard interesting news. It would seem that the Regent Balk Kullin of Second Wind has put out a missive seeking soldiers to fight the Undead. I have found the medium in which I shall seek redemption. Hopefully his citizens and soldiers will look more kindly on my condition than the people of Bronstradt. Hopefully they will let me tell them of my war against the undead and my wish for redemption. Hopefully, they will not come out with pitch forks and torches and attack me. Hopefully they will not die at my blade. Hopefully I can suppress this power and urge within me to kill. Hopefully I can become an elf once more.
Hopefully.

[Mouse]

There was a pile of bones at Wyqåks feet. He liked to think that he learned to know his enemy better when he spent time around what was left of them after his battle. It brought him little peace of mind this time however. The skin on his forehead wrinkled and in deep thought over what he had heard. Was the regent truly this blind? Or did the rumours of the heroes' deaths originate from other sources? Yes, the protection of Farms had been costly. Many good men had lost their lives. But from the ashes of their deaths had risen a new champion. A flaming bird Pheonix ready to serve every wish of The Healing Flame.

Fine, if the people believed that the finest of its warriors had been slain then he would be the first to prove them wrong. For every warrior the Mindless had slain, for every family they destroyed at Farms he would deliver tenfold the destruction upon the Living Dead. His only regret being that so few of them could feel pain. Truly Sarenrae had been wise to chose him as her representative. He had since long strayed from many of her teachings. The Lady was more flexible in her nature; doing deals with Devils and Angels alike. Even Asmodeus would listen when she spoke. She also cared more for well-being and good than Wyqåk who had always argued that good would be brought from destruction (specifically of undead). Yet their alliance had remained strong and she lent him her power. Ironically it was this "flexibility" which Wyqåk questioned which must have kept their connection intact.

He had felt her so strong during the battle. Watching over him; protecting him from swords and hammers. Her eternal wisdom washing over him, repeatedly telling him how to act and what to do. He smiled, knowing that he would always fight on the high ground, standing on the remains of his enemies. The regent's prayers were answered. He would travel to the capital and meet those deemed worthy to fight by his side. Not as the cleric Wyqåk but by the pseudonym of the Fire Bird, under the banner of a bright red Pheonix. He would see to it that this his land will belong to the faithful. The people's divine intervention had finally arrived.

((Wyqåk is a Cleric 6/Sacred Purifier 1 going for Divine Disciple. He truly believes that he is serving Sarenrae in all his actions. Even those that goes against her teachings. He experiences difficulties in separating from his opinions to his deity's as he thinks she acts through him at most times))

[Deth Monkee]

Can we use Power Attack and Vital Strike in the same action? (Found the answer myself)

Also, would I be allowed to take the Abjurant Champion prestige class?

[Deth Monkee]

I've got five characters built for this campaign and can't choose which one to play. What about you guys?