LFP 5E Curse of Strahd - Tuesdays, 19:30 - 23:00 UTC/GMT

[Bleak Midwinter]

FG License: Ultimate
Game System: D&D 5E

Time Zone: UTC (that's British time, GMT, during the winter)
Day of week and time: Tuesdays, 19:30
If new game, planned start date: 15/11/2016
Planned Frequency: Weekly
Term: Until campaign ends

Text or Voice: Either. Mostly voice.
Voice software used: Discord.

Roleplay & Combat mix: majority roleplaying. Levels are gained through hitting story milestones, not through combat.
Number of Players in game & needed: 3-4 offered so far, I'm looking for another 1-4 so we always have enough to play.
Character starting level & equipment: 1
Character restrictions: PHB/SCAG classes only. Races from any official Wizards material. Array stats. Neutral or Good alignments. Have a background (and see scenario details below) and have a backup character concept.

Details of your scenario: Under raging storm clouds, the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich stands silhouetted against the ancient walls of Castle Ravenloft. Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind’s howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia. Far below, yet not beyond his keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd’s face forms the barest hint of a smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came — all according to his plan. A lightning flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited.

The mists are unpredictable, but they are not whimsical. Strahd is the greatest evil in Ravenloft ... but not the only evil. You have had dreams, dreams of punishment that have haunted you since it happened: that one day that changed your life. The day you've never spoken about.

I'll be running Curse of Strahd as helpfully sold by FG. But there will be slight addition: you will need to provide a character background (not a novella, just a paragraph or two). Part of the background is some horrific and evil deed your character did - there are no evil characters, so whatever that deed was, it needs to be congruent with the characters current alignment (the character could regret it, could have had to make a terrible choice, could have previously been evil and then changed their ways - doesn't matter too much).

If things turn out well, I may consider in character rewards for things like in character diaries.

Link to Gamecalendar page: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/calendar/index.xcp?id=2250
Additional request: Please post the description of your character that that you'd give in game. This means, how you'd describe your characters to other players. Remember, "show don't tell" - other players can't read your character's mind.

[santhinal]

one question.... can the time be moved foreward a half hour to 8:00 pm for you? (thats 2:30 where i am at and i don't get home from university until 3pm) other than that i will happily join this game :D i always make my characters unconventional though so while i can fulfill any role, i will do so with a seemingly weird race/class combo that is explained well in my backstory (for example a dragonborn barbarian prone to anger from his years being raised by wolves, a half-elf ranger but the elf half is drow, a wizard as clumsy as the harpell family from the drizz't books, a drow sorcerer who is the child of a bronze dragon and a drow and lolth cursed her with an evil split personality for trying to follow bahamut, etc.)


so ya i will bring A LOT of interesting RP to the group once i get into the swing of things, (most of the characters i mentioned have not been played in a campaign yet, the sorcerer is in one now but the rest are not. so if you like one of those characters just ask and i will send them over to you to look at in detail)

[Bleak Midwinter]

Hi Santhinal, thanks for the interest. I get up at 05:45 so don't want to run past 23:00 the night before, hence the times. If you turn out to be good, I can cope with you being a half hour late to the session. In my experience it normally takes a good 15-20 minutes for people to settle in anyhow.

[Vulcarnon]

Hey, i i would like to join aswell, and i would appruciate if it didn't run later than 23:00.

[santhinal]

oh crap im an idiot sorry i mixed up my schedule dude i can't do that time at all my bad.... while im free at the start i have class at 4pm on tuesdays (got it mixed up with my Mondays and Wednesdays for some reason) that means i would only be there for half an hour before i would need to go, thats my bad dude just ignore me for this one :( it sks cause this looks like it would be super fun too

[Yanas]

I would like to join :) will probably play a cleric

[Bleak Midwinter]

Thanks for interest, everyone. I've added an extra part to the recruitment post to filter between here and PMs.

Additional request: Please post the description of your character that that you'd give in game. This means, how you'd describe your characters to other players. Remember, "show don't tell" - other players can't read your character's mind.

[Bleak Midwinter]

Got one so far (Chemir). Looking for one more.

[Magurdrac]

I'd be interested in this... new to the forums / software, but have the full version and familiar with 5E.

I have a Paladin ready to go if that fits? =)

[Yanas]

On second thought I'm going to respectfully bow out, might go on a bit too late in my timezone. My apologies.

[Bleak Midwinter]

Magurdrac, yes, please message me a background including the Bad Thing That Haunts You. Paladin is fine.

[Dwarf Ulf]

I'd like to join you lot c: Fits perfectly in with my timezone and all, being a Norwegian. Want me to pm you the background info?

[Bleak Midwinter]

At the moment I've had a lot of interest, but not a lot of backgrounds - about 12 people said they want in, 2 have gone to the effort of providing information. At the moment I have to say "we're full" but if people don't turn up on Tuesday, I'll re-open. You can provide a background in advance, if you want.

[Dwarf Ulf]

Quick question, you do allow Goliaths, right?

[Bleak Midwinter]

All races allowed as long as they're in officially published books and in a FG2 published module (no Unearthed Arcana/massively overpowered DMSguild races). I'll check to see if I can access Elemental Evil races tonight. If not, I'll allow it if you can script it.

I'll send you a PM with my Discord username.

[Dwarf Ulf]

Awesomes bro.

[Bleak Midwinter]

@All except Chemir and Dwarf Ulf, I've had quite a few sign ups or messages of interest but no character outline, description, or background (as requested in OP). If you're still interested and have signed up on the campaign calendar, you need to drop me those and I'll respond with my Discord name so I can get you in on the group Direct Message.

[Leksika]

Still open for one?

Danna Vinkeep - Warlock (Archfey)
Human Variant
Chaotic Good
Noble

- Scion of a minor noble family, dedicated to preserving her holdings and maintaining the fragile allegiances to trade and other clans that have held them together these last centuries. She holds a terrible secret: she has been witness to a Fey revelry and come away changed. Now she is trying to come to terms with powers that would ruin her family if they became publicly known, and make her a pariah in her own lands.

On the evening of the summer solstice in her 21st year, Danna was walking the hillside above the Vinkeep manor, dwelling on politics and what her own role might be. Suddenly she was distracted from her reverie by a ghostly light in the treeline. The sound of a horn cut through the air and without warning the Wild Hunt was upon her, and the Fey court's savage merriment swept through her. The night passed in a blur except for the lasting image of a pair of kaleidoscope eyes that pinned her in place. Oberon had a game to play with this poor mortal, one which Danna could not possibly fathom.

When she awoke in the morning she found a rod of silver birch, scrolled with symbols and a note from her new patron. Her new covenant commands her to bring low any demons or fell creatures, to preserve the greensward, and meet on this date each year to renew her bond with new tasks. Now she has two competing loyalties she must hold to, both unpredictable, both filled with promise and potential catastrophe.

[Bleak Midwinter]

One more space for someone who can produce a background.

[Mathizsias]

Arkadiusz Amarzarian - Bard(Lore)/Cleric(Life)
Tiefling
Chaotic Neutral
Criminal

Born as a result of a demonic pact to a human mother and father, the identical twin brothers Arkadiusz and Merhevad were left to die on the steps of an orphanage in the city of Coin, the metropolis of Athkatla. Neither beholden to the true essence of the pact that sparked them into life, as such, both grew up as orphaned street urchins.

Frequently ousted for their blood by the common folk of Amn, life on the thoroughfare, with threadbare clothing on their backs, was burdensome. The twins took to thieving and petty crimes as an outcome. Amn, with a deep and seedy underworld, embraced both brothers with open arms.

Always the jovial and snarky type, Arkadiusz committed to his occupation with a smirk on his face. The twins achieved some notoriety in the Docks district of Athkatla, through their escapades as lowly thugs. Ever the juvenile delinquents both aspired to greater and more dangerous ideas. Arkadiusz, the younger brother and ever the boaster, tried to one-up his brother and joined a raid on a caravan of clergymen, arriving for one of Waukeens many festivals. Child's play, he assumed. Less was true, he had not accounted for the ruthlessness of his new associates.

The raid was a massacre, the missionaries had no escort, nor had they many riches. With the lack of treasure, his associates took to murdering and torturing the clergymen and their servants.

A night passed, a night of laying low, a night of contemplating. Still proud of his paltry success he sought out his brother the next morning, in the places they frequented. One brothel's patron said that Merhevad and a few others had been apprehended and were to be hanged this morning on Waukeen's Promenade.

A great angry crowd had gathered for the hanging of these criminals, these murderers had after all postponed other festivities by a few days, this event would make due. The crowd wanted a quartering, but received a five man hanging. Coming upon the scene, Arkadiusz recognized all the men on the platform. He pulled his hood lower and his scarf tighter. He felt frozen in place, he was reeling and nauseated at the sight. His brother and the four men he worked with the night before were on the podium. To his horror most of the refuse-, verbal- and stone barrage was directed at his brother.

Guards stepped up as they silenced the crowd. Most the condemned looked down at their feet, sobbing or wailing, resigned to their fate. The square grew silent. A masked man clothed in black nodded to all present guards as moments later he pulled a lever. The sound of snapping rope, wood creaking and men suffocating was all that was left. Arkadiusz nearly keeled over, he took fast strides to leave the promenade, vomiting as he went.

That evening he visited a small temple dedicated to Tymora they used to frequent when they were younger, there were always coins to steal. Arkadiusz approached one of the serving acolytes and gave his meager hoard anonymously to tend to his brother's remains. Arkadiusz fled Athkatla and Amn for the colder north. Now a decade later, he makes his coin spinning tales, limericks and strumming the lute, avoiding his past.

Appearance

Bearded, with deep red eyes and cracked brown-reddish skin. Wearing a shield and a weapon on his back, this rogue-like Tiefling doesn't immediately tell the story of an adept entertainer. There seems to be a permanent smirk on his face and he seems to be always twiddling a coin between his fingers.

[Bleak Midwinter]

Looking for one or two new players for this, post Christmas holidays. You'll start at level 3, having completed Death House (introduction to Curse of Strahd). Please PM with character concept and background, and include the Bad Thing that your character did that haunts them.

[Diomitus]

Hi Bleak
Love the background concept. Really awesome.
In very interested but I wanted to double check what times and time zones you would be playing in before I apply.

[Bleak Midwinter]

As per the title - Tuesdays, 19:30 - 23:00 British time!

[Fussimohr]

I'm also interested in the gothic and horrifying atmosphere of Ravenloft. Plz send me a PM, if you'll invite me.

[Springroll]

If you have any open slots left I'd love to join, the time suits me fine as well :)

[Bleak Midwinter]

I'm still waiting for a PM with background etc from people.

[Bleak Midwinter]

Campaign completed.