lol thank you.

The first post is now updated to show the full roster of gender/race/class/player.

This is a superb party composition.

Updated the first post, you do need to pick a detiy.  See my email. 

Here is a quick note on the current government and political climate of the sylvari.

The current empress is from Londelirinen, the central kingdom.  She is a believer in isolationism, which is also the most popular political position in the empire.  As such, the sylvari have very little trade or diplomacy with other nations.

The king of the northern kingdom, Alloryen, is a fan of pursuing more trade and relations with the humans.  This is the least popular political position, but there is growing sentiment for it.  The younger generation tends to be progressive in this way.

The king of the southern kingdom, Maelamin, buys into the old hard line approach that the "civilized" humans today live largely on stolen sylvari lands.  It does not help that several human cities are built on top of the ruins of ancient sylvari settlements; this is viewed by a decent number of syls as an affront, an abomination, etc.  He - and those like him - dream of liberating these ancient ancestral lands, though the sheer numerical advantages of the humans make this a very impractical dream.  Those of this viewpoint obviously oppose any sort of trade or diplomacy.

Each kingdom has a council made up of nobles from the great Houses.  The empress has her own council, as well, and there is the equivalent of an imperial senate that does a great deal of the lawmaking.

You should know that there is constant subtle intriugue among the various great houses as they struggle for superiority.  This is mostly a game of face and public honor and positioning, but there absolutely are darker steps taken.  Apparently, one entire Alloryen  House perished in a terrible fire whose source could never be traced.  Whispers suggest that more than one House benefitted from such a tragedy.


Sylvari words and definitions used in this game:

Aa’ menle nauva calen ar’ ta hwesta e’ ale’quenle - May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back
Adaron - Kith-Jora, god of nature, patron of the Sylvari
aikanaro - hell fire
alta-koronio - big balls
aredhelea - the nobility
amadahin - "foolish child"
arwenamin -  My Lady (familiar/informal)
arwen en amin - My lady (formal)
astalder - valiant one
atta - two
baradea - towers
ba-seldarine - dead gods
caragpholg - boar
cora - leader, lord/lady of a Great House
enque - six
er - one
Diola lle - Thank you
Dor’ghen Loth - Stag's Grove, a village in Alloryen
diola lle - Thank you
dulin - bird
edan - man
edainme - woman
elen - star
elenae - stars
erestor - lawmaker, senator
farahe - huntress
haun - dog
helkaer - icy one
heru en amin - My Lord (formal)
istar - wizard
gunt - a green melon, about the size of a canteloupe
kainen - ten
k'goth - evil people, specifically a slur towards Anathari and their descendants
kinta - four
kost - bolt.  Contains four elenae, each with five Stormriders.
kosta'cora - bolt commander.  Leader of twenty Stormriders.
lempe - five
Lissentoria - Lysora, goddess of healing and health
lle ai’thost - (slang, vulgar) you little sh*t
mellon - friend
mellonamin - my friend
megilindar - bladesinger
minque - eleven
morko - bear
neld - three
nerte - nine
nost'kano - commander of the fort
Oio naa elealla alasse’ - Ever thy sight is a joy
otso - seven
quel - good
quel amrun - good morning
Quel du, melui - Good night, lovely
Quel esta, arwen en amin - Rest well, my lady
quel kaima - Sleep well
quel marth, melloneamin - good luck, my friends
quel undome - good evening
quol - owl
ratse - twelve
Rimen'arrna - Riders of the Storm.  Eliter aerial cavalry who ride griffons
sarigraamin - (expletive, slang) f*ck me
Taudor Salka - Vilathera, goddess of the hunt
tal'en - cities, settlements
taur'ohtar - ranger, woodsman
tenna’ tul’re (san&rsquo - Until tomorrow, (then)
tolto - eight

Bófir words and definitions used in this game:

Bófir - [BO-fihd] plural term for the race
Bófear - [BO-farr] singular term for a member of the race
Ruadhrí - [ROO-ree] a bófir warrior
síoraí ithir dearg - eternal red soil, bófir afterlife
Tréad - [TREED] herd, family


Fae words and definitions used in this game:

Ai että! - Oh that! An exclamation of amusement/amazement/exasperation
auringonlapsia - children of the sun (humans/shorter-lived mortals)
autiomaa - wasteland, desert
hallitsija - ruler
herra - lord
hienomekko - dress; specifically, a fine dress
järvenkansaa - lake folk.  Nixies.
kakankaantaiteilija - artist of the cloth
keijuvaltakunta - the fae realm
keskiyönvaltakunta - the midnight realm
kivenasukkaat - khordaldrum, literally, "stone dwellers"
koira - dog
korkeampi laulu - higher singing
kuolevainenpesä - city, literally "mortal nest"
koulutettu - learned/educated one
kuninkaallinenhovi - shadow court
kusipää - asshole, c*unt, bastard - slang (insult)
kutoja - weaver (slang, wizard)
laulajat - singers
Laulualtaat - Singing Pools. Lindela Elin - the Melodious Pools
likainenkauhistus - filthy abomination
luuhaaveilijat - bone singers
metsänkansaa - forest folk.  Sptrites, pixies.
miekkojenlaulaja - singer of swords, bladesinger
miehenvaltakunta - mortal realm
mieslehmä - cow man. Bófir
nälkäisiä - hungry ones
noituudenpuu - literally, "sorcery tree".  Wytchwood
oikealaulu - literally "true song".  Fae magic.
painu helvettiin - fuck off, go away, go to hell, etc. An exclamation of anger.
parantaja - healer
pikkusisko - little sister
pikkusiskuret - little sisters
punainen - red (color)
rakkaani - beloved, sweetheart, etc
rauhoitu - relax, chill out.  Slang.
sielunystävä - soul friend
sininen - blue (color)
sinipunainen - violet/purple (color)
sisko - sister
syvinlaulu - ancient melody, deepest song
tabupolkuja - the forbidden paths
tähtienlapsia - children of the stars (sylvari)
tienraivaaja - pathfinder, guide
tontut - sylvari (plural)
tonttutytär - sylvari daughter
tyhmä - fool, idiot
tytär - daughter
uteliaspieniihminen - curious little person. A cidal - specifically, a pick
varjojenlapsia - children of the shadows (fae)
varjoovi - shadow door
varjonmaita - shadow lands
varjopolku - shadow path
varjonportti - shadow gate
velho - wizard
vihainenhenkilö - angry person
vihainenyksilö - angry one
voi - alas!  An exclamation. 
ystäväni - my friends


Marching order:

Single file:

Isilmewen
Arathea
Mae'rel
Seleneniel
Rosariel
Dak
Ruadhri

2x2
Isilmewen / Arathea
Mae'rel / Rosariel
Seleneniel / Dak
Ruadhri

You're making me hurt for an imaginary person, Bree.

Done!

We need a cleric and a mage.

Hi, folks!

I have reached an odd place in my life.  One of the biggest reasons that I started the Red Dragon Inn so many years ago was that I couldn't seem to find the time to play any face to face D&D, and I wanted to keep an outlet for that in my life.  Forum-based games became my refuge, despite the flakiness and slow pace inherent in the style.  Today, I am DMing three face to face games - the most concurrent in my lifetime - and I'm having a great time!  But I find that I miss the in depth storytelling that the slow pace of forum-based games allows.

So here I am, recruting for a new game.

This will be an old school, second edition D&D game, utilizing my house rules that I've developed over the past thirty-four years of DMing.  Old dogs, new tricks, etc. etc.  

The game will take place in Audalis.  Specfically, it will be set in - or at the least, start in - the Sylvari empire.  Please read the following highly relevant setting inforation.

The Sylvari are viewed as haughty, arrogant, prideful.  Their typical lifespan is eight hundred to a thousand years, giving them so much time to perfect whatever callings may interest them.  They are tall - think Tolkein elves - and graceful.  Their long lifespans also lead to them being resistant to change and slow to let go of old greivances.

Today's Sylvari empire is roughly half to two thirds of the land mass it once covered, thanks to a bitter war with the Anathari - the second race of men - nearly two thousand years ago.  The Anathari claimed vast swaths of land, burned Sylvari cities, created new settlents on top of their ruins.  Some three hundred years later, the Anathari civillization collapsed, but their descendants - Drannon and Sendria - have never been freindly with the Sylvari.  The third race of men, the Apanonese - ancestors of modern Ertain, Coria, and Pardinal - have never been trusted by the Syls, though in recent years, a small amount of trade has been opened with Coria.  

The Sylvari fought two wars with the Khordaldrum - one more than two thousand years ago, one about seven hundred and fifty years ago.  Indeed, there are elders alive who remember that second war, who even fought in it.  As such, the khords are viewed with extreme distrust to this day.  

In short, the Sylvari are quite isolationist and xenophobic; the word "racist" would not be out of place to describe their general attitudes.

Why is this important?  Because it impacts your available character choices.

Characters may obviously be sylvari.  There are three kingdoms - Alloryen, the northern kingdom, is the most magical-leaning of the three.  Londelirinen, the central kingdom, is the most artistic of the three.  Maelamin, the southern kingdom, is the most military-focused of the three.  Obviously, any syl from any kingdom can be anything (a mage from the south, a warrior from the north, etc).  This is just some background flavor; I will add more to the Q&A thread shortly.

Half sylvari characters are available.  Note that a character born of rape would be pitied, whereas one born of an open union between syl and human would probably be looked down on in many circles.  In either case, expect "pure" syls to view you as tainted, lesser, bastard, etc.  

Humans from certain cultures of the first race of men - i.e. the natives to the continent - are viewed more favorably than those of the "civilized" nations.  The Chindari and the Lendoreans are both cultures that embrace many sylvari values - harmony with the land, the don't seek to control territory, etc.  The Yanathera are more warlike but again live in harmony with the land, so while not as well liked by the syls as the other two are, they could perhaps be an option.  If your heart is set on being a human, I would recommend considering one of these barbarian cultures, and figuring out why on Antaron they are allowed to enter the empire.

The syls desipse the raiding Vidarak and warlike Arvox Collyra.  I cannot see one of these being present anywhere in the empire.

The civilized human nations will not be great options for a character.  Drannese and Sendrians are still Anathari, as far as the sylvari are concerned; these are hated enemies.  The Ertainians and Pardinese are little better, barely tolerated by the empire.  Corians have worked hard to establish some minor trade with the empire, but are still held at arm's length.  You would have to have some incredible backstory reason for me to consider a civilized human as a character.

Again, the khords are extremely distrusted.  The only thing that saves them being outright hated like the Anathari is the fact that their wars did not lead to territory loss by the empire - but many syls died to khord axes, hammers, and spears, so the odds of a khord character being accepted are close to nil.

Cidals are tolerated in sylvari culture.  Not loved, perhaps, but tolerated.  As such, a cidal character - be it stump, pick, or loaven - would be allowed.  Brathunspar are viewed much the same way - tolerated.

If you have some more exotic character idea, I reserve the right to approve it on a case by case basis, again heavily dependent on the story.

With all of that said, I am looking for a party that is mostly to completely sylvari.  There will absolutely be fighting in this game, but I plan to focus heavily on the story, as collaborative storytelling and creative writing is where forum-based games really shine.

I am looking for six players, any class is allowed.  I will roll with any party composition that you wish to use, but for maximum survivability, I would recommend two wariors, a mage, a rogue, and two clerics.  Alternately, one cleric and one cleric multiclass, or swap the rogue for another caster or warrior.

I would urge mage players to strongly consider membership into the Circle of Arcane Enlightenment, as the syls are very pro-Circle.  

Characters must be of good or neutral alignments, or have a superb roleplaying reason to be evil.  Note that I am looking for heroes and collaborative efforts, so players who wish to scheme against the party need not apply.  

I am not yet set on starting character level, though I am considering the 2-4 range.  

Posts must be at least three to four short paragraphs.  "Jimbo is angry and attacks the orc." is not a suffienct post.  This game will be slow, we need storyteling - expect to share your character's thoughts, feelings, etc.  Feel free to use flashbacks to share your character's history with us, give us tidbits of stories or songs they have heard, etc, etc.  

I want to see one to two posts per week.  

I want to see interesting backstories and compelling characters.  Again, we are telling a collaborative story against the fraework of D&D here.  That said - this is still D&D.  Characters can and do die.  If that's not something you can deal with, this may not be the game for you.

For stats - roll 4d6 six times, drop the low die from each, arrange to taste.  I am looking for heroes, so you should have 2-3 stats that get a bonus, one stat that's a 17 or 18.  I reserve the right to nerf or buff stats as I see fit.  Do not roll HP, I will do that for you.  Assume that your character has all necessary gear that an adventurer needs - armor, weapon, backup weapon, torches, bedroll, backpack, common spell coponents, etc.  

Casters, I will work with you to get your spell list.  Arcane casters, be prepared to create a unique spell of a level you can cast.


Poyential players, please respond with interest.


At this time, this game is full.  You may post interest to be considered as an alternate.

Confirmed character concepts:

Arathea Ondolithe, female sylvari bladesinger - Esther
Ruadhrí Barrón, male bófir fighter - Octavia
Rosariel Faenwyn, female sylvari cleric of Vilathera - Breebles
Dak Whisperfoot, male cidal rogue - Eol Fefalas
Selen’in’iel Isil’inari, female sylvari mage - alovet
Mae'rel Elerron, female sylvari cleric of Lysora - vibechecker628
Isilmewen Mithvanryl, female sylvari ranger - Reralae

We had a long hiatus due to some training, but we are back and going.  We play again tomorrow.

I have a lot of sourcebooks for multiple versions of D&D, from 3.5 back to OD&D.  I only really play 2e, and truth be told, I really just use my PDFs.

Bumping this thread, added Discord channel link to post #1.

You should share them!

I'm currently working on my second skeleton.  I've done one other skeleton, a barrel, and a crate.

You could upload the images on a host like imageur.  Then click the "insert/edit image" button on the toolbar above your post.  Copy/paste your image link, and you're done.

This will be the offical Q&A thread for the "Return to Charadun" game.  I expect that most of the actual Q&A stuff will go on in our FB messenger group, but you can feel free to post here as well.

Also, if you'd like to introduce your charcter here, you can.  You do not have to do so, however.

Here is the Discord channel link!  

I'm not a mini painter, but I have asked for he supplies to get into it for Christmas.  I'm not an artsy guy, so mine will likely look like a child's efforts, but hopefully I will still have fun.

Ody, I don't have a problem with you sitting in, if the rest of the group doesn't mind.

And that's all, folks - we have a full character roster!

We are up to three confirmed characters!

Tann, like the post says, roll 4d6, drop the low roll, arrange to taste.  I don't do point buy.

Cleric is fine, just pick a deity.  Runemaster is there in the Audalis info if you want to look at it.

Concept received!  Loving what we have so far.

Send me a character concept, Tann.  Whatever floats your boat.  

I am envisioning a party of six players, so two martial types would be ideal.  You could play a cleric of Kharox, you could play the Runemaster (custom cleric type class), you could pick another good/neutral deity to cleric for - it just needs to make sense.

We don't really have beserkers as part of normal Khordaldrum lore, but that doesn't mean that you can't make one.

I find that the Captain-as-GM-voice approach works reslly, really well.  It allows the GM to roleplay, but (should) remove the temptation to force their will on everything.  The true joy of a great Trek game is seeing all the inane creative approaches that players have.

I'd love to playtest with you.  I keep worrying the festering sore that is completing the last Trek tale - even if I just do a narrative dump on it.

I am stoked, sister.

Hey folks!

This is not my usual recruitment, as this game will not be play by post here at the Inn (though I do intend to get back to doing those).  Instead, this is for a virtual tabletop game - likely using Discord or Zoom.  I'm looking to start this game in January, with us playing twice a month; a typical game session will run three to four hours.

This is for an old school D&D game.  I will be using my modified/houseruled 2nd edition Dungeons and Dragons rules (aka AD&D).  Characters will start at either 2nd or 3rd level (I have yet to decide).  I.e. you will be an adventurer with some real experience under your belt.  If you have zero experience with 2E in particular, or with D&D in general, have no fear.  If you can roleplay and cooperate with others, you are welcome.  I will gladly help you make your character, and I tend to manage almost all of the rule stuff myself, anyway.  I have all of the rulebooks in digital form, and am happy to share.

All characters for this game MUST be Khordaldrum (dwarves), though I might consider a cidal (halfling).

The concept:

Over a thousand years ago, there were two races of Dwarves in Antaron.  The Khordaldrum hailed from the Khordal Mountains of central Antaron.  Their cousins, The Chakrandrum, slightly taller and fairer of skin and hair than their kin, were from the Chakran Mountains of Eastern Antaron, with the mountain ranges divided by the great Sylvarian Forest, home of the Sylvari (elves).

The two nations shared the deepest of connections, for they were in fact all related, and dwarves view family and blood as the most sacred of bonds.  But it was a time of war and strife, and the Chakrandrum fought two significant wars - the First and Second Ogre Wars.

The Chakrandrum actually fought not only ogres, but their allies - both goblins and the mysterious subterranean ungoulid.  While they defeated the monstrous alliance - after heavy losses - in the First Orge War, three centuries later, the Chakrandrum were completely exterminated in the Second Ogre War.  The entire civilization was wiped out, lost to history.

Our adventure begins in the present day.  Deep in the vaults of Kharolis, the underground capital of the Khordaldrum, lies a rune-covered sphere carved of pure obsidian.  

For the first time in many lifetimes, one of the runes on that sphere has begun to glow.

This artifact is so ancient that it's purpose was nearly forgotten, but one of the oldest living runemasters was able to identify it.  The sphere is one of a pair, the other of which is said to have resided in Charadun, the lost capitol of the Chakrandrum.  The lore states that these spheres were used in ancient times to allow the two kingdoms to communicate with one another, although the full knowledge of *how* to use these spheres has been lost to time.   The lore is very clear that ONLY a dwarf can cause these runes to ignite.

How is this possible that it glows today?  

It is once again a time of unrest.  Enemies threaten Kharolis, so the Khordaldrum dare not send a significant military force to the Chakran Mountains to investigate.  Furthermore, any such force would have to march through the Sylvarian borders, and while the two nations suffer an uneasy truce, any such detachment would surely be viewed as an act of war.  Instead, it is decided that a group of skilled individuals would do better to serve on an expedition such as this, where they can move fast and react nimbly.

You will be playing members of this adventuring party, charged with the heavy task of traveling more than a thousand miles, negotiating passage through the Sylvarian Empire, to venture into territory known to be infested with hostile monsters - ogres, goblins, ungoulid, and who knows what else?  You are to find the lost city of Charadun, uncover a way inside, and learn what you can of the fate of not only the city, but of your kin, the Chakrandrum.  Who or what is causing the sending sphere to light?  Is it possible that some of your distant kin have survived, hidden away, for more than a millenia?  What became of the legendary riches of the lost kingdom?

My desire is for six players, all khordaldum (perhaps one cidal), ideally using some of the khord-specific classes.  I'd love to see a Spiderguard, a Runemaster, a Geomancer in this party

Characters must be good or neutral.  I will only consider an evil character from a well established roleplayer who can convince me that the character will be a good fit for a party like this, who will not derail things just to derail things.  This is a the story of heroes, not villains.

For stats, roll 4d6, drop the low roll, arrange to taste.  I expect every character to have two exceptional ability scores (15+).  I *might* accept a third such score, DM's option.  I reserve the right to nerf or buff stats as I see fit to preserve party balance.   I will roll your hit points.  

My rules for magic are MUCH more generous than RAW.  I will brief any spell casting characters on these.

Gameplay will begin after the first of the year.  Characters will NOT be awarded on a first come, first served basis.  I need to see good character concepts.  You don't have to write a novella, but I need to know that you have put some thought into your character, and I want charcters that are interesting, that are good fits.

To be considered, reply here.  You can PM me here on the Inn, or you can reach out to me on Facebook (Olan Suddeth).  

Current roster:

Male fighter (spiderguard), played by Eol Fefalas (Rob)
Female fighter (spiderguard), played by Meredeth (Samantha)
Female geomancer, played by Breebles (Bree)
Male fighter/rogue, played by Vesper (Gregory)
Male runemaster, played by alovet (Alan)
Male cleric of Kharox, played by Chessicfayth (Justin)

No slots remain.  If you are interested, you could reach out to see if we can fit you in as a stand by player in case we need to make a roster change.

Thanks for your interest!

I have run several successful (and many more fizzled) Trek games over the years.    You can see those here on the Inn.

What I've always done is run games that function like the old school PBEM games.  There are many "fleets" that do PBEM and PBP games.  While there are more rules-based Trek games, I find the strictly narrative approach to be best for this genre - and that's me speaking as a dyed in the wool clickety-clack dice roller.

The Captain is basically a plot device.  They command the ship, yes - you as the GM use the Captain to inform the crew of the mission, and to help keep things moving in the right direction.

Eveyone else plays a lower ranked character, usually a department head or the like.  

You set the scene, they RP their characters, rine and repeat untl you advance the scene.  

The thing is, while RPGs are never about "winning", Trek is even less so.  You have to all agree to share the spotlight, to collaborate on cool solutions.  You have to have buy in that we are making the best story together as opposed to each player just trying to beat the monster or whatnot.  

It's a huge challenge, but in term sof pure story, it's very tough to be a well played Trek game.