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Title: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Dec 29th, 2002, 9:41pm Anyone who's interested in a multiverse-themed PBPRPG DMed by me can post character ideas here, and I'll build some plots around those characters. Currently I'm thinking of constructing a scenario around a small amount of events in the Faction War in Sigil (not the whole thing). It might go a different way, though, if people would rather it was based around one of the planes, or if the character ideas make something else more appropriate. All of the planes have some interesting things that would make great stories. You probably won't know what the plot is going to be until I send you hooks. I encourage everyone who wants to participate to get as weird as possible with PC ideas - don't shy at playing dreams, poems, fables, constellations, children, white blood cells, animals, modern-era characters, historical figures, delirium tremens, or anything else that catches your fancy. I don't want to deal with an entire party full of Star Trek characters, of course (unless they're all faction members), or radically disparate groups including something on the level of Baalzebul and a hamster. Or maybe we can make that work, I don't know. But think about issues of faith, knowledge, and philosophy. Think about movies like Pi, Waking Life, and Brazil. That's what I'm going for, anyway. Don't worry, I've got lots of ideas. It'll just come down to which ones I use, is all. If you don't know anything about the Planescape setting, it shouldn't matter too much. You just might appreciate it more if you do. Like with the Lord of the Rings movies, I guess. Looking at this again, if you all take me literally it probably won't have anything to do with a Faction War. Unless that's what people want. Even if it does, it won't be much like the one from the published adventure, except really superficially. Characters and events will change. You don't have to post final character ideas, either. Just throw some thoughts out, and see if it inspires anyone else. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Alamo on Dec 30th, 2002, 1:36am ah, interested am i. the character i had in mind is the personification of the war between all that is good and evil. Covered head to toe in tatoos of demons and celestials locked in combat, his personality is a terrible dichotomy of tenderness and generosity with unspeakable violence and cruelty. At different times, he seems dominated by one or the other of his seperate personalities, and never seems to be quite the same man day to day. indeed, his very tatoos shift and change as first one side then the other wins the upper hand for his soul, though who knows if either will ever break the gridlock and take him completely? A giant among men, he is often quiet and thoughtful, an unlikely disposition given his fierce appearance. as for faction wars? i dunno. he already has enough on his mind without worrying about politics... |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Dec 30th, 2002, 4:40am I've been living, breathing the Faction War for a while now. It feels like a comofortable glove when I slip into the idea. That sort of thinking will have to be slapped out of me! Perhaps I'd like to focus a character that is more of an everyday cager than a factioneer. Although I'm still very involved with the faction politics, I think I'd enjoy taking a step back...making something small and working upwards. I'm rambling now. No...the war had to happen. Everybody was heading into conflict. I want to be a doomguard. A sinker...sometimes known as 'guardians'. Possibly even a high-up, if I may. The war is the perfect catalyst for change, and that is what I want to focus on: The Doomguard philosophy comes crashing down. Nihilism. I'll post Rott, the nerstrom/entropic champion/decay knight/doomsoldier (depending on a few things) as he comes to me. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Dust on Dec 30th, 2002, 6:16am The spirit of Beast. The juice that flows between anything that moves, and even some things that don't. The first non solid building block in the chain of awareness. In one glimpse a bird, another a slavering wolf. Its form changing with mood, with instinct, with scent. Claws, thorns, beaks, barbituate gas venting from its gills. Somehow, it has learned mild stability. Curious of this otherworldly creation of Sigil, the wandering 'avatar' followed the smoggy scent through a leafy clump of ferns, and caught itself in a stinking puddle ridden patch of thorny vine. The rats sniffed, and slipped across the street into a dripping pipe... D*** (more later, when it's not 3 in the morning! :)) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Lore on Dec 30th, 2002, 8:05am You know I'm in. I'll post a character just as soon as they fully form in my mind. Since you want it to be weird as possible though, I might have to wait until the weekend. ;) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Hardhead on Dec 30th, 2002, 8:51am I'm in. No good ideas about a character yet. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Dec 30th, 2002, 9:32am on 12/30/02 at 08:05:20, Lore wrote:
Well, they don't have to be weird. I just thought I'd see what people came up with if there were no limitations. Do what seems comfortable. From the PCs posted so far, I'm thinking either War in Sigil, War in the Beastlands, or the all-Abyss campaign idea I've been playing with. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Brain-Box on Jan 1st, 2003, 11:58am Well, I would like to participate in some Planescape-ian fun, as always! I'm not sure how far or how to go with character conception, but I'll just post or make something up with some ideas -- some of which were half-baked unfinished concepts I may have had for a while. For the most part, they may seem conventional -- in the sense that they are not something like manifestations of strange phenomenon or something, though i have an idea for that type of thing... Anyway: -- A rogue modron paladin Hardhead. -- A male bariaur druid Bleaker. -- A female water genasi monk Cipher. (Those three above I've had posted elsewhere at some point, somewhere.) -- A gourmet chef slaad (not sure what faction, if any). A real "sage of cuisine". (And no, no pun about the "chef salad / slaad" please! ;) ) -- A multidimensional being, which manifests itself differently per dimension. So, depending on how much of the creature you "realize" you get a different level of "reality". Perceptions at different level mean different character types and personifications. Sort of like a weird Xammux thing, being many characters in one. Sleight-of-hand existence. -- I like Azazel's concept within "Seasons of Mist" (Sandman, DC Comics), which is sort of like a roving, intelligent portal to a living extra-dimensional place. It doesn't so much move, as a rip in the fabric of reality between that living dimension and another location. Err, you know what I mean? I wouldn't mind being a similar creature, sort of a living demiplane of some sort, but better than Neth, of course. -- A rattatosk. -- A flesh golem which is a collection of intelligent, animate organs and parts. A collective and super-consciousness is formed by their union. Sort of like a small version of the Town Corpus, on the Gray Waste (as in, limbs and stuff that are actually self-aware, not organs made of people). Or else, being the Town of Corpus itself! -- Some creature that changes colors, and with color changes his mood changes with them. Perhaps some strange after effect from Radiance and/or a Scile attack. (Or some curse from a godling of colors and moods?) The Living Mood Ring! Well, if I think of any more weird stuff, I'll post it up here. Any more on what kind of timeframe or deadline or anything definitive about this? Hope to make the roster! |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Chifo on Jan 2nd, 2003, 1:27am I'd be interested as well. I'm easy with the faction war, but the abyss campaign sounds great. My character idea would be a guy called 'Traveller'...think along the lines of Doctor Who for inspiration (if you are a fan :)), big scarf, long coat, floppy hat. Anyone want a jelly baby? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Dust on Jan 2nd, 2003, 4:36am on 12/30/02 at 09:32:29, ripperibo wrote:
Oh good. I was thinking mine wasn't good enough... See if I can flesh this one out a bit more then. :) D*** |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by puk on Jan 2nd, 2003, 5:37am I'd love to join if you'll have me. As for characters.. how bout this: - a dabus with divine aspirations - a gear spirit with a mission: run the greatest gear of em all: Sigil. (well, it's sorta round, and after the war it really needs some fine-tuning.) - Brainbox beat me to the cullinary Slaad. I must say, though, I can just imagine it speaking french. There's a frog if ever you've seen one. Or how about a really bad accent. Like Officer Crabtree in 'alo 'alo. ahh... too bad he's taken. - A pack of cranium rats, scavaging for scarce food after the war. Perhaps rivals to The Us, or perhaps even The Us, diminished after a battle or the famine that came with the war. - A bunch of kids, sucked into a strange and alien world after taking a ride on a broken rolercoaster. Their only companion a small bald fellow named the Dung.. oh, wait, never mind. - The essence of morality, attempting, once and for all, to define 'good' and 'evil'. The results will, of course, change the face of the planes forever more. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 2nd, 2003, 6:56am Perhaps we should have the theme first, so that we can have characters that could concievably work together. Which reminds me...does anyone want to collaborate on back stories? 'Cause the nerstrom Rott has been around, and needs some friends and stuff... |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Dust on Jan 2nd, 2003, 7:09am Hmm... - an undead Raven. - a self devolved larvae who somehow escaped the hells / the abyss. He's tired, he's scared, he's... essentially Rincewind. But more sulfurous. - a hollow angel. A failed creation. Neither lawful nor chaotic, good nor evil, caring or careless, he is an unfinished or stunted tool. Barely able to speak, he somehow got where he is. Who left him there? Why is he defective? How the hell can you talk to him? - Mjolnir. Thor was a boring old fart. When a fiendish hammer offered to take Mjolnir, (or Old Jolly)'s place, it jumped at the chance. never heard I was sentient eh? That's cos I didn't tell anyone. Whaddya mean, I let Thor get taken in by evil? I'm just here for fun berk, now pike it before I zap ya! You dont think i'm Mjolnir? Right, thats it.... - a pair of boots. - a goblin with the compulsive urge to ask people to "take a card". The fact that the cards are from what may be a very large deck of many things notwithstanding... - the crispy M&M. - a sentient Fey jug. (thankyou, delglath:)) Great fun at parties, a big hit with the ladies. Just don't stop drinking... - someone who thinks he's Aoskar. (well, I just thought it. Everyone knows I like him. Sue me) - All these ideas sound tired. I'm off the box to try and think of something good... D*** |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Gideon on Jan 2nd, 2003, 3:17pm I'm in, thats for damn sure. This thread has too many angles for me to decide on a character, however. As more becomes decided upon, and time allows, I will post again with a firm concept. Until then, I look forward to perusing your many ideas. Cheers. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Gideon on Jan 2nd, 2003, 4:55pm "Whores, beggars, touts and bubbers. Every day brings more of the same. People living, or trying to in this pit." Two figures sat swathed in shadows, bent low about a smoldering ash heap. It was difficult to say which one spoke for certain. "It's a hollow life, one filled with whatever remains when hope has fled and love grows frail." "Stir the fire," said another voice, deep and remote. It's words carried the sad weight of many years and many, many more sorrows. A silvery ripple passed through the darkness, and the ashes gave way once more to meager flame. "I am tired," said the first. "My bones are weary and my feet ache. And yet each evening for as long as I dare recall, I have risen to walk these alleys and tend to a people not my kin." A terrible cough seized his lungs and the shadows lurched. The other was silent. "Tell me, what have we done? Has anything changed at all" "It is not a vain pursuit. There are many who owe much to you, and can give only their thanks. You are a great comfort to them, a shield and a beacon." "Who will be mine then?" "I will." Both were silent for some time. A shout rose up, borne upon the still air from afar. It ceased abruptly but the stones echoed with its voice for a while longer. "Come, the night grows wan, and your people call to you." "My people? You make me sound a king." "Perhaps." There was a bitter laugh. "A king of rags." "But a king no less." A long pause followed. "Then I must attend. Let us go." The figures unfolded, one tall and one towering. With a sweeping sound the ashes were scattered and the world plunged into a deeper shade still. And like that the two were gone, as quick and unheeded as the wind. - There's my working concept for the moment, if it is needed for the plot to be condensed. King of rags, lord of the Hive, a dagger in the night, and a shield to the poor. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 2nd, 2003, 8:50pm Alamo: where sort of personification do you want your character to be? 1. Was he born from a conflict between good and evil, leaving him free to act as he would from then on? 2. Does he exist, potentially, wherever good and evil clash, but only incarnate one place at a time? (In this scenario, he would manifest where the adventure begins and not know why, except that a big battle is starting) 3. Is personifying good fighting evil his job, in which case he would have superiors who order him to go to certain places for various possible reasons (to protect the Balance, possibly, or to act as an omen, or for completely mysterious motives)? Dust, Gideon: similar questions. Chifo: I like your idea, but I'm not very familiar with Doctor Who. Somewhat, but not very, and anyway things should probably be altered somewhat. So it'll help if you describe what kind of organization the Traveller belongs to, how he travels (an actual TARDIS or something more like a well of worlds, or just portals and planar paths?), what his goals in life are, and so on. If he belonged to a Planescape faction, that might be easier, but the whole point of this is to allow any sort of character, so whatever you want. My challenge here is to build the adventure organically around the characters, instead of asking you to fit your characters into the adventure. If I was going to give you a theme, I should have said so to begin with. Because Orri's character is designed to exist within a Crumbling Doomguard theme, that will be part of the adventure (which means it will be related at least in part to the Faction War). Gideon's character is intended to be native to and even personify Sigil in some aspects (though he might just be an average Joe who happens to be very concerned with the ragpickers and so on, it's difficult to tell), so quite a lot of the action will be in the Hive (which means that it's got to be the Sigilian side of the war). Good and evil will be a strong theme as well, as will different sides of the Beast (unless Dust wants to use one of his other ideas). Perhaps knowing that much will help other people narrow their ideas down. As Orri pointed out, you could also try to think of a character that knows or his allied with one of the characters already mentioned. Obviously this is extremely experimental, but it's something I wanted to try out. If you can, try to decide on final character ideas sometime this weekend. No, it's not too late to change your mind about what your idea is, but if you do, do so quickly or face the fact that your character might not fit quite as well into the scenario as it might have otherwise. I'll still fit it in. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 2nd, 2003, 9:13pm on 01/02/03 at 05:37:51, puk wrote:
This one has the advantage of being complementary to Alamo's idea, but any of them are fine. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 2nd, 2003, 9:29pm on 01/01/03 at 11:58:02, Brain-Box wrote:
The modron would be good if puk decides to play a gear spirit. The Bleaker would be an interesting counterpoint to or relief from the huge moral struggle going on, or he could actually be fighting against an attempt to impose morality on stuff that just is. That'd also be a good alternate take on the Balance-oriented druid: a druid who struggles against good and evil not to make them balance, but in order to avoid having people be forced to care about them. I guess. The Cipher could be a peacemaker, or be interested in feeling the Cadence of one of the more abstract characters. Quote:
You and puk could both play chef slaadi, if you wanted. I guess part of the scenario would have to be about food, then. Maybe there's a demiplane of food that the factions are struggling for control over, and the King of Rags wants the food given to the poor while the Doomguard wants to destroy it, while the slaadi just want to eat it or possibly copy it, so everyone goes to the Palace of the King of Food to petition for his or her help... That would be very weird, and it would be all your fault for playing a slaad gourmet. That's how it works, people. You have that much power over the storyline, just by choosing the appropriate characters. I'm not going to impose any theme on you, but your fellow players will. I suggest the Fated or Xaositects, incidently, though others would work. Quote:
That's pretty cool. You'd have to be more specific about the character's aspects, of course. They could even belong to different factions. Quote:
Yeah, I like Azazel. The Doomguard would think of it as being an entropic effect, the fabric of the planes (or Sigil) decaying, while the Godsmen might attempt to use it as a portal to divinity. The others sound fun, too, but I can't think of any specific plot hooks they might have right now. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 2nd, 2003, 9:43pm on 01/02/03 at 20:50:16, ripperibo wrote:
That finally sunk in. Heh. I'm such a lawful idiot, sometimes. I'll start elaborating on my character tomorrow, and stop trying to soldify a plotline...it's hard to give up a DMs instincts. ;) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by KingOfChaos on Jan 3rd, 2003, 3:28am - An newly created intelligent item which has no idea what it does, what it is, and what it's real purpose is. I have always wanted to play a 'classed' item ;). - Spirit of Those Lost: A shadowy figure created from the souls of the damned who refused to become larvae on the lower planes. Instead, they fused together to create this creature of entropy and evil who wanders the planes, running from Night Hags and demons who wish to reduce it to nothing more than worms which to use as currency in the Grey Wastes (The worm that walks template from BoVD would probably work well for this character...hmmm). - Bounty Hunter: A member of the Mercykillers with a destiny. Bring an evil god who has just reawakened on the astral back to the dead book - The white blood cell of a recently dead power, broken off from the rest of the body and currently trying to travel to the astral to find the body it belonged to so it can finally die. Weird yes? It would probably be a floating ooze-like creature that could fly like a beholder. Other than that, I don't know what else we could do with this 'character' other than allow it to have a humanoid form of somekind. That's all I can think of for right now :P Quote:
Holy crap! :o I just now realized you already stated something like my last character concept in your post O_o |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Gideon on Jan 3rd, 2003, 6:37am I'd be up to working other character backgrounds in with my own, if anyone still desires. Message me if you want to discuss this further. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Necromortis on Jan 3rd, 2003, 6:41am I would love to play in this, it sounds like exactly my kind of game... How about this for a character: "In the dark streets and shadowy underside of the city of Sigil, something walks. A dark, cloaked figure moves silently through the night, never speaking, never turning its head, never showing its face; in its wake, there trails a terrible aura of fear and despair that can freeze even the bravest man where he stands, his heart pounding and his feet rooted to the earth. Those who have glimpsed this creature speak of it only in whispers - they name it the Fallen One, the Curse of Sigil, and many other such appellations. It is said that should you be unlucky enough to see beneath the thing's hood and meet its gaze you will be struck dead where you stand. Nobody knows what it is, or where it came from, or why it haunts the city as it does. "In truth, the dreaded Fallen One is a lich of terrible power and great evil. Long ago he was the lord of a lost realm on a distant plane, last and greatest of an ancient line of necromancer-kings; for a thousand years he ruled over a kingdom of darkness, feared by all, resisted by none. At last, the gods themselves grew weary of his presence blighting the multiverse, and they sent a band of heroes to overthrow him. Their struggle against the evil king was the stuff of which legends are made, and they came perilously nigh to defeat; but in the end, Right and Good prevailed and the dreaded lich was cast down from his lofty station, his empire overthrown, his servants slain or scattered to the winds, the hidden crypts of his stronghold broken open and laid bare to the sky. With the last of his magic, the lich fled from the heroes who had defeated him and escaped between the planes, stripped of everything he possessed, alone and friendless. Eventually he made his way to Sigil, where he hid himself initially with the aim of licking his wounds for a while and building up his powers again so that he might regain his former station; but somehow, he has never recovered from the shock and trauma of his downfall, and all his schemes remain nothing more than idle plotting as he drifts aimlessly from one place to the next, constantly distracted by his own fragmented thoughts. If the truth be told he is more than half insane, and if left to himself will probably never recover from the strange trance state in which he has been sunken for several centuries now; he is barely aware of his own existence any more and certainly pays little attention to anything going on outside his own mind, hence his ghostlike habit of wandering the streets and unwittingly terrifying innocent mortals. "Of course, if something were to happen to disturb him from his mental wanderings, who knows what he might do, or turn out to be capable of..." |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Dust on Jan 3rd, 2003, 6:41am Oooh! Oooh! Ooh! I have an idea that I really want to play! I'll PM you and see what you think... D*** |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Brain-Box on Jan 3rd, 2003, 8:48am on 01/02/03 at 21:29:55, ripperibo wrote:
The modron paladin is a little on the extreme side. I might consider it as being a member of the Harmonium or Mercykillers. It is one of the few rogue modrons that sees good as the ultimate "right" of lawfulness. The natural conclusion, since law should benefit and unite all things, and goodness does this. It unifies instead of discorporates. I like Bleakers for their very unfettered viewpoint. You're right: it'd be a great counterpoint to any faction stances or soapboxing. The druidic aspect here would be that this individual would agree most with the natural lifecycles and animals, which don't ask why or worry about reasons, and simply be. It isn't so much that this person doesn't care or is totally ambivelant, it's just that he doesn't concern himself with "high-minded" or pretentious crackpot philosophy and "hokey-religions". A less cocky Han Solo? Well, I guess you get the idea. Quote:
Well, the Cipher would view the Cadence as a "flow", like water. It has currents and eddies which one just "feels" and moves with (which is easier than moving "upstream"). I like monks and Elemental Water, etc., so it would be a very holistic and mystic type of character; mysterious. Very Yoda, it is. Besides, it would also involve playing a female character, which is a little different. Quote:
I love food. Again, a slaad is pretty simple to play...pretty much. Eat and do whatever you feel like, especially if it involves more eating. I guess it could be a strange sort of Sensate, as well. I wouldn't mind teaming up with puk on this, if he wants. Quote:
A multi-dimensional aspected being would be very hard to create, of course. It would be like creating several characters at once. And what if one of the aspects in one set of realities had MPD (multiple-personality disorder)? Sheesh! I'm not sure if I can wrap the entirety of the possibilities of this one. Help would be needed, I think...if you really wanted me to use it. Quote:
Well, it would be in and of itself a demiplane -- the characteristics of which we could discuss -- that doesn't move or go anywhere. It "moves" just by having the always-open portal that leads to it move around dimensionally. Therefore, it basically may decide where it connects and how, within different planes. Interestingly, the question arises, could it then enter Sigil? Rather, could its portal to itself enter Sigil? How could it interact? It's sort of like desgining a living universe character... (Much like the ideas I was having and have done for my d20 Modern cosmology/theology.) Quote:
Well, you can just PM me at whatever point you want to let me know which idea best fits with the rest of the crowd. They are ALL ones I've stewed over for a little while, and like them equally. Just let me know! ;) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 5th, 2003, 12:14am on 01/03/03 at 03:28:31, KingOfChaos wrote:
Would the item have legs, or possibly fly? If not, who would carry it around? Quote:
A dead gods plot too? This could get complicated. Ah, well, that's the game. Quote:
Yup. When in doubt, join a faction. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 5th, 2003, 12:18am on 01/03/03 at 06:41:07, Necromortis wrote:
Alright. It'd probably work better, though, if the Fallen One has to rediscover his own powers over the course of the story arc. I think I'm going to end up assuming everyone's of roughly equal ability in whatever their expertise is, at least as the adventure begins. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by KingOfChaos on Jan 5th, 2003, 12:29am Quote:
More than likely one of the other player characters. Heh, it would be interesting to actually be the one being thrust into another being body to kill it :P How we would do the character, I have no clue. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Lore on Jan 5th, 2003, 3:30pm on 12/30/02 at 08:05:20, Lore wrote:
Truth be told, this idea came to me at a New Year's Eve gathering (it was probably New Year's Day by then, come to think of it), but it actually required some more thought on my part. I think the concept is less protean now, enough well-defined to post, and so I do just that. I have not settled upon a name just yet. I'm rather slow at coming up with those, and so I apologize for any confusion this may cause. The character will be a Tiefling in the general sense, i.e., not necessarily of fiendish blood, but rather of the planes. Surely there is nothing very weird about that. What is weird, or at least fascinating, or a the very least, intriguing is a brief history of the character's life, emphasizing recent developments. For convenience, I will borrow a page from Kafka and call the character by 'J' in the interim. J is lawful, but not rigidly so. As for the other axis, he could neither really be called good or evil. He is bright and intelligent, but not always so wise. Like many planars of his sophistication he is interested in, as Rip puts it, in issues of faith, knowledge, and philosophy. He has, however, felt a need less to think and feel these things for their own sake (he does this too, but not absolutely), and more to serve as a proverbial philosopher to kings. His parents, a human woman and a planar being (he says an Argenach Rilmani), his mother a member of the Guvners, predicted he would follow that path in life as well. J was different though, enough so that he joined the Mathematicians sect. That was ultimately not to his liking, but it made him the being that he is today. While in the sect, he worked on the famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) conjecture concerning the existence of the Ordial Plane. He found though that no one working in that field was able to make progress. The problems went from being challenging to becoming reportedly insoluble. J experienced an epiphany of sorts when he conversed with those in the group exploring the conjecture. The following colloquoy, which took place early on in J's days with the sect, is indicative: J: "The brightest and best minds in our sect cannot make any progress on this problem. What is our approach to be?" K: "We tried for some time to prove the thing, but we are convinced that a proof cannot be given. Our efforts have been repudiated thus far. Instead of aiming to give a proof, we now hope to show that no proof may be given, for the Ordial Plane does not exist." J: "But how can you be sure this is the proper perspective? I mean, great evidence, although circumstantial I admit, points towards that possibility. We ought to... K: "No, no, no. Everything we have done has brought us no closer towards proving the conjecture. You are young, joyful, and exuberant; compared to the rest of us you are not even quirky with unkempt hair just yet. One day, if not now, you will come to realize that you cannot prove things just because your being has come to accept them in order to accomodate present knowledge in a sort of synergistic evolution. Why, that would mean that the Godsmen were right, I think..." Thereafter, J came to accept K's words, albeit not quite as K might have intended. He became convinced that the views of the Believers of the Source were more to his liking. He never did give up on his belief that the conjecture was true, and that it could be proven that the Ordial Plane existed. In the meantime, less analytic pursuits captured his attention. He focused more on his wizardry and became an active and ardent factioneer, a philosopher to princes, the latter being numerous high-ups among the Sourcers. His view that the Guvner critique of the Godsmen his mother had advanced, that ascendance and evolution proceeded through laws, was correct, began to become prominent, especially among the influential and powerful Evolutionist subfaction. He also says that the Godsmen must "look outwards and inwards, never standing still or only stepping with out own soles; step across a line, out of your soul and into the Source." J himself belonged more to a subset of that subfaction, the Blessed'ms, which operates on frontiers of discovery and knowledge. See the Ripta Planorum for more details on the subfactions and such. J hopes that his view will soon dominate, and he plays his role of philosopher to the princes very well. What his politicking within the faction will do is not certain, and it is not really clear that J has considered this overly much. All this time, J has been working on the Ordial conjecture, and believes that he is close to proving it. As the last lines draw closer, J feels himself evolving towards something different. With each breakthrough in understanding, he feels different, and has gained strange new abilities, which he does not fully understand, although the operation of these abilities is known to him. When the existence of the Ordial plane is proven, which J believes to be but a matter of months away, he is convinced that he too will transcend beyond known realities when the dark is revealed to the believers, doubters, and ambivalents alike. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Necromortis on Jan 6th, 2003, 3:01am on 01/05/03 at 00:18:39, ripperibo wrote:
Of course - that was what I had in mind. I'm no munchkin, this character is designed for interesting roleplaying potential, not straight-up power. His background is mostly there for characterisation, I certainly wasn't expecting to have access right away to all the power it implies. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 6th, 2003, 4:28am Third of Cathecism. Year 131 of Haskar's reign...shortly before the war. A monotonous female voice drones at the start of the recording: This is a continuous study of the Doomguards. Case #4: The newly made Nerstrom Rott. Inidividual is a tall male humanoid, with small white ram horns protruding from his forehead. His facial features are rough and not handsome, and his legs resemble that of a goat...or rather, a satyr. She clears her voice, and speaks up. "Thank you for coming, Nerstrom. Please be seated, and talk directly into the mimir." Rott: "No need to thank me, Quaida. I only agreed to this because I owe you jink. Happily, all record-keeping in this world is futile." Qaida: "How so, Nerstrom?" Rott: "Rott. Just Rott. I'm surprised you ask. You know I believe this multiverse is destined to become nothing. Records will go the same way as everything else." Q: "Do you? I've heard that you've managed to confuse many young prospective Doomguards on that issue. Confused them enough so that they left for other factions...like the Sensates, or the Godsmen." R: (chuckles) "Yeah. We don't allow any sod to join, these days. Most of them are kids...kids that think entropy is having low self-esteem, and smashing up their father's horse cart. They'd do better in the Ragers, if I wasn't so sure they'd get killed." Q: "Surely you don't mind if they get killed. I mean...isn't that the whole point of your philosophy? Everything dies...?" R: "Sure. But they'll die anyway. There is no action I can perform that will hinder that. However, I *can* stop them from joining our faction and cluttering our message. With them 'enrolled', I'd have trouble getting through to the ones that really matter. The ones that get it." Q: "Which is what, Nerstrom?" R: "Just Rott. That entropy is inevitable. That accepting this is the key to a happy life...just like you have to accept that you must eat, sleep and defecate." Q: "Is it inevitable? Aren't there many immortal beings, who do none of these things you mention?" R: "Nope. None." (sound of uncomfortable fidgeting) "I'm not here to argue philosophy with you, Qaida." Q: "Very well, Rott. Tell me a little bit about yourself." R: "Well, I'm planetouched. My father was a satyr (it kinda shows), and my mother was a muse. They both died when I was very young. Killed by maurauding elfs. I was raised by my uncle, also a satyr, and had a relatively happy childhood, despite everything. I felt out of place in Arborea, though, so I quickly left for Sylvania when I got old enough. Later on, I moved to Xaos. Became a Xaositect." Q: "It's quite unusual for someone to rise so high in a faction when they've belonged to another, isn't it? Especially with the Doomguards, who are so...exclusive." R: "You're probably right. Still...the Chaosmen and the Sinkers are pretty similar, when you get down to it. Our very philosophy tends to rely on theirs...without chaos, there's hardly any entropy. I believe the Guvners call it 'the second law of thermo-dynamics' or something similarly insane. Things just don't happen." "The whole Xaositect experience was really worthwhile for me, though. It taught me a lot about the multiverse, and the factions. And Sigil. It left me kind of empty, in the end. You'd feel that way too, if you were surrounded by a bunch of leatherheads that never agree on any sort of philosophy...when 'chaos' is your truth, there can be no understanding." Q: "And entropy is? I mean, does knowing that the multiverse will end have any sort of fundemental effect on your life?" R: "Abosolutely! That is the starting point: Accepting that nothing lasts forever...and then you build on that...." Sorry if that was a bit rambling. This interview is concept work I had in my head...the character is just taking form. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 6th, 2003, 6:32pm on 01/05/03 at 15:30:23, Lore wrote:
And see Clive Barker's book Everville (sequel to the Great and Secret Show), which is where the idea came from. Not that you need to read the book to play your character, or anything - just if anyone is curious about the original inspiration. Interesting character, by the way. An Ordial theme should work in well. Has he developed any specific powers from his research yet? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Alamo on Jan 6th, 2003, 8:46pm Im gonna go ahead and withdraw, not from any real time constraint, or from any disdain of the current situation, but rather because there just seems to be a lot of us! Everyone so far has come up with positively smashing characters, each of which will easily steal the limelight....just seems a case of too many chiefs and not enough indians! rather than throwing my character into the ring with everyone else, i think i'll save him for a day when he has a little more space to grow in. Plus, i seem to be having an impossibly hard time putting ideas into words, as i've tried to detail his description 4 times now, all unsucessfully. He deserves more than a half-ass attempt by me. So thank you, maybe next time. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 7th, 2003, 2:45am Rott is an experienced cynic, who knows the ins and outs of Sigil's and the factions' politics. In fact, one might say he has a unique perspective on them. But that's getting ahead of myself. He spent most of his growing up years in a state of conflict with his environment. After the death of his parents, he felt lonely and ignored in Arborea, and rebellion was a sort of survival instinct for him. The only problem is that he had near total freedom, and all his physical needs were catered for in the plane of Passion...rebellion was tough. At that time, he nearly fell in with the anarchists (one of the many factions he has been involved with). He was involved with the downfall of a particularly prideful eladrin during that time, with him and his friends peeling the berk to reveal himself to its superiors. Fallen Eladrin: "Tell me, before I kill you...why? Why did you get involved? For all you knew I was pure, beautiful, good. Still, you just couldn't stand me. Why, when you see something pure and beautiful, must you drag it down into the mud with you?" Rott's reply: "If you have to ask that, then you can never understand the answer. *Because* you were pure and beautiful." Obviously, Rott survived. But barely. But it was a defining moment for him. He didn't really have any problems with authority, he realized. His issue was with himself. In the aftermath, he moved to Sylvanus, where his hedonistic lifestyle took a new turn. The immortals of Arborea know how to party, but there is a special feeling involved when mortals carouse. They *know* they only have limited time, and they *know* they will have a hang-over in the morning. They *know* they are damaging themselves - but still they do it. Many a jaded Sensate sprouted his faction's jargon over the young Rott that year, and he felt there was a sort of truth in it. Experience was certainly something that evolved character. Why shouldn't one have as much as one can? This was the year that the Modron march passed through Sylvanus. Rott and a few allies took on themselves to divert the march - an impossible task at best, or do anything in their power to help the inhabitants of the gate-burg move out of the way. Many of these people were his friends...it felt like the right thing to do. An unfortunate turn of events landed Rott and his sensate lover, a young human female, in a blind alley, with hundreds of monodrones preparing to mindlessly trample them against the wall. Sensate: "I can't die yet! There's too much I've yet to experience!" Rott: (grinning the grin of someone staring death in the face) "When do you know that you've experienced enough? There's an infinite multiverse out there, you know." S: "I don't know...I'll just *know*! Not yet, damnit!" (screams as the modrons draw nearer) R: (screams in absolut terror as a monodrone treads on his foot...then falls silent) "They've stopped!" Indeed they had. But Rott and the young sensate took it quite differently. She went on and celebrated her survival, changing nothing about herself. He went into a deep depression, his world once more ripped from under him. What if he'd die tomorrow? A freak accident could easily end his existance. Troubled, he turned to the road once more, heading to Xaos. More to come. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Lore on Jan 7th, 2003, 10:14am on 01/06/03 at 18:32:59, ripperibo wrote:
I'll have to add that to my reading list. Not because I have to, but rather due to curiousity. As for powers, I suppose some abilities that reflected the ideals of transcendence, matter, and belief would suffice. That's probably a convenient way for me to say, "I don't rightly know." ;) Abilities that were minor representations of the Ordial plane, or aspects thereof would be neat, like elemental effects combined with some sort of ethical dimension. Stuff that would hint at the existence of an Ordial plane, but not rigorously prove it. Maybe summoning novel little beings from there, without any way to show where 'there' is. I suppose alot of it will have to do with how the Ordial is actually thought of, which to me is a very open topic, but perhaps less so to others. Another area might be in divination. Would the Ordial or some denizen of it, or some other knowledgable being want for someone to be able to uncover it by bestowing divining abilities to help the curious out? Perhaps. Some of the themes I'd like to explore more with the character would be in the realm of intra-factional doings. Try as I might, I can't purge from my mind certain lessons thought by FW, such as the notion that factions are not monoliths they might have been thought of. They may not, of course, be divided by strife, but to be sure, there is no shortage of friction at times. Other themes will probably involve transcendence, matter, and belief. ::) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Gideon on Jan 7th, 2003, 1:55pm 'Allo Lads, Just thought I'd put down a few lines to update you all as to my progress, and the lines will be few indeed. I was without a computer for the last few days, so although I have already begun to formulate my character to some great extent, I have yet to put any of it down into words save the short passage I posted before. Hopefully this won't be a great hindrance to anyone else, as it appears that no character is yet fleshed out. I'll do my best to get it in quickly, but I can't make any promises on a date. The New Year has begun and school is pressing. I hope this finds everyone well and almost ready, Regards, Gideon. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 8th, 2003, 3:31pm on 01/06/03 at 20:46:37, Alamo wrote:
Well, I'll do whatever I can to prevent that from happening. That's all I can say. And I'm still gonna keep the "good versus evil" theme, 'cause it fits and I like it. So your character will still be a major part of the storyline, even if he isn't there in an incarnate sense. Well, probably. I'm sorry to see you go, anyway, 'cause I think you would have made a very intriguing contribution. I'm making a list of the others who've said they're interested, and then a list of those who've posted definite character ideas. Is this still accurate? Orri: Rott the Guardian Doomguard. Dust: Magic Puddin' Lore: J the Ordial explorer Zach: to be determined Brain-box: to be determined (various ideas) Chifo: the Traveller puk: various ideas Gideon: the King of Rags King of Chaos: various ideas Necromortis: the Fallen One That's ten people, or eleven if Alamo opts back in. The plot outline I have right now is based on five of those characters (counting Alamo), since I'm not sure about some of the details on Dust's and Chifo's characters yet. Here's what I'm stuck on: do you guys want to be complete outsiders, not familiar with the political situation at hand, or do you want to be... insiders, with contacts among the city and other PCs? If you want to be an outsider (as in knowledge, not creature type), would either of you like to play characters from a world recently decimated by fiends? (This might make things easier). If you don't want to be a Blood War casualty, another plot hole is "entity from a previously unknown plane, possibly the Ordial" or "character with knowledge of unknown planes." For those of you who haven't settled on a character, here are some other possibilities: - newspaper reporter - homicide detective (Harmonium, private eye, or other) - weapons manufacturer - arms trader - came here by freak magical surge - mercenary, sword-for-hire, gun-for-hire - gemstone trader - homeless Hive dweller, or street urchin - escaped mental patient - conspiracy theorist - faction member - crusading do-gooder - social worker - psychologist, alienist, therapist - wild card or black horse with hands in everything - mathematician, scientist - member of secret cabal - seeker of ancient necromantic knowledge - upper class inhabitant of The Lady's Ward or Clerk's Ward - assassin - gang member, politician, city boss, pickpocket, prostitute, homicidal butcher, orphan bent on revenge - none of the above, but something with a mystery, grudge, plan, or goal! |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 8th, 2003, 4:58pm on 01/08/03 at 15:31:55, ripperibo wrote:
I want to be an insider. But in a one-sided way. If the adventure is set in Sigil, the Outlands, or some of the more known, more planewalker-friendly planes, I can come up with a potential list of people Rott might know and some background on them, for your approval. If you'd like. On the other hand, it the location is more exotic, then Rott is going to be an outsider (that's a pun, but I won't go there). Almost certainly. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Brain-Box on Jan 9th, 2003, 7:59am Well, chief, I'm more or less awaiting your go-ahead for any of the character ideas I presented. I mean, the one(s) you find might most fit and be most playable and interesting. At that time, I'll really sit down and flesh things out to begin... Ok? :) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 9th, 2003, 11:36am on 01/08/03 at 16:58:09, Orroloth wrote:
Most people have provided Sigil backgrounds, so it's going to be in Sigil. Everyone else has to explain how they get to Sigil, or else I'll have to make something up for them. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 9th, 2003, 11:42am on 01/09/03 at 07:59:25, Brain-Box wrote:
Does anyone else want more feedback on the options they threw out? Chris - the easiest ones for me would be the modron paladin and the rip in reality, or the multiaspected being. The Bleaker and Cipher would also be fairly easy to integrate. But you've got to decide which ones would be most playable. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Brain-Box on Jan 10th, 2003, 7:13am Well, I was also considering a modron bard, called "Juke-Box" or "Music-Box" or even "Bone-Box". But I think being a rogue modron is too obvious. I'm most seduced by playing the demiplane... Here's a basic countdown of the characters I'd most like to play (greatest to least desired): 1) Demiplane (with the moving portal), 2) Bariaur Bleaker, 3) Water Genasi Cipher, 4) Slaad Chef, and 5) Chris P. (myself, that is). Pro's/Con's: 1) How does it move within Sigil? How can it interact with anything? How does one even dream up stats (if relevant) or whatever its nature and abilities are? 2) I've always wanted to try being a Bleaker. I always wanted to be a bariaur. The two seemed incompatible enough to try and mix them together. 3) Very Zen. I wouldn't have to worry about much dialogue, but more on describing actions and reactions. 4) I love food. Slaadi are fun. 'Nuff said. 5) Who wouldn't want to see how being stranded on the planes or in Sigil would be like? Might provide some interesting or uniquely funny situations. I can't get this character WRONG, at least. ;) The multiaspected one would be a little too much work for me right now, I'm afraid. Tantalizing as it might be, though. Starting to wittle things down, I guess! |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Brain-Box on Jan 11th, 2003, 6:45am (RIP: check your PM's when you get a chance, me hearty...) |
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Title: Increasingly defined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 15th, 2003, 8:02pm Okay, those who have characters ready to go are: Brain-box: Self or Splinterhoof Orri: Rott Lore: J Gideon: Garret, King of Rags Necromortis: the Fallen One It might be better if Necromortis gives me a little more idea of the Fallen One's background; otherwise I'm going to be making it up as I go along (which is okay as far as I'm concerned). Dust says he plans on giving me a little more for his character, which would be helpful. Everyone else: do you still plan on being a part of this? Do you want anything more from me - help picking out an idea, or whatever? Whoever wants to can also just pick out a starting point and join in, but without more background won't get an individualized hook, that's all. And you might prefer to do it that way. It looks like the available the starting points thus far will be the Hive (http://www.oocities.org/gradasso/sigil_wards/hive.htm), the City Armory (http://www.oocities.org/gradasso/factions/headquart1.htm#Armory), and the Great Foundry (http://www.oocities.org/gradasso/factions/headquart2.htm#GreatFoundry). Otherwise, we can tentatively plan on starting Monday. Is all this okay with everyone? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by KingOfChaos on Jan 15th, 2003, 8:26pm I think I am going to go with the intelligent weapon character, Rip. I have an idea on class abilities and such that will make it possible for me to do this with the D20 mechanics and I am working on a background for the character :) I also had an idea for a 'body' as well. More than likely my character would be weilded by his former body or a spectre of his former body which the weapon has complete control over. In fact, it might be cool if at first no one knew that my character was actually the weapon and thought the body that was there was truely my character. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 15th, 2003, 8:57pm on 01/15/03 at 20:26:29, KingOfChaos wrote:
Those sound like good ideas. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Hardhead on Jan 15th, 2003, 10:44pm OK, I still want to play in this. Um. I'll definitly get something for you by the end of Thrusday. I just have no idea what that'll be yet. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Hardhead on Jan 15th, 2003, 11:41pm OK, while laying in bed, I came up with an idea I really like. Hram is a Godsman Disciple of the Cycle (from my website) who's lived scores of lives. He's been alive for hundreds of years, always being Reincarnated when he died (reincarnation has no "old age" restriction like the other raising spells). His main class would be Cleric. A cleric of the True Source. Anyway, mainly he's a pretty jaded planewalker. He always has a story about the time he did such-and-such when he was a such-and-such. He's been alive so long (though not all in one stretch) that he sometimes gets his past lives mixed up. He's pretty sure he was born a human. Either that or a Bladeling. In his current incarnation, he's a Smoke Gensai. Personality-wise, he's NG, and does his best to help others understand the cycle of the Source, and the testing that goes along with it. I'm going to bed now, but I'll have more when I wake up later today. :) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by KingOfChaos on Jan 16th, 2003, 1:04am Where am I? The void passes before my eyes, darkness, as if blind... What am I? I cannot feel my body and the cold, the aching numb of cold seems to penetrate to my very soul... What's happening... A sudden dizzyness takes over... Death... The feel of warmth and wet covers me from neck to feet, a sheath of red... A Weapon... An instrument of killing forged from magic and now containing my human soul. Th realization brings feeling and sight back as my spiritual senses extend past the horrible metal edges of my new body to view my own hand holding myself? What is this.."What is this.." the body said that held my body..it mocks me.."I mock you.." it said again. Indeed, the person who held my trapped being looked like me, but had no life spark glowing behind their eyes. I suddenly realized that life spark was me and was now contained in a weapon of death. A weapon I just used to kill the creature laying on the floor before my weilder... I remembered now, and like a force from beyond, the realization that I had just killed a celestial, my own guardian angel and one time friend came over my razor form and the human hand that held me began to shake and my own tears from a body that was no longer mine began to wash the crimson fluid away from my warm steel. What had caused me to do this? Had I been an evil man in life? I could no longer remember anything else of what happened, as if when I transfered from my body to this sword that the information on my deed had been left behind in that now lifeless and blank brain. Magic, especially that of a dying angel, was cruel indeed. The still glowing pale winged creature must have said a dying curse when I plunged the sword between it's two wings. Wait, it wasn't dead. It was moving. With hope in my mind, I pulled the creature onto it's back and looked into it's slowly deadening eyes as it spoke it's final words. "In death you will not find what you are looking for...but with my death, I steal your dreams of godhood, and that is all I want..." With that, it died.. What did it mean? Godhood? I hadn't remembered ever wanting to be a god, but then I couldn't remember much of anything, it was as if I had been awashed in the Styx itself. My old journey was over, new goals lay ahead, like who I was and how I was to reverse whatever had happened to me. Now, a new journey lay ahead and only the divine know where it may lead me. |
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Title: Re: Increasingly defined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 16th, 2003, 4:26am on 01/15/03 at 20:02:20, ripperibo wrote:
I still have a few more things to post, but I'll manage before monday. I think I'll try to get some last minute collaboration in as well, most probably with Gideon. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Splinterhoof on Jan 16th, 2003, 7:45am I think it's pretty obvious which character I've chosen now. Or which one has chosen me? Doesn't really matter. You all may run around and do your frenzied ...whatever. I'm ready. You're always ready when you don't expect anything. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 16th, 2003, 8:10am Ever wonder why Xaos seems to breed prospective Doomguards? Well, I'm about to explain. Actually, I'm not. Nothing about XAos makes sense. It's even worse than Limbo, because you can't really percieve Limbo for what it is. This is where the troubled tiefling (as he now referred to himself) Rott came at the tender age of twenty. His journey from Silvanus to Xoas had taken nearly a year. By now, he was quite capable of travelling alone in the Outlands, having worked in a Planar Trading Consortium caravan between several of the Gate-burgs before he felt he could try to live somewhere again. His travels had brought him to the roots of Yggdrasil (observing with morbid fascination as Níðhöggur chewed on the blackened stump), up to Ysgard, and from there to the Infinite Staircase (and the Planewalker's Guild, located therein). It didn't prepare him for Axos. The people were so *free*! Even the heightened senses of Arborea couldn't thrill his soul like that. There, you were almost a slave to your feelings - in XOOs, you could do everything...and frequently did. He fell in with the Xaositects. With the Stcetisoax in he fell. Fell butterfly poo. It was so easy. Most of them were really just a kind of Hedonists, but in a different way. They all did whatever came to mind, feeling out the disorder of the multiverse, emulating it, fighting it, changing with it. They did some marvellous art. He learned how to sculpt. "Whizz SCulptURE great looks! OFten more you should tHis dO." said the Hatter. "So they say. I still think it's too pretty, though. Maybe I should give it tanar'ric traits or something." he replied, distractedly. "Whizz? TrAITS noT GiVE! FaSHion just NOTHING from." "You think?" *sighs* "I still can't seem to let go like you guys do. It doesn't come naturally. Maybe if I'd try scramblespeak..." "Whissdat? Scribblespek? You mean you aren't using it right now?" "No." "Oh? Must 'ave been me. Whizz." Reality was dead, the chaosmen said. No rules. No nothing. But Rott was beginning to think they were wrong. There was plenty of reality left, even if was breaking apart at the seams in places. There were still things tying him down. Jink, for example. He seemed to have a lot of this nowadays, both from his adventures and the sculptures he sold. And he cared for his sculptures. They were starting to become a dead weight. Maybe he should try ridding himself of his material posessions. Become a hermit somewhere? Nah...hermits are doing the exact opposite of what he was trying - they collapse into themselves, whereas he wanted to explode out of himself. Dustmen? Bunch of shut-ins. They probably get rid of all their pains along with their emotions. He needed to somehow wipe the slate clean, and then start over. He had failed the last time. Angrily, he hit the now-hideous statue in the nose with his chisel. Cracks formed across the sculpted face. The Hatter cheered. "WhiZZ! Now's BRoken and Cr-ack-ed. LiKe entropy in a lawful soup!" Maybe that was it. Join the Doomguard. Wipe the slate clean. Hastily, he threw the chisel away. "I'm going to Sigil." "Wizz. 'kay." |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Necromortis on Jan 16th, 2003, 9:08am OK, here's a bit more on the Fallen One, since Rip asked. His current status is that of a demented lost soul who wanders the dark corners of Sigil without any apparent purpose; he often turns up in places where evil magics have been practised, or anywhere where the presence of death can be strongly felt. Anyone practicing necromantic magic in Sigil runs a risk of attracting his attention, and he has been known to "shadow" such individuals for long periods of time. He never approaches his target or harms them, simply hangs around their vicinity, but this in itself is unnerving for the victim. Some of them have gone mad themselves, driven to distraction by the mysterious dark figure that kept skulking through their peripheral vision. Others are convinced that he is some kind of patron of the dark arts in Sigil. If he is, it is mostly by accident, however - he may or may not be unconsciously affecting what happens around him (feel free to determine that he is, if it fits the plot...) With regards to his past, I'm not too concerned about that. The basic outline is that he used to be extremely powerful, lost everything and his mind snapped from the shock. He himself has very little clear memory of his background, and in fact he has been lost among the planes for so many centuries that even if he ever did remember where he came from the chances are that the world of his origin would be changed beyond recognition by now. For all intents and purposes, he has no past - just a lot of powers that he's mostly forgotten he possesses and a fragmentary awareness that he belongs on the side of Evil. (Alignment is CE in case it wasn't obvious...) What you want to do with him from that is up to you, Rip - I see him being someone that other characters might stumble across, fight with, attempt to use, or so on. I'm not expecting anyone to manage to restore his sanity for him, but he might be of use to anyone who could somehow convince him to get a handle on himself a bit. I'm curious to try playing a character who isn't really in control of his own destiny, since my PCs are usually leaders and decision makers - I want to have a go at the other side. And yes I know this probably sounds like a character who will be a nightmare to DM for, but I promise not to make too much trouble :) BTW, how are you planning to stat/numbercrunch for this game? Are you going to want character sheets or is it going to be mostly freeform? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Hardhead on Jan 16th, 2003, 1:12pm Characters are a-lookin' good. Hey Lore, since we've both got Godsmen, you want to work our character histories together? In fact, if anyone else wants to do that, I'm open. :) My characters name has changed. Now it's Anastazja, which is Polish for "one who will be reborn." I like names that mean something. :) A little story. Ambar frowned, an expression not commonly found on the half-elf's face as he looked at the smoke gensai called Anastazja. Ambar had never met the man, since he had been out of town for several years - since before Ambar was factol. Now he'd returned. "And you're how old?" the factol asked. Anatazja thought for a moment and then said, "I'm not really sure. Less than a thousand, I'm almost positive." Ambar nodded. He'd done some research on the man, or rather, had had some of his secretaries do the research, and the best guess was eight hundred or thereabouts. "I've heard of you," Ambar said. "You're a minor legend, in fact. I understand you founded the Disciples of the Cycle. You've been alive a very long time, and remember more lives than anyone else, except of course Factol Augy." Anastazja nodded. "But a dissapointment, nonetheless." "Not at all. You've -" The gensai interrupted him, "But I have yet to ascend to a higher state of divinity. Ambar, I've been alive - in one form or another - for hundreds of years. I remember the Great Upheavel. I remember when the Harmonium first showed up in the Planes. Hell, Curran is probably closer to divinity than I am, and he's..." "Curran ascended over twenty years ago." "Did he? Good for him. I knew he had it in him. I remember that time we were out drinking in Fortune's Wheel..." "Which is, I'm sure, and interesting story, but not relevant." Ambar had already listened to half a dozen stories about different historical periods, and wasn't particularly interested in another. Besides, Curran was now a god, and a legend in the Godsmen. Ambar was slightly uncomfortable hearing about how he used to go out drinking in bars. "No," said Anastazja, "it's not." And he sighed deeply, and for a moment Ambar could see all the centuries of burden on him. The gensai frowned. "You know, I was born a bladeling, I think. But I barely even remember that anymore. Maybe my brain just isn't big enough to hold all the memories anymore, or maybe reincarnation just takes its toll after a while. I've been an elf, a centaur, a barriaur, a tiefling, an avoral, several different animals, a githzeari... I've lived a lot of forms, Ambar, and I've learned something new each time. Last time I was a drow, until that marilith killed me. But I'm doing something wrong, Ambar. I'm not ascending. You're a hell of a lot closer than me." "That's nice of you to say." "No, no. I'm serious. I can kind of... feel it. You're on the edge. I could tell with Curran too." "Really?" Ambar had never heard about this before, and was very interested. "Yes. It's a gift, I guess. It's just about the only progress I've made." "Some would say that living hundreds of years in different lives was progress itself." "Some would, but they'd be wrong. I'm stuck in a rut, Ambar. I'm stuck in a rut, and I can't get out." "I thought you left Sigil for that purpose." "Yeah. I've spent the last couple decades wandering the planes, looking for what I was missing, but I haven't found it yet." "What are you missing?" "I don't know - that's my problem. So, I figured I'd come back to Sigil, and see how things are going here. Maybe teach some, and impart some of my collected wisdom to the students. See what they can teach me in turn. Maybe get a fresh perspective." Ambar nodded. "Well, you're certainly welcome to do so. Anyway, I've got a lot of work to do - you know how it is." Anastazja nodded. "Yeah, I understand. I'll see you around." He stood up and left the factol's office. He nodded to himself. "Time to get started." |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 16th, 2003, 1:48pm on 01/16/03 at 13:12:37, Hardhead wrote:
That's interesting, since bladelings have a twisted Druidic religion. But normally their incarnations are bound to their living tree-goddess; I wonder how he escaped? But I'm rambling. I like this character, too. Good to have you aboard. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 16th, 2003, 1:59pm on 01/16/03 at 09:08:19, Necromortis wrote:
Alright. This should be very workable. The motivations that you mentioned (sensing necromantic magic, for example) were ones I was thinking of using anyway. Quote:
I was planning on going with freeform. I can already see places where crunchy things like Spot, Spellcraft, and Innuendo checks, and combat rolls and more might be handy - but Orri's games were freeform and they worked out, and the way that characters are being built here kind of lends itself to a freer approach. That way we don't have to rigidly define in advance what your character and Lore's character, for example, might be able to do, and the rule can be one of narrative convenience. Anyway, as I said at the beginning the whole thing is experimental. Long story short, I'm not going to require character sheets. But feel free to make them if you want. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 16th, 2003, 2:02pm I did have stats that sort of defined what was in the realm of possibility, though. But I think your approach might work, too. If I were to take a wild guess at the relative power level of these characters, I'd say around 12-14th level equalient. Give or take a few. With that sort of number in mind, we know we can kick arse, but probably won't be razing any buildings... |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 16th, 2003, 2:03pm on 01/16/03 at 01:04:37, KingOfChaos wrote:
Is this something you want to have decided over the course of the game? Does the character seek redemption? Do you have a specific idea of his past that you want to private-message me about, or isn't it necessarily important? Does the character have a name? Anyway, cool ideas. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 16th, 2003, 2:09pm on 01/16/03 at 08:10:17, Orroloth wrote:
I hadn't before you brought it up, but it makes sense. Life seems to be a continual search for meaning for Rott. Interesting, yes, hmm. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 16th, 2003, 2:23pm on 01/16/03 at 14:09:04, ripperibo wrote:
Actually, the last part of his story remains: Entering Sigil and rising through the ranks of the Doomguards. In a way, he believes he has found his meaning. And a happiness of sorts, which arises from knowing, really knowing that nothing lasts. I have one more post to make before monday, plus anything me and Gideon come up with (we have something cooking). |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Lore on Jan 16th, 2003, 2:29pm on 01/16/03 at 13:12:37, Hardhead wrote:
I'd love to collaborate with you, Zach, and with anyone really. Last PBP I'd alot of fun with Rip's Tsadhe. I'm in the chatroom now, if anyone wants to talk live, or alternatively via PMs. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 17th, 2003, 4:59am Rip - so you know, me and Zach decided to give our characters a little experience with each other. We figured that Anastazja and Rott had a little rivalry going, since they're both faction high-ups, and tended to give each other a bit of verbal abuse. Also, me and Gideon are working on the relationship between Rott and Garret. We'll either IM it to you, or post it here. Anyway, here's the final part of Rott's description, with bits involving the other characters omitted. ---------------------------------------------- He now goes by the name of Rott. His former nickname has become symbolic for his perception of the world. And he is fighting a constant battle. The Doomguards were impressed by his subtle martial skills, and his way with words. There were a few hickups when it was discovered that he had belonged to no less than three other factions - the Sensates, the Fated and the Xaositects, but he argued his way through. "You have to accept me, because I am going to wear away at your resistance until you do." Simple as that. He is a different being now, content, accepting. Accepting the destruction of all things is an incredible freedom. But there's a catch: To maintain that freedom, the entropy can never slow. The clean slate can never be anything more than a clean slate. He doesn't delight in the destruction, the destruction is a tool - a catalyst for change. But he likes it. He likes the familiarity of it...it doesn't surprise or shock him any more. He rose through the ranks quickly, serving as an entropic champion on a prime world with no future, guiding new factioneers and representing the Doomguards throughout Sigil. Others could sense that he essentially had two reasons for doing these things...for others, to help them sever their ties with the multiverse, to reach the same state of acceptance that he had reached. And for himself, who needed the eventual destruction of everything to remain detached...the city, the factions, life, matter and hope. None of it would last, and that notion freed him. He would build things, confident that they could never have any power over him, and he'd destroy them, just to make sure. A constant cycle of building and destroying. Eventually, the high-ups brought him before a council of Doomlords. "Why do you destroy?" said Doomlord Roth. "To prove that it can be." "Why does it need to be?" said Doomlord Devland. "So that I can focus on what is important - the temporary." "What wonders can a finite existance hold?" came the hollow voice of Doomlord Nagaul. "A passion greater than anything that lasts forever." "Why do you care? You'll never affect the multiverse, one way or the other." asked Pereid, the Sinker Doomlord. "Because belief is power." They made him a Nerstrom that very day. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Splinterhoof on Jan 17th, 2003, 7:11am Hypothetically speaking, since we're officially not relying on statistics or anything, what sort of upper limit can one use? I will probably stat Splinterhoof out, only to get a good picture of his overall capabilities and so forth -- not a definition, but a guideline -- and would probably consider one of the prestige classes in the Masters of the Wild, or elsewhere. Maybe one I can make up? Or yourself? It's interesting to see that everyone is making fairly "extreme" characters -- I was going to do a similar thing, admittedly -- but Splinterhoof is almost the antithesis of extreme, here. I will probably try to dream up a decent little vignette much like others are doing, to give a little flavor to his character, soon. The key to Splinterhoof's character, for the most part, is that he believes the ultimate freedom -- a very important thing to any bariaur -- is freedom from hope, meaning, purpose, and even...belief. He sees the unfettered existence of the animal world as the most pristine and ideal life. The rest is needless complexity, which breeds frustration and despair. Oddly enough, he would say that it is belief in SOMETHING that makes others despair and lose hope, since it is existing under another's pretenses or under false ideals not our own. One does not have to become sad or unhappy by losing meaning or purpose, but one becomes free of expectations or standards or worries. One can focus on the things that actually matter. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 17th, 2003, 3:26pm on 01/17/03 at 07:11:49, Splinterhoof wrote:
I'll go along with Orri's estimate of 12-14th level. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Anastazja on Jan 17th, 2003, 8:50pm Hey, Zach here. I created a second account because I like having a seperate name, avatar, ect for my character, and I don't want to confuse everyone on the rest of the forum by changing both at the same time. :) Anyway, Rip, I was just dropping by to elaborate a bit on what Orri said. We figured that both were pretty into the political aspects of the kriegstanz in the Hall of Speakers, and they verbally spar from time to time (Lore, Orri, neither of you saved a log of that conversation, did you? It'd be handy to just send it to Rip in a PM). Also, J and Staz (as his friends call him) knew each other from the foundry, and Staz has taken an interest in J, since Staz feels he's nearing some kind of ascension. I've developed a kind of "teacher" theme to his character, in that he often helps others along the path toward divinity, but seems stuck himself. A "teacher that is always surpassed by his students" type of thing. Anyway, like I said, he's a Disciple of the Cycle, which was a prestige class on my site, so if you haven't yet refreshed your memery, you can do so here (http://www.zachshuford.com/kriegstanz/godsmen.html#discipleofthecycle). |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Lore on Jan 18th, 2003, 8:49am on 01/17/03 at 20:50:21, Anastazja wrote:
Yes, that would have been useful, but no, I didn't log our chat. I can recall most of it though, and I'll send out a PM to Rip, Orri, and yourself on our connections. Quote:
One neat thing I recall from our chat was that J might look upon Staz as a project as well. J even offers up the suggestion that Staz might ascend indirectly, through the advisement and tutoring he does for others. Subject to Zach's approval, and that of our DM, we could insert that into the grand plotline as well. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Dust on Jan 18th, 2003, 11:05pm Although I havent got anywhere near working out the in ands outs of my character yet, (apologies all!) I can tell you my plans. For those of you who wish to see some background for my character, (who I am mercilessly stealing from a childrens book) you can read an online transcript here (http://ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/mpudd10.txt). If you can find a paper copy of the book, read it. It's fun. the story is called The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay, and was recently made into an animated film. I will play the Pudding. ;D (I believe he was voiced by John Cleese in the movie) An all time classic Australian childrens story, I love the character. Perhaps he would fit with the Slaad chef? Perhaps not :) I will now try and write his entrance into Sigil somehow... (wracks brain :)) D*** |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Splinterhoof on Jan 19th, 2003, 8:30am To'bek "Splinterhoof" Nodan was born to the Flock of the Wandering Storm, one of the many bariaurflocks that ply their way across the earthbergs of Ysgard. He was born into a long bloodline of great and powerful warriors, whose exploits reached as far back as far as the flock's oral history was known -- which was many, many generations of bariaur. Much expectation rested on the shoulders of To'bek to be as fine and capable a warrior as his brothers and father, and his father's father (and his father before him)... Time swiftly came for To'bek's coming of age ritual, where as ceremony and tradition would have it, he was dragged away in the night by the chief and other elder males. At a spot far from the flock, they proceeded to tie the young buck with giant's hair and then shave off all his hair. (As one knows, this is very humiliating and degrading to any bariaur.) And as custom dictated, he was to undertake a dangerous and solitary quest to prove his adulthood. To'bek's quest was to retrieve the hair of a giant single-handedly. Driven both by the anger at his humiliation and the need to prove himself worthy of his bloodline, To'bek journied far and deep into territory dangerous to even the most hardy and battle-worn bariaur warriors. He plunged into Muspelheim, into the fiery domain of the fire giants. The flames burnt him, the volcanic rock cut him, the very air scorched and choked him, but To'bek was determined to prove his ancestry; his will was stronger than flame or adversity. There, he managed to waylay a small band of fire giant warriors, fell one of them and took part of its scalp. The elders and chief of the flock began to actually worry for the young buck, gone as long as To'bek was, which was longer than most others during their coming of age ritual quest. However, the young buck returned, limping and scorched and blackened -- patches of his skin would forever remain scarred from this ordeal, the tips of his horns would remain blackened. To'bek raised high the spoils of his hard-earned victory, the glory and pride of his ancestors shone upon the young buck, this day becoming a man. However, down below, in Muspelheim, the brother of the slain fire giant who became To'bek's trophy and right of passage to manhood, swore revenge on the buck and its flock. This revenge was visited upon them nearly two weeks later, and this vengeance was like the erupting of a volcano. Nearly a legion of fire giants came upon the flock like the pouring earth's blood from the heart of a volcano, like lava running downhill to swallow the innocent mountainside town. And so it was that To'bek's flock was nearly decimated to the last bariaur; To'bek joining the other mighty warriors and others capable of fighting, to defend their flock to the last breath. On the battle field, To'bek met the brother of the fire giant he had slain in combat, each a match for one another. However, young and inexperienced as he was, To'bek's ferocity and passion to defend his flock was up against something akin to an act of nature -- inevitable and unstoppable -- and he fell to the mighty blows of the fire giant. Instead of following through with the fatal strike, the fire giant decided that it would be a far more cruel a fate to let the young buck live with the knowledge that he had brought ruin to his entire flock. Let To'bek survive the death of his brothers and sisters and family. Let him suffer as the fire giant suffered with the loss of his brother. So it was that To'bek was left, broken and beaten, at the very edge of death upon the bloody battlefield littered with corpses of kith and kin. The buck entered into a fevered state of dream between the realms of life and the next plane...and he began to see things. In his state, he saw places, people, times, and events, that even now he can only glimpse in brief pictures and tiny fragments during meditations. But in the end of his vision, To'bek stood before a massive flame. At its base were the embers and ashes of a mighty beast, a winged beast he couldn't identify. Amazingly the bones and remains began to stir and quiver! Suddenly, from out and under the pile of debris arose a might firey bird, immense in size and stature. To'bek was held in awe at the majesty and power of the creature, which rose in front of him to tower above him -- a living bird of flame! It was the Phoenix! "Like the Phoenix, dear To'bek," spoke the creature to his very soul, "you shall rise again. From the ashes of your old life, you will be made anew. From creation to destruction to recreation, on and on. You will know the truth, you will know the meaning. You will know the why. Seek me, seek the flame the ever burns. Your path lies down a different direction now..." And so, To'bek awoke... ...and he found himself in the care of the shaman of another flock. The Laughing Dancers flock had chanced upon the sound of battle, arriving too late the save his flock, but able to route the enemy back to their firey lands and save To'bek. Sadly, it was true that the young buck was the *only* survivor of his flock. This brought To'bek eternal sadness and everlasting guilt, for it was he who had brought this devastation upon them. It was his foolish pride that had done this. It was his call to do needless battle. There was no justice or honor in this. This was senseless. Falling to despair and melancholy, the warrior distanced himself from his adopted flock. Though he was treated as one of their own, To'bek never felt at home. There was naught that any could do. It was Shali, the shaman who rescued and tended him, that was the only one to reach through to the shattered young bariaur. She somehow knew of his visions and his visitation by the Phoenix, whom she said was his power animal and his spirit guide. Shali decided to teach him the ways and arts and skills of the shaman. The precedence for this rippled through the flock, for it was unheard of for a male to learn the ways of the shaman. However, To'bek was never to become (nor be able to become) a shaman in the official station within the flock, he was eager to learn the trade. It seemed to ease his spirit and mind to learn of the rituals and philosophy and skills. Many whispered that Shali might seek the buck to be a mate. To this, the both of them looked to one another and let out a laugh. Their bond was beyond mere physical or mental connection. Shali was his spiritual mentor, their connection was of the soul. During his training and lessons, To'bek struggled inwardly with the meaning and purpose of life and existence. He continually asked the "why" of things, but Shali never would answer such questions adequately, instead letting and trusting To'bek to come to his own conclusions. "One cannot be given the answers," she would say. "One must find them for themselves. This is all I may offer you." One morning, during a deep meditation, To'bek received another vision, this time of the flame again. The voice of the Phoenix told him again to "visit the flame ever-burning" to find himself, to find the truth. To'bek spoke to Shali about this, and she thought on it for a moment, then said, "I have heard of a place in the Outlands. It is the realm of the Three-Faced Queen of the Naga, Shekinester, called the Court of Light. There it is said that she possesses a flame that forever-burns, and it burns away from a soul the chaff and impurities. Perhaps this is where you must go?" And so it was with much deliberation within himself that To'bek finally decided to depart from his adopted flock to journey to Shekinester realm and face her flame and fire. Shali understood this, and they all embraced the young buck warmly, never saying good-bye, only saying "see you again soon"... |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 19th, 2003, 3:54pm on 01/18/03 at 23:05:32, Dust wrote:
You don't have to explain it if you don't want to. Maybe he just ran through a portal trying to escape people trying to eat him. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Anastazja on Jan 19th, 2003, 3:57pm Are we still planning to start Monday? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 19th, 2003, 3:59pm on 01/19/03 at 08:30:23, Splinterhoof wrote: Very nice! |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 19th, 2003, 4:24pm Quote:
What I meant, of course, was that I would start writing the hooks and thread intros out sometime after midnight. Taking a bit longer than I thought, though, mostly because I'm trying too hard to include all sorts of tiny things. Anyway, I'm going to get a few hours sleep and I'll probably finish up this evening. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 19th, 2003, 4:33pm on 01/17/03 at 04:59:41, Orroloth wrote:
I think I've ended up replying to Orri's posts less than I've been to everyone else's. This isn't deliberate; they certainly all deserve to be replied to, if only to say "Cool!" |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Anastazja on Jan 20th, 2003, 12:09am Quote:
I'm good to go any time. I'll probably write another short bit of character background tomorrow, but maybe not. It's not that big of a deal. I have the character firmly fixed in my mind now, at least. :) Oh, and BB, I liked the character background. Nice. :) |
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Title: Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 20th, 2003, 4:25am Quote:
What I meant, of course, was that I would start writing the hooks and thread intros out sometime after midnight. Taking a bit longer than I thought, though, mostly because I'm trying too hard to include all sorts of tiny things. Anyway, I'm going to get a few hours sleep and I'll probably finish up this evening. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Necromortis on Jan 20th, 2003, 5:05am Well, I'm good to start whenever you're ready, Rip. I'm really looking forward to this! Oh, and thanks to the wonders of heromachine.com, I even have a character pic for you guys: http://uk.oocities.com/necromortisx/fallen.jpg |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 20th, 2003, 6:52am on 01/19/03 at 16:33:32, ripperibo wrote:
That's okay. I sorta realized that you'd mostly comment if something wasn't clear. I don't need my back patted every time. ;) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Splinterhoof on Jan 20th, 2003, 6:35pm So it was that To'bek left Ysgard to Glorium, a town in the Outlands, seeking guidance and direction to find the Court of Light. He encountered many smaller settlements around that area in his journies, and many individuals of many varieties. There were those that would not give aid without compensation, calling themselves the Fated, and there were those that gave only in the expectation that they would be rewarded in kind some other time. What fools, To'bek thought. He had already witnessed that whatever will there was in the multiverse acted of its own accord, taking or giving on a whim that no one could hope to understand. There wasn't much to be done about it but brave the storms and calms with courage and adaptability. This was nature's way, this was the only way. Try to make sense of it, and you'll end up a fool. Trusting in his skills as a shaman and warrior, wilderness and survival skills of great ability, To'bek made his way across the Land -- across mountains and around lakes, even near the great Dwarven Mountians. The Land was neither harsh nor forgiving, it gave as was taken and took as it was given. There was a balance to the Land that To'bek felt he would be able to appreciate. Guided only by his intuition -- it felt as though he were being drawn to the place -- and spotty directions (at best), To'bek spent many weeks travelling the Outlands toward the Court of Light. Strangely enough, he felt only curious as to the portent that may lay ahead, and only a little fear that his questions might actually be answered. It was through a particularly tangling and treacherous area of woodlands, To'bek stepped into what he thought was a clearing, to find himself in what appeared to be a ... maze. There were brambles and hedges and other types of obstruction, which could only be the walls to some kind of maze. To'bek believed that he had found his way to the edge of Shekinester's realm...or rather, it had found him. For a short while, To'bek wandered the winding and wildly unfathomable twists and turns of the hedge-maze, believing he must have criss-crossed his path several times, yet impossibly everything appeared differently -- even when he would attempt to double-back. He was beginning to feel frustration, when a rustle to one side caught his attention. To his suprise, a great snake with the head of a human female reared from out of one of the thorny bushes. "Lossst, legged-one?" it spoke to him. To'bek could only stutter a frightened and suprised affirmation of that observation. "Good," it replied. "Shekinessster needsss you to be lossst ssso you may find yourssself." And before he could answer the creature, it slithered back into the hedge and was gone. To'bek plunged after the creature, only to find himself in another winding pathway to nowhere in particular. What kind of nonsense was it speaking of? It sounded like more mumbo-jumbo. He supposed he couldn't get a straight answer out of a talking snake, anyway. After what seemed like days, without another encounter with a single living being, To'bek was beginning to feel resigned to being forever lost within the mazes. He sat down hungry, tired, feeling entirely alone. There was nowhere to go, there was nothing to find here. He decided he might as well give up here. He began to meditate, enter the trance he was taught. Calm his mind, find his center. He wasn't sure how long it was in the black silence in his mind, but he heard a rustle and a familiar voice say, "To find yourssself isss to find the way. You have found the only direction out -- inssside yourssself." To'bek opened his eyes to find himself alone, the exit to the maze ahead of him. * * * A vast courtyard of all manner of architecture lay before him now. Some were in pristine condition, some lay in ruinds. Long hallways, fountains, archways, gazebos, and more. This was a maze of another sort, it would appear. There were buildings with rooms, they all appeared to be empty. To'bek wandered the corridors and other structures, not sure what he was looking for, but feeling that he was searching for something -- or maybe it was looking for him, and he was trying to find an escape. Unbelieveably, the next door To'bek opened revealed not a room, but a large, open field. A bloody battlefield. To'bek's mind reeled with the impossibility and sudden shock of finding himself once again at the scene of his greatest guilt. Every single one of his flock lay dead and bloodied; the aftermath of the massacre from the fire giants. To'bek ran into the carnage in disbelief. What deception was this? To'bek ran to the bodies, inspecting them. They looked real, they felt real. The glazed and lifeless eyes that stared back at him in mute accusation appeared real. The pain of his loss returned to him so strongly, to send him to his knees. This pain was real to. It was real and unending. All he could do was close his eyes and weep. And so he did... "Traitor." What was that? "Deserter." A voice? Another? These were familiar. How could this be? "Coward." To'bek opened his eyes to witness something from a nightmare. The bodies on the fields were beginning to rise! All around him the faces of warriors, does, children, everyone. They were picking themselves from the blood-stained ground and shambling their dead bodies towards him, flinging accusations and implications at To'bek. To'bek stood up, disbelieving, in fear and terror. They were beginning to surround him... "Who will remember us?" His mother. "I will!" he screamed. "I will always remember!" "Who will sing of our glorious deeds of valor and battle?" His chief. "I will tell the tales! I will give praise to our flock!" To'bek shouted. "Who are you!? You are the reason we are dead and forgotten! You are a curse! We shall be yours!" The dead shouted back. And so the dead bariaur began to swarm in on To'bek. To'bek backed up then charged at them; he had to free himself! This was madness! To'bek fled and his ghostly kin pursued him... * * * For what seemed like a lifetime, until it felt as though acid were being pumped through his body instead of blood, To'bek galloped and fled from his accusers and kin. Eventually the sound of their pursuit died into silence, but still To'bek ran until he could run no further. He ran until all he could do was collapse. And so it was, that as To'bek attempted to catch his breath and his sanity, he noticed a small flame upon the field grass. This flame began to grow and grow. To'bek could not escape the wildfire that was beginning to sweep its way toward him. He lay there, accepting his demise as a final peace from his torment. But the fire did not consume him. He remained untouched in an island surrounded by roaring flame. The heat was immense, nearly choking what little breath To'bek had from his body. "YOU!" bellowed a great voice, another voice from To'bek's past. It was the fire giant who's brother To'bek had slain that wiped out his flock. Fine, To'bek thought, let this be the end. It is most fitting. "Get up and face me, weakling! Meet your death like a warrior, or die like the lamb you are!" the giant challenged him. Weary in body and spirit, To'bek lifted himself to his feet by his spear. Let him meet his death as honorably as he could. Let him die facing his mortal enemy, the one whom was the cause for his pain. The one whom he had caused such pain. To'bek couldn't help but feel the full weight of the circular reprecussions -- cause and effect -- it entailed. The cycle of senseless destruction. Useless and endless. Let the cycle be broken here and now. And so they fought. However, it was not to be To'bek's wish to die this day... He actually bested the fire giant. It was with his spear tip poised to puncture the fallen giant's throat and end its life, that To'bek hesitated. It would be easy to end this cycle here, with one of them dead. But would the pain end? For either of them? Would it make anything right again? Would it make any more or less sense than before? To'bek withdrew his strike. The giant shimmered and disappeared. The flames disappeared, but for one immense flame. The Arching Flame. And as To'bek stood in awe of the great inferno, a silouetted figure stepped out from it, and towards him. It was Shali. "It is good to see you again, To'bek," she said demurely. To'bek's heart lept to his throat. Contrasted against the tribulations he had faced so far, this was intensely emotional. "I-, H-how can this be? How can you be here?" "Does that matter? Will you come with me? Come home, return to the Laughing Dancers with me," she spoke softly, invitingly. She stepped closer to him and looked deep into his eyes. "Return and take me as your mate." To'bek bleated in suprise, stepping back. "Who are you!? You cannot be Shali! You are some deception!" "I am Shali! I can be! Just take my hand, and all you desire will be made true! You deserve it after such hardships, dearest. It is time to forget all that pain and come home." And as she spoke, Shali extended her hands open, palms up towards him. She walked slowly, as though to a skittish deer about to bolt. "N-no! I cannot accept this! This is a lie! Begone!" To'bek cried. He swung his spear wildly at Shali. She let out a scream as the spear gashed her. She crumpled and fell, disappearing into smoke and mist. Had she been real? Had he killed her? Had he banished his only hope for a home or refuge? Had he hurt his only chance for a mate? And then there was only the Flame. There were shadows around the Arching Flame. Undead, To'bek saw -- watching, silent and lurking. "What is this! What is this madness? These tests are meaningless! Why do you cause such useless pain? What am I to learn from this!?" To'bek shouted to the shadows. The answer came from nowhere and everywhere, a hissing almost-whisper he was sure was more in his mind than actually spoken aloud. "Step into the Arching Flame, Broken One. Jump into the Burning Truth, Wandering Fool. Purge yourself inside the Hungry Light, Lonely Heart." To'bek ground his teeth in irritation. So be it! To'bek charged into the Arching Flame. The shadows danced and ... laughed? He plunged into what felt like a lifetime of burning tortuous unending torrents of pain, and just as endless silent and eternal white-black nothingness... Falling forever, exploding into atoms, reforming endless times. And then he knew only darkness. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 20th, 2003, 10:00pm All right folks, looks like I won't be ready today. I apologize. I could have been ready, but I got distracted, and I gotta get some sleep tonight so that I can do all the non-RPG things I need to do tomorrow. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 20th, 2003, 10:17pm Lore reminded me that as high-level characters many of you will want the Leadership feat. One thing you might do as you wait for me to catch up on things is develop some NPC followers or henchmen, if you want. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 21st, 2003, 7:27am on 01/20/03 at 22:17:57, ripperibo wrote:
Yes, I would! Although I'm not supposed to spend much time in front of the screen today...I've got a terrible flu. Even if I won't manage to do a proper write-up, I'd like to assume that Rott has some lackeys to run his errands. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Anastazja on Jan 22nd, 2003, 10:19am Hey Orri. I hope you feel better. And don't worry, the great Flu Pandemic of 1918 only killed 30 to 40 million people worldwide. :) I'm sure you'll be fine. Oh, and I'm thinking Staz doesn't really have any lackeys. I'm thinking he's a factor, but without any responsibilities or anyone directly under his command due to his long absence, so he's more like a factotum in actual power. However, he has been establishing a bit of a political base at the Hall of Speakers recently... But anyway, not much in the way of lackeys. He probably has a tout hired, though, for sending messages when he needs it, buying things when he doesn't have the time, and preforming other odd jobs. Probably one of Kylie's, since they're generally to be trusted. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 22nd, 2003, 2:18pm 'Kay. Anyway, I'm almost ready! Honest! |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Orroloth on Jan 22nd, 2003, 4:20pm Rott to lackey n.o. one: "Go tear down the Barracks, or give me a good reason why you shouldn't." L#1: "Uh, can I think about it?" R: "Sure. You there!" (to L#2) "Go tear down the Barracks, or give me a good reason why you shouldn't." L#2: "Because I quit this stupid faction." R: "Good answer." (to L#1) "You about done?" L#1: "I won't do it, because I won't go away as easily as that other guy." R: "Even better answer." |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Phoenixadept on Jan 22nd, 2003, 7:04pm Hello all, I amPhoenixAdept. I am new to the forums, and here late in he game. I recieved permission to join so here goes... Proposed for your approval. His first memory was of fire, the air was filled with flame. As rained downed in torrents. The fire did not harm him, of the flames he had no fear. Infact he baskedin it. Slowly he looked around for as far as hecould see were the flames. He realized that he stood with a city, not a single building stood untouched. As he walked visions, memories, a sense of purpose and self began to come to him. He began to remember. He realized that for whatever reason that he was here now, However he ame to be here in this place, the moment before was his failure. The heat was like basking in sunshine thim, he allowed imself a small smile, then the thought of his failure pushed it's way back into his mind. He felt a self loathing ad anger raising up in him, deep from thebowels of his being. Though there was not much that he now knew or remembered he knew one thing. He would not fail again. He searched what few thoughts and memories he did have hoping for the one that would trigger all the rest. Fire, shadow, battle, blood it all was a blur. He began to sense that he serve, not just one greater than him but a purpose. Something noble an true is what guided his fate. A hero of some kind, a protector ofthe weak and the inocent. By the might of his arm and the strength of his will he kept the overwhelming tide at bay. He turned to take in all that there was here, flame, destruction and shso thick hat he should have suffocated. Then he knew, this was all because of him. Because of his failure. An entire city burned to the ground. Homes, businesses, temples and... he looked to a hill overlooking the destruction and saw there a palace, flames reaching to te sky. Stone walls turned to molten slag, a small river of magma running slowy away from it. Total destruction. He raised his arms and the flames all around him leapt and roseto meet the sunless sky. Falling ash became sparks flying and falling. Then in a quick movement he brought is arms down. The flames around him died, not a sinlge glowing ember remained near. Master of fire an flame, he thought to himself. He was beginning to be impressed. He walked for a long time. Soon he left the burning city far behind. Trying to sort through all the flashes in his mind, time was not important to him. Still he searched for a name, a place anything. He heard a noise, a muffled cry. He turned towards he sound and there he saw a young girl, clothes in burnt and ruined tatters. She lookd to him and he staredinto his eyes, in that moment he knew her heart. And in her eyes he saw a reflection of his own self. Then he knew. Everything. Xander Adrian Linnear, those close to him called him Xan. He was a agent, a minion of not just one but a faction of 13 gods. He was their champion. He was empowered and given the heart and the soul of the Phoenix Ascendant. The one true guardian and protector. There could only ever be one. He remembered his life as Xan. He searched out, faced and fought evil unnamed. He protected the weak, the innocent and the just. Xan did not fight alone, he rarely did. There were always others. Many pledged to his banner the Shadow Phoenix. He touched his chest over his heart, there it was a tattoed brand, colored in red and black in the form of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Xan was a man of honor and nobility. He was given power and he chose responsibility and servitude. There was no task to small or too great for him to undertake. He would help a farmer rebuild his fences after bandits tore them down. He wuld batle demons on their home ground. He would hold in his arms a grieving widow and wipe the tears from the eyes of a crying child. Xan was a good man one of the best, which is why his form was chosen. Countless lifetimes, countless lives. Each one strong, a champion wielding great power. Countless lives countless failures. He refocused his attention to the young girl, he saw something in her eyes. A wil of iron, and a hardy soul. This girl was a survivor, she will do he thought He reached out and placed his hand upon her head and the crying stopped. Still loking up at him she stood. "You know me." He told her in a whisper. "Yes." He could see the fear fall off her like autumn leaves. "What is your name little one?" He asked her as thelight started to brighten in her eyes. "I am Mieya-Sharee, I am your chosen." He nodded in approval and agreement. "Yes, you are the first." He answered. Together the continued to walk. That was10 years ago. Now the man known (mostly) as Xan and his companion Mieya-Sharee were traveling the realms and the planes seeking out wrongs to right and evils to defeat. He wields the blades Ebonfire and Nightflame, he carries the bow Searingdark. His hammer is named Fury. They fight a holy war, taking all comers. Mieya-Sharee has grown gaining power all her own. When they speak of him they speak of the shadows, the darkness that suddenly become flame. One moment you are all alone then you are trapped, surrounded by flame and someone possesed. When they speak of her, they tell speed and precision. She who strikes and is unstrikeable. The hunters are as well the hunted. The one known as Lord Devlin Caine Brimstone, the Dark Avatar, hunts the Phoenix Adept. Though the two have never met, have never faced each other, they know each other well. Xan has faced many of Brimestone's minions, thwarted many of his plans. Xan believes he knows him from other lives as well. It is a chess game between these two. With the winner goes the fate of all. Well tat's all I got for now. Tell me what you think. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Gideon on Jan 22nd, 2003, 7:18pm Hey all, Just thought I'd drop a few words concerning Garret before the fireworks start. Assume he has a number of "henchmen" to be fleshed out later, I can assure you Rip that they are simply background material and won't make more than cameo appearances in the game which is after all about the players and not the npcs. (Unless of course you deem otherwise and decided to draw any of my creations into the main course of the game). Anyway, I'm off for the night. Cheers, Gid |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Necromortis on Jan 23rd, 2003, 1:16am Re: lackeys/henchmen - the Fallen One doesn't have any followers as such, but he does have the ability to call the dead to him if he is ever badly in need of aid (treat as being animate dead as a spell-like ability). Rip, is that acceptable to you? (I think he also has create undead and create greater undead as abilities as well, but he probably doesn't use those so much because they demand more focus and concentration than he's normally capable of.) |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 23rd, 2003, 9:25am Gideon, Necromortis, etc: Yes, your ideas about followers are fine. PhoenixAdept: Your character idea fits with the plot ideas I had shockingly well. Must be synchronicity afoot. You'll get a hook too. And I have finished writing preliminary hooks for everyone! Here's the role call: The Fallen One (Necromortis) Rott (Orroloth) J (Lore) Splinterhoof (Brain-box) "Sword" (King of Chaos) Pudding (Dust) Garret (Gideon) Xan (PhoenixAdept) If anyone else wants to get in on this (Chifo, puk, etc.) show up with a character in the Hive Thread, which will be called Weird Food and Devastation. The PBP itself will be called Trading Partners, or Planescape: Trading Partners. So I'm sending hooks out. Consider them first drafts; I'm more than willing to change some things if they don't fit your image of your character. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Mandelbrot on Jan 23rd, 2003, 9:32am Hey, can I be "Self" now, instead? (I suppose Splinterhoof's Tale, Part III shall remain in the works.) *evil grin* |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 23rd, 2003, 2:45pm on 01/23/03 at 09:32:02, Mandelbrot wrote:
You mean, have Splinterhoof be part of Self? |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by Mandelbrot on Jan 24th, 2003, 5:46am Well, sir, I was basically kidding around. Bleakers aren't very adept at most humor -- except the dark noir kind. Anyway, you can suprise me in any way you want with that. It would be sort of interesting to have one of the previous concepts suddenly work itself in there from nowhere. Otherwise, I'm just sticking with Splinterhoof (To'bek) as I've presented him. As for Part III of his tales, well, it would mainly detail his journey to Sigil and how he came to join the Bleakers, etc. Perhaps that part shall come out in play, subtely. We shall see if we find any meanings there... |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 24th, 2003, 3:34pm on 01/24/03 at 05:46:43, Mandelbrot wrote:
(Grin) Disregard the extra post I sent you, then. Anyway, the threads are finally up. The bariaur (if there is one) should report with the Fallen One, Garret, the Magic Pudding, and King of Chaos's posessed sword in the the Hive (http://www.dreadgazebo.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.cgi?board=gameroom;action=display;num=1043450450). Rott the Doomguard is headed into the Armory (http://www.dreadgazebo.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.cgi?board=gameroom;action=display;num=1043450576). Xan the Phoenix Warrior is supposed to be heading there too; I don't know if he's checked his private message box yet. The two Godsmen are walking seperately into the Foundry Warehouse (http://www.dreadgazebo.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.cgi?board=gameroom;action=display;num=1043450698). So everyone should check out the appropriate thread with whatever NPC companions they want. Describe your character, then have him, her, or it ask any questions or whatever seems necessary. I'll try to help move this through any initial awkwardness. |
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Title: Re: Undefined Planescape Project Post by ripperibo on Jan 25th, 2003, 1:50pm ...and there's an out-of-character thread (http://www.dreadgazebo.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.cgi?board=ooc;action=display;num=1043458092) for this game now. Future ooc discussions should be there. |
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