Welcome to the game! This is where you can ask the DM (me) out-of-character questions about stuff like actions you want to take, rules to work over, etc.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:32, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

Alright, so I mentioned a "Bioware-style" companion system for this campaign, which I think you'll be interested in. While there are a number of NPCs which can join your team from the beginning, they're all more for plot hooks and roleplay than they are for help in combat.

The basic premise is that you and I discuss 2-3 character concepts - and possibly even builds - for custom NPC companions; we describe what type of bond you want them to have with your character, and I'll sprinkle them in across the first few regions of the game so that you can meet them organically and invite them to join your team.

In combat, you'll control their actions, but otherwise, I will be doing the roleplaying.

How does this sound so far? It may be a bit more work than just creating one character, but I believe that it will create really strong ties and give you even more freedom to have the type of team you want.

By the way, how familiar are you with the Out of the Abyss module? In order to follow the spirit of the module, I was thinking that your character would definitely be a total foreigner to the Underdark, someone from the surface who hasn't even considered that they might end up there.

Sounds good to me!    And I know surprisingly little about the Out of the Abyss module, other than it being considered "hard".

So I rolled up my stats (ignore that first roll, I was thinking I could repeat it 6 times).   I ended up with 15, 13, 13, 12, 11, 4 (ouch).

I just realized that I made your name appear as "placeholder"; sorry about that, the interface told me to name your character before you even got here, so that's what I did instead. I could change it to say your username instead, for now?

With those rolls, it sounds like the array is going to be your best option.

As for the module, allow me to give you the breakdown: your character is a standard adventurer from the surface, who has been captured and taken deep, deep below the earth to a dark elf outpost for holding before you'll be transported to their main city and sold as a slave. You begin the game without any of your adventuring equipment on you, and must find a way to escape before you meet such a terrible fate.

The first chapter of the module is all about this outpost where you're being held, and is essentially a slow-burn of a jailbreak situation; you can bide your time, make deals with the guards, keep a watch on patrols, and sneak around, or you can try something crazy and try to get away before anyone realizes what has happened.

Personally, I would advise a slow-burn approach, so that your character can get their bearings and make a solid plan (or two, or three).

Speaking of the place where you begin, your character will have been in this prison for about 10 days already, and will have had the opportunity to scavenge something and smuggle it away for potential use: roll a d20 for me to see what you got.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Tue 02 Nov 2021.

Yep, I’ll go with the array.   And sure I’m fine with placeholder or my user name.

Oh and I rolled a 4 on a d20.    Does it alert you when I roll?   Or should I let you know the result in a post?

It looks like you found yourself "A living spider the size of a tarantula", my friend. I have no idea exactly how useful it will be, but who knows? You may not even want it, especially since the drow themselves keep giant spiders like bandits keep wild dogs.

The next steps are in your hands; once you have a character concept to talk about, just hit me up. I am ready to help anytime.

I'm also realizing now that I failed to answer your question about the dice. No, I am not alerted to when dice rolls are made, so notifying me is the best way to get it seen.

I've been thinking of character ideas, and I've rolled my 2 bonds to see if that can help inspire me a bit.

Here's what I ended up with for bonds:

1. You once had the opportunity to meet a circle of myconids - the mushroom folk of the Underdark. They offered you shelter and a chance to "meld" using their telepathic spores, and you have yearned ever since to repeat that experience.

6. Years ago, a vicious noble named Ghazrim DuLoc was implicated in the death of someone you cared about. The crime was covered up, though, and DuLoc disappeared. Rumor has it the Zhentarim aided his escape, but you've sworn to find him one day.

For my character, I'm leaning towards a Mountain Dwarf Druid or Ranger.   What are your thoughts on multiclassing in the future?   Obviously subject to the ability score minimums on the PHB, and would have to make sense for the situation.

I just saw the part about extra 1st level...so I think that answers the multiclass question, if I read it correctly.

The PHB says that mountain dwarves are called shield dwarves in this setting, which is interesting because of the focus that the module places on that race every so often - namely those mentions of Gauntlgrym.

Given your race and your bonds, your character could have been born of virtually any kind of family across the realm; a simple dwarven clan hidden away in a forest, hill or mountain, a soldier in the army that fought to take back Gauntlgrym, an orphan from some city big or small, and so on and so forth.

As for multiclassing, I'm certainly not barring you from doing it; it's just up to you whether you want to do it or not. The extra 1st level idea was someone else's, but I think the point of it was that it didn't count for your character levels, which would've caused you to need more XP to level up. What I'm saying is, I think we could do a thing where you combine the extra 1st level with levels of a multiclass, if that's what you want - you'd just have to make sure to clearly note your actual character level.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Narratively, the extra 1st level makes you an anomaly with incredible talent; maybe you were born under a strange star, maybe you're just a prodigy of your time, etc.

Also, I just remembered that there's a thing from Xanathar's Guide to Everything that you might like. Have you heard of it? It's called "This Is Your Life"; it helps you flesh out all of the little details of your character's life.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Hmmm interesting.    I will definitely check it out...I got a copy of Xanathar’s guide recently and haven’t had a chance to do more than glance at it until now.    I should have some time tomorrow to start coming up with some more solid ideas for my character.   I’m pretty set on a dwarf, but still considering which classes would match what I’m looking to get out of this campaign.   Part of me wants to try something different, because I tend to end up with Rangers and Druids quite a bit...so maybe I’ll do a Cleric Fighter instead.

Something to keep in mind for Rangers is that your character wouldn't have had the opportunity to make the Underdark one of their favored terrain. There are ways to mitigate that - I think there's an alternative class feature you can take in Tasha's, and you could simply wait until you get an additional favored terrain at whatever level that is - but it's just something to take into account.

So I've got an idea for a character now....Mormir is a shield dwarf cleric/fighter.   I'm going to go with Forge Domain.    Do you have a template for character sheets that you'd like me to use?

Sounds good to me. I do not have a template sheet for this site.

Ok, I’ll do most of it in DnD Beyond and can copy it however we decide to track things.   I didn’t pay for any of the extras, so some of the choices (forge domain) aren’t available.

I've stated working on the This is Your Life for Mormir, and made some rolls on here....but halfway through I realized I could do it much quicker on 5eTools (so ignore those rolls).

Here is some info about Mormir:

As a small child he was sent to live in a temple of Moradin, after his father was killed under suspicious circumstances (rumored to be at the direction/hand of Ghazrim DuLoc).    He had an ordinary childhood, and a few close friends.   He became a Cleric, and his first assignment was to serve in a bureaucratic role however he was bored and instead was fascinated by the elite soldiers of the Hammers of Moradin.   After years of hard work and training, he honed his skills and joined the ranks of the elite.

For the NPCs that will make up the rest of the party, I was thinking at least one other dwarven cleric/Hammer of Moradin.   Originally I was thinking the whole party could be that, but I think a little variety might be nice.   Thoughts?

Backstory sounds good. Variety is definitely what we're going for with the NPCs.

We could have the other dwarf be a different type of "divine" class, like.a Paladin, a Celestial Warlock, a Divine Soul Sorcerer, a Zealot Barbarian, etc. Or we could just have them be a full cleric with a different subclass than yours.

I can propose some ideas for the other NPCs if you're stuck on ideas.

I think a Paladin might be interesting...what other ideas did you have?    I’m guessing that I’ll run into these NPCs along the way, so they all need a reason to be in the underdark right?   Are any of them prisoners with me?

Also. I’ll try to get a character sheet uploaded/copied tomorrow

Yes they all need a reason to be in the Underdark. I was thinking one of them would start as a prisoner with you, so when we have them solidified you should choose wisely for the purposes of eventually getting your stuff and getting out.

I'll compile a list of ideas and show them to you in a little while.

Potential Companions:

• This character is a sorcerer whose ancestor was an infamous unicorn hunter. This ancestor slew a legendary unicorn, took it's horn as a prize, carved it into a wand, and performed dark rituals on it until they were satisfied. Now this character is part of a cursed bloodline capable of summoning the wand at will and using it to perform dark magicks.
• This character claims - whether it's true or not - that they are in fact a famous and powerful archmage who has shaped history and made many enemies along the way; their explanation for why they appear to be a teenager who can only cast initiate-level spells is that some recent event caused them to be time-reversed, most of their memories and previous talents locked away by magic.
• This character enters a dangerous state where they find it incredibly difficult to control themself. Due to this, they were imprisoned and chained like an animal, only released to protect the premises and it's inhabitants. Another PC (your character) came upon (or will come upon) the ruins of this character's prison, found only them alive - and just barely at that - and nursed them back to health before gaining their trust and becoming one of the only people who could keep them in check.
• This character was very young when they found themselves trapped in another dimension, where they were trapped for a time. They eventually earned something that allowed them to return home, but their body returned to the state that they were in before they had entered the alternate dimension. Now, they have years of wisdom and experience that their youthful appearance does not bely.
• This character is a decorated veteran whose career was ended quickly by a wound that left them paralyzed from the neck down. In order to be able to use the only skills they knew in life, they found a way to transfer their consciousness into a Warforged body; they now suffer from a severe variation of Phantom Limb Syndrome.
• This character comes from a culture where masks are worn that represent the most innocent thing they have slain; a special mark is put on the mask for an intentional kill. Though most people won't realize it's implications because of the foreign nature of this character's culture, this character will wear a mask that represents humanoids and which is marked as an intentional act.
• This character's desire is to restore the power of their clan.
• The spirits this sorcerer absorbs fuels their baleful fire.
• An awakened dog warlock whose patron is it's owner.
• Tiefling sorcerer whose magic is flavored as originating from the Nine Hells. Could possibly be a race other than Tiefling, perhaps even a welpish fiend sent from the Abyss or the Nine Hells for some reason or another, but who has gone rogue.
• This character is afflicted by some curse or illness that will eventually kill them. The most notable symptom of this affliction is the victim's hair slowly becoming gray and dead from one side of the head to the other. Their objective is to find the person that put this curse upon them or someone who can cure their ailment, but they only have a few months/years left to live.
• This character was part of a group of thieves/bandits who were quickly rising in infamy due to their success in the field. They caught wind of an unusual shipment of something - an item that was constantly being moved around - and decided to ambush it in order to learn what it contained. They succeeded yet again, but whatever was inside gave a certain power to this character and/or killed their crew.
• This character has a creature/item that desires power of some kind, and has incentivised the character to get it for them. Whenever it's demands are met, it will immediately fight the character and/or the party as a whole in order to test it's capabilities. If it is defeated, the cycle starts all over again, if it succeeds...
• This character is a result of several generations of selective breeding, genetic manipulation, and other methods, and their origins come from a dark secret that they will have a hard time accepting the truth of.

Hey there....sorry for not posting for a bit, work/life got a little busy for me.    I think the following look most interesting:

This character was very young when they found themselves trapped in another dimension, where they were trapped for a time. They eventually earned something that allowed them to return home, but their body returned to the state that they were in before they had entered the alternate dimension. Now, they have years of wisdom and experience that their youthful appearance does not bely.

This character was part of a group of thieves/bandits who were quickly rising in infamy due to their success in the field. They caught wind of an unusual shipment of something - an item that was constantly being moved around - and decided to ambush it in order to learn what it contained. They succeeded yet again, but whatever was inside gave a certain power to this character and/or killed their crew.

It's alright; I've got a few irons in the fire too, so we can just take it at our own pace.

Let's give those concepts code names, something like Journey Child for the first one and Bad Bandit for the other.

For the Journey Child, I'm imagining them to be some sort of full caster class, themed according to the plane of existence they were transported to: a sorcerer, a druid, pretty much any full caster. RP-wise, they'd be totally lost in the Underdark and worried about getting back to their family - even hoping that their family is still alive and nothing has happened to them - while at the same time grappling with their weak body. Maybe they actually aged in that other plane, and had some really great adventures, but none of it transferred when they came back to the Material Plane.

For Bad Bandit, I was imagining anything in a spectrum between Rogue and Warlock/other spellcaster. If we went full rogue, I would give them a cursed magic item, so they'd pretty much end up with some sort of cursed magic item some way or another. Also definitely a stealthy person regardless of class, in order to fit that "infamous thief" archetype. For roleplay, they'd be guilt-ridden over the death of their crew, and struggling to manage whatever dark desires the cursed magic item has.

We can go as heavy or as light into the details of builds as you want; maybe you just give me a general theme, and I can go from there, or maybe you feel like doing the level ups for all of the custom NPCs - it's up to you.

Sounds good!   Let’s have Journey Child be a sorcerer, and Bad Bandit a rogue.   And I was thinking the character imprisoned with me could be the dwarf paladin, and we got caught as we ventured into the underdark in search of the answers about who killed my father.

And with that, the campaign has officially begun! That was a lot of text to start off with, but it's to be expected when the module throws in more named NPCs all at once than you can count on one hand.

If you have any questions about what else your character knows about the outpost and the other prisoners, then ask away over here in the OOC chat; I'm sure there are some clarifications you may need, and I didn't want to add anymore than I absolutely had to to the introductory post.

Btw, when you have the time, you should compile a list of what you would have had before the drow confiscated your items; there's a chance that you'll be able to get back your gear during your eventual escape, so it would be better to know ahead of time.

I'll see if I can figure out how to add the map of Velkynvelve, so that you have more of a clue of the layout. In the meantime, go ahead and talk to some NPCs or something - maybe Kilvar, or Eldeth.

EDIT: Ok, added the maps. The prison cell is area number 11.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

Sweet!  I'm excited to get started....I've been pretty bad about updating my character sheet, I'll try to get on that this weekend at some point if I can.

Do I recognize the mushroom guy?   Based on my background I've melded with the myconids, so I'd imagine I might be able to communicate with it.

That is true, you did have an experience with myconids before. You don't recognize this one as one of those you met, but you are correct that it is a myconid. This one seems like a young one, a sprout; if you can befriend it, then it should be able to release a cloud of telepathic spores which will allow you to communicate with it.

So I've made a few more updates to the character sheet (still have a bit to do), and below is a list of my equipment:

Warhammer
Chain Mail
Light Crossbow with 20 bolts
Priest's pack
Shield
holy symbol - emblem
prayer book
5 sticks of incense
vestments
common clothes
pouch containing 15 GP

Thanks for that, I'll write it down.

You know, you didn't have to waste a whole post just to ask about the manacles; if you're not ready to have your character start actually interacting a lot, maybe consider asking me questions here instead.

As for what Mormir can tell about the manacles, I'd like for you to make an Investigation check. What kinds of tools are you proficient with? If you're proficient with Smith's Tools or another type of set that does metalworking, then I'll give you advantage.

Sounds good, I’m still trying to figure out what’s what on here.    So I do have proficiency with Smith’s tools, but even with advantage I rolled a 9.

That's alright; I'll just give you only the most basic of information on the manacles. There are a few things you know you can try:

• Slipping out of them (Dexterity check)
• Breaking them (Strength check)
• Picking them open with Thieves' Tools
• Damaging/destroying them (they have hit points)

Much the same can be applied to your collars. You get the sense that failing a check would require you to wait a day in order to try that check again.

Ok I’m going to have Kilvar keep an eye out for guards while Mormir tries to slip out of the manacles.   I rolled a little better this time, 20 with my dex mod.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Tue 07 Dec 2021.

I went ahead and edited your character's "biography" to show your class, AC, and HP; I also realized that I didn't mention anything about HP calculation, so I gave you max HP for both your official 1st level and your extra 1st level in Fighter, which increased your HP from 18 to 22 (after including your Con Mod).

Additionally, as a small note, I'm really hoping that you're just focused on escaping Velkynvelve and that's why I'm not seeing much interaction from your character. At this point, I'm not too impressed by your IC posts so far. I just wanted to be honest so that you know what I'm looking for.

Thank you for updating my character's stats, but more importantly on the feedback on my IC posts.   I can see that you put a lot of effort and thought into your posts, and I can see how my short posts might have seemed a bit unimpressive.   I'm still getting the hang of this, and will try to do more in terms of character interaction and building the story.  I totally didn't expect Mormir to be able to get out of those bindings (obviously!)...but I might have just learned something about how he approaches problems, and has to figure his way out of sticky situations.

Also - what kind of bindings does the mushroom have?   Since I'm assuming he doesn't have hands?

And I realize now that I didn't pick my spells yet, I will do that and update my sheet.  I'm thinking since my hands are free I could potentially cast cantrips and spells that require verbal or somatic components (but not materials).
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Tue 07 Dec 2021.

I like to be open and communicative with my players; I find it works the best in bringing out the best or most needed solutions to issues. I'm not saying you need to be a poet or a novelist about it, I'm just looking for a little bit more interaction, a little bit more description in general. If we keep working at this, we can learn each other's expectations and boundaries, and it can become second nature.

As for your in-game questions, you are correct; the mushroom does not have hands, and thus does not wear any bindings. I'm pretty sure - and don't quote me on this, since I don't have the Monster Manual on hand right now - that it has a lower movement speed in general, and besides that it's very docile, so the drow haven't felt the need to restrain it.

Feel free to choose spells as advantageous to your current situation as possible; you would have had plenty of time to prepare new ones over the duration of your incarceration, and the module even says to let Wizards and such do the same to ease the stress a bit. Even manacled, you were still able to cast spells with somatic components - you were effectively Restrained, without the movement speed reduction - but being free makes it so that you don't have disadvantage on attack rolls and the like anymore.

I'll get another post up as soon as I can.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:04, Thu 09 Dec 2021.

Sounds good, I appreciate the openness as that fits how I approach things too.   The only way for me to get better is to get some honest feedback, so thank you again.

I"ve been able to update my spells on my character sheet.   It looks like I have three cantrips, two spells always prepared (Identify and Searing Smite), and 4 level one spells prepared.

I saw the update that you posted, and I'm going to try to write up mine tomorrow when I have some free time.   I love where this is headed, and your descriptions are really helpful and bring this thing to life.

Thank you. I patiently await your reply.

Mormir, I'd like you to roll a Sleight of Hand check in order to hide your hands and manacles behind your new mushroom ally.

Uh oh

18:31, Today: Mormir rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Sleight of hand.

Fun. We'll see how that turns out once I can get another post up. Unless... you have a spell or some kind of crazy idea to try and get a reroll? I mean, you could use that free inspiration I gave you as well, I suppose.

Hmm.   Yes, I’ll use the inspiration.  I know it’s early in the adventure but I think covering up for Mormir’s rash actions is the best thing to do.


07:54, Today: Mormir rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Sleight of hand using inspiration
This message was last edited by the player at 12:55, Fri 17 Dec 2021.

Oh, man, I was writing out what kind of power move the superior officer would do to get Mormir's attention, and only afterward did I realize that Mormir would have to reveal one of his hands in order to meet halfway. There are a few things you could do to prevent that: come closer without actually taking the bowl, roll an Insight check to see what his deal is and if you can trust him, get one of your allies to take the bait, etc.

Happy new year!   I've just posted an update, and things are certainly getting interesting!

Happy New Year! To be honest, I didn't expect thing to escalate so quickly either, but this is just as exciting as a slow burn, if burning twice as bright and half as long. At least you're likely to get out of the prison relatively quickly.

Your next action will require a skill check of some kind, likely Deception.

Sounds good!  As I was reading I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be as easy as it sounded at first.

So I only posted the response to the guard, and then rolled my deception check.   My next actions will depend on whether the guards buy it or not.   Sorry for the delay in posting, this week got away from me with work and my 4 year old daughter being home all week because a covid exposure at daycare.

here's my roll:


14:50, Today: Mormir rolled 17 using 1d20-1.  Deception Check.

Mormir, I'd like you to make an Insight check to get a read on Don't and the drow.

Sounds good..here is the result:

11:24, Today: Mormir rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Insight check.

Mormir, go ahead and make a Persuasion check to see how Jimjar will ultimately respond to your words.

Got it, here is the result


06:45, Today: Mormir rolled 5 using 1d20-1 ((6)).

My apologies for not getting a post out sooner, friend. I thought that I'd have something by now, but the release of a highly anticipated video game has severely distracted me from my other hobbies. I should be able to get back into the groove soon, so I thank you for your patience.

No worries, what game are you playing?   I’m a little behind on new releases, and I’m about one console generation behind.

I'm playing Elden Ring. It just happens to be a massive open world with cooperative gameplay, so my brothers and I are really having a blast with it.

Oh nice, sounds like a lot of fun!

So, I'm thinking based on your last IC post that Mormir will just wait until the next changing of the guard.   I'm not sure if you want me to bother with a short post IC, but basically he would just be acknowledging Prince Derendil and prepping for the breakout with his companions.

No post required, I can move us on to the breakout. I'll need the customary amount of time to get another post up, so thank you for you for your patience.

Hey.

I'm sorry to do this to you, but I'm going to have to discontinue our game here.

I'm sorry for being so abrupt, but I've just been dealing with some personal issues in my life and they've really come to a head; I simply cannot shoulder this responsibility anymore.

Thank you, and I hope you'll forgive me.

Oh man, no worries.    I really appreciate everything, you put a lot into this.    Real life comes first, and I completely understand.   This was actually my first 1:1 pbp and I really enjoyed it.    Hope things settle down for you.