This will be a stock or vanilla game using the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, the Monster Manual, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and Xanather's Guide to Everything.

for attributes you can choose one of the following:
roll 4d6, drop the lowest, place in any order you choose (no rerolling 1s)
  or
use the following scores; 16,14,14,12,12,10 (before racial modifiers of course) and place them in any order you choose

classes will start at level 1 and should be built according to the guidelines of the class you are playing.

multi classing is allowed, but only according the guidelines laid out int he PHB. no gestalt or dual classes.

no homebrewed classes, feat, spells, races, subclasses, subraces, skills, etc.

i will be using milestone xp to advance the characters. this is simply easier to do, in my opinion, with a play by post game.

this character creation thread can be used to discuss issues, questions, concerns, about creating your character. other topics should be discusses in OOC.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Wed 29 Dec 2021.

This is the sheet I use if anyone wants to make use of it. Just quote the this post and copy and paste the text for it.

I have a similar sheet.

thanks guys.

The One God
The One God is an entity of many aspects represented various parts of its complex and divine nature. These aspects are often worshiped individually. Though the common clergy of the One God’s temples promote a more unified approach to worship. Many people invoke a particular aspect based their needs and the times they a living through.

Ator, The Warrior
LN War
Gold armor on a black background

Aldis, The Father
LG Light
Black house on a silver background

Mirran, The Mother
NG Life
Blue and gold flour-de-lee on a gray background

Heldigar, The King
LG Tempest, Light
Gold crown on a silver and black checkerboard background

Hazelfred, The Crone
N Tempest
Red, Blue, White flowers on a black background

Esmyr, The Lover
CG Trickery
Red heart on a white background

Gottrem, The Spirit
N Nature, Life
Green trees on a white background

Jorga, The Storm
CN Tempest
Gray clouds with golden lightening on a black background

Bessenfry, The Healer
HG Life
Red cross on a gold background

Ikkona, The Killer
CE War, Tempest
Red dagger on a black background

Mansfredda, The Savior
LG Light
White dove on a green background

Horstofritz, The Death
LE Death
White skeleton with black scythe on a red background

Siris, The Summoner
NE Knowledge, Trickery
Black open book with red flames at center on a gold background

Refrum, The Builder
LG Knowledge, Light
Silver hammer and golden carpenter’s square on a blue background

Zekathis, The Knowing
NG Knowledge
Unrolled white scroll with red lettering on a black background

Nurg, The Bitter
CE Trickery, Death
Red skull and crossed bones on a black background



The New Gods

Unyssus
LG Tempest, Light
golden crown on a red sphere
King of the New Gods, ruler of the Brightlands, the Celestial Plane

Lilzara
LG War, Light
silver scales on a blue diamond
Unyssus’ Queen, Queen of the New Gods and the Brightlands

Padron
NG Light, Knowledge
black book on a red square
Son of Unyssus and Lilzara, Prince of the New Gods and the Brightlands

Ladrii
CE Trickery, Death
white skull on black diamond
Daughter of Unyssus and Lilzara, denounced princess of the New Gods

Hylladria
NG Life, Nature
green tree on a silver sphere

Elynor
CG Nature, Light
orange sun on a yellow sphere

Gahdfrey
LN Knowledge, Light
blue lightning bolt on black sphere

Vitan
N Life, Light
red heart on a silver diamond

Fzun
CN Trickery, Knowledge
golden mask on a blue square

Hextor
NE War, Trickery
red crossed swords on a yellow sphere
Brother of Vanor, known as the Master of War

Vanor
LE Death, War
black chain on a green diamond
Brother of Hextor, known as the Master of Death

The New Gods appeared in Vaiden during the Dark Ages of the world and have since become part of the pantheon of commonly worshipped gods. Many people on Vaiden find it easier to relate to the New Gods because their religious observance is far simpler than the complexity of the multi-faceted One God.

The New Gods have established the Brightlands, the Celestial Plane of Existence, as their home and domain. Due to the family structure of Unyssus’ court and the trouble the godly King has suffered due to his daughter, Ladrii, many people feel a greater connection to the pantheon than to the alien, all-encompassing nature of the One God.

 
The Sleeping God
The entity known as the Sleeping God is a true enigma among the religions, cults, and academics of modern Vaiden. Its background is unknowable. Its influence is real but too obfuscated to be made evident in nearly every incidence. Its rumored connection to the Balyll cannot be ignored. Nor can it be proven.

The Sleeping God is believed to be trapped, slumbering for the ages, in the Fortress Mountains of Northern Viakandia. There are a great many rumors about the Sleeping God. And as many cults. Both of which are mostly baseless.

What is known is that the Sleeping God is real. It is said that those who come to the Sleeping God seeking council, knowledge, power, or assistance are often contacted in their dreams. Such dreams lead to madness.

Those touched by the Sleeping God are thought to have glimpsed the abyssal darkness of space. That they are somehow dredged from the material plane into the astral space where they come face to face with the Sleeping God. Such encounters are said to be when the dire bargains are made between mortal and god. From such encounters few returned with their sanity intact.

It is believed that the Sleeping God must consume the souls, and some claim the bodies too, of mortals daily to feed itself. While many people claim this number ranges from a single person or soul to as many as a thousand per day, no one really knows how many people die to the Sleeping God every day.

It is known that the Sleeping God has Illithid, Gith, and Drow followers across Vaiden. Many people believe these to be the remnants of the fallen armies that the outer god, Balyll brought from the outer planes it had conquered.

This has, of course, fueled more rumors about the origins of the Sleeping God. Chief among these rumors is the Seeping God was summoned by Balyll and led a vast army from the outer planes on Vaiden. Another rumor claims the reason it is called the Sleeping God is that it was defeated and imprisoned by the One God during the Great War. This has led to wild speculation and the belief by some that the Sleeping God of the Fortress Mountain is in fact Balyll, the outer god that invaded Vaiden causing the Great War.

languages as set out in the PHB are what we are using. use them as listed and selected normally from the PHB.

If we choose to roll and get junk are we stuck with that or could we then take the array you lay out?

In reply to Farlindir (msg # 7):

PM your rolls and let me see how bad the bad is. if it really is terrible i will work it out with you. no one should be stuck with every ability score below 9. i mean as long as one ability is 10 or higher is good. right?

In reply to Game Dude (msg # 5):

Thought I'd lend a hand here.



¹ The One God is an entity of many aspects represented various parts of its complex and divine nature. These aspects are often worshiped individually. Though the common clergy of the One God’s temples promote a more unified approach to worship. Many people invoke a particular aspect based their needs and the times they a living through.

² The New Gods appeared in Vaiden during the Dark Ages of the world and have since become part of the pantheon of commonly worshipped gods. Many people on Vaiden find it easier to relate to the New Gods because their religious observance is far simpler than the complexity of the multi-faceted One God.

The New Gods have established the Brightlands, the Celestial Plane of Existence, as their home and domain. Due to the family structure of Unyssus’ court and the trouble the godly King has suffered due to his daughter, Ladrii, many people feel a greater connection to the pantheon than to the alien, all-encompassing nature of the One God.

³ The Sleeping God
The entity known as the Sleeping God is a true enigma among the religions, cults, and academics of modern Vaiden. Its background is unknowable. Its influence is real but too obfuscated to be made evident in nearly every incidence. Its rumored connection to the Balyll cannot be ignored. Nor can it be proven.

The Sleeping God is believed to be trapped, slumbering for the ages, in the Fortress Mountains of Northern Viakandia. There are a great many rumors about the Sleeping God. And as many cults. Both of which are mostly baseless.

What is known is that the Sleeping God is real. It is said that those who come to the Sleeping God seeking council, knowledge, power, or assistance are often contacted in their dreams. Such dreams lead to madness.

Those touched by the Sleeping God are thought to have glimpsed the abyssal darkness of space. That they are somehow dredged from the material plane into the astral space where they come face to face with the Sleeping God. Such encounters are said to be when the dire bargains are made between mortal and god. From such encounters few returned with their sanity intact.

It is believed that the Sleeping God must consume the souls, and some claim the bodies too, of mortals daily to feed itself. While many people claim this number ranges from a single person or soul to as many as a thousand per day, no one really knows how many people die to the Sleeping God every day.

It is known that the Sleeping God has Illithid, Gith, and Drow followers across Vaiden. Many people believe these to be the remnants of the fallen armies that the outer god, Balyll brought from the outer planes it had conquered.

This has, of course, fueled more rumors about the origins of the Sleeping God. Chief among these rumors is the Seeping God was summoned by Balyll and led a vast army from the outer planes on Vaiden. Another rumor claims the reason it is called the Sleeping God is that it was defeated and imprisoned by the One God during the Great War. This has led to wild speculation and the belief by some that the Sleeping God of the Fortress Mountain is in fact Balyll, the outer god that invaded Vaiden causing the Great War.

lol, that's neat, thanks.

Sheet ready for you, Dude.

In reply to Yprish (msg # 11):

looks good, thanks.

The game will begin in the kingdom of Baronnia. It is a small kingdom under the rule of King Argor. Argor is a Palladin and is known for his sense of justice. Barronia began as town, became something of a center of trade, grew into a city, then a city-state, and is now a Kingdom of the same name.

Baronnia, one of the few in Northern Viakandia and the only kingdom in the Wetlands, covers about two hundred square miles and supports an agrarian culture of around 150,000 people. This makes Barronia the single largest population in all the Wetlands. The king's keep, known as the Knight's Knoll, is an ancient structure hearkening back into the remote and unknown past of Vallorn.

The town Vandis. Vandis is thirty miles from the city of Barronia. It is a small town of around 400 residents but it is something of a crossroads town. There are three roads leading into Vandis; the Trade Road to Barronia, the Ester's Way which leads to Landis to the north, and the Sunrise Trail which snakes it way through the Wetlands east to the coast. There are two main waterways; the Northern Passage is allows barges and riverboats to go northeast while the southern passage heads southeast towards coastal waters.

The town only has two taverns; the 'Ye Olde bucket of Beer' and Martin's Taphouse. There is an Inn, the George House Manor. There are the usual shops and services in town but it is not a thriving market place. It is a good place to warehouse and transship goods headed to or coming from the markets of Barronia. As such there are many travelers passing through that seek a meal, a little rest, or a pleasant night's stay.

All of you have arrived in this one horse and two mule town, on your way somewhere else no less. I will post a map of the overall area in a big sense. Please, I need everyone to post a quick (line or two) post stating why you are in Vandis this afternoon. Keep in mind that you will be starting the game here, but it doesn't have to have been your destination. I will use this info to create the first game post later.

A bit of background about this part of Southern Viakandia.

Eastern Forest
Extending eastward from Cinci to the base of the Fortress Mountains. The forest covers the southeastern lands down to the Wetlands and around the Fortress Mountains northward along the eastern shores.

The Eastern Forest is home to lumbering and farming communities, Drow, and the Montier River.

Though uncommon, it is not unheard to encounter nomadic bands of Gnolls in the plains or forests. Due to their ferocious habits and destructive natures, Gnolls command high bounties in settlements across Northern Viakandia.



The Montier River
The largest river in Northern Viakandia. Originating in Lake Altier, the Montier is a major trade route in the east.

The Montier River delta, where the river meets the waters of the Viako Gulf, is filled with shallows, sand bars, silt ponds, and innumerable tiny islands. This region is home to thriving communities of semi-nomadic river traders known as River Gypsies.



Wetlands
The southeastern reaches of Northern Viakandia form a peninsula of swamps. There is a rural population of scattered villages and towns. These rural communities produce large vegetable crops and spicy soups.

The subtropical climate in the Wetlands create a heavy precipitation environment in spring and summer months.

In the Wetlands it is not terribly uncommon to come across small mud and thatch hut villages of Bullywugs. The warm, wet, overgrown environment provides ideal living and hunting conditions for these amphibians.



Fortress Mountains
The Fortress Mountains have peaks from 500 feet to 3,000 feet 0f elevation. These mountains contain the most mysterious ancient ruins in all Vallorn. Named for the ancient ‘fort’ carved into the mountains, the Fortress Mountains remain an enigma going back the final days of the Great War.

Villages and towns of farmers, lumberjacks, hunter, herdsman, artisans; the common folks of the mountains are known for supporting the academics and adventurers that come to explore the mountains.

The Fortress Mountains are the fabled tomb of the Sleeping God. This mysterious god is said to have been sealed into its tomb during the Great War. There are many who believe the legends connecting the Outer God that invaded Vallorn to the fabled Sleeping God said to trapped inside the Fortress Mountains.

South of the Lake Altier region the mountains become an extreme cold environment during the winter months. North of that, the mountains become an extreme cold and heavy precipitation environment during the fall and winter months and experience the hazards of frigid water and thin ice.



Lanis
A Drow city in the Eastern Forest founded by traditional Lolth worshipping Drow. Lanis is the dominant trade market in the region. From as far as the Montier River, every sort of trade good is brought to this city of 35,000.

The city exerts it control through a military of nearly 10,000 fighters, paladins, clerics, rangers, and wizards. Lanis is also home to a small community of 1,000 Tiefling who have come to worship Lolth.

I think his sheet has reached a point where you can review it.

In reply to Game Dude (msg # 14):

My updated understanding is that Lake Altier (located in Northern Viakandia) is the source of the Montier River (which travels from Northern to Southern Viakandia).

This correct?

it flows into what is known as the Viako Gulf. the two continents are not connected by land.

In reply to Vogryn (msg # 15):

thanks, vogryn, that looks good

Doven is passing through Vandis looking for work, perhaps as a merchant guard, but hasn't had any luck.

In reply to Game Dude (msg # 13):

Mezah (me-ZAH) has been led to Vandis by her quarry. Mezah believes that the merchant guild that is responsible for the disappearance of her daughter has left valuable evidence (clues) here in Vandis or in nearby Barronia.

Tarek adjusted the holy symbol around his neck indicating that he was a follower of Heldigar. He also adjusted his shield which depicted his heraldic device of a tower with a sword on either side of the tower. The left sword was pointed upwards while the opposing sword was pointing downwards. In the upper right hand corner of the shield was the emblem of Barronia. Tarek was eager to start his quest to find and assist those in need.

Yprish had been homesteading a dry patch of bayou. Couple of years there’d be rice paddy terraced and irrigated; dredge a canal to put the surplus on barges to pole down to Vandis. And no end of bobcat, alligator, otter, bear, and foxes to eat and harvest their pelts for sale.

Leastways that was the plan before a pack of gnolls showed up out of nowhere — they were supposed to be further west! — and killed and ate, hopefully in that order, more or less every one of his 50 kinfolk who’d come there the previous autumn. Yprish had been coming back from trapping to see the end of things: all he could do was jump between the roots of a bald cypress before getting spotted by the pack, damn them.

The only thing he could thing of was getting to Vandis, then… then what? Get a posse? Join the regiments? Yprish hadn’t thought that far ahead.

In reply to Yprish (msg # 22):

nice, gnoll hatred runs deep in parts of Northern Viakandia. i see you are fitting in well.

Once a decade a caravan from the western reaches travels east to barter and trade. It is such a time now and Knut has taken the chance to see more of the world. Thus he finds his self far from home and in the wetlands.

Malcolm volunteered to accompany his family's caravan. This was his opportunity to seek his place in the world.

Noza arrived in town via the northern road from Landis. She is essentially a budget tourist, and introduces herself as being on her way to walk around the entire world. Which is a ridiculous claim, and she smiles when she makes it in her unusual accent, so most folks take it as a joke and laugh in response. It in fact is not a joke, but Noza intends to spend some time here to rest her feet anyway.

Samuel had a feeling some Gnolls needed killing...

Una is just on a personal quest to find new ingredients and new recipes, to boldly cook where many other people have cooked before

Honestly, Jaylan is always going where the work is, or where he can make the best deal. He needs very little in the way of prompting to travel many miles in order to make a pile of coin doing something foolish.

Maria is on the look for a runaway teen. Someone is getting a stern talking to when this is over.