|
"Awaken, mortal." You're floating in an endless void. Seeing nothing, feeling nothing, and needing nothing, but... hearing something. A voice, right next to you, yet so far away, like you have cotton stuffed in your ears. "It seems it is not your time to die just yet." There it is again. Louder now, and more defined. The empty darkness of the void is fading away, as is your numbness. Oh. You're actually in quite a lot of pain. "There is still much in store for you." The voice grows quieter again, and the sensations sharper, demanding your focus, until the former is entirely drowned out by the latter. You're regaining consciousness, whether you want to or not. "Hey! We've got a survivor over here! Where's that drat healer?!" Your eyelids open slowly, as heavy as barn doors, but enough to make out a figure kneeling over you. "Gods, please, whoever's listening, let me save at least one." The desperate prayer is answered, and a ripple passes through the river of fate. Soon, the flow will shift along with it, and the course will begin to change. Where it will go, into salvation or ruin, only time will tell, but whatever changes are on the horizon, they will be events to remember. It's not often that the Goddess of Death gives someone a second chance at life. ----------  Have you ever wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons, but bounced off the hundreds of pages of rules? Have you ever wished the single-player RPGs were more adaptive and interactive? Does the ever-looming possibility of your character doing something monumentally stupid enhance a storytelling experience for you? Do you have a craving for fantasy stories written by queer trans women in their 30s? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you have an oddly specific set of tastes. But if you answered yes to at least some of them, this might just be the CYOA for you. This is Keep on the Shadowfell, an attempt to tell a D&D story without the density of D&D rules. Specifically, this will be based on a heavily modified version of a pre-written module for Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition, a deep, dense, complex system that you don't have to know a single goddamn thing about, because I intend to keep all the numbers and pulleys and gizmos hidden behind a curtain like I'm the Wizard of Oz. There will be some unavoidable mechanical discussions here and there, especially at the start, but I'll be simplifying and abstracting them as much as I can, with a particular focus on simplifying and streamlining combat. Choices in battle will be about your stratagems and goals, not second-by-second tactics. I'll handle all that myself behind the scenes. (Though if you are interested in seeing how the sausage is made and watching me commit terrible violence upon the rules in the name of good drama, the channel in the CYOA Discord is #thaumatic-sunrise.) TL;DR: It's Dungeons and Dragons, but I'm stuffing all the math in my cheeks like I'm a chipmunk so you can focus on playing the character, not the character sheet. Update schedule is always erratic for me, but this will be even moreso than usual, in no small part because of the wildly variable amount of behind-the-scenes work any one scene might take. I'll try to keep a relatively consistent pace, but I have no idea what that pace is yet. Thank you in advance for your patience, this is going to be a weird one. P.S. Please no edition wars, not even ironic ones. It never stays ironic for long. girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 03:11 on May 24, 2022 |
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:05
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 10, 2024 05:24 |
|
|
Table of Contents Meta Prologue & Introduction Cast of Characters Character Sheet Scenes Ambush on the Road girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 22:06 on May 23, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:05
|
|
|
Cast of Characters Party Members  Rattle McGhee, Hedge Wizard (he/him) Yourself. Guided by visions you can't explain, you've come to Winterhaven seeking clues about an unholy power you're convinced lurks in the area.  Savaris Padraig (he/him) Firstborn son of the Lord of Winterhaven. You will learn more about this character in time.  ??? You will learn more about this character in time.  ??? You will learn more about this character in time. Major NPCs  Sir Ernest Padraig, Lord of Winterhaven (he/him) The closest thing this remote corner of the Nentir Vale has to a ruling authority, though his power has waned in the past decades. A stern man who places a great deal of importance in procedure, tradition, and stability.  The Voice in the Dark Brought you back from the brink of death, insisting that your fate is still ahead of you. Minor NPCs  Salvana Wrafton, Innkeeper Proprietor of the inn Wrafton's Rest. Spends a lot of time watching Lord Padraig. girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 01:47 on May 25, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:05
|
|
|
Character Sheet Name: Rattle McGhee (he/him) Race: Human Class: Hedge Wizard Skills: Arcana, History, Insight, Intimidate, Nature, Perception Abilities: Arcane familiar, basic curses, basic illusion magic Inventory TBD Quest Log In-Progress Ominous Signs: Your auguries and divinations have been showing you signs for weeks now. There is a dark, unholy power gathering strength in the Nentir Vale, somewhere near Winterhaven, and it has a name: Kalarel. You must find out who or what this Kalarel is, and put a stop to them. Completed None, yet. Failed None, yet. girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 04:11 on May 25, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:06
|
|
|
(This one's gonna be a little clunky. Consider it more of a concentrated tutorial of a bunch of different mechanics, rather than a representative example of a normal post.) ---------- Some time later... "Thank you again for your patience. I can't imagine you're in much of a mood for answering questions after what you've been through." That may or may not be the grandest understatement you've ever heard. Near-death experiences are nothing new for you, but they aren't usually that near. Your last healing potion was enough to get you back up on your feet, and you've stopped bleeding all over yourself, but everything still hurts. "Just humor me for a few more minutes, then we can get you back to Winterhaven so you can get some rest." The man interviewing you is Sir Ernest Padraig, Lord of Winterhaven and commander of the ragtag group of soldiers who serve as the town's standing militia. [History (Easy): Success] The influence of House Padraig has waned significantly in the decades since Winterhaven was established, but he's still the closest thing this little corner of the Vale has to a ruling authority. Even if only in name. [Insight (Hard): Failure] Though you can only guess at how he personally feels about the situation. He's a hard man to get a read on. "So, you were hired as a mercenary to guard the merchant caravan." Skimming through the notes he's taken on what you've told him, Lord Padraig glances up at you, eyeing your battle-worn equipment, then back down again. "You're clearly experienced. Remind me why you chose to come all the way out here? It can't have been for the money." A) "Why did you actually come all the way out to the Nentir Vale?" A1) "My mentor, Douven Stand. He sent me a strange letter telling me he found something out here and I haven't heard from him since." A2) "I've been having nightmares for weeks, about a 'shadow over the Vale', and I can't ignore them any more." A3) "Divine guidance. There is an unholy power lurking in the Vale, and I'm here to excise it." A4) "Family. My grandfather's getting on in years, and I'd like to visit him again while I still can." A5) "That's my own business." [Skill Check: Bluff (Moderate)] A6) Write-in. "I see. So you're that kind of traveler." He's staring you down now, evaluating you, and stops just short of saying it out loud. 'Adventurer.' You've heard it said with every possible subtext, from "hero" to "graverobber", but if Lord Padraig were to put it into words, you suspect the translation would be something like 'troublemaker.' B) But you're used to people thinking you're trouble, though, aren't you? B1) I am, but that doesn't make the distrust sting any less. B2) It's fine. My actions will speak for themselves, just give it time. B3) People are going to think what they're going to think. No point stressing about it. B4) Yeah, well, I'm not a huge fan of him, either. B5) That's because he's right. I am trouble. "Moving on. ...well, there's no easy way to ask this, but I need to, so please forgive any offense it might cause." C) "How would you define your race and gender?" C1) "Human male." C2) "Dwarf female." C3) "Half-orc. Female." C4) "Eladrin. Or 'high elf', if you must." (They/them) C5) "Tiefling male. Were you hoping the horns were fake?" C6) Write-in. (DM note: I am open to many possibilities here, though I might advise against picking an overtly monstrous race.) D) "And your... occupation? In your own words." D1) "Mercenary." D2) "Priest." D3) "Scholar." D4) "Guide." D5) "Expert treasure-finder." D6) Write-in E) "Last one. Your full name?" E1) Write-in Open Votes posted:A) "Why did you actually come all the way out to the Nentir Vale?" Prev | Home | Next girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 02:48 on May 24, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:06
|
|
|
A) "Why did you actually come all the way out to the Nentir Vale?" A3) "Divine guidance. There is an unholy power lurking in the Vale, and I'm here to excise it." But not because we are an actual priest, but because we're doing an Inland Empire run where we keep insisting on strange phenomena nobody else believes in or acknowledges. B) But you're used to people thinking you're trouble, though, aren't you? B2) It's fine. My actions will speak for themselves, just give it time. IN THE END I WILL BE PROVEN RIGHT C) "How would you define your race and gender?" C1) "Human male." But we can be anything. It's not a big deal for a wizzard. D) "And your... occupation? In your own words." D6) Write-in: Wizzard (hedge)  E) "Last one. Your full name?" E1) Rattle McGhee Theantero fucked around with this message at 09:46 on May 23, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 08:56
|
|
|
Yeah, that sounds amusing, I'm down. +1 Everything Theantero just said.
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 10:09
|
|
|
A1 B2 C3 D4 Name: Biara Blackstones
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 12:22
|
|
|
A1 - Mentor NPCs mean juicy plot hooks B2 - They'll come around, surely C5 - Tieflings are cool and good and also should provide fun roleplay opportunities D6 - "Combuston specialist." Fire-heavy Sorcerer. E1 - "Robert of Fallcrest. Yes, I know, I'm a Tiefling named 'Bob.' My folks had a sense of humor."
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 12:34
|
|
|
+1 Theantero's delusional idiot
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 14:51
|
|
|
Theantero posted:A) "Why did you actually come all the way out to the Nentir Vale?"
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 14:58
|
|
|
A1 B2 C6: Goliath female D6: Mecenary squad leader. E: Dinea Skysmasher Who doesn't like a big buff warlord? Shinarato fucked around with this message at 17:53 on May 23, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 16:47
|
|
|
Locking this in. I'll get started on the post after I wake up a bit more.
|
|
#
?
May 23, 2022 18:59
|
|
|
Theantero posted:A) "Why did you actually come all the way out to the Nentir Vale?" Hexenritter posted:Yeah, that sounds amusing, I'm down. +1 Everything Theantero just said. Outrail posted:+1 Theantero's delusional idiot "Right, yes, your visions about zombie cultists and a dark wizard." Lord Padraig sounds even less convinced now than he did the first time you told him, but it doesn't bother you. Your auguries were clear. There is a wicked power here, lurking in the shadows and gathering strength, and that power has a name. Kalarel. Soon, you'll discover who, or what, Kalarel is, halt their wicked designs, and drag them out into the light. [Gained Quest: Ominous Signs] "Thank you, Mister McGhee. Now, about the ambush itself. You said you were walking alongside the caravan, stretching your legs, and you saw the attackers coming, with just enough time to warn the other guards." A) "How did you know you were about to be attacked?" A1) "I heard chittering voices and scuttling feet." A2) "Instinct. It was the perfect spot for an ambush." A3) "My familiar spotted them from above." A4) "Small, clawed footprints in the dirt, unlike any normal animal's." A5) "I didn't know they were coming, I just reacted more quickly than everyone else." A6) Write-in "Alright. Then, you shouted your warning, as the attackers... 'sprung out from the underbrush like weeds'." Your words. Not your most poetic, but apt. "I won't ask you to recount the whole battle, but what was the first thing you did?" B) "What was your first response to being ambushed?" B1) "I hurled a bolt of lightning at the first of the creatures I saw." B2) "I cast a curse of fear on the closest group of foes." B3) "I summoned an elemental creature into being from the aether." B4) "My spells are more effective from the front than hiding in the back. I drew my blade and charged in!" B5) Write-in You're very brief in your description of what followed, about how the tide of battle turned against you, as the reptilian creatures swarmed the merchants and guards with equal fervor. Lord Padraig nods, cautiously sympathetic, interrupting occasionally to ask for clarification. C) "And what was the last thing you remember doing, before you lost consciousness?" C1) "I saw a javelin sailing towards one of the merchants, and tried to put myself between it and him." C2) "I used the last of my magic to send up a signal flare, to warn anyone else who might be nearby." C3) "I called down a pillar of flame, to take as many of the creatures as I could down with me." C4) "I attempted a tactical retreat to recompose myself at a more secure position." C5) Write-in "Then you felt a sudden impact, a sharp pain, and lost consciousness. Right. That all lines up with the evidence we found. No new information, but it matches the pattern. Believe it or not, I'd say your near-death experience was fortunate. By the time we arrived, they'd already dragged off all the other survivors. Must've thought you were too far gone to be worth the effort. Damned slavers." [Insight (Moderate): Success] He's frustrated. This isn't his first time hearing this story, and he suspects it won't be the last. "I have more questions I'd like to ask, but I won't push you any harder today. We'll take you back to Winterhaven so you can get some rest." He rises, and offers you a hand up. "Tomorrow, we can discuss next steps, as well as your... future plans for your time here in Winterhaven." -------------- You spend the journey back to Winterhaven sitting in a rickety cart, the only one left not broken or stolen by the raiders, and are taken to the small town's only inn, Wrafton's Rest. Lord Padraig arranges for you to stay the night, free of charge, and you wearily shuffle your way up to your room. What remains of your belongings are already there, which is to say it's a small, cramped room with very little in it but cheap furniture. But, at least it's dark, quiet, and free. There's a small mirror hanging above the lone dresser. You look like every flavor of fresh hell blended together, but it's still you, reflected off of the tarnished silver, but that's still you looking back, alive and in one piece. D)  Yes, the only options are ArtBreeder images I've created, or official WotC art. This isn't because of rights and attribution issues so much as it is to keep me from scouring the entire internet, constantly searching to make sure every image is JUST right. Gods, do you need a bath. Despite the lukewarm water, and the tub you barely fit into, it's still the most pleasant experience you've had in several days, and by the time you finally crawl back out, you're all but falling asleep standing up. Your grand fate, whatever it is, will have to wait for tomorrow. Open Votes posted:A) "How did you know you were about to be attacked?" Prev | Home | Next girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 01:41 on May 25, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 02:47
|
|
|
A3 B2 C2 D:AB2
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 03:02
|
|
|
A1 B2 C3 WOTC2
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 03:13
|
|
|
A1, B3, C2. WotC4
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 03:21
|
|
|
A5 B3 C3 AB4
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 04:12
|
|
|
A1) "I heard chittering voices and scuttling feet." B5) Write-in "I went to the back of the caravan. To ensure the children were safe, not because I was hiding, obviously. C4) "I attempted a tactical retreat to recompose myself at a more secure position." No preference on appearance but in my head he looks like the Ancient Aliens guy.
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 04:39
|
|
|
I can pull the info I need out of the broad consensus we have so far on the tone of the answers to the first three questions, but appearance is a bit more definitive than that, and I don't want to just decide arbitrarily. If something doesn't take a surprise runaway lead in time for me to start writing tomorrow, I'll probably keep that option going into the votes for the next update as well.
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 05:55
|
|
|
A3 B2 C2 D:AB2
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 06:17
|
|
|
Out of the options AB2 looks like the biggest crackpot so I'll vote for that.
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 15:00
|
|
|
A) "How did you know you were about to be attacked?" A2) "Instinct. It was the perfect spot for an ambush." Gotta go all in on my own gimmick  B) "What was your first response to being ambushed?" B3) "I summoned an elemental creature into being from the aether." Void Wraiths C) "And what was the last thing you remember doing, before you lost consciousness?" C3) "I called down a pillar of flame, to take as many of the creatures as I could down with me." Cool. D) AB2
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 17:48
|
|
|
Locking in.
|
|
#
?
May 24, 2022 21:37
|
|
|
An aggregate of various responses into a single coherent whole posted:A) "How did you know you were about to be attacked?" You are Rattle McGhee, a Hedge Wizard with a specialty in curses and illusions. Further details can be found in the Character Sheet. --------- It's amazing what a good night's sleep can do. When morning comes, you find that a new set of clothes has been left out for you outside the door to your room, along with a shaving kit, a hairbrush, and a note stating that Lord Padraig will be waiting for you downstairs when you're ready, and to 'please make yourself presentable for His Lordship.' [Perception (Easy): Success] They're all of common make, but new. Purchased recently. [Insight (Moderate): Success] Passive-aggressive kindness is still kindness. After getting changed, you make your way downstairs, following the scent of food and mild social obligation. As expected, Lord Padraig is sitting at a corner table, drinking beer while he waits for your arrival. There are two others with him that you don't recognize, and he looks up from his conversation with them as you approach. "Ah, Mister McGhee, there you are. Good morrow." He motions for you to sit across from him, where a simple breakfast has already been laid out for you. "Come, eat. Business shouldn't be discussed on an empty stomach." Sitting next to Lord Padraig, is a younger man who gives a short nod as you join them. He is introduced to you as Savaris Padraig, the Lord's firstborn son, and the resemblance is striking, so long as you ignore the latter's long, swept-back horns and rust-red skin. [Insight (Hard): Failure] And he's just as difficult to get a read on as his father, too, watching you with a steady, implacable expression. You quickly gather during the conversation that the the other individual is the innkeeper of Wrafton's Rest, the eponymous Salvana Wrafton, who returns to your table much more frequently than the few others that are currently occupied. [Perception (Moderate): Success] Or, more accurately, Lord Padraig's table. She isn't as subtle about stealing glances at him as she thinks she is. ---------- "Now, as for why I called you here." Once you've finished your breakfast, Lord Padraig quickly turns the conversation towards the subject he brought up yesterday, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Your caravan is not the first to have been attacked by those slavers. Nor will it be the last. My scouts have tracked them back to a cave in the hills southeast of here, but my militia has neither the will nor the manpower to assault the den on their own. Savaris has stated his intention to deal with the problem himself, but I'm sure you can understand why I am... hesitant to allow my son to engage in such a venture on his own." Savaris has still said very little himself, but nods to confirm that what his father is saying is true. "I would like you to join him. If you can disrupt their operation, more's the better, but your priority will be keeping yourself and my son alive. I am prepared to provide all the supplies you will need for your journey, as well as a sum total of a hundred stars, half now, and half upon his safe return." [Religion (Moderate): Success] Erastil's Stars, a kind of silver coin. They're backed by the church of Erastil, goddess of law and civilization, rather than a specific country or crown. [Streetwise (Easy): Success] They're the preferred form of currency for merchants and travelers, and it wouldn't be your first time being paid this way. "If you accept, you will be leaving first thing tomorrow." A) How do you respond? (Choose up to 3.) A1) Ask about the slavers' connection to Kalarel and the cult of undead. A2) Inquire about and share your knowledge of the slavers themselves. A3) Ask about the surrounding area, and how they found the lair. A4) Request more personal gear. A5) Haggle for a higher monetary payment. A6) Delicately ask about Savaris's appearance and abilities. A7) Write-in Prev | Home | Next girl dick energy fucked around with this message at 03:57 on May 25, 2022 |
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 01:40
|
|
|
A1, A2, A3
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 01:52
|
|
|
A1,2,3 Also I feel like we have no prejudice against tieflings, so we're unfazed by handsome mchornypants' appearance
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 02:02
|
|
|
A4 A5
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 02:04
|
|
|
A1 3 4
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 02:12
|
|
|
Slaan posted:A1 3 4 Same
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 04:32
|
|
|
A1 2 3 With our superior wit and experience in the dark art of illusion and curses it's obvious the son has put these people under his spell. Let's not tip our hand just yet, we don't know what his game is, and it might not be related to the attacks (although it probably is).
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 05:31
|
|
|
That's A1 and A3 pretty much confirmed. Next vote between A2 and A4 cinches it.
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 05:52
|
|
|
Hexenritter posted:A1,2,3 This
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 06:01
|
|
|
A1, A2, A3 it is!
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 06:02
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 10, 2024 05:24 |
|
|
Outrail posted:With our superior wit and experience in the dark art of illusion and curses it's obvious the son has put these people under his spell. Let's not tip our hand just yet, we don't know what his game is, and it might not be related to the attacks (although it probably is). Yes! We knew something devilish was afoot!
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2022 17:47
|
|