Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Continue

Start the Sci-Fi RTD

[V-Norrec]

All credit goes to Irony as it was originally his idea so don't give me the accolades for anything but being willing to run this.

Spoiler: Shameless CopyPasta (click to show/hide)

Players take the role of various horrors of the night in a quest to bring about their own twisted vision of the future. Various factions and individuals (vampire hunters, King's Guard, sorcerer's cabal) might oppose the PCs, others (obsessed researcher, smuggler's ring, different sorcerer's cabal) might be working with or against anyone depending on what's in it for them, and some (revenge-obsessed madman, demonic cult, third sorcerer's cabal) might wholly approve of and aid/serve the PCs. Setting could be anything, though I'd prefer medievalish myself. Might work especially well with steampunk, if you'd prefer.

The game would have a number of goals. In overarching terms, of course, the PCs all want to enact their visions of paradise- for vampires that might include blotting out the sun, demons might want hellish torture camps everywhere, and tentacles abominations from beyond the stars might just want to summon a piece of sanity-cracking home into the sky. Whatever their specific plans, it should probably be accomplished via the use of fairly standardized rituals, so as not to disadvantage those with more ambitious or impractical plans. Cracking the boundary between two worlds is a good default method, since it allows the change to be gradual but difficult to reverse, as opposed to "Hello you all serve vampires now" or "Some areas are controlled by ravening demons but them and the human regions aren't really fighting."

Needless to say, the closer the PCs get to their goals, the more hellish the world (or at least region) becomes, and the more parties become interested (or outright desperate) to stop them (or maybe get on their good side). There's also the issue of conflicting visions- PCs will have to decide if they're simply going to share the world, or decide who gets to achieve what through different means.

Beyond that, there's the difficulties with operating among those who are clearly not the PCs own kind, and satisfying whatever unusual dietary and perhaps recreational requirements they might have without arousing too much suspicion. A vampire needs to eat, and a demon might have to torture people to death for no apparent reason. Hiding these incidents from anyone who might object to them might be a project in its own right.

That is the post that inspired me and the following rules/char sheet will be based off of that.

Spoiler: World (click to show/hide)

There are 6 regions in the world (called Valoron). 

The Dread Isles lie to the far north and are filled to the brim with sentient undead that don't take kindly to trespassers.  It also constantly winter there so expect snow and darkness, both in large quanities.

The Plains of Ostar are in the Northern Section of the Main Continent.  This land is dominated by humans and their Lawful Good religion.

To the West of the Main Continent is the Desert of the Makers.  Various animal-people live here as it is the only place they are welcome.

In the Center of the Continent are the Urist Mountains.  This area is dominated by rogue wizards who have set up towers among the peaks and Dwarves who live inside of the great mountains.

The Marshes of the Wild are in the East and have recently been vacated by the Animal People after a coalition of Elves, Dwarves and Men attacked.  The Elves, Dwarves, and Men are now arguing over who controls what portions of the Marsh.

The Unseen Forests lie at the far southern end of the main continent.  It is dominated by elves who revere nature.  Damn hippie elves.

Spoiler: Horror Types (click to show/hide)

The Player can be one of three types of Horrors that have pros and cons as listed here.

Vampires, Pro:  Never need to sleep and dramatically faster and stronger at night (i.e. can do actions outside of normal possibility, not a roll bonus)  Con:  Must feed at least once per day on a living creature or gain 25% hunger.  At 100% hunger you die.  At 50% hunger you can no longer pass off as human and thus are shunned by all mortals but revered by the undead.

Demons, Pro:  Worshipped by dark sects scattered throughout the land.  Various mutations give special abilities.  Mutations are gained as you feast on the souls of the innocent.  Con:  Instantly recognizable as a demon unless magically altered.  Mutations are gained from not feeding as well, and those will not be beneficial.

Abominations, Pro:  Can assume the form of a mortal or your true form at any time.  Can manipulate the thoughts of others.  Con:  Must drive at least one person insane per  two days or risk being thrown back into the plane you came from.  Manipulating the thoughts of others requires you to take your true form.

Spoiler: Rules (click to show/hide)

Rule #1:  Under no circumstances may any player ever learn magic.  If you want to use magic you better get a Wizard/Lich on your side right quick.
Rule #2:  Working together can be very beneficial, but it is never required.
Rule #3:  You will receive two (2) actions per turn, use them wisely as I'll only take the first two.  Talking is considered a free action and is an auto-success.  Persuasion and Diplomacy are not considered talking.
Rule #4:  Wizard/Lich spells will be rolled and count as one of the actions for your character, even if the Wizard/Lich isn't even remotely close to you at the time or in need of your assistance.
Rule #5:  The Dice will be rolled here at my house and will have the following meanings out of combat:  [1]:  Epic Failure,  [2]:  Failure, [3]:  Half Failure Half Success, [4]:  Success, [5]:  Epic Success, [6]:  Like a boss Success.
Rule #6:  Combat rolls will mean the following:  [1]:  Terrible Miss, [2]:  Miss, [3]: Glancing Hit (1/2 damage), [4]:  Hit, [5]:  Critical Hit (double damage), [6] Dodge
Rule #7:  All characters will have 25 health, unless strengthened by a ritual strengthening their bond to this world (or in the case of vampires just making them more powerful) that costs 5,000 gold pieces in order to gain 5 health.  The ritual can be performed five times, or up to 50 health.
Rule #8:  All bonuses are hard capped at + or - 3 for combat and + or - 1 for non-combat rolls.
Rule #9:  All damage will be ([1d6] + your bonus, - enemy bonus) x hit type (glancing, normal, or critical)
Rule #10:  Battles between large numbers of NPC's (20 or more on both sides) will be decided as such.  Both sides will roll 1d100 (or 2d10 for those of you who know how the DnD percentile rolls work)  Modifiers for things such as preparedness, size, quality of troops, and quality of arms will then be added.  The lower result will then be divided by the higher result in order to determine the percentage of troops remaining.  The winning side will lose troops equal to the difference between the two scores.((For example, 100 unarmed snake men attack 100 unarmed dwarves.  The dwarves roll an 80, the snake men roll a 76.  There are no modifiers in this example since the troops are equal in strength and equipment.  The snake men lose 5% of their forces or 5 people, the dwarves lose 4 people.))

Spoiler: Character Sheet (click to show/hide)

Name: 
Gender: 
Horror Type: 
Appearance: 
Background: 
Starting Region: 
Ultimate Goal:  This can be changed later in order to coincide with the other horrors (who don't necessarily have to be of your type).  If it is to easy, it will automatically default to: Rule 4 regions.
Inventory:  Clothes, one weapon.

For the start I think I'm going to limit it to two horrors of each type, that way we at least start off nice and well rounded.  Irony gets choice of whatever horror he wants to be, sorry if that kicks anyone out of their preferred horror types but I made a promise and I have to keep it.

Once I get an idea of how this is going to play out I'll make a more detailed first post so you have plenty to work with when you get started.

[KaguroDraven]

Would it be possible to be Pestilance as a Demon?

[adwarf]

RESERVE SO MUCH

EDIT: Can't I be an imp?

DOUBLE EDIT:
Name:  Hellbringer
Gender:  Male
Horror Type:  Demon
Appearance:  2 Horns, Flaming Hair, Blood Red Eyes, 8 Ft 9 In, Small Claws, and Tail
Background:  Hellbringer is the son of a former demon lord, and a succubus. His mother was killed by another demon lord, and his father died sacrificing himself to kill the man who slayed his wife. Every since then Hellbringer had fled to Dread Isle with his father's sword Asgard here he would create his army to help him become the King Of all Demons.
Starting Region:  Dread Isle
Ultimate Goal:  Become the King Of All Demons
Inventory: Gold Plated Robes, and a large two handed one sided sword. Blood red, and with a crystal embedded in the hilt.

[V-Norrec]

Spoiler: IronyOwl (click to show/hide)

Name: Makavai
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Vampire
Appearance: When fully fed and attempting to pass as human, a handsome man with pale skin and stark white hair and eyes. When hungry, much the same but with obvious fangs, a larger jaw, glowing red eyes, and inhumanly long fingers.
Background: Long ago, Makavai was a ruthless nobleman- strong, agile, handsome, cunning, and lacking any shred of sympathy or remorse. He successfully brought ruin to many in his rise to power, but his ambition knew no bounds. Always he sought to climb higher, and always there was a mountain of corpses to aid him.
  Unfortunately, one of those ruined by his ruthless scheming happened to be a vampiress. She fell madly in love with him as a result, and expressed her love the only way she knew how. Cunning though he was, Makavai was far, far too hated by far, far too many people to be able to sustain such a grisly new secret, and was soon found out by those who would stop at nothing to see him ruined. He fled to the wilderness, swearing the bloodiest vengeance upon all who had dared cross him.
  Innumerable butchered travelers later, Makavai's rage and bloodlust has subsided, and his old memories have returned. He doesn't remember how long it's been, where he used to live, or whatever happened to his paramour, and he doesn't care. What he remembers is that he is destined to rule the world, and the time has come for him to stop massacring villagers in the middle of nowhere and seize his mantle.
Starting Region: The Dread Isles
Ultimate Goal:  Gain complete dominion over the sun and all who dwell beneath it.
Inventory:  Clothes, Rapier

Spoiler: Riccto (click to show/hide)

Name:  Rasputin Ava
Gender:  Male
Horror Type:  Vampire
Appearance:  He often choses to take the form of a wealthy nobleman of a moderate build, wearing rich clothing and various forms of jewelery , The true noteworthy detail is the golden eyes and gem laden teeth seen when he (Often) smiles.
Background:  The third son of a Nobleman of no great repute he was forced to join a monastic order but he had spited them from the begining. He hated the vows he was forced to take, especially those of celibacy and poverty. Through a series of (self-inflected) events he put in motion his becoming a vampire. Only to put his plan to action
Starting Region:  Marshes of the Wild
Ultimate Goal:  To Surround himself with the ultimate riches and bring about a time of consumption and wild avarice.  ((Must control at least two regions))
Inventory: Noble Clothing, Rapier

Spoiler: KaguroDraven (click to show/hide)

Name: Pestilance
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Demon
Appearance: A thin sickly looking man with blond hair tied back in a ponytail. Bright green eyes, sharp features to his face, and pale skin. He dresses well and carries a cane.
Background: One of the four horsemen, he is the bringer of disease, plague, and infestations.
Starting Region: The Plains of Ostar
Ultimate Goal:  Awaken his three brothers one by one and bring about the end of the world
Inventory: Rich Merchant clothing, Canesword(sword hidden in a cane).

Spoiler: adwarf (click to show/hide)

Name:  Hellbringer
Gender:  Male
Horror Type:  Demon
Appearance:  2 Horns, Flaming Hair, Blood Red Eyes, 8 Ft 9 In, Small Claws, and Tail
Background:  Hellbringer is the son of a former demon lord, and a succubus. His mother was killed by another demon lord, and his father died sacrificing himself to kill the man who slayed his wife. Every since then Hellbringer had fled to Dread Isle with his father's sword Asgard here he would create his army to help him become the King Of all Demons.
Starting Region:  Dread Isle
Ultimate Goal:  Become the King Of All Demons
Inventory: Dyed golden robes, and a large two handed one sided sword. Blood red, and with a crystal embedded in the hilt.

Spoiler: Tarran (click to show/hide)

Name: Tarran.
Gender: Male?
Horror Type: Abomination.
Appearance: Lots of ey-OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT. (AKA it doesn't matter because people's minds will melt).  ((Or maybe this?))
Background: Countless years old, Tarran is one of the Elder Gods' sons. Not much is known about him, but that he's relatively tame and is more Lawful Evil and less Chaotic Evil. He seeks to own the realm of the Elder Gods, through whatever means necessary. He doesn't care about much else.
Starting Region: The Plains of Ostar.
Ultimate Goal:  Rule the planes of the Elder Gods, and at least one region.
Inventory:  Clothes, Longsword.

Spoiler: SeriousConcentrate (click to show/hide)

Name: Tekrushar, So-zar, Shuakegu, Tel'ars, The Screaming One, The Shambling Dreamer, The Voice Which Must Not Be Heard
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Abomination
Appearance: As a human, Tekrushar appears to be a normal looking man, 5'10, 200 pounds. A bit chubby but not exactly fat, one might say. He has long black hair touching his shoulders and brown eyes. But if seen out of the corner of your eyes, he appears wrong; his eyes and mouth are black hollow voids, and his body appears to be patched here and there with thin purple veins and rotting yellow flesh. If his shadow is stared at for too long, one can almost see shapes waver and break away from the main mass, slithering towards all nearby forms of life such as grass and animals while shaking back and forth like tentacles and making desperate lunges as if to devour whatever they can. Even when looked at directly, sometimes he appears to shimmer like a mirage as he moves. Just viewing him gives one a sense of dread, discomfort, unease. In his true form, The Screaming One most resembles a horrific giant mass of yellow flesh, eyes bleeding a viscous purple fluid, and fanged mouths, both dragging itself along and capturing prey with a multitude of black tongues, shrieking in Brown Notes and emitting a thick smoky fog behind it as it moves. In human guise Shuakegu always speaks with hollow, rasped, lifeless tones that seem to echo endlessly yet are just barely within hearing, and is generally smoking a cigarette.
Background: Where does an eldritch lord come from? Who can say how long one has lived? All anyone can say for certain is that this beast has haunted the nightmares of holy men for time untold...
Starting Region: Unseen Forests
Ultimate Goal: Devour all living creatures, from the smallest of worms to the sentient races to the great beasts and follow horrors themselves.
Inventory: Tel'ars, as a human, generally prefers appearing in the most modest clothes befitting the region he's in so as not to stand out. He usually carries a halberd since its versatile and practical.

Waiting List:  N/A

[V-Norrec]

You can be whatever you want, however for the purpose of consistency you must choose a horror type for it to fall under.

[KaguroDraven]

Name: Pestilance
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Demon
Appearance: A thin sickly looking man with blond hair tied back in a ponytail. Bright green eyes, sharp features to his face, and pale skin. He dresses well and carries a cane.
Background: One of the four horsemen, he is the bringer of disease, plague, and infestations.
Starting Region: The Plains of Ostar
Ultimate Goal:  Awaken his three brothers one by one and bring about the end of the world
Inventory: Rich Merchant clothing, Canesword(sword hidden in a cane).

[Tarran]

Name: Tarran.
Gender: Male?
Horror Type: Abomination.
Appearance: Lots of ey-OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT. (AKA it doesn't matter because people's minds will melt).
Background: Countless years old, Tarran is one of the Elder Gods' sons. Not much is known about him, but that he's relatively tame and is more Lawful Evil and less Chaotic Evil. He seeks to own the realm of the Elder Gods, through whatever means necessary. He doesn't care about much else.
Starting Region: The Plains of Ostar.
Ultimate Goal:  Rule the planes of the Elder Gods, and at least one region.
Inventory:  Clothes, Longsword.

Does that work?

Edit: Does that work?

[V-Norrec]

Name: Pestilance
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Demon
Appearance: A thin sickly looking man with blond hair tied back in a ponytail. Bright green eyes, sharp features to his face, and pale skin. He dresses well and carries a cane.
Background: One of the four horsemen, he is the bringer of disease, plague, and infestations.
Starting Region: The Plains of Ostar
Ultimate Goal:  Awaken his three brothers one by one and bring about the end of the world
Inventory: Rich Merchant clothing, Canesword(sword hidden in a cane).

You realize due to horror choice everyone will recognize you instantly and such right?

Also only 2 demons 2 abominations and 2 vampires at the start, sorry.  I want this to be balanced at the start.

[KaguroDraven]

Well neither Abomination nor Vampire fit the character, only Demon does.

[adwarf]

Sorry Tarran I got the first Demon.

[Tarran]

Curse you and your ninja edit. >_>

Hold on. Editing my sheet.

[V-Norrec]

Well neither Abomination nor Vampire fit the character, only Demon does.

As long as you know your appearance won't get you treated any different.

[IronyOwl]

Name: Makavai
Gender: Male
Horror Type: Vampire
Appearance: When fully fed and attempting to pass as human, a handsome man with pale skin and stark white hair and eyes. When hungry, much the same but with obvious fangs, a larger jaw, glowing red eyes, and inhumanly long fingers.
Background: Long ago, Makavai was a ruthless nobleman- strong, agile, handsome, cunning, and lacking any shred of sympathy or remorse. He successfully brought ruin to many in his rise to power, but his ambition knew no bounds. Always he sought to climb higher, and always there was a mountain of corpses to aid him.
  Unfortunately, one of those ruined by his ruthless scheming happened to be a vampiress. She fell madly in love with him as a result, and expressed her love the only way she knew how. Cunning though he was, Makavai was far, far too hated by far, far too many people to be able to sustain such a grisly new secret, and was soon found out by those who would stop at nothing to see him ruined. He fled to the wilderness, swearing the bloodiest vengeance upon all who had dared cross him.
  Innumerable butchered travelers later, Makavai's rage and bloodlust has subsided, and his old memories have returned. He doesn't remember how long it's been, where he used to live, or whatever happened to his paramour, and he doesn't care. What he remembers is that he is destined to rule the world, and the time has come for him to stop massacring villagers in the middle of nowhere and seize his mantle.
Starting Region: The Dread Isles
Ultimate Goal:  Gain complete dominion over the sun and all who dwell beneath it.
Inventory:  Clothes, Rapier

Does feeding on mortals kill them?

[KaguroDraven]

Well neither Abomination nor Vampire fit the character, only Demon does.

As long as you know your appearance won't get you treated any different.

I'm fine with that, it's just someting I feel would suit Pestilance anyway, besides he's likely followed around by a horde of insects and spreds disease to what he touches, kinda obvious what he is.

[Tarran]

Hold on. Editing my sheet.

Done. Is it alright?