Dogs of Direhold (Dice)

[Apple Thief]

"Enlist! Enlist! Enlist!"

Fall in, countrymen! The world needs you!
Join the Dogs of Direhold today!​

Brief Summary of the RP
Players are volunteer defenders in the enchanted fortress of Direhold. This mysterious stronghold was created eons ago to combat outsider threats from other realities. Now that a tear in the Astral Plane has formed, a collection of nations has pooled together resources to defend against a growing horde that is rampaging across the stars. While there is a plot here, you are free to do as you please once you're in the game. The dice run the game, I'm just here to move the players along.

There will be a rules lite dice system in place that will determine if you succeed or fail at slaying your foes. This system is also tied to a simple leveling scheme that will allow players to grow powerful without limits and stay relevant in combat regardless of playstyle. Combat is decided by placing characters and enemies in a Battle Order; the armor you wear will decide your placement and the weapon you wield will decide who you can strike. Play whatever way you like because there are NPCs who will fill in the gaps of your party so that you don't have to delegate vital roles between the players.

ATTENTION: This thread is currently for friends only. I'll definitely communicate if you message me about being interested in joining, but you'll be put on the bench until I feel comfortable enough running the thread that I can open up to new applications. I'm looking to run with strangers at some point, so don't lose heart! I just haven't run a RP in years and I want to start with a control group.

ATTENTION 2: Please write at least 1-3 paragraphs per post! It's really hard to work with less and nobody likes a wall of text to describe something that doesn't need a wall of text!

Table of Contents
Summary & Table of Contents
~~Introduction to the Setting~~
The Leveling System
OOC Channel
Character Sheets​

​

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"​

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​

​

 

[Apple Thief]

"Enlist! Enlist! Enlist!"

The Dogs of Direhold are defending the realm!
What are you doing to help?​

"Ah, you look like a potential volunteer!"
"You'd better not be another panhandler, I swear to Gods--"​

"Dogs of Direhold? Enlist? What's going on here?!"

"Lend us your chisels and spears, countryman-- the real enemy lies beyond the stars! Recent breakthroughs within the Arcane Colleges have allowed us to travel to the furthest point in existence: the Astral Plane! The first expedition revealed shocking historical finds; the enchanted fortress of Direhold has been uncovered and there's confirmation that life beyond our reality exists!"

And ehh... ermm... there's a tear in the Astral Plane and it turns out the life beyond our reality is trying to invade our reality and destroy us all.​

"Wait... what was that last part?"

"That's right, we found a valuable slice of history! Scholars everywhere are rejoicing over groundbreaking finds from ages long since forgotten. The secrets of our ancestors will surely be a boon to our studies and bring us into an age of peace and prosperity!"

"No, no-- I meant after that."

"What? Oh! Riiiight haha, of course you did...

Bet you could hear a pidgeon shit a mile away, too.​

So, magic is really strong and sometimes when you're on the verge of a great discovery (like rediscovering the Astral Plane) and it's not an exact science (like baking), you can accidentally punch a hole in reality (woops) by overdoing a really big spell. These are the sorts of dangers that accompany new and experimental forms of magic. We're, uhh... sorry about that. Sorry."

"Okay, but you mentioned an invasion earlier...?"

"While the evidence to support this is being verified, ancient records collected during the reclamation process suggest that Direhold was created to combat outsider threats eons ago. The following pages describe the Astral Plane as being an artificially created membrane surrounding our reality and then lightly glosses over Direhold's defences."

...the writing is blurry, something along the lines of gigantic soldiers and lasers or something? What's a laser-?!​

"Protection? From what?"

"The scrolls also warned of an existence wide extinction event that wiped out nearly all life; our realms were shielded through the existence of the Astral Plane which absorbed all of the damage. The greatest concern here is not the loss of life, but the loss of sustenance for the lifeless. Without a stable source from which to derive prayers and sacrifices, a countless number of gods and godlike entities within the affected realities underwent one of two possible changes:

A) Changing to an inert state until mortal races return and they are born again, which was the most common scenario outlined in the texts.

OR​

(And keep in mind, this second option is almost statistically impossible.)

B) Reverting to a more wild and primitive state before hunting down life to ravenously consume for the sake of self preservation. Of course, this scenario requires a complex number of variables in order to happen, so it's wildly unlikely to occur."​

"Oh, so I shouldn't worry about this--"

"Welllllllllll.... there are technically an infinite number of realities and that means an infinite number of dead gods rampaging across the void between worlds. Of course, we have an impenetrable layer that separates us from all of that nasty business..."

Well, like 99.9% impenetrable...​

"Ahem, anyways."

"While they cannot fit through the tear in the Astral Plane, their minions can and will attempt to create a better opening for their masters to get through. But fear not--that would take a lot of magic and explosives and minions to happen, so we would pretty much have to be doing nothing for things to go that far. Aside from that, we are also prepared to meet travelers who aren't necessarily trying to fight us. While I encourage a peaceful solution, just remember that anyone or anything walking in through the tear is after our resources, so judge accordingly.

Even with the odds on our side, the new collective of nations (we're calling it the Great Union from now on) has elected a council of their wisest members to represent our interests as a whole. The very first thing they outlined was the creation of a mutually funded company of elite soldiers and craftsmen to defend the tear. We call this organization..."

Here it comes...​

"The Dogs of Direhold!"​

"Okay, this is making more sense now. Where do I fit in?"

"The Great Union is very young and enacting something drastic like a draft could lead to large-scale revolts. In order to have our cake and eat it too, we have to meet our new citizens in the middle and ask for volunteers. We need the support of the people to run a nation, even at a time when the world needs immediate saving.

Of course, you wouldn't be saving all life as we know it for free-- Great Union is offering an incredibly generous salary plus benefits, to include new concepts such as having "time off", "dental", "adequate housing", and "overtime pay". I know it might be difficult to leave your hovel and that shady job you do in dark alleyways just to get a scrap of bread, but please consider our offer."

"K. Anything else I should know?"

"While our respective nations will be supplying highly trained troops to maintain a garrison at Direhold, they do not technically belong to the Dogs; the elite unit outlined is actually a collection of the greatest talent the land has to offer and will work independently of the armed forces backing them up. Some of the best out there are people who don't like to take orders or answer to authority, so we will not be forcing anyone to dress a certain way or even to fight as a cohesive unit.

To add onto that last part, anyone that joins will immediately be granted citizenship across all nations within the Great Union and have any and all criminal records expunged, to include death row sentences, excommunication, and lastly, crimes of a cosmic nature."

Table of Contents
Summary & Table of Contents
~~Introduction to the Setting~~
The Leveling System
OOC Channel
Character Sheets​

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"​

 

[Apple Thief]

"Enlist! Enlist! Enlist!"

If you can carry a weapon, will you fight for freedom?
We must protect the future!​

So, you're probably wondering how the dice mechanics work...
(Or maybe you just like the pictures, I don't judge ¯\_(?)_/¯ )​

Roleplaying is fun, but the temptation of godmodding is incredibly strong and it's not even something we consciously try to do; it's natural to pull your punches when your character gets hurt (or for people on the flip side, do way too much damage.) It's not always easy to determine how many people get killed or if we're being realistic enough since roleplaying is entirely imagination based. Instead of relying on our natural instincts to determine these things, I believe that a rules lite dice system can eliminate godmodding without cutting into your creativity.

Below is a series of tabs that will cover the technical jibber jabber of how the dice system will work, so be sure to read through them before you move on to creating your character in the other thread.

• Stats, Progression, & Loadouts
• Weapons, Armor, & Magic
• Combat, Battle Orders, & Dying

• 
  

  Leveling Summary

  Every time you survive a battle, you gain a level up. This also means that you can gain levels by being defeated in battle and surviving, so even a loser will eventually become strong. Every level up nets you 1d4 points for each attribute as well as the opportunity to roll 1d10 on a stat of your choice. Every attribute point you gain will help you in a number of ways; HP and DEF make you harder to kill, ATK and MGC give your attacks more damage, and SPD allows you to take multiple turns within a round.
  
  On top of stats at every level, you have the ability to dip into class passives that further customize the way your character fights his battles. Each class has three passives and each passive can be upgraded three times. You start off with a Passive Point at level 1 and gain one every ten levels. Just remember that there's a unique passive cap of 5 passives and around the mid 100s you'll finally stop getting points you can put into passives. At that point your character is a veteran and simply gains stats for a while until they hit the cap of level 300.

  Base Stats, Combat Stats, and Leveling Up

  
  Base Stats represent the sum of all of your character's strengths and talents in their rawest form while the Combat Stats will have all of the relevant numbers needed to make combat move smoothly. When you first create your character, you're going to roll as if your character just leveled up. Below are all of the stats and what they represent:
  
  

  (LVL) Level: WHAT'S HIS POWER LEVEL NAPPA
  (HP) Hitpoints: This is your life in numbers. 0 = ded
  (AHP) Armor: AHP takes damage before HP does. Does not repair outside of Direhold.
  (ATK) Attack: This is the flat number you add to your weapon damage rolls.
  (DEF) Defence: This stat shaves off damage. Applies only to HP damage.
  (MGC) Magic: The MGC stat powers and resists magic attacks.
  (SPD) Speed: This is the number of actions you can perform in a round after the default single turn.
  
  (HP) Hitpoints: +1 Point = +2 HP
  (ATK) Attack: +5 points = +1 ATK
  (DEF) Defence: +10 points = +1 DEF
  (MGC) Magic: +20 points = +1 MGC
  (SPD) Speed: +50 points = +1 SPD
  (---) Armor: Armor hit points
  (---) Weapon: Equation

  
  
  
  
  Please note that all you need are the abbreviations of each stat and you are free to name the rest whatever you like. Whenever a weapon or armor affects your stats, your base stats will be referred to as B-Stats or C-Stats, respectively, or just called by the full or short name of the stat. This is an example of how your stats may look in the right/left sidebar of your posts.
  
  

  (LVL) Level: 5
  (HP) Dedication: 18
  (ATK) Mantis Sword Technique: 20
  (DEF) Uncanny Reflex: 16
  (MGC) Lotus Spirit: 22
  (SPD) Coffee: 16
  (MAR) Scale Hauberk: Medium
  (2HW) Runic Great Maul: Two-Handed Hammer
  
  HP: 54/54
  ATK: +4
  DEF: -3
  MGC: +4
  SPD: 1
  MAR: 40/40
  2HW: 1d8 + 4
  
  OR
  
  HP: 18 (36/36)
  ATK: 20 (+4)
  DEF: 16 (-3)
  MGC: 22 (+4)
  SPD: 16 (0)
  MAR: 40/40
  2HW: (1d8 + 4)
  
  

  
  

  Loadouts & Actions

  
  You'll notice in the coming sections that certain items take up loadouts, item slots, full actions, free actions, or nothing at all. Just to clear up any confusion, here's a small explanation of these terms:
  
  Loadout: A Loadout is comprised of two item slots which is just another way of saying what you can hold in your two hands. A sword and a shield is a loadout, a two-handed hammer is a loadout, and an entire tower shield is a loadout. You can swap between loadouts without taking up any actions, but you can only attack with both if you have at least one SPD (or 50 Speed).
  
  Item Slots: Like mentioned above, whatever you can hold in your hand is an Item Slot but not all items will take up an Item Slot. Consumables don't take up item slots and neither do short bows, but something like a hammer or a sword will. The weapon descriptions will explain what items take up what slots, so be sure to read that carefully.
  
  Full Action: This is an action that takes up an entire turn. Things like attacking or using an active class ability will take up a Full Action.
  
  Free Action: Basically a freeby action. Some spells or abilities are Free Actions, so be sure to abuse them when you have the chance.
  
  Turn: A turn is a Full Action's worth of time. If you have, say... 50 Speed (or +1 SPD), you have two turns inside of a round of combat to act. That's two sword slashes right there.
  
  Round: A round of combat is when your entire side of the Battle Order takes their turn(s). A battle is comprised of many rounds and rounds are comprised of many turns.
  

  
  
• 
  

  Melee Weapons

  
  Ever since man invented the pointy stick, he has expanded his knowledge of warfare and created so many kinds of pointy, stabby things; the long pointy stabbies, the short bladed pointy stabbies, and even the giant fan shaped bladed stabby slashy cutty. The marvel of man's progress into melee combat is staggering indeed!(Kudos to the guy that came up with better names for each weapon, you're the best.)
  
  

  

  Two-Handed Weapons (2HW)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D8 + ATK)
  Special:Two Item Slots. Cleave the two targets behind the first for 1/2 damage rounded up. You cannot strike the Middle with Cleave!
  
  

  

  Polearms (POL)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D8 + ATK)
  Special:Two Item Slots. Polearms Impale the first target as well as the man behind him for full damage and ignoring the DEF stat.
  
  

  

  One-Handed Weapons (1HW)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D6 + ATK)
  Special:One Item Slot. These can be paired with a lot of other weapons. It's one of the only ways to have a shield, a wand, a crossbow, or another sword in your other hand! By itself, it does not have anything special it can do.
  
  

  

  Dual Wielding (1H/1H)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(2D6 + 2 x ATK)
  Special:Two Item Slots. Dual Wielding gives you double the attacks! You can hit one target with both or two different ones.
  
  

  

  Martial Arts (FST)
  Range:Front (1st Enemy Only)
  Damage:(2D4 + ATK)/(2D4 + ATK) X 2
  Special:No Item Slots. Martial Artists fight unarmed or with light weapons, allowing them to strike quickly. If you are Unarmed as well as Unarmored, you double the die you roll.

  Ranged Weapons

  
  Did man's knowledge warfare stop at pointy stabbies you had to hold? No! He invented a way to fire them at the enemy! Wood stabbies! Metal stabbies! Maybe even... small, round metal stabbies! Handheld stabbies that were made to be thrown stabbies! Amazing!
  
  

  

  Short Bow (SBO)
  Range:Front - Middle
  Damage:(1D4 + ATK)
  Special:No Item Slots, but it requires two hands to use.
  
  

  

  Long Bow (LBO)
  Range:Middle - Back
  Damage:(1D6 + ATK)
  Special:Two item Slots. It's the only weapon outside of magic that can hit the very back of an army.
  
  

  

  Hand Crossbow (HCB)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D6 + ATK)
  Special:One Item Slot. The Hand Crossbow is strong and can even be Dual Wielded for excellent damage!
  
  

  

  Crossbow (CBO)
  Range:Front - Middle
  Damage:(1D8 + ATK)
  Special:Two Item Slots. The crossbow ignores the DEF stat.
  
  

  

  Throwing Weapons (TWP)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D6 + ATK)
  Special:One Item Slot.Throwing Weapons can be Duel Wielded and they ignore the DEF stat.

  Magical Implements

  
  There's not a lot to this section since magic is mostly defined by what spell you cast. The implement you choose narrows down what spells you can cast, so I thought it was important enough to warrant it's own little section. I'm thinking about expanding implements to lots of generic magic objects and having schols of magic for each, but this'll do for now.
  
  

  

  Lesser Magical Implement (LMI)
  *****
  Spells:Lesser Spells.
  Special:One Item Slot. Lesser Magical Implements can be Dual Wielded but they only cast Lesser Spells.
  
  

  

  Greater Magical Implement (GMI)
  *****
  Spells:Lesser & Greater Spells.
  Special:Two Item Slots. Can cast Greater or Lesser Spells.

  Armor

  
  Armor gives you some extra padding versus damage as well as places you in a suitable place within the Battle Order. The heavier the armor, the further front you go. The lighter your gear, the further back you go, the less likely you are to be struck by the enemy. Whenever you're attacked in combat, your armor will take all of the damage until it is destroyed. You will not use your DEF stat until after your armor is broken. It's for balance reasons, there's no thematic reason why armor wouldn't negate damage better than your own skin.
  
  

  

  Unarmored (UAR)
  *****
  DEF:0
  Special:Being unarmored places you in the very back of the Battle Order. The highest Speed stat gets the furthest spot.
  
  

  

  Light Armor (LAR)
  *****
  AHP:20/20 AHP
  Special:Placed in the Backline. Typically made of leather or thick cloth, Light Armor gives the wearer maximum mobility and minimal protection so that they can better dodge and avoid enemy attacks.
  
  

  

  Medium Armor (MAR)
  *****
  AHP:40/40 AHP
  Special:Placed in the Middle. A combination of leather, chain, and overlapping strips of metal give Medium Armor a comfortable level of protection that also emphasizes a surprising degree of mobility.
  
  

  

  Heavy Armor (HAR)
  *****
  AHP:80/80 AHP
  Special:Placed in the Frontline. Heavy platemail, lamellar armor, and sturdy scale armor belong to the domain of Heavy Armor. The great protection guards the wearer well, but tends to weighs down heavily and leave them unable to dodge or run very far.
  
  

  

  Buckler (BCK)
  *****
  DEF: +1
  Special:No Item Slots. You can only wear one!
  
  

  

  Shield (SHD)
  *****
  DEF: +3
  Special:Takes up one Item Slot. Can be used to guard characters directly next to you, but this must be specified.
  
  

  

  Tower Shield (TWR)
  *****
  DEF: +6
  Special:Takes up a Loadout Slot, but can be held in one hand. Another thing you can do with it is plant it in the ground and use it as cover while you cast spells or fire arrows from behind it. This doesn't work for melee combat.

  The Spellbook

  
  Spells work a lot like Ranged weapons in the sense that the various options change how far you can shoot and how much damage/mitigation you can achieve. Magic also has extra utility and the number of spells you can cast will only increase as you delve into the magic classes. Lesser Spells are designed in mind for Battle Mage players who wish to cast and fight with another weapon as you can cast a spell and attack in a single turn. Greater Spells are AoE or much more powerful single spell versions of the Lesser Spells, for wizards who just want to blow shit up.
  
  
  
  

  Lesser Spells​

  

  Magic Missile (MAM)
  Range:Front - Back
  Damage:(3D4 + MGC)
  Special:Magic Missile unerringly hits it's target. It can strike any target on the battlefield.
  
  

  

  Ray (RAY)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D10 + MGC)
  Special:Strikes 3 targets for full damage and ignores the MGC stat. Cannot strike Middle from the Front.
  
  

  

  Heal (HEA)
  Range:Self, Any Ally
  Damage:(1D10 + MGC)
  Special:Heal is quite strong, but it can only heal a single target.
  
  

  

  Empower (EMP)
  Range:Self, Any Ally
  Damage:(1D6 + MGC)
  Special:Empower gives a flat bonus to ATK or DEF to one person for a MGC number of rounds.
  
  
  
  

  Greater Spells​

  

  Magic Missile Barrage (MMB)
  Range:Front - Back
  Damage:3 X (3D4 + MGC)
  Special:If one magic missile can't do it, why not use three?
  
  

  

  Beam (BEM)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(2d10 + MGC)
  Special:Beam strikes 5 targets for full damage and ignores the MGC stat. Cannot strike the Middle from the Front.
  
  

  

  Restore (RES)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D20 + MGC)
  Special:Restore can heal three people or one person for triple hitpoints.
  
  

  

  Enchant (FOR)
  Range:Front
  Damage:(1D12 + MGC)
  Special:Enchant adds a flat bonus to ATK or DEF to two people for a MGC number of rounds.

  
  
• 
  

  Battles & Rounds

  Any time you engage in combat, even if it's for training purposes, you're engaging in a Battle. Every time you survive a Battle, and not necessarily one you win, you gain a level. You may fight multiple Rounds, but only winning overall gives you the level up. I'll try to be as clear as possible when you've won a Round or a Battle.
  
  Battles might be the result of an ambush, a training session, or even another player character going rogue. To address that point, players are allowed to fight and kill each other, although it's only encouraged for the sake of story progression. If you just murder hobo other people, we're going to have a problem. I'm not god, I'm just here to help move the story along. The power to fight who you like is in your hands, but I will try to regulate it if it goes out of control.

  Battle Orders

  Depending on the armor you're wearing, you're going to be placed somewhere in the Battle Order with your allies. Heavily armored individuals will find it difficult to dodge and evade attacks, so they are placed in the Frontline. In similar fashion, Medium armor places you in the Midline and Light or no armor places you in the Backline. Your placement determines how likely you are to get attacked by a range of weapons, so keep that in mind when you armor up and sally forth from Direhold. Here's what the Battle Order will probably look like in-game:
  
  

  Frontline(5/9)
  Private 1 (HP:10/10|AHP:60/60|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 2 (HP:10/10|AHP:60/60|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 3 (HP:10/10|AHP:60/60|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 4 (HP:10/10|AHP:60/60|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 5 (HP:10/10|AHP:60/60|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  
  Midline (7/9)
  Private 6 (HP:10/10|AHP:30/30|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 7 (HP:10/10|AHP:30/30|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  
  Backline (9/9)
  Private 8 (HP:10/10|AHP:10/10|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)
  Private 9 (HP:10/10|AHP:00/00|ATK:5|DEF:3|MGC:3|SPD:1)​

  
  Why is there a cap next to the various ranks? The Dogs work best in small squads (travel light, enough numbers to be competent, easy to minimize losses and maximize damage in operations), so the maximum number you can have in your group is 9. I'll have a Dog Roster so you can handpick the soldiers/waifus you want in your group. They'll be using a different class system that allows them to be universally useful, so you can choose what they should use and where they should use it if you like. If not, I'll slap'em in whatever spot seems useful.

  Dying, Surviving, & Injuries

  No matter how strong you are or how many troops you have, you're probably gonna bite za dustu because the dice say so. I encourage you to be attached to your characters, but also be prepared to make new ones. Think of it as an opportunity to do a little bit of world building; Maybe your reckless nephew hears about your death and decides to join the Dogs or your husband/wife decides to avenge their spouse. Death is not always the end!
  
  That being said, losing a fight doesn't always mean you're gonna die. Your odds are really slim if you die in a losing battle for your side, but they're pretty fair if you fall on the field of a winning battle. You might have to wear an eye patch or something afterwards, but the injuries you receive will have no bearing on combat effectiveness. It's just a neat little way of having your character's experience fighting with the Dogs affect their appearance, so don't worry about me chopping off limbs or something; the injury will be up to you and you can make it as big or small as you like.
  
  Anytime you fall in battle, we roll a 1d100 and check the list below. Depending on whether or not you won the battle, you're going to have a different bottom line for living afterwards and whether or not you also suffer a slow healing/permanent wound. Just remember, the higher you roll the better off you are. Here are the Death/Injury tables:
  
  

  Winning Battle
  Permanent Death: 0-40
  Resurrectable Death: 41-50
  Major Wound(s): 51-70
  Minor Wound(s): 71-90
  Unscathed: 91-100
  
  Losing Battle Battle
  Permanent Death: 0-60
  Resurrectable Death: 61-70
  Major Wound(s): 71-90
  Minor Wound(s): 91-100​

  ​

  ​

  
  

Table of Contents
Summary & Table of Contents
Introduction to the Setting
~~The Leveling System~~
OOC Channel
Character Sheets​

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"​

 

[Apple Thief]

"Enlist! Enlist! Enlist!"

You're like a low level NPC;
No class​

Ain't no party like a dungeon raid party
'cause a dungeon raid party is lit... with torches... it's uh, it's dark...​

• Arbalest
• Archer
• Bandit
• Barbarian
• Bard
• Brawler
• Chronomancer
• Cleric
• Chi Master
• Duelist
• Druid
• Fel Guard
• Gladiator
• Guru
• Knight
• Monk
• Necromonger
• Ninja
• Pikeman
• Ranger
• Slayer
• Soldier
• Sorceror
• Spell Thief
• Starlock
• Summoner
• Warlock
• Wind Caller
• Wizard

• 
  The Arbalest is the man of choice when arrows and spears simply cannot pierce the armor of your enemies. Their extensive training with crossbows and precision aiming make them a lethal force to be reckoned with when they can rain volleys down on the battlefield and slaughter even the hardiest knights.
  
  Penetrate: Bolts are smaller and usually made of metal in order to pierce the thick plate armor knights and footmen are known to wear. Crossbows deal extra damage to armor.
  Extra Armor Damage: +5|+10|+20
  
  Shrapnel: Sometimes bolts are known to fracture armor and send sharp metal shards into the nearby area and cause infections in the coming weeks. For every five armor points you bypass, deal damage to your enemy's hitpoints.
  Extra HP Damage: +1|+3|+5
  
  Crammit!: There isn't a matter-of-fact way to explain shoving extra bolts into a crossbow. There's no way this could work in real life, it just seemed like a really cool ability. The burst damage is so insane with two hand crossbows! Cram extra bolts into your crossbow for a lethal burst of damage, just beware the reload time. This is a Full Action and you can use it as often as you can reload.
  Extra Bolts: 2|4|6
  Reload Time: 0|2|3 rounds
  
• 
  In order to minimize losses on the field of battle, Armies employ groups of Archers to rain arrows and soften the enemy's ranks before and during combat. They are often lightly geared in order to keep their distance from their victims.
  
  Snipe: Something something gravity and physics and the turning of the earth makes your projectile hurt more the further it flies. Add an extra die to your attack that upgrades into bigger die the further back you shoot. This is a passive ability, so it doesn't use any actions.
  Front to Backline/Damage: 1d4/1d6/1d8|1d6/1d8/1d10|1d8/1d10/1d12
  
  Power Shot: It helps to pull that string back an inch or two further than before. Use your SPD stat to enhance the ATK of projectiles.
  SPD to ATK Ratio: 1:1|1:2|1:3
  
  Flaming Arrows: It was considered impossible because of how dangerous it was, but someone figured out that you don't have to have the arrow on fire while it's still being drawn. Light enemies on fire from afar with arrows for extra damage. This is a passive ability that requires no action to start using.
  Damage per round: 1d4|1d6|1d8
  Duration: 1|2|3 turns
  
• 
  These hoodlums come in all shapes and sizes, from hulking bodyguards to slinking cutthroats. The trademark of the Bandit is their uncanny versatility and utility when it comes to dangerous encounters.
  
  Stealth: Fade into the shadows for a moderate amount of time and strike where it hurts the most. And then uhh... fade back before you get beat up. Like, fade so fast back to where it's safe and you're surrounded by friends. Can be entered again in the same battle after being exposed when you hit second level. Stealth is considered a Free Action at level 3 but a Full Action before.
  Duration: 2|4|6 rounds
  Extra Damage: 1d6|2d6|3d6
  Reach: Frontline|Midline|Backline
  
  Fast Hands: You're an expert at utilizing all of your tools. Strike with both weapon sets every couple of rounds.
  Cooldown: 10|8|6
  
  Dodge: You're good at dodging explosions and hails of arrows. Any attack that's aimed for more than one target (including you) deals reduced damage to you.
  Reduction: +5|+10|+20 DEF
  
• 
  These wildmen from the fringes of society have spent their entire lives surviving against the remaining monsters left in the world. This is no high class society where the rich rule, but a primitive, violent place where the weak die and only the strong get to live for a little bit longer.
  
  Diehard: Some people are literally too angry to die when they're supposed to. You can be brought down to a number of negative hitpoints instead of dying at 0.
  Death Cap: -10/-20/-30 - LVL
  
  Slasher: A little bit of training on how to grip and swing an axe will do wonders for your ability to cleave into your foes. While wielding Two-Handed Weapons, you extend the effects of the Cleave attack. This adds full damage targets and cleaved targets.
  Full Damage Targets: +1|+2|+3
  Cleaved Targets: +2|+4|+6
  
  RAAAAAGE!: People too angry to die is a good theme for the Barbarian, isn't it? Pay them back for every inch-- and then some! For every point of damage you suffer, gain damage for your attacks next round.
  DMG to ATK Ratio: 1:1|1:2|1:3|
  
• 
  The legendary source of the 'Your Mother' jokes, keeper of awful instruments, and wielder of obnxious wit. These are all common ways to describe the Bard, but a rare few know the power that sound can hold; the twang that rallies an army can also mend the wound or stop an arrow.
  
  War Cadence: Nothing stirs the blood like a rousing and thunderous cadence! You grant permanent damage to all allies for the rest of the battle every time you use this Full Action ability. Stackable.
  Gain ATK: +1|+2|+3 + MGC
  Gain MGC: +1|+2|+3 + MGC
  
  Mocking Taunt: It can be hard to focus when people are watching for any little mistake you make. As long as your allies have full health, they gain an extra bonus to their stats.
  Gain ATK/DEF/MGC: +2|+4|+8 + MGC
  
  Soothing Melody: This melody heals everyone on your side and becomes quite potent the longer it's played. Increase the number die used by one for every round you continue to play this melody.
  Base Healing Die: 1d6|1d8|1d10
  
• 
  In real life, ending up in the bottom of a glass for a couple of years in dead end bars is sort of like a 'Game Over'. In the Fantasy world, it just makes you a turbo badass who's really good at lots of really cool things, like alcoholism and making your wife cry.
  
  Drunken Fist: Nothing like a nip o'whiskey in the middle of an important battle to keep things interesting, am I right? Gain Alcohol as a consumable item! Using it is a Free Action.
  Uses: 1|2|3
  Duration: 1/2/3 rounds
  ATK Bonus: +10|+20|+30
  
  Expert Boozehound: If you drink or do drugs a lot you normally become more resistant to their effects and have to use more for less of a high. Thankfully this is a game where the opposite is true because it makes for a cool class mechanic. Extend the effects of consumable items. At max rank, any stats offered by the consumable are doubled.
  Extra Uses: +1/1|+2/2|+3/3
  
  
  Stupor: Drunk people are either really easy to put down or unbelievably hard. I once put this drunk girl to bed when I was in Kansas and it literally took an hour and a half because she thought it was funny to just relax her body and slump to the floor. Anyways while inebriated you take reduced damage to your hitpoints.
  Damage Reduction: 1/4|1/3|1/2
  
• 
  The Chronomancer dedicates his life to study the passing of time in order to manipulate it with magic. While not capable of turning back the clock for everyone, these magic users can manipulate the individual flow of time and even turn back the moment of death for someone who falls in battle.
  
  Rewind: You can revert many rounds worth of damage by personally screwing with time and space. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, God.
  Revert Time Frame: within 1|2|3 rounds
  Gain HP: +5|+15|+30
  Cooldown: 12/10/8 cooldown)
  
  Fast Forward: Turn forward the clock to give an ally a few extra turns.
  Gain SPD: +1|+2|+3 SPD
  Duration: 1|2|3 attacks
  Cooldown: 10|9|8 rounds
  
  Timeless: Put several targets in a stasis where they cannot deal or take damage.
  Target: any 1|3|5 individuals
  Duration: 1|2|3 + MGC rounds
  Cooldown: 10|9|8 rounds
  
• 
  Clerics are Holy Priests of any religion that draws from a place or person/entity of great power and uses the abilities derived for the good of their church or cause. Clerics are also the field warriors of their faith that must convert for their organization and slay their natural enemies to the faith, so be wary of who they stand for and whether or not they think you stand against them.
  
  Faith Armor: Gain DEF for the rest of the battle by purging debuffs from allies.
  DEF Gain: 1:1|1:2|1:3|
  
  Sacred Aura: Anywhere you walk becomes sacred ground for the forces of good to tread safely upon. Sacred Aura passively removes debuffs; first from yourself, then from others of your choice or the 4 nearest if unspecified.
  Targets: Self|+2|+4
  Debuffs Removed: 1|2|3 every round
  
  Vivify: Your healing abilities are capable of bringing back the dead to a certain degree.
  Round Limit: within 1|2|3 rounds
  Hitpoint Limit: -10|-20|-30 - MGC
  
• 
  Chi Masters are monks who have dedicated their lives to studying spiritual energies in order to better the lives of themselves as well as the world at large. A great many problems arise from blockages in the flow of Chi which may arise in people or even the environment at large, which is why Chi Masters are essential.
  
  Meditate: Stack MGC for the remainder of the battle as you channel Meditate.
  MGC per round: +1|+3|+6
  
  Spirit Shield: Grant yourself and other nearby people AHP based on your MGC stat.
  Targets: Yourself|+2 people|+4 people
  MGC -> AHP: 1 to 1/1| 1 to 3/3| 1 to 5/5
  
  Magic Tattoos: Convert MGC into DEF.
  MGC to DEF: 1:1|1:2|1:3
  
• 
  Duelists are specialists in fighting one-handed who are often found fighting in tournaments, illegal or otherwise, sheerly for the sporting thrill of engaging other men in single combat. On a battlefield, they are more than capable of putting down priority targets, perhaps more so than any other class.
  
  Parry: While wielding a One-Handed Weapon, you may Parry any damage roll lower than your own if the attack is directed at you. Not total damage, the die itself. This is a passive ability.
  Threshold: Lower die|Lower die + 1| Lower Die +2
  
  Riposte: Any time you Parry an attack, you gain a free attack on that enemy the next round.
  Cooldown: Every 4/3/2 attacks
  Bonus DMG: + LVL
  
  Disarm: You Disarm the opponent you attack every few rounds as a Free Action.
  Cooldown: every 8/6/4 rounds
  Special: If they attempt to pick up their weapon, Riposte refreshes immediately.
  
• 
  Deep within the wild tribes that lie far beyond the fringes of society live deeply traditional villages run by Druids; these masters of nature are often the Elders and pass down their knowledge down from generation to generation, using it's guiding magic to keep the tribe close to nature in order to live in harmony with their environment.
  
  Summon Behemoth: Summon a massive beast to guard the frontline!
  HP: 200|300|400
  ATK: 1d10|2d10|3d10 + MGC
  Special: Whenever the Behemoth attacks, it gains a number of Hitpoints equal to it's total damage dealt.
  
  Lycanthropy: There are rumors that Druids have been passing down a special brand of Lycanthropy that's stronger than your garden mill werecreature. When turned, you lose the bonus your armor gave you and then add the stats below
  Duration: 2|4|6 rounds
  HP Gain: +50|+100|+200
  AHP: +20|+40|+60
  DEF: +3|+6|+9
  ATK: + LVL
  Special: Every round you regenerate 10% of your total hitpoints. If you were wearing Light Armor, you may keep the AHP and then apply the new AHP as a bonus.
  
  Eldritch Blood: The magic in your blood is stronger than most and it empowers your physical attacks against your enemies.
  MGC: +2|+4|+8
  Special: Add MGC to your physical attacks.
  
• 
  The dreaded bodyguards of Vampyres are Fel Legionaries, who are rumored to be gifted with powers of the blood unlocked by their terrible masters. Whether or not the rumors are true is a great debate among scholars, but traces of their existence are surely out there.
  
  Blood Barrier: Whenever you spill the enemy's blood, it instinctively returns to you in the form of a shield in order to protect it's new host.
  HP per DMG: +1 per 10|+1 per 5| +1 per 1
  Special: This ability can Overheal and will remain after the Battle, up until you return to Direhold and the barrier will disperse.
  
  Ensanguinate: Whenever you slay an enemy, you recieve a portion of their essence for the rest of the battle.
  MGC bonus on kill: +2|+4|+6
  
  Carve: Consecutive strikes against the same enemy grants you greater ATK bonuses against them.
  ATK per Attack: +3|+5|+10
  
• 
  These vicious fighters have spent their entires lives in servitude for the greatest bloodsport of all: organized arena fights in front of a roaring audience. Their experiences have left them as capable fighters as well as very knowledgeable about a wide array of weapons and fighting styles.
  
  Trappings of Glory: For every passive you choose from Gladiator, you gain ranks in this passive. This does not count as part of your total passive limit.
  1st Rank: Iaculum (Weighted Net, Free Attack, one use consumable. Immobilizes enemy. Must roll a 1d6 and get an even number to break free.)
  2nd Rank: Manica (+5 DEF, no Item Slot, can be used with a Buckler)
  3rd Rank: Scutum (+6 DEF, one Item slot shield, X2 DEF against projectiles)
  4th Rank: Cattle Whip (No Item Slot, Cooldown 3, trips one enemy and brings them one line closer)
  5th Rank: Trophy Collector (For every enemy slain in battle, gain 2|4|6 ATK until the end of the battle.)
  
  Opportunist: You deal extra damage against debuffed or immobilized opponents.
  Total Damage Multiplier: X2|X3|X4
  
  Poisoned Pila: You freely carry a few javelins for throwing as a consumable item. They are light enough to be thrown two at a time and tipped with a paralyzing poison. You may aim at two different targets and the Pila is considered thrown before your normal attack for the purpose of calculating immobilized damage attacks. This is considered a Free Action.
  Uses: 6/6|8/8|10/10
  Damage: 2d6|2d8|2d10 + ATK
  Paralyze Duration: 1|2|3 rounds
  Special: Ignores AHP but not DEF and can reach the Midline.
  
  
  Bladestorm: Your ability to Dual Wield is unrivaled! The more points you sink into this passive, the stronger your dual wielding becomes.
  Die: 2d8|2d10|2d12
  Special: At max rank, you may dual wield 2H weapons (2d20) and gain access to Dual Cleave, but you cannot carry any other weapons. Dual Cleave affects half the number of targets (including the passive that upgrades this), but you may overlap targets.
  
• 
  Gurus are said to be born once every thousand years as a response to cosmic imbalance that may threaten the great cycle of life and death. Throughout history, they have been known to alter the very fabric of reality and purify imperfections thought impossible to all but the Gods themselves. Their wisdom has changed societies and they are known to be able to touch living spirits and change them like a potter molds clay.
  
  Spirit Gate: The Guru can fix the fractures and cracks in your soul or simply shatter the very essence that binds your existence together. If the Guru alternates between the two, he can inflict increasing amounts of true damage and heal an increasing number of hitpoints. This is a full action empowered melee attack. Higher ranks allow this ability to pass through targets and deal more base damage/heal more hitpoints.
  Empowered Damage/Heal: +1d6|2d6|3d6 (directly hits HP)
  Alternating Boost: d8->d10->d12 (must rotate between heal/DMG to upgrade/maintain)
  Targets: 1|2|3 (targets must be in same line or in bordering lines. Heal a frontline target and damaging a frontline target will be considered alternating.)
  
  Cosmic Wisdom: The Guru is rumored to be spiritually connected to the ultimate wisdom that the cosmos has to offer, giving him a supernatural insight to the future and the nature of reality itself. This is a passive ability that automatically allows the Guru to completely avoid attacks every number of turns. This ability always activates when it is ready.
  Cooldown: 12|8|6
  
  Harvest Potential: The Guru can see the thread that bind everything together and even draw the raw, untapped power from other threads and use them to empower himself to greatness-- temporarily, of course. This is a full action ability that allows the Guru to temporarily absorb Combat Stats from Ally or Enemy target(s). While absorbed, the target loses their Combat Stats.
  Stats Absorbed: 1|2|3
  Duration: 1|2|3
  Cooldown: 16|12|8
  
• 
  While Soldiers and Archers make up the bulk of an army, Knights often form the elite niche of fighters needed to execute crucial battle strategies or defend the lord from many attacking enemies. Knights are incredibly defensible fighters that prefer to out beef the opposition until they eventually win.
  
  Hold the Line!: When standing directly near other shield users, gain DEF and AHP.
  Distance Away: within +1|+2|+3 spaces of you
  Gain DEF Per: +1|+2|+3
  Gain AHP Per: +1|+3|+5
  
  Shield Bash: Every few rounds you gain a free shield bash attack that stuns the target.
  Bonus ATK: +5/+10/+15 + 1:1/1:3/1:6 DEF Damage
  Frequency: 10/8/6 rounds
  Targets: 1|2|3
  
  Steed: Gain a companion mount! While still serviceable, you gain free stats. The horse is targeted before you and it leaves the battlefield when it runs out of health. It doesn't die, it just retreats before death. When it retreats, you must return to Direhold to retrieve it. You can heal your Steed with consumables or magic.
  Hitpoints: 50|100|200
  SPD: +1|+2|+3 SPD|
  Special: Extend melee range by one rank
  
• 
  Monks come in two flavors; the quiet, balding wise men who spend their lives studying religious texts and the young, muscle bound crossfit monsters that snap swords in half and break spines with their foreheads. This class represents the second kind of Monk.
  
  Respectable Muscles: All of those body strengthening exercises turn humble men into bare fisted murder machines.
  Unarmed Die Increase: 2d8|2d10|2d12
  
  Evasion: Convert your SPD stat into DEF (without losing SPD, of course.)
  SPD -> DEF Ratio: 1:1|1:2|1:3
  
  C-C-Combo Breaker: It can easy to keep going when you have a momentum of death on your side. Chain extra attacks together so long as each new physical attack is stronger than the last. This is a passive ability.
  Chain Maximum: 3 Combos|6 Combos|9 Combos
  
• 
  The greatest resistance to organized religion is the Necromonger; often clerics who have become jaded by the political corruption within the churches, Necromongers are capable of ushering death and raising the dead back to life for their own insidious purposes. They are usually ambitious enough to dabble in conquest as well.
  
  Death Mark: Mark your enemy for death. If they die while still marked, they will be resurrected into a servant of undeath. Higher levels increase the number of death marked targets as well as marks that spread to nearby enemies. Full Action. You may target anyone with this spell.
  Targets: 1|2|3
  Duration: 2|3|4
  Undead Cap: 3|6|9
  Cooldown: 8|6|4
  Special: Any time a marked target dies, the mark passes on to the next person on the list. Any undead summoned have the same stats as the creature they were raised from, but they half half the hitpoints and can only attack once per round. They spawn in the enemy's ranks and the enemy must kill them before attacking you again.
  
  Amalgate: Stitch together the corpses of friend and foe alike and create an unholy abomination of nature! Your Amalgation can only be created inbetween battles, but it can be empowered by corpses even after creation. It cannot be healed in battle, so it must be preserved by newer, fresher corpses.
  HP per corpse: +10
  AHP per corpse: +5/5
  DEF per corpse: +1
  Healing per corpse: +20
  Special: At every 100 corpses, double the rate of each stat gain.
  
  Cloud of Filth: The very carrion that feast on your minions may become subjugated and used to contaminate your enemies! Full Action.
  Targets: 3|6|10
  Duration: 2|3|4
  Debuff: -1|-2|-3 each round to ATK & DEF. Stackable.
  Cooldown: 10|8|6
  
• 
  Feudal lords were known to employ an elite squad of highly trained spies and assassins known as Ninja. I'm sure you knew all that, so lets just get to the good shit.
  
  Assassinate: When hidden from sight, you may break stealth and do an insane amount of damage in a melee attack.
  Damage Multiplier: X2|X3|X4
  Targets: 1|3|5 (If SPD stat allows)
  
  Ninjutsu: Throw more projectiles with each rank! This counts for one hand, so it counts double for Dual Wielding. This is a passive ability.
  Extra Throwing Weapons: +1|+2|+4
  
  Battle Incense: Some assassins were known to get incredibly high before going on a mission. Get high with this consumable and gain heightened awareness in battle! This is a Free Action to use.
  Uses: 1|2|3
  Duration: 1|2|3 rounds
  Bonus SPD: +1|+2|+3
  
• 
  While Soldiers and Knights hold the frontline, moderately geared Pikemen strike from overhead with long billhooks and halberds in order to create openings in the enemy's lines.
  
  Manskewer: While wielding a Polearm, extend the effects of the Impale attack.
  Extra Targets Impaled: +2|+4|+6 targets
  
  Brace: When activated, multiply your defense for a number of rounds. This is a Free Action.
  DEF Multiply: X2|X3|X4
  Duration: 1|2|3 rounds
  Cooldown: Cooldown is 6/5/4 rounds)
  
  Extra Padding: Add AHP for every point of DEF.
  AHP per DEF: +3|+6|+9
  
• 
  I went with a Lord of the Rings approach to Rangers; they're basically hunters that ambush their prey with a flurry of attacks and have a knowledge of monsters and herbs and stuff.
  
  Volley: Using the Shortbow, you may fire arrows in quicker succession. This is a passive ability.
  Extra Attacks: +2|+3|+4 arrows
  
  Athelas: Gain Healing Herbs as a regenerating consumable item! This is a Free Action to use.
  Uses: 3|4|5
  Healing: 1d8|2d8|3d8
  Duration: 2|3|4 turns
  
  Animal Companion: Your lengthy expeditions into the wilderness bore fruit for you; you have tamed a wild creature unlike any other that will assist you in combat as a mount.
  HP: 100|150|200
  AHP: 50|100|150
  DEF: +3|+6|+12
  Special: While mounted, you may strike with a free ranged attack every 6|5|4 rounds.
  
• 
  Slayers are solitary warriors that go deep into the wilderness to slay the strongest monsters they can possibly find. Probably to be the best in the world or whatever, it's one of those power trip things.
  
  Outgunned: Gain ATK for every enemy that outnumbers your team. This bonus goes down
  ATK Bonus per Enemy: +2|+4|+6
  
  Giga Blow: Use every fiber of your being in a powerful blow! If it slays your enemy, cut the cooldown in half.
  DMG: X2 Die + X2 ATK + X2 MGC + X2 SPD + X2 DEF
  Cooldown: 30|26|22 rounds
  
  Monster Hunter: Reduce the DEF stat of enemies when you strike them. Stackable.
  DEF Reduction: -2 DEF|-4 DEF|-6 DEF
  Duration: Permanent
  
• 
  Volunteered or conscripted, Soldiers are the miserable beasts of burden that make up the bulk of any Army. Unlike other professions, you don't necessarily have to be skilled to hack it as a Soldier; if you can sleep at odd hours, mend your own things, and deal with blisters on your feet, you can thrive!
  
  Spearwall: All of those hours spent drilling with your heavy shield and spear finally paid off. You can wield Polearms One-Handed with a Shield to passively reflect damage back to attacking enemies. Roll for the damage the round after you're attacked.
  DMG Reflect: 1d6|2d6|3d6
  
  First Aid: There's always time to spit on the wound and slap a bandage on it afterwards, every good Soldier knows that! You passively heal at the beginning of every round in combat.
  Heal: +5|+10|+20
  
  Bodyguard: Mr. President, get down! You may choose to body block an attack aimed for someone else in the same line. During this ability only you gain a large chunk of DEF and AHP to help absorb the blow.
  Gain DEF: +5|+10|+15 DEF
  Gain AHP: +10|+20|+30 AHP
  Cooldown: 8|6|4 Rounds
  
• 
  Unlike Wizards who spend their lives studying and practicing magic, Sorcerors are naturally talented and don't have to put in much effort to be incredibly powerful spellcasters. It's really not fair.
  
  Triple Whammy: In the heat of the moment, Spellcasters have been known to cast extra spells. The body's muscle memory with magic is mysterious indeed! When wielding two implements, you can occasionally cast a third spell.
  Extra Cast: 6|4|2 rounds
  
  Soul Pact: Your travels have shown you the strange and you've learned to draw power from the unsavory beings you've encountered. Gain a Demon Heart consumable and eat it to gain access to your Dark Form for a brief period of time. Free Action.
  Gain: 1|2|3 stats doubled
  Duration: 2|4|6 turns
  Uses: 1|2|3
  
  Siphon: They say magic is the source of all life, so it only makes sense that the strongest magic is drawn from flesh and blood. Sacrifice any number of hitpoints to empower your MGC stat. At max rank, you may target another ally with this ability. Free Action.
  MGC per HP: +1 per 10|+1 per 5| +1 per 1
  Duration: 1|2|3 spells
  Cooldown: 8/6/4 rounds
  
• 
  Small-time thieves rarely make it big, but when they do, they are known to become great killers or legendary thieves in greater places. This class revolves around the thieves bold enough to steal from mighty Wizards and Sorcerors.
  
  Absorb: You can absorb a portion of a spell's power and heal while reducing the damage of the spell. This ability immediately activates whenever it is off cooldown, even for Ally spells.
  Absorb: X0.5 MGC|X1 MGC|X2 MGC
  Bonus: Whenever you absorb a spell, you remove the entire MGC bonus.
  Cooldown: 12|10|8 enemy/ally spells
  
  Astral Ambush: You hide in a pocket of the astral plane for a number of rounds where you are untargetable and may reappear and strike any enemy before fading back to your original location. Free Action.
  Duration: 1|2|3
  Cooldown: 10|8|6
  
  Magic Elixir: Your forays into the magical world sometimes show you glimpses of interesting combinations of spells and reagents. Sometimes you steal them. Gain a Magic Elixir consumable that considerably boosts your magical powers! Free Action.
  Uses: 1|2|3
  Gain MGC: +5|+10|+15
  
• 
  Starlocks are a combination of Warlocks and Stars, so you can expect this class to be similar to wizard but more obsessed with the cosmos and the Void than they are with magic in general. Lots of large spells in this class that affect groups of people.
  
  Meteor: Send down a massive meteor and crush your enemies! Full Action.
  Targets: 5|10|15 enemies
  Damage: 2d20|4d20|6d20 + MGC
  Cooldown: 15|20|25 turns
  
  Starlight: Heal a large number of allies. Full Action.
  Targets: 10|15|20 allies
  Heal: 1|3|5 + 2 X MGC
  Cooldown: 12|10|8
  
  Black Hole: Shred time and space to suck in all flying spells and projectiles. Full Action.
  Duration: 1|2|3
  Cooldown: 8|6|4
  Bonus: At max rank, you can choose to only suck in enemy/ally projectiles and spells.
  
• 
  Summon Monster: Summon a permanent monster Companion to fight alongside you! Takes a Full Action to summon in battle but it can be summoned prior.
  
  HP: 25/50/100 + HP
  ATK: 1d10/1d12/1d20|+(your MGC X 2)
  DEF: 5/10/15
  SPD: 0/1/2
  Bonus 1: All attacks are considered Magical, so you attack the MGC stat.
  
  Magic Bond: Any time you or your Companion is wounded, the damage is split in half and some of it is negated in the exchange. Whenever one or the other deals damage, the partner gains health.
  Damage Split DEF: +3|+6|+9
  Damage Vamp: 1d6|2d6|2d6 + MGC
  
  Sacrifice: If you are reduced to 0 hitpoints, you may sacrifice your summoned companion in your stead so that you may live. Passive ability.
  Health Gained: +50/+75/+125
  Special: May also be used to save another person's life, but at half the hitpoints absorbed.
  
• 
  While most people shy from the forbidden arts and demon worship, Warlocks are comprised of edgy individuals who like the do the opposite of the mainstream and learn dark arts and summon devils to aid them in battle.
  
  Possess: Control the mind of your enemy with foul magics! Full Action.
  Target: 1|2|3 people
  Duration: 1 round
  Actions: 0|1|2 (If allowed by target stats)
  Cooldown: 20|16|12
  
  Hellfire: Burn enemies with a fire that must be cleansed to be stopped. Full Action.
  Duration: Forever
  Damage: 1d6|1d8|1d10 + MGC
  
  Summon Imps: Summon Imp(s) that help you with spellcasting. Each will completely devote their MGC to your spells or cast their own spells every few rounds if you command them. At level one, they can only cast Lesser Spells. Level 2 lets them cast Greater Spells and Level 3 lets them Ritual Charge and cast a Greater Spell. Full Action. Can be summoned outside of combat.
  Hitpoints: 10|20|30 (Per Imp
  MGC: +5|+10|+15 (per Imp, fed directly to your spells)
  Spell Cast: every 6|5|4 rounds
  Cooldown: can summon one every 5|4|3 rounds
  Special: Any attack that's supposed to hit you hits those worthless Imps instead.
  
• 
  Far to the west in the great steppes of Juya live nomadic tribes that live their lives according to which way the winds may blow them. It was through them that the world learned of Wind Magic and through the breeze that they learned it in the first place, or so they say.
  
  Air Shield: You passively block projectiles and spells in an area around you.
  Projectiles blocked per round: 3|6|12
  Spells blocked per round: 1|3|6
  
  Soothing Breeze: You summon a soothing passage of air that calms the nerves and even mends wounds. This breeze also cures any ailments and debuffs. Full Action.
  Targets: Whole team
  Healing: 1d10|2d10|2d20 + (2 x MGC)
  Duration: 1|2|3 rounds
  
  Tornado: Summon a vicious tornado to damage and misplace your enemies! Full Action.
  Targets: Entire Frontline, Midline, or Backline
  Damage: 1d20|2d20|3d20 + MGC
  Cooldown: 30|24|18
  Special: Move the entire line of enemies one line closer. Each enemy that dies from this reduces the cooldown by one.
  
• 
  Like the Monk, Wizards devote their minds instead of their bodies to the study of magic. They are often found cloistered in ancient towers or bustling universities where they have access to all of the literature and research materials they need to further their life's work.
  
  Ritual Cast: For each round spent charging your spell, double the die of the spell. Maximum ritual charge EVER is three.
  Charges: 1|2|3 rounds
  
  Half Mats: Get an extra round to spellcast and temporarily be unable to cast. Free Action.
  Cooldown: 3|2|1 rounds
  
  Permafrost: Reduce the enemy's ATK stat with each die of attack. Stackable.
  ATK Debuff: -1|-2|-3
  

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"​

 

[Apple Thief]

Battle Chef​

HP: 2 (4/4)
AHP: 40/40
ATK: 2 (+0)
DEF: 3 (+0)
MGC: 1 (+0)
SPD: 2 (+0)
Loadout 1: (1H/1H) [2d6+0]
Loadout 2: (2HW) [1d8+0]​

Here's an example post for you!​

Barry 'The Mountain' Wiseman
"I am The Mountain because-- well, I guess because I'm fucking huge."​

Blee blah blee blah bloo this is example text, I really didn't feel like putting on airs like I did when I made the character sheet for Barry. This ought to give you a pretty good idea of what the posts ought to look like. You have control over a lot of the stylizing parts of it, so as long as you keep the numbers on the right correct and the post identifies your character at the top, we should be golden. Here's the code for all of this below:

Don't Dead Code Inside

[side=right]
[font=georgia][size=6][center][i]Battle Chef[/i][/center][/size][center]
[centerblock=60][h][heightrestrict=250][IMG]https://www.rpnation.com/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Ff4%2F8d%2F2f%2Ff48d2f873b79e468185bc1c5bf0316a5.png&hash=45db27779fadc17b333643296bae3d18[/IMG][/heightrestrict][/h][/centerblock]
[size=4][b]HP:[/b] 2 (4/4)
[b]AHP:[/b] 40/40
[b]ATK:[/b] 2 (+0)
[b]DEF:[/b] 3 (+0)
[b]MGC:[/b] 1 (+0)
[b]SPD:[/b] 2 (+0)
[b]Loadout 1:[/b] (1H/1H) [2d6+0]
[b]Loadout 2:[/b] (2HW)  [1d8+0][/size][/center][/font]
[/side]
[center][font=Georgia][size=6][b][u]Barry 'The Mountain' Wiseman[/u][/b][/size]
[size=3][i]"I am The Mountain because-- well, I guess because I'm fucking huge."[/i][/size][/font][/center]

Blee blah blee blah bloo this is example text, I really didn't feel like putting on airs like I did when I made the character sheet for Barry. This ought to give you a pretty good idea of what the posts ought to look like. You have control over a lot of the stylizing parts of it, so as long as you keep the numbers on the right correct and the post identifies your character at the top, we should be golden. Here's the code for all of this below:

 

[Apple Thief]

~~Reserved~~

 

[Apple Thief]

The game has begun! Happy posting!​

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Irritated​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

The air whipped coldly around Tohnas as he waited for the Dogs just forward of Camp Highwind. The name of their temporary base of operations sounded impressive until you realized it was a joke about the Astral. It's strange how surprising the cold here was; when you think of the Astral, you don't think it would be a chilly, windy place with floating ruins everywhere. I suppose it would be more accurate to say no person stops and thinks that the edge of the world is frigid and lifeless until they get there. As he pondered, the Sergeant did his best not to let his gaze rest on either side of him. Thomas' greatest fear was heights and camping on this massive stone bridge was already playing on his nerves. What were the odds his permanent duty station would be on a crumbling piece of shit in the middle of the sky? What a fucking joke.

"Speaking of jokes," he pondered quietly, "Those stupid flyers and recruiters... how many people believed that garbage?"​

It's sort of an unspoken rule that people will eat the truth up if it makes them feel better, even if it's not the facts that they're later digesting. This entire operation was built on dirty lies that were apparent the moment you stepped through the gate... but without this lie, The Great Union couldn't pad their public opinion and secure funds for Direhold. They needed to win before they could try, as the gamblers say. The higher ups had already committed to the lie and doomed everyone below them, so I guess it was too late for Tohnas to start having morals; their lives were now the spokes of a wagon that weren't even attached to the wheels. How does something so fragile not fall apart?

The Liason was absorbed by his paranoid fantasies for minutes before he realized he was capriciously leaning over the short wall on the sides of the bridge, gazing and muttering into the black grease trap that lay at the bottom of the Astral. He quickly stepped back and continued waiting like he was before, albeit nursing a tremor that was spreading from his hands and into his body.

He really hated heights.​

Player Action Required

Tohnas, your new superior, is waiting outside of the Astral Gate (inside of the Astral) for the first batch of Dogs to enter the Astral Plane. You may now begin posting! If you plan on sneaking up on him, just remember he's easy to scare and he'll hate you forever.

 

[Powerful Labyrinth]

"Semper Vigilo"​

HP:9(18/18)
AHP:0/0
ATK:3(+0)
DEF:4(+0)
MGC:1(+0)
SPD:3(+0)
Loadout 1:(4d8+0)x2
Loadout 2:(4d8+0)x2​

Brother Venn
Order of the Vigilant Shroud
​

As Venn stood at the edge of the rift, the Astral they called it. He pondered what manner of creature might dwell inside. There, in that swirling purple vortex of ever changing shapes he stared. Slowly he lifted his hand through to test if he could pass unharmed at all. He felt cold, wind, on the other side, beyond that, nothing. And so he entered. Leaving behind the world he once knew for an unknown one, only taking with him his knowledge and duty to the other side. The road was the same, cobblestones on bare feet. He had been to accustomed to cold, as he was with all types of weather, his implacable stare showing no emotion on his face as his windswept sashes blew iconically in the constant wind, making what he thought must have been a singularly unique silhouette from afar. He had been given many assignments before to faraway places and stunning landscapes, but this one had already topped them all.

The ancient cobblestone and constant wind were one thing, but the long stone bridges and crumbling masonry leading up to a castle sitting atop what one could only describe as floating mountains. The sight was instantly breathtaking. And behind this magnificent scene you could see it: the Astral. Everyone had heart the stories, but to actually be inside it, the adrenaline made him wonder if it was wrong to feel the exact same as he did on the other side. His mentors had told him that the expansion of this rift and the threat it posed spelled danger for everyone. It's funny how they all just say danger, even though it was obvious that no one knew anything about this place. They certainly hadn't prepared him for this. The size of the thing was massive, even from a distance. A great scar in the sky, like an eye or a mouth, staring into the souls of those who looked upon it and daring all to find what secrets lie within. Even though it was already miles away, it was enormous, threatening to swallow all creation and everything within.

'Gods, I hope not.' Is all Venn thought as he stared into that swirling vortex, inscrutable and unwavering in the clear morning sky. The senior brothers of the Order of the Vigilant Shroud obviously knew nothing about it, though they would never have said it out loud. To keep his mind clear, Venn remembered his orders. He was to join the Dogs of Direhold and provide any assistance needed to the Great Union while sending back regular reports to the Order on the nature of the Astral and all things in its purview. That was how he had always gotten by when his duty was clouded by moral ambiguity.

"'We forever strive to help those in need by eliminating the threats posed to them." That is what brother Varrith always told him when he had questions the morality of their work. "We work to keep the people safe, but if you must sacrifice the one to save the many, then act without hesitation. For ours is not to abide the laws by which man has constrained himself to. Ours is the work of justice and vengeance. Others will tend to the sick and dying, our place with the enemy." He was not always certain if he agreed with those words, but they had saved his own life more times than he cared to remember.

As he walked along in solemn thought, he saw a man in the distance, obviously waiting for him. As he approached he began to see the man more clearly. 'Young, fit, hammer strapped to his thigh, easily avoidable, his armor is good but there are flaws in it, best point of attack: left armpit, he's shuffling slightly, the hairs on the back of his neck stand erect, he's scared of heights. This man could defend himself if needed, but not for long, not against me at least. I hope our enemies prove less capable than him, otherwise this man will surely die.' Venn thought as he drew ever nearer. And so the next chapter in Venn's life opened, and untold adventures lie ahead.

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Irritated​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

The messengers were right; it wouldn't be long before volunteers would start showing up. He could've assigned some young buck to sit on the bridge and bring them back, but Tohnas was a little anal about doing things 'the right way'. He wanted to leave a strong impression on new recruits before they started hating him for his work ethic. He just wasn't prepared for his recruits to leave an impression on him so quickly; as the first stranger drew near, a breathe escaped Tohn's lips like stray air slowly escaped from a balloon-- this dude was jacked. Gods above, what were they feeding this man?! he thought desperately, He looks like they fed three men a mountain of eggs and then fused them together into some sort of... God of Fitness! I could barely swing an axe at his age but he could pull my arms off!

"Greetings, recruit! Welcome to the Dogs!" he called out, his clarion voice masking his thoughts and fears, "We can exchange pleasantries later, there's work to... uhh... are you the only one? Didn't they send anyone else with you, lad? Are they... trailing behind you or something? You look like the sort of fellow who runs ahead of everyone else."

 

[Powerful Labyrinth]

"Semper Vigilo"​

Brother Venn
Order of the Vigilant Shroud
​

The man called out as Venn approached, his clear voice ringing out in the morning air. As Venn drew up to the man, he could obviously see the subtle nerves of intimidation that he regularly received from common folk. Respect and fear, never hidden but always trying to hide. Venn stared inscrutably at the man for a few moments, simply testing his resolve before reaching into his pack and pulling out the official orders given to him by the Order, once again a test. Occasionally nobles and officials would ask to see these papers when a brother would enter their lands to execute a task. It was always thought a sign of pompous weakness to accept these documents at all, much less scour over them as some did, perhaps in some misguided guise of control. Everyone knew who the order was. Throughout the seven realms and even some of the lands beyond, the Order was well known, and never to be trifled with. The wise lords that a brother encountered would simply let him pass, and often offer to assist wherever they might.

The mans whole body shook slightly as Venn offered the scroll bearing the seal of the Order, no doubt that it was more than just the chilly wind. "I am here on behalf of the Order of the Vigilant Shroud to assist in the efforts of the so named Dogs of Direhold. My name is Brother Venn. I traveled alone on the road. Are you the commander of this garrison?" Venn asked as he nodded his head towards the floating castle not far away.

 

[Brother Loroc]

Spirit Monk​

HP: 11 (22/22)
AHP: 0
ATK: 4 (+0)
DEF: 3 (+0)
MGC: 1 (+0)
SPD: 2 (+0)
Loadout 1: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]
Loadout 2: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]​

​

​

Brother Loroc
"Focus, breath, and SICK FLEXES."​

Brother Loroc shivered slightly at the cold breeze that whipped around him. Though he was wearing fairly thick clothing, he was used to warmer climes and the cold air of Direhold did not agree with him. 'It will take weeks to get used to this cold,' he thought to himself. Hurrying along, Loroc made his way down to the camp below intending to find the Liason. Ignoring the glorious wonder of the arcane winds whipping throughout the region caused by the Astral Gate, the awesome power rippling throughout the very ground of the land upon which Loroc tread, the monk drew closer to the camp and as he did he noticed two strangers standing at the entrance to the camp ahead.

The first man looked like some kind of soldier. 'I'm assuming the armor and weapons he carries are the standard of the company he's involved with. Decently strong, but he could stand to build a bit more. Still, he seems to have a solid frame. He'd have made a fine brother of the Order if he had ever chanced upon us.' Loroc mused. 'I don't recognize the other, but he seems like he almost might be from the Order as well. Strange, I wonder what his ways are. The Lord has clearly blessed him with good genes and a solid musculature. I shall make a note to converse with him at length about his personal routine. It'll be good to talk gains with an outsider's perspective.'

Loroc drew close to the two men and stopped just short of them and waited for them to acknowledge his presence. He figured there's no sense in interrupting the discussion between the two men, and that one of them would eventually bring him into the conversation at some point.​

 

[Cadmius Clairmonte]

Ethinius Hillmire​

HP: 3 (6/6)
AHP: 80/80
ATK: 2(+0)
DEF: 4(+0)
MGC: 12(+0)
SPD: 3(+0)
Loadout 1: (1d6+ATK)
Loadout 2: Lesser Magical Implement ​

Ethinius Hillmire
Astral Summoner​

It was a liberating sight to see Ethinius riding his great behemoth Minorias as they leapt between floating ruins, unbound and free. Meanwhile, Venn and Tohnas were left at the top of the bridge conversing before a monk with impressive gains. As Venn finished his last question, an enormous behemoth hurled past the top of the bridge, landing with an Earth-shaking crash. It settled at the start of the bridge, bowing its head to reveal a heavily armored character riding it. He gracefully dismounted, and after hopping off one of its horns, the behemoth disappeared into a violet mist and flowed into his hand, leaving a faint aura around it. As the three around the figure recovered from the tremor, he took off his helmet and revealed a young man possessing a soft face, round rosy cheeks, and light brown hair with blue eyes. "Hello everyone! Fantastic ride that was ha-ha! Great jump at the end too. Terribly sorry if I startled you. Glad to meet you! I am Ethinius Hillmire! I'm here for the... uh... Dogs of Direhold! Are you members? Can you tell me your names?"

 

[Powerful Labyrinth]

"Semper Vigilo"​

Brother Venn
Order of the Vigilant Shroud​

*CRASH!*

As the smoke cleared to reveal an enormous creature, surely not of the mortal world, Venn's senses heightened, yet he stood like a statue as the wind and dust swept his sashes around him. This was no ordinary creature, if it had meant them harm it would have landed closer. As Venn continued to study the beast, what looked like a knight swept himself off of its back and gracefully onto the ground. As he approached, Venn heard another figure approaching from behind him but decided to keep his gaze on this armored figure, who was potentially the greater threat.

The knight squared up and removed his helmet, revealing a very young man. In truth not many years younger than himself, but soft and untempered, an obvious lack of battle experience. However, the beast behind this man was great and powerful by any account. To tame a beast such as this, and earn its respect, showed a force of will that few possessed. Venn would reserve total judgement of this man until after he had seen his skill in battle firsthand.

As Venn turned around to acknowledge the other person approaching, he was pleased to find familiar features on the man before him. He was a large man with a bald head, no doubt possessed of a great physical strength, with blue tattoos covering his arms and probably his torso. The man had a smirk on his face like he might always have something humorous to say. This man was one of good cheer in harsh times, despite the telltale marks of hardship upon his face. He was an older man, and carried himself with a sense of respect. Most likely he belonged to another, perhaps lesser known, order of holy monks. This thought was encouraging but also worrisome. He would most definitely prove capable on the battlefield, but should a disagreement arise between this man and himself, they would both be bound by holy tenets to destroy each other. 'I hope that never comes to pass' Thought Venn to himself.

As these men approached from either side, Venn thought not of introductions, he only turned his gaze upon the nearby keep, eager to finally assess the condition of their soon to be defenses. 'But that will surely have to wait. If I am to live amongst this company for the foreseeable future, It would behoove me to indulge them in pleasantries and the like.' And so Venn waited, for these men would surely want to have a lengthy conversation and introductions that he deemed unnecessary. The true audit of a man's worth was made on the battlefield, and after so much travelling, such is what he longed for at this moment. And so he waited...

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Irritated​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

Okay, so the messengers knew their shit; not one recruit made it to the Astral on time but three. And they were able bodied, too! The second recruit was an older gentleman, but built like the self-proclaimed Brother Venn and somehow cheerier looking. Perhaps his age gave him a wise and wonderful temperament? Regardless, students of any martial or holy order were always welcome and would most likely prove useful in the missions to come. Which wasn't to say that the heavily armored stranger Ethin with his mythical horned beast leaping from floating ruins wasn't impressive, Tohnas simply felt the need to give the two monks some extra points (he didn't want to hold any above the other, after all) to make it seem a little fair. The Dog roster was looking incredibly strong right now.

'Out-fucking-standing.' Tohnas thought gleefully.​

Wait, had he been slack jawed this whole time staring at his recruits? Gods, how embarrassing.​

The Sergeant took a moment to straighten himself and regain the composure he had lost in the humble and awe inspiring introductions of these men. There was a tremor to him still, but that was normal; he had always been that way. "Brother Venn, no need-- the seal on your scroll is well known to The Great Union. I would think that one monk seems a small contribution, but I'm sure your brothers sent a man worth one hundred men instead of one hundred men worth none." Tohnas spoke out, "Ethinius Hillmire, you have been expected as well, but I'm impressed you made it so quickly! That fantastic beast must move like the wind-- I didn't receive the hawk that spoke of your coming arrival yet! And you, my good man, you seem wise beyond your years and I must say-- your pecs are looking quite chiseled. I haven't seen a torso like that since I visited the statues of Kolamar. I must know your name, good sir!"

"I am Tohnas Veldregen, Sergeant of the Guard!" He continued, clearly carried away in his signature, flowery speeches, "I am not the Commander, who is currently attending mandatory meetings and attending training at the Capitol, but I am the leader of the enlisted soldiers here and your new superior. While you are not mere soldiers, you will still answer to me and we will work together to achieve success in this campaign. I am nearing my thirtieth Winter and I have been a strategist raised from noble beginnings. My greatest achievement was executing the end of 'The War of Clovers', a summer long civil war in the eastern Kingdoms. A lesser war, but a war nonetheless. You may address me as Sergeant Veldregen."

"But there are also pressing matters we must attend to quickly." Tohnas corrected himself, "I'm sure you guessed, but this bridge isn't Direhold and neither is Camp Highwind behind me. Direhold..."

And with this he turned and pointed at a distant castle ruin on the other side of the bridge with a sweeping gesture, "...is right there. I'm sorry for the misleading information you were given, but we don't control anything but this floating piece of shit in the Astral right now. We've been waiting here a week for the Dogs to show up because we're in need of your unique talents to take it back and begin our operations here in the Astral. Do you understand? Are you ready to work right now? I'm sorry for how sudden this is, but war waits for no-one."

 

[Cadmius Clairmonte]

Ethinius Hillmire​

​

​

Ethinius Hillmire
Astral Summoner​

"It might be nice, for a change - to belong somewhere. This could be what I've been looking for!" Ethinius thought to himself, musing about spending nights with the Dogs of Direhold telling stories and enjoying company after a day of valiantly defending against astral dangers.

Ethinius turned to Tohnas and spoke, "So I'm at the right place then, finally back in the astral once more. So we're it? We are the Dogs of Direhold? What a grand lot if I say so myself!" While jokingly standing at attention, Ethinius saluted Tohnas "I'm ready to work at a moment's notice, SIR!" and chuckled heartily. "Lets get down to business!" Ethinius said as he reached a hand out to pat the silent bald monk on the back.​

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Irritated​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

"Your enthusiasm is refreshing, Ethin, but I didn't mean at this exact moment." Tohnas replied, his left hand running through his beard thoughtfully "I'd love to get to work right now, but after traveling for days you must be tired and hungry. Sending you in when you're not at your best seems like amateur tripe. We'll do it tomorrow or even the day after, depending on circumstances. I have forward scouts probing Direhold for vulnerabilities, so we're mostly waiting on their information to begin. In the meantime, we'll drop gear in the camp, get some of Boulder's famous Dwarven stew, and get to know each other a little better before we begin operations. We're going to have to work as a team from here on out, so we'd best start acting like one from the start. Wouldn't you agree?"

 

[Brother Loroc]

Spirit Monk​

HP: 11 (22/22)
AHP: 0
ATK: 4 (+0)
DEF: 3 (+0)
MGC: 1 (+0)
SPD: 2 (+0)
Loadout 1: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]
Loadout 2: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]​

​

​

Brother Loroc
"Focus, breath, and SICK FLEXES."​

"I thank you for your compliment sir! I am Brother Loroc of the Order of Gains! We are a small order that keeps to ourselves! I would agree with young Ethinius here, engaging in jolly cooperation would be the best course of action for all present!" Loroc's voice boomed with a projection that seemed as if it might have been unintentional. He slapped Ethinius on the back heartily, crossed his arms, and gave a hearty chuckle. "I daresay it would be nice to have a little chat after the many long days of journeying! I am curious particularly of you Brother Venn, as well as to what sorts of training your order uses! Ah if only to be twenty years younger again! Lead the way Tohnas!"​

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Anxious​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

With small introductions and merry making to send them off, Tohnas led the newly welcomed Dogs Ethinius, Brother Venn, and Brother Loroc to Camp Highwind after many minutes of walking. The chilly winds that whipped the small stones across the surface of the massive bridge did nothing to stall the rising morale that was fueled by the presence of strong men; with their talents combined, Direhold was as good as captured already! After an hour of dropping gear and issuing privates to help set up their tents, the starlight that kept this strange realm lit ebbed and left the Astral Plane to slowly sink into a variable amount of darkness. It was during these twilight hours that our party found themselves at the feet of a roaring fire with a meaty stew bubbling and frothing above it that Tohnas saw the opportunity to speak frankly to the Dogs once more.

* * * * *​

"As you all know..." the Sergeant began while haphazardly sloshing stew into a wooden bowl, "...we're looking to take Direhold so we can set up a military presence in the Astral. Most of the scouts have returned with news about how we can best approach and seize the fortress using your small group. While we're heavily looking into retrieving the two scouts who did not return, we have an opportunity to plan our attack. Our first and foremost objective will be to open the gatehouse so we can send the troops we do have to slaughter it's defenders. According to our intel, there's a significant number of... crab people? Fish people? Some sort of crusty water dwelling species of monster folk that have infested the fortress. They appear to be primitive and lacking a strong command structure, so they should be easy enough to overwhelm and destroy with strategy."

"Now, I know you're thinking, 'Why not just break down the gate?' but I have an answer for that." Tohnas said, shaking a wooden spoon at Brother Loroc, "We did. We tried battering it down, we tried breaking it down, but nothing worked. There's something blocking the gate from the inside that's making it impossible to get inside. Not to mention the gate's encrusted with a dense layer of barnacles and sea water that has turned the wood stonelike. It's impervious to our tools. We need you gentlemen to sneak inside, open the gate, and join us in the fray. We don't have the resources to stray from this mission, so DO NOT try anything else while you're in there for fuck's sake. We don't need any heroes here, just good soldiers!"

 

[Powerful Labyrinth]

"Semper Vigilo"​

Brother Venn
Order of the Vigilant Shroud​

As all this was happening, Venn was contemplating his new companions. An introspection came over him. Until this point, when given an assignment by the Order, he had acted with the surety of the Order's reputation behind him. He would arrive at the area specified and simply expect compliance with his wishes. He knew that anyone who did not do as he had wished would afterward have to deal with the enmity of the Order, and all the displeasures such brings with it. Now however, he was not so sure.

It came upon him that in any part of the world of mortal men, such a thing would be true, here though. This place was far beyond the purview of the Order. Here, he was alone. Here, he did not have the safety of a compliant rabble, here he had only himself and the men around him. These men, who were all just like him. Who had come to this place with a purpose, so far away from everything they had ever known. Even the weakest of heart here would be worth ten men of iron will anywhere else, simply for that fact.

These men were not brothers to him, perhaps one day but not now. And yet they were all he had. If he was to succeed here, he would need more than himself and a compliant nobility. He would need these men. With this realization in mind, and with renewed sense of purpose at the onset of such a task, he raised his eyes from the fire"By what route did your scouts take? If we have a clear route inside we will have more chance of success, and will be more likely to find them."

 

[Cadmius Clairmonte]

Ethinius Hillmire​

​

​

Ethinius Hillmire
Astral Summoner​

Ethinius went eagerly around the camp conversing with the soldiers and gathering their names, all the while keeping a general ear on Tohnas's words. "It's important to know my comrades, surely it'll help us work together. Plus, if we're all friendly with one another, morale will surely be better!" he thought to himself. They were discussing the mission: reclaiming Direhold in order to create a military presence in the astral plane.

After enough time promoting himself, Ethinius decided to join the conversation, wondering how he could contribute. "If we need to sneak in, what if I made a distraction? I mean, I'm not exactly stealthy in case you hadn't noticed the bulkiness of my armor. But it sounds like it could work. You said the enemy is some fish-like creatures, and that they're disorganized and simple of mind. I bet me and my behemoth would easily be able to get all of their attention, giving the opportunity for the others to sneak in. Me and Minorias could leap over the gate to a different side of the fort, and gather them there while dodging blows. Meanwhile, with their backs turned, the gates fling wide open and soldiers rush in! The fishmen absolutely gobsmacked and caught in the middle of the fray, a great behemoth on one side, and on the other a company of hardy warriors! ...I don't know how you all feel about it though."​

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Anxious​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

Ethinius' thoughtful approach to meet with the soldiers he would one day fight alongside proved to be a boon to the Dogs; while the overall opinion of the new "heroes" went up, the flagging morale of the soldiers camped on the cold bridge went up significantly. PVT Truffles and PVT Wynnter in particular were left with very good impressions of Ethin who appears to not only be in excellent control of his beast but also a very kind and caring owner, things these two soldiers hold very highly in others. The popular rumors that the Dogs would be full of uppity assholes who thought they were better than everyone else was quickly squashed with the social initiative that Ethin took. Among the troops, he is already earning a nickname: Ethin the Eager. During the next battle that Ethin is present to fight with the men, they with all gain a +1 to damage.

* * * * *​

"There were six scouts, three teams of two, Brother Venn." the Sergeant replied quickly "The first pair sidled along the right side gatehouse wall and entered through a crack in a tower. They did not return. The second pair sidled along the left side and removed an iron grate blocking a tunnel. This team discovered an underground tunnel system, but encountered traps and no enemies. They left quickly, so the use of the tunnels is not clear to us. The third pair climbed the walls alongside the gatehouse using embedded bolts and natural handholds and entered through the top of the wall, but experienced heavy resistance and fled."

"That idea could work Ethinius, but we don't know the enemy numbers or if there's even a path for you to escape afterwards." Tohnas continued thoughtfully, staring into his stew like it held all of the answers, "They might be simple, but they're still organized enough to have patrols and defend a fortress. They're just smart and numbered enough to pose a threat. A distraction will be good, but I would feel safer if we could keep your team together during this operation. I am open to other ideas, though."

Quest: Take the Gatehouse

According to the scout's reports, there are three ways in and each will have a different combination of dangers on their pathway to the Gatehouse as well as optional objectives that will endanger your lives and reputations with Tohnas at the cost of extra spoils and levels. If you can complete the base quest to take the gatehouse, each participant will gain 5 levels. The level of resistance will be variable and there may or may not be sub-bosses or boss monsters along the way. Make your decisions carefully-- there's not many opportunities to heal or even retreat in the field!

 

[Powerful Labyrinth]

"Semper Vigilo"​

Brother Venn
Order of the Vigilant Shroud​

Venn then stood up, walking silently among the men, giving them determined nods and wordless encouragements on how to hold and swing their weapons. Putting steel in their eyes if ever a man could with such small actions. Over to Ethinius he walked, staring into his cheerful face. The face of bravery and youth, glowing with the tiny smirk of confidence upon his lips. It was a look Venn had seen before in many of the younger brothers of his own order. In the past that look would have given him hope, in the past he may have worn that smile himself. But now he did not smile, the look evoked another emotion entirely: fear. Fear that such confidence would be a quick undoing to those who did not use caution alongside it. The same fear he had seen in so many of those young brothers' eyes before it was extinguished forever.

"Your bravery is admirable, but do not let complacency cloud your judgement. One man, no matter how strong and whatever beast may follow, is no match for an army. But do not be discouraged, your thoughts are not without merit. Perhaps there is some way to distract what enemies we can while we make our way quietly inside. Sergeant, you spoke of an area laden with traps. Would it be possible for a few men to activate them safely in such a way that may distract some of these creatures toward it, and then flee themselves to join the main force? Meanwhile we make our way through the crack in the gatehouse tower, looking for a way to open the gate and simultaneously searching for any clue as to our missing scouts. A small group of men might be able to sneak in while the rest quietly await the opening of the gate. And if luck may hold then the attention of the enemy will be diverted somewhere else entirely.

Venn looked around to the men, gauging the responses on their features with his words to Ethinius. "With the knowledge at hand, I believe this to be the best course of action, and should we so choose I for one will be going for the gatehouse. Who else would accompany me on this task?" Venn's voice striking out to the hearts of the men, in his own soft spoken sort of way. The fire in his own heart doing all it would to spread to the company now before him.

 

[Apple Thief]

Sergeant of the Guard​

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Half-Elf
Mood: Anxious​

Tohnas Veldregen
Liason to the Dogs of Direhold​

"I'm not sure if the traps are designed to alert the fish creatures to our presence, the scouts spoke of them as though they had already been there for some time. Whoever last held Direhold must have laid them... I wonder why they abandoned the fortress, though." Tohnas countered Brother Venn while carefully placing his empty stew bowl underneath his stool, "But I do like the idea of having your party take one way while a select group of soldiers take another direction. I'd forgotten I have a handful of notable soldiers that could make the trip. They might even get to the gatehouse before you, haha!"

"Also, the distraction thing you keep bringing up." the Sergeant added, now pacing back and forth in front of the crackling fire, "Our main forces will be preparing to besiege the fortress while we wait for the gate to open. We have a handful of siege gear and plenty of arrows to distract them with. The idea is for the soldiers we have to hold their attention while one or two strike teams disable their primary defense and the rest of us swarm in and use superior equipment and strategy to win the battle. You'll join us quickly as you can, flanking the enemy from the fortress and massacring whatever fish people are left. That's the idea anyway, not sure how this whole thing will actually go down."

 

[Brother Loroc]

Spirit Monk​

HP: 11 (22/22)
AHP: 0
ATK: 4 (+0)
DEF: 3 (+0)
MGC: 1 (+0)
SPD: 2 (+0)
Loadout 1: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]
Loadout 2: (1H/1H) [4d8*2]​

​

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Brother Loroc
"Focus, breath, and SICK FLEXES."​

"Well it sounds like you're still planning how to most easily take this fortress back! I'm not much of a soldier, I've only been sent to provide assistance in any way that I can! If you find that Venn is right and the best course of action would be to sneak in with a small contingent then I would like to volunteer to help in this task!" Loroc boomed as he set down his fifth bowl of stew. "I'll let you all decide what the best course of action would be! If you find that you need my help then I shall be happy to provide it!" After a respectful bow, he took his leave and made his way to his tent to meditate and begin his evening workout.​