#this is silas he is a half elf rogue and i love him

[noroniko]

Become Your OC

[samsbastardzone]

Hey, you know that 35 d&d questions ask meme? I answered all of them.

This is a long ass post. Be warned. It took up seven and a half pages in google docs. Original post here.

1. A favorite character you have played.

Would have to be Zize Fortier, dragonborn gunslinger. Their tag on this blog is #zize and you can find their bio and info on my character page. Love that bastard!! He’s sweet and bratty and a total delight to play (we are such an OP party, y’all).

2. Your favorite character that someone else has played.

UM UM gonna talk about a few here. To be fair to people I play a *lot* of games with, I’m only gonna  talk about one PC per person.

- The bastard trio in my Wildemount game– @toomanyorphans ’s Nakoria, @overplannedbutunnamednpc ‘s Zier (also an NPC in the campaign Zize is in), and @glasyasbutch ‘s Nissy. They all really suck so bad but in SUCH funny ways. They’re varying degrees of self centered and awful, but we trust each other in this campaign, and those 3 players are SO funny in their RP.

- (RIP) Avri in my Wildemount game. They and Bly named each other,,,,  they were parent and child…… VERY sweet. huge goliath with tiny bird in backpack.

- @bekahdoesnershit ‘s Raini. Zize’s BFF, and her tag on that blog is rich. She’s SUCH a bitch but we love her.

- @bhissar ‘s Saela. She is a dream character for me to DM for– very little fleshed out backstory with room to explore, with still-concrete events in it. Consistent character choices and personality, to the point I can sometimes predict what she’ll do. Very cool aesthetically. And overall? EXTREMELY sweet. Baby, baby bird.

3. Your favorite side quest.

Either the one going on right now in amnesia, where we have to collect brain matter from big powerful elementals, or the stop we made at a family of vampires in Acarnya (the one I played Osfyr in).

4. Your current campaign.

There are five of those, with two on hold. 

-Wildemount, aka the Frozen Sick module from Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount (we’re almost done with that, my PC is Bly). 

-Amnesia campaign aka high level campaign: we woke up in hell with no memories! PC is Zize. 

-Hoard of the Dragon Queen module, near the beginning of that, PC is Pointy. 

-Horror campaign, only two sessions so far, but we’re trapped in an alternate dimension carrying out tasks for a creepy dude. PC is Vinny. 

-Kithan, where we’re high level monster hunting guild members searching  out ancient artifacts of the gods (campaign based on the Monster Hunter games), PC is Topaz.

-Silas, party is currently trying to help dragons free themselves and stop a… dude? No spoilers! I DM. On hold because I had too many campaigns going at once.

-Silas v2: extremely vaguely based on the plot of season one of the web series Carmilla. A tweaked version of the first arc the Silas party went through. On hold because it was played in person at school.

5. Favorite NPC.

I don’t really have any NPCs in my campaigns that I’m super attached to, except– Nikeo, a goliath rogue PC in Silas 1, had many adopted children. Three of them– kobolds– sometimes stand on each others’ shoulders, put on a long coat, and help out around their parent’s store. They’ve named themselves Koby.

As for favorite NPCs in campaigns I’ve played, I can think of… a lot. The first is Laurel, a blue dragonborn loner type who followed Osfyr and friends in Acarnya. They were kind of broody and dark, but they really drew me in. They were the first NPC we really talked to– they were sitting on top of the post office laughing at the mob scene of people protesting not getting their mail delivered.

I’d also pick Osfyr’s partners in that campaign– Yelkian, a backstory love interest I came up with, a flamboyant soft sorcerer. Jupiter, politician’s niece, who took pity on Osfyr’s attempts to seduce information out of her and let them succeed on both counts (seduction and information). Xerxes, extra AF rogue with a big loving family, who swept in after a fight on the back of an eagle-wildshaped Brysth (npc druid). 

There’s a blue dragon in the HOTDQ campaign that we don’t know much about. I really enjoyed the way @dungeonsanddraconicqueer played him. He’s just a dude! Lex’s warlock made a Deal with him to leave the town alone. We still don’t know the implications of that. It’s fine, guys.

And then, there’s Stewart the Skin Steward, a servant of False Mystra. Fun dude.  Very cavalier– nigh, enthusiastic!– about the fact that his entire city was made of skin. Something of a skin connoisseur, in fact!

6. Favorite death (monster, player character, NPC, etc).

Saela, hands down. She got breathed on by a dragon, yo. We then had to stop playing for 4-5 months because a player lost access to the Internet. I wrote a vision/speech from her warlock patron, the Raven Queen, the night she died, and basically didn’t touch it until I read it out in game. It involved a confession that the Queen was  tired of being a god, and showing Saela all the lives she’d touched. Then we used Matt Mercer’s rez rules for her. She came back– but it was her choice.

7. Your favorite downtime activity.

Fucking tinkering dude!!! I don’t get to do it enough as Zize and that is entirely my fault. @ morgan, eyes emoji

8. Your favorite fight/encounter.

I LOVE creepy shit. There was a train car with people dancing in it, and party members got enchanted to dance along and eat the food,  and the revelers were clearly in pain, and snuffing out a candle caused a reveler to disappear. Creepy shit!

In Kithan, we had to climb a staircase, and we timed it with produce flame which is a 10 minute duration cantrip, and we were climbing for 50 minutes. We started to see things in the edges of our vision. Then someone realized it was an illusion, and it all vanished. It freaked me out so bad.

In amnesia campaign, at level 19, we were traversing a cave, and our shadows started dripping the same black goop we were there to investigate. We killed one and it took down the max hp of the person whose shadow it was, and then they straight up didn’t have a shadow until they long rested. It really freaked us out, realizing the shadows were actually creatures, but they were like CR 1. Really effective use of a low level monster.

9. Your favorite thing about D&D.

The way it has something for everyone… the way it’s brought me so many friends… the way it’s inspired my OC creation like nothing else.

10. Your favorite enemy and the enemy you hate the most.

I’m not sure if this is asking about NPCs I’ve had as enemies, or any monster in D&D canon? The longest campaign I played in didn’t have long term enemies  per se. I’d say I was frustrated with the cultists that ambushed us last session in HOTDQ,  but I didn’t hate them! I just couldn’t seem to hit or dodge them. As for a favorite… probably False Mystra: the demon lord Orcus who’d taken over  the position, and therefore the duties, of Mystra, the god of arcane magic.  We killed it,  but then whoopso!! Our wizard lost her powers.

11. How often do you play and how often would you ideally like to play?

I play an ideal amount, honestly: four times a week, for about 2.5-3 hours a session. HOTDQ Tuesdays, Kithan and horror campaign switching off Wednesdays, Wildemount Thursdays cause we miss CR, Amnesia Sundays.

12. Your in game inside jokes/memes/catchphrases and where they came from.

Amnesia: Yocheved, the party barbarian/full time fish, has a secret third arm and/or a prosthetic ass. Cylthia, the druid, does arson (but actually). Relentless is a Crown paladin, so she puts her fingers in her ears when we do crime/lie. She also has a rod of lordly might that, immediately post amnesia, she made into a 32 foot climbing pole. Yocheved eats pounds and pounds of raw fish for every meal.

Wildemount: just the shenanigans and sabotaging each other that the Bastard Trio get into. Example: Nissy was tasked with buying Zier a cloak for cold weather and purposely got him an  ugly one. Zier then prestidigitated it to be a nicer color.

13. Introduce your current party.

Oh boy, I have 6 of those. Here goes. Keep in mind many of these characters are played and games are DMed by my friends who have OC blogs of their own: Raini and Ayen are bekahdoesnerdshit, Ezra, Nissy, and Roona are glasyasbutch, Horror DM, Lent, Eve, and Nakoria are toomanyorphans, Wildemount DM, Saela, Daecyne, and Cylthia are bhissar, HOTDQ DM is dungeonsanddraconicqueer, and Amnesia DM, Zier, Nyxi, and Sarril are overplannedbutunnamednpc. Not an OC blog, but Yocheved, Avri, Arbor, Thraf, Nikeo, and Whisper are mickgoesabsolutelyhamforbarbie.

Amnesia (Zize): Lent, tiefling paladin, former crownsguard who “fell” (became an oathbreaker), then un-fell when we lost our memories. Cylthia, tiefling/elf druid who can shift between tiefling and elf forms and loves setting things on fire. Yocheved, 14 foot tall nereid (fishfolk) barbarian with a dry sense of humor, is the party parent. And Raini, aasimar wizard, sass machine and Zize’s bff.

HOTDQ. My PC is Pointy. Ezra, quiet human paladin. Theata, moon elf rogue. Freya, sweet (human?) light cleric who sometimes misreads situations. Eve, 13 year old (!!) human warlock who kinda sucks, but like, she’s 13. Nyxi, motherly gnome bard who Is going to adopt Pointy. 

Wildemount (Bly): Alene, human barbarian. Quiet and with somewhat of a parent instinct. Some sort of Mysterious Backstory. Delta, aasimar rogue, similarly shady backstory? Unclear. Sticks with Alene. Nissy, drow rune knight, sucks. Zier, drow sorcerer, also sucks. Nakoria, dragonborn warlock, ALSO sucks. (Those three make up the Bastard Trio.) Avri (F for them), goliath bard and Avri’s guardian, died last session by falling on a floor full of knives. 

Horror campaign (Vinny): Roona, halfling bard, very impulsive, eats exclusively with her spoon that says ASS, and chills in Vinny’s fanny pack. Ayen, elven teenage warlock with a dark backstory. Sarril, Ayen’s not-dad, half elf beast barbarian who got it from his wife. Arbor, dryad  monk, who wears an all white plague doctor outfit at all times.

Silas v1 (DM), Original party before 1 left and 1 died: Hacka (RIP), human luchador-styled drunken monk. Nikeo (left), goliath rogue with so many adopted children. Inferno, fire genasi paladin/phoenix sorcerer with anger and impulse control issues. Saela, babiest aarakocra warlock of the Raven Queen. Hacka’s player now plays Voda, a stoic water genasi tempest cleric who cast Raise Dead successfully on Saela. Nikeo’s player now plays Whisper, a tabaxi astral soul monk.

Kithan (Topaz): Thraf, monsterborn (universe-compliant dragonborn) barbarian. Very social, very outgoing, very stupid, and very traumatized. Fucks majorly. Daecyne, sweet tiefling druid and Topaz’s good friend. Viosa, aasimar homebrew class I forget the name of, uses her small stature and allure to her advantage. Damur, half-orc eldritch knight, the party’s only braincell.

14. Introduce any other parties you have played in or DM-ed.

Acarnya. My PC was Osfyr. Soraphine, traumatized halfling bard. Azalea, human fighter. Durzuell, haughty high elf sorcerer. James, nerdy half elf wizard. Drago, erratic Russian dragonborn monk. Kairon, slightly edgy ranger/paladin (but we love him). 

Nordenheim. My PC was Cap. I will admit: we only played 2 or 3 sessions, so I don’t really remember  most of the other party members except Rory, a fire genasi ranger who almost burned to death.

Silas v2 (hopefully will continue; I DMed): Kysseris IV. Half-elf paladin, uptight. Tower 1-6, warforged wizard who crawled out of the desert and is looking for info on how he was made. Mae “Pock”, gnome rogue, very small and  sweet. Josh, human trickery cleric, kind of an asshole, but in a way that’s funny and hasn’t bled over into IRL annoying.

[school] West Marches campaign (Ner): by the nature of West Marches, there was never a consistent party, but a few stood out to me. Red Foot, a hyperactive kobold sorcerer who’s level 8 against all West Marches odds. Lyra, Great Old One warlock of Tzee’Mhor, an abomination goat that a party I was in accidentally created. Fildo Baggins, divination wizard who can only affect allies whose toenail clippings he has in his vial.

15. Do you have snacks during game times?

Hell yeah babey!!! I mostly play digitally, especially during COVID, and I need something to munch after DMing for a while. Shit’s exhausting.

16. Do you play online or in person? Which do you prefer?

Welp! Online mostly, since everyone I want to play with has the audacity to live far away, and now exclusively online because of COVID.

17. What are some house rules that your group has?

Our Amnesia party is so rich that we just don’t keep track of money. In Kithan, a lot of rules that make characters less powerful are just… abolished (like the bonus action spell rule). (The DM likes super OP characters so she can throw SUPER OP monsters at us.  My character has a necklace that gives 5 additional uses of channel divinity.)

18. Does your party keep any pets?

Nope. No opportunities for them. Zize’s party has a little water snake on the druid’s arm but I doubt that will last very long.

19. Do you or your party have any dice superstitions?

Absolutely. Cursed dice get j a i l.

20. How did you get into D&D? How long have you been playing?

Acarnya got me into d&d, it was my first campaign, and it was happening at the place I lived. I’ve been playing almost 2 years. (Critical Role inspired me to DM)

21. Have you ever regretted something your character has done?

Not sent a fucking letter to say goodbye to their boyfriend before the world-fate-deciding bullshit that was gonna happen and possibly destroy shit. It was fine in the end though!

22. What color was your first dragon?

Red. Man, that guy sucked, he almost killed Osfyr. We were investigating a monastery secretly run by dragons disguised as humans.

23. Do you use premade modules or original campaigns?

Original campaigns. I’ve never run a module before! I’m not opposed, but most of my campaigns came from ideas  that I had. I’ve never been short on ideas for a game.

24. How much planning/preparation do you do for a game?

As a player, I just open my character sheet and get out dice. As a DM, I try and think about what material I want to get through this session, and write some narration and/or stat things out if I feel like it.

For DMs

25. What have your players done that you never could have planned for?

A lot of times, Inferno has rushed into battle from what I’d built as a stealth mission, and gotten her ass and sometimes the party’s asses kicked. I should really have learned by now.

26. What was your favorite scene to write and show your characters?

Definitely Saela’s resurrection ritual and vision.

27. Do you allow homebrew content?

Yes! I’ll check it first,  but I’m all for expanding the boundaries. I homebrew items and monsters all the time, why shouldn’t my payers get to homebrew their shit?

28. How often do you use NPCs in a party?

Too often in my first arc. I had like 7 NPCs running around at all times (they were Carmilla characters). Super not recommended. I have 0 right now.

29. Do you prefer RP heavy sessions or combat sessions?

I’m still finding my groove with RP as a DM. I like encouraging my players to RP amongst themselves. I consider myself fairly good at combat on both sides of the equation, DM and player, so that’s always fun to me, especially when my players enjoy it too.

30. Are your players diplomatic or murder hobos?

I have one actively reforming murder hobo player, the rest are diplomatic. (The character, Inferno, is having a great growth arc. I’m super proud.)

For Players

31. What is your favorite class? Favorite race?

I fucking love genasi as a concept. Favorite class would have to be rogue or cleric, but gunslinger’s up there too.

32. What role do you like to play the most? (Tank/healer/etc?)

I  honestly don't have the patience to not play DPS. I love doing lots of damage. Healing is satisfying, support is satisfying, but there’s a reason I picked rogue twice and tempest cleric over other domains.

33. How do you write your backstory, or do you even write a backstory?

Sometimes the backstory is part of the character concept– especially for Pointy, because I had the name first, then went hmm why would she have this name. Almost always, though, more backstory gets written during the campaign when I have an idea. Sometimes a character will act in a way I don’t expect, and it’s fun thinking of a justification to fill backstory gaps.

34. Do you tend to pick weapons/spells for being useful or for flavor?

Mostly  usefulness honestly. I’ll make choices among several for flavor, but I’m a big proponent of using mechanics to build character. What I mean is, think about Magnus in TAZ Balance– his protection fighting style contributed a lot to the way Travis played him as a protective person. I love that shit.

35. How much roleplay do you like to do?

I like to do a lot, but unfortunately my  energy is pretty down lately so I haven’t been doing as much.

[ranjxtul]

Illusion

Spoilers for Dalen’s Closet 

Ao3 Link: Illusion

She watches her family celebrate, a small smile resting on her face. This is a joyous occasion, truly. To see Percy and Vex as happy as they are, to see Grog and Pike drinking and having fun together, to see Scanlan entertaining and flitting around, being the life of the party that he’s meant to be is a gift she supposes.

All of it’s a gift really, to be here still, after everything that everyone’s gone through. A part of her wonders if this is real, or if this family is just a feverish illusion and that she’ll wake with a jolt. She knows for the most part this is nonsensical; Vox Machina has proven time and time again that they love her, that they’re real.

Life can be illusory, Keyleth knows though.That’s why the small insidious part of her mind that whispers that her family may not be real and she doesn’t deserve this still lives on. It thrived when she lost Vax'ildan. Logically, she knew it was his price to pay and there was nothing she could do about it, but, in moments of self doubt and loneliness, that remnant of her old self buts its way through to taint the vivacious, strong, flower she’s become.

It’s almost as if she can never kill that part of herself that believes she doesn’t deserve to be happy. She thinks of Vax, and of the innocents whose deaths she’s had a hand in and wilts further into the visage of her former self.

Vax especially encouraged her to live and forgive herself. He helped her want to live the life she deserved and he stood up for her. He helped guide her, and she wishes he still could.

She’s a strong leader, and she always will be. She is the Voice of the Tempest and the ruler of Zepharh. However, she understands that without Vax’s influence she would not have become what she is today. Without her family too, she wouldn’t be the person she is. She’d still be that shy, awkward girl she was.

In her present situation, she is both lost and found. When the ground shakes in Zepharh, she looks to her side for the rogue she loves so much, only to find an empty space. Where he should be is a void of deafening silence amongst whatever chaos is stirring her panic. She is strong enough to lead on her own, and she has for a year. Keyleth also knows she does a damn good job of leading. She simply wishes she could see the face of the one she loves, to ask for his encouraging words and to know that she is not alone.

The redhead thinks of his words only hours ago, telling her to move on. Even now, having said a more finite goodbye, she doesn’t know if she can. It’s all so uncertain. Before him, the concept of soulmates was completely unbelievable, but now, looking at the situation, perhaps Vax’ildan was her soulmate. Of course, this could be coming from a place of raw emotion. After all, seeing your dead loved one again, even if for a tender moment is jarring. The half-elf considers, new love is out there, but is she ready to find it?

Vax is her first love and that’s special to her. He is also part of the family she now has. Looking at the scene before her, she would die for these people. Pike, Scanlan, Grog, Vex, Percy.

They’re the people she loves more than anything, but she knows they can’t and won’t be around all the time when she needs them for something, especially something trivial. She’s learning to be alone, but that doesn’t erase the fear and insecurity that crawl in the pits of her stomach still. A leader has to be strong and good, not fearful.

She’ll do anything she can to aid those who need it, but she’s aware of her flaws. Keyleth finds herself wondering occasionally if she’s unbalanced as a leader, but that doubt thankfully dissipates. She’s ruled Zepharh well and succeeded on many diplomatic missions. She is fulfilling her role as the Voice of the Tempest.

The druid is succeeding. She has a family and she has a tribe and people who love her. This is the part of Keyleth that is found, that she’s sure of. She’s happy despite still healing. The juxtaposing lost and secure feelings provide an uncomfortable contrast she prefers not to ruminate on because it ultimately leads to uncertainty.

Instead, Keyleth does her utmost to focus on the present and channel her energy into whatever task is at hand. In doing so, she can honor her title, her family, her love, and herself. The present is the wedding on the cliff though, and as guests mingle, Keyleth sits with her wine and spectates.

Scanlan and Pike have already asked her to dance and she’s put it off until a bit later for favor of taking the scene in. The soft, warmly lit night is a welcome contrast to the image of Vex’s body at the bottom of the sea, lifeless. To think, they’d come this far, and grown so far and once again, someone died. Thank god for Pike.

Vex is a perfect example of the fragility of life, she supposes. It’s unfair, the circumstances of her temporary death (not that Keyleth expected anything else from Silas), the Ranger fought so hard under the water only to die. Death’s indeterminacy is unfair, she thinks next. If Vex had died, Percy would be a widow and Vesper would be left without a mother. Her thoughts regarding death aren’t exactly angry, but they’re tired.

When Vax died, the rest of Vox Machina thought it was all over, and that they could begin to heal and go on living. No one imagined Silas to be alive and no one ever imagined that on the eve of Vex and Percy’s wedding he’d strike.

At least he’s actually dead now, and Keyleth doesn’t have to stumble through a speech in front of masses of people tomorrow. It’s ironic that a beautiful thing like a wedding can come at the end of such a perilous day. Silas’ day of intended destruction has turned into something absolutely beautiful, and that makes the druid feel a bit warm inside.

Her family is still here, and they have survived yet another trial. If only Vax had been at their side. The pang in her heart upon another thought of Vax isn’t enough to distract from how much love she feels for her family. She then thinks of his promise, that he’s always there with them, and then of his reminder that he’s safe. That’s all she can ask: that he’s safe.

Vex’s voice pulls her out of her reverie then, “Dance with me?” asks the Ranger.

Keyleth blinks a few times before she can form a response, “Uh, yeah, though if Scanlan sees us dancing, he might try and steal me away,” she half jokes with a short laugh as she allows Vex to pull her up.

“Oh, I think he’s quite busy,” she nods toward the Bard in the corner. He’s talking to a small group of people, a flirty grin on his face.

Once properly on the dance floor Vex takes the lead to the slower music and the two fall into a pleasant but silent pace as they go. After a moment, the red head speaks up, “Could I ask you something?” She ventures.

“Hm?” Vex tilts her head in curiosity.

“Why’d you let me have time to speak to Vax today? It was your wedding gift,” her voice is soft, as if she’s unsure about broaching the topic.

A look of grief crosses the Ranger’s features for a split second before she answers, “Because I know how much he meant to you, and you’re my family, and besides, I think he would’ve regardless of if I attempted to monopolise his time.”

The latter half is a fair point. The rogue acknowledged the whole group at least once, but Keyleth had been able to hold him one last time, on Vex’s wedding day. The gesture in of itself was unfathomably kind. “Thank you,” she finally replies with a nod, hoping her voice conveys a semblance of the emotion she feels.

Vex simply nods, offering her sister a smile, who returns it. The day feels surreal and for a split second, her life feels extremely surreal. What if she wakes up and this has all been a dream?

It is then though, that Vex’s arms resting around her as they dance, remind her that this is reality. Every experience and every person she’s ever known all weave together to form the tapestry that is part of who she is. Parts of it are burned, yes, but it’s also beautiful and rich, it is her. She is Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest.      

[languageofdreams]

30 Questions on Silas Naïlo

(Art by @artbychromo, who is wonderful)

Name: Silas Naïlo

Race/Class: Half-elf Druid

His “look”: Surly forest boy... brown skin and freckles, dark brown/black curly hair, green eyes. Short and slim but tends to look like he's ready to start a fight. Dresses like you'd expect a city boy turned druid to dress

Age: He's twenty!!

Personality: Stubborn and grumpy and just a touch cynical on the outside but loyal and loving and mischievous on the inside. 

Clothing: Layers! Comfy shawls and sweaters!! Scarves and patches and pockets! A satchel with herbs and plants and books and pens!

Friendships: He grew up with a bunch of other kids around his age, and he probably considered a few friends. There weren't any druids close to him in age but he had a few mentors there. Beyond that, the party are all his best friends.

Goals: Silas is looking for his father, but more than that, he's looking for a place where he feels like he belongs. Nowadays he's also pretty focused on keeping Riley alive and safe and happy.

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Why adventure? He's been looking for his father, but by now the group is also. Sort of his family. He wouldn't just leave them.

Worst fear: Losing the people closest to him and not being able to do anything to stop it.

Hobbies: Silas reads a lot. He also practices the drums with Riley and cuddles enough with her for it to be considered a hobby

Party role: He ends up being one of the healers a lot of the time. Keeping the others safe is the number one priority, always.

Talents: He's good at getting into trouble. He's also perceptive as shit and it's hard to get things past him. I imagine he's also got quite a good green thumb.

Home town: Silas grew up in a small City called Ilragorn in the province of Byram

Parents: Silas’ father Aedan was a human druid that left the family to help his Grove shortly before Silas was born and was never able to return. He was sweet, curious, and a bit naïve. His mother Thia was an Elven rogue who raised him with love and affection and care for as long as she could, but was killed on a job when Silas was young. She was earnest, loving, and just a little bit cynical.

Siblings: Silas doesn't have any blood siblings, but the boy that took him into his home when he was just recently orphaned, Pip, grew to be like a brother to Silas. 

Childhood: Between the death of his mother and winding up on the streets, Silas’ childhood was hard. But there were good moments, too: his mother's love while she could still be there, Pip's companionship, all that he learned with the druids...

Love life: Silas fell hard and fast for Riley after he met her and tried to hide his feelings for a very long time, afraid. After she kissed him, all of that fear and uncertainty fell away. Now he can kiss her whenever he wants (which is often)

Any other family? His mother's best friend Elaric raised him for a year before he too passed away. Silas also considers the party his family at this point.

Thoughts about gold: Silas grew up in an environment where he had to learn to make very little gold stretch a very long way. It's hard for him to leave that mode, even to this day, and he's never quite sure what to do with his extra money besides giving it to someone who needs it more than him. Large sums of money aren't an interest to him, aside from thinking how many kids could eat for the next year with it.

His faith: Silas prays to Sehanine Moonbow, the elven goddess of the moon that his mother was a patron of. He doesn't consider himself particularly devoted, but sometimes it helps to talk to his mother's deity and hope she'll listen.

Enemies: He had a bad run-in with a general at a tavern that may come back to haunt him. Besides that and the evil cult... just anyone who tries to hurt the party, really

Role models: Some of the druid elders maybe….I also think he looks up to Riley for just. General life advice. He really admires her outlook on things.

Fondest memory: Some fuzzy memory with his mom, he and Riley's dances, his first kiss…..

Biggest flaw: Too hot-headed, too impulsive, too quick to jump in and defend someone when he could get hurt instead. And I only think that's his biggest flaw because it's the one most likely to get him killed.

Their beliefs: He believes in standing up for yourself and for others, he believes in protecting those you love, no matter what, he believes in his friends, he believes in Riley

Known languages: Common, Elvish, Druidic, Thieves Cant

Greatest regret: He knows his mother's death and Elaric's death weren't his fault, but I think a part of him will always wonder if he could have done anything….if he'd been older…..if his mom didn't have to take jobs to pay for stuff for him….

Any secrets? Not now that he's confessed to Riley :’)))

[cachememory]

13-15 for dnd asks!!!

13. Do you have a d&d character?

I do!!! I have several! My first was a drow arachnomancer named Sol’larra! And since then I’ve created: 

a tiefling blood hunter pirate, a moon elf rogue robin hood type, wood elf hermit druid, a half elf bard with 3 identities, an orc bard who has Big Muscles to hug her dwarf bard buddy with (@mysteryprof LMAO), a windsoul air genasi monk whos really bad at being a monk and misses the circus, and now a human sorcerer who’s a widower and possibly might become a necromancer ! 

i love all of them , a lot. technically only Sol, the orc bard, and the genasi have seen any action though!

14. What inspired you to make your character?

In order: I love dark elves, I love tieflings, I drew a moon elf and got attached, I created a sculpture of an elf with a deer skull mask and made a character out of it, i made the half elf because he was GOING to be my next character for my next campaign but he didnt go anywhere, orc gal is originally an old warcraft OC who i translated to dnd for a campaign with my two friends, i LOVED the idea of genasi and knew i wanted them to be in the circus of wonders so i created him around that and hes my current dnd character!, and the last one i created out of a quick idea about a sad old man who lost his family

15. What is your characters background story?

DEEP BREATH ill just do 2! and ill try to keep it short dfjskdj

my latest two characters are Taliesin the windsoul genasi and Quincy McLaughlin the human sorcerer

Tal grew up with the monastery where he was left as a Tiny Bab and started training with them, but eventually left when he was disenfranchised with the whole thing and his training. he joined Corvus Nightfeather’s Circus of Wonders and only left to start adventuring when a noble started following him, going to every show to “persuade” him to join him at the noble’s estate fulltime

Quincy is a little more up in the air but i Love him

he was married to a man named Silas, and they had a farm where they raised their daughter. he stopped using any sorts of magic for this time, and only used it again when he came back to the farm house one day to find it burning and looters running amok. he killed them, and moved to town in the next coming weeks, and now works as a mercenary.

asdjaksdk sorry this is so long but thank u for the ask and the follow back

[penguin-g-41]

The End of Vox Machina

Sad stuff ahead. Be warned.

The first to meet their end is Trinket. It was peaceful, in his sleep. Young Vax found him outside in the garden. Flowers from a nearby tree had fallen gently on his large form. He was buried amoung other de Rolos as that is what he was. The bear found himself in the darkness of death before he picked up a familiar scent. It had been many years, but he knew it. Decay and graveyard and the masking smell of rose oil.

“Trinket.” He wasted no time knocking down the half elf rogue paladin. He licked the side of his face. Pinned under the large bear Vax scratched his underbelly. “Missed you buddy.”

The next was Grog. It was a bar fight gone just a bit too far. His old Goliath body couldn’t handle much more. Pike and Scanlan got the word out as quickly as they could. Soon enough Vex and Percy along with their 5 children as well as Keyleth find themselves crammed into Grog and Pike’s childhood home. Pike begged him to let her heal him, but he declined. Even the pleas of the little gnomes whose fingers barely could get a hold on his pinky could not get through. Too tired he said. He would be happy with this death. A death from battle. Surrounded by his true family in his true home Grog slipped away. Everything grew cold.

“Hey, big guy.” Grog turned in the darkness to see Vax. He looked the same as they day he walked away. Large black wings spread out behind him.

“Vax.” Grog rushed forward, easily lifting the half elf off his feet. He looked down and noticed he was young again. His beard was once again black and his muscles rippling. He wore the Titanstone knuckles on his hands. Something he needed not do in a long time.

“Walk with me, Grog.” Vax smiled at him gesturing into the darkness. “We’ve been waiting a while.”

“We?” Before Vax can answer Grog sees a red dragonborn in familiar robes, holding a staff. “Tibs?”

The third to go is Percy. His hair color finally fit his age. A simple cold was his end. Surrounded by his legacy of children and grandchildren and one great-grandchild as well as his loving wife. His sister and her husband, the captain of the guard, a once timid young boy by the name of Kynan were there with their children. Keyleth had come from Zephra and Pike and Scanlan from Westrun. Even Tary had managed to make it from Wildemount. Whitestone was a hub of innovation. He had not touched his guns since Silas had reared his ugly head some months after Vecna’s fall. No. That was a lie. That was the last time it was used to harm something. He would take it out even at his old age and show off to his grandkids, still as skilled a marksman as he was in his youth. With one last kiss from the one he chose he died old and happy, the opposite of how he once thought he would.

He felt the familiar chill of death in the dark space. He felt young again. His joints weren’t creaky and his hands more steady. His clothes were as they once were and the Cabal’s Ruin sat around his shoulders.

“Brother.” Percy turned to the source of the noise.

“You know I figured I’d be off to hell by now. Orthax still wants my soul,” he sighed.

“I pulled a few strings, got you out of the deal.”

“The Raven Queen?” He scoffed. It had been many years, but the bitterness towards her remained.

“Pelor actually.”

“Well.” Percy dropped the look of dissatisfaction and wrapped his arms around Vax. The paladin hugged back, wrapping his wings around him as well.

“Come on. They’re waiting for you.” Percy looked behind him to see the smiling faces of his family. He smiled and went to them hugging them tightly.

“Are those new glasses?” A deep gruff voice asked. Percy drew away from his mother’s embrace to see a smiling Grog along with Tiberius and Trinket. Percy smiled.

Not to long after Percy, Tary slipped away. A wound he had sustained had never properly healed correctly. A simple fall caused his death to come. Each member of the remaining members of Vox Machina came. His once golden hair was now a light gray and his goatee more of a beard. Tary had long retired from adventuring but continued to fund and guide his brigade with his husband Lawerence and his sister at his side. Lawrence had since passed, but Tary lived long enough to publish his book. He had never felt compelled to do so until Vox Machina began to slip away from the material plane. He published it and titled it The Daring Trials and Tribulations of Taryon Darington and Vox Machina. The prequel to Taryon Darington and the Brigade. With a smirk on his face Taryon died.

“Hey, T.” Tary hadn’t heard that voice in a very long time. Instantly he broke into tears. “Hey. Hey. Why are you crying?”

“I never got to say goodbye.”

“I know. That doesn’t matter anymore, though.” Vax sighed, hugging the once again blond man. He found himself young and in his shiny armor. “There’s some people waiting for you.”

“Mother? Father? Lawrence?”

“Us as well, Tary,” Percy stepped up beside them along with Grog.

“Uh who’s the dragonborn?”

“I’m Tiberius Stormwind of Vox Machina. I’m from Draconia.”

Next came Vex. Within the span of about two decades or more Keyleth lost many of her family. Only Pike, Scanlan and Keyleth were left when Vex’ahlia’s time came. Like Percy it was a cold. She was actually happy that the Raven Queen would soon have her. She yearned to see her loved ones. Surrounded by her and Percy’s made family she smiled. Whitestone has continued to be on the forefront of innovation. It had grown to rival Emon, Percy would be proud. She smiled at her twin children. They seemed all to familiar. She took her eldest’s son’s hand. Simple words of how much he looked like his uncle. She turned to Keyleth. A silent promise was made and with a final breath Vex winked at Scanlan.

In the darkness she wandered and wandered until she saw a figure sitting on a fallen log in the absolute darkness. There was a gentle fire going in front of the figure. The wings have it away instantly. He turned around.

“Stubby.” She was immediately pulled into a hug.

“Vax. Vax. Vax.” She clung to him tightly. “I found you. I told you I’d find you.”

“My sister,” he sighed pulling away and grabbing her shoulders. She looked down and saw her dragon scale armor and her hair was no longer gray.

“Vex’ahlia,” Vex felt her heart stop. She turned to the woman just out of view.

“Mom.” She walked up to her hugging her tightly. They pulled away after a moment.

“My sweet girl, I am so proud of you.” She reached up and wiped away her tears.

“Vex, darling.” Vex turned to find Percy.

“You look good,” she chuckled as he stepped towards her.

“And you.” He smiled. She placed a small kiss on his lips before hearing the heavy breathing of a running bear.

“Trinket!” She was tackled by the bear. He picked all over her face, nuzzling into her.

“I’d forgotten how fast he was.” she looked behind the large bear to see Tiberius.

“Tibs.”

“Little elf girl.” Vex smiled as Tary and Grog stepped from the darkness.

“Goldie.” Then Vex turned to Vax. ��Keyleth says hello.”

Then Scanlan. He, Pike and Keyleth had long lives to live. He got Kaylie through school and she got married and had a son. Scanlan and Pike had two little gnomes running around as well. This thrilled Grog until he passed. The even smaller gnomes with wit of their father and heart of their mother were the best thing to ever happen to Scanlan. His book was a huge success. Everyone who could read knew the true story of Vox Machina. How they began and how they ended. Kidney failure. A bright de Rolo had become a great doctor and found out this is what happened when you drank your sorrows away. With Kaylie and his two younger daughters as well as his wife, Pike and Keyleth around him his eyes fluttered closed.

“Hey, Scan-“ Vax was cut off by Scanlan jumping at him.

“I tried to wish you back. I tried,” He mumbled into the feathers of Vax’s armor.

“I know you did. I love you.”

“YOU!” Scanlan jumped at the loud voice. Then he smiled as Grog lifted him up hugging him and nearly crushing him.

“Grog!” Scanlan laughed through his tears. Then he saw the others.

“How did the book do?” Percy asked.

“What book?” Scanlan chuckled nervously.

“Pike told me.”

“Oh. It did well. There’s supposedly going to be statues of us in every major city.”

“Really?” Tary’s eyes lit up.

“Oh I hope they do my nose right,” Vex mumbled.

Then Pike was taken by some illness going about the temple. She wasn’t worried or scared. She was going to be with her friends and her husband. She had done amazing things. She had made her goddess proud and somehow raised her kids. In return she’d spend eternity with Sarenrae or her friends. Both. She smiled at Keyleth. Pike was all she had left. The only one left of Vox Machina. She squeezed the Druid’s hand before her grip loosened as she drifted away.

She was met with darkness and cold then it was replaced by warmth and light.

“Pike.” She knew who it was. She looked up to see the glowing form of her patron. “You have done well. You will tell me your story in time, but for now reunite with your friends. You’ve been away from them for a long time, my dear.”

“Pickle.” Pike felt tears start to form as she saw a dark form in the almost blinding light of Sarerae. Two large black wings cast a beautiful silhouette.

“Stringbean.” Vax knelt down in front of her, pulling her into a hug. “It’s been too long.”

“Yeah. Yeah it has.”

“Pike!” Pike peered over Vax’s shoulder to see Grog. Pike pushed Vax away and leaped at Grog. He caught her and held her in his arms.

“Mrs. Shorthalt.” Grog set Pike down as Scanlan approached.

“Mr. Trickfoot.” Pike smiled before rushing at Scanlan. Pulling him into a deep kiss. As the rest gather around they all looked at each other. They all look as young as they did the day Vax went away. Their armor is glowing as they stand.

“Just one more,” Vax sighed.

Keyleth knows. It’s her exactly 1,000th birthday. Many generations of Trickholts and de Rolos pass by like a breeze. She led her people with pride. She tutored the next voice of the tempest before he went off on his quest. He was the 10th one. He sits at her side at the large banquet in her honor. He completed his armamente but decided to not take up the mantle until Keyleth’s time came to an end. Thankfully it would only be 2 years he would have to wait. The world had seen two more threats, but other heroes much like Vox Machina rose up. Keyleth of course offered the assistance of her people every time. She tried dating again when she was 305. She found herself entranced by a half-elven rouge with dark hair and pale skin. He funny enough was a part of a adventuring group very similar to Vox Machina. Keyleth breaks it off, knowing that it’s just not right. She does not date again. Her heart with always belong to the stealthy champion of the Raven Queen. She helped lead the Ashari back to the world stage. They were no longer secluded villages. While they kept to themselves there were more open interactions. Keyleth watched as White became the capital of Taldorei. The clock tower still standing tall right in front of castle Whitestone. She travels there more often in her later hundred years. She always earns glances when she does. She travels to the sun tree. Statues of each member of Vox Machina had been placed around the base of the Sun Tree (including Trinket). She sits in front of the one for Vax. The one crow always finds its way there. No matter where she goes it will always be there.

Tales of Vox Machina’s bravery and acts always float about Exandria. Yet. The years that had gone by seem to twist them more to just stories. The grand statues in every city tells otherwise. The titan that looms of Vasselheim tells otherwise. The keep outside of Emon tells otherwise. The handsome statue in Draconia tells otherwise. The clock tower in Whitestone tells otherwise.

The sun begins to set on what Keyleth’s knew to be her last day. She couldn’t help but smile. She walked to the edge of the cliffs where the border of sun trees stand. She went to the one covered in black raven feathers and skulls and medallions. Carefully, she placed her hand on the tree. Still the hum of Pelor‘s power pulses through it- through each tree. She had taken off her mantel in her house, leaving it for the next voice. She sat down at the base of the Raven tree. A small caw broke through the air. She looked up in the branches to see the Raven. It flew down and landed on her shoulder. Keyleth simply smiled as she watched the sun set.

As the last bit of light disappeared her eyelids grew heavy. With a relieved sigh she closed her eyes, relaxing into the tree. The weight of the Raven on her shoulder changed, but only slightly. Then it felt like a hand was there. She opened her eyes to find a face she’d only been able to dream about inches from hers.

“Hey, Kiki.” Keyleth simply smiled as leaned forward kissing Vax. When they pulled away she glanced about to see miles of flower covered hills with mountains in the distance. She turned and saw Vex and Percy and Tary and Trinket. They’re smiling at her. She turned to the other side and sees Grog and Pike and Scanlan. They’re all young and smiling. She thought everything to have been a dream and this reality until she saw Tiberius.

“This is it?” She smiled.

“Yes.” Vax smiled. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I love you.” The tears started to fall from her eyes.

“I love you too. Forever and always.”

And there they sat, basking in the sun, leaning against a suntree, Vox Machina of Greyskull Keep, slayers of the Chroma Conclave, imprisoners of the Undying King, saviors of Vasselheim and Emon, liberators of Whitestone, heroes of Tal’dorei, protectors of Exandria, aka the S.H.I.T.S.

[the-raven-hearted]

can i request this prompt from you? 31. “You weren’t supposed to laugh!” from that prompt thing, for any character(s)!

Yes! I’ve been writing little shorts about NPCs from the campaign I’m DMing for writing practice by having my players choose the prompt & characters! After consulting with them, one of my players, @diabeticpasta, suggested doing Marion & Silas for this one. For context, Marion is a elf rogue assassin (who’s part of our equivalent of the Dark Brotherhood basically lol) and Silas is a human paladin (he’s effectively an ex-member of the city guard), and they were hopelessly in love at one point in time before the events of the campaign. Also featuring Lace the kenku who is annoying as hell but we love her anyway.

It’s super corny and way longer than I expected it to be but I hope you enjoy! And thanks for sending a prompt! :D

It was rare that the hideout was so empty. The winding halls were dark and the lack of windows gave them a distinctly cavernous feeling. The large dining area was devoid of life, all tables cleaned of dishes and traces of food, and the hearth glowing dull with the embers of a recently doused fire. Even their leader, a middle-aged, charismatic gnome with shocks of white in her hair that typically lingered in the corner, was out on important business. The pesky kenku, all black crow-feathers with an annoying penchant for eavesdropping, was somewhere in the building.

Besides the annoying bird, the only other person here was Silas. It meant a lot that the secretive guild of spies and assassins trusted him enough with the location of their headquarters, and even more so to leave him alone there unattended. As he walked down towards the barracks, he jumped at every creak in the rafters, expecting the red-haired thief, Fox, to pop out and sternly remark that she was watching him. It had happened before. Way too much for comfort.

He almost felt naked without his Legion-issue plate armor to protect him, but this was a good step forward. This place was starting to feel like home more so than the guard barracks ever would have. Clad in his patched trousers and loose tunic, he felt comfortable as he carried some food from the pantry towards Marion’s room.

She had given him a key to her small chambers. Her room was as silent as she was, little more than a bed, a table, and a small fireplace. It almost seemed as though no one lived here by how neat the bedsheets were spread and the lack of clutter on her table. It was perfect for his purposes though.

He lit the candle on the table, casting a dim glow throughout the small space, and started spreading out the meal he’d prepared. It wasn’t the greatest. A simple salad with some random vegetables he found, a small loaf of bread, and a small assortment of cheeses from the pantry. He was trained to banish demons and arrest criminals, not prepare a five-star meal. But Marion would appreciate it. He hoped.

She was out in the city with the rest of them, participating in a silent rebellion against the leaders of Aelstow. Someone from a noble house had dropped a hefty sack of gold in her hands to murder their political rival in the dark of night while they slumbered away in their plush, velvety bed. Quick, painless, merciful. It was how Marion worked. He could picture her form melding with the shadows, dagger gleaming in the moonlight, as she slid up against the nobleman’s bed and soundlessly dragged the blade across their throat.

It made him shiver as he gently placed the loaf of bread on the table. Marion, straight-faced, had told him to stop worrying about her while she went out in the heart of the night to complete a contract. He learned to trust in her skill but he was more concerned about her emotional health. Melancholy followed her brooding form like a shadow. The sheer cleanliness of her room told him what she wouldn’t: she was getting tired of being a cutthroat and the guilt of it was weighing on her.

Which is why he thought this would cheer her up a bit. He hummed a soft tune while he set up, trying to ignore the way the shadows crawled on the walls. Out the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Fox’s sneering visage, but when he whipped around to face it, saw only a small cobweb in the rafters. He let out a disgruntled sigh, finishing the last of his preparations.

He let the quiet sink it, relaxing in a chair. He was starting to get comfortable and tossed a log into the fireplace to light up the room a bit more. The crackles and pops of the fire were comforting. He found himself dozing off while he stared at the odd shapes in the flames.

Caw! Caw! Silas yelled and whipped around, falling out of his chair in the process, to find the kenku squatting on the table opposite him, beady eyes squinting at him with hostile suspicion. Her black feathers were glossy in the fire light.

“Lace! What the hell is wrong with you?” He hissed, picking himself up and wiping dust off his shirt.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lace repeated back at him in a distorted version of his voice. He let out a long sigh and dragged one hand down the side of his face in frustration. Of course the bird would bother him when he wanted to be alone. A quiet evening with Marion was too much to ask for.

“Look, Marion will be back any minute. Could you please go away?” He begged.

Lace squawked at him indignantly. Her gaze snapped in different directions, as if searching for some sign of foul play.

“I’ll buy you some corn at the market tomorrow,” he said. Bargaining was sometimes a successful tactic with her. At least when he saw Marion do it.

Lace remained on the table. A plate slid off the surface and clattered on the floor. Her eyes were fixed on him, but flickered momentarily at the cheese resting by her feet.

“Lace, you know where the pantry is. Get your own damn food.” He was getting irritated at this point.

She ignored him and started pecking at a piece of cheese. She speared it on her small beak, then slammed it back down on the table several times while trying to chip away bits that she then chomped on with delight. Crumbs flew everywhere, her wings scattered about the bread, which Silas caught before it fell, and a few stray feathers fluttered about in the air.

“Could you please stop?” He shouted, trying to prevent the mess that Lace was making.

“What in the–” a new voice chimed in. Lace stopped abruptly, bits of cheese crumbs covering her mouth. SIlas froze, mortified, but allowed a glare at the kenku who looked thoroughly proud of herself.

Marion stood in the doorway, expression filled with bewilderment. She was clad in her dark studded leather and her black hair tied back to show her long, pointed elven ears. He thought he spotted blood splatter on the hilt of her dagger belted at her waist.

“Mari!” He exclaimed while glaring at the kenku.

“Marion will be back any minute,” the bird choked out in Silas’ voice.

Marion stared in silence. Her gaze moved from Lace, to the messy table, to Silas looking sheepish. Her lips cracked into a smile, to his surprise. It was a rare thing for her, a woman who always wore a flat expression wherever she went. He and Lace glanced at each other as Marion leaned against the doorframe with a hand against her head, laughing.

She finally sucked in a deep breath to compose herself and said, “Leave him alone Lace. You should know better.”

The bird let out a defeated trill and leaped off the table. Her talons clacked against the wood floor as she left, but not before casting a sharp glare back at Silas that said, This isn’t over.

“What is going on, SIlas?” she asked with another stifled laugh. She stepped further into the room, closing the door behind her, and slid off her weapon belt. It clattered against the trunk beside her bed.

He let out a sigh. “I wanted to eat dinner with you when you got back. You know, something nice for just the two of us. But then Lace showed up. And you definitely weren’t supposed to laugh Well, I mean at this anyway. But…I guess that’s alright, since you seemed to get a kick out of it” he stammered. Marion’s sharp gaze always made his face heat up when she cast it on him.

She smiled up at him and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. “Well, if Lace didn’t eat all of it, I think it’ll still be alright, no?”

“Hmm. Yeah,” he replied, smiling back at her. She helped him clean up crumbs and dishes off the floor. She disappeared for a moment, returning with a half-empty bottle of red wine from the pantry. The rest of the evening was spent in peace, with quiet conversation, beside the crackling fire.