Anyone who knows me knows I do not usually run any adventures. I'd rather experience the mystery than be the wizard behind the curtain. But I decided to try one last time before giving up GMing completely. But this campaign was going to start on my terms. I put restrictions, first and foremost, on everyone. I did not allow any scores over 18 in the main abilities, except for racial adjustments. The races, due to the setting of the game, were limited to humans (either tribal humans or "civilized humans"), elves, half-elves, and dwarves. I encouraged everyone to try something different with their characters instead of doing the same old thing. Finally, I got rid of the bane of combat rounds, (at least in our Group, where it's allowed) super-specialization in a weapon. Each player then got personal restrictions in term based on their weaknesses in playing.
This game is set in a world where "civilization", the nation of Zuras, is encroaching on the tribal humans of the northern lakelands. Those who chose to play tribal humans had a choice of six different tribes, the Tzugiban, Langaban, Ozoso, Gahwali, Gannamadi, Mon, and Chintchuk. These tribes, that were once united in a common nation at the mountain known as Mahgalawa, have fallen into squabbling and fighting. Meanwhile, Zuras eats away at them. The city of Bordzern sits on the border between the "civilized" and "uncivilized" lands, and seemed "an unreasonable place for reasonable assumptions," to quote my favorite TV show. That's where the adventure began.
Ah, yes, the characters. There is a lot of them to be said as a whole. Mostly female, all good-looking (unfortunately I forget to put limits on the rather useless and optional comeliness score), all rather arrogant, I named this group of Miss America lookalikes the Inn-Hopping Debutantes. The "Debutantes" part should be rather obvious; the "Inn Hopping" part comes from their search for a place to stay in the city of Bordzern, moving from the Dancing Flea Tavern (the name says it all), to the slightly more upscale Seagull's Reach, and finally, at the urging of the soon-to-be-mentioned Alec de Benson, the best inn in the city, the Inn of the Mercure. But you'll see all about that later...
Let me present: The Inn-Hopping Debutantes...
Ieali (J.C.'s character) - from the tribe of the Gahwali, known as the religious leaders of the tribes, she is a wealthy noblewoman priest with a small ego problem (at least as she sees it). Her goal in the adventure seems to be to meet good-looking guys and get them to buy stuff for her. Well, unofficially. Officially she is searching for money for her "cause", the expansion of the old religion of Mahgalawa, the Sacred Mountain. If she had a quote, it would be, "I am the right hand of the Mountain...". Just don't remind her that her name means "little flower" in Gahwali. Unlike the other characters, her comeliness is rather low, which she makes up for in condescending arrogance. (OK, maybe not).
Tatanyariko Adamsirichinea (Matt's character)- an elven bard with a horse named Titania, she is quite skilled at "procuring" money, another other characters, winning any contest she enters, and attracting the opposite sex. (Like all of Matt's characters.. sort of). Right now she seems to have garnered the attention of Alec de Benson, the son of Lord de Benson of Bordzern. She is rather informally working for Ieali's cause. She seems to lead the troop in the comeliness department, which I find strangely ironic.
Zara ( Angela's character)- a warrior of the Gannamadi tribe, known for their skill with horses, she is a rather unwilling participant in "the cause". I can't help but think that sometimes she must feel as if she's being dragged around by the others. Still, she has her own "cause"- she has been sent out by her tribe to search for their prophesied great leader. And yes, she too, is attractive.
Peotyr (Mike's character)- probably the one male character in this adventures, Peotyr is mostly known for following Tatanyariko around, for some reason still unknown, and which will remain unknown until we play next. But I'm sure they will love to welcome another good-looking pal into their crew.
Vince also has a character, a sylvan elf, I believe, who will remain unknown until I get the specifics on the characters. Chances are, like all of Vince's characters, she doesn't have a name.
Their name expanded to the "Inn-Hopping Debutantes in Ugly Town" when Ieali and Tatanyariko started trolling for good-looking guys in a bar full of drunken nobles. Rolling randomly for comeliness, I came up with scores below par for this group of Miss America lookalikes. "Sorry, guys," I said, "guess you just stumbled into a town full of ugly, drunk guys." Incidentally, if you take the initials of "Inn Hopping Debutantes in Ugly Town", you get I.H.D.I.U.T. Coincidence? I think not.
This group has yet to do anything of any importance, partially my fault and partially bad luck, but they've been a hoot to game with. That much credit I can give them.
More will, of course, be added, when they actually do anything.