Corsair

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

In retrospect that might have come off a little patronizing. Or just straight up insulting. Not what she intended. Red colored her cheeks, but given the mess it was pretty impossible to notice. "Oh, um..." She stumbled over her words for a moment. "I didn't mean it to be insulting, you're just not like most Druids I've heard about." That almost sounded worse than what she had lead with earlier. Torm help me. "I mean, like, the Druids I usually heard of sounded like they had a real stick up their butt." Given that she was a Paladin, a group legendary for having entire trees jammed right up their asses that was a pretty rich thing to say. She grimaced. "Kind of crazy, I mean. Like, calling down swarms of locusts after people because they cut down a tree for firewood or ate a rabbit. You seem pretty far from that, like a normal person. Who can call down swarms of bees and turn into a Hawk." She sighed and slapped her forehead. "Someone please make me stop talking."

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

"This is only my second mission for the Temple. My first was a Crusade, a hundred warriors of the Triad sent to end the rising of the dead in an old catacomb. That was where I earned my Knighthood." She paused a moment to contain herself, her voice momentarily filled with pride. "But I spent most of my time before now training. Lots of sparring, study. Most of the practice was the mental side of my art. Most of the time I was less warrior and more detective." She reached into a pack and withdrew a cloth, damping it with a bit of water from her canteen, and beginning to clean the blood off her face. "And I spent most of that time in Waterdeep. Not a lot of Druids there." She smiled. "And even if I met a lot of druids I doubt I'd meet one like you."

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

"I'd rather have you down here. We've got a bit of a walk ahead of us, I'd like to get to know the rest of you. Us." She stumbled a bit over the phrasing. "This band." She squelched herself before she went off on a tangent about how they should think of a name for their group, mentally chiding herself. "If we're going to be dealing with some kind of Infernal cult I'd like to know who I'll be fighting alongside, a little more than 'She can set her sword on fire.' 'He can fight with peculiar improvised weapons.' 'He can turn into a bird and peck people's faces.'" She said with a smile, then turned her head. "Daylight's burning, Korick, let's get the cart moving!"

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

"Good reactions. We made a pretty good team." She got to her feet, testing her weight on her limb before buckling her greaves back on. "Ten minutes, people." She moved among the fallen hobgoblins, and found herself letting out a sigh of relief as she checked them. All dead, with the obvious exception of the one who had escaped. She felt a pang of guilt at feeling relief at finding death, but dismissed it. They didn't have the time or the resources to treat and hold wounded prisoners, and executing them would obviously be off the table. "One of us ride with Korick. Vis, you up for it? She turned to Lammy. "You can talk to your hawk, right? Sorry, I didn't catch her name." She was -pretty- sure the hawk was female, although she wasn't positive. "Can she keep a lookout for us during the journey? I hate to imagine what would have happened if you hadn't warned us about these goblins." Images of the child or her father slain in the sudden confusion of an attack flashed through her mind." Lily looked over at Batche. "And, uh...do any of you know anything about her? Is she alright?"

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

The party assembled at the lakeside where they were given the basics of a situation - a town with mysterious Devilish protectors - and outfitted with necessary supplies for their investigation. Before they could get underway a hobgoblin raiding party spotted their cart and attacked. The party routed the goblins, and are currently patching themselves up before beginning the journey.

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

"You have a point." Lily didn't much feel like arguing with her, and the amount of blood she was leaking -was- a bit worrying. She hadn't gotten a good look at the injury Lammy had taken, and it made sense that she'd be treated first if hers was worst. Her instincts were that her condition was less important than the others due to her roles, both as a Paladin and the responsibility she was assuming in attempting to lead this group. But then, she wouldn't be much of a leader if she couldn't keep up because of a limp or a missing leg. Once the spell had done its work she stretched out the leg. There was a good bit of residual soreness, but she could walk, run, and most importantly fight. She drew her canteen and took a long drink, then used a small amount to wash the blood off her leg before it could dry. She'd need a little more time to finish cleaning her armor, and the trousers were probably a wash, but beggars couldn't be choosers. "Thanks for the help back there, Lammy. That could've gotten pretty bad if you hadn't intervened."

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

Lily looked around as the fight came to an abrupt, violent end. She sagged, sudden exhaustion flooding her as the adrenaline began to fade, letting the fiery pain in her back leg wake up, setting her teeth on edge. She slid to the ground in a crouch. "Let the last one go. This is over." She gathered up a handful of leaves and wiped the gore off her blade before returning it to her sheath. "Eranah, tend to Lammy, I saw him take a hit." She muttered the command word under her breath, the armor loosening on her. She straightened out her leg with a wince and began unstrapping her greaves, revealing her padded trousers that were slowly darkening all down the back of her leg. Not good. "We've got twenty minutes to catch our breath, then we need to get underway. We do not want to be on the Moors after dark, there are worse things than goblins there."

Dedicated Dungeons & Dragon RPing forum?

My advice would be the Giant in the Playground forums. They aren't entirely dedicated to D&D, but large chunks of them are dedicated to discussion on tabletop games and play-by-post games using the D20 rules. http://www.giantitp.com/forums/

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

Goblin and Paladin struggled on the ground, the goblin managing to free one arm even as his ribs began to give way under the relentless pressure of her legs, and made good use of it, digging into her belt for the silver dagger she had left there and raised it for a finishing blow. She didn't give him the chance, slamming the crown of her helm into his jaw with a sickening crunch. The goblin reeled backwards, spitting out black and shattered teeth, only to be rocked back again as she worked her arm free and slammed her fist into his face. The dagger slid out of his hands and into her own, only to be driven home into the goblin's heart a moment later. She withdrew the blade and thrust again, this time into his throat. The goblin gurgled wetly, then fell to the side, leaving a long, red streak across her armor. She shoved the corpse aside and snatched up her fallen sword, raising it to guard as the Captain rushed to avenge his fallen warrior. "SoH ghob boqta' mang Heghpu' luj, juH ghoS!" She barked at him. She was pretty sure she had gotten the point across as they closed for a second round, this time with no one to interrupt them.

Hider

Direct translation from Goblin: You fight be over soldiers dead lost, go home. Again, Lily sucks at it.

Forgotten Realms: The Viscount's Crusade

- Name: Lily Beckett - Age: 20 - Race: Human - Class: Paladin - Abilities: As a knight Lily is physically strong, an excellent rider, and a superb swordsman, with ancillary training with polearms and bows. As a Paladin Lily is capable of channeling holy energy through her body to heal the living or harm the undead, focus her spiritual might through her holy symbol to repel evil forces, and focus the energies of righteousness through her sword to smite evil. The holy power coursing through her body grants her protection from many mystical attacks on her body and mind. Lily has been granted a limited ability to focus the power of Torm as spells, enabling her to perform blessings or ward an individual or small area against evil. Additionally as a Paladin Lily has the ability to sense the presence of supernatural evil, such as Fiends and the Undead. - Alignment: Lawful Good - Appearance: Lily stands at roughly 5'10, and has a lean, athletic build that is corded with muscle. Her hair is black and worn long, usually simply gathered together under her helm in battle. Her eyes are gray, and while she is well-calloused she has no scars, suggesting easy access to healing magic. About her shoulders she wears a hooded cloak of deep, dark red. - Personality: Lily is a Paladin, although not with all that implies. She lives her life by a simple code, dedicated to the Triad, the gods Tyr, Ilmater, and Torm - although Torm is her patron, and has her deepest devotion. The code she abides by is a simple one:

A Paladin is a speaker and seeker of Truth. A Paladin does not prejudge, but instead keeps an open mind. A Paladin never shirks from speaking the truth under any circumstance. A Paladin is the arbiter of Justice. A Paladin will never allow the guilty to escape their Just punishment, nor the innocent to be trampled by injustice. A Paladin is Sacrificing. The Paladin will give up everything they have, even their lives in the defense of the innocent. A Paladin is Courageous, and does not shirk from battle with darkness but instead seeks it out and ends it. A Paladin is Compassionate, and is kind to those around them, whether they appreciate it or not. A Paladin is Merciful, and takes life only when there is no other choice. A Paladin is Faithful, to their Masters and to their peers. A Paladin can always be called upon, and will never abandon those in need. A Paladin is Humble, and does not seek personal glory or the adulation of others.

Outside of the tenets of this code, Lily is a simple person - not stupid, she is quite learned and intelligent, but she is not subtle or cunning. She has a habit of believing the best of people who too often don't deserve it. She approaches every aspect of her life the way she approaches her labors as a Paladin - directly and relentlessly. She is, however, smart and wise enough to grasp that not everyone who is good at heart should be forced to abide by her way of life, say, by having her reject the promised reward for a task simply because she has no use for treasure. - Inventory: Lily's most prized possession is her sword, a longsword 46 inches in length, with a diamond-style blade and a cruciform crossguard, the hilt wrapped in black leather with a wheel-shaped pommel - she can wield the weapon one-handed if need be, but favors using it with both. The weapon is rather unremarkable, well-crafted but unenchanted and unnamed. With it she wields a suit of well-forged plate armor, similarly unadorned but nevertheless well cared for. The armor does bear a minor enchantment in that it is self-fastening, enabling Lily to quickly don and remove it in moments without assistance, rather than the minutes she would need even with a squire. In battle she adds a visored barbute. The gauntlets are special as well - each has been anointed by a Priest of Torm, and through them Lily can focus her Paladin capabilities. She also carries a similarly enchanted but much smaller and more maneuverable holy symbol on a silver chain around her neck, a simple circle of metal with a gauntlet etched upon it. Over her armor she has a simple, unadorned red cloak, unmagical but warm and protective from rain. Aside from her battle gear, she carries a light traveling pack holding rations, water, a small vial of blessed water, Tormite Holy Scripture, flints and tinder, fifty feet of rope, a grappling hook, and a utility knife. - History: Lily doesn't really know where she comes from, beyond probable Illuskan ancestry judging by her coloration. Twenty years ago she was found on the doorstep of the Temple of the Triad in Waterdeep, a crying infant in a basket. In a city like Waterdeep this wasn't a terribly uncommon incident, although people usually had the courtesy to hand the baby to a Priest. Being a temple dedicated to three of the most noble and heroic Gods they weren't complete dicks, and so took the child in, fostering her with a humble Tormite Priest by the name of Gabriel, who raised her as his own. Although little more than an apprentice priest, Gabriel was treated with great respect, and as Lily grew she soon discovered why. Gabriel was better known as Sir Gabriel Beckett, Knight and Paladin of the Tormtar, a legendary hero who had guarded the Sword Coast for decades. Upon learning this young Lily was inspired, and hounded the old knight to teach her the ways of the Paladin. Despite his reticence to see the girl he had come to call daughter take up the heavy burden of the Paladin he did not deny her, and her training began. To Lily's surprise the training involved much less sparring and much more deep contemplation and study. Gabriel and her would spend many hours, deep into the night discussing the nature of evil, and how to fight it. Gabriel taught her to use her sword as a last resort, to battle evil with her mind and heart, to offer peace before battle and mercy in victory, even to the wicked who seemed truly vile. "We are Paladins, not judges. Our place is not to lay judgment, but to prevent further evil. " At seventeen she began to shift from pure training to minor missions for the Temple - safeguarding travelers, guarding graveyards, laying to rest ghosts and spectres that came to rest in homes in Waterdeep. Her final mission - and final test - was to join a band of warriors led by Lord Tomas Gram, warrior of Tyr, and quiet the unrest within the tomb of the Nichos clan, a vast catacomb that had become a nest of the Undead in recent months. The mission was successful, and Lily earned her marks, her abilities equally effective at dissipating the angry ghosts and risen bodies and healing the wounds her comrades suffered, and demonstrating her courage and commitment to the cause. Upon their return to Waterdeep she was fully gifted her status as a Paladin of Torm, and granted her armor and sword for use. Within the temple the warriors had uncovered the reason behind the uprising - a book of dark lore had been stolen from a vault deep in the catacomb, the only trace of it a book-shaped patch of thinner dust on a pedestal. Concerned about the potential of such a dark book for it to be so heavily warded after so long the Temple began an investigation, sending Paladins to search out traces of evil magic. While most of the other twenty or so Paladins at the Temple ventured north or south, on Gabriel's advice - and on the word of an old contact in the Harpers - she ventured east, to the village of Falconrest on the edge of the High Moor. - Notes: Lily's Theme If we're doing character music