Hi, I'm a new player looking to join a game. I can start playing any weekday after 5:30 PM EST. I have three concepts that I've been interested in playing, whichever best fits the needs of the party: Character Name: Siraaj Character Race: Tabaxi Character Class: Warlock(Genie) Character Backstory: Siraaj experienced a great upheaval when his father plotted against his grandfather in an attempt to seize control of his grandfather's chamber of commerce. Unfortunately for his father, his grandfather left a will leaving his shares to the eldest qualified (male) blood successor, that being his grandson Siraaj. Having his mother and younger brother used as hostages, he is forced to do his father's bidding. His brother eventually found a chance to escape but his whereabouts remain unknown. A few years later his mother, having grown frail from guilt and grief, found herself too weak to fight off an illness and perished, but not before telling her son to escape and that his grandfather had hidden a nest egg in his study. After watching his mother take her last breath, he sneaks into what was now his father's study and manages to locate the stash which had remained untouched. It contained some gold and various objects, one of which seems to be an old ornate lantern. While on the run, in order to escape his father's pursuit, Siraaj avoided the normal roads, and with little time to prepare, found himself stranded in the desert on the last of his water. Collapsed on the floor and thinking he would die there, he blinked only to find that his surroundings had changed and that the desert floor was now a cool marble surface. During his confusion, he hears a sigh, and someone says "Couldn't you have died somewhere more noticeable? If I leave things as they are now who knows when someone will find me?". Upon looking up, Siraaj was met with the sight of an elaborately dressed entity, who introduced himself as Besfud the Venerated. On death's door and with little choice, Siraaj made a deal and with Besfud, being granted access to an inkling of his power. With that power, he manages to escape the desert and make it out into the vast world. Character Name: Illska Character Race: Goliath Character Class: Fighter(Battle Master) Character Backstory: Beneath a city lay a hidden city known as 'The Underbelly', a place where all vices could be explored. This is where Illska was raised. From what he'd heard he was sold into the city by passing slave traders there were mentions of him having been kidnapped during their travels amidst barbarian lands. Intrigued by his being a Goliath, the administrators thought he could make a great attraction once he grew up and was made to participate in the 'Colosseum'. Luckily for him, Reyna, one of the top Courtesans, passed by and chose to take on the duty of raising him until he could qualify to enter the 'Colosseum'. Reyna, a strict guardian, instilled in him parts of her elven culture and the skills needed for him to survive what was to come. There being no such thing as a free meal, Illska, would often work during the day to pay his keep. One day, when he returned from work, he came to learn that Reyna had died. Angered, he tries to break into her quarters to learn of the circumstances around her death, only to be detained and sent to the 'Colosseum'. While detained a maid slips him a letter addressed to him from Reyna. The letter seemingly written in haste mentioned that she lamented their early parting and that she hoped he could survive and make it out into the world she had described to him. She ended the letter by addressing him and her son and bestowing him her last name. Eventually, he is sent to the Colosseum where he spends years participating in a variety of gladiatorial events, some leaving him near death. That lasts until a large disturbance takes place throughout the city which gave him an opportunity to escape within the chaos. Now free he looks to enjoy his newfound freedom, explore the world, uncover what led to Reyna being made into a Courtesan, and avenging her death. Character Name: Saamir Character Race: Tabaxi Character Class: Rogue(Arcane Trickster)/Cleric(Knowledge) Character Backstory: Brother of Siraaj, Saamir manages to escape his father's control when participating in a caravan. Sent as manual labor to assist in menial tasks, Saamir takes the opportunity to escape when the caravan stops to set camp for the night. While escaping from the people sent to 'guard' him, Saamir is forced to escape into what is known as the 'Forbidden Oasis', a place no one had ever returned from. Having lost his pursuers, he finds himself lost in what seemed like an endless jungle. Finding it seemingly impossible to get a sense of which direction is which, and not getting any closer to an exit, Saamir's luck worsens when he is chased by fey creatures. While escaping through the bushes he finds himself falling into a sinkhole and winding up within what appeared to be an underground room. Within the room, whose walls were made of sturdy stone and covered in various roots, had torches located around the room, providing ample light to its occupants. Many bookshelves stood throughout the room’s interior, many laying empty and covered in dust and cobwebs. Curious, he grabs a book from a bookshelf and takes a look inside only to discover it's content undecipherable. Putting the book back, he starts to explore the room further, where he discovers a single door closed. After trying and failing to open the door, Saamir continues on exploring, practically turning the room upside down, looking for a way out. Apart from the many books that still remained, he managed to find what seemed to be a wooden medallion beneath one of the bookshelves. Giving it a once over, he prepares to throw it away, only to have it start emitting a faint glow. He then hears a voice in his head, "Hmm, what is this? What am I sens... Ah! So someone found that seed. Hello, how did you find your way into one of my conclave's? So your name is Saamir. Nice to meet you. My name is Kruphix. You don't care and you just want to leave? That's impossible. That door only responds to my divine power... I could but I have no reason to... It’s possible as long as you become my champion. You'll come around. Let me know when you're ready. Feel free to peruse the books in the meantime (Medallion flashes), you should be able to read them now. I'll be here when you need me. That's how Saamir unwillingly came into Kruphix's service.
