Crying is Considered a Free Action: A DnD TG Origin Story (Told in Miniature Format)

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Whew, long one this time. My longest caption series ever, actually. You’re welcome, Merry Christmas, I guess. One of my players got me a Heroforge gift card for Christmas, which accidently led to me writing and creating images for this whole series.

If anyone wants, feel free to use elements of this (or hell, the whole thing) in your own D&D campaigns for characters, backstory, situations, whatever.

I’ve mentioned before I’m a giant nerd, but while I’ve written a couple of Shadowrun-themed captions, I don’t think I’ve ever done a D&D one. This was the head canon backstory for one of the NPC villains I designed that my players never survived long enough to encounter. Except it’s not head canon anymore, because I wrote it down 😊.

I thought about writing a full epilogue and decided against it, thinking it would be more interesting to leave things mostly open ended in case anyone wanted to use either of these characters in their own games (assuming any of you play or DM D&D).

I’ll leave it at this: The original Sharis (originally Cailen) settled in Waterdeep, completed the Rite of Abrogation, and is forming plans against some (or all) of the major cities on the Sword Coast.

The new Sharis (originally Te’lon) made it safely to Suzail and settled there, slowly giving in to the effects of Geas.

Sharis of Waterdeep, at the time of this story, was a 18th level Neutral Evil Wizard, whereas Sharis of Cormyr is a 1st Level True Neutral Rogue.

For the vast, vast majority, I stuck to 5th Edition D&D rules and locales, only because it’s the most accessible ruleset right now (nobody start whining about 5E – it’s better than 4th and nobody’s old books spontaneously combusted, get over it). If you play D&D, I hope you appreciate it. If you don’t well, you’re getting a lesson in why the game is fun. I will admit to playing fast and loose with the spell Geas, and completely making up the ‘Rite of Abrogation’ and Sharis’ Dominant Geas, but creating your own version of a spell isn’t unheard off. Casting two 9th level spells (will explain below) isn’t normally doable, but with the right equipment (Sharis conceivably MAY have) can allow that to happen. Everything else is pretty solid, I think, rules-wise:

1) True Polymorph (9th Level) lasts until dispelled if the caster spent a full hour concentrating on the target’s new form.

2) Geas (5th level), when cast in a 9th level spell slot, lasts until removed by Wish, Remove Curse, or Greater Restoration, which Sharis of Waterdeep used to ensure the geas lasts as long as it needs to.

3) Acererak’s Tomb, more commonly known as the “Tomb of Horrors” does contain a trapped archway that does exactly what’s described. Passing through it will reverse the character’s gender and alignment. Going out-and-in a second time will reverse the alignment of that character again. Going out and in a third time will reverse the character’s gender again, but also teleport them outside the tomb completely naked and missing all equipment.

a. So, when Cailen, the 17th Level Neutral Good Wizard went through the arch, he emerged as Sharis, the 17th Level Neutral Evil Wizard.

b. And Valanna, the Paladin of Tyr? She can literally smell evil with her Divine Senses, and Sharis smelled overwhelmingly evil.

c. All that said, from my experience on both sides of the table – The “Tomb of Horrors” is a lot of fun for the DM and an absolute drag as a player. It’s challenging to the point of being punitive, so you better have some open-minded or extremely forgiving players if you plan on running it.

4) Candlekeep does have magical wards preventing teleportation in and out of it, and entry to the famed library does require the donation of a book to the library, unless you’re designated a “Friend of Candlekeep”.

Consequently, had Sharis simply gone back through the arch two more times, she would have been back to Cailen without an issue. But I suppose none of us know exactly how we’d react in that situation, and I don’t think I would have been willing to try a second or third time after seeing what happened the first time. Make of that sentiment what you like.

Side note: I still don’t know what exactly happened to Valanna. I doubt she’s survived the last year in the Abyss, but if she has? I guarantee you she’s not okay.

All images were generated by Heroforge, a site used to create and 3D print custom minis. One of my players got me a gift card, so I played around with the character creator – it provides a lot of options.

I don’t know if I can share links to the minis I created for use in this caption series. if anyone wants to buy a copy for themselves, and even if I could? I don’t get shit for it. But if anyone is interested, PM me and I’ll see if there’s a sharable link



Part 1 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-1-941099097
Part 2 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-a-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-2-941100199
Part 3 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-3-941100762
Part 4 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-a-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-4-941101084
Part 5 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-5-941101268
Part 6 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-6-941101562
Part 7 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-7-941101791
Part 8 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-8-941101981
Part 9 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-9-941102402
Part 10 Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/Crying-is-Considered-a-Free-Action-Part-10-941102547

I'll Take That Bet

Part 1

 

Part 2

Hey everyone. Long time no see. 

It’s been a weird year, and I’m sorry I kinda dropped off the map. I’m not gonna get into super detailed-details, but I’ll run the bullet points by you.

1) I’m clearly not dead, so that’s a good thing. No emergency health issues, nothing like that.

2) In the space of a about three or four months, most of my close friends moved across the country in varying directions. Just how life winds up sometimes, but it was several months of last-time hangouts, going-away parties, and figuring out what I ultimately wanted to do and where I ultimately wanted to be.

3) Two friends and a family member died within about a 90-day period. All of them were unexpected in one regard or another. One of them still doesn’t make sense from a details and legality standpoint. I’m not going to go into further details, but all of it put together has derailed me from normal life like fucking crazy.

4) Regarding point 1, I eventually made a decision and, without a job lined up, moved back east across the country. I’m staying with family on the East Coast for the time being until I get a job and my own place, but I was able to sell my place in my old town for a bundle before the housing market began its downturn. 

5) Writing can be hard at the best of times. These are not the best of times. 

    a. Addendum – Anyone who think writing isn’t hard? Probably a shitty writer. Or at minimum, a careless writer.

6) In case anyone’s curious: Whiskey (with an e) refers to American and Irish whiskey, whereas Whisky without an e refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese whisky.

I’m not looking for commiseration or sympathy or advice, I just felt ya’ll deserved some kind of explanation. 

This is not the caption(s) I planned on returning with. Hell, I didn’t plan on stopping at all, much less being gone long enough to need to “return”, but here we are. I’ve started and stopped about 12 different stories because I simply couldn’t muster the energy to finish writing them. I still have them plotted, pictures planned, etc, but the actual process of writing them began to feel overwhelming. I’ll get back to them eventually, but this two-parter was just to help me get back into the practice of writing daily… and I failed on day 2. Whatever, at least it’s finished. 

I’m not gonna lie – this isn’t my best. But occasionally you have to clear out the muck in your brain and just write what’s there before you can write something great, especially when you take as long a break as I did. I hope ya’ll enjoy anyways.

Also, despite the fact that both main characters in this story suck as individual people… while I’d love to look and feel like Christine? My feeling on Scotch are parallel to Brian. Scotch is better than anything you like, including better Scotch. I will not be taking questions.

Part 1 Full Res Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/I-ll-Take-That-Bet-Part-1-926741089

Part 2 Full Res Here: https://www.deviantart.com/thestrangeone2380/art/I-ll-Take-That-Bet-Part-2-926741674

I don’t any of the images I use in my captions, including this one.