Mcdm Chain - Blog Posts
F1, G3, P1
I’m gonna answer for Hops (chain oc) and Forthright(my current d&d character)
F1
What do they do for fun?
– Hops would probably be that person to do brewery tours but I think she also likes seeing street performers.
– Forthright is always running grifts and probably spends her the time away from her sewer goblin kingdom gambling. I also think she likes to show off wealth so maybe balls and operas.
G3
what benefits come from being their friend?
– Hops always reminds people to know their limits
– if your Forthright’s friend she wont grift you
P1
What is there best personality trait?
– Hops has big friend energy, thinks shes mom friend but isnt even close
– Forthright thinks shes the double-crossing wildcard but is somehow the (second) most level headed of the party. Knows when to not push her luck
BONUS QUESTIONS (bc I want to)
B3
How tall are they?
– Hops is maybe about 4 foot 7
– Forthright is 5 foot 11 inches (6 foot 3 w/horns)
G1
Most attractive external feature
– Hops has big arms (a feature I have to give credit to @hubbleablubble ’s art for) that I think gets a lot of attention but she really likes her hair
– Forthright is pretty tall. She really likes her birthmarks though.
Excuse my crappy handwriting, but here’s Mud! Quickly sassed her way to the top of my fav NPCs list.
I know I’ve been going on about the Chain tag recently (but seriously if you don’t want to see it why are you even following me) but here’s another thing I really think makes the Helltroopers that have been made seem like they fit really well. Even the pure spellcasters we’ve made feel like they would be right at home as just another body for a shield wall; it seems like it is obvious to everyone so far that the magical talent of the common Helltroopers is still situational or limited, and all of them are soldiers first. Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s just really cool to me how it feels as though every single Helltrooper this community has developed is a soldier to some degree, like the Chain has magicians, sure, but they don’t have battle mages, they have soldiers with magical talent.
“though I’ve handled the wood, I still worship the flame″
Helltrooper Dream
Half-Elf Cleric, probably either light, nature or war I’m not sure
“Tryna talk to the Elf? Good luck with that, he’s a dreamer that one”
Oft found staring off into the distance, Dream is a quiet one. Keeps to himself mostly, a sad look in his eyes. Quite pretty some say, with soft features that seem bespokely made for a sad smile.
Quick to heal those who need it, especially his fellow troopers although his compassion hides a fire which few even among his fellow soldiers have seen. Dream joined up with the chain for reasons unknown, those who can coax some conversation out of him tend to find him pleasant but not forthcoming. One thing’s for certain though, he’s no friend of Ajax and where most topics are met with mostly disinterest, mention of the overlord will bring out a cold anger in the priest.
The Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Beebee.
“I’d put an arrow through you if I weren’t sloshed. Wait right there, I still might.”
Human ranger, footsoldier, and tavern regular
Too confrontational for his own good, which often led to him being chased up trees when he was younger, where he’d then pelt his aggressors with a slingshot… because he hadn’t annoyed them enough.
Plays dumb but secretly loves reading about and studying nature.
Followed by a cat who refuses to leave him alone, he’s taken to calling it Little Bastard. In turn, other helltroopers named him Big Bastard, shortened to Beebee.
When fire came to Blackbottom, he grabbed his boy and ran for the only safety he knew: the forest.
Stranded on a burning continent with his fellow helltroopers and, most importantly, his cat, Beebee’s main goal for now is to regroup with the remainder of the Chain and take revenge against Ajax for interrupting his ale.
>“I didn’t miss, it was a poorly timed warning shot.”
>“Magic… makes me itchy. Put that damned fire out.”
>“You think I’m scared of you? I could tie both arms behind my back and it still wouldn’t be a fair fight.”
>“I hate this lil’ bastard but if you ever call him ‘Mr. Fluffy’ again, I’ll poison your soup.”
A little late, but here’s my first helltrooper. Not my first choice but he was the easiest to find pics for and I really wanted to get something out. I’ll probably go back and tweak him until I’m more satisfied with it, but for now I need to get an emissions test so like 😬
Haft - Half-Elf Devotion Paladin
Heavy armour, and pollaxe.
Named haft cause they constantly have to re-haft their pollaxe from heavy use.
Has been doing mercenary work for years
Joined The Chain as their first big mercenary outfit, and is loving it.
Calm and collected most of the time, but when incensed is incredibly passionate.
Set off for capital as soon as they knew The Chain was there, with as many other members as they could find.
Trying my hand at some Chain OCs (loosely based on a couple of characters a friend and I made years ago)
The Twins (Mercy and Truth)
Tieflings
No consensus who is Twin 1 and who is Twin 2
Met the Chain of Acheron in Alloy towards the end of the Company’s time there; it’s unclear how long they had lived in the Burning City, and some things indicate they’ve also spent some time in Hell
Tend to wear loose fitting, light linen clothing indicative of Alloy (unless Matt Colville specifies otherwise)
Heavy accents (Infernal and Primordial)
Will talk about their past, but it usually sounds absurd and the story is often left unfinished as one of the twins will either trail off or be interrupted by the other (but as crazy as it always seems, they haven’t contradicted themselves yet)
Like to tease each other and bicker a lot, but are extremely protective of one another
Trust Issues (but the Chain is growing on them)
Don’t like to stay in the same place for too long, and are generally excited to travel to new places and see strange things
Don’t actually like taking orders and will be petty about it
Afraid of heights
Such stupid kids tbh
Mercy
Phoenix Soul Sorcerer
Chaotic Neutral (Evil leaning)
5’, she/her, unnatrual white skin, silver hair, black horns that start at her temples and sweep back along the sides of her head, magenta eyes with black sclera, tail that tapers flat like a thresher shark
Eyes occasionally glow, the center of her irises turning white, fading to yellow, orange, and finally back to magenta (as per her subclass flavor)
Burn scars
Nicknamed by her brother sarcastically and now she’s stuck with it; “You may call me Mercy, but don’t expect me to have any.”
A little sadistic, but can be kept in check (give her a reason to and she will set you on fire though)
Sites her brother as her moral compass
Honest (unless she’s covering for her brother)
Reckless
Smarter than her brother (by like 1 but likes to remind him of it)
Cheeky and likes to get the last word (occasionally by any means necessary); particularly sharp tongued when on the defensive
A good bet if your goal is destruction
Would call Big Cat a pretty kitty
Truth
Inquisitive Rogue
Chaotic Neutral
6’1”, extremely dark grey skin, black hair, bone white horns that start at his temples and arch up and curve over the top of his head, magenta eyes with black sclera, tail that tapers flat like a thresher shark
Missing a chunk of one of his horns
Nicknamed by his sister sarcastically and now he’s stuck with it; “You may call me Truth, just don’t expect me to share it with you.”
Compulsive liar, but doesn’t lie to his sister (not as of yet anyways)
Huge flirt (his sister sometimes plays his wingman)
Sneaky son of a bitch
Somewhat cautious
Older than his sister (by only a few minutes but likes to reminder her of it)
Definitely knows Mercy’s True Name
Has a misshapen pearl earring he got when he beat Mercy at chess (or Orden equivalent) as she was using it as her queen; he claims it reminds him of her
Some songs that give me vibes for these characters:
Hey Brother - Avicii Alone Together - Fall Out Boy Heathens - Twenty One Pilots Red Hot Lights - Moon Taxi all the good girls go to hell - Billie Eilish Horns - Bryce Fox The Patron Siant of Liars and Fakes - Fall Out Boy
I end up coming up with a new chain oc pretty much every stream but most recent is Footpad. Koursirian street urchin with an aptitude for magic. Ostensibly joined the chain to get themselves off the streets and earn fortune although if they’re honest, they were just too curious and had too much of wanderlust not to join up with the Helltroopers.
Always liked footpad as slang for a thief and seemed to fit pretty well as a chain name. They’re probably just a rank-and-file soldier but if I were to actually build them mechanically they’d be 3rd level arcane trickster rogue. Idk if the rank and file actually report to specific junior officers but I like the idea that their magic and curiosity makes them get along well with Buts.
I’m insatiable so I made a Chain OC
This is Mint, who is a complete idiot
(Bonus comic under cut)
Keep reading
someone say chain ocs?
Hops
an exceedingly nimble dwarf woman with thick sideburns and tied-back hair. She wears a simple dress and an apron; when shes on a mission she’ll change into light armor and a hood. She has a deep interest in the craftsmanship of alcohol (she has a soft spot for sour ales) but doesnt seem to drink large volumes. She is eager to be part of Angel’s/Boots’ spy network but is being kept away by Angel as she has already been seen around Capital as a Chain member.
She joined the chain as a way to experience the cultures, food and drink of the surface-dwellers of orden, and the timescape itself; the ability to test her steel and cunning in honorable (and not so honorable) combat was only a bonus.
were I to make her a pc she would be a dwarf (obviously) rogue and probably a scout subclass and the guild artisan (brewer) background
My chain OC, since it’s about time I finally made one!
Name: Oak.
Human female ranger (the second best ranger, thanks very much), mid 50′s. Face like a gnarled oak, hence the name. Stronger than she looks, and loves to complain. Every time she’s asked, she has a different story about her life before The Chain. Serves in the Advancers, as a scout. Or at least, she did. But right now, she’s making her way from Blackbottom to Capital.
Shout out to @wojtekbc for being a damn pillar of this community. Also @fisyx @xynnos @zarozinia and @hubbleablubble for doing cool featured art.
Toes, at only 14 ran away from home after hearing his parents speaking of abandoning him in the woods because of his “witchcraft”, he quickly took off before dawn, leaving the farm and making for the city as any surrounding farms would recognize him and return him home. living as a beggar on the streets of Blackbottom learning of his gifts in secret.
One night when food and shelter ran particularly scarce, desperate for warmth. He conjured a violent burst of flame that nearly left him without hair altogether and through the wild and unpredictable nature of his gift, turned three of his toes to solid gold. Cutting these toes off to sell, since he has never been seen in anything but noble garb
Hearing of the chain arriving in town and of the magic user among them with seemingly very similar talents to his own, toes immediately set to getting onto the crew. To maybe find a mentor and the safety in numbers.
in game Toes is a human wild magic sorcerer with a street urchin background, he dresses and speaks finely, even in combat, to give no hint at his lowly beginnings, he is humble but immensely greedy.
i don’t know how to format or edit pictures but i had to add the stuff @wojtekbc sent me
The Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Bark
Tiefling
Glamour Bard
Traveler, Author, Mercenary. Prior to joining the chain, Bark hitchhiked and drifted the timescape, writing and spreading tales of “his” exploits. He’s fond of his guitar for spinning his tales but will use the harmonica to cast a quick spell.
He decided to join the chain after what happened in alloy, seeing opportunity for adventure. After encountering Ajax with the rest of the chain, Bark feels closer to his company than anyone from his previous lives. Given the name Bark for his surprising lack of skill in combat. Despite being a less than average fighter, Bark keeps morale up among chain members and has made many friends.
CHAIN OF ACHERON, HELLTROOPER CHERRY REPORTING
“The Chain will be unbroken. None shall be slaves. The truth is my pursuit.”
“The Chain is my family now. My honour is tied up with theirs.”
- Mountain Dwarf War Magic Wizard.
- 3′9″, she/her, biromantic asexual.
- Lawful Neutral.
- Her nickname comes from both her red eyes and puffy red nose from years of drinking. Inspired by this, she has taken to using cherries in her brewing.
- She keeps her chestnut brown hair short and her face bare, though she does have some sweet sideburns.
- She is a practiced brewer and an expert cardsharp, and often can be found in her downtime taking other Chainlink’s money in games of chance over drink. To Cherry, the Chain is her family.
- She hates the ways of her fellow Dwarves in capturing and keeping slaves, and despises Ajax for facilitating such injustice. If she didn’t hate Ajax before Blackbottom, she sure does now.
- As a Vaslorian, she is devoted to the Chivalric ideal of Truth, and strongly believes in the maxim: “The Truth will out.”
- Cherry is crass, and speaks her mind even when it is not to her social advantage. She is practically minded to a fault.
- She joined the Chain in Blackbottom around the same time as Sweet. She is extremely hesitant to speak on her past, even more than the other Chainlinks. Once, while extremely drunk, she shared that she had left her past behind after waking in a shallow grave, seemingly resurrected after the explosion that killed her family.
- During her service to the Chain, she became an assistant to Staff Sorcerer Nails, developing evocation and abjuration magic useful for combat on the battlefield and protecting her fellow Chainlinks.
- During the Siege of Blackbottom and the Fall of the Chain, Cherry was not one of the Chainlinks who boarded the Rosso Cielo, instead meeting up with another group independently to make their way to Capital on their own. Currently looking for a captain willing risk the wrath of Ajax in taking them across the Bale Sea to the meetup in Capital.
Meet Bags!
She’s my OC for The Chain of Acheron, and she’s pretty much me…
Some info: Bags was born in Khoursir, grew up there and was part of the local guard for a while. Then things happened as they do and… hey, look, The Chain of Acheron! Upon hearing that she wanted to join, her new fellows welcomed her into their ranks and quickly learned that she’s a bit of a worrier. Due to this, she carries a wide range of equipment in her backpack, satchels, belt pouches, etc… and she doesn’t sleep particularly well. One bleary morning, dark circles around her eyes and bags beneath, the Helltroopers gave her a new name: Bags! As a welcoming gift, they also gave her an instrument: an old set of bagpipes that a former member had left behind a while ago. It was probably a joke at first, but she took it up quickly and puts her skills to use as often as she needs to.
So Bags is a human bard!
Thanks to @wojtekbc for making a very helpful little moodboard that got the first aesthetic ideas going.
Another Helltrooper (last from me i promise)
Mark (not his real name)
a new recruit, a Riojan man with messy short-ish black hair and a close cropped beard, seems to be in his late 30s. He is an excellent archer and not bad swordsman either. He loves to play cards and other gambling games with the rest of the helltroopers (though he mostly loses); though hes a pretty calm guy and takes his losses in stride. He spends a lot of time learning and practicing chain sign, and seems to be picking it up quickly. He can read pretty well although he mostly cares about books on Caelian engineering, architecture, and warfare. It’s clear to the other members that he has served in some military capacity previously based on how he carries himself (and sometimes slips up and give the Riojan salute) but never brings it up-that life is gone now. He doesn’t talk much outside of the increasingly frequent use of chain sign and other simple gestures and emoting.
Hes joined up with a mercenary company because part of him missed service and the opportunity for gold; and the chain specifically because chain sign and the chronicle were a great interest to him.
Were he to be a player character he would be a human fighter (probably battlemaster) with the solider background
sketches of the LADS!!!
(Paisley @wojtekbc, Mint @ me, Hawthorn @fisyx, Hops @zarozinia, Footpad @xynnos, Beebee @the-zoa)
Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Match.
“You see the docks on fire??”
> “I mean, technically yeah, but I also found the kid’s dog :D”
Okay so I spent more time on this than I had intended, but everyone meet Match!
half-elf sorcerer, rank-and-file soldier
5′8″, they/them
chaotic good
has a tendency to accidentally set things on fire hence the nickname ‘Match’
always has good intentions though!
is not allowed to light candles using the firebolt anymore
joined the Chain because they needed to quickly disappear after accidentally setting a noble’s house alight, stayed because they like the people
thinks they are smooth but is actually just a huge dork
always holds a match between their teeth because they think it looks Cool and Edgy™
Yesterday’s Eyeliner™
calls everyone darling
tries to play it smooth and aloof but will immediately melt at the slightest bit of affection
11/10 would squeeze Bigcat on sight because b i g c a t
(close-ups on my instagram: paper.shield.illustrations)
Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Hawthorn “Tha plan? Don’t die, and tha least bloodied buys drinks.”
Stout, loud and spiky best describes this Khemharan Desert Dwarf. Hailing from the eastern side of the Granite Mountains, Hawthorn was formerly part of the shock troopers known as the Khoragad, or Dust Devils (or Cactus Men, but don’t say that in front of him). He and his flails would tear through the battlefield and none could ignore him.
He joined the Chain a while back, towards the beginning of Ajax’s conquest of Khemhara. Doesn’t do well with plans, prefers the tried and true method of “whack it until it falls over,” or, the true Dwarven way. Likely didn’t make it onto the Rosso Cielo because, uhhhh, who travels by water?
He will have to, eventually, but he isn’t going to like it.
Has strong opinions on stoneworking (sandstone or it’s not worth it) and ale (cactus based), but is otherwise quite civilized. Just… Don’t stand to close to him in a fight. And close is a relative term.
In game terms he’s absolutely a Mountain Dwarf Battlerager barbarian. I like the idea that despite the obvious cactus imagery, when he joined the Chain, it was mostly Vaslorians who hadn’t ever seen a cactus before, so they called him their spiky plant (they weren’t going to call him rose, that’s for sure).
I was having a hard time thinking of him, but then suddenly he came to me all at once and now I desperately need to do something with him.
“See? It all turned out in the end. What do you mean, ‘stealth operation?’”
Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Granddad. “Yet here I am.” Vanirman Dwarf Barbarian (Ancestral Guardian). LN. Exiled skald from Vanigar. Joined the Chain to see the world in his later years. A grouch with a sailor’s vocabulary: truly a heart of morale for the lads he serves with. Rallied a few Helltroopers as Blackbottom fell. He would have been content with a good death at Blackbottom, but that didn’t happen. Now he’s responsible for getting these formidable boys and girls back to the company. In the past week, he has taken to writing down the deeds of his solemn band of Helltroopers. The others see it as sentimental, he believes it to be a priority that their story isn’t lost. Sings the epics of Vanirmen heroes of old. Jokingly sings of the mundane deeds of his fellow Helltroopers. Built like a brick shithouse. An oldboy. He’s been around for a while, and though everyone knows how long he’s been with the Chain, he’ll joke to recruits that he is the longest serving member. This one’s for you @krunk-mcdunk please don’t slay me now.
Helltrooper Breeze
“I go where the wind takes me. And for now, she keeps me with you.”
Breeze is a CG half elf druid of the land (forest probably). She joined up with the Chain of Acheron when they were contracted in Farrow. She was grateful for their change of heart in attacking her people and joined after learning of their travels from some of the rank and file members. Breeze is guided by her wanderlust more than anything, as well as her need to explore and learn. She feels as though she has much to learn about life, so joining the Chain was a way of learning about how the world works outside of the small community she grew up in.
She actually planned to leave the Chain in Blackbottom, she had already said her goodbyes for the most part before they arrived there, but promised to stay for one more drink before she went on her way. And then Ajax happened and it all went to shit. I imagine she ran to find the Chain as soon as she saw the floating city, and would have helped in the evacuation of Blackbottom in any way she could. She’s also probably joining some other Chain soldiers on the journey to Capital.
I’m an absolute sucker for found family tropes and Breeze is absolutely the type to be ride or die for people who care about her. I imagine that people gave her the nickname Breeze once they saw how little she actually plans and just *does things*, as though going along with wherever the breeze takes her. No one really believes she’ll actually stay with the Chain for that long, but she’s here for now and she’s loyal enough. She’s young and easily excitable, and while she has little life experience, she’s fairly insightful and knows people. Also probably knows more things about berries than how cities work (we love a feral druid in this house okay). She’s a bit of a hoarder too, but of like, leaves, flowers and pinecones. Keeps all she can in a little notebook she has.
Tl:dr she’s an air sign for sure, would have a aesthetic blog if she could, tumblr witch vibes, has eaten leaves to make people think she’s feral so they leave her alone and would 1000% die for the Chain of Acheron because this is her family damn it! She belongs, for once in her life, in this rag tag mercenary company, and she’s not about to let that go anymore. Even if she has to fist fight Ajax, she will do it to protect her family.
Chain of Acheron, Helltrooper Paisley. “Sometimes the only way to win is to not play at all.” Riojan Human Illusionist. NG. Raised in Capital. Just his luck that he’d be dragged back. Spellbook is half old notes, half trial and error. Lucky that he was born Riojan, because at least he can poke some holes in people when his parlour tricks don’t work. Joined the Chain to distance himself from who he was in Capital. Stuck in Vasloria, looking for a) more surviving Helltroopers and b) a captain who’s not too fond of Ajax and is willing to cross the Bale Sea. One heckin’ lanky boi. Singer, Art Snob Extraordinaire . Wore a stupid fucking scarf the day he joined and now its a Signature Look and he Can’t Escape It. Big Older Brother Energy. >”I swear, you should have seen my swordsmanship when I was a young man!” >Is still a young man. Includes the Khoursirian Demon of Fog in his prayers; spent too much time with that mystic not to at least say thanks. Radiating Aura of Self Confidence (Unique Riojan Passive) I don’t do moodboards, but since I’m not an artist and I felt like giving some rough notes on the aesthetic I thought why not. So I was going to type out a huge chunk of backstory I had for this character, but then I realied a) that wouldn’t be fun to read or write and b) it was kind of missing the point to write about small details of who he was before, because Helltroopers leave that behind. Anyway, to those who know me it won’t be a surprise that this character is an Illusionist, seeing as that is my favourite class/subclass. The name “Paisley” for a Wizard, and even some of the broader strokes to the backstory, were bouncing around in my head for months before the Chain, but there was something about reading Matt’s document he gave the players for their character creation that made me go “Oh fuck, there’s so much that works in this,” so this is what took form, really. The concept of an Illusionist being told by loved ones to leave a Machiavellian city of the Great Game to deprive any player of a potential piece has kind of stuck with me as a PC idea for a while, and Capital is 100% the kind of thing I was imagining.
Happy Pride Month!
I made a bunch of The Chain Pride symbols to celebrate!
hey I LOVE watching the chain of acheron
bonus, a reference to the worldbuilding streams:
Spent the morning listening to MCDM’s campaign premiere! It was really intense!!!!
My thanks to Anna for gifting us with this Sassy Evil Boi. 10/10, would praise Asmodeus under his intimidating gaze.
I love the way capital has been set up as like, broadly speaking, a normal city with crazy magic shit just beneath the surface. Matt has played that perfectly to create that contrast and highlight how an ordinary human wouldn’t notice anything strange about their city but adventurers can find ancient catacombs and monsters under a library.
I think if I were running it I’d play that idea up far more such as having it be normal sized and less alien races out in the open but create the atmosphere that in any shadow there could be 3 drow hanging out, Tieflings are only found in the hardest to find clubs and bars, back allys that don’t exist on maps etc.
@hubbleablubble we all love you and this is insane Chain OCs on stream I’m still smiling. We made it lads we worldwide now. Hawthorn, Paisley, Hops, Mint and Footpad the lads. @fisyx @xynnos @zarozinia
