I've been wanting to post a breakdown of this for a while. This is the group of players I've been writing for, and only once before have I been blessed with as solid a crew. We've been playing every Wednesday and Sunday for about three months with few breaks- and we run by Skype a few nights here and there as well.
Almost every player has a dude or three- ACKS resting doesn't stop the party.
Speaking of parties, the adventuring party (with the number of players and characters, it's more of a guild) recently built a stronghold not far from Dwimmermount to replace the party cottage they were rapidly outgrowing. This one is a 3600 square foot wooden structure, two floors, with a stable/smithy, surrounded by a log palisade and eventually to be patrolled by the two changed hellhounds Trogdor befriended and then had transmogrified into mastiffs who breathe fire.
I'm not going to use real names here, just initials. I will give the real character names- even the silly ones. :) Now, I should note that even though some names are silly, the characters are, generally, not. Everyone's taking the game seriously, and I love them for that.
Player A1
The party house in Muntburg was owned by Trogdor, who started life as my fiance's Thrassian gladiator. After many, many sessions of play, he is now 3rd level, and has been combined with the ruins of a slain manticore in a horrid Chaotic ritual, basically turning him into a Thrassian Value 4 gladiator. (He's got wings, iron scales, iron teeth, a Bowser mane...) Trogdor is Chaotic to the core, but in a friendly sort of way. He does make jerky out of... well... pretty much everything. Trogdor's closest friend is Doric, who has adventured with him since they both began. The kobolds on level 1 (the ones the party left alive) worship Trogdor like the sleek scaly god he is.
After many, many sessions (at least 20? Maybe more?) the highest level party members are just under 4th. The reason for this is manifold. People keep needing rest, so that takes them out of the action. Or, people have altaholism, so they play another dude for a while. Or, worst offender, people just can't make as many sessions as others. The numbers I give for levels are their current ones.
A also has a 2nd level explorer named Lorasaadi, who particularly hates dragons, and carries a voodoo doll of one stuffed with pins. Lorasaadi comes from an old campaign of mine, and was translated out of a LotFP specialist.
Player R1
A staple at our Wednesday night game, R1 started out playing a mage who rolled the Eunuch sorcerer template. He rolled with it, and Whelan-Thiss became the preeminent magic-user. Unfortunately, a gargoyle in the Dwimmermount mangled his hand, so Whelan-Thiss needed a restore life and limb. While he's been recovering (30 days is harsh), R1 has played Cadus the Mad, a 1st level dwarven fury, and Grimdal Stonegrinder, a 1st level dwarven machinist. Cadus was of the Hammerspite clan, but, even though the are the dwarven equivalent of trailer trash, living in a dump in Muntburg, Cadus was too crazy, even for them.
E
R1's wife, and my good friend, E is playing a 2nd level Nobiran Wonderworker named Daymana. Daymana is about seven feet tall, a master of makeup, and a connoisseur of wigs and jewelry.Nobody really asks Daymana what he or she is really about. Daymana has a wand of polymorphing which has proven very useful.
T1
Rain is a 3rd level elven nightblade who dual wields two magic swords. The better of the two is the fabled blade Karakgoburzgarandak, Foe-Knife-Shatter-Master, or Shatterfoe in the Common tongue. This blade was found in the tomb of a dwarven warrior in Khaz Droonan. Shatterfoe is a +2 sword which warms in the presence of goblins within 60' and, when attacking such creatures, sunders non-magical weapons on a roll of 17-20. In his off-hand he wields a nameless +1 sword. Rain has been very lucky with the backstabs and the kill shots.
L
This player started out as a live player, but transitioned to Skype only as she and her partner (B) moved far enough away that they can't just stop in. L is playing a 2nd level shaman, Nymeria. Nymeria's primary claim to fame is being a voice of reason in the party- and when that fails, she's got a horn of blasting.
B
B is playing a 1st level elf spellsword named Byrt Reynaulds. I wish I were making this up. His picture on our Facebook group is Sterling Archer with ear tips and a bow. Byrt is... not the voice of reason.
J
J has a couple of distinctions going for him. One, he's my oldest friend- practically my brother. This allows me to fuck with him mercilessly. Two, no matter who he is playing, he always seems to be first through the door, which has resulted in more deaths, dings, cuts, scrapes, lost arms, eyes gouged out... the list, man. He was also the first PC death... in the second room of the first session. That character, Roshin, was a 1st level Nobiran wonderworker. He has since played Doric Bosley up to 3rd level cleric. Doric got literally eaten by troglodytes, and so after they got his and Rory's mangled skeletons back and life and limbs restored, he started playing Koster Stonegrinder, a 2nd level dwarven craftpriest. Koster was also out of action for a bit, so J started playing Ssarook, a 1st level Thrassian gladiator, and his henchman Damian Hawthorne, a 2nd level alchemist. Having a henchman worked out, because Ssarook had three stories of tower collapse on him a few sessions ago. For about half a session, Doric had a thief henchman named Jean-Luc, but a trap caused that to not work out. So yeah. Six total characters. Roshin has the inglorious fate of being the last primary PC to die before the party got rich enough that Restore Life and Limb flows fairly regularly.
T2
J's fiance, T2 has also played a few folks. She started as Rory, a 2nd level bladedancer, but died and was eaten in the same messy fighting retreat as Doric. They went back and slew the troglodyte feasters, and Rory and Doric are about 20 days through their 30 days rest. In the meantime, T2 has played Urian Hammerspite, a 3rd level dwarven delver, and Veriswen Tathlond, a 1st level elf courtier.
R2
R2 is A1 and I's roommate. She's played a variety of characters, primarily Vartan, a 3rd level elf ranger. Vartan bears a sword +1, +2 vs spellcasters, which he has christened "Bitchin'." When Vartan was unavailable, R2 made Delphina, a 3rd level cleric, and when SHE wasn't available, she made Phil of Panzance, a 1st level assassin. Noteworthy is that this area is hundreds of miles from the ocean, so a pirate-themed assassin sticks out like a sore, sore thumb. Stupid template rolls.
R3
R2's boyfriend, R3 is playing Zayne Lionheart, a 3rd level dwarven machinist. Zayne is noteworthy in that he got leather armor +2 in an assault on the brigands of the ruins of Winterburg, and immediately went to Adamas to trade it in for... a caravan. As no one there (class III city) had the liquid wealth to purchase the armor, he chose to trade it for about 25% of it's worth for a 6 wagon caravan and all it's goods. He sold a bit of it, but is still sitting on 90 barrels of preserved fish, stacked floor to ceiling in his cottage in Muntburg.
R4
I know a lot of people whose names start with R. R4 is playing a level 1 assassin named Meric Calloway. He has only made one session so far, and was beaten up by gnolls.
A2
A2 was there at the first session of this campaign, playing Alisdair, a 1st level warlock. Woe to Alisdair, however, as in our first session, the second tromp down into Dwimmermount was met with an enemy NPC party which both outnumbered and outgunned the PCs. Trogdor, the following day, discovered the bodies of Felix, Doric, and Alisdair, naked, stacked like cordwood near a statue of Mavors. Alisdair's fingers were all broken and his tongue torn loose. He retired to obscurity, sans spellbook.
A2 made a new character, Artemis the 1st level elven ranger, but has yet to rejoin us to play him. A2 has played with us before, so I don't think he's mad at me...
A3
A3 is an old friend of mine, playing a character dredged up from our ancient Hackmaster campaign Nimloth Remmirath is a 1st level elf spellsword, albino, who has nightmares and talks in her sleep. She was recently in charge of delivering over a gallon of azoth from Muntburg to Adamas, literally flooding the market.
M
A3's husband, M is playing an old character from a different old campaign of mine, that one ran in Basic Fantasy RP. M is playing a gnome assassin-esque character, here called a skulk. He's only been able to make one game so far.
G
Olan the Incautious. 2nd level barbarian. Another shipwrecked character from the same campaign Lorasaadi came from, Olan is young, naive, and happy to hit it with his axe. G lives in Massachusetts, so he only ever Skypes in. G is also one of my best friends, so I am happy to do the Skype thing just to get to game with him.
S
S is playing Sander, who started out as a Neutral, world-weary huscarl of a barbarian. An encounter with a shrine of Law in the Dwimmermount transformed him in a flash of lightning into a gruesomely-scarred, Lawful character with characteristics of both barbarian and paladin- a "Changed Crusader." S recently obtained a sword +1, +2 vs. spellcasters, which he intends to use against the witches and heretics. Sander's religious conversion has made him a stalwart of Typhon.
My descriptions would not be complete without the two NPC henchmen the party takes with them quite often.
Felix is now a 2nd level fighter, up from the 0th level fighting-man they hired in their first session. He gets full XP and shares of loot, since he is totally aware he is better than half the party. Felix is utterly, completely devoted to Trogdor, even though it's not the wisest course of action for him, as he's died three or four times. He was also "Felicia" for a while after a bad roll, and had a baboon leg. All things considered, though, he's done well- even going adventuring with his own henchmen once or twice, Gerrald and Scar.
Gurn Hammerspite is a 1st level dwarven vaultguard, who also had been hired as a 0th level meatshield. He's not loyal to anyone, specifically, but he does like his PC cousin Urian and his PC dwarven fellows Zayn, Grimdal, Cadus and Koster. Gurn just started adventuring again, having had his arm regrown from being sizzled off by gray ooze in a forgotten Thrassian temple.
There have been a few more NPC henchmen- Rita, Sammore, Oscar- but Rita got killed by a spider, Sammore was returned from death all... stupid, and Oscar saw them looting the corpse of a fellow PC and gave up on the party entirely.
The party has two dwarven personal automatons, a cadre of guards at Zayn's machinist shop/pickled fish warehouse in Muntburg, some guards at the stronghold near Dwimmermount, and two "hell hounds" named Hellfire and Brimstone which have been crossbred with normal mastiffs to have 2 HD and the ability to breathe fire, and look just like normal dogs.
Whew. I think that's it.
Tomorrow I may post a map of the area we're adventuring in- I separated out the globe into a Dymaxion projection and drew one triangle- so, basically, Europe. The world of Talis is the size of Mars, so the map I'll be posting runs from the 30th parallel to the North pole.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
[ACKS Monster] Huecuva
So, my version of the Huecuva is a bit different. I wanted an undead which feels different from a ghoul and from a wight, is pretty tough, and more importantly screws over clerics who try to turn everything that even looks like an undead. I don't like disease generally, as it's one more thing to track.
As usual, the number of special abilities stars is totally handwaved. I'm not super good at assigning those things. :-/
HUECUVA
%
In Lair: 70%
Dungeon:
Assemblage (1d4)
/ Procession (1d8)
Wilderness:
Procession (1d8) / Conclave (1d8)
Alignment:
Chaotic
Movement:
120' (40')
AC:
2
Hit
Dice: 2***
Attacks:
2 (claws)
Damage:
1d4 energy drain/1d4 energy drain
Save:
F3
Morale:
+4
TT:
D
XP:
47
Huecuva
are the undead remains of clerics who were unfaithful to the tenets
of their deities. In death, they are rewarded by Chaos with endless
pain and a desire to slay those most like what they could not be-
Lawful, faithful clerics.
Huecuva
appear as worm-ridden, bloated corpses in the rotting cassocks and
vestments of their orders. Invariably they wear twisted lead holy
symbols- images perverted and cheapened from their original shapes
and meanings. Three times per day, huecuva may mask their appearance as living clerics- though always with something subtly wrong, such as the vile smell of decay, a forked tongue, or blasphemous markings upon their flesh.
Huecuva
are immune to turning attempts from Lawful clerics. Indeed, such
attempts cause the cleric to save vs. Death or suffer 1d6 damage as
unholy power cascades from the huecuva's battered frame. Multiple
huecuvas can easily demolish an unwary cleric who attempts to drive
them away.
The touch of a huecuva drains energy from the living. See my earlier blog post about Energy Drain. Fortunately, only Lawful clerics are able to return as huecuvas, which they do after 1d4 days.
Huecuva
may only be harmed by magical weapons, spells, and weapons made of
silver. Like other undead, they are immune to the effects of sleep,
charm, and hold spells. Holy water deals double damage to a huecuva.
I've been listening to way too much Ghost lately.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
[ACKS Monster] Cloaker
CLOAKER
%
In Lair: 40%
Dungeon:
Solitary (1)/Rack (1d4)
Wilderness:
Solitary (1)/Rack (1d2)
Alignment:
Chaotic
Movement:
10' (3')
Fly: 150'
(50')
AC:
6
Hit
Dice: 6**
Attacks:
2 (tails) or 1 (bite)
Damage:
1d6/1d6
Save:
F6
Morale:
0
TT:
H
XP:
820
When
resting or lying in wait, these creatures are almost impossible to
distinguish from common black cloaks (the cloaker's ivory claws look
very much like bone clasps).
When
it unfurls itself and moves to attack, however, its true nature
becomes all too obvious. At this point, its white underside is clear
and the monster’s face is fully visible. This face, with the glow
of its two piercing, red eyes and the needle-like fangs that line its
mouth, is a truly horrible sight. At this point, the monster also
uncurls the whip-like tail at its trailing edge and begins to swish
it back and forth in anticipation.
Cloakers
receive a +3 bonus to surprise rolls. If an attack roll is
successful, a cloaker engulfs its prey within its folds. Any creature
that falls victim to this attack is all but helpless and can be
bitten easily (no roll required) for 1d4 points of damage and their
target is grappled. Shields offer no protection from such attacks.
Any attacks made on the cloaker inflict half their damage to the
cloaker and the other half to the trapped victim. Area effect spells,
such as fireball, cause full damage to both the monster and its
victim.
A
cloaker can emit a dangerous subsonic moan as an attack. By changing
the frequency, the cloaker can cause one of four effects. Cloakers
are immune to these sonic, mind-affecting attacks. Unless otherwise
specified, a creature that successfully saves against one of these
effects cannot be affected by the same moan effect from the same
cloaker for 24 hours. If a cloaker moans, it can not use it's bite
attack in the same round.
Unnerve:
Anyone within a 60' spread automatically takes a -2 penalty on attack
and damage rolls. There is no save against this attack.
Fear:
Anyone within a 30' spread must succeed on a save vs. spells or flee
in terror for 2 rounds.
Nausea:
Anyone in a 30' cone must succeed on a Save vs. Poison or be overcome
by nausea and weakness. Affected characters fall prone and become
nauseated for 1d4+1 rounds. During this time, those who fail their
saving throws are unable to act in any manner.
Stupor:
A single creature within 30' of the cloaker must succeed on a Save
vs. Spells or be affected as a hold person spell for 5 rounds. Even
after a successful save, the creature must repeat the save if the
cloaker uses this effect again.
Each
of the various effects of the cloaker’s moan can be defeated by the
use of a neutralize poison spell on a victim.
Cloakers
also have the power to manipulate shadows. Known as shadow shifting,
this power can be used in a number of ways, but in only one
particular manner at any given time. The cloaker can employ its
shadow shifting ability to obscure its opponents’ vision, thus
bettering its Armor Class to 9. Or, the creature can produce precise
images from the shadows that can be used to trick its adversaries.
One common means of employing these images is to create a duplicate
of the cloaker to draw away enemy attacks. If this method of shadow
shifting is employed, it can be treated as a mirror image spell that
creates 1d4+2 images. Otherwise, the shadows can be considered to be
similar to a phantasmal force force spell.
The
thought processes of cloakers are utterly alien to most other life
forms. As such, they can only be communicated with by mages who have
devoted long hours to training their minds in the arcane discipline
necessary to understand these creatures.
[ACKS] Barghests, the Fathers of Goblinkind
BARGHEST
%
In Lair: 50%
Dungeon: 1d2/1d2
Wilderness:
1d2/1d4
Alignment:
Chaotic
Movement:
150' (50')
AC:
6
Hit
Dice: 6+6***
Attacks:
4 (2 claws, 1 boot, 1 bite)
Damage:
1d6 energy drain/1d6 energy drain/1d8/2d6
Save:
F8
Morale:
+3
TT:
J (in lair)
XP:
1280
Barghest
appear as huge, feral looking, red-skinned goblins or hobgoblins.
Their frames are twisted into wolfish form, with fangs, claws, and
black manes running halfway down their backs. Their eyes are their
most wolfish feature. Barghests speak Common, Goblin, and Infernal
(Zaharan). Typically, a barghest wears only a belted loincloth and
great, red-hot iron boots. Barghests trace their descent from the
Demon Lord Amon.
For
themselves, barghests are the progenitor demons of goblinkind, having
bred with wicked elves and men centuries ago to form their own
servile mortal race. These so-called sons of the Wolf, when on Talis,
attract great groups of hobgoblins, goblins, and other beastmen to
their red-stained banners. Barghests have little patience for
planning or rule, however, and lead their devout subjects in great
waves of slaughter, before almost invariably being driven back by the
better prepared, more strategic armies of man, elf, and dwarf. In the
modern day, many hobgoblins have turned away from the direct worship
of barghests, choosing instead to worship Fenris, the Wolf of the End
Times. These hobgoblins are fare more methodical and organized.
All
barghests are treated as having the Berserkergang proficiency. They
are immune to non-magical weapons, and even magical weapons not made
of silver do half damage. Barghests are immune to fire and natural
cold.
Barghests
tend to fight intelligently, unarmed, letting their great,
energy-draining claws, burning shoes, and massive jaws do the talking
for them. A creature reduced to 0 damage by a barghest dies
immediately, and the barghest is restored to full hit points. A
common tactic of barghests is to slay a goblin minion for their
soul's energy when the barghest is heavily wounded.
A
barghest is able to transform into the shape of a greater hellhound,
and remain in this shape indefinitely. In either form, barghests
leave burnt footprints where ever they tread.
Many
barghests (75%) are also mages of level 1d6. Other barghests (25%)
possess thief abilities at level 1d6.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
[ACKS Monster] Largha
LARGHA
%
In Lair: 60%
Dungeon:
None
Wilderness:
Hunt (1d8)/Tribe (2d4 hunts)
Alignment:
Neutral
Movement:
90' (30')
Swim: 120'
(40')
AC:
4 (3 natural, 1 hides and furs)
Hit
Dice: 3*
Attacks:
2 (tusks, by weapon)
Damage:
1d8, by weapon +2
Save:
F2
Morale:
+1
TT: J (per tribe)
XP: 65
Largha
are a bizarre blend of humanoid and walrus, with powerful, 7' builds,
neckless torsos ascending into great, tusked heads, and thick,
three-fingered hands clutching driftwood harpoons and axes. Largha
have wide, flipper-like feet with thick nails. Their hides are thick
and blubbery, and largha are able to swim and dwell in the coldest of
natural climates with no penalty. Some largha (75%) are primarily sea-dwelling, possessing many longships and skin boats, while other largha are land-based, and possess sleds and the hunting dogs to pull them.
Largha
are fiercely territorial, and will attack interlopers for the sheer
joy of it. Largha tribes will not cooperate, and if they encounter
one another, it almost always comes to blows.
Most largha fight with harpoons, which they throw with great efficacy. A thrown largha harpoon deals 2d4 damage. Usually, these harpoons are attached to ropes, which the largha uses to reel in their prey. A Save vs. Paralysis is required by the target of a successful largha harpoon, failure resulting in the harpoon remaining embedded. The largha may then reel in their foe at a rate of 30' per round, dealing an additional 1d4 points of damage. A harpooned opponent may continue making Saves vs. Paralysis to break free, or may attack the rope (AC 2, 5 hit points) in order to free themselves.
Most largha fight with harpoons, which they throw with great efficacy. A thrown largha harpoon deals 2d4 damage. Usually, these harpoons are attached to ropes, which the largha uses to reel in their prey. A Save vs. Paralysis is required by the target of a successful largha harpoon, failure resulting in the harpoon remaining embedded. The largha may then reel in their foe at a rate of 30' per round, dealing an additional 1d4 points of damage. A harpooned opponent may continue making Saves vs. Paralysis to break free, or may attack the rope (AC 2, 5 hit points) in order to free themselves.
Largha
females are somewhat smaller than the males, having 2 HD and dealing
1d6 damage with their tusks. For every hunt in a lair, there will be
1d6 females and 1d4 non-combatant children. Each hunt of largha will be led by a huntmaster with 4 HD and deals +3 damage with weapons. Each tribe of largha is led by chieftain of 5 HD, who similarly deals +3 damage with weapons, and whose tusks deal 1d10.
25% of largha tribes have a male kagog, which is a spellcaster with the stats of a huntmaster, plus 1d4 levels of shaman and 1d4 levels of warlock. Each tribe will also always possess 1d4 female largha who are able to cast spells as a shaman of level 1d6.
50% of largha tribes will possess 1d4 polar bears as guard animals and companions.
25% of largha tribes have a male kagog, which is a spellcaster with the stats of a huntmaster, plus 1d4 levels of shaman and 1d4 levels of warlock. Each tribe will also always possess 1d4 female largha who are able to cast spells as a shaman of level 1d6.
50% of largha tribes will possess 1d4 polar bears as guard animals and companions.
Friday, November 29, 2013
[ACKS House Rule] Energy Drain
I recently killed a PC with a wight, and while he got reincarnated, I felt really bad. So I retconned it, and then I rebuilt Energy Drain to still be nasty, but not affect XP.
Energy Drain
The touch of wights, vampires, and several other undead monsters causes Energy Drain. This damage is special in several respects.
1. It cannot be healed naturally- only magical healing is effective.
2. It heals the undead causing it by the same amount.
3. If a character is reduced to 0 hit points by Energy Drain, they die- no attempt at healing can be made. This death counts as Instant Death on the Tampering with Mortality rules.
4. If the character is not doused in holy water or returned to life within 24 hours, they have a chance after 24 hours to return as an undead.
Day 1: 1 in 6.
Day 2: 2 in 6.
Day 3: 3 in 6.
Day 4: 2 in 6.
Day 5: 1 in 6.
After five days, there is no chance to become undead.
In a Sinkhole of Evil:
Shadowed: No change.
Blighted: +1 in 6.
Day 1: 2 in 6.
Day 2: 3 in 6.
Day 3: 4 in 6.
Day 4: 3 in 6.
Day 5: 2 in 6.
Day 6: 1 in 6
Forsaken: +2 in 6.
Day 1: 3 in 6.
Day 2: 4 in 6.
Day 3: 5 in 6.
Day 4: 4 in 6.
Day 5: 3 in 6.
Day 6: 2 in 6.
Day 7: 1 in 6.
Energy Drain
The touch of wights, vampires, and several other undead monsters causes Energy Drain. This damage is special in several respects.
1. It cannot be healed naturally- only magical healing is effective.
2. It heals the undead causing it by the same amount.
3. If a character is reduced to 0 hit points by Energy Drain, they die- no attempt at healing can be made. This death counts as Instant Death on the Tampering with Mortality rules.
4. If the character is not doused in holy water or returned to life within 24 hours, they have a chance after 24 hours to return as an undead.
Day 1: 1 in 6.
Day 2: 2 in 6.
Day 3: 3 in 6.
Day 4: 2 in 6.
Day 5: 1 in 6.
After five days, there is no chance to become undead.
In a Sinkhole of Evil:
Shadowed: No change.
Blighted: +1 in 6.
Day 1: 2 in 6.
Day 2: 3 in 6.
Day 3: 4 in 6.
Day 4: 3 in 6.
Day 5: 2 in 6.
Day 6: 1 in 6
Forsaken: +2 in 6.
Day 1: 3 in 6.
Day 2: 4 in 6.
Day 3: 5 in 6.
Day 4: 4 in 6.
Day 5: 3 in 6.
Day 6: 2 in 6.
Day 7: 1 in 6.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Recent Session Reports
Wednesday and yesterday, I wound up running three sessions worth of gaming, and man were they awesome. It's probably noteworthy to mention that my campaign currently has over ten active or semi-active participants.
First, the normal Wednesday night game delved the Dwimmermount again. The party was as follows:
Rory, bladedancer 1
Doric Bosley, cleric 2
Rain, elf nightblade 1
Whelan-Thiss, mage 1
Daymana, nobiran wonderworker 1
This group re-entered the second floor of the Dwimmermount, hewing east, having gone west before. It was basically a miserable clusterfuck for the party. Several zombies were encountered and put down easily, before a gargoyle managed to get the jump, quite literally, on Whelan-Thiss, flinging him into the wall and breaking his hand. (Mortal Wound). The party continued on a bit, finding a scroll in a desk and a trove of Zaharan books in a secret chamber. Doubling back to prepare to leave, they decided to go one more hallway, and discovered a room full of grisly bone sculptures, chief of which was a serpent with a human head.
Whelan-Thiss immediately identified it as a necrophidius, but this didn't stop it from entrancing Rory and Rain with it's dance of death. On it's first attack, it paralyzed Doric with it's venom, but with effort the party destroyed it, finding quite a haul beyond it.
The party chose to leave the dungeon, making a few trips to carry the books they had found out. This was slowed only when Rory walked into a gelatinous cube which had oozed around a corner from the western hallways.
After leaving and cashing out, Whelan-Thiss and Rain both gained a level.
--------------
At the same time in-game, but after this session, others of the group who could not make it to the planned session chose to adventure. This group consisted of:
Olan the Incautious, barbarian 1
Trogdor, thrassian gladiator 1
Vartan, elf ranger 2
And former NPC followers Felix (fighter 1) and Gurn (dwarven vaultguard 1) now elevated to fellow (if NPC) adventurers, deserving of full shares of XP and treasure (mostly due to the fact that they know they are as badass as their former employers, and have gone adventuring themselves with their own 0th level henchmen).
Felix and Gurn mention a "cave" that they encountered on their way to some ruins they had delved, and the gathered adventures decide this would be an ideal place to go in lieu of the Dwimmermount.
Heading north, the party encounters, far off, three huge 30' worms sunning themselves on a mound of turned earth. Discretion outweighing valor (this time), the party chose to go around them.
The part continued another hour or so, finally finding an amphitheater dug into the stone wall of a hillside. There were two doors into the wall of stone, each surrounded by a motif of bones and serpents. As the party approached, they discovered a fallen pillar, carved like a stone dragon.
The party entered, and found this to be an ancient temple complex. Fights ensued with poorly-armed orcs, then with Thrassian skeletons, before the party chose to go south past a ruined Chaotic altar.
There they found a strange orb, which turned out to be a gray ooze in some form of stasis. This ooze dissolved Gurn's arm and heavily wounded Trogdor, forcing the party to retreat and ending this session. Gurn narrowly survived- Doric has Healing 3, and the party still had to blow a cure light wounds on him.
This resulted in Trogdor finally levelling up, after a good dozen or more sessions.
---------------
Thursday night, the following day in-game, the Trogdor party, with the help of a few others, progressed back north with a few intentions.
The adventurers were:
Olan the Incautious, barbarian 1
Sander Ulfson, barbarian 1
Trogdor, thrassian gladiator 2
Vartan, elf ranger 2
Rory, bladedancer 1
Doric, cleric 2
Rain, elf nightblade 1
And Felix, fighter 1. Gurn is on bed rest for two weeks, with a fresh new arm courtesy of the Church of Typhon.
The party decides that maybe, since they've gained some muscle, the 30' gray worms aren't so bad, so they go pick a fight. Amazingly, they succeed, only losing Sander to a worm-swallowing (which resulted in Doric and Rain having to dive down a worm tunnel to retrieve the unconscious Sander). Sander still needs a night of bed rest, so they return, and Rory levels up to 2.
The following IG day, the party returns to the temple, meeting a pack of ogres with orc corpses slung over their backs. The ogres and party eye each other warily, but the ogres suggest in halting Common that the two parties go their separate ways, which everyone agrees to.
The party finishes cleaning out the temple complex, finding the submerged skeleton of a dragon, a magic sword, and several other minor trinkets.
-------------
I'm really very proud of all my players. They accept getting face-stabbed with laughs, and when they find good stuff or freaky things, they are definitely good for roleplay.
I've attached the dungeon that Wednesday II and Thursday I went into, entitled "Temple of the Plaguebringer". It uses one of the esteemed Dyson Logos' maps:
Dyson's Dodecahedron
I really can't say enough good things about Dyson's products, and I'm sure I'll use more of them in the future. What suited me nicely was I printed this map blank, and filled it in with random traps, monsters, and treasure, building the backstory as I went along.
The Forgotten Temple of the Plaguebringer
First, the normal Wednesday night game delved the Dwimmermount again. The party was as follows:
Rory, bladedancer 1
Doric Bosley, cleric 2
Rain, elf nightblade 1
Whelan-Thiss, mage 1
Daymana, nobiran wonderworker 1
This group re-entered the second floor of the Dwimmermount, hewing east, having gone west before. It was basically a miserable clusterfuck for the party. Several zombies were encountered and put down easily, before a gargoyle managed to get the jump, quite literally, on Whelan-Thiss, flinging him into the wall and breaking his hand. (Mortal Wound). The party continued on a bit, finding a scroll in a desk and a trove of Zaharan books in a secret chamber. Doubling back to prepare to leave, they decided to go one more hallway, and discovered a room full of grisly bone sculptures, chief of which was a serpent with a human head.
Whelan-Thiss immediately identified it as a necrophidius, but this didn't stop it from entrancing Rory and Rain with it's dance of death. On it's first attack, it paralyzed Doric with it's venom, but with effort the party destroyed it, finding quite a haul beyond it.
The party chose to leave the dungeon, making a few trips to carry the books they had found out. This was slowed only when Rory walked into a gelatinous cube which had oozed around a corner from the western hallways.
After leaving and cashing out, Whelan-Thiss and Rain both gained a level.
--------------
At the same time in-game, but after this session, others of the group who could not make it to the planned session chose to adventure. This group consisted of:
Olan the Incautious, barbarian 1
Trogdor, thrassian gladiator 1
Vartan, elf ranger 2
And former NPC followers Felix (fighter 1) and Gurn (dwarven vaultguard 1) now elevated to fellow (if NPC) adventurers, deserving of full shares of XP and treasure (mostly due to the fact that they know they are as badass as their former employers, and have gone adventuring themselves with their own 0th level henchmen).
Felix and Gurn mention a "cave" that they encountered on their way to some ruins they had delved, and the gathered adventures decide this would be an ideal place to go in lieu of the Dwimmermount.
Heading north, the party encounters, far off, three huge 30' worms sunning themselves on a mound of turned earth. Discretion outweighing valor (this time), the party chose to go around them.
The part continued another hour or so, finally finding an amphitheater dug into the stone wall of a hillside. There were two doors into the wall of stone, each surrounded by a motif of bones and serpents. As the party approached, they discovered a fallen pillar, carved like a stone dragon.
The party entered, and found this to be an ancient temple complex. Fights ensued with poorly-armed orcs, then with Thrassian skeletons, before the party chose to go south past a ruined Chaotic altar.
There they found a strange orb, which turned out to be a gray ooze in some form of stasis. This ooze dissolved Gurn's arm and heavily wounded Trogdor, forcing the party to retreat and ending this session. Gurn narrowly survived- Doric has Healing 3, and the party still had to blow a cure light wounds on him.
This resulted in Trogdor finally levelling up, after a good dozen or more sessions.
---------------
Thursday night, the following day in-game, the Trogdor party, with the help of a few others, progressed back north with a few intentions.
The adventurers were:
Olan the Incautious, barbarian 1
Sander Ulfson, barbarian 1
Trogdor, thrassian gladiator 2
Vartan, elf ranger 2
Rory, bladedancer 1
Doric, cleric 2
Rain, elf nightblade 1
And Felix, fighter 1. Gurn is on bed rest for two weeks, with a fresh new arm courtesy of the Church of Typhon.
The party decides that maybe, since they've gained some muscle, the 30' gray worms aren't so bad, so they go pick a fight. Amazingly, they succeed, only losing Sander to a worm-swallowing (which resulted in Doric and Rain having to dive down a worm tunnel to retrieve the unconscious Sander). Sander still needs a night of bed rest, so they return, and Rory levels up to 2.
The following IG day, the party returns to the temple, meeting a pack of ogres with orc corpses slung over their backs. The ogres and party eye each other warily, but the ogres suggest in halting Common that the two parties go their separate ways, which everyone agrees to.
The party finishes cleaning out the temple complex, finding the submerged skeleton of a dragon, a magic sword, and several other minor trinkets.
-------------
I'm really very proud of all my players. They accept getting face-stabbed with laughs, and when they find good stuff or freaky things, they are definitely good for roleplay.
I've attached the dungeon that Wednesday II and Thursday I went into, entitled "Temple of the Plaguebringer". It uses one of the esteemed Dyson Logos' maps:
Dyson's Dodecahedron
I really can't say enough good things about Dyson's products, and I'm sure I'll use more of them in the future. What suited me nicely was I printed this map blank, and filled it in with random traps, monsters, and treasure, building the backstory as I went along.
The Forgotten Temple of the Plaguebringer
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Inanna, Goddess of Passion
Some further campaign development. Trying to backtrack and cover "who does my cleric/bladedancer/priestess/witch worship? And since I prefer to provide crunch over fluff, an ACKSified conversion of Succubi, a new monster based very, very loosely on the azata from Pathfinder, and a couple of spells to wrap it up. Note that I started the game in Dwimmermount, so the clerics (and most priestesses) worship what I call the Empyreal Gods- here, reskinned to be the gods of Old Zahar, before the encroaching of Chaos. All references to Thule == Zahar, IMC.
Inanna
Inanna
Inanna
is a goddess of war, and sex, and passion. She is the Morningstar,
and legend has it that she was, so very long ago, one of the Empyrean
Gods. Yet they quarreled, and she was replaced with Anesidora and
Asana, neither of whom could strive for their predecessor's majesty.
Inanna has changed, since her time amongst the Empyreal, and she is
now Neutral in alignment.
Inanna's
chosen are the bladedancers, but there are some few priestesses who
are her sacred prostitutes in her fortress-temples, and even more
rare, some few warlocks who work tirelessly to bring her children,
the succubi and the bladed lions, to this world for various ends.
Inanna
is depicted as a naked, voluptuous, green-skinned woman, bedecked in
jewelry, six-armed. In her hands she bears a sword, a spear, a
goblet, a scarf, the flower of the black lotus, and a human eye.
Prudish temples, or those in places where it would cause strife,
depict Inanna's scarf as modestly tucked around her body. Many
depictions of Inanna show her bestride a male lion, or standing on
the backs of two male lions.
A
few theologists note obvious connections to the demoness Szofika-
such theologists are recommended to not air this in front of the
clergy of the goddess.
It
is said that Inanna's displeasure can be felt by the breaking of
weapons at crucial times, sudden blindness, the plaguing of holy
places with great flocks of harpies, and the breakdown of metal into
green chalk.
Succubus
%
In Lair: 5%
Dungeon: Solitary
(1)/Solitary (1)
Wilderness:
Solitary (1)/Passion (1d4)
Alignment:
Neutral or Chaotic
Movement:
120' (40')
Fly: 120'
(40')
AC:
6
Hit
Dice: 6***
Attacks:
1 (touch, sword or kiss)
Damage:
1d3 nonlethal, or 1d6 or 3d6
Save:
C6
Morale:
+1
TT:
H+J
XP:
1070
The
succubi are the semi-divine daughters of Inanna. There are creatures
which are more beautiful than succubi, but few things more beautiful
to more creatures. Humans and animals find the succubus' scent
alluring. Their features and movements are exotic and intriguing to
all human and demihuman cultures. Their sex changes at their leisure-
male, female, both or neither, as the situation calls. Succubi tend
to default to look like human or elven women, usually with unusually
colored skin and hair (green and gold, for example.) Succubi may
choose to fly, if they desire, great green-feathered wings unfurling
from their perfect backs.
Most
succubi summoned to the world bear twin swords made of filigreed
iron.
In
Inanna's realm, the succubi exist in eternal passion, warring and
cavorting with one other, and the bladed lions, and the dead of
Inanna's worshippers. They are generally summoned to the mortal world
for two purposes- to sate the lusts of arcane spellcasters, who pull
them against their will, or to lay with the favored worshippers of
Inanna in their great ceremonies. Some few bladedancers, in times of
great need, will summon forth a succubus for other reasons, to seduce
an enemy or to succor the nearly dead.
Unfortunately,
a history of summons by evil-minded arcanists has left many succubi
wary and enraged at mortals. These succubi are wholly Chaotic, and
when summoned will seek only to use their considerable powers to harm
mortals. Such succubi often ally with the servitors of other gods and
demons to such ends.
Succubi
are immune to non-magical weapons. Humanoids, and creatures
potentially attracted to a humanoid, receive a +4 to reaction rolls
when encountering a succubus.
The
touch (or slap) of a succubus can have one of two effects. The most
common is an immediate charm, as the charm person spell cast upon the
touched character. The other is a sudden overwhelming fear, as the
reverse of the remove fear spell.
A
succubus may choose to imbue her kiss with a vitality draining
effect, causing 3d6 points of damage to the target and healing the
succubus a like amount. A succubus choosing to kiss, however, suffers
a -2 to her AC and attack throw for the round.
Finally,
a succubus can ignore any spell or spell-like effect with a Magic
Resistance throw of 14+.
Bladed
Lion
%
In Lair: 5%
Dungeon:
Solitary (1)
Wilderness:
Solitary (1)
Alignment:
Neutral
Movement:
150' (50')
AC:
6
Hit
Dice: 5**
Attacks:
3 (2 claws, 1 bite)
Damage:
d6+1/1d6+1/1d10+1
Save:
F5
Morale:
+2
TT:
None
XP:
500
Bladed
lions look much like their mortal counterparts, save for their
composition. They are the personification of Inanna's wrath, and will
hunt her foes unto the very ends of the earth.
The
flesh of the bladed lion is not unlike fine-grain wood, their forms
carved with the tiniest of glyphs proclaiming Inanna's glory. One
meaning can be taken from observation: “You may yet escape her
wrath, but we were old when the world was young, and once you fled
our hunger.” The manes of the bladed lions are like golden wire,
razor sharp, and their eyes are the brightest blue. The mouths of the
bladed lion are beaked, razor-sharp edges filled with hollow teeth.
A
creature bitten by the bladed lion must make a Save vs. Poison. If
this save fails, the target is infected with an insidious disease.
The target ceases to heal naturally. 1d4 hours later, and every 1d4
hours thereafter, the character suffers 1d6 points of damage. If
this damage kills the target, they rise as a zombie 1d4 rounds later.
Casting off their clothes, they will walk unerringly (unless
accosted) to the nearest holy place of Inanna, where they will
prostrate themselves. If the bladed lion yet lives, it will escort
this zombie as best it can. Once the zombie has arrived, the flesh
rapidly decomposes, revealing the newborn cub of a bladed lion. This
cub will then return to Inanna's realm in the Overworld. Of course,
many such zombies are destroyed by well-meaning clerics- another
source of ire from the followers of Inanna.
Demand
of the Sevenfold Lover Arcane 6
Duration:
33 2/3 days Range:
10'
This
spell summons forth a succubus, which must serve the caster. The
succubus will serve and obey the character that summoned it for a
period of 33 2/3 days, until slain, or until dispelled. The casting
time for the summons is 1 turn, and the spell may not be cast more
than once per week.
Succubi
resent being pulled to the mortal world against their will, and they
will attempt to twist the meaning of their orders wherever possible.
Such pleasure they provide is flavored with scorn and malice. If not
ordered to avoid using their powers, they will harm the one they are
forced to embrace.
Summon
Daughter of Inanna Divine 4 (Bladedancer)
Duration:
33 2/3 days Range:
10'
This
spell summons forth a succubus, the divine daughters of Inanna. The
succubus, once it hears the summons, may attempt a Save vs. Spells,
if it so chooses. Success means the Succubus need not come to the
mortal world.
If
it does choose to do so, however, the succubus will serve and obey
the character that summoned it for a period of 33 2/3 days, until
slain, or until dispelled. The casting time for the summons is 1
turn, and the spell may not be cast more than once per week. A
bladedancer (or priestess) summoning a succubus may dismiss the
succubus at any point within the spell's duration.
Bladedancers
may remove “Speak with Plants” from their spell list in favor of
Summon Daughter of Inanna.
[ACKS Monster] Fomorian
This one's been rattling around for a while. Fomorians replace stone giants, ettins, and cyclops on the encounter tables in my game, and merge in Athaches from various other sources.
I have this image in my head that hill giants, frost giants, and fire giants are the only kinds of giants in Talis- though I do love the some of the weirder giants from Pathfinder.
I have this image in my head that hill giants, frost giants, and fire giants are the only kinds of giants in Talis- though I do love the some of the weirder giants from Pathfinder.
FOMORIAN
%
In Lair: 30%
Dungeon: Gang
(1d4)/Lair (1d6)
Wilderness:
Warband (1d6)/ Lair (1d6)
Alignment:
Chaotic
Movement:
120' (40')
AC:
5
Hit
Dice: 9
Attacks:
1
Damage:
3d6
Save:
F9
Morale:
+1
TT:
N
XP:
700
Fomorians
are similar to hill giants, at least superficially or from afar. In
truth, they were once the spawn of hill giant matings with some
wholly Chaotic creature of protean bent. Fomorians are far more
intelligent than their hill giant cousins, and often master magic or
worship demonic masters, granting them much temporal power. In certain realms, the fomorians rule subject tribes of ogres, goblins, or Chaotic humans, while in other places, the fomorians create vast legions of orcs to serve them.
Fomorians
are generally about 14' tall, and weigh about 1,500 pounds. Unlike
hill giants, which tend to be symmetrical, if rudely shaped,
fomorians are to the last misshapen creatures. While each has at
least one arm, two legs, an eye, and a mouth, the locations and
shapes of these things sometimes defy description. One fomorian might
have a huge left arm, stumps for legs, and great red-rimmed eyes
growing straight from its cheeks. The next has three arms on the left
side, none on the right, and his mouth is full of gnashing tusks,
framed in a ring by a lipless sucker.
Some
fomorian clans have been lucky enough to breed forms which are almost
true- resulting in such more powerful varieties as “cyclops”,
“athach”, and “ettin”.
Fomorians
are able to throw stones as other giants, but their misshapen bodies
force them to throw at unusual angles, reducing their range to 100'.
They deal 3d6 damage with a throw.
Few
natural creatures will serve fomorians- thus, they often breed
creatures of their own, infusing them with dark magic.
Some
few fomorians are capable of learning and casting magic- these
fomorians are mages of level 1d4, warlocks of level 1d4, and/or
shamans of level 1d6.
Lastly, a lair of fomorians has a 50% chance of hosting a pack of yellow hounds, as well.
Bodily
Mutations (roll 1d2 times)
1
Thick skin. The fomorian is covered in warts, corpuscles, gristle,
bone plates, or the like. This improves it's armor class by 2 (to 7)
2
Easily punctured skin. The
fomorian takes 2 more points of damage from any ranged attack, or
melee attacks by spears and polearms.
3
Simian bend. The fomorian has a long torso and short arms. It is able
to run at increased speed- +30' (10'), and also gains a climb speed
of 30' (10').
4
Great stealth. The fomorian moves nearly silently, gaining a +1 to
surprise and a +1 to avoid being surprised.
5
Vile hive. The fomorian's body
has a horrible, tumorous growth, within which dwells a 3 HD insect
swarm. The fomorian can concentrate to see through the eyes of these
creatures. If the swarm is dispersed, a new one will form within the
fomorian over time.
6
Ooze form. The fomorian can spend 1 round concentrating to turn into
a pool of viscous black fluid, which can move at a speed of 60' (20')
along floors, walls, or ceilings. The fomorian may stay in this form
indefinitely, but must then concentrate for 1 round to turn back into
his normal, giant form. While in ooze form, the fomorian may not
attack, and has an AC of 3.
7
Truly massive. Roll 1d4. The fomorian adds 2' and 1 Hit Die,
multiplied by the number rolled. Fomorians with 10 HD are worth 850
xp, 11 HD worth 1,000 xp, 12 HD worth 1,200 xp, and 13 HD worth 1,400
xp.
8
Regeneration. The fomorian slowly regenerates, similarly to a troll.
Each round, 3 hit points regenerate, unless the damage is from fire
or acid. Unlike a troll, severed body parts must regrow, a process
which takes about a week.
Arm
Mutations (roll 1d2-1 times)
1
Massive claws. The fomorian
suffers a -2 to Initiative, but strikes with two claws for 2d8
damage.
2
One massive fist. This off-balanced fomorian has one huge arm, and
one tiny or nonexistent arm. The fomorian deals 5d6 damage with this
fist, but his movement is reduced by 30' (10')
3
Filthy nails. Any creature struck by the fomorian must make a Save
vs. Poison or be diseased, as per giant rat.
4
Multiple arms. The fomorian has
several smallish arms on one or both sides, instead of one huge one.
Add 1d4 arms to the giant, which manifest as additional attacks.
However, each individual attack is reduced to only 1d8 damage.
5
Tiny arms. The fomorian's arms are sad and vestigial, no bigger than
human limbs. The fomorian is forced to use human weaponry.
6
One arm. The fomorian has but one normal sized (for a fomorian) arm,
and it is attached in an unusual, detrimental spot. The fomorian
suffers a -2 to attack throws.
Head
Mutations (roll 1d2 times)
1
Fangs. The fomorian gains a
secondary bite attack which deals 2d6 damage.
2
Second head. The fomorian possesses a pair of grotesque heads, each
of which controls one arm. The right side is slightly dominant, and
can cause 3d6 points of damage whereas the left can inflict 2d8.
Ettins gain a +1 bonus to surprise rolls because one head or the
other is usually keeping watch.
3
Stinking breath. Once wounded,
all who engage the fomorian must make a Saving Throw vs. Poison or
suffer -2 to attack throws due to the horrible stench.
4
Cyclops. The fomorian has a single, baleful eye. Reduced depth
perception causes a -2 to attack throws.
5
Tiny head. The fomorian always goes last on Initiative, and makes
stunningly awful mistakes tactically (at the GM's will).
6
No head. The fomorian's face is
mashed into it's chest, or possibly on a limb.
YELLOW
HOUNDS OF THE FOMORI
%
In Lair: 30%
Dungeon:
Pack (2d4) / Den (2d4)
Wilderness:
Pack (2d4) / Den (2d4)
Alignment:
Chaotic
Movement:
150' (50')
AC:
5
Hit
Dice: 3**
Attacks:
1 (bite or breath)
Damage:
1d6 or see below
Save:
F3
Morale:
+1
TT: None
XP: 80
The
yellow hounds are the creatures of the fomorian huntsmen. They are
the size of huge wolves, with furless white skin, yellow eyes, and
pink ears. Fomorian blood, given to them in hideous rituals, causes
them to have massive teeth, hunched postures, and a keen yet savage
intellect.
The
yellow hounds are immune to extreme heat and cold, though fire and
ice will harm them as any animal. They can see through fog, smoke and
dust with no issue, and are never surprised by living foes.
The
yellow hounds prefer to attack their foes with their savage, fanged
mouths, though roughly 1 time in 4 they will instead breathe black,
caustic blood onto their foes, dealing 3d6 damage. A successful
saving throw versus Breath reduces
the damage by half.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
[ACKS Ritual] Grim Rebirth
This spell was inspired by Autoparthenogenesis, a spell from Space-Age Sorcery:
There's a lot of neat stuff (and a lot of horrible squicky stuff) there- you should take a look at it, if, like me, you are into adding doses of Lovecraft and/or Science Fantasy into your game.
Grim
Rebirth
Arcane Ritual 7
Duration:
Special
Range: Caster
The
grim rebirth spell is an arcane answer to resurrection and
regeneration in many ways. Once the magic user casts the grim rebirth
ritual, a part of their spirit is locked in time, exactly as it is at
the time of casting. After this, at any point in the future, the
wizard may "complete" the Rebirth. This causes their flesh
and bones to burst outward and tear away as the part of them that was
locked away creates a new body instantly within them.
This new
incarnation is in every way identical to the caster as he was at the
time of the ritual's completion, save for some memory of any new
knowledge gained. Experience points are lost, and must be regained,
as must any new spells added to repertoire, magic item research, etc.
Ephemeral things, such as what year it is, and any trivial knowledge
learned during adventuring are retained. Only one casting of grim
rebirth may be active at any time. If the ritual is cast again, the
previously cast grim rebirth activates, possibly regressing the
caster against his will.
Example:
Arcagen the Artificer casts grim rebirth upon his earliest
opportunity, locking in an 11th level version of himself. He then
proceeds to make a name for himself as a creator of a new type of
silver golem, which he uses to terrify the countryside.
Six
years later as a 13th level mage, surrounded by his foes, having lost
an eye and beaten bloody, he speaks the key word to complete the
ritual. His enemies are shocked and disgusted as a younger version of
Arcagen steps out of the ragged scraps of flesh that were left
behind- this one with full hit points, and a full mind of uncast
spells. This Arcagen is 11th level, exactly as he was at the time of
casting. He remembers, dimly, that he has created his silver golems,
but frustratingly will need to use his own research notes to re-learn
the process if he is to make any more.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
[ACKS Monster] Empyreal
This angel is meant to be a servant of the 7 Gods of Law in my ACKS Dwimmermount game. There is an Empyreal in the Dwimmermount new monsters, but they're a bit too strong and busy for the way I'd prefer a game to go. Plus, my party is mostly Chaotic... one of the characters is a Chaotic Empyrean cleric. I expect I will be enforcing an alignment change on him soon, as he definitely plays more Lawful.
EMPYREAL
%
In Lair: 70%
Dungeon: Guardian
(1)/Host (1d4)
Wilderness:
Guardian (1)/Host (1d4)
Alignment:
Lawful
Movement:
120' (40')
Fly: 180'
(60')
AC:
10
Hit
Dice: 8*****
Attacks:
1 (longsword)
Damage:
1d6 to 3d6 (see below)
Save:
F10
Morale:
+4
TT:
N
XP:
3,100
An
empyreal is a powerful servant of the Empyrean Gods, resembling a 9'
tall, human of noble mien, dressed in the finest
plate, bearing a flaming silver sword and long, mirror-polished
shield. Upon their back they bear four wings of purest white. They are hot-tempered and forceful, but always fair and just
in their dealings with other beings. Empyreals can innately tell the
alignment of a creature they fix their gaze upon, and judge them
accordingly.
When
an Empyreal attacks with it's mighty sword, it deals 1d6 damage to
Lawful foes, 2d6 to Neutral foes, and 3d6 to Chaotic foes.
Chaotic-aligned
creatures within 60' of an Empyreal suffer a -1 to attack and saving
throws, and suffer 1d4 points of damage per round from the searing
weight of divine judgment. Lawful allies of an Empyreal within 60'
instead gain a +1 to attack and saving throws. An Empyreal is able to
cast spells as a 7th level cleric.
Empyreals
are immune to acid, fire, petrification and mortal poisons. They
suffer only half damage from electricity and ice.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
[New ACKS Demon] Szofika
Fans of Exalted will probably recognize at least the inspiration for Szofika.
Szofika, the Standard-Flute, Demon of Naar-Lomion
Lair: None
Dungeon: Solitary (1)
Wilderness: Solitary (1)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: Special
AC: 8
Hit Dice: 10***
Attacks: 4
Damage: 1d6+5 x4
Save: F8
Morale: +4
TT: Special
XP: 2,950
Szofika appears a dark-skinned woman with long, red hair done into braids and woven with bells. What few garments Szofika wears are bright blue, and her swords are curved bronze razors. Perceptive foes will notice that her fingers and toes each bear an extra joint. Upon her back is a tall back-banner of featureless blue, the stave of which is carved with fluted holes which whistle eerily in the wind. When she moves within the world, there is a heartbeat-drumming of the very air itself, keeping time with her movements.
When summoned, a great crack will be heard and the ceremonial flame will burn blue, followed 1 round later by the silhouette of a dancing form. Upon the third round, Szofika's retinue will appear around the flame. On the fourth round, the retinue begins to play their instruments, and during the fifth round, Szofika appears in the flesh, still dancing. On the sixth round, the flame dissipates and Szofika is fully within the world. If her summoner has spoken a name during this summons, Szofika shall hunt them unto the ends of the earth. Otherwise, she will choose a target of her own volition (rarely the summoner).
Szofika's retinue initially consists of the re-embodied ghosts of 3d4 extremely Chaotic berserkers. Each wears nothing but a blue-dyed loincloth, and bears either (75%) a bronze two-handed sword, or (25%) a flute-standard topped by a blue banner and a bronze mace. Each also carries a drum, flute, or bagpipe. Every turn, another berserker appears in the steam footprints left in Szofika's wake, until a full complement of 12 is achieved. If any berserker is slain, they will reappear following the same rules.
Szofika can track a target unerringly, and must when summoned. The sound of her flutes, the instruments of her retinue, and the howling of her back banner is so uncanny that most listeners are driven into that primal fear normally reserved for death itself- this causes the bane effect (the reverse of the bless spell) to all who can hear (typically, a range of about a half a mile).
Szofika cannot lose a foe which she has chosen to track. She and her retinue will always move 30' per round faster than her foe's fastest movement type. If a foe teleports away from the huntress, Szofika's retinue will instantly turn on one another, slaying until they disappear into white ash, while she herself disappears in flame, to reappear within 1 mile of her foe. Her retinue will reform as given above. Szofika can swim as fast as she can walk, and can walk upon the surface of the sea if she so chooses. A creature which can fly indefinitely might remain safe from Szofika's ire.When Szofika catches up to her foe, and defeats them, she will devour their bones while her retinue consumes their flesh. Once this is done, Szofika is free to act as she pleases in the real world for a span of 66 hours. This typically involves finding and consummating demonic trysts, in order to engender the creation of corrupted children. Szofika is as able to impregnate a woman as she is to be impregnated by a man.
Each of Szofika's swords, in her hands, deals 1d6+5 damage and is treated as a +2 weapon. She is inhumanly fast, and may attack twice per round with each sword. Szofika cannot be harmed by nonmagical weapons, nor can she be affected by spells of 1st level. She cannot have her ability to move reduced or removed through any known means. Szofika regenerates 1d4+1 hit points per round during any round in which she does not attack.
In the unlikely event Szofika is defeated, her body bursts into flames, dealing 5d6 damage in a 10' radius, and her swords crumble away into slag. Szofika's bells, however, remain. They are made of orichalcum, and each of the thirty is worth 200 gold. Her heart, too, remains, a flawed sapphire worth 500 gp. Szofika then returns to Naar-Lomion.
The Summoning of Szofika
A desperate or vengeful sorcerer (who must be an arcane or divine caster of at least 9th level) may summon Szofika by preparing a ceremony worth 5,000 gp, then sacrificing 1 point each of Constitution and Wisdom permanently. A sapphire worth at least 2,000 gp (for a total of 7,000 gp) is banked within the rare oils and woods of the fire, and will function as Szofika's heart. The fire will cause the gem to crack, releasing the demon spirit into the world. The sacrifices to Szofika forever mark the summoner- his eyes turn deep blue, or his hair turns red, or the sound of far-off drums can be heard when he moves.
The Worship of Szofika
There are some Chaotic bladedancers who see Szofika as the greatest expression of their order. These bladedancers may choose Apostasy, replacing angelic choir with summon berserkers, charm animal with uncanny gyration, winged flight with haste, and restore life and limb with teleport.
Standard-Flute of Summoning
This magic item appears to be a standard pole, designed to be swung through the air with a banner atop it. Any character may attach their own heraldry to the banner, if such a thing exists, or may attach a flag of solid color. If found, it likely has a plain blue flag.
The wielder may sacrifice 1d4 hp to the standard in order to cast the summon berserkers spell. They may do so once per day. If the summoner is lawful, the berserkers will remain for 1d4 rounds after the end of the spell, but will be hostile to the summoner.
Szofika, the Standard-Flute, Demon of Naar-Lomion
Lair: None
Dungeon: Solitary (1)
Wilderness: Solitary (1)
Alignment: Chaotic
Movement: Special
AC: 8
Hit Dice: 10***
Attacks: 4
Damage: 1d6+5 x4
Save: F8
Morale: +4
TT: Special
XP: 2,950
Szofika appears a dark-skinned woman with long, red hair done into braids and woven with bells. What few garments Szofika wears are bright blue, and her swords are curved bronze razors. Perceptive foes will notice that her fingers and toes each bear an extra joint. Upon her back is a tall back-banner of featureless blue, the stave of which is carved with fluted holes which whistle eerily in the wind. When she moves within the world, there is a heartbeat-drumming of the very air itself, keeping time with her movements.
When summoned, a great crack will be heard and the ceremonial flame will burn blue, followed 1 round later by the silhouette of a dancing form. Upon the third round, Szofika's retinue will appear around the flame. On the fourth round, the retinue begins to play their instruments, and during the fifth round, Szofika appears in the flesh, still dancing. On the sixth round, the flame dissipates and Szofika is fully within the world. If her summoner has spoken a name during this summons, Szofika shall hunt them unto the ends of the earth. Otherwise, she will choose a target of her own volition (rarely the summoner).
Szofika's retinue initially consists of the re-embodied ghosts of 3d4 extremely Chaotic berserkers. Each wears nothing but a blue-dyed loincloth, and bears either (75%) a bronze two-handed sword, or (25%) a flute-standard topped by a blue banner and a bronze mace. Each also carries a drum, flute, or bagpipe. Every turn, another berserker appears in the steam footprints left in Szofika's wake, until a full complement of 12 is achieved. If any berserker is slain, they will reappear following the same rules.
Szofika can track a target unerringly, and must when summoned. The sound of her flutes, the instruments of her retinue, and the howling of her back banner is so uncanny that most listeners are driven into that primal fear normally reserved for death itself- this causes the bane effect (the reverse of the bless spell) to all who can hear (typically, a range of about a half a mile).
Szofika cannot lose a foe which she has chosen to track. She and her retinue will always move 30' per round faster than her foe's fastest movement type. If a foe teleports away from the huntress, Szofika's retinue will instantly turn on one another, slaying until they disappear into white ash, while she herself disappears in flame, to reappear within 1 mile of her foe. Her retinue will reform as given above. Szofika can swim as fast as she can walk, and can walk upon the surface of the sea if she so chooses. A creature which can fly indefinitely might remain safe from Szofika's ire.When Szofika catches up to her foe, and defeats them, she will devour their bones while her retinue consumes their flesh. Once this is done, Szofika is free to act as she pleases in the real world for a span of 66 hours. This typically involves finding and consummating demonic trysts, in order to engender the creation of corrupted children. Szofika is as able to impregnate a woman as she is to be impregnated by a man.
Each of Szofika's swords, in her hands, deals 1d6+5 damage and is treated as a +2 weapon. She is inhumanly fast, and may attack twice per round with each sword. Szofika cannot be harmed by nonmagical weapons, nor can she be affected by spells of 1st level. She cannot have her ability to move reduced or removed through any known means. Szofika regenerates 1d4+1 hit points per round during any round in which she does not attack.
In the unlikely event Szofika is defeated, her body bursts into flames, dealing 5d6 damage in a 10' radius, and her swords crumble away into slag. Szofika's bells, however, remain. They are made of orichalcum, and each of the thirty is worth 200 gold. Her heart, too, remains, a flawed sapphire worth 500 gp. Szofika then returns to Naar-Lomion.
The Summoning of Szofika
A desperate or vengeful sorcerer (who must be an arcane or divine caster of at least 9th level) may summon Szofika by preparing a ceremony worth 5,000 gp, then sacrificing 1 point each of Constitution and Wisdom permanently. A sapphire worth at least 2,000 gp (for a total of 7,000 gp) is banked within the rare oils and woods of the fire, and will function as Szofika's heart. The fire will cause the gem to crack, releasing the demon spirit into the world. The sacrifices to Szofika forever mark the summoner- his eyes turn deep blue, or his hair turns red, or the sound of far-off drums can be heard when he moves.
The Worship of Szofika
There are some Chaotic bladedancers who see Szofika as the greatest expression of their order. These bladedancers may choose Apostasy, replacing angelic choir with summon berserkers, charm animal with uncanny gyration, winged flight with haste, and restore life and limb with teleport.
Standard-Flute of Summoning
This magic item appears to be a standard pole, designed to be swung through the air with a banner atop it. Any character may attach their own heraldry to the banner, if such a thing exists, or may attach a flag of solid color. If found, it likely has a plain blue flag.
The wielder may sacrifice 1d4 hp to the standard in order to cast the summon berserkers spell. They may do so once per day. If the summoner is lawful, the berserkers will remain for 1d4 rounds after the end of the spell, but will be hostile to the summoner.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Dargar Race Stuff
The following files were built using the Player's Companion rules and a bit of elbow grease.
Racial Build Sheet Deepwarden Ironguard
Dargar form 1/3 of the Dwarf-Dargar-Kobold racial tangle in my campaign, and are the deeper dwelling, Chaotic counterpart to the more Lawful surface dwarves. Yep, they're 1e duergar, mostly, but there's a bit of derro in there, a bit of Warhammer FRP Chaos Dwarves, and a bit of the 4e duergar (dwarf/demon hybrids).
A dargar vault looks a lot like a dwarf vault, but it's a cramped, dirty, and there are things that are just off. Oozes cling to the walls in the empty buildings, and huge, reinforced spiderwebs hang between the iron-shod ramparts of clanholds, with dargar and their slaves passing to and fro on nefarious errands. In the big vaults, barbazu walk freely. That ironbound door holds back a horde of zombie goblins, ready to be released on invaders, and the foul stink of orc-vats permeates the already sooty air.
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I've finished the racial class build sheet, and the Dargar Deepwarden (vaultguard analog, they ride giant spiders) and the Dargar Ironguard (perhaps a barbarian or dwarven fury are the closest kin to these guys.) The math might be a little fuzzy, especially on the racial build sheet, which even the Autarch folk admit is a crapshoot, but I think it's close enough for gummint work.
Soon I should have the demoniac (a cleric/warlock type caster), the savant (a loremastering cleric/mage), and the slayer (assassin/hunter) to round out the Dargar classes. I'll also post their proficiency sheets.
After that, I intend to post their Monsters entry, as well as their giant spider (steeder) mounts.
Then, I think the orc generation tables I've been putting off.
Inspirational images (none of which are mine)
Dargar demoniac or savant
A deepwarden
Ironguard
Group of deepwardens on the prowl
A Savant
Racial Build Sheet Deepwarden Ironguard
Dargar form 1/3 of the Dwarf-Dargar-Kobold racial tangle in my campaign, and are the deeper dwelling, Chaotic counterpart to the more Lawful surface dwarves. Yep, they're 1e duergar, mostly, but there's a bit of derro in there, a bit of Warhammer FRP Chaos Dwarves, and a bit of the 4e duergar (dwarf/demon hybrids).
A dargar vault looks a lot like a dwarf vault, but it's a cramped, dirty, and there are things that are just off. Oozes cling to the walls in the empty buildings, and huge, reinforced spiderwebs hang between the iron-shod ramparts of clanholds, with dargar and their slaves passing to and fro on nefarious errands. In the big vaults, barbazu walk freely. That ironbound door holds back a horde of zombie goblins, ready to be released on invaders, and the foul stink of orc-vats permeates the already sooty air.
-----
I've finished the racial class build sheet, and the Dargar Deepwarden (vaultguard analog, they ride giant spiders) and the Dargar Ironguard (perhaps a barbarian or dwarven fury are the closest kin to these guys.) The math might be a little fuzzy, especially on the racial build sheet, which even the Autarch folk admit is a crapshoot, but I think it's close enough for gummint work.
Soon I should have the demoniac (a cleric/warlock type caster), the savant (a loremastering cleric/mage), and the slayer (assassin/hunter) to round out the Dargar classes. I'll also post their proficiency sheets.
After that, I intend to post their Monsters entry, as well as their giant spider (steeder) mounts.
Then, I think the orc generation tables I've been putting off.
Inspirational images (none of which are mine)
Dargar demoniac or savant
A deepwarden
Ironguard
Group of deepwardens on the prowl
A Savant
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