Blog Archive

Wednesday 31 December 2014

Random Encounter Tables (City)

Encounters - roll as needed when situation is unplanned. My personal rule is as a DM we can decide anything, including not to use these tables. But, if I choose to roll, the roll rules.

Race*
01-70 Human
71-75 Dwarf
76-80 Tenderfoot    (Halfling)
81-85 Elf
86- 88 Sylph            (Winged Humanoids)
89-90 Ogren             (Mostly civilized Ogres)
91-92 Lizardith        (Lizardmen)
93       Quillian         (Humanoid Purcupines that can throw their quills)
94      Jahlen             (Golden Horned Ram Humanoid)
95      Charr               (Pale skinned humanoids with magical armaments)
96      Gargoyle         (Stone figures that haunt towers)
97      Minotaur
97      Jackalla            (furred jackal humanoids that hunt undead)
98      Phaetox            (Flame winged humanoids that cannot tell untruths)
99      Clockwork       (Sentient Mechanoid with freewill)
00      DM's Choice

*The first four selections in the race table can be replaced with each other. So if in a Dwarf city, they take the top choice, and humans go to the next tier.


Basic City Encounter Table
01-08 Beggar or Poor Man
09-12 Cleric (3rd - 5th)
13-16 Undead (roll again **)
17-18 Animals (Swarm, Rats, Insects)
19-20: Pet
21-25: Drunk (Roll Again)
26-28: Gentleman, Nobleman or Rogue (3rd-10th)
29-34: Guild Member or Craftsmen
35-36: Mercenary or City Guard (1st-3rd)
37-40: Dancer, Harlot or Rogue (3rd-10th)
41-45: Labourer
46-55: Worker (2nd-5th)
56-65: Merchant
66-68: Nobleman (5th - 8th lev)
69-70: Busker or Bard (3rd - 6th)
71-72: Animal Handler or Stabler
73-75: Sailor, Dockhand or Labourer
76-80: Visitors or Pilgrims
81-83: Knight or Paladin (3rd - 8th)
84-85: Sorcerer (3rd - 5th)
86-88: Child or Apprentice
89-90: Guild Officer
91-92: Disguised (Roll again)
93-95: Shapechanger (Lycanthrope, Doppleganger, Rakshasa, etc)
96+: DM's Choice

Random Building 
01-04: Artist, Bard, Busker or Entertainer
05-06: Herbalist or Apthecary
07-08: Brewer or Bartender
09-12: Baker or Miller
13-15: Mason, Construction or Wood Worker
16-17: Advocate, Alderman or City Councillor
18-19: Weaver, Tailor, or Leather-Worker
20-24: Shantal (Prostitute)
25-26: Pet-Master, Animal Handler or Taxidermist
27-29: Stabler or Horse-Handler
30: Locksmith, Clocksmith or Tinkersmith
31-32: Jeweler or Goldsmith
33-35: School-Master, Lecturer or Teacher
36-45: Sailor, Dockworker or Labourer
46-48: Librarian, Scribe or Cartographer
49-50: Psychic or Astrologer
51-53: Salonist, Barber, Stylist or Cosmetician
54: Undertaker
55-56: Hooper
57-58: Major Domo, Secretary, Buttler or Herald
59-60: Labourer
61-65: Blacksmith or Armourer
66-70: Food-Worker or Chef
71-73: Moneylender or PawnSmith
74-76: Tobbaconist or Perfumer
77-80: Charcoil, Burning Oil or Fireworks
81-82: Brassworker
83-85: Farmer, Flowerist, Gardener
86-90: Servicing Industry
91-94: Trader
95-98: Auctioneer
99+: DM's Choice

Thursday 18 December 2014

Darras - God of the Poor and Sponsor of Charitable Acts

While not a god that openly sponsors adventurers, they can be requested for aid. An urban force, that monks and cavaliers often join as they assist the common-man. A good source of cheap potions and reduced costs for spells, if adventurers share their wealth when they have it. They turn no one down, especially those of other races or creeds, one must be open to be apart of the community.

Darras

Alignment: Neutral Good
Follower's Alignment: Any non-evil
Associated Colour: Brown
Holy Days: Twice a week (Alms)
Sacrifice: Tithe (25%) or fifty days of service every year
Patron: The Downtrodden, Cavaliers and Children

Preferred Class: Priest, Cavalier or Monk
Familiar Form: House Dog
Domains: Healing, Knowledge, Protection, Travel

Titles: Givers, Brothers and Sisters of Charity, Almsmen

God of the Poor. The outstretched hand. The Giver. The Humble. Servant of those in need. Lord of Charity. Darras is he who comforts the old and the young alike, and gives them nourishment and aid when nothing else can. He is the apostle of society, for when brothers gather together, he is there to share with those in need.

He is patron to landless cavaliers who have taken the vow of poverty. He fights greed by giving away everything that the church owns. But in so doing, they receive back far more than they had to begin with. While the elite may honour other gods of greater ideals, the god of blessings has the hearts of the downtrodden. Just as they are helped, they too help, and everyone is better off.

His faithful are patient, kind, generous; known for willing to give away everything they own. Legends abound of when Darras has saved a city from plague, or war or natural disaster, even to the extent that other gods are forgotten about. While other clerics may point out great battles and times of crisis where their gods were involved, to his faithful, Darras is ever present, ensuring the hungry, sick and diseased are cared for.They often open up hospitals or soup kitchens to help the impoverished, these are often their gathering places in cities without a temple or obelisk.

His familiar form is of a small light brown hound; which travels in the city unnoticed. They weaken the hearts of misers, and make the raving warrior feel pity and sadness in their hearts. Because they can so easily be unrecognized, one never knows where his hound may be found.

Darras has two avatars. The most common is a simple monk, wearing a brown tunic and no weapons. He comes during crisis, and helps to alleviate the suffering of the common folk. The second form is that of a cavalier, a knight riding on a great steed. He comes to lead the people to safety during time of war or insurrection. Unlike all of the other avatars, he comes to interact with the people, to lead them to victory. The victory of the Vallorria, the breakaway province of Mandos (which is seen to be a paladin’s district) was lead by this avatar, leading the common man to overcome adversity.

Darras' Code

Give freely
Without looking for reward
Accept kindness
Wherever you may find it
Greed is the enemy
A cancer that destroys family, friend, nation
Wealth is a blessing
Take it not for granted
And help others, in all things you do
For when you give charity
You too will be helped

Friday 12 December 2014

Shandar-Kai - (Shadowy Urban Fey)


These are the shadowy fey figures that seemingly haunt my cities and back alleyways. Not physically powerful, but they get to be fast, quick jumpers and often will make pacts with just about anything to get ahead. Ideal for low level adventurers foes, but the option to grow in power yo be formidable to a higher level challenge.

Shandar-Kai

Shandar-Kai                                             CR 2
NE Monstrous humanoid (Castles & Underearth)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13
hp 7 (2d6)
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +3

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.
Melee: Bow +4 (1d6) or Dagger +2 (1d4)

STATISTICS

Str 10 Dex 17 Con 11 Int 12 Wis 12 Cha 8
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 14
Feats Skill Weapon Finesse
Minor Skills: Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Knowledge (Nature, Local), Perception +2
Major Skills:Climb & Stealth +5
Feat Choices: Point Blank Shot, Trip, Far Shot, Precise Shot, Power Attack, Cleave, Imp Sunder, Weapon Specialization
Languages Shadow & Elven

ECOLOGY
Environment: Urban
Organization: Solitary or Scouting Party (3-6)
Treasure Full

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Backstab Dmg (+1d6)

Shadowy Curse: By physically holding another creature for one minute, they can send an unwilling person to the shadowy realm if they fail a saving throw (Will DC 20).

Jump: They add their bonus to jump rolls if they are not wearing armor heavier than light encumberance.

Shandar-Kai gain these advanced abilities in replacement of class levels. They may stop advancing in these and gain a class level at any time, but once they do they are unable to gain new racial levels.

Advancement as Rogues for Saving Throws, Hit Points and BAB
3 HD +6 in skills; Gain 1 Feat; +1 in Natural AC; Advance Backstab Dmg (+2d6)
4 HD +2 to Any Ability Score; +4 in skills; Jump +10 ft; Advance Backstab Dmg (+3d6)
5 HD Gain 1 Feat; +6 in skills; +1 in Natural AC, Gain 5 ft base movement; 
6 HD +2 to Any Ability Score; +6 in skills; Advance Backstab Dmg (+4d6)
7 HD +1 in Natural AC; Gain 1 Feat; Jump +20 ft; Lesser Shadow Image (25% HP; 10 rounds max)
8 HD +2 to Any Ability Score; Gain 1 Feat, Advance Backstab Dmg (+5d6)
9 HD +1 in Natural AC; +6 in skills; Jump +20 ft, Gain 1 Feat; Gain 5 ft base movement
10 HD +2 to Any Ability Score; Shadow Image (75% HP; 10 minutes max)
11 HD +4 / +4 to any two ability Scores; +12 in skills, +3 in Natural AC; Gain 1 Feat

Shandar-Kai are shadowy fey, bitter and desperate beings cursed to be continuously banished to the shadowy realm. While they have strength and physical form on prime worlds, each time they are knocked unconscious through damage, they must save vs DC 16 (Wisdom) or be banished to the realm of shadows.As beings of stealth, they take advantage of flanking an opponent whenever they can. Most join thieving guilds, to learn and make contacts, keeping their nature secret whenever possible.

They appear as lithe sharply drawn humans with a darkness all around them. They will often wear elaborate armor and carry many very small sharp daggers. They are continuously planning thieving sprees. They know they will be forced to go back to the shadowy world eventually, so their wealth should be in forms that they can easily carry or store. When they return to their shadowy world, they share their knowledge and make plans for future raids. 

These evil beings mistrust their good-aligned kin, and go to any length to trap or send them back to the shadowy realms to be tortured or worse. Some begin to show empathy towards their light kin if shown it by their prime kind first. They keep this quiet, little is known about the Shandar-Kai's dark society and twisted rituals, but empathy to the light fey is low on their priority list.

Once they are banished, they must remain on the shadowy plains for no less than six days.


Thursday 11 December 2014

Snow Nymph

To celebrate the season, here is my winter version of the Nymph. A playful figure and a little dangerous as it has a temper if .

Snow Nymph (Winter Shae)

CR 3
N (NG as they age), Humanoid
Init +7; Senses: low light vision, Perception +10

DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 natural AC, +3 Dexterity)
hp 17 (5d6)
Fort +1, Ref +8, Will +7
SR 15 and DR 10/ cold iron


OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +6 Rapier (1d6) **
Special Attack: +6 Freezing Touch (1d6) **

Morale 11 (Skittish, they are easy to break ranks and run for cover)

STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 15, Wis 14, Cha 17 **
Base Atk +3; CMB +6 CMD 15
Base Skills: Diplomacy +14, Hide +9, Knowledge (History & Geography) +8, Move Silently +9, Perform+7, Perception +10, Survival +8
Feats: Agile Manoeuvre, Improved Initiative, Quicken Spell-like Ability
Languages Fey, Dwarf & Common

The Winter Shae, or Snow Nymph, is a fragile pale skinned elf with elongated ears and fingers. Most have long blond or white hear, and they try to decorate their hair with small jewels carefully embedded in subtle patterns.  They speak Faerie and Elven in clear voices, they can usually speak common or Dwarven poorly. They are only seen during winter, dancing and playing gleefully in the snow, they never speak about where they are during the warmer phases of the yeat.

These fickle beings are happy to play and tease targets for a short time, however if you turn them down they are likely to attack in spite. The best trick is to play with them until they get tired and leave you alone. As they age, they mature into good aligned forest spirits, who are willing to make sacrifices for the collective good. The few documented times they become good friends with settled folk, they are much stronger in their desire to help and protect their allies.

Combat:
Winter Shades shun combat and will usually attempt to flee at first hint of danger. When allies are in trouble, they will sometimes ignore the danger and jump into the fray.

Spell-like Abilities:
Resist Cold – at will, Freezing Touch
3/day - Ray of Frost, Charm Person, Pass Without Trace and Speak with Animals; These spells are cast by a 5th level sorcerer (Save DC: 13 plus spell level.)

Spell Resistance (Su): Snow nymphs has spell resistance equal to 15+ class level (if any).

Freezing Touch (Su): Snow nymphs are incredibly cold to the touch, dealing 1d6 points of cold damage to whoever touches them, with no save allowed. They can also completely freeze or unfreeze small or light weight items without damaging the item.