Pyramid Passageways

The group continues heading down the stairs, lanterns lighting up on the side, always 100 feet ahead of them and the same behind. Cautious they keep to their tight formation, they eventually are more than three thousand feet in to the tunnels, far farther then they were expecting to go, when they reach a dark point, nothing to be seen. They cautiously halt, unsure of their next steps. Maza uses her spells to see a cloak figure aiming a bow towards them hidden in the darkness. The group calls out to the stranger who replies in the jackalla tongue, warning them to stay away, this is not their bounty. Arlel knows jackalla, a lawful guardian race often dedicated to city crypts; she understands this is not their enemy, nor is this, their quest, she tells everyone they have gone the wrong way. Not wanting to face a lawful figure who should be an ally, they head back, and it takes them just a few moments to return to the stairs, realizing there was a magical binding in the tunnels.

As they emerge out of the stairwell, they focus on the the Evil Pyramid entrance, Hervandos is able to avoid the traps by remaining perfectly calm. He fails, utterly, in opening the locks, so the halfling rogue comes over. But she fails her saving throw on the poison, she vomits, turns green and falls down, convulsing in pain. She is in tremendous pain but so disoriented, she is unable to do much more than shiver. The ranger and psion drag her far enough away, as the ranger heals her Tenderfoot sister, giving her another chance and the rogue passes her check, and is given help from the ranger once again.

The entire group hesitates: the entryway of the good aligned pyramid causes other problems, and as much as they dislike having to face the poison, that seems like a lesser problem then the induced ecstacy and loss of complete control. They need to find a way around, to go deeper into the evil pyramid where they believe their sarcophagus should be.

The soldiers herald something coming through the doors, as they turn to face a dozen or more of sand mephits, small rocky creatures with multiple sharp fangs, claws and bony appendages. The paladin and cleric face them front face, as the psion attempts to put up an energy wall. The ranger and rogue squirm around looking for a spot to strike. The creatures surround the cleric, cutting and clawing her, but not doing serious damage, at least not yet. They see at least another eight approaching. Finally the psion launches the energy wall, creating the barrier they need for defense. The others knock down the only two still inside the wall. The psion closes the large front doors and the soldiers seal them up with spikes.

In catching their breath, the group is left with what to do once again.

One of the lesser soldiers, wonders how they got through other traps, which gets the group thinking about what they could be missing. The rogue suddenly realizes in their haste to explore the passageways SHE didn’t search around, and when she does she eventually finds a false panel…opens it up, containing two levers, pulling them closes the obvious traps on the two other entranceways, it leaves the Pyramid of Darkness open and a heavy metal gate blocking entry to the Pyramid of Light. Now they are refocused again.

Going down the stairs they head back into another passageway, this one is wider than the one far below, none of the walls are decorated, or having hieroglyphics as they would have expected in a place like this. The bard tells the group the place is perfectly acoustic, sounds travel, far better than one would expect. Again, just as before, the lanterns are synchronized, coming on one after the other. Soon they start to hear a painful moaning, that reveals an inhuman voice in incredible torment, they see a hole in the side of the wall.

Looking in, they see a sight none ever expected to see, a chained Efreet, in horrible physical shape; the paladin detects an other-world evil. Everyone is a bit in awe, these creatures of pure fire were thought not able to come to the prime world of nyssa. No begging or screaming..it speaks in its own tongue, asking to be freed, though only the Phaetox understands it, as Galdahad shares the language of flame with it. When its polite requests fails to convince them, it returns to its riotous cacophony, begging to be let out.

As they are about to walk off, when another being, covered in chains come out to tempt the paladin into battle. The bard tells the group this is an Kyton, an evil race not devils but similar. they often work for mortal creatures, torturing is often their primary task. It’s evil tempting words crush the paladin, promising an epic battle. Their group's focus is too strong, the paladin, who shows composure and decides it best to leave, leaving the jailer in his cell with the prisoner. As they continue on, the hole in the wall is gone or at least no longer visible. 

The group wonders how many more of these pyramid walls are holding something, are they all prisons?

They continue down, and see the cross-way turns, one direction turns into a short passageway to the right, a heavily armoured Ox Demon guarding a very elaborate door. While horribly named, they have run into these paragons of lawful order, unwilling to deviate from orders, certainly not something they have an active dislike of. In the other, a set of stairs heading down on a sharp angle.

Having no other way, they head down the passageway, when they see a small red flash dart across the passageway; Arlel summons a celestial blast, scorching an unnatural red rat that had fled from them but was still seeking to watch. Moments later they hear from a bellowing from below the stones, something in anger and mourning loss. Galdahad calls out to comfort it, but the red liquid beast roars out even louder, they see a long red snake-like entity, hungry but fearful. Not something that would strike out with treachery but of hunger, it seethes with anger, but goes back into the stone.

They look at each other and once more head down the stairs…

Old WotC Monster Books

Was looking for another gaming book, and found the M.M. V book in a box ...wow, forgot how much I loved / loathed it. I mean the entries are two pages to a monster is pushing it, and they stretch some of the monster variants out. They do have some nice beasties in this one though: Arcadian Avenger, Adaru, Remmanon, Illurien, & Force Golem to name a few. (Won't go into some of the others.)

I cherish these monster books, so many great ideas and the pics, are so fun to make your brain just explode with energy and fear!

Now I have to update some of my monster listing for the regions again...

Game Summary Write-Up (Aug 13)

The group waits a few more days for their compatriots, as they hope will find their way back to town. At the same they realize many other adventuring teams are returning into the spire; some large contingents, with powerful steeds or walking golem-horses. They all seem to find a home for a few days, some of the smallest in an alleyway, hotel or tavern. Large military units, many with hundreds of volunteers that spend most of their days on the back roads, set up camps just outside the town.

Each of the units seem to designate a few of their members to go to the Fountain, some to sing or make a silent prayer or just stand in honoring someone who once walked. These units, drop something, coins, alcohol or other momento to represent something to their units. If you were to watch here just that early morning, one would be tricked that the offerings would drown the water even if for a few seconds. The water subsides and as it does the piles of coins sink low, so too with the men, as they did what they must and moved on.

Most of the party watches the goings on. None realized the mass of travelers and professional warriors that would be here...the sleepy spire town wasn't just alone here in the desert, though it felt like it earlier on in the week. Each party member did as they always did; the psionicist in meditation, the rogue skulking to watch over her party, the paladin with an eye on the fountain and speaking with youth, Galdahad in flight among her avian kin, Maza the Halfling ranger with a small group of city beasts and Arun, retreated to the Sphinx library, with another burning research subject in his mind.

Arlel with her small contingent made the first steps back in to town long before she had originally planned, hoping that her friends truly did make it here. The sight of the Phaetox flying high in the marketplace was a relief, she was always the first and easiest to spot. They connect, and bring together the rest of the team. Dassadar walks slowly over, making no attempt to hide his detect evil casting on Arlel and the rest of her group, and finding no hint of malice. The young cleric certainly recognizes his actions but says nothing, as a swarm of introductions to old and new comrades commence.

One of Arlel's newest allies is the tall, high pitched voiced, incredibly well dressed figure with an effusively charismatic personality, carrying many musical instruments at his beck and even more surprisingly an actual halo on his shining round his angelic head. Zelos tells them they have much to discuss, not just in one mission but one of their colleagues, Arun who is cursed or quite possibly his primary bond is not what it seems to be.

They go straightaway to Arlel's apartment to lay down the known details. They are all a little surprised, the rooms are clean, except for her two mirrors, completely splinterered. Unsure of what this means, they search the rooms and area before they continue sharing information.

Arlel elaborates on what she found not just in the library but in the streets and taverns, legends of powerful items hidden in the pyramids. The local tales speak in particular of an elaborate sarcopogus built for a Raja, able to rebuild & restore both people and objects, if they are adored. Her research shows its most likely resting spot, undisturbed because each team was unclear on its final location. She believes this group, is strong enough to return this artifact to civilization. The fountain portal will lead them there, but the gateway she opened will only last another six hours or they need to find another way back to the pyramid.

So too, Zelos bears legends, but not of an item lost in the sands, but of grief. A genie or otherworldly demon he believes was inadvertently summoned and leaving a wake of destruction. He explains that while Arun summons the memory of a warrior it is another being that is coming through, and he is not the only one who reaches into the midst. Others, far nefarious, are using Gorth for their own darker purposes, and theirs is a trail of blood, murder of heroes in their sleep or younglings in their home, he didn't meet their kin, he didn't need to. The story is the one that Zelos is determined to stop.

The group wonders if it is Gorth which was why their teleport did not enable them to go to the Duo-Diyalla Pyramid. Dassadar expresses some incredulity at Zelos's story, but Zelos begins telling a story of his incredible exploits, the team loses the effort to argue with him. Convincing them but at the same time Zelos believes he best not try their patience or trust too often; Dassadar especially (DM's hint: spells or other tricks on other party members work in moderation, at a certain point PCs will gain immunity.)

They concoct a loose plan of trying to get their friend to summon his servant though not capturing him in a way that could limit him until they determine how exactly they can fully deal with him. Wanting to meet Arun outside of town, they call him, but the scholars in the library reveal he is no longer around. The group does a search they find no sign, and nobody remember where he exactly went to. They find the old lore books he was studying, stories told of great past rogues and scoundrels who went on both desert and Sea of Stones quests. The last book he was reading, left open to the picture of "Raibasghi" a well known desert scoundrel long renowned for coming back from the desert wastes with treasure and magical trinkets; this was one of Arlel's heroes she was delving into. The party wonders if Arun left to go hunting, or, if somehow Gorth was able to take control. They rush out out to look for their ally.

Using his mind-scanning, Hervandos is able to track down Arun, finding him in a tavern, surrounded by dangerous looking rogues. He decides not to reveal their preys location to his comrades as he doesn't want them to be sidetracked as they came to the desert to complete the mission and prefers not to lose the quick way to the pyramids.

Realizing their wasted efforts, the heroes refocus on their original mission, scoping the dungeon & retrieving the sarcopogus. Zelos is torn though, committed to both completing this task and of stopping the killer Gorth, he wonders if he is doing the best thing.

At the fountain, Arlel speaks her command word and they step into the water, then through... into a huge stone room, high ceilings, and the first site of Arlel's volunteers struggling to close an outside door where a huge sandstorm rages. Each steps out into this large rectory, the fountain they emerge from though grandiose in size is far from its peak, as it has seen deterioration and even worse, barely a trickle of water inside the grand central fountain.

As Fesselin the rogue and Maza the druid step past each is given a momentary flash, Fessy works up a defense, as she tries to concentrate in her home and many positive thoughts. Maza fails and is shocked by memories but not her own, of an eerily positive flashes of many people here in this building in another era. The haunting images cascade imaged laughing, playing in the midst of a bygone era when humans, dwarves, Tenders and even elves are in this same place, filled with water, pets,and plants. Lasting a few seconds, Maza regains control of herself...she shares with the rest of the party, unsure of what really happened. Arlel admits none of her soldiers experienced this previously but again this was two Tenderfeet, she wonders if this could be a specific trap.

The group sees the many small statues and frescoes littered in the upper sections of the room, mementos of religious and standard pilgrims. They could tell it was once an eight door church rectory, but now only the main twenty foot tall master-door was in use. A domed roof shows a wondrous scene of angels, devils and aqua dragons flying in a cloudy sky, other details less conspicuous are lost in the dust from far below on the vantage point on the ground.

A kilometer each way, two opposing pyramid complexes reign tall, one to the left the Pyramid of Darkness; Pyramid of Righteousness to the right, Arlel's team discovered with the help of Zelos, three hidden passageways hidden under the sands. Two reach out in the direction of the Pyramids and the last one opposite the entrance doorway. Over the last five days they excavated, and found the entranceways riddled with writings that warn of unauthorized entry and curses for theft. The dark pyramid entrance brings shudders of cold, pain & misery; the one of righteousness brings happy near bucolic thoughts even to the point of mindless euphoria, both are avoided by the soldiers.

They light their torches, choose lots and enter the passageway...

Leaf-Kin, Children of the Forest (Playable Race)

I have long loved to run adventures in the forest, where players defeat hidden enemies or overcome threats. This race was a way to add to these scenarios, I have been using the Leaf-Kin as something always present in druidic groves, but never actually getting involved, as they were too small, too weak and too playful. Eventually when running a session, the druids were in desperate state, and higher level leaf-kin got involved, much to everyone's (including my one) surprise. Have been working on these ever since.

One of the biggest questions that I wrestled with is should these be playable as druids; while it does fit, that's much the problem. I want these to be a strong ally or companion to druids, not an over powerful example.

Like all of my racial classes, you generally need to complete their full racial levels until you take another non-racial class.

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Leaf Kin

CR 2 N Humanoid

Init +0; Perception +2

Leaf-Kin are children of the forest, mobile plant-like beings that seek to find a balance between the needs of animals, intelligent creatures and the plants in the forest. They are often seen as something pet-like, playful or even innocently child-like, and while true, it is not their side. As they age and gain in wisdom and power, they are more likely to get directly involved when something threatens their kin, their allies or their territory. They resemble halfling humanoids, with brown wood-like skin, branches for hair ending in small leaves that change colour by season. They grow as they age, from small saplings, to large mature oaklings.

DEFENSE

AC 12, touch 10, flat-footed 12 (+2 natural AC)

hp 11 (2d8+4)

Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Wooden Short sword +2 (1d6)

TACTICS

Leaf-Kin are quiet, reclusive people that attempt to watch foes, make allies with common cause and wait for an ideal time to strike. At lower levels they often provide aid, but higher level individuals can literally make a entire forest come alive to defeat a common foe.

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

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11

Base Atk +1; CMB +1 CMD 13

Feats Skills Perception +4, Craft (Wooden Armor or Weapons) +2, Acrobatics +2, Survival +4

Languages Faerie, Elven, Common

SQ Absorb 1 Poison

By Racial Levels

Photosynthesis (Regenerate 1 hp / hour in bright sunlight)

+2 Con, +2 Wis, - 2 Dex 

+2 to survival, +2 to Perception, +2 Craft Wooden Armor and Weapons

+2 natural AC

Both plant & humanoid features

Plantspeak (Speak 1 / HD + Wis or Cha bonus for five rounds)

Absorb 1 poison / two HD or levels (survival check vs DC to extract), 

Small Sized

3 HD Entangle (1 / HD), Invisibility to Animals at will, Immune to Polymorph (change back to leaf-kin after one hour if they have failed a saving)

4 HD Barkskin (1 / HD), Thorne skin (+1d6 dmg if touched or grappled); +2 to any 2 abilities

5 HD Speak with Animals, Invisible to Magical Animals (at will); Grow to Medium Sized

6 HD Secrete Poisons (Sleep, Attract, Drain, DC 10 + Survival), Goodberry or Plant Growth (2/HD)

7 HD Command Plant, +2 to any 2 abilities; Gain 1 Feat;

8 HD Wall of Thorns, Wood Immunity; SR: 8 +1 / HD or level gained

9 HD Animate Plant; Secrete Greater Poisons (DC15+level)

10 HD +2 to any 2 abilities ; Gain 1 Feat; Gain +4 natural AC, Grow to Large Size (3/day, lasts for up to one hour each time or until dismissed)

11 HD Change to True Plant; Regenerate 1 +con bonus hp / rnd in sunlight

12 HD Tree Walk & Commune with Nature (1 mile max; 1 / day)

+1 HD or Level: Gain +1 on SR by HD or level

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Gain attack bonus, saving throws as a cleric by level.

Skills: craft wooden weapons or armor, diplomacy, disable device (+4 if device is made with wood), escape artist, heal, knowledge (nature, geography, religion), perception,sense motive, stealth, survival

Secrete Lesser Poisons: (Sleep, Attract, Drain) DC 10 + Survival Bonus; use this once per day per two levels

Secrete Greater Poison: Immobilize, turn metal to wood, change to animal (DC 15 + level); use this once per day per three levels 

Preferred Class: Ranger, Rogue Bard, or Sorcerer

Banned Class: Druid, Cleric  

Non-Gaming Session - In the Desert Town

Non-Game Details. Had to cancel the last session at the last moment as my wife wasn't feeling the best. This is my way of continuing the story and giving the players some more information. In some ways, much easier to do this now, then in the catacombs.

The old black mystic smiled as he welcomed her into his hut preparing tea for both, this place felt even less spiritual inside than on the outside, yet she felt blessed for being asked inside. “You saw her?” Galdahad asked taking her first sip of the hot berry tea.

Varchan nodded, “She was here several times, in a manner very similar to yours. She wandered here, and whether she received respite or guidance she didn’t reveal, that’s not important.”

”Not important?" the Phaetox asks loudly then tries to deliberately lower her voice, this hut doesn’t seem to be a practical spot for loud discussion, nor Varchan someone deserving of it.

He shook his head and smiled, and somehow that was enough to cool her down. “Her coming here was her own, just as yours is. If she was comforted, she did not say, but that is the past, you are here now.”

“If you could share, it could help us find her it would be…incredibly helpful…”

Again he shakes his head, “That’s not how this works, I am a running stream, thoughts go through where I am, I may sip, but mine is not to imbibe. Tomorrow or next week I may not remember the textured details of this conversation, all that I will remember, is you.”

One of the images he used, remarkable for a Spire dweller, “Running stream?”

Varchan holds out his hand and waves it horizontally, then flowed it, to stop holding upright, “Young lady, all Phastian born, rear and die in the desert, it’s not my fate. This is my other life. I was not born to this. Priest, servant to the Holy Sand, with hundreds of soldiers and thousands of handmaidens…” Galdahad looks at him taking a deep drink, “This was my second death, and I needed a place to be, and this place needed, well, someone. We all dream here, I help to reveal the message…”

“We need for you to try to remember some details about Arlel…” (5 questions to pose to Varchan before the next game)

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On her second night in the small town, Fesselin quickly realizes she doesn’t like it here, it was a quaint little burg, but there was little for her to do. There were taverns, serving drinks but she was never comfortable around big folks, except for her own coterie. These folks as welcoming as they were, would always be big folk, strange ones at that. Most of these people are stuck with their heads in the spires, unconcerned about politics or neighbors, it may be safer but they were always inwardly concerned.

Making her way to the back alleyways, she took it all in, the wide open spaces, the buildings the animals…and suddenly she saw two of her kind, Tenderfeet approaching her. They looked at her and smiled, a hand out to greet her, “Trasolin” the older woman said, and pointing to a younger man in combat leathers, “Rasak.” Fessy introduced herself. “There are others?” Trasolin nods, “We keep ourselves hidden, until we can determine who the stranger in our midst is." She takes a swig from a jug, then hands it to Fesselin who does the same.

“We are tree-ing; care to bob along?” Unsure of what it means but happy to be among kin, she agrees. They come to a fairly large house and climb up, revealing a building whose lower floor is false, as the building covers a hole hundreds of feet deep, and a huge vine plant inside, being carefully pruned and picked by a small group of tenderfeet, plus small sized lizardith and similar sized humanoid frogs. Her newfound companions are waved in, Fessy notices her legs and arms are starting to grow slow and heavy. Almost sensing what Fesselin is about to say, Trasolin nods, “The poison will almost be in full effect.”

Fessy grabs her weapons, while the other two Tenderfeet take a step back. “Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you or steal your equipment…we need to find out about you and your friends, and we have no time for games.”

Despite her protests, they wait for the poison to take control of her, then sit her down in the Greenhouse. With spells, they ask her questions about her group, their intent and some of their history; their questions are careful not to reveal personal or tactical data, but certainly she reveals why they are in the town. In the space of twenty minutes, they are finished, then put a cloth over her head. She wakes up in a small pub, empty glasses around her smelling badly of ale. Her equipment and wealth still with her, plus a basket of exquisitely tasting blue and yellow fruit.

She heads back to the big house, and sure enough. a small group of workers still prune it, but her two comrades are nowhere to be seen.

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One of the few benefits of being imprisoned for over nine months was the insistence of quiet meditation. Most of the other prisoners took the time to cause any disturbance to force the guards to use noise or force to end the meditation exercises. As a Thellan, Hervandos had memories of many encouraged sessions, but this was different and quite powerful, as it to brought him back “home”, to refocus in his psionic gifts and foster their growth. It was ironic beyond belief that it were these near ignorant Wastelanders would be the one to help him with this.

Even since before his release, he made an effort to daily meditate on his focus. Normally coming to a new town would be difficult, but spread throughout the village were buffers, psionic tools to disperse hindrances. While not tremendously obvious, there were other psions here. Instead of a difficulty, it was almost a continious state, able to slip into focus at-will. On the third night there, he entered a full dream state, able to travel in purely mental form in a way similar to a physical body.

On the first night, he saw others like himself here. He slowly approached but as he does, a hound with tentacles unlike he’s ever seen notices him and started braying… frightened he removes himself, immediately coming out of his purely mental state, and finds himself back in his hotel room in a lotus concentration position.

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Arun on this night like all the others had spent much of the time in concentration; this town like many others was never his goal. His magic or his familiar allies had always been his prime concern, but now something was wrong with Gorth, his primary bond. It had been many years since he found the entity and he had come to rely on him, for his brute power force, in a fight, his was the muscle that he came back to…now there was something that felt wrong. Many previous times even when not calling for him into the midst, the between, his presence was noted, just waiting, eager to be released. But that eagerness was gone. He no longer lurked, never hungry. He came and served out of obedience but the Summoner wondered if this would always be the case. He heard of other familiar and summoned servants who refused to come or even worse, turned on their master. His bond had always been strong, that he never worried before, now was very different.

Slipping into his concentration, then into the chainless lair in the midst of his void, he remained perfectly calm, silent as memory. For the first time, in too many years, he didn’t come to bond, or seek out a new servant-ally, but to carefully watch his bonded ally. This time, he wanted to see if his ally would come to him. Just as he feared his bond, his ally was not here. He didn’t call out, not this time…this creature was still an ally, if he called and the creature didn’t come, then what. Could he put the bonded ally on the spot?

He exited the midst, and sat motionless for awhile, then left his room. He went well to a quiet alleyway and mulled over calling his companion…

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The trip to the Spire-Edge had shown him little, perhaps most of all other defined the space they were in and what was around them. The nearest pyramids were probably around 25 to 30 days, on foot if they were not intercepted or attacked by the Raja’s forces, especially the undead ones. If this was where Arlel was, he and his companions would go find her.

As he headed into town the sounds of two young boys struggling with a beast, verging off from one
of the the larger side streets. Dassadar headed in, as he saw two Phastian teenagers struggling to get a winged horse, into a stable. Without hesitation, he jumped the fence and held up his hand. Both the kids and Pegasi seemed surprised, as he calmly came towards them, he held out up a hand speaking. The Phastian tattoo was controlling the words coming out of his mouth, as he soothed the well groomed beast.

The side door flew open, as a middle aged Phastian Lady with two much younger children, younger than the lads working the winged steed. Their presence startled the steed, as it bucked, without thinking, Dassadar jumped on it and started giving it much harsher commands, the mother kept the two little girls away, as the two young teen boys tried to grabs the ropes. Their full teamwork was enough to allow Dassadar to capture the Pegasi, and hold him still enough for the creature to calm down.

The little girls had stopped screaming, and the boys puffed out their chests, as they lead the creature into the stable. The attractive woman whispered orders to the young girls, who slunk into the doorway. The lads came out to thank him, but he stood at attention, the same as he was taught when he was living in the North. It hit him that their customs were not the same, the boys came out and stood at attention with their hands crossed with their heads down.

“Thank you for helping with the steed.” She smiled with a controlled demurred look, “My boys needed to clean the stable…” She hesitated as her two young girls reappeared with a pitcher and glasses. “My girls would like to invite you in for a glass of water, as a way to thank you…” The kind mother smiled as her children were very excited to have him come inside.

“Doing a good deed is my reward.” He hesitates for a moment and reconsiders everything going on here. No ill intent, the children are happy to see a stranger, “Your husband is returning soon?”

“Two days, most likely, on Fountain Day.”

Dassadar looked at both the excited girls and the proud young boys, and couldn’t help but smiling himself, “Happy to join you for water…”

Nyssa Game Summary Write-Up (July 16th)

Deserted 

Plans secured for weeks, many of them with newly purchased items or enchanted ones, the group held itself tight. It had been too long since they worked together “in formation” as the paladin Dassadar referred to the group and somehow felt very comfortable. He had selected six volunteer journeyman soldiers carefully, knowing going into a new environment would present unique challenges for them. Yet none of them had connections so if they were lost in battle it would not cost him politically.

Galdahad flew down for the last time, it was always hard to say goodbye to people she knew here, both humanoid and avian alike, yet each time she traveled she learned more. She knew she wasn't ready for her birthright challenge, thus she continued on, preparing for her destiny.

Arun had long since prepared, having a bit more experience in arid lands than the others, yet this was the legendary Phastian Desert, part of the original Empire that ruled the land, secrets to be discovered and potentially more evil to be vanquished. His colleague, his brother-in-arms, of sorts, waited to be summoned out, to do good works in service to his colleague and companion.

The Tenderfoot (Halfling) rogue, like Arun had prepared for coming here but by speaking to her contacts, learning about the pyramid traps and the denizens inside. She had long hoped to get a chance to explore the ruins and other locales as much as she wanted to see an old friend. She knew her own kind were there in smaller numbers, and she had heard terrible rumors of dark servitude to undead lords.

Lastly, the psion Hervandos sat in quiet meditation, sometimes he wondered why he even went on with this group, but knowing he had nowhere else to go and the group sometimes did provide entertainment was justification enough. Knowledge or enlightenment the aim when he was younger, now it just seemed to be finding contentment of any sort, even if ever so briefly.

They waited just a few minutes longer until the prearranged time, as they saw the effect, the obelisk starts to glow its mystical colours, then they stepped thru. As they come out they find themselves immediately wet, in a public fountain, and alone as their old comrade is nowhere to be seen. Arun uses simple magiks to dry themselves off, then they realize the predicament they are in, stranded in a town, without a guide nor any apparent caster able to help send them home.

They are not exactly alone, as their mini spectacle was enough to cause the local folk, Phastian humans, to stop and watch them for a moment or two. The groups beseech for help, but their words fail as they share no tongue. Using his spells, Arun quickly learns enough of their language to communicate. They have arrived in the town of Gortauncho, south offers the Sea of Stones in the Phastian Desert. This Fountain, is the local equivalent of an obelisk, the center of clerical magic. While not immediately familiar, some of the townsfolk recognize the description of the group's wayward colleague, the cleric Arlel. Eventually they find a citizen who reveals where she stays. They hire a guide, and start to learn about the town.

Fesselin is propositioned by a well-dressed tenderfoot, but she turns him down. Hervandos is warned in mind-speak that they are here illegally but categorically confirms they have paid entry fees: he doesn't know if his bluff works but the questioning ends. Galdahad speaks to several avian comrades, they tell her about the wind routes to the sea but know nothing about her land friend.

Proceeding to Arlels house, there is no response to their knocking, so the group heads to the law enforcement. Situated nearly out of town, going towards the largest stone object and building, as they approach they realize it is beneath a huge statue of a winged lion, a sphinx, more than 300 ft at the base with doors to underground caverns of some kind.

The local forces recognize Dassadar's insignia, and show respect to the paladin and his colleagues. They wear badges of faith to a Goddess of Light, they swear by Zalia, that the group believes is the same as the goddess Quanna in the North. The soldiers reveal little more than what the team has already discerned, at least as it relates to their missing comrade...they knew the young woman by reputation only, she had few acquaintances, caused no trouble, no one for them to be concerned with. When discussing their next options, they decide their next step should be to examine her home, and the desert folk give them permission to enter her home but not to take anything.

As they speak with the authorities, Galdahad notices one of the men particularly enamored by her, she begins a conversation with him. A little embarrassed, he reveals a fascination, her skin colour is like nothing he had seen before. Even for the Sea folk to the North of them, her pale skin is so much whiter than any of her comrades, Galdahad admits she is not human but a Phaetox, then opens her flame wings. The soldiers of law, kneel in bewilderment...they had not known of her kind before. She is a little shocked, she thought everyone had heard of Phaetox, at least in the North they had.

Heading back to Arlel's house, the halfling determines the lock, opens it and the door...right away three shades suddenly appear, the finder rolls back taking shelter behind the Phaetox, as Arun summons three celestial archons, heavenly balls of light to intercede. A quick battle forces the shades to retreat into the walls. Seconds later, Arun is hit by a powerful shock, immediately releasing his summoned servants...he realizes this small town has a formidable protection a ward of some sort around it, most likely the huge sphinx statue is the center. Perhaps Arlel's decision to make a home here makes sense. He also wonders what would happen if he released his main ally, what could happen?

They enter and carefully investigate er residence, casting of detect magic reveals the feather stylus has a slight evocation. The papyrus has no markings. A small stylized stone obelisk carved with personalized engravings, the paladin wants to hold on to it, but the others remind him of their vow not to remove anything. Eventually the paladin submits, putting it back. Meanwhile the psionicist tells them he sensed a powerful evil presence for seconds, something far evil than he's ever felt before, who was apparently watching everyone; nobody is quite sure what that means. They are unsure if they have gained any insight as to where their former companion might be.

Night seems to take the party quickly, and they retreat to the lodging and equipment acquired by the paladin's soldiers, a small bevy of local cuisine and equipment as well as services of a tattooist, who can provide a Mark of Phastian Language Skills (OOG +5 to Phastian Language plus INT bonus +10 non-roll bonus for calm speaking scenarios.)

Arun wants to learn about the town's fountain obelisk, and spends most of the night in a library within the sphinx. Galdahad spends much of the time drinking, sharing stories learning lore of the Sea, and of rumours of what is hidden beneath the pyramids. The halfling watches the room carefully, sipping her mull, and tries to gauge the people...they are being watched but only generally. Hervandos, returns to their room, slipping into quiet meditation. The paladin also goes back to the shared room, to spend some time with his soldiers, sharing an ale and ensuring their morale is high. Eventually they all slip out first some drinks and camaraderie.

The next day the Phaetox takes to the sky to look for any signs, and one interesting aspect is of a simple hut with some petitioners or students outside of it. Wanting to learn, she spends the day in contemplation. Arun, continues his intense study of the fountains and its connections to obelisks and the various local faiths. Fesselin takes a careful watching spot, hoping to see if their action last night raised some suspicions, enough so someone takes any action. Dassadar wanting to have a better understanding, starts to walk, south, and eventually finds the edge, they are on a spire, essentially a cliff island, perhaps a mile or more high. He sees far away many pyramids, as well as other spires. They could spend years looking for their former comrade, but she had promised them a great opportunity to vanquish evil.

At the end of the day, an old man comes out, and gives each of the petitioners the object, they are looking for, then finally looks at Galadahad and says, “You were looking for the cleric Arlel, then we we need to talk.”

Active Characters (GP = Game Points)

35 G.P Dassadar Aasimar / 8th level 

31 G.P. Fesselin Halfling Finder / 8th level 

28 G.P. Galdahad Phaetox / 7th level

28 G.P. Hervandos Psionic / 7th level

26 G.P. Cassie human sorceror / 7th level

23 G.P. Arun / Wizard / 7th level

Token Tally

Adrian 10 W, 3 B

Karen 22 W + 3 B

Serena 15 W, 2 B

Senthil 13 W, 2 B

Curnette 12W, 0 B

Rob 5 W, + 3 B

Stub Start - Campaign restart

Seeing as how I am always working late and never truly content with my writing, I'm gonna give up on the active postings until or if I ever get into the groove of it. Instead, will utilize this to post  my campaign journal for anyone who wants to read it.

This is my campaign restart, giving everyone a shout-out, more details will emerge.

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Arms filled with scroll and map cases, Cassie precariously yet quickly makes her way to the agreed meeting place, a bar on the east-side of the Inner wall. She enters and darts for the back-room as per their standard technique. Galdahad, high in the sky, she had already well searched the place, making sure none of the winged familiars of would-be spies followed Cassie, the most known member of the group. Galdahad lands beside the tavern, covers herself with a cloak and heads in; though Phaetox are not illegal, she like the rest of the group would prefer to keep her presence quiet.

Arun, the most recent member to their collective is in the tavern, keeping an eye on the door to ensure no would be Eyes were there. His presence there was little acknowledged, better for him, in case he needed to make his calling. Without seeing anyone else of threat or notice, Fesselin the Halfling casually follows her would-be team-mates then closes the door.

“Everyone Here?” Cassie asks, spreading out maps on the lone shrun table, the bartenders already knew not to disturb them.

“The Paladin?” Cassie asks, but Galdahad shakes her head. They had sent several messages to him, but none were returned. He seemed to be happy Jotun hunting in the wastes, and ignored all attempts of the old group reforming.

“Decision time, do we get…” Arun grows quiet as the Tenderfoot puts a hand to her mouth to quieten him, then rushes for the door, opening it leaving their Aasimar paladin, surprised about to rap on the door.

His golden armor announces his position and faith, he smiles and puts out his arms out; no discretion this was not the groups intention in this part of town. They wave him in and then sit him down, overlooking the maps, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

“No huzzahs?” Dassadar asks as he goes for the mug of shine. “It’s been too long!”

“You don’t understand what is happening here,” Arun states, “We are trying to…”

“Do something very good.”Cassie adds, looking him in the face smiling.

“I’m in!” the paladin states looking at everyone in the face, as he allows Cassie’s infectious good nature smile to spreads to his own. They quickly get down to their challenge, planning their newest conquest.

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Game Details: will send everyone their reknown points, this how we track level, reputation, etc.

Starting point is 7th level. So if you were to create a new character, that’s where you start. If with your new points you are higher, that’s where you begin.

Would like for everyone to have three ideas of what they can add to the in-game plot scenarios. Either a quest the party can go on, something the character did in the last three years, etc. You don’t have to announce them, but if you can submit them sometime in the next few weeks that would be great.

Obelisk Domain Spells

Obelisks are fairly huge deals in my world, as they are the epicentre of religions in my world especially in and around communities. This is some of the most common spells from casters who are dedicated to protecting locations.

Obelisk Domain

1st  -  Obelisk Vigilance

2nd  - Obelisk Speak

3rd - Obelisk Window

4th - Obelisk Jump

5th - Obelisk Oath

6th - Obelisk Protection

7th - Obelisk Guardian

8th - Create Obelisk

9th - Obelisk Wrath

Obelisk Vigilance: When at an obelisk, the cleric gains +2 to all of their attacks and damage rolls or they may gain a +2 to all of their saving throws.

Obelisk Speak: All creatures within 200 ft radius of an obelisk understand each other in their native language

Obelisk Window: Cleric can create a scrying window, acts as the 5^th level Scrying spell with the obelisk acting as the material focus. It is active for one minute per caster level.

Oath Jump: All obelisks are connected via the magical frequency that binds them, with this spell a cleric can travel from any one obelisk to another. Just like the teleport circle, the obelisk that is traveled to must be either “open” or another cleric must also cast obelisk jump on the one the cleric will travel to. Once opened, the obelisk remains in this state for ten rounds. One creature can travel through per round.

Obelisk Oath: This spell will bind any one subject to the cleric’s specific request. The target does not get a saving throw. The request must be a reasonable one that does not violate the subject’s alignment or beliefs however it does not have to be one that the target likes or wants to obey. In return, the cleric and all of their comrades a well as any members of the same faith are honor-bound to not harm, hinder or in any way violate the target of the oath in any way.

Obelisk Protection: The cleric gains 15/good damage reduction, as well as a +6 divine bonus to their AC when defending either a holy place, person or cause related to their cleric’s faith. This spell will last one hour per level.

Obelisk Guardian: Summons the guardian of the obelisk to serve a task. The guardian cannot move than 200 feet away from the obelisk while performing the task. This spell is usually done in the defense of the obelisk to either destroy attackers or to take creatures directly to the god’s planar home.

Create Obelisk: Creates a new obelisk to function as a divine energy source. This spell takes one complete day to cast, and the priest can cast this spell no more than once a month. After casting this spell, the priest is completely drained of all their spells for one day per their casting level. This is a powerful spell that few priests ever cast more than once or twice in their lifetime.

Obelisk Wrath: The spellcaster can call down 200 d6 worth of divine power within five miles of the obelisk. This spell permanently drains one level from the priest,. It is also uncontrollable; as all life in the radius takes the damage. The epicentre takes the full damage, each ¼ mile away takes 50d6 less damage. Only creatures within 300 meters of the obelisk itself (and any other obelisk) avoid damage. 

Holy Vows - Player Choices

Holy Vow

This is my way of giving the players options as to what their character stands for. Most are options that their characters should want to pick, others its an option for them.

There are standard operating items for members of particular races or faiths pick, but individuals always get the chance to choose.

Paladins must choose 3 holy vows, they gain another every 4 levels.
Cleric: 3 vows, if they gain more than 8 levels may have to choose more
Druids & monks 2 vows , they gain another every 5 levels
Some prestige class also must take some of these.

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Bravery: Never show fear. Last to retreat but they cannot use this while defending others.

Celibacy: Remain chaste. While sex is never directly role-played in my games, there are times it is implied. So if tempted even by magic or trickery, a paladin would face sanction. Female knights must take this vow, since they would need to give up their adventuring career if they ever got pregnant.

Challenge: You are open to a challenge in any form, at any time. Few times this is lethal or combat, but you must be ready to prove your self worthy without accepting magical or other aids. Duels are common in many places in my world, as most humans and elves use rapier as their exclusive dueling weapon. Most times combat is fought until someone is disarmed or drawing first blood.  All challenges are completed on the spot without any additional magic being employed; but if the person being already has magic weapons or spells, they do not have to be dropped.

Courtesy: Show respect to those of higher level & station. a non-combat one that has probably caused more trouble than anything else. If nobles or spell-casters are spouting off, the character must bite their tongue and remain civil. Doesn't matter what is being said, civility must always be adhered to.

Freedom: Allow no intelligent being to remain in slavery. (Counts as 3) Slavery is an ongoing theme in my world, as certain creatures such as Halflings are often found enslaved. This can be a huge game-breaker, but if played with finesse can add a lot to the game itself. A lot a druids in my world take this and they make sure animals are treated well. 

Humility: Remain humble in spirit, rejecting adulation and reward. Again, like courtesy, players have to watch what they say. The rewards thing is tricky, as they can accept payment, just not the medals or over-payment. If offered reasonable monetary reward for a service, this is fine.

Loyalty: renounce all ties to family, guild, tower & government; live for their order. One that has been taken many times in the past, players just need to make sure they don't associate with other groups. Their dedication to the order is often a background thing, as players are assumed to spend a certain number of days not in the middle of their team missions, and this is what they associate with. Its also a great source of contacts, rumours and information. 

Neutrality: apolitical. This is one of my favorites. They avoid politics or making any kind of comment on the government or monarchy. They have to be careful not to help either side who is involved. Solomo wizards must take this vow.

Minor Faith: Accept no aid from non-allied churches. So they can either go with alignment or ethos, so if LG chaotic is out. They do not have to disrespect, just will not directly or knowingly work with a cleric or that church or group.

Major Faith: Accept no aid from another’s alignment. (Counts as 2) Much more difficult, but have seen it done effectively.

Minor Poverty: surrender 25% of all wealth attained. Probably the easiest to do; make sure you give your spoils away,

Major Poverty: surrender 75% of all wealth attained. (Counts as 2) Easy to adjudicate, hard for the player.

Obedience: obey all leaders & those of higher status in their specific command; one of the most rarely taken as it can be tricky.

Truth: do not lie or misrepresent the truth. This is actually incredibly difficult at times and I've seen it both abused and used as a straight-jacket. It doesn't mean they can't trick or beguile others, they just cannot deliberately lie or tell falsehoods when speaking to someone or something outside of combat. During combat they won't be discussing matters of issue, so it doesn't really come up. Their silence is not an answer, so even if confronted, if they are ever in doubt, its their own faithful option/

A two for 1 special; spawning creatures and their never lonely mistresses

A two for 1 special; spawns and the spawning maiden mistresses!

Again what I looked for and not finding what I wanted in any d20 type material. Spawned creatures, that are fairly common in video games, yet, nothing really usable in the core material. The threat of these creatures should be enough to put the fear into your players, or make them never want to leave the dungeon until they max out!.

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Template: Spawn

Spawn are a horrid abomination that arise due to magical plants which mutates other creatures into lesser versions of the original. The spawning maiden or one of its spawn slaves usually takes a wounded creature and takes it back to Maiden`s lair and is then buried in the soil around the spawn-maiden.  After twenty hours, the Spawning Mother can release a monstrous replications of the specimen host. They can copy the beast again by taking two hours for every base HD of the copied beast.  All spawn-children are telepathically controlled.

The original creature is unharmed in the process and must be alive at the end of the twenty hour process. Once the first copy is made, the original host may be killed, released or just ignored by the spawn's monstrous replications depending upon the need of the spawn clan.  While these replications are much weaker than the original host, the spawning rift is able to replicate at an incredibly fast rate.  A specimen host can provide spawn no more than once per point of constitution, so the spawning rift must always be careful in its tactics. It can use its own created spawn as a new specimen host, but all of the penalties are increased and they do not gain the benefit of a higher constitution.

Spawn are mind weakened creatures that exist to serve the spawning maiden that created it. They know nothing more than battle or any other task as they are commanded. These abominations are unable to reproduce and have no emotions or memories of their own.

CREATING A Spawn
“Spawn” is an acquired template that can be added to any corporeal creature (other than an undead or other aberrations).

Size and Type: The creature’s type changes to aberration. It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. They appear the same as the base creature, except their colouring and odor seems off in some small ways; survival DC 11+HD to notice something wrong.

Hit Dice: Spawn lower than 3 HD, lose 1 HD, but never have less than 1 HD. Spawn lose 2 HD if greater than 4 HD, they lose 3 HD if lower than 9 HD, and 4 HD if their base is higher than 10 HD. It is extremely rare for spawn to gain levels or grow in size or HD, but if they do, they advance as a fighter regardless of what their base creature’s advancement rules.

Speed: Remains unchanged.

Armor Class: Natural armor bonus is unchanged.

Attacks: A spawn retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature, adjusted for their lower strength.  However, often these spawn do not have access to equipment – so they are forced to use slam attacks.

Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally.

Special Attacks: A spawn retains all of the base creature’s special attacks.

Special Qualities: Spawn creatures retain any extraordinary special qualities and gain the following special qualities.

Hive Mind: All spawn are under telepathic domination from its Spawning Maiden when within 5 km of its creator and follow orders explicitly. If farther away from the rift, will follow its last orders, if the orders no longer make sense, they return to their lair to receive new orders. If the Spawning Maiden is killed, the spawn become free but will always act as one group, attempting to establish a territory of its own and continue to take prisoners.

Corporeal Instability: Spawn are made with instable material, once they are brought down to fewer than zero hit points they immediately lose form, collapsing into a puddle of icky, sticky, messy ooze.

Improved Formation fighting (Ex): Spawn can act as apart of a unit it fighting with their Spawning Maiden.  When fighting with their Spawning Maiden they gain +1 for every ally attacking the same foe.

Saves: Recalculate based on new ability scores and HD.

Abilities: A spawn’s strength and dexterity, decreases by -2, it’s intelligence and charisma drops by -4 (never lower than 3) and it’s constitution increases by +4.

Skills: Spawn keep all skill points from its base creature, even if they should normally lose them from the drop in HD or ability points.

Feats: A spawn keeps any feats it has from its base nature (even if they should lose based on decreased HD.) and gains Improved Formation fighting.

Environment: Any, usually same as base creature.
Organization: Colony.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Advancement: As fighter.

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Spawning Maiden  CR 10

NE Large Plant
Init +4;low-light vision,scent; Perception +17

DEFENSE
AC 17  touch 7, flat-footed 17 (-1 Size, -2 Dex, +10 natural)
HP 102 (12d8+48 con)
Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +8

OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Melee 2 tentacles +13 (2d6+6)
SA Natural Camoflage, Poison, Improved Formation fighting, Blindsight, Plant Qualities

STATISTICS
Str 18, Dex 7, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 10
Base Atk +9 CMB +13 CMD 21
Feats: Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Improved Initiative, Imp Trip, Imp Sunder, Weapon Focus (tentacle)
Skills  Intimidate+8,  Knowledge ((Plant, Local, Dungeon)+12), Perception +17

Environment: Any Underground
Organization: Solitary
Treasure: Double

Alignment: Always neutral evil.
Advancement: 13 - 18 HD (Large), 19 - 32 HD (Huge)

A mottled tan coloured mushroom 6 ft tall, with splotches of brown and yellow spots cover the exterior, while odd looking it does not seem to be dangerous. It's tentacles look like regular roots except when in use strangling opponents.

Spawning Maidens on first glance tall mushrooms found in isolated locales surrounded by small mushrooms growing on the ground and possibly cave walls around it. But those who represent a threat will immediately see a hundred “eyes” appear where its eyes were as it co-ordinates the attacks of various spawn creatures that are all around it. These smaller mushrooms are the replicated which burst open once the spawned creatures are mature.

Long before ever directly facing a spawning shroom, the party will likely face encounters will be with dozens or hundreds of spawned beasties. While incredibly prolific in spawning, these Spawning Maidens carefully watch production, as they may not need nourishment, the replicated beasts do. Spawning Maidens may send their “children” to battle but will not willingly create creatures just to see them starve. They can only copy or spawn creatures that are smaller then they are. They are more likely to spawn lesser HD creatures (gnolls, goblins, etc) that they can order to come into the underground depths.

Combat
Spawning Maiden do not negotiate or even converse with other creatures, whenever a non-spawn is in it’s lair it will usually command it’s spawned offspring to attack. The only exception are those who may not recognize the Maiden for what it is and could potentially pass-by without causing difficulty.

Natural Camoflage: Unless an opponent recognizes the Maiden, (knowledge nature DC 22), it will appear to be a tall but innocuous plant.

Tentacles: It has 10 feet reach, and will use trip and sunder attacks to weaken enemies as appropriate.

Poison: Once per five rounds, Spawning Maidens can release poisonous spores which affects all non-spawned creatures in a 60 feet radius. (Fort DC 17, slow / 1d6 str)

Control Spawn: Spawning Maidens telepathically control all spawn within a five mile radius; this is a free action.  It cannot be stopped or usurped in any known way.

Improved Formation fighting (Ex): Spawning Maidens act as apart of the formation, so they gain +1 for every spawned ally attacking the same foe as them.