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

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.

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.

Nareg Gargoyle

A Nareg is usually a lonely figure on either an abandoned or lonely area, quested into service for short period of time as a guard or part of an attack force. Over time, as individuals grow, they can summon other kin to help them in their tasks and grow in their damage reduction capacity. The most powerful ones are leaders who make meticulous plans to take down and dominate structures.

These gargoyles rarely attack those who are not deemed enemies. While they have sinister reputations, very few ever threaten more than a particular building. They can be brought into service by powerful domineering forces of law that offer fealty and keep their promises. Many bards use Naregs as spies or informants, and can be paid off in spice or coins.


Nareg Goyle CR 2
LN (E) Medium monstrous humanoid (earth)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2

DEFENSE

AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +1natural)
hp 22 (3d8+9)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +1

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (average)
Melee 2 claws +3 (1d4+1), bite +4 (1d3)

STATISTICS

Str 13, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 7
Base Atk +3; CMB +3; CMD 13
Feats Skill Focus (Fly), Hover
Primary Skills Fly +12, Perception +2, Stealth +4 (+10 in stony areas);
Racial Modifiers +2 Stealth (+6 in stony environs)
Languages Terran, Local Humanoid,

Advancement
3 HD   +2 Str or Con; +6 in skills; 2 Dmg Reduction, Command 1d3 Gargoyles (DC 12, 1 minute)
4  HD Increased Natural Weapon Damage (1d6 Claws / 1d4 Bite); +1 in Natural AC
5 HD +2 Str or Con; +6 in skills; 4 Dmg Red, Command 1d6 Gargoyles (DC 14, 5 minute service)
6 HD +1 in Natural AC; Gain Horn Gore Attack (1d4)
7 HD +6 in skills, 6 Dmg Reduction, Summon 1d10 Gargoyles (DC 15)
8 HD +2 Str or Con; +1 in Natural AC, Gain Tail Attack (1d6), Summon 2d8 Gargoyles (DC 16, 10 minute service)
9 HD +6 in skills; Increase Natural weapon Threat Range (18-20), 8 Dmg Red, Gore Attack (1d8)
10 HD Increased Natural Weapon Damage  (1d10 Claws / 1d6 Bite); +1 in Natural AC, Summon 3d8 Gargoyles (DC 16, 2 /day, 1 hour service)
11 HD +6 in skills; +1 in Natural AC, 12 Dmg Reduction, Gore Attack (1d12), Summon 4d8 Gargoyles (DC 16, 2 /day, 2 hour service)
12  HD +4 Str & Con; +3 in Natural AC; Summon 5d8 Gargoyles (DC 18, 3 /day, 4 hour service)

Lesser Feats:
Power Attack, Natural Armor (+2) Freeze, Dive, Flyby Attack, Gore Attack, Improved Initiative

Advanced Feats (Higher than 8 HD)
Imp Natural armor (+4), Increase Claw Critical, Stunning Head-Butt (DC 18 - 2 rounds stunned), Tail Trip (DC 18)


SPECIAL ABILITIES

Freeze (Ex) A gargoyle can hold itself so still it appears to be a statue. A gargoyle that uses freeze can take 20 on its Stealth check to hide in plain sight as a stone statue

Dmg Reduction: Nareg gain stony bodies as they age, able to withstand more physical damage. This is to non-magical weapons. Silver or any magic bypasses it completely.

Summon Gargoyles: When outside, a nareg can summon others of their kind. They need to scream, and utter a simple one sentence command, that their gargoyle-kin will obey. Nareg cannot give complex instructions, thus it is usually to guard a site or attack a single foe. The groups summoned, are usually rivals, thus must be given different commands and do not serve together.

Artificer - Prestige Class dedicated to Magic Item Creation

In worlds where magic item creation is rare and costly, it is usually in the hands of a select group of individuals that can enchant items. Usually called Artificers or Crafters and are found in places where mana or magic occurs, usually due to conduits to other worlds.

These individuals study ancient manuscripts and gather with like minded souls to study these arts. They form circles or guilds to share their practices with a select group. However, even if they do not welcome an individual, they usually do not become enemies, as comrades often share secrets even if unofficially.

This was always intended to be a non-player character class (NPC), as it helps explains why items are rare but can be found. The time cost of construction is so high, it is highly unlikely that players should have these abilities.

Artificer

Requirements: Any three creation feats (Brew Potion, Scribe Scroll, Create Holy Water, Create Holy Sand, Create Talisman); Ability to cast 2nd level or higher spells; Membership to a artificer guild.

Hit Dice: d3

Class Skills: The artificer’s class skills are: Appraise, Craft, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Knowledge (any), Perception, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 5 + Int modifier. Feats:  1 / two levels

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: No extra armor or weapon proficiency. They retain those they previously had in their old class.

Spells: An artificer is not bound by any spell-list, as they increase in level they can learn three spells per level from either the cleric, druid or wizard spell-lists. To learn or cast a spell, an artificer must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 15 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an artificer’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the artificer’s Intelligence modifier.

Crafting Time: For every 500 gp an item is valued, it takes 1 week in a proper construction area (usually a lab or forge) to craft an item. The crafters gain depending upon the value of the construction sites facilities, their tools, their assistants, and some other factors will enable the DM to calculate time and costs.

Abilities by Artificer Level.

Co-op: At 1st level, the artificer gains the ability to create magic items cooperatively with another caster. The cooperative partner can provide the spell needed to forge the item; they must be present throughout the entire item creation process.

Craft Wondrous Item: At 2nd level, the artificer gains Craft Wondrous Item Feat

Work Anthril or Trel: At 3rd level the artificer can work Anthril or Trel as if it were steel, needing no special tools or forge to do so

Craft Magic Arms & Armor: At 4th level, the artificer gains Craft Magic Arms and Armor Feat

Craft Construct: At 5th level, the artificer gains Craft Flesh Golem Feat

Work Crystal or Ebal: At 6th level the artificer can work Crystal or Ebal as if it were steel, needing no special tools or forge to do so

Craft Wand: At 7th level, the artificer gains Craft Wand Feat

Craft Rod: At 8th level, the artificer gains Craft Rod Feat

Craft Construct II: At 9th level, the artificer gains Craft Clay Golem Feat

Forge Ring: At 10th level, the artificer gains Forge Ring Feat

Work Verchine or Mithril: At 11th level the artificer can work Mithril as if it were steel, needing no special tools or forge to do so.

Craft Construct III: At 12th level, the artificer gains Craft Stone Golem Feat

Craft Staff: At 13th level, the artificer gains Craft Staff Feat.

Work Adamantine: At 14th level the artificer can work adamantine as if it were steel, needing no special tools or forge to do so.

Craft Construct IV: At 15th level, the artificer gains Craft Iron Golem Feat

At -9 and dropping

At -9 and dropping

(written for my Pop Lit Class as part of character death & attachment module a few years ago.)

Warning, personal cathartic rant begins right now, look away, it gets ugly:

I keep a side of my personality hidden away from my coworkers. In a closet in my house there are books, maps and dice, I game. I admit it, I am a gamer, role playing table top, or better known as D&...D, shadowrun, gurps, and a dozen more well and much less known games. Many or the best
nights of my life, was around a table, books, pop, chips, dice - most times around friends that were also my enemies.

Not only did I play these games, I usually ran the game. I was the story-teller, (Dungeon-
master, Game Master or referee depending upon the game system.) I created the back-end of
the story so the players could adventure. Dice determined success of their choice, but mostly
it was the players, they did and sometimes they did not. I swear best nights of my life.

Together we created a shared storyline. It had everything, pacing, setting, acting, chaos (i.e. dice)
& characters. In fact, in most ways, the characters were the key ingredient, for as story-teller
I created the background but the individual players created their characters. And believe me, they owned the characters. Often setting them up to mirror their favorite TV or movie characters or something else entirely. Yes, it was the gamut of tolkien fantasy (warriors, thieves, wizards, elves, dwarves...) but it was also personality and history and flaws and chosen quirks. sometimes, players could take many hours to sculpt the character on paper. Characters most often kept the characters until the dice failed them, and in the line of duty they died, and then they created a new one unless by circumstance or level they were raised to life to continue their epic journeys. Did I mention you before that these were the BEST nights of my life?

Believe me after months of a journey, in a continuing story arc, finding clues, defeating minions, until they come to the BOG BAD BOSS (C) it all comes down to 1-2 hour game session event, where no holds were barred. I used every dirty sneaky but fair trick. The players worked together, planned, sweated, took chances and it came down to rolls, where players were standing around the table, and their fates (sorry their characters fate, along with the princess, or magical artifact or city or even their world) came down to a roll of the dice. ahh...best nights...of my old life. COME ON TWENTY!!!!!

Often, using the game design quirks players could master a particular skill, say tripping an opponent...then they would do this skill non-stop until I started to throw crazy stuff in to let the player know, stop it, this isn`t fun to do...not for me and not for the other players. Understand success was awesome, but, it was more about the fun we had around the table. And if they kept doing the same thing repeatedly to challenge them, I had to do stupid stuff that limited my imagination, once others players realized it, it lost its appeal....because something of the story was compromised. Some pretty good nights there.

And sometimes after weeks of game story, of doing their leveling and journeys and when they faced the big baddie something wonderful happened. players sacrificed their characters. They jumped into the dragons breath, bear-hugged a demon and jumped into a dimensional portal, cracked their magical sword releasing hell-fire...to stop a BAD THING (C) from happening. Why? Because story matters. They were involved and wanted to stop that pretend BAD THING from happening, and they were sacrificing a character that they may have used for years.

From this I had an amazing revelation - character is secondary to the story. PERIOD. Stop, read it again.

Character is secondary to the story.

This is important. Actually this is my only point here. You only like a character in the first place because the story captured you. Without the story, the character is meaningless.

If players who had created the characters were willing to sacrifice their pretend characters to a pretend danger, then so should authors and screenwriters. They don't because they care too much for their pretend characters and that is horrible. That is putting something else (fans, characters, sequels, money) ahead of the story. Some DM should throw a blue lightning bolt from the sky at them for cheating (I'm sure the Lightning Lady could do it.)

Thats why I love character death, or injury or throwing crazy stuff into the mix. When the creator is respecting the story and doing the bad stuff they are also respecting you as an audience. They are not pandering to you; they are being true to their vision. and if, if you actually liked the story...respect the author, respect the story regardless of what happens.

Game players respect the story enough to sacrifice their character. Believe me, characters who are sacrificed are way better then those who retire or go on. But for us players, the real people rolling the dice and having fun, creating new characters to have more new fun, we remember those good times regardless of the numbers.

And though none of you know him, I still have to say this - this was for Rob, miss ya bud.

/end cathartic rant now.

Bishollo - People of the Codex

Everyone on Nyssa has heard the ancient tales of Hembria - the infamous wizardly nation that most people believe inadvertently started the great winter. While virtually all peoples of the domain fell under the chill not all did, out of these renegade nations, only one still stands, Bishollo - the people of the Falls live on.

West of the "old south", East of the Ferrensil Forest stands this ancient land. Starting square in the middle at the Great Falls - its temperate forest and gentle surging rivers expand and cross the whole sub-continent. Dire animals are believed the greatest threat here, and no dragon or other great beast stalks the land, even Rowena’s minions are rare in this realm, the standard undead types are found here, but none of the powerful ice variety. There is only one city, Vromel, and all peoples owe fealty to the ruling Prince of the city.

How and why these people are protected from the cold is the basis of their culture and way of life...The Codex. From the onset of civilization people have argued over who the gods were and how best to represent them. The obelisk is an universal Nyssian symbol of faith and devotion, and in all other places of the domain, each religion has their own obelisk a free standing monument to the one ideal, to one divinity. Not so in Bishollo, here the gods are not seen as distinct but as a unity. The idea of many obelisks is foreign, all gods sit at one heavenly table thus all people worship at the one obelisk, and this is the mile high Codex. This is the core of all Bishoolian peoples and races, their faith, their magical energies and their protection from the cold.

The people or Bish as they usually refer to themselves as share most of the views on the frequency found elsewhere, but here they call it the Surge. Anywhere else on Nyssa, the frequency emerges from an obelisks, spreading randomly like the wind, blowing without form or order. Here in Bishollo, mana emanates outward from the one giant obelisk, the frequency gushes out seen as a colourful wave, repeating several well-known patterns, dispersing mana to the mortal world. Near the Codex the strongest known magical energies in the domain exists, and at certain times spells can be cast with spectacular results. This ever-circling frequency is so overpowering that most clerics spend their lives in Bromel, at one of the many temples that reside around the Codex. Here they worship their divinity, with powers of incredible insight at their calling.

Proximity to the Surge has many other consequences, because the surge comes from the gods, anyone of piety can cast a spell at least once in their lifetime. These "free magic’s" are a thing of wonder and many people await their whole lives before approaching the codex and asking for a "favor" or spell. But just because one asks, doesn't necessarily mean that the favor asked is the one requested, nor even if one may be given at that time. Often those who just lost a parent or lover will come asking for fates to be reversed, only to find no deity is listening to their prayer. Others have their wish granted, not just once, but many times, who or how these spells are granted are beyond a mortal to decipher.

Another affect of the Codex is the closeness of the faiths. All of the gods have open, non-walled temples, facing the obelisk and in the path of the surge. This means that they can all cast-enhanced spells at their temples, but because their traditional enemies can as well, magic is not seen as a destructive force, merely one that gives aid and succor. The light and dark here are more of competitors, and few priests dare use force or violence in their contests with the other followers of the gods. This unity has created a great upheaval in the political power the clerics wield. They control Vromel's army, bureaucracy, major guilds, educational facilities and most importantly the monarchy. They control the city and do so to benefit themselves, the ruling theocracy. Openly, it does not matter which god you worship, as long as you are able to summon priestly might. Secretly, however, wars of favor are still played out by some "holy" and "unholy" men for positions of prestige.

In all of their secretive campaigns, one foe remains true wizards remain anathema - enemies of the state to be purged, at any cost. No spell tower has arisen in Bishollo in over eight thousand years, and public executions are still permitted when one is caught casting an arcane spell. The reason for their mistrust is the same as everywhere else - the Great Winter. It came here, catching everyone unaware, and plunging the land into a long deadly winter, but here the ice retreated back past the mountains, never to re-appear. However, their mistrust has not abated, these people view arcane magic as disgusting and sinful, and if they do not try to destroy wizards outright, they will certainly thumb their noses at the individual, or alert the Standing Knights. Wizards from the outside world are usually arrested upon arrival, thrown in jail or seized by manacles and subjected to torture to find out why they are there.

Sorcerers do not fall prey to the same mistrust, for while wizards must deliberately choose the evil and arcane arts, sometimes individuals are blessed with a natural aptitude for casting magic, and this is not to be shunned, rather it's to be celebrated as a gift from the gods. There is always some hesitation at first, did the individual seek out the magic or otherwise attempt to steal it from the gods, spell-casters must go through an arduous process if they wish to reveal their unique abilities as sorcerers. The most celebrated sorcerers are those infants and teens which manifest their powers, because they are too young to have studies the magical arts, it is always assumed that these individuals are the "real thing" and are not subject to the same scrutiny as their elderly compatriots. There are many folk tales which tell of sorcerer-heroes, given their power from the gods, come to save the people during great crisis. Always the hero has red hair and from a barbarian tribe.

The priests may control the city, but warriors maintain peace in the hinterlands. Rangers, paladins and even barbarians are tremendously important in the regions and towns, and except for a wondering monk, few preacher-like types are rarely seen. In fact, there is little magic outside of Vromel, and few divine spellcasters ever bother to go adventuring. This creates a huge problem for the outlanders, for while powerful magics can be cast in the city; outside they are left defenseless to creatures that cast spells. It is due to the loyalty of the people that they work together to end these threats.

None of the “popular” races are enemies with each other, but some like or dislike each other more than the others, and of course, there are always those who are hated even by their own kind. Humans, who call themselves the Bishine, are the most dominant spell-casters and merchants, and they rule their six provinces from the capital, Vromel. Conflicts between the provinces are outlawed, but flare-ups sometimes occur for lucrative property (especially mines and the rune forests) between local Lords. Officially, all owe fealty and their taxes to the Prince of the City – but most leaders do not attempt to force taxes on any province except for Pron – the Prime. Four other confederate nations exist on the Bish peninsula; all are organized along racial lines. While all of them are considered allied nations, each of them (non-officially at least) realize that Vromel rules and go out of their way not to antagonize the military masters of the realm. While not this patriarchy currently ruling some human empires have invaded the smaller nations to eliminate a perceived threat.

For all their "unity" there is a great deal of threats to Bishollo. While dire animals are the worst known to the commoner there are far greater secrets known to the royal hunters and knights. The bleaklands, the northern-most region, has for thousands of years been covered gray-black stone is emerging from the bowels of the earth, which destroys all plant-life. The Bish have lived their entire history near the aside this barren land, as it acted just as much as a protector as a threat. Recently, the bleaklands have begun to expand, and many strange chaotic beasts capable of performing terrible spells or brute acts of force are appearing. It has taken the army some time to determine what they have known now, and the theocracy knows nothing of the approaching danger. While some of the citizens are aware of what is happening, few consider it a threat as the Knights and the Codex have long protected them, and most feel confidently that they will continue to do so.

---

Animals: Boars, Shard-Birds, Shard-Bullettes, Kazurn hounds,
Steeds: Horses, Hederaks, Griffons
Races: Human, Jivine Elf, Ubine Dwarves, Tenderfeet (Halflings), Gnoll, Quillian, Kinzarri (Phaeton), Ogre, and Lizardith
Known Threats: Shard-beasts, Prisms, Cult of the Vine, Curse of the Gorgon, Gobbers, Kenku, Hand of the Shadows

Ubine: The Bish Dwarves reside in the south, throughout the Thunderlands and the Therrik Mantle. They are a rich race with connections to many other races and groups in the peninsula. They have a healthy mercantile tradition, and readily use the cat-kin and Oromian merchants that come to them for trade. In times past, the dwarves were more ready to take to the caravan, but this has steadily decreased over the last hundred years.

The noble families Shield, Stone & Barrel speak and vote as a single voice, and this block is one of the first the Imperial League attempt to sway in military matters. They usually double the numbers required by the Treaty for the Border Patrols. The Ubine does not elect non-Ubine to the speaker position, however, other clans can beseech this dominant clan, and is tradition for the Ubine to respect the requests by the other dwarves.

Jivine: These elves are perhaps the longest continuing inhabitants of the Bish peninsula, as their monuments from the past dot the landscape. However, out of all the major races, they are rarely seen out of the Jesh, their forest homeland in the northwest. While some sages claim that their numbers have dropped in the last hundred years, the elves do not divulge the truth. They show their loyalty to the Senatas in the means dictated by the Treaty, but they steadfastly refuse to allow anyone inside the forest. Bish Elves are wild elves, which have ranger, rogue and sorcerer as their preferred classes. Their Vilne emeralds are considered the best spell-gems in the world, and they sell them to their allies. They do not send representatives to the Senatas, Their high noble families are called Root, Fey and Vine.

Terminology

Annash: Gardens that temporarily arise; harvest is magically enhanced, similar to potions
Battery: places, usually caves, where Iron-hearted are located until called upon to serve in battle
Bish: The subcontinent; anything from here is Bishollo
Bleaklands: Dead lands, they border to the outside world and are home to many evil creatures
Blessing: Ability to cast a spell or a wish granted by the surge when at the Codex
Circle: Druidic cult that attempts to create nature sanctuaries and protect animals
Code: The list of laws and traditions that knights follow
Codex: Mile high obelisk located in Vromel
Cult of the Vine: Cults that cause wild drunken orgies that sometimes cause great destruction.
Curse: Lycanthropy, it is punishable by death; sometimes known as Curse of the Moon
Dral: Good aligned, black-skinned elves, tremendously respected by the Bish
Fentorrik: An Iron-Hearted warrior that once commanded an army that destroyed Vromel
Ferric: Iron Mines in the eastern province well infested with gobbers
Gray: Creatures that come from the bleaklands
Gromwell: Legendary canyon homeland of the gnomes.
Hands: Members of the faithful
Handmaidens: Term for priestesses of Quanna
Hunters: Rangers given permission by the crown to hunt in the preserves
Iron Hearted: War forged, created for war. Hundreds sleep ready to be awakened for service.
Jesh: The “Sleeping Forest” of the Jivine elves in the north
Knights: Well-respected cavaliers that serve various groups, some take the Paladin prestige class
Legion: Elite warriors that continually patrol the bleak borderlands
Mandorrian: War-like nation across the eastern sea, that often act as mercenaries
Muse: a fey being that inhabits the body for a brief time for an artistic performance. “Calling for a muse” is a dangerous thing, as the results are unpredictable at best.
Oasis of Thought: Scattered monasteries that promote unarmed combat
Order: The nomenclature of the noble families that rule Bish, Order of the Green, Order of the Feather, etc
Oromians: Bearded merchants across the eastern sea that also control jammers (flying ships)
Patriarch: Leader of the council of churches; only the Prince holds more political power
Rage: A drug that causes bloodthirsty madness
Red Haired: Spellcaster or more specifically a sorcerer
Rez’l: Titanspawn, a powerful lich hundreds of years ago that seized control of the iron forged
Rowena: Evil Goddess of the cold & undead, colloquially known as the Ice Bitch
Rune Forests: Forests that contain magically enhanced wood used to create ceremonial tokens
Scarlet: Knights that directly serve the Prince of Vromel
Senatas: The ruling body, where the noble families meet to rule
Shadowy Hand: Group of cultists that kill good aligned clerics and paladins
Shard Mage: Outcasts sorcerers who travel to the bleaklands to gain power at a tremendous cost
Silver Claws: Group of good aligned gnolls that help to protect roadside shrines
Standing Knight: Knights who help protect the nation from wizards and outsiders
Surge: Magical energy, sometimes known as mana or the frequency
Thunderlands: Volcanic territory controlled by the Ubine Dwarves
Titan: heretics that actively attempt to destroy obelisks and kill anyone that serves the gods
Titanspawn: created creatures that serve the Titans, or, mortal followers of the Titans
Teeth or Tooth: Slang for rouges and thieves.
Treaty: The agreement that forged Vromel as the capital, it sees each province and neighbouring nation pay tax as well as provide soldiers to help keep the border peace
Trueborn: Creatures born without a hint of stain or impurity. These can transform individuals (race, class, belief or alignment) during rare or important events
Vilne: Emerald spell-stones
Vromel: The capital city near the center of the nation

My Simple Item Creation Feats

While I love magic thingies, I really don't like the official rules in any of the 3.x / Pathfinder books. These pare it down and make it simpler and easier for players while avoiding the bloat that happens.  None of these require experience points or wealth, just some knowledge and the time to create simple items that will help them.

Create Holy Symbol
You can create a holy symbol of your faith in the most available substance available nearby.
Prerequisite: 1st level cleric, ranger, druid or paladin
Benefit: After 1 hour of prayer of holy grounds an appropriate holy symbol of your devotion is created. If not on holy ground, you need 6 hours of prayer.

Create Holy Sand or Holy Water
You create holy sand or holy water.
Prerequisite: 1st level cleric, ranger, druid or paladin
Benefit: You can create three pinches of holy sand or ½ pint of holy water after 2 hours of prayer on holy ground. If not on holy ground, you need 6 hours of prayer.
(Holy Sand permanently buries the dead to prevent them from arising as undead. Most creatures killed by undead are buried this way to prevent them from returning.)

Imbue Spell-Gem
Pre-Requisite: gem of sufficient power; +2 levels higher than required power
You can imbue one gem with one or more spells depending upon the power level of the item. It the gem can hold only one spell, anyone who crushes or smashes the gem may activate it; spell-casters can release a spell from a gem without destroying the gem by making a concentration or level check. If the spellcaster fails in their check, the gem is ruined for future embedding but the spell is cast. If they are successful in their spell check, the spell is cast and the gem can be re-used.
A 3rd level spell-caster can create a spell-gem holding a first level spell. It will last for ten days before the spell and gem are lost. It takes three hours per spell level, to create an item; no more than 18 consecutive hours per day may be used for item creation. There is no xp cost to create these items.
(Note: While normally a one-use item, it is also something that non-spellcasters can utilize. Can also be used if the person is falling or they cannot speak, They need just to grasp the gem and squeeze to release the spell magic.)

Craft Talisman
Pre-Requisite: Item of quality; +3 levels of higher than required power
Create a temporary item that can hold one charge per level of spell-caster, and will last for five days per level of the spell-caster. Thus a 6th level spell-caster can create a wand that holds a magic missile spell with six charges, which can last up to 30 days. Spell-casters need 4 hours per level of spell to be imbued. There is no xp cost to create these items.

Craft Rune
Pre-Requisite: Knowledge (Arcane Lore) Spellcraft level+7
Create a rune on an item (usually a weapon, shield or armor) which can be used 1/day. A spellcaster can have no more than their level in inscribed runes, regardless of where the runes are or who holds them. There is no xp cost to create these items.

Brew Draught
Pre-Requisite: Knowledge (Lore) +4
Usually called druid potions these are herbal potions and do not require spell-casting capacity. Brewers must gather & distill the correct herbs. It takes three days of brewing per level of spell to brew a draught. No more than one draught may be brewed per kettle or drum. Draughts last no more than five days before they go inert.There is no xp cost to create these items.

Guardians: Monk Prestige Class Also caled Game Knights or Dream Monks

Guardians: Also Game Knights or Dream Monks.

 

Description
The Guardians are members of a secretive cabal that play deadly games in astral and other-worldly arenas. While seemingly frivolous, their duty is sacred and incredibly important as evil and incredibly violent creatures are released into the mortal planes when the Guardians lose in the arenas. They usually disguise themselves when not in the arena, as they are threatened by infernals on a daily basis.

Responsibilities
Their primary duty is to win the arena competitions to either summon or dismiss planar creatures that attempt entry to the mortal planes. The secondary duty performed by many older guardians are to scour the mortal planes looking for new members. They often travel to some of the worst places imaginable, but always in the quest to find the best of the best.

Requirements: Unarmed Combat, Feat: Inner Peace
Oath: Loyalty to the Guardians
Alignment: Any non-evil

Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana, planes, religion), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival Swim and Tumble.

Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier

Hit Points: 1d10 / level

Weapons & Armor: Do not add or lose any weapon or armor proficiencies, however, most guardians prefer not to wear amor.

Class Benefits

Level	BAB	FOR	REF	WIL	Special
1st	+1	+2	+2	+2	Mind-Link
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Mind-Trick, Focus
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+3	Focus
4th	+4	+4	+4	+4	Mind-Touch, Focus
5th	+5	+4	+4	+4	Craft Brilliant Weapon
6th	+6 / +1	+5	+5	+5	Focus
7th	+7 /+2	+5	+5	+5	Foresight, Focus
8th	+8 / +3	+6	+6	+6	Planar Mind-Link
9th	+9 / +4	+6	+6	+6	Focus
10th	+10 / +5	+7	+7	+7	Focus, Enhance Brilliant Weapon

Class Focus: Advance in special features of their original class. (fighters gain additional combat feats, monks gain unarmed attacks, AC bonus & unarmoured speed bonus, spellcasters gain new spells.) If they had more than one class before they joined, they chose one class to advance in.

Mind-Link: Share a mental pathway between either all mind-linked creatures within 300 feet or with any one creature that they concentrate on. It is a standard action to create the pathway.

Mind-Trick: While using their mind-link gain a +5 on their bluff, diplomacy & intimidate checks.

Mind-Touch: Telekinesis. DC based on weight.

Craft Brilliant Weapon: After a week of effort, a guardian can craft a single melee weapon with a brilliant blade. A monk can utilize this weapon while attacking using flury of blows. They can turn their weapon's briliance power on and off as a free action. They can have only one active personal Brilliant Weapon at a time.
They can utilize the property on this weapon 1/level + 1/ either wisdom or charisma bonus.

Foresight: Pre-cognition of danger to self or others. Gain +10 on initiative checks if losing the initiative would put themselves or their allies in an imminent lethal situation.

Planar Mind-Link: As mind-link except no distance limitation on the same plane. Only one creature per round may be communicated with. Must have already “met” them personally or via normal mindlink for this to work, although their name is not required.

Enhance Brilliant Weapon: Capable of adding enhanced abilities to their personal brilliant weapon.

Required Feat: Inner Peace. This feat enables the character to go into a state of total concentration, enabling them to replace either a will or fortitude check, or any skill check that requires physical movement with a concentration check. This feat requires one full round of concentration and another full round to perform the action. They can perform this action 1 / monk or spellcasting level. For purposes of this feat, guardian levels are considered the same as monk levels.

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Design Note: This prestige class is based on the Guardians from the TV show Reboot and the Jedi from the Star Wars movies.

Cat Sphinx

A common inhabitant of the desert buildings in my fantasy lands. They are ever vigilant to the cause of protecting the home, but still exhibit other cat-like traits.

Cat Sphinx

CR 2

NG Small Animal

Init +4; Perception + 5

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14 (+2 size, +4 dexterity, +2 natural)

hp 18 (3d8+6)

Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +2 **

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Claws +5 / +5 (1d3)

TACTICS

Morale 11

STATISTICS

Str 5 Dex 19 Con 14 Int 9 Wis 13 Cha 12

Base Atk +1; CMB 2 CMD 13

Feats: Double attack, Weapon Finesse

Skills Perception +15, Acrobatics +5, Survival +5

ECOLOGY
Environment: Phastian Desert
Organization: Solitary or mated pair
Treasure: None

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Special ability: Scent

Spells: Detect Poison, Purify Food, Excite or Fear (2/day); Cast as 5^th level Druid.

Phastian or sphinx cats have long been bred by multiple inhabitants of the desert to be house companions and protectors. Their role is much like a watch dog kept in a house or temple, to both keep it free from vermin and to carefully watch and alert their owners when trouble appears. They appear as an small androsphinx with the traditional head ware to show their status.

It is important for the inhabitants of a building to understand these sphinxes are not owned or controlled as these animals are smart enough to disobey if mistreated. They serve a role and as such they desire certain amenities as restitution for their services, which if they are not provided will make them abandon their post. While not exactly rare, cat sphinxes are highly prized and few phastian households would abandon or cause grief to their beloved house protectors.

Cat Spinxes are incredibly long lived some noted to have lived more than 300 years and none have ever been seen to have died a natural death. At a certain point, a cat sphinx will abandon their house to enter the desert sands and never be seen again. There are some that believe these elder sphinxes emerge as larger sphinxes, or reincarnate as a humanoid, while others believe their final form is a cat statue, found at many desert oasis.