This weapon, forged by a powerful Eldritch Knight, is designed to combine magical attacks with a close-combat weapon. It is a broad leaf-bladed spear with a pair of wand slots mounted along the blade. Although the arcane circuitry in the spear consumes much more energy than the wand usually generates, it allows the wielder to deliver spells simultaneously with a melee strike. Statistics: +2 short spear, and may have up to two wands socketed into the tubes along the blade. As a standard action, the wielder can make a single melee attack, and if it hits, can use one or more of the wands as part of the same action. If the effect requires a saving throw, the target takes a -4 penalty on the saving throw if they have taken any damage from this attack. This consumes double the normal number of charges which the wand requires. Once a wand is consumed, it can be removed and swapped out, taking about an hour. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 14 May 2018) Categories All Aelarien is a real proper Fallen Angel, a Solar who willfully turned against her creator. Rather than joining the armies of the Nine Hells, however, Aelarien has descended to the Prime Material plane, to revel in the sensations of mortality. She runs a bar and bordello called Heavenly Arms, and is willing to provide almost any kind of goods or services which are requested. Her prices can be... curious, however, and sometimes run to the fantastical- a web spun by a pure hearted spider, the forgiveness of a wronged woman, the dying breath of a hero, your first memory, and so on. She holds the grounds of her property sacrosanct- none may cross her, or enforce their laws upon her. She does donate large and untraceable amounts of gems to local law enforcement to leave her alone. Aelarien makes no moral choices or judgements, but is known to needle at those who do. She takes great pleasure in causing and viewing the fall of Paladins, for some particular reason, but doesn’t want to see them harmed. She does not have her old spellcasting ability, and has permanently taken the shape of a human woman, but retains her combat experience and confidence. If confronted, her wings, halo, and terrible angelic countenance briefly become visible. She may hire the PCs to accomplish goals, to hunt down those who damage her goods or servants, or for more strange missions. She will also happily provide safe haven for those fleeing justice, which may infuriate PCs chasing a foe, and may be useful for them to remember later. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 13 May 2018) Categories All Kasil Anvilfist is an aged Dwarven scientist, interested in observing, testing, and documenting the natural world. Although he wears armour, it’s mostly for cultural value, and he feels really uncomfortable in it. He’s really just very interested in writing Anvilfist’s Almanac, his book on the natural world, currently at over 20,000 pages. Statistics: Kasil is a neutral 8th-level Expert, and has absolutely no combat capability (last time he used his family axe, it was as a bookmark). However, he is a true master at just about every Knowledge skill, and will helpfully shout hints when confronted with terrifying monsters, or sit down and draw sketches. He is generally amiable, and wants to go into details about nearly any conceivable thing he might run across. Hooks: * Kasil wants samples of a specific moss which only grows in deep parts of the woods, but doesn’t want to go alone- he’s heard that packs of wolves live there. * Kasil is after more details on the different varieties of Naga, and wants to commission an expedition. He’ll pay per day per guard, with bonuses for speaking to one, dissecting a dead one, and capturing a live one. * Kasil has heard many stories, and seen evidence of, Beholders. He really, really, really wants to interview one. Beholders, being notoriously xenophobic, are not particularly interested in being interviewed. But Kasil is determined not to accept “Ghhhaaaaaaa! DIE DIE DIE” for an answer. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 12 May 2018) Categories All Luuprak is a biological oddity- he’s half-goblin, half-halfling (or "Gobling"). He never really fit in in the town where he grew up, and his father sent him to live with his mother’s tribe on reaching puberty, but that didn’t work out either. Luuprak isn’t the smartest, or very fast, or really very tough, but he’s got a lot of heart. He wants to be important and accepted, and has taken to hanging around inns where adventurers visit, looking for a master to take him on and teach him the way of being a warrior. Luuprak is an opportunity for one your characters to take on a Squire or hireling, and he won’t complain (he’s lived with goblins, no matter how your PCs treat him, he’s probably had worse). He’s loyal, and tries hard to reach his capability. Luuprak doesn’t even want to be paid much- a silver a week or so, and his food and board, and he’ll polish your armour, sharpen your mace, and pick apart your rope to make lots and lots of string, which is surely much more useful, right? Luuprak’s parents met while working in the Thieves’ Guild, and formed a brief but friendly partnership. However, the relationship didn’t survive their mutual retirement, and Luuprak’s mother went home to her goblin tribe outside the city, leaving the youngster with his father, a locksmith and clockmaker. They still keep in touch and are on good terms, but have no interest in rekindling the relationship. They still exchange greeting cards once a year. Luuprak’s mother is sent whatever copper pieces he amasses, as well as regular letters telling her how he’s going, and where his new friends have taken him. If they’re not careful, they may get a stern visit from a grumpy and wizened goblin shamaness. Statistics: Luuprak is a 1st-level half-goblin (treat as a halfling) Commoner. He’s not going to do anything ground-breaking, but he’s decent for carrying stuff, holding things, and licking- no, looking after- the horses. Even if there are some cultural misunderstandings, he should be amusing to have accompany your party. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 11 May 2018) Categories All Sedry is a puppet master, a half-elf who seems unfindable and hidden at all times. He commonly works through several layers of minions and hirelings, most of whom who have never met him.
Sedry is the dedicated Grandmaster of the Watchers for the Coming Sunset, a man with many worlds upon his shoulders, and a burning desire to save them all. He may run across the PCs in very different ways- as an antagonist, desperate that they don’t disturb whatever long-running plan he has going, or as a secretive patron (or both of these). He ‘thinks big’, and is willing to make what seems like terrible sacrifices in order to prevent worse outcomes for all of the world (for example: the PCs may be hired to assist an evil cult in their goals, knowing that his will bring them to the attention of another group, and Sedry will be able to track them by their interference). He seems ruthless, callous, and unconcerned, but is secretly a tragic figure, remembering and regretting all the losses he has seen, and wondering why he couldn’t save more. Notable quirks: * Sedry is openly worried by new plant growth, owing to a disaster he averted some years ago, about which he won’t speak. * He worries whenever he hears about lunar activity, and immediately takes notice of people mentioning comets or lights in the night sky. * He is always hungry for information, and asks odd questions like “how many fingers did <that particular goblin> have?” or “curious... how old were the <dragon>’s scars?”. * He keeps an enormous stash of healing potions, rope, and other miscellaneous equipment. He is happy to give it out to those who need it in his service. * As an employer, he leaves instructions to collect equipment, instructions, and payment in different locations, never meeting anyone personally. On occasion, he may appear, cloaked and masked, with a voice-changing cantrip and a Ring of Mind Shielding. * Everything he worries about is factually (to some extent) true. He is well-informed enough, and aware of enough threats, that just about every precaution he takes is worthwhile. Many attempts have been made on his life, sometimes even by former employees. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 10 May 2018) Maybe 6-7 years ago, I had been playing a 3.5 Edition D&D campaign, as a Chaotic Good swashbuckler/duelist following the tenets of Cayden Cailean. I’m usually a seat-of-my-pants player, full of crazy on-the-spot schemes, so it worked well for me. We were playing through Curse of the Crimson Throne, which was a mostly city-based game. Although my freedom-fighting character was fun, and his devil-may-care attitude got the party into and out of lots of scrapes, he just wasn’t being very effective- a lot of his abilities were based around fighting humanoid-type weapon-using opponents and catching people unawares, which was really unhelpful when we started running into tons of undead, and my piddly 1d6 damage (due to Strength penalty) was just not cutting it. Even though I’d taken some levels in the prestige class for my god, allowing me to smite evildoers and heal people, I wasn’t being terribly effective. The party was a fair way into the game (10-12 levels or so), and someone had bought a Deck of Many Things prop (a printed set, nice artwork and everything). As someone’s birthday present, our GM let us find an in-game Deck, and each choose if we wanted to draw one (or more, per player) cards. One player got Wishes, then got to know how to get out of their next dilemma, then was imprisoned by an evil god, then knew how to get out and burned all of his Wishes, and settled for a sack of gold coins. One character made a terrible planar enemy, and then got a pile of cool magic items and a servant all to himself. I drew a few cards- the Throne (+6 to Diplomacy and a small keep), the Balance (change your alignment to the most opposite from you), and the Jester (+10,000xp, or two more draws). So my fun-loving, freebooting, Devil-may-care swashbuckler turned into a land-owning Lawful Evil manipulator, bent on twisting the world to his will. He was pretty much Discworld’s Lord Vetinari. (Side note: as I qualified for the Blackguard class, which allows you to “trade in” some of your previous Paladin levels if you have any, my GM allowed me to trade in some of mine and change my levels around) He didn’t want to turn against his friends, because he knew that they far outclassed him. Besides, they were useful, so until he came to power... My newly-Machiavellian manipulator changed his tune completely, if not his actions. He freed slaves, did favours for the local Barbarian tribe, and worked against the villainous Queen. And as part of everything he did, he schemed. He took notes of people’s weaknesses. He worked his way into confidences, and masterminded the revolution. He spent his money on stuff not related to the party directly (funding revolutionaries, investing in the church and local businesses, buying off local Lords for influence, or so the other players heard), as well as buying others extra healing potions and a variety of consumables which were handy for them. And he stroked his little goatee and promised that “when I come to power,” things would be different. The other player were happy to have these costs sorted without having to contribute their own cash, and my combat prowess had risen considerably, so they were pleased that they didn’t have to be looking after me so much, as well. I wrote notes for each player, put them into named envelopes, and handed them to each player, as well as one for the GM. And then, at the close of the campaign, the villainous Queen vanquished, I asked my party members to open their envelopes, starting with the GM. The GM’s card listed all the steps I’d taken at each point, the money I’d spent on bribes, the Diplomacy checks I’d made to arrange everything. She checked it, double checked everything, checked my skill bonuses and gear, and then nodded “go on”. The barbarian was elevated to leadership of his tribe because I had the previous chief assassinated, settling his blood-debt forever and putting him exactly where he had always wanted. The city’s laws were changed to stop discriminating against the barbarians, which meant they stopped raiding and started trading with us. The cleric found that the high priest of his church had been imprisoned for blasphemy and treason, leaving him to take the reins... except for finding out that he was addicted to the drugs I had taken over control of, and that he could not cure himself of. For a small sum and considerations, I’d keep him in control of himself, and the church. Our party’s rogue took no persuading: I offered him the mask of the city’s vigilante, and the keys to the cells. He would be able to travel as he liked, cause havoc as he liked, and never be imprisoned. He just needed to ignore the particular things I asked him to look away from. And our wizard, my most dangerous and perceptive ally, well, his card just read a number, 34. It was the Fortitude save DC for my Assassination attempt, as I slipped my envenomed Assassin’s dagger into his ribs. He looked quizzical, rolled... and came up with a total of about 18. (He was a good friend of mine, and was quite pleased with the plot outcome, so he didn’t mind) I reached under the table and pulled out a plastic toy crown which I’d brought, and placed it on my head with a grin. “That’s right. I told you all that when I came to power, things would be different.” The players were silent. No-one could believe I’d gone to this level of planning or preparation. The GM smiled and called the end of the campaign. And that’s the story why the Deck of Many Things isn’t allowed at that GM’s table any more. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 10 May 2018) Categories All Feldame is a Conspiromancer- he studies the secret patterns of reality, divining truth from the myriad lies and sources of information plaguing the world. As a result, he is half-cracked, and believes a variety of outlandish, and only partially truthful, things. He is part of the order known as the Watchers for the Coming Sunset, a loose alliance of apocalypse-theorists who try to share knowledge and resources. Among the topics he will talk to PCs about (let’s be honest, he’ll rant about) are: * The churches sell healing potions which make you invulnerable to death. The only reason anyone dies is because the churches secretly haven’t given them strong enough healing. No-one who is dead has ever been healed, right? That’s because the churches want them to stay dead! * All of reality is determined by tiny, many-sided chips of bone, and that statistical probability is altered by how likely you are to fail at something. If anyone shows dice in his presence, he’s legitimately terrified that they’ll collapse reality, and insists they be removed from his presence immediately. * Secret organizations of tentacle-headed monsters are eating people’s brains and then controlling the local government. They deliberately suppress any details about their existence so that no-one knows about them. (In this case, nearly right- there is a cabal of Vampires controlling the town’s leadership, but no Mind Flayers) * Untold ages ago, a race of mind-warping snails existed, and waged war on the humanoid races, but were driven off. They destroyed all evidence that they exist, except for little squiggles in books to remind us all. We all have to prepare for the Mnemosyne Invasion! (This is actually correct, and one of the Mnemosyne Snails is plotting his imminent demise) Statistics: Feldame is a 10th-level specialist Diviner, exceptionally intelligent but quite low on Wisdom. Depending on how you want to use him in a game, he might be a quest-giver, a mentor, or some local crazy. He has resources that may be incredibly useful in specific instances, though, and will share them with people assisting him with tasks. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 9 May 2018) Categories All The concept of a truly immortal threat is one that should excite and terrify your players, and not one that should be introduced lightly.
In Thor 2, the Dark Elves have a terrifying weapon at their disposal: Kurse Stones, which make a soldier briefly immortal and invulnerable, at the cost of their speed, and their unavoidable death only a few hours later. The creatures created are known as Kursed, unable to be harmed or hurt. No weapon can damage them, no spell may kill them. The only way to defeat them is to trap them, or utterly destroy them (a Disintegrate function or similar). This means players without access to this kind of damage may be overwhelmed, and if they are not able to find other resolutions than combat. (You may wish to warn your players about this, as most players are conditioned to “more damage solves more problems”. A suggested solution is that an anti-magic zone either pauses or halts the transformation altogether). In this way, a Kursed functions much like a Terminator- unstoppable, implacable, and dangerous, but able to be evaded. A corollary: IF THESE STONES EXIST, your players WILL find a way to use them (and may even find a way to abuse the death loophole). So, let them. Being invulnerable doesn’t solve all their problems, and smart bad guys can trick players just as easily. In addition, the player being invulnerable doesn’t mean the people they love are, and so a smart enemy can abuse this (Simon R. Green’s “Hawk and Fisher” novels feature a character with a similar stone of invulnerability, who passes his stone to his child to spare them from an attack targeting both of them). (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 8 May 2018) Nirakin can be found on street corners, raving about the three-eyed fish from below the earth who wish to enslave all humans. He seems utterly crazy to anyone who’s never heard of an Aboleth, but his descriptions of their form, function, and magical abilities are disturbingly accurate. Nirakin is desperate to be understood by someone (anyone), and showing even a little bit of respect and assistance to him earns his undying respect, and any assistance he can give. Nirakin used to be a 5th level Bard, belonging to a group called the Watchers for the Coming Sunset. Due to his abduction by Aboleths, he has now lost almost all of his Wisdom and Charisma, and is actually quite nuts, but still has some use to people. He is quite proficient in Knowledge (Dungeoneering), and can offer the PCs assistance as well as he can to help them against their true enemies. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 7 May 2018) Categories All So, X’vtharrr the Despoiler, Father of Terror, He Who Will Bring Ruin To All, the Terror Of Terra, has a cult... but why would anyone join a cult like this? Why would any reasonable person think that this was a worthwhile pursuit? This obviously excepts those who are nihilists, or just want to see the world burn- there will always be crazed extremists of any religion, but surely there must be reasonable worshippers of any faith, even if that’s Bane, Lord of Tyrants. So, what’s the PR (public relations) strategy for these gods, and their churches? How do they market themselves to ordinary people, and not seem like the “Religious Society for Killing People And Taking All Their Stuff”? They won’t necessarily be secretive, but they must have things they market themselves on, things that feel ‘good’ about the religion, and make their worshippers feel comforted and morally right. Any ideas? Is anyone struggling? We can help each here! (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 6 May 2018) Categories All This helmet was forged for clerics of the Faith to wear in times where they were forced to lead in battle. It protects the face and head, as well as marking the wearer’s rank. It is heavily enchanted to empower specific battle spells. If the wearer casts Sanctuary, the spell’s save DC is increased by +4. In addition, if the wearer casts Prayer, the spell’s area is doubled in radius. The wearer receives a +1 sacred bonus to AC while the helmet is worn, which increases to +5 sacred bonus to AC when an enemy attempts to confirm a critical hit. Rejected title: “Mitre makes Righter”. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 5 May 2018) Categories All Latest to hold the position of He-Man, Prince Adam disguises his identity in order to protect his family and his kingdom from direct assault by Skeletor’s forces. He was originally a carefree and spoiled Prince before he took up this role, but has become dutiful and serious about his responsibilities. He has since assembled a team of elite warriors who aid him in the struggle against Skeletor’s forces. Wargear: In battle as He-Man, Prince Adam wears a coridite battle harness, which functions as a Girdle of Strength +6 and +3 breastplate. He carries one of the Blades of Power (see reference). Statistics: Prince Adam is now a 13th-level Ranger, with his faithful companion Battle Cat, a dire tiger. He is renowned as being the “mightiest man alive”, with a Strength score of 20 before the bonuses of his coridite battle harness. Notes: Although he dresses in a fashion similar to a barbarian, this is because he wears the wargear of the original He-Man. Prince Adam is educated, skilled, and controlled both in battle and in commanding his forces. He has embraced his role as protector of Eternia, and loves animals, naturally making a connection to any he meets. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 4 May 2018) Categories All A pair of these blades exist- one in the hands of the Lich lord Skeletor, and the other in the hands of Prince Adam, who opposes him. They are mighty weapons in their own right, but are also keys to many magical locks in the kingdom of Eternia, and can be used to activate some of the ancient archaeotech machines that dot the landscape. Statistics: +5 Keen bastard sword. Three times per day, the wielded can fire a bolt of power as a spell-like ranged touch attack, for 4d6 damage. If one of these power bolts is fired at the wielder, they may ‘catch’ it as if they had the Deflect Arrows ability. This also recharged the sword’s power bolts for the day. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 3 May 2018) Categories All The Lich Lord Skeletor, Lord of Destruction, Overlord of Evil, is an implacable foe. He rules his territories with an iron-like fist. Unlike many Liches, his mastery of the arcane art of Necromancy has allowed him to keep his body in near-perfect condition, excepting his head, which is an animate skull with red points of light for eyes. The body is hard and rubbery, and allows him massive physical power in the instances where he chooses to wage battle in person. In his old life, he once went by the name Keldor, and was a mage of some power, but he thought to master Magic itself. When his experiments went wrong, he was lost in a dimension beyond time, where he transformed into his current state. He was able to return to the current time and place through a vast ritual, and has turned all his power to destroying those who once wronged him. Although he is an irredeemable villain, he has something of a soft spot for animals, and will generally spare them from his destruction. He has assembled a vast horde of mutants, monsters, and mercenaries to serve him in his battle against the lands of Good. Statistics: Skeletor is an immensely powerful Lich, with combat capabilities equivalent to a Clay Golem. His body is all but indestructible, and he can reform his body unless he is totally destroyed. He carries his Havoc Staff at all times, allowing him to channel blasts of force as a 10th-level Warlock at will. In addition, he carries a Power Sword, with which he is quite skilled. The phylactery that houses his soul is hidden far from prying eyes. (Originally posted on 2 May 2018) Categories All This dreadful prison has been established by the Lich lord for his worst foes, and for making an example of his incompetent underlings. This prison has been built to drip small amounts of Green Slime on an imprisoned foe, transforming them slowly into more green slime, inch by agonizing inch. The device is not intended to be quick, or particularly deadly, just horrific and painful. This will allow heroic characters a chance to rescue allies, however grisly the task. These Slime Pits are dotted around the Lich lord’s territory, all the better to demonstrate his power. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 1 May 2018) Categories All |
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