The Glyphstone
2005-05-07, 06:15 PM
The Dark Materials/A Mind of Their Own
The History
Often, some things are not as they seem. This is even more true in worlds rich with magic and illusions. Such is the case with one group of wandering warriors. At first glance, they seem to be unremarkable, though well-equipped, but closer study reveals distinctly odd behavior. Most of their faces are blank and dull, their voices a dull monotone. When speaking, they frequently pause between sentences as if waiting for instructions. Each of them also bears an item that naturally draws the eye.The spokesman of the party is a cheerful person, wearing the armor and dress of a cleric, and a small phylactery bearing a holy emblem around his neck. A burly, muscled warrior, weilding a heavy greatsword, is encased from head to toe in spiky black armor, the front of which is adorned with a grinning silver face that glows with unholy light. A pale, thin man, wrapped in the robes of a magic-user, wears a thick silver circlet atop his head whose studded gems seem to pulse. At the back of the group, a shifty-looking fellow lurks, his constantly twitching hands inside a pair of finely gold-threaded leather gloves. It takes a few moments of study to notice the final member of the party, a elf shrouded in a dark cloak and carrying an ornately carved longbow. They are quiet and unresponsive, but not incredibly unusual.
Indeed, there is far more to the above scene than might be apparent. None of the warriors, with the exception of the elf and possibly the cleric, are in possession of their own bodies any longer. Instead, they have all been forcibly dominated by the malicious wills of an item that each carries; coincidentally, the same items that draw one's attention. Each of these items carries a dark and corrupt intelligence within it, driven by dark power and will. It is naturally the nature of sentient weapons and items to distrust others of their kind, and the same is true here. But unlike others, this group of items learned what they had in common and forged a pact of loyalty long ago.
The first of them was the ancient drow bow Ama-Estai, carried by the fallen elven ranger that stole it. In the process of its travels, Ama-Estai encountered a crazed sorcerer that proved to be under the influence of his circlet Tyraquinis. The two evil entities recognized kindred spirits in each other, and agreed to a timeless partnership that would outlast either of their hosts. Reinforced with magic, they remained linked even when Tyraquinis vanished after his host finally lost his mind. He returned shortly afterwards, with another wearer, and together they added a third member to their team. The devil-forged armor called Keradax had recently found and seized hold over a naieve young man, and the black-hearted item gladly joined the other two as allies in his eternal quest to exterminate the hated Abyssal demons. Tyraquinis went through several more wearers before they acquired the final two(three?) members of their union; the greed-filled twin gloves Cesta and Kesta, and the diabolical phylactery Jorjis.
Together, they are a formidable group of adversaries. The telepathic bond between them, reinforced by Tyraquinis's magic, allows any of the items to contact another at infinite distance. They use this to fight in chilling cohesion, silent and implacable death. The easiest way to "defeat" the possessed warriors is to focus on and slay one or more of them, though foolish is the enemy that loots the fallen corpse afterwards. The evil artifacts will easily abandon one of their own, and wait until the item in question has established even a small hold over a victorious adventurer. Then they steal in under darkness and slaughter whoever they can find, save the unfortunate soul now cursed with bearing an item. Those who know of their existence are next to none, save for a few enlightened scholars who sought to wield the formidable magics of Tyraquinis for their own, only to be absorbed and discarded in turn by the voracious circlet. Effectively immortal, they have an endless supply of patience with which to achieve their goals; all of which are unique and evil. Among the vile circle, and to the rare few that know of them and still live, they are known as The Dark Materials, for they do truly have a mind of their own.
The Hosts and The Items
Evan of Cormyr/Keradax:
Lawful Neutral Male Human (Medium Humanoid)
Human Fighter 12
(1 Negative Level: -5 HP, -1 penalty to attack rolls skill/ability checks, saving throws, -1 effective level)
HD 12d10+36; HP 97(92)
Init: +6
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 22 (+10 armor, +1 dexterity, +1 insight), touch 12, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+17
Attack: +21(20) melee (2d6+12/17-20/x2, +2 Greatsword) or +14(13) ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 shortbow)
Full Atk +21/+16+11(20/15/10) melee (2d6+12/17-20/x2, +2 Greatsword) or +14/+9/+4(13/8/3) ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 shortbow)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +11(10), Ref +6(5), Will +3(2)
Abilities: Str 18(20), Dex 14, Con 14(16), Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 10.
Skills: Climb +10, Jump +10, Ride +10, Swim +10, Bluff +5, Escape Artist +5, armor check penalty -8.
Feats: Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Greater Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Weapon Specialization (Greatsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (Greatsword), Power Attack Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Endurance, Diehard, Improved Sunder, Lightning Reflexes.
Equipment: Keradax, +2 cold iron greatsword, +1 Shortbow, Dusty Rose Ioun Stone, Amulet of Health +2, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, 20 normal arrows, 10 cold iron arrows, 10 silver arrows. 2838 GP.
Stats Before Mods: 16, 13, 14, 12, 8, 10
Evan of Cormyr never wanted much, only to make at least a small name for himself outside his tiny village. He started off with a rusted suit of armor and his father’s sword, wandering in search of an adventure. He found one. Shortly after beginning his journey, Evan came across a very strange cave while sheltering from the weather. It was streaked in scorch marks, and filled with various bones of inhuman proportions. In the very back, at the foot of what appeared to be a collapsed archway, was a black and twisted skeleton wearing a magnificent suit of plate armor. He investigated it, and was shocked when the armor spoke to him. Its name was Keradax, and it promised that he could become a warrior of legends with its aid. Evan accepted, and took the armor for his own. For a short time, it was far beyond even his wildest dreams. Wearing his new armor, even the mightest monster’s claws and fangs scraped harmlessly against him, and its slyly whispering voice told him the secrets to vanquishing powerful foes. It started as just suggestions, then propositions, to seek out monsters to slay. When Evan disagreed, wanting to return to his home to brag, the armor turned nasty and threatened horrible things if he abandoned their quest. The cowed Evan continued, the armor bullying him into more and more dangerous, and more questionable, actions. When he finally summed up the courage to throw away the accursed armor, he stood frozen as the malevolent suit seized total control of his body, and continued to do so in the following days.
That was several years ago. Now Evan is a shattered wreck, a long-term inmate in his own mind. Keradax keep almost constant control over him, and even when its pressure lets up or slips, he can do nothing but sit and weep. Inside, he knows the thefts and murders he commits on the armor’s quest to hunt powerful demons are wrong, but Keradax leaves him literally no choice.
Keradax, +2 Full Plate of Invulerability; AL LE; Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 18; Speech, Telepathy, Read magic, 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing; Ego Score 25.
Lesser Powers: cast Bane on enemies 3/day, continuous Deathwatch, 10 ranks Intimidate.
Greater Powers: Create Wall of Fire ring around wearer 1/day.
Special Purpose: Defeat/Slay demons (no dedicated power, just a personal goal)
Forged in hellfire and quenched in blood, Keradax is wholly evil. His silver-edged black plates seem to absorb light, save for the engraved face in the breastplate that grins constantly. The mind that inhabits the armor is cunning and cruel, as well as very “persuasive”. As logical for a devil-crafted item, Keradax carries a deep loathing for the denizens of the Abyss and will never pass up an opportunity to kill them. From the moment of his creation, he knew that he was destined for a greater destiny than the property of some minor baatezu. His realization came when his master was dispatched to sever a portal between the Abyss and the Material Plane to spoil a demon incursion, and his devil owner was slain in the fight that destroyed the gate. Keradax waited patiently until one day, a naive young warrior named Evan of Cormyr ventured into the cave and claimed him. He cooperated with the boy until the day came to forcibly rest dominance and set about becoming a powerful demon-slayer, if vicariously.
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Xavier Senethar/Tyraquinis:
True Neutral Male Human (Medium Humanoid)
Human Wizard 12
(1 Negative Level: -5 HP, -1 penalty to attack rolls skill/ability checks, saving throws, -1 effective level)
HD 12d4+12, 46 HP(41)
Init: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+3 armor, +3 dexterity, +1 deflection, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+6
Attack: +6(5) melee (1d4+1/19-20/x2, +1 Dagger) or +9(8) ranged (1d8/19-20/x2, light crossbow)
Full Atk: +6/+1 melee(5/0) (1d4+1/19-20/x2, +1 Dagger) or +9/+4(8/3) ranged (1d8/19-20/x2, light crossbow)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +4(3), Ref +4)3), Will +7(6)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 18(22), Wis 8, Cha 12.
Skills: Concentration +15, Decipher Script +15, Knowledge (Arcana) +15, Spellcraft +15, Spot +5, Listen +5, Search +5 1/2.
Feats: Eschew Materials, Silent Spell, Magical Aptitude, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
Equipment: Tyraqinis, +1 dagger, light crossbow, Bracers of Armor +3, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Ring of Protection +1, Vest of Weakened Willpower, 20 bolts, 4400 GP.
Spells Prepared (Effective Lvl 11):
(0): Read Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Detect Poison
(1): Identify, True Strike, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Magic Missile x2
(2): Invisibility, Protection from Arrows, Alter Self, Spider Climb, Melf's Acid Arrow x2
(3): Lightning Bolt, Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Fireball x2
(4): Leomund's Secure Shelter, Charm Monster, Greater Invisibility, Enervation
(5): Seeming, Cone of Cold, Summon Monster V, Baleful Polymorph
(6): Chain Lightning, True Seeing, Tenser's Transformation
Spellbook: 0-lvl: Resistance, Acid Splash, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Daze, Dancing Lights, Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Ghost Sound, Disrupt Undead, Touch of Fatigue, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Open/Close, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation; 1st-lvl: Mage Armor, Summon Monster I, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Identify, True Strike, Tenser's Floating Disk, Enlarge Person; 2nd-lvl: Melf's Acid Arrow, Invisibility, Protection from Arrows, Darkness, Gust of Wind, Alter Self, Spider Climb; 3rd-lvl: Lightning Bolt, Hold Person, Magic Circle vs. Good, Fireball, Fly, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, Dispel Magic, Protection from Energy; 4th-lvl: Remove Curse, Phantasmal Killer, Leomund's Secure Shelter, Charm Monster, Ice Storm, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Contagion, Enervation; 5th-lvl: Seeming, Summon Monster V, Cone of Cold, Hold Monster, Persistent Image, Baleful Polymorph; 6th-lvl: Chain Lightning, Disintegrate, True Seeing, Tenser's Transformation
Stats before Mods: 10, 14, 13, 16, 8, 12
Vest of Weakened Willpower: -10 to Will saves while worn. Moderate Enchantment; CL 5; Craft Wondrous Item; Mind Fog; Price 25000 GP; To create: 12, 500 GP.
Xavier Senethar was a young wizard, fresh out of his city’s mage college, when he decided to obtain some “practical” experience adventuring. He had been a promising student, and he rose rapidly in power once freed from the constraints of the school. Xavier financed his travels by completing small tasks for grateful villagers, and supplemented it through the sales of magical novelties he crafted when visiting larger towns. One day, while peddling some trinkets in an antique shop, he found a strange silver circlet studded with jewels. They glowed faintly, a sign of great power, so the learned wizard was not surprised when it spoke to him. The circlet’s name was Tyraqinis, and it claimed to have been seeking a worthy mage to wear it for some time. Since both his goals and those of the circlet, the collection of arcane knowledge, were the same, Xavier purchased it. His joy turned to surprise and horror when the item revealed its sinister nature, and the methods through which it gathered knowledge. He fought bitterly against its control, but was forced to seal his own doom with the crafting of a cursed vest that damped his ability to resist mental assaults. He has fought continually for many months now, but to no avail, with the knowledge of his eventual insanity hovering over him. Each night, he must put on the vest, and removes it each morning once the circlet has re-established control.
Xavier has no familiar. His owl, Athena, was killed and eaten by Ivellio's eagle shortly after Tyraquinis joined the group.
Tyraqinis, +4 Circlet of Intellect; AL LE, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 10; Speech, Telepathy, Read Magic, 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing; Ego Score 20.
Lesser Powers: cast Faerie Fire 3/day, 10 ranks Knowledge (Arcana), 10 ranks Spellcraft.
Greater Powers: Dominate Person 1/day.
Tyraqinis was once the property of a lich, who spent ages poring over ancient texts with little care for its surroundings. As a result, the enchanted circlet slowly absorbed magic energy leaking from its master, attaining sentience after hundreds of years. The circlet, calling itself Tyraqinis, concealed its nature from the obsessive lich until the day that a band of adventurers came to slay it. The undead sorcerer set an ambush for the impudent mortals, but Tyraqinis interfered at the critical moment by illuminating the invisible lich in Faerie Fire. After the battle, the circlet called to the party's wizard and revealed its sentient nature. It promised great wealth and magical lore, if only the man would deliver it from the ruined castle where it had spent centuries. The wizard accepted, and wore him when they left, only to have the circlet seize his mind that night and slaughter the rest of the party. Tyraqinis managed to remain in control for some time, but soon the wizard began to win the constant fight and the circlet knew he needed a weaker-willed host. Tyraqinis abandoned the wizard after draining all traces of magical knowledge from his mind. He was found and claimed by a travelling bard, who sold him to a sorcerer. Since then, Tyraqinis has had many owners and pawns, gathering new lore from each and leaving them gibbering wrecks when they became too much to control.
His latest host was acquired only a few months previously. A young caster named Xavier found him amid heaps of rubbish in an antique shoppe, where the circlet had been abandoned by a travelling monk the item had mistaken for a sorcerer and tried to possess. Tyraqinis repeated his evil promises to Xavier, and was rewarded with the man's trust. Upon linking with his mind, he found that his new host was talented in the creation of simple magic devices. He waited for the right moment, then wrested control and set about cementing control via magical aid. The result of several day’s fanatical labor on the part of the possessed mage resulted in a powerfully enchanted vest, one that drains the willpower of the wearer. This he forced Xavier to put on, removing any hope of escape. Tyraqinis has made no attempt to conceal the man’s eventual fate, which only serves to increase the amusing mental struggles that the mage attempts.
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Ivellios Basan'Shen/Ama-Estai
Neutral Evil Male Elf (Medium Humanoid)
Ranger 12
HD: 12d6+12 (57 HP)
Init: +6
Speed: 30 ft (6 squares)
Armor Class: 21 (+5 armor, +6 dexterity), flat-footed 15, touch 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+14
Attack: +19 melee (1d6+1/18-20/x2, +1 rapier) or +21 ranged (1d8+2/x3, Ama-Estai)
Full Atk: +19/+14/+9 melee (1d6+1/18-20/x2, +1 rapier) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+2/x3, Ama-Estai)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +4
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 20(22), Con 11, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: Climb +5, Handle Animal +15, Hide +15(20), Jump +5, Listen +10, Move Silently +15, Search +10, Spot +10, Survival +15, Use Rope +5
Feats: Weapon Finesse. Weapon Focus (Longbow), Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Precise Shot, Track, Endurance, Rapid Shot*, Manyshot*, Improved Precise Shot*
(*=wearing light armor only)
Favored Enemies: Humanoid (Elf) +6, Humanoid (human) +2, Magical Beast +2
Equipment: Ama-Estai, +1 rapier +1, Mithril Chain Shirt of Shadows, Gloves of Dexterity +2, Quiver of Elhonna, 60 arrows, potion of cat's grace, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, 177 GP[/i]
Spells Memorized: 1st-lvl: Pass Without Trace; 2nd-lvl: Protection From Energy; 3rd-lvl: Cure Moderate Wounds
Stats before Mods: 14, 16, 13, 12, 10, 8
The long life of Ivellios Basan'Shen has been rife with pain and misery, both on his part and that of others. Born nearly a century and a half previously, he was barely an infant when his village was raided by the drow, and he was orphaned. The survivors cared for him, but he grew up bitter and withdrawn. Full of hatred for the dark elves, he set out on his own upon reaching his hundredth birthday and adulthood, taking the surname Basan'Shen, or Eternal Sorrow. For several years he hunted the drow, eventually infiltrating a small underground city. Ivellios found a vault inside the temple of Lloth, where a magnificent black longbow was kept. It was sentient, and preyed on the hatred in his mind by promising vengeance against the drow. The elf took up the evil weapon, and in a fit of berserk fury, killed every resident of the city right down to the infants. He left and continued his never-ending quest, now accompanied by the corrupt bow Ama-Etai. Over time, the weapon wore away at his mind, transforming his hatred of the drow into a loathing for all of elven blood and those that associated with them.
Nearly seventy years have passed now, and Ivellios's personality has become almost indistinguishable from the bow that he carries. His eagle Gwai flies by his side, always the latest in a line of eagle chicks raised by the twisted elf. Ivellios and Ama-Etai are by far the longest-paired members of the group, but are content to let the arrogant Keradax take the position of leader; their only goal is to bring about the ruin of as many elven lives as possible.
Animal Companion: Gwai the eagle
Small Animal
HD: 5d8+5 (28 HP)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 10ft (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +2 dexterity, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-3
Attack: talons +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: 2 talons +4 melee (1d4+1), bite -1 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3 (+7 w/ Devotion)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +20 (includes +8 racial bonus)
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Flyby Attack
Tricks Known: Attack, Attack Anything, Come, Defend, Down, Fetch, Guard, Heel, Seek
The eagle Gwai, or Sky in the Elven tongue, has been Ivellios's companion for its entire life, as was its parent stretching back many generations. Totally loyal to him, the bird also seems to exhibit many of the elf's darker traits, such as tormenting its prey before killing it.
Ama-Estai (Bloodwrath), Unholy Oathbow; AL NE, Int 17, Wis 17, Cha 10; Speech, Telepathy, 120 ft. darkvision and hearing, Ego Score 21
Lesser Powers: Detect Magic at will, True Strike on wielder 1/day, Minor Image 3/day
Greater Powers: Cause Fear in enemies at will
Special Purpose: Defeat/Slay Elves and Drow.
Unholy: Evil-aligned, extra 2d6 damage vs. Good.
Oathbow abilities: Counts as +2 Composite Longbow. Can nominate one enemy as chosen foe, gets bonuses vs. them. See the DMG for complete text.
Just as elves have a hatred for the drow, so do the drow return the favor. A mad drow craftsman forged himself a powerful bow, imbuing it with a malicious will and powerful magic. The result was the weapon called Ama-Estai, which translates to "Bloodwrath". The bow often mutters in a mixture of Undercommon and Elvish, dire threats against all of elvish blood. But it was trapped for some time inside a vault, for no one dared to take it up. That is, until Ivellios Basan'Shen snuck inside the city and stole him, soon falling under the weapon's sway. For decades they wandered, every year giving Ama-Etai more and more power over the elf.
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The History
Often, some things are not as they seem. This is even more true in worlds rich with magic and illusions. Such is the case with one group of wandering warriors. At first glance, they seem to be unremarkable, though well-equipped, but closer study reveals distinctly odd behavior. Most of their faces are blank and dull, their voices a dull monotone. When speaking, they frequently pause between sentences as if waiting for instructions. Each of them also bears an item that naturally draws the eye.The spokesman of the party is a cheerful person, wearing the armor and dress of a cleric, and a small phylactery bearing a holy emblem around his neck. A burly, muscled warrior, weilding a heavy greatsword, is encased from head to toe in spiky black armor, the front of which is adorned with a grinning silver face that glows with unholy light. A pale, thin man, wrapped in the robes of a magic-user, wears a thick silver circlet atop his head whose studded gems seem to pulse. At the back of the group, a shifty-looking fellow lurks, his constantly twitching hands inside a pair of finely gold-threaded leather gloves. It takes a few moments of study to notice the final member of the party, a elf shrouded in a dark cloak and carrying an ornately carved longbow. They are quiet and unresponsive, but not incredibly unusual.
Indeed, there is far more to the above scene than might be apparent. None of the warriors, with the exception of the elf and possibly the cleric, are in possession of their own bodies any longer. Instead, they have all been forcibly dominated by the malicious wills of an item that each carries; coincidentally, the same items that draw one's attention. Each of these items carries a dark and corrupt intelligence within it, driven by dark power and will. It is naturally the nature of sentient weapons and items to distrust others of their kind, and the same is true here. But unlike others, this group of items learned what they had in common and forged a pact of loyalty long ago.
The first of them was the ancient drow bow Ama-Estai, carried by the fallen elven ranger that stole it. In the process of its travels, Ama-Estai encountered a crazed sorcerer that proved to be under the influence of his circlet Tyraquinis. The two evil entities recognized kindred spirits in each other, and agreed to a timeless partnership that would outlast either of their hosts. Reinforced with magic, they remained linked even when Tyraquinis vanished after his host finally lost his mind. He returned shortly afterwards, with another wearer, and together they added a third member to their team. The devil-forged armor called Keradax had recently found and seized hold over a naieve young man, and the black-hearted item gladly joined the other two as allies in his eternal quest to exterminate the hated Abyssal demons. Tyraquinis went through several more wearers before they acquired the final two(three?) members of their union; the greed-filled twin gloves Cesta and Kesta, and the diabolical phylactery Jorjis.
Together, they are a formidable group of adversaries. The telepathic bond between them, reinforced by Tyraquinis's magic, allows any of the items to contact another at infinite distance. They use this to fight in chilling cohesion, silent and implacable death. The easiest way to "defeat" the possessed warriors is to focus on and slay one or more of them, though foolish is the enemy that loots the fallen corpse afterwards. The evil artifacts will easily abandon one of their own, and wait until the item in question has established even a small hold over a victorious adventurer. Then they steal in under darkness and slaughter whoever they can find, save the unfortunate soul now cursed with bearing an item. Those who know of their existence are next to none, save for a few enlightened scholars who sought to wield the formidable magics of Tyraquinis for their own, only to be absorbed and discarded in turn by the voracious circlet. Effectively immortal, they have an endless supply of patience with which to achieve their goals; all of which are unique and evil. Among the vile circle, and to the rare few that know of them and still live, they are known as The Dark Materials, for they do truly have a mind of their own.
The Hosts and The Items
Evan of Cormyr/Keradax:
Lawful Neutral Male Human (Medium Humanoid)
Human Fighter 12
(1 Negative Level: -5 HP, -1 penalty to attack rolls skill/ability checks, saving throws, -1 effective level)
HD 12d10+36; HP 97(92)
Init: +6
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 22 (+10 armor, +1 dexterity, +1 insight), touch 12, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+17
Attack: +21(20) melee (2d6+12/17-20/x2, +2 Greatsword) or +14(13) ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 shortbow)
Full Atk +21/+16+11(20/15/10) melee (2d6+12/17-20/x2, +2 Greatsword) or +14/+9/+4(13/8/3) ranged (1d8+1/x3, +1 shortbow)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +11(10), Ref +6(5), Will +3(2)
Abilities: Str 18(20), Dex 14, Con 14(16), Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 10.
Skills: Climb +10, Jump +10, Ride +10, Swim +10, Bluff +5, Escape Artist +5, armor check penalty -8.
Feats: Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Greater Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Weapon Specialization (Greatsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (Greatsword), Power Attack Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Initiative, Endurance, Diehard, Improved Sunder, Lightning Reflexes.
Equipment: Keradax, +2 cold iron greatsword, +1 Shortbow, Dusty Rose Ioun Stone, Amulet of Health +2, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, 20 normal arrows, 10 cold iron arrows, 10 silver arrows. 2838 GP.
Stats Before Mods: 16, 13, 14, 12, 8, 10
Evan of Cormyr never wanted much, only to make at least a small name for himself outside his tiny village. He started off with a rusted suit of armor and his father’s sword, wandering in search of an adventure. He found one. Shortly after beginning his journey, Evan came across a very strange cave while sheltering from the weather. It was streaked in scorch marks, and filled with various bones of inhuman proportions. In the very back, at the foot of what appeared to be a collapsed archway, was a black and twisted skeleton wearing a magnificent suit of plate armor. He investigated it, and was shocked when the armor spoke to him. Its name was Keradax, and it promised that he could become a warrior of legends with its aid. Evan accepted, and took the armor for his own. For a short time, it was far beyond even his wildest dreams. Wearing his new armor, even the mightest monster’s claws and fangs scraped harmlessly against him, and its slyly whispering voice told him the secrets to vanquishing powerful foes. It started as just suggestions, then propositions, to seek out monsters to slay. When Evan disagreed, wanting to return to his home to brag, the armor turned nasty and threatened horrible things if he abandoned their quest. The cowed Evan continued, the armor bullying him into more and more dangerous, and more questionable, actions. When he finally summed up the courage to throw away the accursed armor, he stood frozen as the malevolent suit seized total control of his body, and continued to do so in the following days.
That was several years ago. Now Evan is a shattered wreck, a long-term inmate in his own mind. Keradax keep almost constant control over him, and even when its pressure lets up or slips, he can do nothing but sit and weep. Inside, he knows the thefts and murders he commits on the armor’s quest to hunt powerful demons are wrong, but Keradax leaves him literally no choice.
Keradax, +2 Full Plate of Invulerability; AL LE; Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 18; Speech, Telepathy, Read magic, 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing; Ego Score 25.
Lesser Powers: cast Bane on enemies 3/day, continuous Deathwatch, 10 ranks Intimidate.
Greater Powers: Create Wall of Fire ring around wearer 1/day.
Special Purpose: Defeat/Slay demons (no dedicated power, just a personal goal)
Forged in hellfire and quenched in blood, Keradax is wholly evil. His silver-edged black plates seem to absorb light, save for the engraved face in the breastplate that grins constantly. The mind that inhabits the armor is cunning and cruel, as well as very “persuasive”. As logical for a devil-crafted item, Keradax carries a deep loathing for the denizens of the Abyss and will never pass up an opportunity to kill them. From the moment of his creation, he knew that he was destined for a greater destiny than the property of some minor baatezu. His realization came when his master was dispatched to sever a portal between the Abyss and the Material Plane to spoil a demon incursion, and his devil owner was slain in the fight that destroyed the gate. Keradax waited patiently until one day, a naive young warrior named Evan of Cormyr ventured into the cave and claimed him. He cooperated with the boy until the day came to forcibly rest dominance and set about becoming a powerful demon-slayer, if vicariously.
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Xavier Senethar/Tyraquinis:
True Neutral Male Human (Medium Humanoid)
Human Wizard 12
(1 Negative Level: -5 HP, -1 penalty to attack rolls skill/ability checks, saving throws, -1 effective level)
HD 12d4+12, 46 HP(41)
Init: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+3 armor, +3 dexterity, +1 deflection, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+6
Attack: +6(5) melee (1d4+1/19-20/x2, +1 Dagger) or +9(8) ranged (1d8/19-20/x2, light crossbow)
Full Atk: +6/+1 melee(5/0) (1d4+1/19-20/x2, +1 Dagger) or +9/+4(8/3) ranged (1d8/19-20/x2, light crossbow)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +4(3), Ref +4)3), Will +7(6)
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 18(22), Wis 8, Cha 12.
Skills: Concentration +15, Decipher Script +15, Knowledge (Arcana) +15, Spellcraft +15, Spot +5, Listen +5, Search +5 1/2.
Feats: Eschew Materials, Silent Spell, Magical Aptitude, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
Equipment: Tyraqinis, +1 dagger, light crossbow, Bracers of Armor +3, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Ring of Protection +1, Vest of Weakened Willpower, 20 bolts, 4400 GP.
Spells Prepared (Effective Lvl 11):
(0): Read Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Detect Poison
(1): Identify, True Strike, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Magic Missile x2
(2): Invisibility, Protection from Arrows, Alter Self, Spider Climb, Melf's Acid Arrow x2
(3): Lightning Bolt, Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Fireball x2
(4): Leomund's Secure Shelter, Charm Monster, Greater Invisibility, Enervation
(5): Seeming, Cone of Cold, Summon Monster V, Baleful Polymorph
(6): Chain Lightning, True Seeing, Tenser's Transformation
Spellbook: 0-lvl: Resistance, Acid Splash, Detect Poison, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Daze, Dancing Lights, Flare, Light, Ray of Frost, Ghost Sound, Disrupt Undead, Touch of Fatigue, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Open/Close, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation; 1st-lvl: Mage Armor, Summon Monster I, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Identify, True Strike, Tenser's Floating Disk, Enlarge Person; 2nd-lvl: Melf's Acid Arrow, Invisibility, Protection from Arrows, Darkness, Gust of Wind, Alter Self, Spider Climb; 3rd-lvl: Lightning Bolt, Hold Person, Magic Circle vs. Good, Fireball, Fly, Keen Edge, Greater Magic Weapon, Dispel Magic, Protection from Energy; 4th-lvl: Remove Curse, Phantasmal Killer, Leomund's Secure Shelter, Charm Monster, Ice Storm, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Contagion, Enervation; 5th-lvl: Seeming, Summon Monster V, Cone of Cold, Hold Monster, Persistent Image, Baleful Polymorph; 6th-lvl: Chain Lightning, Disintegrate, True Seeing, Tenser's Transformation
Stats before Mods: 10, 14, 13, 16, 8, 12
Vest of Weakened Willpower: -10 to Will saves while worn. Moderate Enchantment; CL 5; Craft Wondrous Item; Mind Fog; Price 25000 GP; To create: 12, 500 GP.
Xavier Senethar was a young wizard, fresh out of his city’s mage college, when he decided to obtain some “practical” experience adventuring. He had been a promising student, and he rose rapidly in power once freed from the constraints of the school. Xavier financed his travels by completing small tasks for grateful villagers, and supplemented it through the sales of magical novelties he crafted when visiting larger towns. One day, while peddling some trinkets in an antique shop, he found a strange silver circlet studded with jewels. They glowed faintly, a sign of great power, so the learned wizard was not surprised when it spoke to him. The circlet’s name was Tyraqinis, and it claimed to have been seeking a worthy mage to wear it for some time. Since both his goals and those of the circlet, the collection of arcane knowledge, were the same, Xavier purchased it. His joy turned to surprise and horror when the item revealed its sinister nature, and the methods through which it gathered knowledge. He fought bitterly against its control, but was forced to seal his own doom with the crafting of a cursed vest that damped his ability to resist mental assaults. He has fought continually for many months now, but to no avail, with the knowledge of his eventual insanity hovering over him. Each night, he must put on the vest, and removes it each morning once the circlet has re-established control.
Xavier has no familiar. His owl, Athena, was killed and eaten by Ivellio's eagle shortly after Tyraquinis joined the group.
Tyraqinis, +4 Circlet of Intellect; AL LE, Int 18, Wis 18, Cha 10; Speech, Telepathy, Read Magic, 120 ft. darkvision, blindsense, and hearing; Ego Score 20.
Lesser Powers: cast Faerie Fire 3/day, 10 ranks Knowledge (Arcana), 10 ranks Spellcraft.
Greater Powers: Dominate Person 1/day.
Tyraqinis was once the property of a lich, who spent ages poring over ancient texts with little care for its surroundings. As a result, the enchanted circlet slowly absorbed magic energy leaking from its master, attaining sentience after hundreds of years. The circlet, calling itself Tyraqinis, concealed its nature from the obsessive lich until the day that a band of adventurers came to slay it. The undead sorcerer set an ambush for the impudent mortals, but Tyraqinis interfered at the critical moment by illuminating the invisible lich in Faerie Fire. After the battle, the circlet called to the party's wizard and revealed its sentient nature. It promised great wealth and magical lore, if only the man would deliver it from the ruined castle where it had spent centuries. The wizard accepted, and wore him when they left, only to have the circlet seize his mind that night and slaughter the rest of the party. Tyraqinis managed to remain in control for some time, but soon the wizard began to win the constant fight and the circlet knew he needed a weaker-willed host. Tyraqinis abandoned the wizard after draining all traces of magical knowledge from his mind. He was found and claimed by a travelling bard, who sold him to a sorcerer. Since then, Tyraqinis has had many owners and pawns, gathering new lore from each and leaving them gibbering wrecks when they became too much to control.
His latest host was acquired only a few months previously. A young caster named Xavier found him amid heaps of rubbish in an antique shoppe, where the circlet had been abandoned by a travelling monk the item had mistaken for a sorcerer and tried to possess. Tyraqinis repeated his evil promises to Xavier, and was rewarded with the man's trust. Upon linking with his mind, he found that his new host was talented in the creation of simple magic devices. He waited for the right moment, then wrested control and set about cementing control via magical aid. The result of several day’s fanatical labor on the part of the possessed mage resulted in a powerfully enchanted vest, one that drains the willpower of the wearer. This he forced Xavier to put on, removing any hope of escape. Tyraqinis has made no attempt to conceal the man’s eventual fate, which only serves to increase the amusing mental struggles that the mage attempts.
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Ivellios Basan'Shen/Ama-Estai
Neutral Evil Male Elf (Medium Humanoid)
Ranger 12
HD: 12d6+12 (57 HP)
Init: +6
Speed: 30 ft (6 squares)
Armor Class: 21 (+5 armor, +6 dexterity), flat-footed 15, touch 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+14
Attack: +19 melee (1d6+1/18-20/x2, +1 rapier) or +21 ranged (1d8+2/x3, Ama-Estai)
Full Atk: +19/+14/+9 melee (1d6+1/18-20/x2, +1 rapier) or +21/+16/+11 ranged (1d8+2/x3, Ama-Estai)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +4
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 20(22), Con 11, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: Climb +5, Handle Animal +15, Hide +15(20), Jump +5, Listen +10, Move Silently +15, Search +10, Spot +10, Survival +15, Use Rope +5
Feats: Weapon Finesse. Weapon Focus (Longbow), Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Precise Shot, Track, Endurance, Rapid Shot*, Manyshot*, Improved Precise Shot*
(*=wearing light armor only)
Favored Enemies: Humanoid (Elf) +6, Humanoid (human) +2, Magical Beast +2
Equipment: Ama-Estai, +1 rapier +1, Mithril Chain Shirt of Shadows, Gloves of Dexterity +2, Quiver of Elhonna, 60 arrows, potion of cat's grace, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, 177 GP[/i]
Spells Memorized: 1st-lvl: Pass Without Trace; 2nd-lvl: Protection From Energy; 3rd-lvl: Cure Moderate Wounds
Stats before Mods: 14, 16, 13, 12, 10, 8
The long life of Ivellios Basan'Shen has been rife with pain and misery, both on his part and that of others. Born nearly a century and a half previously, he was barely an infant when his village was raided by the drow, and he was orphaned. The survivors cared for him, but he grew up bitter and withdrawn. Full of hatred for the dark elves, he set out on his own upon reaching his hundredth birthday and adulthood, taking the surname Basan'Shen, or Eternal Sorrow. For several years he hunted the drow, eventually infiltrating a small underground city. Ivellios found a vault inside the temple of Lloth, where a magnificent black longbow was kept. It was sentient, and preyed on the hatred in his mind by promising vengeance against the drow. The elf took up the evil weapon, and in a fit of berserk fury, killed every resident of the city right down to the infants. He left and continued his never-ending quest, now accompanied by the corrupt bow Ama-Etai. Over time, the weapon wore away at his mind, transforming his hatred of the drow into a loathing for all of elven blood and those that associated with them.
Nearly seventy years have passed now, and Ivellios's personality has become almost indistinguishable from the bow that he carries. His eagle Gwai flies by his side, always the latest in a line of eagle chicks raised by the twisted elf. Ivellios and Ama-Etai are by far the longest-paired members of the group, but are content to let the arrogant Keradax take the position of leader; their only goal is to bring about the ruin of as many elven lives as possible.
Animal Companion: Gwai the eagle
Small Animal
HD: 5d8+5 (28 HP)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 10ft (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +2 dexterity, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-3
Attack: talons +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: 2 talons +4 melee (1d4+1), bite -1 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3 (+7 w/ Devotion)
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +20 (includes +8 racial bonus)
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Flyby Attack
Tricks Known: Attack, Attack Anything, Come, Defend, Down, Fetch, Guard, Heel, Seek
The eagle Gwai, or Sky in the Elven tongue, has been Ivellios's companion for its entire life, as was its parent stretching back many generations. Totally loyal to him, the bird also seems to exhibit many of the elf's darker traits, such as tormenting its prey before killing it.
Ama-Estai (Bloodwrath), Unholy Oathbow; AL NE, Int 17, Wis 17, Cha 10; Speech, Telepathy, 120 ft. darkvision and hearing, Ego Score 21
Lesser Powers: Detect Magic at will, True Strike on wielder 1/day, Minor Image 3/day
Greater Powers: Cause Fear in enemies at will
Special Purpose: Defeat/Slay Elves and Drow.
Unholy: Evil-aligned, extra 2d6 damage vs. Good.
Oathbow abilities: Counts as +2 Composite Longbow. Can nominate one enemy as chosen foe, gets bonuses vs. them. See the DMG for complete text.
Just as elves have a hatred for the drow, so do the drow return the favor. A mad drow craftsman forged himself a powerful bow, imbuing it with a malicious will and powerful magic. The result was the weapon called Ama-Estai, which translates to "Bloodwrath". The bow often mutters in a mixture of Undercommon and Elvish, dire threats against all of elvish blood. But it was trapped for some time inside a vault, for no one dared to take it up. That is, until Ivellios Basan'Shen snuck inside the city and stole him, soon falling under the weapon's sway. For decades they wandered, every year giving Ama-Etai more and more power over the elf.
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