This is the OOC thread for the D&D 3.5 Epic Gestalt campaign to tear down the Wall of the Faithless.
We'll begin with character creation, and once we've finished that I'll open up the IC thread. I don't know how long that'll take, but I would like to aim for a starting time of the second week of June.
Here are the 16 questions again:
Spoiler
1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
D&D 3.5
2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
Forgotten Realms, plus some Planescape stuff.
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
We're going with six.
4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?
OOTS
5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
Level 24 Gestalt.
6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
1.8 million GP.
7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
Any WotC, but no Dweomercheater/Incantatrix/Planar Shepherd/Shadowcraft Mage+Earth Spell/S-t-P Erudite. See below for Homebrew.
8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
Any WotC, but no acquired templates, and LA/racial HD must go on one side of the gestalt (LA+RHD can't exceed 20). See below for Homebrew.
9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
36 point buy, max HP at level 1 and half +1 your HD value each level thereafter (d4 gets 3, d6 gets 4, d8 gets 5, etc.)
10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
Yes. No restrictions, but no Stupid alignments either (Lawful Stupid, Chaotic Stupid, etc.)
11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
Multiclass freely, but normal Gestalt rules apply.
12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
Make your own rolls in spoiler text in the IC thread when you do something that requires rolling.
13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
You cannot begin play knowing any Epic Spells, but it may become possible or even necessary to research them after play begins.
Homebrew by The Demented One, Fax_Celestis and Krimm_Blackleaf and ErrantX are pre-approved. Run everything else by me, but I'm pretty lenient as long as it's been vetted sufficiently by the forums.
14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
Yes, and it's Very Important. Stuff I'll need to know will include how your character came to be so powerful, what if any major resources you have to contribute beyond your equipment, spells and abilities, but most importantly why it is you're so determined to sacrifice your lives, your fortunes, your sacred honor, all that you have and all that you are to defy the gods and tear down the Wall of the Faithless.
15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
Heavy duty roleplaying. Any combat and puzzle-solving should follow naturally from the RP.
16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
All WotC, with homebrew as mentioned above. Sorry, no Incarnum or Tome of Magic stuff, I don't know those systems.
Any infinite loops will result in rocks falling everyone dying.
- What is your character concept going into this game? What role would you want to fill, and how at this point would you see that role contributing to the campaign's goal?
The character I'd like to go with is a character called Olethros, for which I have a fairly epic-scale origin in mind.
Basically, Olethros as he will be in this game is in a very weakened state in comparison to the height of power he had a couple of centuries ago. He is the son of a particularly powerful Solar, but born of a mortal woman. The result of this strange union was a child of great power (say, oh, a Half-Celestial with the Paragon template on top to give a crunchy example) who grew up on Mt. Celestia, but was never really included in anything due to his comparative lack of purity. Problem is, he started growing resentful and as he came more and more into his power that resentment turned to hate. It might have turned out differently than it did, but a certain goddess chose to reveal herself to him then. Shar. That might not have been too bad if he had turned away from her in horror, realised his foolishness and turned over a new leaf. Except he didn't. Olethros thought that he was understood by the dark goddess and, after some time, actually fell in love with his idea of her.
And that's when things turned really downhill. He began studying dark arts, conducting experiments in secret, until his actions were discovered and he was banished from Mt. Celestia and turned his attentions to the Material Plane. He went a little mad, then, and made Shar's cause of returning everything to its primordial nothingness his own. Due to his great power and obsession with the goddess, he never joined the Church proper, but was still considered one of Shar's greatest servants on Toril for a long time.
Until he met his match in combat, that is. An agent of Mystra defeated him, intending on ripping apart Olethros' very essence. He nearly succeeded, but a pale fragment of the fallen half-celestial remained. His memory, his knowledge, was intact, but not his power. And the corrupted essence of the divine inside him could not be restored so easily. Thus, he had to search for a new source of power that would serve his needs and vanished for centuries.
Olethros found his new power in the manipulation of negative energy and undeath itself. He experimented with various forms of undeath in secret before he finally settled on Lichdom of a sort, having found the bloodthirst and emotional heights of vampirism too distracting.
His goal is the same as always, but he is firmly convinced that he has finally found the key to destroying all we know. The Wall. He believes it to in reality be an integral part of Ao's Creation, and that to rend it apart in its entirety would not only weaken the gods who oppose Shar, but also strike a powerful blow to existence itself. Not to mention that such a grand deed may well catapult him to such a height that he himself could become a god, which would serve his needs nicely -- and make it possible to restore himself to his original state. A small bonus in enacting the will of Shar.
His long disappearance gives him the perfect cover of being disillusioned of his worship of Shar and now, being ever the pragmatic mastermind, wanting to ensure that his ultimate fate is not that loathsome Wall. But he will need allies, for such an undertaking is far beyond his own power and would have been even before his unfortunate loss.
As for a role in the group, I see him as a very strategic mastermind that can be trusted insofar as to act in his own best interest. He actually has a dislike for lowly undead and prefers to manipulate negative energy and souls with his necromancy, so there won't be huge numbers of minions running around all the time. He'll know lots of stuff, particularly about things dark and forbidden, and is a very driven character. I'm not sure if I want to stick with Thaumaturge for him as Ebon Initiate would potentially also fit him very well, but that one's already been requested, so I may just have him be a lich with a regular casting class. I'd like him to have found some way to retain his proper appearance and not rot, if that's at all feasible. (And possibly be a Lichfiend, that lich variant that outsiders can turn into). Can't work with your old rep amongst beings who still might remember you if you're ... not recognizable. Not at all recognizable. He's very manipulative, but would in this instance have no reason to turn his machinations against the group except to somehow make them accept him as an erstwhile comrade.
"Boy!" barked a grizzled voice "Hurry your hide up. 'S time to go."
In response to the man's call, a thin, twig-like youth of perhaps nine or ten puffed his way up the hill. When he reached the top, he stopped before his elder, puffing. "Yes, master. Sorry, master." He said, brushing the thick, tangled black locks of his sweat-soaked hair out of his eyes. The pair were a strange contrast - the old man was short and broad as an old oak stump, and twice as gnarled. His limbs were corded with muscle, and his eyes were gray as granite. There was something constant about him - a sense of permanence, like a house that's stood for centuries and sheltered generations under its solid eaves.
The boy, on the other hand, was a different matter. He was tall for his age, but thin and reedy, and he was filled with a sort of nervous energy, like an overexcited puppy. His sharp emerald gaze darted this way and that, and he hurried along to keep up with the older man as he stumped along.
"Just keep up, son. 'Time waits for no man,' 'n all that." He chuckled a little grimly. "Though it's runnin' out for one in particular."
The two of them crested the next hill, the boy too out of breath to say anything, and began their descent into a shallow bowl of a valley. The elder peered ahead and nodded, satisfied. "Good, good, we've got a little time. Catch your breath, boy." He drawled, slowing his pace to let his student catch up. The boy broke out in an infectious, if rueful grin.
"Thank you, Master Gram. I thought my heart was going to explode."
"Can't have that" the old man chortled. "You won't be able to clean out the pigpen this afternoon."
The boy groaned. He'd hoped that he'd be able to avoid that particular chore. "I still don't see what pigs have to do with magic, Master." He said, in the manner of someone reciting an oft-repeated phrase.
"Not much." Jorgun Gram allowed, as they passed the first few houses on the outskirts of Harper's Dell. "But they've got everything to do with keepin' your feet on the ground. For a boy with your talent, that's a valuable lesson - and one that most damn fools with the least bit o' talent for the Weave soon forget. Besides, even a wizard's got to eat."
Keldor Rayne sighed and kicked at the dirt, then perked up when he remembered what they were here for. He'd never seen a hanging before and, he was at once frightened and fascinated. He saw his parents amidst the gathering crowd around the town's central square. His mother smiled at him, though his father looked somewhat uncomfortable. She held his little sister in her arms - she was nearly two, now, and wriggled energetically in a bid for freedom. It had been almost three years since he'd been 'prenticed to Jorgun Gram, the only wizard for fifty miles in any direction. In that time, he'd only seen his parents a dozen or so times - he missed them sorely, but Master Gram felt it imperative that he focus on his studies - and as in almost everything, Master Gram got his way.
They continued along the village's single main thoroughfare of beaten earth. The air was dusty in the dry of high summer, and a scaffold of rickety wood had been erected for the occasion. Directly in front of it were the Thatchers - Heavy-handed Rollo, the smith, his wife Amanda, their eldest daughter Rose, and a gaggle of younger children. On the scaffold, Grigor the mayor was standing, polishing his spectacles with the sober look he always wore. There was a figure he didn't recognize in the hangman's black, and Braggi the Swineherd stood, sweating, wide-eyed and weeping openly.
Keldor remembered Braggi when he'd brought by the pigs he and Master Gram had bought from him last summer - then he'd been a big, blustering man, laughing. He'd been very nice - he'd talked to Keldor like a man, and he'd given him a boiled sweet after Keldor helped him round up the pigs. Now he looked thin and wasted - one eye was black, and he was missing several teeth. Jorgun noticed that, too, and his face grew darker. "They oughtn't have done that. If you're gonna hang a man, no need to beat him, too. You pay what you owe and you own what you buy, but you don't make a man pay twice." He said quietly, as if to himself.
Keldor turned to Master Gram, to ask him why Braggi was being hung - but his master shook his head as Mayor Grigor began to speak. Ever terse, he said only that they were here to see justice done, and that Braggi was to hang for his crimes. He asked Braggi if he had any last words. The swineherd tried to choke out something - Keldor thought it was "I'm sorry." - but his throat was too try, his voice too strangled to really make it out. The mayor nodded to the man in the black mask, and he looped the knotted rope around Braggi's neck. He drew it tight, and then kicked the block out from under Braggi's foot.
It wasn't a good hanging, though Keldor did not come to know this until afterwards. The hangman was inexpert, and Braggi's feet kicked at the air in a grotesque parody of dance for long minutes. His face turned slowly red, then purple, and finally his eyes rolled back and his entire form sagged into limp immobility. The crowd gave up a collective sigh, as if in echo of the dead man's final exhalation, and dispersed. There was no more conversation now. Some faces were troubled, others serene, a few bearing traces of other emotions - anger, sadness, things less definable.
For his own part, Keldor felt confused, nauseous, and deeply, deeply weary. Master Gram looked at him sidelong as they began the long walk back to the old man's isolated tower, and let the boy have his peace.
The sun was hanging low in the sky before they made it back, casting long, strange shadows out in front of them. The hogs rooted around in the muck of the wallow, grunting happily. The sight of them sent a shiver down Keldor's spine. Master Gram gave him another look, and nodded to the outdoor firepit. "I reckon the hogs will keep another day. Seems to me they like bein' filthy anyway." He said with a slight smile. "Start a fire, we'll cook up some supper."
An hour ago, Keldor would've retched at the thought of eating. Now, though, he realized he was ravenous, and felt rather shameful about it, for some reason. He set about starting the fire, and heard his Master returning from the tower with bread, meat, cheese, and vegetables for the pot. The old man began to set about making stew, and as he did, asked "Well?" There was a lot of meaning in the simple question.
"Why'd they kill Braggi? I mean... I know he must've done something bad, but..." He trailed off, biting his lip and looking confused up at Master Gram.
"Mmm. Well, don't always assume that just 'cause a killin' is all nice and legal that the reasons behind it are good ones, boy. That's the first thing I'll tell you."
"Well, that makes sense, I suppose. I mean, all the history books you've had me read talk about tyrant kings and evil mages who kill people for getting in their way, or even because they enjoy it... but this is Harper's Dell." He said, a little desperately. During the day, the history books seemed interesting, but entirely fantastic - as far away as the Elemental Planes, or the other side of the sky. But in the dark, and after what he'd seen today... there was something pleading in his voice. Some things just couldn't be true. Not here.
"The Dell's a quieter place than most... but there are bad seeds. If there weren't what happened today wouldn't have been necessary. And it was necessary, boy. I don't mean to say otherwise. Law ain't always justice, but Braggi... well, Braggi hurt the Thatcher girl. Hurt her bad." Master Gram looked away, as if embarassed, which disturbed Keldor even more. Master Gram was never embarassed, even when he asked about what the pigs did in springtime and...
"Oh." He said, suddenly feeling sick again. Master Gram eyed him quietly and nodded.
"Ayuh. Your a sharp one, boy. And you've got more talent than I've ever seen. I'm good, but I'm a hedge-wizard next to you. I don't want to scare you, but it's because of that power that you need to listen now."
He looked Keldor in the eye "Remember this, even if you remember nothing else I teach you - a man's got to pay what he owes, and he's got to own what he pays for. There's got to be..." he searched for a word, and sighed. "Call it justice, if you like, but that's usually just a highfalootin' word for someone who wants to get a mob on his side. There's got to be consequences, good and bad, to each according to their deeds. Not because that's how the planes always work, all the Gods know it isn't. But because a man's got to have somethin' to believe in. He's got to be able to know that kindness will be met with kindness, hate with hate. Like with like. It's about..." He sighed, frustrated. "Hells, it's about everybody gettin' a fair shake. If you can't get that, then what the hell does it all mean? And that's got to be somethin' you're willing to stand up for. Otherwise what the hell does it all mean?" And for a moment, Master Gram looked old. Very, very old, and very tired. It was probably the most upsetting thing Keldor had seen that day.
The strange thing was, Keldor did understand. Or perhaps that wasn't so strange... but his Master's words didn't just seem right - they were right, on a fundamental level that the boy couldn't explain even a little bit. He put his hand on his Master's shoulder, his face filled with that strange gravity that seems unique to children. "It's about giving everybody a chance. It's about standing up and telling people who think they get to make rules that there's something bigger than what they want. That there's such a thing as fairness, and right, and what should happen - not just what people with power can make happen."
Master Gram gave the boy a strange, startled look for half a second. "Aye. That's it. Damn, boy, but I forget how quick you are sometimes. It's a little strange sometimes." He suddenly grinned. "But you're still a ten-year-old boy. Now eat up, before it gets cold."
Without a word, the two of them began to eat, and the sounds and scents of summer night closed in around them, and the stars above looked down. And, for a night, there was peace in the Dell.
Dream a Little Dream
Spoiler
Keldor Rayne was fast asleep in the Tower of Apprenti, nestled somewhere between the planes, after a very eventful day - at least, so he'd thought. At the moment, he was wondering if he was dead. It might have served him right, he thought miserably, after what he'd done. And now, here he was, floating in an infinite abyss of white, sourceless light. Was this some kind of hell?
"Nope." Said a voice. Keldor whirled - nevermind how he managed that one, considering there was nothing to pivot on - and stared himself in the face - at least, it looked like him. A few winters older than his mere fifteen years, perhaps, and rather more confident-looking than he felt.
"Then where am I?" He asked his duplicate.
"Somewhere. Nowhere. Just a place to talk." He other self looked around briefly, an amused smile quirking his lips. "Bit minimalist for my tastes, but it's your mental landscape, I suppose. Now quit being all daft and self-pitying. We both know what happened wasn't your fault - it wasn't your intent, and even if it was, you were defending yourself."
Keldor looked away, biting his lip. His... own words seemed right enough. But it didn't change how he felt one whit. Like he was dirty. Stained. It felt wretched.
"You'll get used to it." He said to himself, heartlessly. Then in a softer tone, his duplicate continued. "You'll have to. Not just for yourself, but for everybody."
He looked imploringly at his doppelganger. "Why does everyone keep saying that? Why can't I just be me?"
His opposite rolled his eyes. "Don't be a child. We both know it doesn't work like that. You play the hand you're dealt - you happened to be dealt an enormous amount of natural power. But power's just a thing - you have to decide how you're going to use it, and why. It's not something that can sit idle - and if you don't choose how to exercise it, sooner or later someone else will do it for you. And you don't want that." The double concluded in a tone of grim finality. "So quit your bitching and grow a pair. We've got work to do."
Keldor felt his jaw set in petulant defiance, but it melted before his own gaze. He knew himself too well, he supposed. Finally, he sighed, his tone an admission of defeat as he forced his emotions aside, for the moment. "All right. So why are you... we... why am I here?"
The other Keldor grinned again. "Pronouns take a bit of getting used to for this situation, don't they? Anyway, this... well, this is you reacting to what's been... awakened in you. This thing, this power that everyone keeps calling the Source... well, that's a terrible name for it. People only call it that because they don't understand it, they've never touched it. It's not a source or a wellspring. It's everywhere, and everything." He paused. "I think the best name I've heard for it is Quintessence. It means everything - and that's what it is. It's at the heart of everything. It's the stuff reality is made of, at the most basic level. It's energy and matter and light and life all rolled into one." He grinned so wide Keldor thought his head was going to split. "And you get to stick your hands in and monkey around with it. Neat, eh?"
Keldor's jaw worked up and down for a moment, unsure what to say. "So... why me?"
The other gave a lazy half-shrug. "Who knows? It just happens sometimes - someone's born with a gift, or they learn to tap into it. There's hundreds of theories, none of 'em any closer to the truth than the others, as far as I can tell. It doesn't happen often, but given there's an infinite number of planes, people like us certainly aren't unheard of." He paused. "Most don't survive, though. That much power draws a lot of unpleasant attention. You've been lucky so far - and it didn't manifest until later than it usually does. And you've been given enough training and discipline that you can control it. Most of those with the gift that survive burn themselves up using it"
Keldor hugged himself and shuddered a little. He remembered what it was like, reaching down into himself and pulling forth that much power - exhilarating. Terrifying. Addictive, even if he let it be. He would have to watch himself.
The duplicate nodded. "Yeah. I thought the same thing, when I told me. But there are... compensations. Not only do you have more power at your fingertips than most men will ever dream - but at some level, you're connected to everything. Well... most things. There are entities beyond, without, and within that aren't made of the same stuff. I recommend you avoid them. They're... unpleasant." He shuddered a bit in turn, then resumed speaking. "But the bottom line is, you don't just have power - you have knowledge. All you have to do is ask the right question. It's there - but you have to think about it to tap into it. Probably a natural defense to keep your brain from exploding."
Keldor gave himself a helpless look. "But what's the point of it? I'm just some random freak with a bunch of power? Why? Where's the damned meaning? There's no rhyme or reason it's just there and now I have to deal with it?"
His opposite threw his head back and laughed. "Gods, kid, yes! Welcome to life! It is its own justification. There's no grand purpose, no unifying reason. The only rhyme at all is that which you make. You've got a chance to change the world. You have unlimited potential. You've got gifts that almost no one else in the Gods-ridden multiverse. And no one can tell you what's right to do with them, no matter what they tell you otherwise." He sobered, and Keldor found his duplicate staring into his eyes, his face serious. "Tell me this, kid. You just got knocked on your ass. What would Gram say?"
Keldor took a deep breath and stared his future self in the face. He found himself smiling a little at the memory of his master, and said in his best faux-gruff voice. "Quit crying, pick yourself up, and make up yer own damn mind."
His double nodded, his lip quirking up. "Damn straight. You've got power, you've got youth, and you've got a fair shake. Can't ask for more than that. Now get out there and put it to use."
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Last edited by WhiteKnight777 : 05-31-2011 at 01:37 AM.
Rebellion against fate, the gods, and death is a very old story and theme, worked deep into cultures and mythologies across the world. Indeed, it is one of the primary threads of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The conflict of fate, gods, and immortality runs through the Iliad, as Achilles is the product of Zeus's own attempt to avoid his fate, Achilles is tied to the destiny of a glorious death that renders him nominally immortal... or a long life that fades away to be forgotten forever. In Hindu and Nordic mythology, the assertion of fate and destiny is constant. You cannot fight, what will be will win. To fight it is only to suffer.
That last part is the key to my character concept. The idea that to fight fate, to fight the gods, and your determined death, is to let wrong into the world whether it is your intention to or not. The character is meant to reflect this belief, but also the conflict people have with it, and so their nature will have a fairly strange duality around it, focused on the schism between achieving a beautiful dream, and the stigmas and fears surrounding defying what should be.
Sin Eater
Spoiler
To follow the path of Ilmater is to take on hardship. I knew this. So when he asked of me to become Sacrifice, I understood. The road would be hard, without pity, without reward beyond the knowledge of what I had done. I was prepared.
I thought I was prepared.
His service- but not him- demanded of me, and I gave. I gave up my mortal life to learn his teachings and follow his ways, and I was not dissuaded. What did it matter if my body went wanting if souls were satisfied? Flesh is a weak and transitory thing, and I paid it and my earthly desires no heed. It was not needed, unimportant, to be transcended. My piety became known within the church, and beyond. People came to me and asked that I grant them reprieve from what they had done, to take up their wrongdoings and absolve them.
In such service, I gave away my innocence for guilt, taking up blame and burdening my soul. For what did it matter if one person suffered in countless others went free? Though I would toil for thousands of years, they would be pardoned, and that was worth it. Ilmater smiled on me, and I needed nothing else, for with his approval, torment itself was merely a blessing.
...I gave up my mind.
The Far broke through to our world, and taint rose in its wake. We could not stand against it, could not rise, and so he asked for my Sacrifice. It would mean my end, it would mean I would become hideous and twisted, but in death I would be exonerated, I would become his martyr. Why should I falter? Why should I hesitate? Could I really condemn thousands to save such a meaningless life?
I was corrupted. The Far twisted and bent me, but it was not by their will, or by mine, but Ilmater's, and so he saw it, and knew it, understood it as its poison coursed through me. Through my broken form and hands he worked his miracles, and I became a mere vessel and tool for the destruction of their blasphemous forms. In the end, I too was consumed, my wasted being consumed by his absolving power.
In death, my eyes cleared, and I saw Ilmater and his host, and he reached out to me. I knew joy then, that even though my life had been torn from me, it had not been poorly spent. For my sacrifice, I was exalted.
He spoke to me then, in quiet and reassuring words. He reminded me of the taint I still carried- the burdening sins of others I had willingly taken on, and the last remnant of the Far that still haunted me soul. He asked me for one more Sacrifice, one more act of devotion.
I understood. And then he left me.
I thought I understood. The taint was still with me. It needed to be cleansed away. A day passed, and I remained resolute. I was resolute. It needed to happen. I understood.
A day passed. And again. And again.
It had to be right. What was one soul before thousands of others? My sacrifice would complete the act I had given myself to. I had to be cleansed, I was resolute, and I understood. My god knew my path, and I would follow it even by moving apart from him.
A day passed. And again.
I was alone, and I would be scoured. But it had to happen. It was for the best, though it would mean forsaking all else. What did it matter? The whispers, the sins and the taint would be removed from the world as they should be. I would be given peace, eternal peace. Eternal silence, an end to suffering.
A day passed, and again.
Two days remained, but I was holding myself fast. No matter the fate in store for me. Dissolution would be the ultimate act of martyrdom, if I went through with it. He had been certain of me, so sure that he had turned from me, for I no longer needed him.
A day... passed.
I would be consumed. Consumed and torn apart along with all else. Because my god had abandoned me. Abandoned me to a terrible fate which I had never earned, but simply waited for, an innocent sacrifice to the slaughter. The wall awaited me, though I had been faithful. For he had not claimed me, not taken me as his own, because I had to die, and the taint with me. The whispers screamed in my ears, but they were as silence to the cries of my own soul.
It was... too much. Too great a sacrifice. I thought I had understood. But I hadn't. How could I? How could anyone?
He had betrayed me. Taken advantage of me. I wouldn't accept it, wouldn't let it happen, no matter the cost. And I knew the way out. The whispers spoke to me, and replaced the power treacherous Ilmater no longer gave to me. I listened to them, gave in to them, and fled the false judgment that awaited me.
And now, I see the truth, the truth of gods, and what awaits their followers. The truth of the Wall and its guardians. I know what must be done, and the Wall's end is just the beginning.
Description
Spoiler
To come
Mechanics
Spoiler
Shifting Skin Graft
Spoiler
This outermost layer and skin of a creature is stripped away and replaced with one more mutable. This grants them the extraordinary ability to alter their appearance as though using a disguise self spell that affects their body but not their possessions. This is not an illusory effect, but a minor physical alteration of their natural features within the limits described in the spell. This ability can be used at will, and changes last until the ability is used again. Whatever form the creature is currently in counts as their natural form, and divination such as True Seeing does not reveal the disguise.
Graft Flesh (silithar), shapechange; Price 65,000
What interests you about this game? In particular, what interests you in the campaign's goal and what do you have in mind to motivate your character to complete it?
It's a really good idea for an Epic game, something that truly challenges the characters to do something that most would think is impossible. The goal of the campaign is intriquing because of the moral questions it raises for the setting. Is it possible to tear down the Wall without destroying the souls? What would happen to the souls if they were freed? Is it possible to convince the Gods to change their policy and put the faithless to some other, less horific use, or even create a separate after-life demi-plane for the faithless to go?
I think that the majority of the Gods would band together to stop the Wall from being torn down, even Gods that are normally opposed to each other. I also think that there would be sympathetic Gods and Gods that would support the cause merely for the sake of the Chaos it would cause. So I can see the characters allying themselves with some very strange bedfellows.
The character I have in mind is, in essence, a loyal knight of a deceased King. The character has risen to become King himself as the old King was passed away in a not-so peaceful manner, but the character still considers holds himself to the oath he took - if he can help his King, he will do it.
Turns out that the old King was secretly faithless and that when he died that his soul went neither to the sacred halls of Moradin nor the torture chambers of the Demon, but to the Wall of the Faithless.
Quote:
Typically you only have a couple of days after they've died to rez a Faithless soul.
The hook for this character pretty much revolves around the idea that his old King still has a chance of removal from the Wall. Maybe that means tearing down the whole wall to free his soul (and that's fine) as it's past the time of a simple Resurrection spell. Do you meant that it only takes a few days for the soul to be destroyed once it's in the Wall? That could be troubling for my dwarf, except maybe he believes that once the Wall is destroyed all the souls will be restored (whether that's actually true or not, he doesn't know).
What is your character concept going into this game? What role would you want to fill, and how at this point would you see that role contributing to the campaign's goal?
The basic concept is Loyalty Beyond Death. His old King is trapped somewhere, and it doesn't matter that he himself is now King, or that his old liege is trapped in the Wall of the Faithless. His duty is to save his leige. If he has to stand against the Gods to do so, then so be it. The character would be a melee warrior of some stripe. I've built this character before for a short-lived Epic game. In that game he was built as a Samurai//Fighter, using revisions of both those classes. For this I'd probably keep it similar, something like Samurai//Crusader, hoping to use the same homebrew Samurai revision as before.
His role in the party would be a frontline fighter. Aside from that there's the RP of him being King of a Dwarfhold. For game purposes I expect that he'd appoint someone (most likely his brother, head of the priesthood in the dwarfhold) to act as Steward while he's away on this mission. So while in story he's the King of a dwarfhold I, as a player, wouldn't expect that to be a simple "easy" button to get rid of his problems. Sure, the dwarfhold has resources and allies, but the character would treat this as a personal quest, not a matter of state business. If it happens in the story that the party needs an army, I expect that the character would have to deal with political business in the dwarfhold in order to secure the backing of the Nobles and such, instead of merely ordering an army to go somewhere.
In other words, while he does have this great resource at his possible disposal, I don't see any kind of great or risky support being automatic. Little things that any epic character could get or do for themselves, sure, the dwarfhold would comply. But really big actions and such would have to be RP'd and negotiated.
Condensed Background
Spoiler
Description
Har is built like a typical dwarf - short and powerful. He lets his long red hair fall past his shoulders and ties his beard into tails. An orc axe left a long, wicked scar running down the length of his face. His breastplate is engraved with dwarven words and symbols, the mark of his former position as one of the dwarfholds Weapon Masters. His naginata has been passed down in his family for generations and it is his most valued possession. He wears the crown of the dwarfhold, a solid adamantine band studded with thousands of tiny precious stones.
Personality
Loyalty, honor, and integrity drive Har. These concepts and ideas give his life meaning and purpose; without honor and duty he would be lost. It does not mean he is uncaring of the suffering of others, nor does he take pleasure in it; he sees the world as black and white. Those that are dishonorable and lawless are not worth treating as equals. Those that show courage and loyalty are to be respected. He often shows kindness to those weaker than him, such as peasants and the poor workers, but it is out of a sense of duty to care for those that are beneath his station. A leader must provide and protect his subjects in order to deserve respect and honor, and those that struggle and work honorably are to be rewarded and aided in their plight.
Background
* Har was a loyal knight in service of the dwarf Lord Kul Rockbiter. When his brother Nor, a high priest, was found standing over the body of a murdered House Patriarch Nor fled. The dwarf Lord offered Har the chance to redeem his families honor by tracking down and killing Nor.
* What Har didn't know was that the dwarf Lord had actually killed the patriarch in a dark ritual to gain power. Nor found his King and took the fall for him, as the dwarfhold was currently under a long siege by orcs and Nor knew the hold could not survive if it had been rocked with the scandal.
* The King was actually possessed by the demon Nezumbaril and the King had let him take over in exchange for power that would let the dwarfhold break the orcs siege.
* It took two years for Har to find Nor, following him across the world. Har was convinced that his brother was a murderer but he become confused over time as he bore witness to the good deeds that Nor was doing as he fled. When Har finally caught Nor there was enough doubt in his mind to stop himself from immediately killing him, instead choosing to take Nor back to the dwarfhold for trial.
* By the time the brothers got back to the dwarfhold a year later they discovered that the King had indeed broken the orc siege, but the hidden demon had not stopped at that. Wholly in control of the dwarf Lord now, Nezumbaril set about creating the greatest dwarven war machine ever seen and was preparing to march a swath of destruction across all the land.
* A High Council of Mages was searching for a way to defeat the mad dwarf Lord and they enlisted Har's help.
* Har encountered the Nezumbaril on a hill just outside a large Human city. The war machine was on the march and ready to start it's reing of terror. Har confronted Nezumbaril with his True Name and the demon was forced to flee the dwarf Lords body.
* Nezumbaril had his last curse though and had wrecked the body of the dwarf Lord, turning it to stone right before everyones eyes. Before his movements ceased the dwarf Lord laid the crown on the head of Har, proclaiming him the new King of the Dwarfhold
---
*With the passing of the demon the mind-controlled dwarves came back to their senses and returned to their home. The conquest was avoided and things seemed to be settling down to normal. Har visited the site of the dead, petrified old King to meditate and pray to Moradin and it was during his last visit that he received a vision, from whom he's not certain, of his old King trapped in the Wall of the Faithless.
Full Background
Spoiler
Background
Har was raised in the dwarfhold along with his twin brother Nor. Their father was captain of the militia but died in one of the raids by the orcs. When his father died his mother assumed leadership of their House and became the new captain. Both Har and Nor trained in their House militia, and while Har quickly took to martial battle and the blade, Nor joined the priestly order of the dwarfhold. Har distinguished himself in counter-raids against the orcs and was given the honor of joining the service of House Rockbiter, the leading family of the dwarfhold and the family of the dwarf Lord Kul Rockbiter.
Har flourished in the service to the dwarf Lord and his House, earning medals and citations for his actions in battle against the orcs. His brother Nor advanced within the priesthood, becoming the youngest dwarf ever to hold the title of High Priest and join the council of Elders. Har was given recognition for his deeds as well, joining the ranks of Weapon Masters for the dwarfhold. Though content with his position and lot in life, he sometimes secretly envied his brother for his magical skill. Har was a blade to be wielded, to be used how the sword master saw fit. He could follow orders and destroy a life, but he could not create. He saw the blade as himself; without power, without agency. It could only do as instructed. His brother Nor could destroy as well, but he could also heal and replenish life. He saw Nor as having power, instead of being wielded by it; the gift of magic giving his brother the power that Har himself lacked. He did not recognize his own power, that his skill with the blade was of the same kind of gift. He could spare a life as well as end it, he could protect as well as destroy.
These things he did not realize however, though he was not ambitious, and did not seek to compete with his brother but celebrated their accomplishments together. Accepting his life of service, he obeyed the dwarf Lord and accepted and enjoyed the life he had.
---
After a long period of relative calm, free from the attacks of the orcs, the orc tribes banded together and assaulted the dwarfhold like never before. The combined might of the previously disjointed orc tribes forced the dwarves to abandon their outlying farms and retreat within their hold. From there they launched counter attacks against the orcs, slowly driving them out and reclaiming their lands. It was to be a long time breaking the siege and the dwarfhold was tense with the constant threat and battles. Har was kept busy, leading troops out to fight the orcs and training new soldiers back in the hold.
His brother Nor was busy as well. As a member of the Council of Elders and a High Priest Nor was involved constantly with the battles, from healing the wounded to leading the charge. The siege and battles had lasted for three months with little sign of improving when one day a shock wave went through the entire hold. Nor had been found with the dead body of Orn Hurlon, leader of House Hurlon. The guards found Nor standing over the dead patriarch, with more than just blood on his hands. The House leader had been brutally murdered as some kind of sacrifice to an unknown dark god, his body mutilated and dismembered. Nor admitted to the crime but fled capture, his magic aiding in his escape.
---
His brother fled the dwarfhold and escaped the death that was waiting for him. Har's House was greatly shamed, and the dwarf Lord offered Har the chance to restore his families honor; hunt his brother and bring back his head. Without a moment of hesitation Har thanked his Lord for the opportunity and began preparations for the journey.
There was a secret that Har did not know. His brother Nor was not actually guilty of the crime. For reasons unknown to Nor, the dwarf Lord sacrificed the leader of House Hurlon in a macabre ritual. The dwarf lord did the deed, but if that had been revealed it would have rocked the dwarfhold to its stone foundation. The hold could not afford such a weakness in the face of the renewed orc assaults, but it could handle the shame and disgrace of a fallen priest. Nor sacrificed his own honor for the sake of the hold and fled home. He knew his brother would hunt him and dreaded the day when the two would meet.
---
For nearly three years Har searched for his brother. Linked by a bond from birth, Har could sense the spirit of his brother, no matter the distance. Fortunately for Nor, Har lacked his brothers powers and Nor easily stayed several steps ahead of his relentless pursuer.
The first year was a frenzied race, Nor fleeing as fast as he could travel, slipping through the spaces in the world to far outdistance Har. Har was slow in following, not only from his restriction to travel on land, but by the duty he held in his heart. He could not ignore the innocents pleas and cries for help as he sought his brother, and so his hunt was delayed as he involved himself in confrontations and battles not his own. Wherever right was ignored, whenever good people were periled, Har intervened and fought for those who could not fight for himself. He did not have the right to decide that this innocent should suffer or that one be saved - his oath was to protect all the innocent and defeat every evil. It was not for him to decide which was worthy, it was his to be the blade of his King, fulfilling his oath out here in the wilderness and foreign lands as if he were back home in the dwarfhold. Duty and honor do not recognize exceptions, only fulfillment.
Nor felt the connection to his twin brother as well. He could sense Har's progress slowing. Curious as to what could delay him from his quest, he investigated. Rumors at first, then divinations later, and he learned of how a dwarf warrior, sometimes alone, other times in company with fellows, pursued an invisible trail towards something. The warrior stopped every time he found injustice and evil and worked to overcome it. The towns and villages in the wake of the warrior were left better than he had found them, whether it took a day's work or months to right the wrongs.
This shook and upset Nor. Here he was fleeing, caring only for himself now that he had left the hold, and there was his brother, unwilling to lay aside his honor in order to more quickly comply with his Kings order. Nor was shamed by this. He knew that his life was forfeit, that one of them must die when Har finally caught him. Nor knew he could not reason with his brother, but his fierce pride would not allow him to die for what he had not done. But Har was hundreds of miles away. Nor could keep out of his reach forever if need be. But what life would that be?
Taking inspiration from his brother Nor slowed his flight. He opened his eyes and saw injustice and cruelty wherever he looked. He gazed in his own soul and saw that he too knew it was right to fight, to put aside his own concerns and help those he could. His power that had been used to conceal him was now turned to protect others. He became a terrible foe of evil, calling down divine fire and laying his hammer into those that would wantonly destroy life. As he involved himself in the affairs of those around him, the speed of his travel away from Har diminished. Har worked his way closer towards Nor, the bond between them growing stronger. The word of Nor's deeds spread back towards Har, and his path was easier as Nor was clearing it before him.
The news of his brothers turn from flight to avenger troubled Har. These were not the actions of a base creature without honor, one that would slay the head of a house in a demented ritual. The confidence of his brothers guilt that had driven Har these past two years began to wane. An unspoken question began to taunt Har in his thoughts - was Nor really guilty? Or were these acts of heroism and courage merely the last ditch effort of a lost soul trying for redemption. Har could not decide, but he at least resolved to speak with his brother before he slew him.
Nor felt the bond growing stronger as well. He knew that he had not been keeping far enough ahead, that his interventions and adventurers had sidetracked him and slowed him down. A part of him was secretly grateful. He was tired of fleeing, and his courageous and just actions during the past year had sharpened his own sense of honor. It was not right that he should flee. It was time to meet his brother and accept what may come.
They were finally reunited in a small fishing village. Nor chose the spot, as he had grown to love the smell of the sea air. The ever crashing waves and pounding surf resonated with something inside him. If he had to die, it would be here, where he had come to know some measure of peace.
Har found his brother sitting in a tavern alone. Nor had convinced the innkeeper to leave and clear everyone out. He did not to be responsible for any innocent deaths, if it come to a fight. Har paused upon coming in the door, then stood in the entrance. Nor motioned with his hand to the two ales that were sitting on his table.
"Before we attend to what must be done...let us sit a while, and drink and talk. It has been too long since I have seen you brother, though it seems I have felt your breath on my neck since I left the hold."
Har stood still a moment, then sighed and relaxed his grip on his naginata. He walked over to the table. "Yah, it has been too long brother, though I have heard of your recent exploits." He said grinning.
Nor stood up, pushing his chair back. He took a slight step forward and hesitated, uncertainty on his face for a moment. Then grinning himself, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his brother, embracing him.
They held for a moment, the presence of the others spirit strong, beating like his own heart. Har stepped back, a tear forming in his eye. Raising his hand to wipe it away, he grunted and pulled out the chair and sat. "They serve anything good here? I haven't had a real ale in over two years." He picked up the tankard and took a long pull. "Ah. Well. I suppose I shouldn't expect much else from a fish head inn."
Wiping the foam from his beard, he leaned back as Nor sat down across from him. Har laced his hands behind his head, one eye half-closed, squinting at his brother. "So...you certainly look uglier than the last time I saw you." Memories flashed through Har's mind, of the brothers younger and joyful, though the happy times were quickly dashed away as the memory of his brother fleeing home, covered in blood. Har frowns and leaned forward, sighing.
Nor's smiled drooped to match his brothers. "I feel it too. It was nice for a moment...trying to pretend we are here for some other purpose, but I suppose it has been too long. It has stained my dreams ever since I left, and the nights I am free of it, I am pursued by you instead. Even in my dreams I cannot escape you."
Har grunts. "Don't think it was a child's game for me brother! Nearly three years I've been searching for you, confounded at every turn by those I cannot walk past." He paused, catching his breath. "I would have slain you when I first set eyes on you, but I learned you had begun following the same path as I." Har's voice was low, and the brothers were silent as the sound of the distant surf reached them.
Nor closed his eyes. "I...I would not simply let you do that." He grimaced as he opened his eyes. "Though it means one of us will die, I cannot lower my head for something I did not do! Flee, yes. Shame my family for the sake of our kingdom...I can bear that." He stared hard at Har. "But to die like a dog for another man's guilt..." He shook his head. "That I cannot do."
Har held his brother gaze. "Eh? So you deny the murder that you fled your home for? Somehow I expected a better story from you." He grunted as he eased back into his chair, one hand slowly sliding toward his dagger.
"My eyes still work, little brother." Nor said, raising his eyebrows. Har's own eyes went wide. "Even if only by a moment, I am still your elder." Nor said as Har shook his head grinning.
"And you should listen now to your elder brother, and believe me when I tell you I did not kill him." Har's smile turned into a stern line. He pushed his chair back and stood up, pacing a few feet in front of the table.
"If it were not for your actions during the past year, I would have slain you outright..." He said, speaking to his brother but looking at the floor. "...but you have shown what it means to have honor...to understand one's duty to protect the innocent." He looks up and stare at his fugitive brother. "So I will listen. Speak...and I will hear."
---
The brothers talked. Nor spoke of what really happened, how he had found the King over the desecrated body of the head of House Hurlon. He talked about the nearly overpowering aura of evil and corruption that the King was radiating. Nor had never detected it before - the King must have keep it hidden, only releasing it for his dark rituals. Nor talked about how in the years on the run he thought back to the days of the siege and how little things that he had noticed started to come together in the light of the Kings depravity. The Kings frustration at the siege and their slow progress, how the King became more and more desperate to break the siege. Nor talked about how he believes that the King finally had enough and made a deal with some dark powers in order to break free of the orc siege.
Har listened to his brother talk, and he sensed the truth in his words. Not only in what he said, but he felt the conviction in his spirit, their bond bringing them as close as two beings could become. A heavy weight seem to lay on him as he decided within his heart. Even before he spoke to his brother about traveling back home together to confront the King, he could feel the strength of his ancestors slip away from him. Like a cloak of sunlight that lay across his shoulders, it slipped away into darkness.
Before Har could speak, Nor realized what happened. Without words needing to have been spoken, Har had agreed to disobey his King and the oath of loyalty he swore was broken. The crashing surf pounded heavy against the rocks outside as the brothers stood in silence; Har, unable to speak, Nor, not knowing what to say.
---
Working together the brothers were nearly unstoppable. Even with the loss of his ancestral spirits, Har had lost none of his skill with the blade. Combined with his brothers magic, the pair blazed across the land like a comet, heading straight for the dwarfhold and the mad King.
----
The long road home. Har and Nor traveled fast, aided both by the grateful people they had previously helped and by the strength of their combined might. They did not speak of what hung before them; the absence of Har's honor was a gulf that could not be crossed. For the first time in his life he had chose what was right, what was good. He felt in his heart that his brother was truthful, but more important it felt good to decide for himself. He was conflicted. This freedom, this choosing...it had broken his oath - was it wrong? He felt the power of choice as of wielding power, instead of being used by it. Holding the blade instead of being the blade.
In the two years of slow flight and chase they had covered over a thousand miles. They returned the same in less than one. As they came closer to the dwarfhold rumors and cries reached them of the dwarf nation at war. The King had driven back the orcs and broke the siege but was not satisfied with simply reclaiming former dwarf lands. The King had awakened the lust for battle and conquest in the hearts of the dwarves and the great dwarven war machine rolled across the land. In two years it had crushed the orcs, enslaved them and destroyed them. Even this victory was not enough for the King. When Har and Nor heard of these events the dwarves were preparing to march on the great human kingdoms. The High Council of Ayethar comprised of the lords of all the human kingdoms saw the dwarven war machine and prepared for battle. Their combined armies numbered in the millions, standing ready to defend against the oncoming dwarven onslaught. it would be a clash of titans, a war greater than the world have ever witnessed the victor was uncertain. What was known was that countless lives would be lost and the destruction would be beyond comprehension.
This news troubled the brothers but served to strengthen their conviction that the King was mad. Who but a mad dwarf would seek destruction and conquest on this scale? The High Council were not the only people against the Kings war. Dwarves within the dwarfhold had stood up against the King, arguing against the unjust war. Those first to speak out were branded as traitors and executed in dark sacrifices that were now common. Those that had waited to see how the first dissenters faired saw what happened and left instead of confronting the King. Whole Houses of dwarf families escaped and sought assistance against the mad King. They found refuged among the High Council and sought a way to break the Kings iron grip on the dwarfhold.
The mages of the High Council consulted the Arcane Order for help in defeating the King. Their divinations revealed that the King had been possess by a demon through his attempt to break the orc siege. The demon now wholly controlled the King and lead the dwarves on a path of chaos and destruction. They needed a way to break the demons hold on the King, to free his soul from the demons embrace. They needed a dwarf whose own soul could confront the demon and battle it, whose conviction, loyalty and honor were grater than the demons corruption.
They found Har.
For half a year the Arcane Order and the High Council sought for such a dwarf. As Har and Nor marched back home one of the scouting mages saw the brothers as they defeated a red dragon that had taken the opportunity and climate of war to ravage the land. The mage saw the brothers in battle and he felt the overwhelming presences of Hars soul. To the mages sixth sense it appeared as a soft golden glow surrounding Har. What amazed the mage further was learning that Har believed his soul had been broken. Har had believed wholly in the ideals of duty and honor and had believe that he had broken them by disobeying the King. Yet he still fought and lived his ideals as before, not knowing that the power of the oath he swore went beyond mortal comprehension. Even if he didn't know it his soul knew the full meaning of his oath: to do what is right in the face of all adversity, no matter the cost. Though he broke his oath to the King, he acted for the greater good, a justice that transcended mortals. His soul still glowed with his oath, his oath to do right was still intact.
The mage knew that Har was who the Order was seeking. He approached the brothers and explained who he was and what the order intended to do. Knowing that the brothers by themselves had no real chance of getting to King and saving them, Har and Nor agreed to go with the mage.
In an instant the mage took them to the headquarters of the Arcane Order. The high mages there spoke with the brothers about all that had happened since they had left the dwarfhold. The demon that had captured the King was called Nezumbaril - an ancient fiend that tempted and corrupted mortals, seeking to possess them and wreak havoc and chaos at every chance it had. The High Council approved of the Orders choice of Har and arranged a meeting with the Demon King under a banner of truce, to try and cease hostilities before the war started. The Demon King, confident in his war machine, agreed to meet them, mocking them that they should bring soft mats to kneel on when they bowed to him in surrender.
The high mages and dwarf brothers went to the Demon King. His army was camped outside the great city of lights, the Demon Kings first target in his invasion. The dwarf army stretched for miles, hundreds of thousands strong, colossal dwarvencraft siege machines waiting and ready. Nezumbaril had set his command post atop a hill, just past the valley that lead to the cities gates. Thousands of dwarves stood armed and ready, enslaved to Nezumbarils will they wore blank faces and stared through empty eyes. Har's heart ached to see his kinsman as demon slaves as he walked past them, climbing the hill to Nezumbaril's tent. The Demon King was waiting outside.
There was a large fire pit and tables of rotten food laid out nearby. Nezumbaril sat in a makeshift throne made of bones carried by orc slaves. The demon had twisted the dwarf kings body, growing twisting horns out of his skull and chitinous plates of armor over his arms and legs. The crown of the dwarfhold hung upside down in the demons horns. In Nezumbarils personal guard of enslaved dwarves Har saw his old friends and family - Nezumbaril had chosen the best of the weapon masters to serve him. Har froze when he saw who stood next to Antimalarial, blade out and held steady. Har's own mother, former captain of her house militia, now captain of Nezumbaril's bodyguards. Her eyes showed nothing, nor did they see her two sons standing before her.
"She was difficult to tame..." Nezumbaril said grinning. "...so I cast the sight from her eyes. She makes a better warrior now that she can't see the corpses of her kinsman."
Har's mothers ears twitched and she shifted her foot slightly, unerringly seeming to track Har's movement. He stopped a dozen paces from Nezumbaril and stared long at his mother. "I know you can hear me. Your blade has not been stained by the blood forced upon it." His gaze turned towards the demon king. "The deaths of all the innocents is your guilt alone...Nezumbaril."
The demon king shrieked at the sound of his true name. He grimaced and stared past Har at the mages behind the dwarf. "However many of your fellows had to die to learn that name will be nothing compared to how many I will kill for your insolence to dare use it." Looking back at the dwarf, he smiles again. "What have you come here for, noble Har? To join your mother in my service?" He arched his eyebrows and glanced to Nor. "And I see you have returned with your brothers head, in a fashion. Though I do recall your King told you to kill him first."
Har planted his feet firm in the ground, his right hand holding tight to the grip of his naginata. "I have been gone over three years in search of my brother. I learned...many things on the path to him, both of myself and of him. When I found him he told me what really happened the night he fled. He told me that our king had made a terrible choice and sought dark powers to help him against the orc siege." Har's voice rang out loud among the silent horde that surrounded them.
"I believed him, for he had given me cause to once again trust his word. He had shown that he truly did have honor - something that you, demon, have never known." Har's eyes burned into the demon king's as he took two steps forward and planted the butt of his naginata in the hard earth. "And in believing him and bringing him back alive, I disobeyed my king's order, and broke the oath I swore to serve him."
Nezumbaril opened his mouth to speak but Har cut him off his a sharp chop of his hand. "Silence, Nezumbaril!" The demon king opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out, his face twisted in agony.
"I am speaking." Har said, glancing at his mother before turning his eyes back to the demon king. Had she moved again? Could she be there, whole, complete, under the demons command? "But I have learned that I was mistaken, demon. My liege, my king, did not issue that command. YOU were the one to order me after my brother...your voice out of my kings mouth. I swore no oath to you...and in the absence of a direct order from my king, I have my oath to protect and serve him and the dwarfhold."
Har's voice lowered, though it still carried across the silent camp. "You are a threat to my family...to the dwarfhold...to my king. I name you Nezumbaril, demon-spawn and deceiver. You have no power over me; my oath is to my king...whom you hold hostage."
A soft golden glow began to surround Har, spreading out from his heart to cover his body, seeping into his naginata and into the ground. The earth around him began to brighten as the glow expanded in a radius around him. He stepped closer to the demon king and the golden radius stopped short of the demons throne. Har glanced at the blank eyes orc slaves holding the throne. "Awaken! Leave your master!" He shouted at them as the golden glow flowed across the ground and swept up them. When it reached their hearts their minds were freed and their eyes opened. They dropped the throne and jerked back as it slammed to the ground. The mages motioned for the orcs to join them and the wild eyed freed slaves ran over to them.
Nezumbaril shrank back in his throne away from the soft light as Har climbed the bone steps. He lifted his naginata and placed the tip of its blade against the demon kings heart. "Nezumbaril!" His voice rang out. "In the name of my king, whom I still serve, I order you to leave this body and return to whence you came. Depart, demon-spawn! By the power of your name I command and order you!" The demon king writhed and squirmed on the throne, his head thrown back in agony as his eyes rolled wildly. Commanded by his true name, the demon spirit left the body of the dwarf king and floated above the throne. Free from the boundaries of flesh it spoke again, it's voice soft and grating. "You think you have won, dwarf? Your kinsmen are still mine to command!" Har glanced briefly at the still form of his king and then lifted his naginata and regarded the demon spirit.
"You have no power here Nezumbaril, I have broken it. Begone!" Har shouted as he swung his blade through the demon spirits ghost form. It ripped in two, dark grey cloud stuff spilling out and dissipating in the wind. "You have no power here...begone." Har said softly as the last of the ghostly essence of the demon spirit faded away.
The dwarves in the encampment, those thousands surrounding Har and the hundreds of thousands further away felt a weight lifted off them. They stared around them in amazement - they had known what their bodies had been doing but had been unable to stop themselves. The control of the demon had reached fast and far in the three years to command complete control of every dwarf left in the dwarfhold. Har's mother blinked her eyes for the first time in years and tears began to form as she saw her two sons, alive and together. Nor and the mages came over to speak with Har but he did not see them.
Har was bent down, leaning over the dwarf king. He had taken the kings twisted and deformed body off the profane throne and lain it on the earth. The king's eyes opened slowly and it was the king himself that saw out from them. His gaze wandered around at the dwarves that surrounded him and then it focused on Har. A thin smile appeared on the Kings face. "I...always knew...you would come back." The words of the king were soft, yet they could be heard by all around as it seemed every breath was held to hear the true voice of the king after all these years.
"I do not have long. The demon has wracked my body..." He reached up and gripped Har's arm as he coughed, with brown liquid dribbling out his mouth. "...but you have saved my soul from him. I cannot pay for the crimes I have done...the ones that led me to him." He shook his head, interrupting Har before he could speak. "And even if I were not dying, I would not deserve to rule any longer." He coughed again, harder and longer this time. Bright red blood began to flow from his mouth and his skin began to color, a dark shade of grey. "Help me stand." He said to Har.
Har nodded and held the king under his shoulders. The king gripped Har's naginata for support and stood up. He looked around at the thousands of dwarves around him. Before he could speak Har stepped back and kneeled before the king, resting his head against the ground. Immediately the dwarves surrounding them did the same and it became a ripple among the army, as hundreds of thousands of dwarves went to the ground and kneeled before their king.
The king grimaced and nodded. He glanced up at the crown perched among his horns. He reached up and took it out, staring at it as he held it before him. The solid band of adamantine, set with thousands of tiny precious stones glittered in the sun. He looked down at Har. "Raise your head." He looked up and saw the king holding the crown of the dwarfhold. "Acquit yourself better than I have." The king said, placing the crown on Har's head. The king coughed again, louder then before, and his skin turned darker, like that of stone. He released Har's naginata and Har caught it as he stood up, placing his other arm around the former king. The dwarf ceased coughing and smiled, then lowered himself to the ground. His joints creaked and chips of stone flaked off as he bent his legs and arms, kneeling before the new king, his forehead touching the ground.
---
Har returned the dwarfs back to the dwarfhold. He freed the orc slaves and returned their lands to them. He named his brother Nar High Priest and his mother General, and slowly the world eased back into calm. The human army was disbanded as the High Council recognized Har as King of Dwarfhold. He thanked the Arcane Order for their help, swearing that he would come to their aid if they had need of him. The old king had become a statue, his body turned to stone as the final curse from the demon Nezumbarial. Har named the hill where the old king kneeled Kings Rest and dwarf engineers turned it into a stone garden.
Sitting on his throne in dwarfhold Har realized what power truly was. It was not merely the skill to wield a blade, or the ability to conjure powerful magics. It was instead the ability to correctly use such a skill. Power was having the wisdom to know what the right thing was and the courage to see it through.
HD: d8 Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Level
Special Ability
21
Epic Leadership
22
5th Legionnaire
23
Minor Aura Known
24
Major Aura Known, Major Aura +6
25
Bonus Feat
26
6th Legionnaire
27
Minor Aura Known
28
Major Aura Known, Major Aura +7
29
Bonus Feat
30
7th Legionnaire
Maneuvers: The marshall's initiator level is equal to his or her class level. The marshall's maneuvers readied and granted does not increase after 20th level. The marshall does not learn additional maneuvers unless he or she selects the Martial Knowledge feat.
Epic Leadership: At 21st level the Epic Marshall gains the Epic Leadership feat as a bonus feat, except his cohorts are governered by the rules under his Legionnaire ability. Epic Leadership determines how many followers he may have.
Legionnaire: At 22nd level and again at levels 26 and 30 the Epic Marshall gains the service of an additional cohort.
Minor Aura Known: At 23rd and 27th level the Epic Marshall learns an additional minor aura.
Major Aura Known: At 24th level and 28th level the Epic Marshall learns an additional major aura.
At 24th level the Epic Marshalls major aura bonus improves to +6. At 28th level the Epic Marshalls major aura bonus improves to +7.
Bonus Feat: At 25th and 29th level the Epic Marshall gains a bonus feat that he qualifies for.
__________________ The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai Me. "We have sent many to Hell, to smooth our way," said I, "and we are standing yet and holding blades. What more?"
I'm beginning to further flesh out my character both mechanics and fluff-wise. Is Epic Hero confirmed as being acceptable? (If so, I fully expect to see everyone using it. )
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Let's see. A list of all the homebrew approved so far added to the 16 would be great.
I compiled a list of what I found so far. Might have missed something, of course, so I'll apologize in advance if I didn't see your request, whichever one of us you are.
Specifically mentioned as allowed:
Creature of Legend Template (but HD depending abilities are restricted to racial HD; no Class HD apply), Ebon Inititiate, Epic Hero, Frostwrought Scion,
By the way, I'm not too familiar with all the Epic Destinies that are floating around; anyone who read my character have any recommendations as to which one might suit him?
for my part, I'm currently considering the Eternal Seeker by TDO - I really like the flavor of personal freedom, and I think it fits both my character and the game in general. Plus the abilities are really, really good.
Edit: There's also the True Genius, which is similar/better in many ways.
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Last edited by WhiteKnight777 : 05-29-2011 at 05:01 AM.
(Army of One) Army of One, Crush the Weak, Infinite Procession of Steel, Imperator’s Warning, Iron Legion, Whirling Steel, Vanguard of One
(Crimson Banner Executor) Inevitable Decree of Saturn
(Dancing Leaf) Absolute Perfection of Motion, Black Lotus Riposte, Crawling Ivy Strike, Mirror of the Soul, Pearl of Perfect Grace, Step Past the World, Turn Back the Wind, Vigil of Steel
(Diamond Mind) Action Before Thought, Avalanche of Blades, Diamond Nightmare Blade, Emerald Razor, Mind Over Body, Moment of Perfect Mind, Quicksilver Motion, Time Stands Still
Maneuvers Typically Readied (14)
(Army of One) Army of One, Crush the Weak, Whirling Steel
(Crimson Banner Executor) Inevitable Decree of Saturn
(Dancing Leaf) Absolute Perfection of Motion, Mirror of the Soul, Pearl of Perfect Grace
(Diamond Mind) Action Before Thought, Avalanche of Blades, Diamond Nightmare Blade, Emerald Razor, Mind Over Body, Moment of Perfect Mind, Time Stands Still
Stances Known
(Army of One) Challenge the Many, Golden Phalanx Assault, Golden Phalanx Defence
(Crims) Crimson Dance of Mars, Mercurial Trismegistus Stance
(Dancing Leaf) Mantle of Rose Petals, Mocking Dryad Stance, Oaken Roots Stance, Walking on the Wind
(Diamond Mind) Stance of Alacrity
Psionics
Spoiler
Power Points per Day: 458 Manifester Level: 21st
Powers Known by Mantle
(Deception) bend reality, concealing amorpha, mass cloud mind
(Fate) defensive precognition, fate of one, greater precognition, metafaculty, offensive precognition
(Freedom) dimension hop, evade burst, hustle, psionic fly, psionic freedom of movement, psionic greater teleport
(Law) heavy earth, steadfast perception
(Repose) personal mind blank
(Time) anticipatory strike, deceleration, temporal acceleration, time hop, time regression
Lore
Spoiler
As an individual, Haseid is not very well known throughout Toril, as the duties of he and his school are best served by avoiding the limelight. However, the Crimson Banner does not teach it students much in the way of avoiding attention, preferring them to know just when their opportune moment to strike is.
The School of the Crimson Banner
Spoiler
Whilst its agents go about their lives largely anonymously (though occasionally, a certain executor's title may become well-known), the School of the Crimson Banner itself possesses considerable renown. Almost any educated personage from the Northern Sword Coast or anyone with knowledge of the area's history or of Sublime Way dojos in general knows that the school can be found east of Waterdeep, nestled between the Ardeep Forest and the hills west of Secomber. Such individuals also know that the school produces martial adepts with uncanny foresight and fate-bending prowess. However, even people with less knowledge than this, even those beyond the Sword Coast are likely to know of the deeds of the school's students, even if they do not associate them with the Crimson Banner itself: the actions undertaken by Seven and Score Inevitable Proclamations that resulted in the collapse of the second and third largest thieves' guilds in Amn, the multiple attempts The Auspicious Judge of Dust and Copper has made on Szass Tam's unlife, the small village in Sembia that Forgotten Unfortunate Smile held in quarantine against all opposition until all its inhabitants lay dead of a plague... each of these, and more are known to most laymen throughout Faerun.
Individuals with deeper reserves of knowledge, or those who delve into the esoteric, will know of the mission statement of the school and its students: to make sure everything ends at its appointed time, and to ensure any who avoid it do not avoid it for any longer than is possible. With this level knowledge, one may also know of the executors' alleged love of talking about maidens in battle.
Only the wisest know that the executors utilise inhumanly fast astrological predictions mid-battle, and that school's techniques were handed down by a patron of whom the executors say nothing. Such learned sages may also know one of the Scriptures of the Maidens in full.
Those with knowledge that exceeds even the entirety of the library of Candlekeep will know that not even the executors themselves know the identity of their patron. Such individuals will know at least two of the Scriptures of the Maidens in full, but the more they know, the less likely they are to have perceived their intended teachings.
The Five-fold Scriptures of the Maidens
Spoiler
The Scripture of the Wandering Maiden
Once, there was a maiden…
…who never stayed in one place.
She danced over oceans,
and jumped over mountains,
always with a smile on her face.
“The world can’t hold me!” she said.
***
And she ran outside of the world.
“At last!” said the world, “You’ll keep me down no more!
“I’m free to do as I wish!”
The world moved on, and left her behind,
and she looked at the place around her.
“Now how can I run?” she said to the lack,
“The race always ends,” spoke the Void.
The Scripture of the Murderous Maiden
Once, there was a maiden…
…who always slew who she could.
With poisons and lies
or steel and lives
she butchered all she could reach.
“I’m putting my death off somehow,” she said.
***
At last she killed the last man
and massacred the last woman and child.
She looked round the world,
and felt a chill in her heart,
and death came to her at last.
She said “Why did I stop?”
“There’s always an end,” laughed Death.
The Scripture of the Quiet Maiden
Once, there was a maiden…
…who only spoke to herself.
She knew many things about many things:
Men’s loves and hates,
Ambitions and lies
Better than they knew it themselves.
***
Her mother finally asked her
“Why not use what you know?
“Why not help yourself
to all that you need?”
She said “I know many things,
“But I don’t know if they’re true.
“One day, I’m not gonna know what to do, because -”
“There’s always an ending,” she suddenly knew.
The Scripture of the Devoted Maiden
Once, there was a maiden…
…who always stared at the sky.
Men came to court her,
heaped praise upon compliment
upon prayers.
“The stars are more beautiful than I,” she said.
***
Her lovers then left her,
And she cast her eyes down,
And found herself surrounded by night.
She said “I feel so alone.
“Gods never looked at me as I did at them.
“I wish I had loved for me instead. Because -”
“There’s always an ending,” said Faith.
The Scripture of the Enslaved Maiden
Once, there was a maiden…
…and she hated the way she lived.
But she endured what she hated,
and lived in hardship,
and never once took the easy way out.
“That is the price of freedom,” she said.
***
One day, men came to take her.
She railed against them
though they clasped her in chains.
After many years,
Her fire burned out,
and she lay in her cage to die.
“After all, there’s always an end,” she said.
Background
Spoiler
Personal History
Spoiler
Forthcoming...
Snapshots
Spoiler
Tutelage
Spoiler
"Argh, sifu! I'll never get these kata right! It's impossible!"
Haseid raised his head from his meditations and looked out to the centre of the courtyard, where his newest student was trying and failing to master the most basic principles of the Crimson Banner.
"You will master them eventually. After all-"
"There's always an end. I remember what you taught me, sifu, but at this rate, I'm liable to end before my failure does."
The student practically fell over once again, and this time gave up, choosing to fall onto his back and lie on the ground. He raised his head when he heard the sound steel being drawn and saw Haseid positioned over him, ready to strike.
"Let us see if that is true."
Haseid's weapon plunged toward the student, their face stained with terror. The student closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable. A few seconds passed, and nothing. He opened his eyes and found himself standing, his sifu standing five feet away, his sword raised in a position designed to deflect unarmed attacks.
"Dancing Leaf's Autumn Breath, followed by Army of One's Push Back. Very good. Return to your training."
Toll the Bells for the Wall
Spoiler
That had been ten years ago. Now, Haseid paced about the Hall of Bells, the heart of the Crimson Banner's school, waiting for his master.
A breath of wind stirred the hundred thousand bronze bells that covered the room, their clappers singing faintly, a pattering symphony of metal on metal. Then came the voice: soft, pleasant, undeniably inevitable.
"Haseid."
"Sifu."
"Do you remember the histories of this order?"
"Of course, sifu."
"You remember the story of the Prophecy of the Inauspicious Judgement?"
"Of course, sifu. Four centuries ago, you and the highest members of the order convened beyond the Hall of Bells, and together you foretold that it was the time of something monstrous on the planes. However, you believed that this was a fate the order was not yet strong enough to bring to pass. And so, you instructed the masters to wait, and ready themselves that they might be able to bring this fate to pass."
"But my students did not listen. They had grown foolhardy and proud with the skills I had shown them, and they thought to bring about the Inauspicious Judgement before they were able, simply because fate was on their side. They failed, for the subject of the Inauspicious Judgement is guarded by powers that regularly defy the strictures of fate."
There, the voice paused, and the bells filled the room with their soundings.
"Sifu?"
"However, things will soon change. Soon, you will have strength enough to challenge the Inauspiciously Judged, and others with such strength shall deign to move against it."
"Sifu, if I may inquire... what is the Inauspiciously Judged?"
"The Wall of the Faithless. The construct of a dead god of the dead, one that the current bearer of that title, and all other deities, hold inviolable. They think their judgements eternal, but forget that they themselves are not. They forget that-"
As if my character wasn't enough of a Sidereal Exalt.
What character? You're playing this game? Who are you?
Anyway, I have some questions too-
Going by the normal rules, there are two things prohibited in Gestalt.
1) Using two PrCs at the same time.
2) Using Dual Advancement PrCs (Mystic Theurge, etc).
Personally, I've never seen a great deal of reason behind the first one. You can still make really potent characters, so it doesn't cut down on power... you can still multiclass, so it doesn't necessarily cut down on complication... all it really does is cut away a bunch of interesting options. I've seen a lot of games where it has been discarded, so I want to ask- are we going to follow that rule here, or not?
Secondly, dual advancement PrCs.
This one makes a bit more sense. Dual advancement and gestalt can be pretty crazy.
Nonetheless, it cuts out on some neat options (and in particular, some classes I would love to use), so I'd like to ask if you'd be okay with either of the following options.
a) Dual advancement PrCs must have all qualifications met for it on the same 'side' of the gestalt.
b) Dual advancement PrCs are allowed, but are no longer dual advancement. They may only advance one class, which is chosen when the PrC is entered. (So essentially, if you entered Mystic Theurge, it could either advance Cleric or Wizard- obviously a bad option, but this option would be good for allowing Dual Advancement classes that actually have decent class features).
Let's see. A list of all the homebrew approved so far added to the 16 would be great.
I compiled a list of what I found so far. Might have missed something, of course, so I'll apologize in advance if I didn't see your request, whichever one of us you are.
I thought I had allowed Samurai, but maybe I forgot. Yes it's fine.
Chained Devil Defiant will depend on Edge, who said he wasn't completely happy with it.
Epic Destinies will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Phobic Master is fine, but do notice that the 5th level ability only applies to living creatures with mind-affecting immunity.
Mindwarped, eh I can't say I care for it mechanically, much of what it does seems to be dependent on being targeted my a mind-affecting effect, so I'm going to say no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wing
I've organised my questions like a Russian doll:
Are cohorts okay?
Are cohorts gestalt?
Is Thrallherd okay?
Heh. Yes to cohorts and yes to Thrallherd. Now, as far as cohorts being Gestalt, I'll allow it--I mean they do need to be close to the same power level as the PCs--but on the condition that I be allowed to choose one side of the Gestalt so that it still remains something of an NPC. You can pick the first half as well as what the character concept is, and I'll pick what I feel is appropriate for the second half. How's that sound?
Also my rule on cohorts is that you can write what they say in-character, and you can give them general or specific instructions, but I'll handle their actions and dice rolling.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteKnight777
for my part, I'm currently considering the Eternal Seeker by TDO - I really like the flavor of personal freedom, and I think it fits both my character and the game in general. Plus the abilities are really, really good.
Edit: There's also the True Genius, which is similar/better in many ways.
Eternal Seeker I will allow, but I'm going to rule that the statement "You are treated as having maximum skill ranks in all skills" applies to the numerical results of skill checks. For meeting prerequisites for feats, PrCs, etc., you would still have to buy the ranks as normal. I don't think skill points should be rendered completely redundant.
True Genius on the other hand, eh I don't know. I realize the whole point of the Factotum class is to mimic other classes, but I think effectively being able to replace any base class at level 24 is a bit much. Maybe if you switched the places of the level 24 and 27 features it'd be okay, but I'll have to think about it some more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edge
If we are going with Epic Destinies, I'll probably be going with TDO's Chosen of Battles or Chosen of Endings, assuming they get okayed.
Both of those are fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vael
Going by the normal rules, there are two things prohibited in Gestalt.
1) Using two PrCs at the same time.
2) Using Dual Advancement PrCs (Mystic Theurge, etc).
You know, I'd never really thought to look at what's the justification for barring two PrCs at the same time, but there doesn't seem to be any, and I can't think of any myself so we can go ahead and drop that rule.
As to the second question, I think the problem of Dual Advancement PrCs in Gestalt is you're very nearly gaining three halves of a Gestalt instead of two. So even qualifying for a Dual Advancement PrC entirely on one side would create this problem.
But having said that, your Option B would negate that problem so I'll let you do that, though you'd still need to meet the prerequisites as normal.
But having said that, your Option B would negate that problem so I'll let you do that, though you'd still need to meet the prerequisites as normal.
I've always thought that was the better option myself, but I've seen a number of people use the other one, so I figured I'd throw it out there.
Anyway, awesome. I'll get to building then.
Oh, and just 'cause I was looking at it-
As far as I can tell, these were the basic roles/ideas people specified:
Player
Role
Von Doom
Arcanist (Thaumaturge- arcane Erudite, basically)
WhiteKnight
Arcanist (Possibly Wizard or other logician type class?)
Edge
Melee Damage Dealer (Time/Fate Ninja )
Chambers
Melee (Samurai//Crusader)
Vael
Arcanist (Warlock//Sorcerer, possibly heading towards a more blasting type role just to differentiate from the other more option based arcanists)
Wing
Psionics (Probably Thrallherd type, using lots of minions?)
So from a traditional party, what we'd be missing is a skill monkey and a divine caster.
Having experienced epic level play before, and given the various epic destinies White Knight is looking at, I think we can probably safely ignore the usual "skill monkey." The only huge skill option in epic is Hide/Move Silently, but that usually just ends up as incredibly annoying and argument causing.
Divine Caster, on the other hand, might still be a pretty worthwhile thing to have, if not essential. I imagine we could find some other methods to pick up healing, but they do have other nice spells we could make use of (the various rez spells, Miracle, the various restoration type spells...)
Actually, I'll be going for Ebon Initiate 14/Frostwrought Scion 10 on the one side, the Thaumaturge bit was for my first character idea that I ultimately dismissed.
Shame about the Mindwarped, though. As an undead Olethros is obviously already immune to mind-affecting, the bad **** that'd happen if someone actually doesn't realize that and tries would just be a little flavor. I mostly liked the class as an option for him because of the whole descent into madness thing; reflavored into wishing for oblivion and annihilation, it fits very well and would illustrate very nicely how alien the thought processes of someone like that would become. Ah well, guess it's back to thinking about what the other half will be, then. Mindwarped would have been an easy 20 level decision.
Looking over Epic Destinies, I also quite like the Eternal Seeker and True Genius, though as Scylfing said, that last one is pretty crazy. The other one I'm interested in is the Chosen of Secrets.
Edit: Would Shar condone Olethros' learning of the ways of the Ur-Priests and stealing from gods that aren't her? That's the only way I figure Olethros could be an active divine caster and keep his continued service to Shar a secret. Otherwise I won't opt for divine caster ... maybe Factotum, after all? Or something psionic?
Okay, so I picked up a nifty idea for my race which I want to ask for.
Are you familiar with the Hellbred from Fiendish Codex II? Well, I was thinking that due to my character background, it fit the concept almost perfectly... almost though. It's flavored towards the Hells, and I'd prefer to make it aspected towards the Far Realms.
It would need only a few minor tweaks to be changed to Far Realms. Here's what I'm thinking:
Spoiler
Taking my cue from the Anathema Mage PrC (which I want to use), I'd relabel them as Anathema rather than Hellbred.
All the special abilities (excluding the bonus feat) still work perfectly, though I'd make note that instead of being Hellbound, they'd be claimed by the Far. The effects would be the same though.
I figure we'd also switch out the Infernal language for something else. Not sure what though, as I can't think of any real language associated with the Far Realm. Maybe Undercommon...?
The Devil's Favor bonus feat doesn't really fit someone tainted by the Far. I'm thinking we could replace it with Aberration Blood from Lords of Madness. It's a similarly low power feat that leads into a chain of more interesting feats, which makes it desirable, and this would also help lead in to the Anathema Mage PrC for me.
I'd probably be going the Spirit Hellbred route, but if I went Body, I assume we'd replace the Devil-touched feats with Aberration Blood.
Also, while I'm on the topic of Aberration Blood, I'd like to ask approval for these aberration blood feats. Adds some variety and a few more worthwhile options to the chain.
Har's brother is fluffed as a high priest, but I'm wary of using leadership to have him as a cohort, because I feel like there will be plenty of companion npc's through the thrallherd and his brother worships Moradin. Not sure he'd go along with the mission.
__________________ The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai Me. "We have sent many to Hell, to smooth our way," said I, "and we are standing yet and holding blades. What more?"
Looking over Epic Destinies, I also quite like the Eternal Seeker and True Genius, though as Scylfing said, that last one is pretty crazy. The other one I'm interested in is the Chosen of Secrets.
I think Chosen of Secrets is a very appropriate destiny for a Sharran. For the 24th level ability though, Unweaving Method, I'm inclined rule that when you make use of this ability for any given metamagic feat you can't reduce that same metamagic feat with metamagic reducers from other sources.
So if you had a feat or class ability that reduced, say, Maximize from +3 to +2 you would have to choose between that and Unweaving Method if you wanted to reduce it even further. But if you wanted to Maximize and Empower a spell and didn't have another reducer for Empower, you'd still be able to use Unweaving Method on Empower and use your other reducer for Maximize. Does that make sense? I hope that wouldn't discourage you from taking Chosen of Secrets though.
Quote:
Edit: Would Shar condone Olethros' learning of the ways of the Ur-Priests and stealing from gods that aren't her? That's the only way I figure Olethros could be an active divine caster and keep his continued service to Shar a secret. Otherwise I won't opt for divine caster ... maybe Factotum, after all? Or something psionic?
Yeah, I'll let you do that with Ur-Priest, her and Cyric are about the only ones I'd permit that for. I would note, however, that the power you're stealing would technically be funneled to her but that's just fluff, it wouldn't change the mechanics of the class.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vael
Are you familiar with the Hellbred from Fiendish Codex II? Well, I was thinking that due to my character background, it fit the concept almost perfectly... almost though. It's flavored towards the Hells, and I'd prefer to make it aspected towards the Far Realms.
Yep, I'm familiar with it, and that makes perfect sense since your character would've returned through intercession from a Far Realm entity. You can go ahead and make those changes, and the aberration blood feats are fine with two exceptions: I think Aberrant Armor should give damage reduction of 1 +1 per Aberrant feat (like Fey Skin), and Madspawn should be clarified to say one 1st level psionic power (like Hidden Talent).
And re: divine casters, definitely do keep in mind the Patron Deity rule in Forgotten Realms and the nature of the campaign. I'm fine with either a PC or cohort being a divine caster, but there are only a handful of deities I'd allow you to serve and still stay in good standing if your patron ever becomes aware of your intentions.
Re: Chosen of Secrets; it does make sense. And currently looks like my best choice, all things considered. Though if we ever reach level 30, that ability definitely needs to change. A lot. Fluff-wise, that is.
Re: Ur-Priest
That ... may actually be problematic. Not in general, mind you, but for the duration of this particular game. Considering our level, it's not unrealistic that it could be discovered that he's actually funneling the stolen divine spell energy he isn't using up to Shar. And that would totally ruin his plans. He can't just well walk up to people and go 'Oh, yeah, according to my calculations, destroying the Wall will be a major step towards plunging all of creation back into darkness. Want me to help you out with that?' S'why he'll be claiming to be disillusioned with Shar and wanting to secure his soul's safety.
Another thing I considered, fluff-wise: Would it be alright to claim that before disappearing and getting started on this new plan, he was actually also a Chosen of Shar? Temporarily relinquishing that power to, ironically, increase the chances of success for his master plan would fit the mad schemer aspect very well. Since even as a Chosen, it'd be impossible to do alone. And most people who'd want to destroy the Wall probably aren't too big on gods and their Chosen. Heh.
Having experienced epic level play before, and given the various epic destinies White Knight is looking at, I think we can probably safely ignore the usual "skill monkey." The only huge skill option in epic is Hide/Move Silently, but that usually just ends up as incredibly annoying and argument causing.
Divine Caster, on the other hand, might still be a pretty worthwhile thing to have, if not essential. I imagine we could find some other methods to pick up healing, but they do have other nice spells we could make use of (the various rez spells, Miracle, the various restoration type spells...)
I'm considering a couple of options at this point - one of them involves going Druid/Master of Many Forms/Archivist on one side of the Gestalt and using a combination of Epic Hero and my Eternal Seeker to ensure that all the casting and Wild Shaping are up to snuff, while the other side of the Gestalt focuses on UNLIMITED ARCANE POWER! In that case, we'd have the benefit of both full Arcane, Divine, and Natural casting. Not to mention I could backup melee and such with relative ease.
Are you planning on supplying our "Face" Vael? You being a Warlock, you're one of the best suited to it, especially given your access to epic Incantation shenanigans. Of course, your character being a crazy Far Realms type might mitigate that effectiveness.
Scyfling, how do you feel about the Assume Supernatural Ability feat from Savage Species? Normally it's overpowered and silly, but when everyone already has access to Shapechange, it goes from being well above the curve to being rather noticeably below it, since it's far more limited than Shapecheese.
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Last edited by WhiteKnight777 : 05-29-2011 at 04:01 PM.
I know Wing was contemplating playing a Face character, but I likely will have fairly high charisma and some social spells.
Granted, my character will be a bit... unusual, but they'll probably be decent in that capacity.
I'm not sure what you mean by epic incantation shenanigans though. Do you mean epic spells, or epic invocations (which as far as I'm aware there aren't any) or what?
Edit: Maybe you mean the Epic Warlock Feats?
I'm not sure what you mean by epic incantation shenanigans though. Do you mean epic spells, or epic invocations (which as far as I'm aware there aren't any) or what?
Edit: Maybe you mean the Epic Warlock Feats?
Blargh, yeah, I meant the feats, specifically Morpheme Savant. It's been a while since I made a Warlock of any kind and I screwed up the wording.
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Now that we can take two PrCs simultaneously, anyone know any good PrCs for the Ardent side of my gestalt? I would just take more Ardent, but I'm finding it hard to justify 6 different mantles whilst remaining true to his philosophy.
I'm currently looking at Swordsage 14/Crimson Banner Executor 10//Ardent ??/??? ??/Epic Hero 3. Mantles are looking like Fate, Time, Law, Freedom, Justice and Death.
Re: Chosen of Secrets; it does make sense. And currently looks like my best choice, all things considered. Though if we ever reach level 30, that ability definitely needs to change. A lot. Fluff-wise, that is.
Good point about the level 30 ability, seeing as how your character doesn't have blood. I guess if/when it comes to that we could just say it steals positive (or in your case, negative) energy. That also brings up something important I wanted to ask...
Note For Everyone: For leveling up if it's okay with all of you I'd like to do that narratively, i.e. you'll level up after what I consider to be a major accomplishment toward your goal. I know this creates a problem in that XP is a fungible resource in D&D 3.5, but I'm sure we can figure out a work-around so that you can still use things that have an XP cost.
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Re: Ur-Priest
That ... may actually be problematic. Not in general, mind you, but for the duration of this particular game. Considering our level, it's not unrealistic that it could be discovered that he's actually funneling the stolen divine spell energy he isn't using up to Shar. And that would totally ruin his plans. He can't just well walk up to people and go 'Oh, yeah, according to my calculations, destroying the Wall will be a major step towards plunging all of creation back into darkness. Want me to help you out with that?' S'why he'll be claiming to be disillusioned with Shar and wanting to secure his soul's safety.
Another thing I considered, fluff-wise: Would it be alright to claim that before disappearing and getting started on this new plan, he was actually also a Chosen of Shar? Temporarily relinquishing that power to, ironically, increase the chances of success for his master plan would fit the mad schemer aspect very well. Since even as a Chosen, it'd be impossible to do alone. And most people who'd want to destroy the Wall probably aren't too big on gods and their Chosen. Heh.
Ah. Well you know, that's a really good point in the sense that Shar wouldn't want to risk getting caught stealing from another god--which wouldn't keep her from stealing of course, she'd take anything and everything she could, but I'm sure she'd devise some way to hide that stolen power and hiding it in one of her Chosen makes sense. Removing your Chosen abilities makes even more sense so you'd still appear to be out of her favor. Just so long as you understand that at some point the Mistress of the Night is going to come for that power you've taken, heh.
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Originally Posted by WhiteKnight777
Scyfling, how do you feel about the Assume Supernatural Ability feat from Savage Species? Normally it's overpowered and silly, but when everyone already has access to Shapechange, it goes from being well above the curve to being rather noticeably below it, since it's far more limited than Shapecheese.
That's fine, just so long as there won't be any Manipulate Form going on.
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Originally Posted by VonDoom
Skills are a bit of a pain in a game like this, so what do you think of using the retroactive Skills creation rules?
Sure that's fine, at this level making Int increases retroactive for skill points is about the only way to do it without it being a big pain in the butt.
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Originally Posted by Edge
Now that we can take two PrCs simultaneously, anyone know any good PrCs for the Ardent side of my gestalt? I would just take more Ardent, but I'm finding it hard to justify 6 different mantles whilst remaining true to his philosophy.
Y'know, I'd never advise it for anything less than Epic, but Metamind will net you lots of cheap/free manifesting and by level 24 you'll be able to recover all but one of your lost ML. Slayer and Elocater are also good choices for gishes.
Re: mantles, you might want to check out the Dominant Ideal ACF.
I've been thinking about how to build my character and I'm worried that he'll be relatively useless without any magic type abilities, seeing as he's the only one in the group without any. I want to keep him like that though and was wondering if you'd consider a boost to some melee classes to help him out.
He'll be Samurai 24 on one side and Crusader 24 on the other, but would you consider taking the Knight class features and adding them to the Crusader? The Knight has some neat abilities but when compared to a full Crusader they're not worth it in a party nearly full of all primary casters. So he'd be a Samurai 24//Crusader-Knight 24. What do you think?
Edit: also interested in other suggestions.
__________________ The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai Me. "We have sent many to Hell, to smooth our way," said I, "and we are standing yet and holding blades. What more?"
So, I've been considering the various epic feats, and it came to my mind that a really cool feat (and flavorful one for my character) would be one that modified and empowered the invocation Dark Discorporation- but there isn't an epic warlock feat that does that yet.
Dark Discorporation is pretty awesome (because becoming a swarm is awesome), but there is that really nasty issue that you can only take move actions while in its shape (ouch!)
Would getting rid of that limitation be something you'd be willing to consider as part of an epic feat, or should I turn my attention elsewhere?
That's fine, just so long as there won't be any Manipulate Form going on.
Nah. It just makes the Master of Many forms useful at this level (if still less powerful than Shapechange,) and I have a long-standing affection for the class. Thanks!
My current build idea runs thus (Feedback is appreciated, if you're of a mind.)
Basically, three full casting progressions (Druid/Wizard/Sorcerer) with Druid providing plenty of personal buffs, Wizard providing buffs/utility/etcetera and sorcerer providing combat spells.
Thematically, my character keeps evolving in my head. At the moment, he's an enlightened being - not necessarily nice, but he's philosophically, mentally, and magically developed to a point where he understands not merely "Magic" as most people perceive it, but as the raw, generative quintessence that makes up the cosmos. His magical prowess comes from manipulation of that force.
Philisophically, his abhorrence of the wall is a combination of a holdover from his life in Faerun and a personal belief that there needs to be some sort of justice in the universe - and that the wall is fundamentally unjust.
__________________ Like dragons and/or allegory? A little writing project I'm working on. Check back for updates, and feedback is always appreciated!
Last edited by WhiteKnight777 : 05-29-2011 at 05:59 PM.
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"Mr. Kelemvor, tear down this Wall" [OOC]
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