Blessed Structures
In some regions of Proppia, it is rumored that the buildings themselves are touched by a powerful force.
In order to bless a structure, a 4th level spell, bless structure must be cast with the appropriate magical material component to provide the base bonus.
The effects of these enchantments are due to magical amulets and ward statues mortared within the structures themselves. These bonuses can come in many forms, including strength, AC, saves, temporary hit points, etc.
A common recipient of these blessings are walls, which add bonuses to all those on defense within the walls. This is a great way to achieve mass effects upon entire forces.
Blessings placed in structures are nullified if removed from the structures themselves, for instance if excavated. In these situations, the amulets, statues and other magical items which provided the wards often retain their bonuses, but travel with their new owners. In order for them to bless a new structure, they must be used as material components in the new bless structure invocation.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged campaign flavor, Location by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Bless Structure
Bless Structure
Enchantment
Level: Cleric 4, Paladin 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting time: 10 minutes
Range: Medium
Target: Structure that the material component is within
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This enchantment adds a bonus to all creatures within a structure who side with the caster. The structure is treated as having an enhancement bonus of the type of the alignment of the caster. In addition, those on the side of the caster receive additional bonuses depending on the magical item used in the casting of the spell.
See here for more.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged cleric spell, cleric spell level 4, paladin spell, paladin spell level 5 by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Saurian Cleric ✦ Level 13 Controller
Medium natural humanoid (lizardfolk) ✦ XP 800
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +11
HP 125; Bloodied 62
AC 27; Fortitude 25, Reflex 23, Will 27
Speed 5
Powers
Mace ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Melee
+18 vs. AC, 1d8 + 9 damage.
(un)Holy Smite ✦ At-Will, Standard Action, Close Blast 3, Radiant or Necrotic, Target: Each enemy in blast
The cleric brandishes his holy wymbol, speaks sacred words and energy from his god smites his enemies.
+17 vs. Will, Hit: 1d10+6 radiant or necrotic damage, and the target is weakened until the end of their next turn.
Dragon God’s Claw ✦ Encounter (recharge 5-6), Standard Action, Ranged 10, Force, Fire
In answer to the cleric’s prayer a ghostly claw of flame descends and pins the foe to the ground.
+17 vs. Reflex, 4d8+6 force and fire damage and the target is knocked prone, restrained and takes ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends).
Alignment neutral Languages Common
Skills Athletics +15, Religion +17
Str 19 (+10) Dex 12 (+7) Wis 22 (+12)
Con 13 (+7) Int 16 (+9) Cha 14 (+8)
Equipment: robes, scale mail, mace, holy symbol
These statistics can be used for either of the two high priests of the new temple to the gods in Veth’achuak’arux – the green valley of the Aurochs. The two priest revere Tiamat and Bahomet respectively and their Smite powers deal radiant or necrotic damage as befits their patrons.
Their creed includes the compatible commandments from those two gods and is primarilly focused on being mighty warriors. The priest of Tiamat tends to extole gaining wealth as a source of power and a benefit of power as well. The priest of Bahomet tends to focus on the importance of defending your family, clan or comrades in arms. Their teachings are very popular and well recieved by the mercanary companies that bivouac near the temple. The mercanaries tend to have a small shrine to these dragon gods on their ships and pray to them before battle. At the urging of the clerics these warriors have taken to calling themselves the Saurians to distinguish themselves from the rest of Aurochs who revere the royal shamans and their less martial spirits.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged creature type: humanoid, creature: paragon controller, subplot: Lament of the Aurochs by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
The Ruins of Soguer – Start of the Adventure in Aguies Town & Castle
Welcome back for part two of The Ruins of Soguer, an adventure you’ll see here piece by piece over the next few weeks. In the previous post you saw the introduction of the adventure for the dungeon master. Below is the start of the adventure to be read to the players at the beginning of the adventure, and some detail about the town where the adventure starts.
Having arrived in Aguies town to answer the call for heroes, you walk up the hill upon which Castle Aguies is built to the large stone gatehouse. Towers to the left and right are topped with battlements upon which fly a flag with a green dragon on a white field. A young guard in mail looks down at you from the battlements as you walk up the road to the open doors between the towers. Another guard standing at the door nods to you as you pass through the gatehouse into the castle’s courtyard. Within the well-trodden dirt courtyard a group of soldiers practice their sword-work at the direction of a gruff veteran barking orders at them. A wagon loaded with goods stand unhitched. Servants in simple clothes are busy unloading the sacks and barrels from the wagon while a groom brushes down the horses nearby. Across the courtyard the castle stands, its towers stretching up into the sky.
Crossing the busy courtyard you enter the stone castle by the open double doors below battlements two stories above. Inside this vestibule there are passages that lead left, and right, guarded by soldiers holding halberds. A long hallway with a polished stone floor and pillars flanking the walkway stretches before you, and the sounds of several voices conversing can be heard ahead.
Walking down the hallway between the stone pillars you come into a large hall filled with tables and people. Knights, squires, servants and a few people in fine dress sit or stand talking, eating and drinking. A line of petitioners stands before a scribe awaiting audience with the Count.
At the far side of the hall seated on a wooden throne atop a dais is a young man dressed in a fine green tunic and wearing a golden signet ring. At his shoulder stands a tall dragonborn also in a lordly tunic and with an ornate sword strapped to his hip. The two are in the midst of a discussion with an middle-aged priest in red robes wearing a holy symbol of Kord. As you cross the hall the young lord and his attendant take note of you. The dragonborn speaks in with a hissing accent. “Who approachesss Count Ludwig?”
The young Count stands up and begins to pace about the dais as he talks. He is young – perhaps seventeen – but speaks with passion and has a friendly presence. “As you may have heard, I am grandson to King Ludwig Staledwo, the last King of Soguer. I have made it my life’s work to unite the warring lords of this wounded and divided land in peace again. To that end I have asked the Fathers of the Church of the Three Brothers, Kord, Pelor and Heironeous – the same holy order that once ministered to the people of Soguer from their cathedral in the capitol – to coronate me the Heir to the throne of Soguer.”
At this the priest of Kord speaks up, “Yes, Ludwig, and after consulting the Brothers in prayer I was sent a message from Kord. I was in prayer in the chapel when a strong man appeared at my side. I could tell that he was a messenger from the gods. This herald of the gods told me that only if the boy speaks with the tongue of the law can he be the heir of Soguer.”
The dragonborn warrior interjects, “And of coursssse everyone knowssss he mussst be talking about his grandfather’sss sssword, the Judge’ssss Tounge. Which was losssst when the city of Ssssoguer was dessstroyed by the godsssss.”
“Too true,” continues the young lord. “They say they will not coronate me without my grandfather’s sword. Such is the gods’ will.” He shrugs.
“So that brings me to you, noble heroes. I have just conquered this county, and am fully occupied restoring order and seeing to the needs of the people. The Knights of Dragonforce are similarly occupied, or else I would send Gix’varie here and his men to search for the sword.” Ludwig continues, pointing to the dragonborn warrior.
Looking you in the eyes he says, “What say you, will you travel the River Daren to the ruined capitol of Soguer and retrieve the Judge’s Tongue? I will provide you with a boat and crew, and if you succeed then as the anointed King of Soguer I will happily reward you as dear friends. In the name of peace in this land I ask this of you.”
If the players accept this task Ludwig asks Gix’varie to see to the provisioning of a daren riverboat for the PCs and fares them well. Give the players the following major quest:
Major Quest – Crown Ludwig the Heir of Soguer
12th level – xp 700 for each player that completes the quest.
Goal: Go to the ruins of Soguer and retrieve the sword of the last King of Soguer, so that the priests may coronate Ludwig as the Heir of Soguer.
After that, give the players time to explore the city at their leisure and provision themselves as they see fit. Gix’varie will accompany them and tell them that by boat is should be a week or so’s journey downriver from here to the ruins of the city at the mouth of the river.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged The Ruins of Soguer by Adam A. Thompson with 1 comment.
Oracular Statues
Before him, on an altar of jet, was the dark, gigantic statue of Thasaidon which a devil-begotten sculptor had wrought in ancient days for an evil king of Tasuun, called Pharnoc. The archdemon was depicted in the guise of a full-armored warrior, lifting a spiky mace as if in heroic battle. Long had the statue lain in the desert-sunken palace of Pharnoc, whose very site was disputed by the nomads; and Namirrha, by his divination, had found it and had reared up the infernal image to abide with him always thereafter. And often, through the mouth of the statue, Thasaidon would utter oracles to Namirrha, or would answer interrogations.
–Clark Ashton Smith
Often great works depicting the Gods or the Lords of Hell are fashioned. On occasion the beings they represent will use their likenesses to communicate with mortals. Coveted by seekers of secrets and devoted priests, these statues are kept in warded sanctums, and sometimes are warded by the gods themselves.
These statues can be used to commune with the deities or powers that they represent by the faithful. Either through long devotion or sacrifice a supplicant can attempt to receive a message from their patrons. With a sacrifice of a nature suitable to the deity and the spending of healing surges the supplicant can ask questions of the statue as though they had cast a divination ritual such as Consult Mystic Sages or Consult Oracle, according to the DM’s discretion.
If desicrated or disrespected, these statues often become the conduit of their original’s wrath. Exploding, coming to life, pronouncing curses, or blasting with lightning and fire are all forms of vengance a powerful being may visit upon defilers through a statue of this type.
As heroes rise in power such a statue could come to be in their possession, and be used by the powers to give the heroes needful information. This could even be the foundation of an entire campaign, with the players doing the bidding of a god who communicates to them from a statue secured in a holy place.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged equipment: magic wondrous item by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Alternate Lanterns
We’re bringing you some campaign flavor this Halloween night, in the form of alternate lanterns to light up the night.
Hollowed Vegetables
Citizens of towns and villages carve out the centers of excess vegetables from the harvest, placing them on their doorsteps to light the paths. Commonly carved vegetables include pumpkins, potatoes, and turnips, which, when carved, are called jack o’lanterns, named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus.
Hammered Tins
Tins will often have holes pressed through them to allow light through. These are filled with candles and set out as long-term light sources with short-term fires.
Wooden Barrels
Some townsfolk are fond of chiseling or sawing holes in wooden barrels set at intersections, wherein smaller lamps are often placed. These holes allow light to pass through, illuminating the path, while protecting the wick from wind and rain.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged campaign flavor by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx, sometimes referred to by its German name Urvogel (“original bird” or “first bird”), is the earliest and most primitive bird known.
Archaeopteryx
Size/Type: Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d10 (12 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 10 ft (2 squares), fly 40 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +5 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-11 (+1 when attached)
Attack: Bite +7 melee (3d4-1)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (3d4-1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Attach, sawteeth
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +1
Abilities: Str 7, Dex 21, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +2, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse B
Environment: Warm marshes and moors
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
A archaeopteryx’s coloration ranges from rust-red to tan, with a coat of feathers that ranges from ochre to turquoise.
A archaeopteryx’s body is about 3 feet long, with a wingspan of 3-5 feet. It weighs about 50 pounds.
Combat
A archaeopteryx attacks by biting into a victim, and making a sawing motion with its beak.
Attach (Ex): If a archaeopteryx hits with its bite attack, it uses its saw-like teeth to latch onto the opponent’s body. An attached archaeopteryx is effectively grappling its prey. The archaeopteryx loses its Dexterity bonus to AC and has an AC of 12, but holds on with great tenacity. Archaeopteryx have a +12 racial bonus on grapple checks (already figured into the Base Attack/Grapple entry above).
An attached archaeopteryx can be struck with a weapon or grappled itself. To remove an attached archaeopteryx through grappling, the opponent must achieve a pin against the archaeopteryx.
Sawtooth (Ex): Archaeopteryx deal 1d6 points of damage in any round when it begins its turn attached to a victim.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged animal, creature type: dinosaur, flying, small by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
The Ruins of Soguer – Introduction
Welcome back to Tailslap!, Unicorn Rampant’s 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons publication.
Today I’m releasing the first on many dungeon-a-day style posts for our latest adventure: The Ruins of Soguer. I’m super excited to be sharing this adventure with y’all in this great format! Every few days you’ll see a new section of the adventure, be it a location in town, a interlude, and overview of an area or an encounter.
So without further fanfare, I present the introduction to The Ruins of Soguer!
Look for the details of Aguies town to follow shortly, followed by the start of the meat of the adventure: a trip by riverboat down the river Daren to the Ruins of Soguer!
Introductory Text: Called upon to retrieve the old king’s sword and crown from the ruins of the god-destroyed capitol, the heroes must brave the crumbling remains of the once-great city to find the royal insignia. Destroyed, overgrown and daemon-haunted, the ruins of the city of Soguer are said to be cursed, and do not relinquish their secrets easily. It will take heroes of true mettle to return alive with their prize and crown their lord the new King of Soguer!
Background: A year ago, in the war-torn country once known as Soguer, a young man named Ludwig appeared claiming to be the heir to the throne of the shattered kingdom. Pursuing a daring campaign this young warrior captured Castle Devyn from the orcs of the Yellow Snake Clan. As peace spread around Devyn town Ludwig was pressed to become a vassal by the neighboring Count of Aguies. Ludwig, claiming himself the true heir to the kingdom, and that Aguies was thereby rightful vassal to him, refused and forged an alliance with other lords in the County. Ludwig and his allies fought a brief, victorious war against Count Aguies.
Now Count of Aguies, one of the five Counties that composed the kingdom of Soguer, Ludwig has asked the priests of the Church of the Three Brothers to coronate him as King of Soguer. Hesitant, the priests of Kord, Pelor and Herionious cloistered themselves to pray upon the matter.
Several days later Father Dirk, the priest of Kord in the Aguies Cathedral announced that he had received a vision from The Brawler. In Ludwig’s hall he tells how a strong man appeared to him and told him that “only if the boy speaks with the tongue of the law can he be the heir of Soguer”. All agree that this must refer to Ludwig’s grandfather’s sword, the Judge’s Tongue, and that this is a sign from the gods that if this task can be mastered Ludwig should be coronated.
Thus does a call go out for heroes to retrieve the old king’s sword and crown from the ruins of the god-destroyed capitol at the mouth of the river Daren. The heroes are asked to brave the crumbling remains of the once-great city to find the royal insignia. Promised great reward and Ludwig’s eternal gratitude they are asked to return alive with their prize and crown Ludwig the new King of Soguer!
Adventure Hooks: This adventure was written as part of a larger campaign, called The Heir of Soguer, where the players are knight-vassals to Ludwig, and are assisting him to establish peace in the war-torn and fractured land that was his grandfather’s prosperous kingdom. In this context Ludwig simply asks them as friends to try to find the Judge’s Tongue.
If you are playing this adventure as a stand-alone adventure or as part of your own campaign, you may simply announce that a call has gone out for heroes to retrieve the royal sword and start play in that way.
Alternatively, you may wish to replace the sword with some other item or person that the players seek. It could be treasure they want or an important item in your story. Simply run the adventure as written and replace all references to the Judge’s Tongue with the item they are questing after.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged The Ruins of Soguer by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
A Series of False Trap Sketches
Inspired by a brief conversation from tonight’s role playing session, here are some false trap ideas for your dungeons. They’re brief themselves; so be it.
Alternate Flooring
One way to keep your party (especially the rogues) on their toes is to mix up the flooring. Drop in fitted stone where there is mostly naturally-hewn rock, or parquet in the middle of a wealthy treasure chamber. These false positives will set the party up to let their guard down for the real traps awaiting them!
Spurious Tripwires
Have tripwires in dungeons that don’t set off any traps. These wires might set certain levers, building to a larger trap, be lines to traps already set off, or simply be duds, traps that never seem to work.
False Pits
Have floors drop out from under the party, only to have them land 6″ below the normal floor. This will set them at ease… Or will it!?!?
Anti-trap Tripwires
Have these tripwires drop shields that protect the party from the falling rocks in the next room, or provide other potential escapes and work-arounds, such as opening up a side chamber or otherwise revealing a potential escape.
Posted in Trap and tagged dm tips by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Giant Pipefish
Slithering out from the the reef, a giant eel of a beast swims toward you.
Giant Pipefish
Size/Type: Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 12d8+46 (107 hp)
Initiative: +8
Speed: Swim 90 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 27 (-1 size, +6 Dex, +12 natural)
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+23
Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+5)
Full Attack: Bite +17 melee (2d6+5)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, constrict
Special Qualities: Keen scent
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +15, Will +8
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 23, Con 15, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +14, Spot +10, Swim +24
Feats: Improved Natural Attack (bite), Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Cold aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 13-18 (Huge); 19-32 (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: —
Giant pipefish attack anything they perceive to be edible, even larger creatures, constricting them until they stop breathing.
This monstrous fish can grow to a length of 25 feet and weigh more than 4,000 pounds.
Combat
Giant pipefish entangle their foes in their long, tentacle-like bodies.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire shark must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe in the following round.
Constrict (Ex): A creature with this special attack can crush an opponent, dealing bludgeoning damage, after making a successful grapple check. The amount of damage is given in the creature’s entry. If the creature also has the improved grab ability it deals constriction damage in addition to damage dealt by the weapon used to grab.
Keen Scent (Ex): A giant pipefish can notice creatures by scent in a 180-foot radius and can detect blood in the water at a range of up to 1 mile.
Skills
A giant pipefish has a +12 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered, and get a free tumble check to move through opponents spaces, avoiding attacks of opportunity.
It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature and tagged animal by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.