The Sorrow of Ard Shurel (Magic Item)
The fragments of legend that can be pieced together in regards to this blade are few and scattered. It is whispered that Ard Shurel was a great Warlord, rising to power during the dawn of mankind. Little is known of his path to glory, but myths allude to his gentle spirit, compassionate heart, and endless ferocity.
Having gathered his brothers to his breast, Ard mastered the savage land he found around him. Slaying those who opposed him, and embracing those who would head his wisdom. Long was the struggle with the fel creatures of the night, but gradually a fragile balance was achieved and for a time he was at peace.
The mythos claims that his heart was captured by a beautiful maiden, and that he made her his bride. Fair and pure she was, tall and slender of neck. As all such things go, they were content for a time. Sadly, their happiness was short lived, for a demon of great power had been watching Ard, gnashing it’s great teeth in readiness for the day when it could strike him down.
Undar’gesh was a denizen of the shadows, a whisperer of lies. His minions lurked in darkness at fire’s edge, lusting for blood to quench their never ending thirst. For years they had hurled themselves upon Ard Shurel and his men, crashing down in endless waves upon them. Defeat had left Undar’gesh with a powerful thirst for revenge, and Shurel’s happiness was just another mortal weakness upon which to prey.
Each night the gloom demon would visit the beautiful bride, and whisper in her ear, casting long shadows of doubt in her mind. Her head and her heart became full of glass menageries, brittle and untrue. It was not long as demons measure time before Ard’s sweet wife was lost to her own madness.
The fierce heart of Ard Shurel was sundered. The gentle spirit, and just heart grew bitter and cold with grief. In a fit of rage, he took up his great blade and slew his beloved with a single blow. As he looked upon his dying love, her eyes were cleared of their madness and she had only kind words on her lips for her champion.
Going mad with the horror of what he had done, Shurel turned his blade on his own men, drowning his sorrow in their blood. As darkness stole across the land, and the sunlight bled beyond the horizon, Ard Shurel fell upon his own blade. The last light fled, and there upon the floor lay pulsing blood red blade, a faint sound of laughter echoing in the distance.
The Sorrow of Ard Shurel
+2 wounding man-bane bastard sword
Chaotic Evil – Ego Score: 15
Int: 14, Wis: 14, Cha: 10
Speaks common and abyssal
120 ft. vision and hearing
Powers: minor image 1/day, locaete object 3/day
Special Purpose: to destroy love wherever it is found
Dedicated Power: when the sword is around those who love each other (platonic or romantic) it can use song of discord at will.
Strong Mixed Auras; 135,000 gold
Posted in Magic Item and tagged weapon by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Vitriolic Blast
The goblin adepts and sorcerers of Lord Fevul’s armies have passed knowledge of this spell down through the generations. It allows the caster to evoke cones of burning acid with which they spray their enemies. In battle, echelons of them will advance into the ranks of their foes, spraying deadly acid, and decimating their opponents.
Minor Vitriolic Blast
Evocation [Acid]
Level: Adept 3, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 10 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a cone-shaped spray of acid that originates at the caster’s rod or staff and extends outwards.
The cone is 10 ft long and deals 1d6 points of acid damage per caster level, up to a maximum of 5d6 points of damage. A reflex save is allowed for half damage.
Any creature that failed it’s reflex save takes 1d6 points of acid damage on the subsequent round. There is no save against this damage, although application of large quantities of water or oil before the round has passed can prevent further damage.
Arcane Focus
The focus for this spell is any staff or rod that has been anointed with special oils costing 10 gold.
Vitriolic Blast
Evocation [Acid]
Level: Adept 5, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a cone-shaped spray of acid that originates at the caster’s rod or staff and extends outwards.
The cone is 30 ft long and deals 1d6 points of acid damage per caster level, up to a maximum of 10d6 points of damage. A reflex save is allowed for half damage.
Any creature that failed it’s reflex save takes 3d6 points of acid damage on the subsequent round. There is no save against this damage, although application of large quantities of water or oil before the round has passed can prevent further damage.
Arcane Focus
The focus for this spell is any staff or rod that has been anointed with special oils costing 50 gold.
Major Vitriolic Blast
Evocation [Acid]
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 45 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes
This spell creates a cone-shaped spray of acid that originates at the caster’s rod or staff and extends outwards.
The cone is 45 ft long and deals 1d6 points of acid damage per caster level, up to a maximum of 20d6 points of damage. A reflex save is allowed for half damage.
Any creature that failed it’s reflex save takes 5d6 points of acid damage on the subsequent round. There is no save against this damage, although application of large quantities of water or oil before the round has passed can prevent further damage.
Arcane Focus
The focus for this spell is any staff or rod that has been anointed with special oils costing 200 gold.
Posted in Spell and tagged adept spell level 3, adept spell level 5, sorcerer / wizard spell 1, sorcerer / wizard spell 3, sorcerer / wizard spell 6 by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Foe’s Shade
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Darkness 8, Sorcerer / Wizard 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Short (25 ft + 5 ft / 2 levels)
Effect: One quasi-real illusionary foe shade
Duration: 1 rd. / 3 levels
Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with); varies; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real illusionary copy of your opponent. This shadow foe then attempts to slay the creature that it is a copy of, acting immediately much like a summoned monster.
The foe is actually one-half (50%) as strong as the original creature, though creatures who believe the shadow conjurations to be real are affected by them at full strength.
Any creature that interacts with the foe can make a Will save to recognize its true nature.
A foe’s shade has one-half the hit points of it’s original at the time of creation. It deals normal damage and has identical abilities and weaknesses to the creature it is a copy of at the time of casting, including prepared spells and equipment. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the foe shade’s damage is one-half (50%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal damage are only 50% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.) Furthermore, the shadow creature’s AC bonuses are one-half as large.
A creature that succeeds on its save sees the foe shade as a transparent image superimposed on a vague, shadowy form.
Objects automatically succeed on their Will saves against this spell.
Creatures who’s spell resistance is not overcome can not be affected by the foe shade.
Posted in Spell and tagged illusion, illusion (shadow), sorcerer / wizard spell level 8 by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Anti-Magic Missile
Anti-Magic [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: Up to five creatures, no two of which can be more than 15 ft. apart
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Non-magic target: Reflex None, magic targets: None
Spell Resistance: No
Anti-magic missile operates like magic missile, but the bolts radiate anti-magic and can be used to damage magical beings (and beings who wield significant magic, such as sorcerers and wizards). The bolts also affect normal creatures, as would normal bolts.
A missile of anti-magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage.
The missile strikes magical targets unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can’t be singled out. Inanimate objects are not damaged by the spell. Non-magical creatures may make a Reflex save to avoid all damage.
For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher. If you shoot multiple missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you check for spell resistance or roll damage.
In addition, if the the target currently concentrating on maintaining or casting a spell must make a concentration check +5 or the spell is dispelled.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged anti-magic, sorcerer / wizard spell 1 by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Earrings of Warning
These earrings were originally a gift from the Magus Alidol to the Sorceress Sophia. Knowing the type of enemies she had, he enchanted these earrings to help her be forewarned when she was in danger. They are finely crafted teardrop lapis lazuli stones in gold settings.
While worn, these earrings confer the following benefits:
+1 insight bonus to initiative
+1 insight bonus to reflex saves
+5 competence bonus on listen checks
When worn, they take up the hat magic item slot.
Faint Divination; Caster Level 18; Craft Wondrous item, bladeturn; 18,000 gold
Posted in Magic Item and tagged helm by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Ray of Enfumblement
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Dexterity equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject’s Dexterity score cannot drop below 1.
Posted in Spell and tagged necromancy, sorcerer / wizard spell 1 by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Robes of the Sea
These comfortable, flowing robes are a shimmering blue-green in color and decorated with bits of coral, shell, and ivory. They are often worn by sea-priests and mages who wish to travel among the kingdoms of mer-folk, aquatic elves and sea gnomes.
While worn, these robes grant the following powers:
* +10 circumstance bonus on swim checks
* continuous water breathing, per the spell
* can cast wave 3/day at 5th level – requiring a DC 16 Strength check by all caught in the wave
Faint Transmutation and Evocation; cl 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, water breathing, wave; 50,000 gold.
Posted in Magic Item and tagged shirt by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Ray of Befuddlement
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Intelligence equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject’s Intelligence score cannot drop below 1.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged necromancy, sorcerer / wizard spell 1 by Stephen Hilderbrand with no comments yet.
Burden of Woe
“Heavy as the granite from deep within the earth
Levity stolen and devoid of any mirth.
Thy sword is dull, thy shield is heavy,
For every step a toll is levied.
And this is how thou shalt know
the heaviness of the Burden of Woe.”
Burden of Woe
Transmutation
Bar 5, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25ft. + 5ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: No
You utter an incantation that instantly transmutes non-living matter into dull, stone versions of themselves.
Clothing, worn or carried objects, armor, shields, and weapons wielded by the target must succeed on a Will save or be transformed to rigid, ultra-dense stone versions of themselves. The stone is so heavy that the target cannot move as quickly and is encumbered. She takes a -2 penalty on attack rolls, AC, and Reflex saves and moves at the speed someone of her class/type would move when carrying a heavy load.
Make one saving throw for all the mundane items worn or carried, including clothes. Make a separate roll for armor and add a +4 bonus if the armor is magical. Make a separate roll for shields and add a +4 bonus if the shield is magical. Make a separate roll for weapons and add a +4 bonus if the weapons are magical. Every category of item uses the target’s Will modifier. If even one category fails their save, the target is encumbered and suffers the penalties listed above.
Any category of item that fails the saving throw instantly becomes a useless stone version of itself (and is no longer considered masterwork or magical if it had those properties) until a break enchantment, stone to flesh, limited wish, or wish spell is cast upon it.
The target can spend the appropriate time removing the affected item(s). Armor and shields follow the rules for removing armor listed in the Player’s Handbook. Once all the affected items are removed, the target is no longer encumbered and no longer suffers the penalties listed above.
If the target was flying when affected, they immediately begin to fall. If the target was swimming, they begin to drown unless they can breathe underwater.
This is an instantaneous effect that is not subject to spell resistance.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged cleric spell level 5, sorcerer / wizard spell level 5, transmutation by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
The Witch’s Watchdog
This is one of the first encounters in “Anointing the Seer“, an adventure coming soon from Unicorn Rampant. This big, bad wolf guards the entrance to the evil witch’s gardens in this fairy-tale styled adventure. Feel free to borrow it, or just Black Fang, for your games.
The Witch’s Watchdog (EL 12)
Here, an awakened dire wolf named Black Fang guards the entrance to the farm.
There is a break in the dense woods, revealing a clearing. A wooden arch, covered in green, thorny rose vines, marks the entrance of this small farmstead and stretches up high above your heads. A large yard and gardens stretch away before you. Shouts of revelry can be dimly heard from an enormous lodge house ahead to the left. To the right, behind extensive gardens, a two-story cottage sits among some trees at the far end of the clearing. Out of the darkness beneath the trees next to the arch a loud, low voice growls, “Who goes there?”
Creatures: An awakened dire wolf named Black Fang is the farm’s first guardian. He will challenge anyone other than the Sorceress or the giants who approaches the gate. He lurks in a dirt rut in the darkness a the foot of dense pine trees to the left of the gate (Hide: +14, +4 for cover = +18). A 100′ iron chain prevents him from ranging too far afield, and gives him a -4 on Move Silently checks. Conversation with him may allow the party to enter unmolested if they can bluff or bribe him, as he is not particularly loyal to the Sorceress. He is, however, a cruel, evil wolf, so he may demand that he be allowed to eat one of them for the others to enter. Either way, he readies a spring attack and tries to remain hidden in the shadows as soon as he spots or hears the anyone approaching.
Black Fang, CR 12
male awakened advanced dire wolf
chaotic evil large magical beast
Initiative: +7
Senses: Listen +32, Spot +32
Languages: common, sylvan, giant
AC: 22 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural, +7 dodge from Combat Expertiese), touch 18, flat-footed 14
HP: 225 (HD 25d8 + 100)
Fort: +18 Ref: +17 Will: +8
Speed: 50 ft.
Attack: bite +20 (2d6 + 19) – 7 point power attack, 7 point Combat Expertiese
Attack Options: combat expertiese, power attack, spring attack
Space / Reach: 10 ft. / 5 ft.
Base Attack: +25 Grapple: +37
SQ: Low-light vision, scent
SA: Trip (+39)
Feats: Alertness, Run, Track (from scent), Weapon Focus (bite), Improved Initiative, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Power Attack
Abilities Str 27, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 13
Skills: Hide +14, Listen +32, Move Silently +14, Spot +32, Survival +2*
Trip (Ex): When Black Fang hits with a bite attack he can attempt to trip its opponent (+38 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip Black Fang.
Tactics A cyclone of furry death, Black Fang fights with cunning. He will use his spring attack to keep out of reach of any dangerous fighters, and will use his whirlwind attack if he becomes surrounded. Any spellcasters who harm him badly will be sprung on and tripped, and he will then stand over them so that if they stand he can attack again.
Development: Unless the players defeat the Black Fang quickly, the nocturnal Harpy Archer in the garden may wake and raise the alarm. A battle is listen DC -10 to hear, and the sleeping harpy has a total -3 on her listen check. The gate is 120ft (-12) from her roost (-5 for the walls), however, so a roll of 10 or more on a d20 indicates she is wakened and will arrive and join the fight in 3 rounds.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Creature, Encounter and tagged Anointing the Seer by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.