Phantasmal Pommel
Created by Terin Goldwrit the dwarven artifacer for the use of his companion Galenados the elven knight, this pommel summons a phontom steed for up to 9 hours a day. These hours do not have to be continuous, but it takes 10 minutes for the steed to coalesce out of slowly gathering mists. Once summoned, it is quite useful for a full day’s travel or for riding into battle.
The ghostly horse has the following stats:
- AC of 18 (-1 size, +4 natural armor, +5 Dex)
- 16 hit points: If it loses all its hit points, the phantom steed disappears.
- Speed of 180 feet. The mount can ride over sandy, muddy, or even swampy ground without difficulty or decrease in speed.
- The horse cannot attack.
- It can bear its rider’s weight plus up to 90 pounds
Moderate conjuration; craft wonderous item, phantom steed; CL 9th; 1 lbs, 9,720 gold
Posted in Magic Item and tagged saddle, wondrous item by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Magedust
The invention of Nazur Tscheryn, the original version of this spell component can be added to many spells to extend their duration. It can also have other, stranger, properties when used with certain spells, similar to wild effects. For the most part this has the effect of extending the spell cast as though the caster had used the Extend Spell feat, thereby doubling the duration of the spell cast.
When using magedust, spells take a full round to cast, unless the spell’s casting time is longer than a standard action, in which case the spell’s casting time is unchanged.
The idea of supplementing material components has spread throughout the arcane community, leading to much experimentation. For the original version, mages tend to mix magedust using equal parts saltpeter, magnesium, sulfurous ash, though there are countless variations, some of which have other metamagical effects, such as extending the range and area of effect.
For a gram of magedust, it usually costs 100 gold coins, or 50 gold coins to make it yourself, depending on the individual recipe. The search is on to find cheaper alternatives to bring about the same effects. In all cases, craft alchemy checks can be used to create magedust for half the market prices listed below.
Enough magedust to extend up to a 3rd level spell costs 100 gold to buy. To extend up to a 6th level spell, 250 gold worth of mage dust must be used. And to extend up to a ninth level spell, 500 gold worth of magedust must be used.
Posted in Magic Item and tagged spell component, wondrous item by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Blades of Glass
Researched for years by Malthalious the Inquisitive in an attempt to craft the ultimate weapon, eventually he invented a difficult and costly alchemical process through which an amalgam of diamond and adamantium is created. When used for the blade of a weapon, this material holds an edge keener than any other. Additionally the blades have a transparent quality: they appear to be made from glass or crystal of some type, with wide variations in hue and clarity depending on the quality of the work and imperfections in the materials.
Properties of weapons with Blades of Glass
- Have the Keen property, though they are not magical
- Must be masterwork, and cost an additional 5,000 gold to produce
- Have a hardness of 3, much lower than steel or wood, and so are vulnerable to being sundered. Blades of Glass have 20 HP per inch of thickness, so a light blade has 1 HP, a one-handed blade has 3 HP, and a two-handed blade has 6 HP.
- A DC 40 craft: metalworking and spellcraft check is required to produce the material
Posted in Equipment and tagged special material, weapon by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Aeonados Dy’rashe
One of a clutch of 5 offspring to a silver dragon, and her lover, a powerful elven druid in the northern reaches beyond the Danor Mountains. Aeonados has fine, tough silver scales covering his body, vestigial wings, a short tail, and an impressive frill running from his forehead and down his neck. He and his siblings were pushed out of the nest at a young age (60 or so), as is typical for dragons. In the fifty years since he has wandered the wild lands on the north shore of the soral sea, until meeting and becoming fast friends with Winnie (as she fled the law), who he is teaching about the ways of the wild lands, as he knows nothing of the cities.
Aeonados Dy’rashe, half silver dragon/half elf ranger 2
NG Medium-Size dragon
Init +4
AC 25 (touch 15, flat-foot 21 )
HP 17 (HD 2d8+2)
Immunities: cold, sleep and paralysis
Resistances: +2 vs enchantment or charm
SV Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +2
Spd 30 ft
Attack: mw. greatsword +7 (2d6+6) or longbow +7 (1d8+5)
Attack Options: point blank shot(+1/+1 at less than 30′), breath weapon (30′ cone of cold, 6d8, reflex DC 11 half)
Space / Reach: 5ft. / 5ft.
Base Attack: +2 Grapple: +6
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 19, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 14.
Skills: sp:30 +4 handle animal, +3 heal, knowledge +1 dungeoneering, +1 geography, +2 nature, +8 listen, +8 spot, +4 search, +8 survival, +6 swim, common, elven, draconic,
Feats: Track, Point Blank Shot, (Rapid Shot).
Special Qualities: Immune to cold, sleep and paralysis, +2 vs enchantment or charm, low-light vision, favored enemy (magical beast), wild empathy, breath weapon (30′ cone of cold, 6d8, reflex DC 11 half), darkvision 60′, archery combat style.
Possessions: +1 mighty (+4 str) composite longbow, 20 arrows, +2 chain shirt, masterwork greatsword, 3 potions cure light wounds, potion of sanctuary, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, 845 gp, backpack, bedroll, waterskin, 5 days ratons.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Character, Creature by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Mage Hand of Athenetos
This hand belonged to Athenetos of the Spider-Priests, a drow wizard of great power. When he was slain by Barael his daemonic familiar whisked his corpse to safety and eventually sold it to Oxceros, an yugoloth arcanaloth. Oxceros pried all the secrets he could from the body via necromantic magic, and then used the left hand to create this Mage Hand. He used it for some time before trading it to Belo Adukar, a dwarven mage along with knowledge of some powerful spells in exchange for a pledge of service and devotion. On Belo’s death it passed out of history into the mortal world. DC 40 knowledge arcana, history or planes reveals this history.
The mage hand is in a glass and crystal requilary, which is inscribed with the name Athenetos. When held it functions as a rod of maxamizing metamagic allowing the wielder to spontaneously maximize up to three spells of up to sixth level each day. Additionally it can be used to cast spectral hand 1/day and a maximized touch of idiocy 3 / day. These effects are at caster level 17, 3 and 9 respectively.
This mage hand is worth 104,760 gold. It and it’s box weigh 8 pounds.
Posted in Magic Item and tagged mage hand, relic, wondrous item by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Naahaogo Hunter and Warrior
Presented below are a two examples of the Naahaogo people that players might encounter in their mountainous homes. The first is a experienced hunter, who might just be a provider for his tribe, or might be specialized in stalking the arctic’s Ice Kobolds, or fighting off encroaching human settlers. The second is a warrior, such as might defend the tribe in times of trouble.
Naahaogo Hunter CR 3
Naahaogo ranger 3
neutral with chaotic tendencies Size Medium humanoid
Init: +3 Senses: Listen +6, Spot +6
Languages: Naahaogo
AC: 16 (+3 dex, +3 armor) touch 13, flatfooted 16
HP: 20 (HD 3d8+6)
Fort: +5 Ref: +6 Will: +2
MV: 30 ft.
Attack: longspear +5 (1d8+2 / 20 x3) or longbow +8 (1d8 / 20 x3)
Attack Options: Rapid Shot: longbow +6 / +6 (1d8 / 20 x3)
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Base Attack: +3 Grapple: +4
Abilities Str 14 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 8 Wis 12 Cha 7
SA: Favored Enemy (Animal or Ice Kobolds or Humanoids (human)), wild empathy
Feats: Rapid Shot, Track, Dodge, Endurance, Precise Shot, Mobility
Skills: 30 Climb +7, Hide +8, Jump +7, Listen +6, Move Silently +8, Spot +6.
Possessions: studded leather, masterwork longbow, 10 masterwork arrows, longspear, potion of cure light wounds, malachite and silver bracers and necklace worth 500 gold.
Naahaogo Warrior CR 1
Naahaogo warrior 2
neutral with chaotic tendencies Size Medium humanoid
Init: +1 Senses: Listen +0, Spot +0
Languages: Naahaogo
AC: 14 (+3 armor, +1 dex) touch 11, flatfooted 13
HP: 11 (HD 2d8+2)
Fort: +4 Ref: +1 Will: +0
MV: 20 ft.
Attack: greatsword +3 (2d6 + 1 / 19-20 x 2) or spear +3 (1d6 +3)
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Base Attack: +2 Grapple: +3
Abilities Str 13 Dex 12 Con 13 Int 6 Wis 10 Cha 8
Feats: dodge
Skills: Ballance +6, Climb +7, Jump +7
Possessions: hide armor, greatsword and spear.
Tactics: These warriors will try to use their home terrain to their advantage, fighting defensive actions and using their excellent jumping and climbing abilities to secure high ground and make their oponnents approach them over dangerous ground.
Posted in 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons / d20 fantasy / Pathfinder, Character, Creature and tagged Naahaogo by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Strange Pilgrims on the Road
In this encounter, 
the players meet a group of religious pilgrims at a crossroad, who happen to be traveling the same direction. The leader of the group, a strangely intense charismatic older person, asks the party to travel with them awhile to exchange news and share company.
Talking to them the party learns that they are a group of religious pilgrims, either traveling to a holy site, migrating to a new land, or wandering in search of the promised land where they can practice their faith in peace. If the party travels long enough with them, they camp together and get a glimpse into their strange ways at smoke-enshrouded gatherings late in the evening.
This encounter can go different ways, depending on what you want to get out of it as the Gamemaster.
- CG – party is actually religious pilgrims, and may need help getting through a difficult area ahead, be it a war zone, monster-infested land, or something else.
- CN – they’re actually theives, masquerading as pilgrims, but pretty friendly. May try to filch something from the party, but will probably try to be discreet. May do some robbing in a town along the way, putting the party in a difficult position if they catch wind of it or the pilgrims are accused of the thefts.
- CE – the cult is a group of theives, lead by an assassin. They may be on the way to an important job, or just nomadic by nature. They may try to make a sacrifice of the party to their dark gods, or may later assassinate someone important to the party, like a NPC who has hired them. A great way to introduce a recurring villain.
Posted in Encounter by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
Crawling Drake
This creature’s common name is something of a misnomer, as this dragon-like creature has no legs, just a scaly, sinuous, serpentine body and a set of wings set above a thickening in it’s trunk midway down it’s body. Able to stand up by propping itself up with it’s wings, these drakes deliver vicious wounds with their snapping jaws.
Their origin is speculated to be a mixture of dark things of the underlands, such as a fang dragon, mixed with other creatures from the outer realms of cruelty and madness. Able to speak a few words of broken draconic and undercommon, crawling drakes are not espically intelligent, but they are tremendously fearsome, nasty and cruel.
Presented are three forms, wyrmling, adult and methelusean versions.
Wyrmling Crawling Drake CR 5
CE Medium Dragon
Init: +3 Senses: Blindsense 120ft., Darkvision 120ft. Listen +12, Spot +12
Languages: very little draconic and undercommon
AC: 19 (+6 Natural Armor, +3 Dex) touch 13, flatfooted 16
HP: 75 (10d12)
Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +10
MV: 20 ft, fly 60ft (clumsy)
Attack: Bite + 14, 1d6+3 (19-20 / x2)
Attack Options: Constrict 1d3+4
Space / Reach: 5ft. / 5ft.
Base Attack: +10 Grapple: +13
Abilities Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 5
SA: Constrict, Blindsense 120ft.
Feats: Weapon Focus (bite), Power Attack, Improved Critical (bite), Iron Will
Skills: Hide +13, Listen +12, Move Silently +13, Spot +12
Treasure: Standard
Adult Crawling Drake CR 10
CE Large Dragon
Init: +6 Senses: Blindsense 120ft., Darkvision 120ft. Listen +27, Spot +27
Languages: very little draconic and undercommon
AC: 19 (+8 natural Armor, +2 Dex, -1 Size) touch 11, flatfooted 18
HP: 199 (19d12 + 114)
Fort +16, Ref +15, Will +15
MV: 20 ft, fly 60ft (clumsy)
Attack: Bite + 27, 1d8+7 (19-20 / x2)
Attack Options: Constrict 1d6+7
Space / Reach: 10ft. / 5ft.
Base Attack: +19 Grapple: +26
Abilities Str 24, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 5
SA: Constrict, Blindsense 120ft.
Feats: Weapon Focus (bite), Power Attack, Improved Critical (bite), Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Improved Overrun, Improved Initiative
Skills: Hide +33, Listen +33, Move Silently +33, Spot +33
Treasure: Standard
Methusalean Crawling Drake CR 15
CE Huge Dragon
Init: +1 Senses: Blindsense 120ft., Darkvision 120ft. Listen +49, Spot +49
Languages: very little draconic and undercommon
AC: 22 (+13 natural armor, +1 Dex, -2 Size) touch 9, flatfooted 23
HP: 287 (25d12 + 125)
Fort +32, Ref +28, Will +30
MV: 20 ft, fly 60ft (clumsy)
Attack: Bite + 37, 2d6+11 (19-20 / x2)
Attack Options: Constrict 1d8+11
Space / Reach: 10ft. / 5ft.
Base Attack: +25 Grapple: +36
Abilities Str 32, Dex 12, Con 24, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 5
SA: Constrict, Blindsense 120ft.
Feats: Weapon Focus (bite), Power Attack, Improved Critical (bite), Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Improved Overrun, Improved Initiative, Cleave, Great Cleave
Skills: Hide +49, Listen +49, Move Silently +49, Spot +49
Treasure: Standard
COMBAT
Crawling drakes are crafty combatants and adept stalkers, and so will ambush their prey when possible. Once they pick a target, they will attempt to crush them in their coils while delivering bite after bite.
Constrict (Ex): On a successful grapple check, a wyrmling crawling drake deals 1d4+3 points of damage. Adult drakes deal 1d6+7 points of damage, and Methusalean drakes deal 1d8+11 points of damage.
Posted in Creature and tagged dragon by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.
River Dragon
Presented below is Unicorn Rampant, Claw / Claw / Bite !, and my first new, original True Dragon. I’m quite pleased for a number of reasons. First of all, I feel like I’m really contributing to the cannon of great d20 system material out there. A true dragon, and a chromatic dragon at that, is something that feels like a real creative accomplishment.
In addition, this post marks a new addition to the Claw / Claw / Bite ! crew: Joe Calkins of Cerberus Art. Joe’s great illustration below really captures the terror and majesty of a water beast like this nicely. Welcome aboard, Joe!
Aquamarine (River) Dragon
Size/Type: True Dragon (Water)
Environment: Any river or underground water source
Organization: Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile, and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm, or great wyrm: solitary, pair, or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring)
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 3; very young 5; young 7; juvenile 9; young adult 12; adult 15; mature adult 17; old 19; very old 20; ancient 22; wyrm 23; great wyrm 25
Treasure: Triple standard
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral with Evil tendencies
Advancement: Wyrmling 7-8 HD; very young 10-11 HD; young 13-14 HD; juvenile 16-17 HD; young adult 19-20 HD; adult 22-23 HD; mature adult 25-26 HD; old 28-29 HD; very old 31-32 HD; ancient 34-35 HD; wyrm 37-38 HD; great wyrm 40+ HD
Level Adjustment: Wyrmling +4; very young +4; young +6; others —
These cruel river dragons crawl from their wet shells a icy blue color highlighted by tiny white spines in rows along their backs and limbs. Their long sinuous bodies are powerfully muscled making them excellent swimmers but their wings are somewhat small. As they age and spend long periods lying amongst the rocks and mud at the bottoms of progressively deeper rivers their hides take on the coloration of the river they inhabit, be it mossy, muddy, or rocky as they become impregnated with those materials.
Aquamarine dragons live in rivers; from headwaters at young ages to deltas once older. They spend their long lives hiding underwater, controlling currents and capriciously drowning people. They tend to bury their hordes in caches and caves they dig at the bottom of their rivers and into cavernous aquifers.
Occasionally they will encounter another river dragon as they age and move slowly from their mountaintop springs to deeper waters. When these encounters take place they will generally fight for dominance and control of the river. Losers are slain if they cannot escape back upriver. On the occasions when they are of opposite sexes, mating may occur before or after the fight for dominance, and the victor will send the loser upriver to hide the eggs amongst the stones at the springs and headwaters of the river.
Combat
River dragons are rarely found out of their rivers, and use the water as cover from which to make quick strikes and then fade away.
Breath Weapon (Su)
A river dragon’s breath weapon is a powerful line of frigid water. The damage dealt is half cold and half bludgeoning. In addition to the damage, creatures must make a strength check opposed by the dragon’s breath weapon DC or be affected as by a bull rush: being pushed back 5 ft and and additional foot for every point by which they lost the opposed strength check.
Water Breathing (Ex)
A river dragon can breathe underwater indefinitely and can freely use its breath weapon, spells, and other abilities while submerged.
Create Spring (Su)
A river dragon can create a new spring once per day as a full-round action. The dragon digs down into the earth and spits water from it’s mouth as a use of it’s breath weapon. This creates a small, permanent spring at that spot, large enough to feed a small stream.
Spell-Like Abilities
At will— water walk; 1/day fog cloud (young or older), 3/day control water (adult or older); 1/day—control weather (great wyrm).
Skills
Bluff, Intimidate, and Survival are considered class skills for aquamarine dragons.
River Dragons by Age
|
Age |
Size |
Hit Dice (hp) |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
Base Attack/ |
Attack |
Fort |
Ref |
Will |
Breath |
Frightful |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wyrmling |
S |
6d12+6 (45) |
14 |
10 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
14 |
+6/+3 |
+9 |
+6 |
+5 |
+7 |
2d4 (14) |
— |
|
Very young |
M |
9d12+18 (76) |
16 |
10 |
15 |
14 |
15 |
14 |
+9/+11 |
+12 |
+8 |
+6 |
+8 |
4d4 (16) |
— |
|
Young |
M |
12d12+24 (102) |
18 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
+12/+15 |
+16 |
+10 |
+8 |
+11 |
6d4 (18) |
— |
|
Juvenile |
L |
15d12+45 (142) |
20 |
10 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
18 |
+15/+23 |
+17 |
+12 |
+9 |
+13 |
8d4 (20) |
— |
|
Young adult |
L |
18d12+72 (189) |
24 |
10 |
19 |
18 |
19 |
18 |
+18/+28 |
+24 |
+15 |
+11 |
+15 |
10d4 (23) |
23 |
|
Adult |
H |
21d12+105 (241) |
28 |
10 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
20 |
+21/+37 |
+28 |
+17 |
+12 |
+17 |
12d4 (25) |
25 |
|
Mature adult |
H |
24d12+120 (276) |
30 |
10 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
20 |
+24/+41 |
+32 |
+19 |
+14 |
+19 |
14d4 (27) |
27 |
|
Old |
H |
27d12+162 (337) |
32 |
10 |
23 |
22 |
23 |
22 |
+27/+45 |
+36 |
+21 |
+15 |
+21 |
16d4 (29) |
29 |
|
Very old |
H |
30d12+180 (375) |
34 |
10 |
23 |
22 |
23 |
22 |
+30/+49 |
+40 |
+23 |
+17 |
+23 |
18d4 (31) |
31 |
|
Ancient |
G |
33d12+231 (445) |
36 |
10 |
25 |
24 |
25 |
24 |
+33/+57 |
+42 |
+25 |
+18 |
+25 |
20d4 (33) |
33 |
|
Wyrm |
G |
36d12+288 (522) |
38 |
10 |
27 |
26 |
27 |
26 |
+36/+61 |
+46 |
+28 |
+20 |
+28 |
22d4 (36) |
36 |
|
Great wyrm |
G |
39d12+312 (565) |
40 |
10 |
27 |
26 |
27 |
26 |
+39/+65 |
+50 |
+29 |
+21 |
+29 |
24d4 (37) |
37 |
River Dragon Abilities by Age
|
Age |
Speed |
Initiative |
AC |
Special Abilities |
Caster |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wyrmling |
40 ft., fly 30 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
16 (+1 size, +5 natural), |
Immunity to cold, |
— |
— |
|
Very young |
40 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
18 (+8 natural), |
— |
— |
|
|
Young |
40 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
21 (+11 natural), |
Fog cloud |
1st |
— |
|
Juvenile |
40 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor), swim 60 ft. |
+0 |
23 (-1 size, +14 natural), |
Create Spring |
3rd |
— |
|
Young adult |
40 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft. |
+0 |
26 (-1 size, +17 natural), |
DR 5/magic |
5th |
20 |
|
Adult |
40 ft., fly 90 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft. |
+0 |
28 (-2 size, +20 natural), |
control water |
7th |
22 |
|
Mature adult |
40 ft., fly 90 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft. |
+0 |
31 (-2 size, +23 natural), |
DR 10/magic |
9th |
23 |
|
Old |
40 ft., fly 90 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft. |
+0 |
34 (-2 size, +26 natural), |
11th |
25 |
|
|
Very old |
40 ft., fly 90 ft. (poor), swim 90 ft. |
+0 |
37 (-2 size, +29 natural), |
DR 15/magic |
13th |
26 |
|
Ancient |
40 ft., fly 120 ft. (clumsy), swim 120 ft. |
+0 |
38 (-4 size, +32 natural), |
15th |
28 |
|
|
Wyrm |
40 ft., fly 120 ft. (clumsy), swim 120 ft. |
+0 |
41 (-4 size, +35 natural), |
DR 20/magic |
17th |
29 |
|
Great wyrm |
40 ft., fly 120 ft. (clumsy), swim 120 ft. |
+0 |
44 (-4 size, +38 natural), |
Control weather |
19th |
31 |
-
Can also cast cleric spells and those from the Cruelty, Trickery, and Water domains as arcane spells.
- river dragon description in bold text block copyright Unicorn Rampant Publishing
- artwork copyright Joe Calkins Cerberus Art
- all other material published under the terms of the Open Gaming License
Posted in Creature and tagged dragon, true dragon, water subtype by Adam A. Thompson with no comments yet.