Dungeon #130

[Angel Tarragon]

Haven't gotten mine yet. Dang I want it already!

 

[Alzrius]

This sounds like a great issue all around. What level is the adventure quoted above?

Whoops! I forgot to post the levels for the last two adventures in the issue. Sorry about that. I went back and added them in above. "The Palace of Plenty" is an adventure for 10th-level characters.

 

[Alzrius]

Hmm, it looks like "The Palace of Plenty" may be a Rokugan adventure after all. While I'm not familiar with any of the places or events mentioned in the adventure, I got an answer over on the Paizo boards about the Void Dragon. It seems it's Rokugan-specific. The following text is quoted from the Rokugan d20 campaign setting:

"...To see into a Dragon's eye is to see the depth of the cosmos; to hear its words, to hear the limitless wisdom of the Heavens. They are more than simply the embodiment of primal forces - they are the universe itself. - Akodo Kaneda

There are seven Dragons in the Celestial Heavens, all of which represent part of the universe's foundation. The five Elemental Dragons (Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Void) are the best-known, and they are joined by the Celestial Dragon and the Thunder Dragon to hold the world together. They represent that which is both pure and holy of their element, and are said to be more powerful than the Fortunes themselves.

The Elemental Dragons are tied more closely to Rokugan than are the other two. They were created with the universe, as the primal stuff of creation slowly formed into the five basic elements. These Dragons moved among mortals when the Celestial Heavens were much closer to the earth, and took great interest in them.
...
Only the Thunder and Celestial Dragons directly interfere in the affairs of mortals very often. 'Often' to a Dragon is once or twice every hundred years; the Dragons sometimes appear to worthy mortals who ask for their guidance, or charge them with a duty from the Celestial Heavens. The Elemental Dragons choose to affect the moral realm through their Oracles and by sending mortals dreams or visions.

The Dragons themselves are the lords of the Celestial Heavens, just below Sun (Amaterasu) and Moon (Onnotangu). They hold reality together with their very existence...They usually act and think independently, though they view one another as family. Each Dragon is the embodiment of an Element, though they can appear in any forms they choose."

 

[IcyCool]

Dragons basically ARE gods in most oriental settings, but are not quite invincible.

To my understanding, the 3.x Oriental Adventures setting is the same as AEG's Legend of the Five Rings setting. The Dragon Clanbook for L5R has a very entertaining note about dragons. The short summary is: Dragons are immortal, god-like beings, they can have whatever stats they want to have, can cast whatever spells they want, as often or as rapidly as they want, and can tear apart and reassemble a PC just by looking at him.

Of course, this being a D&D port, it wouldn't surprise me if they gave it stats so the PC's can kill it.

Also, according to my count (which is a bit shaky admittedly), there are 7 dragons and one half-dragon in the L5R setting: The Air Dragon, the Earth Dragon, the Fire Dragon, the Water Dragon, the Jade Dragon, the Void Dragon, Togashi, and Togashi's son.

 

[Raloc]

Dungeoncraft: Winging It, by Monte Cook - Monte talks about the mathematics of winging it.

I think I can say I have winging it down to a proverbial artform, but I like most anything written by Monte. May have to pick this one up (honestly, I'd like to just get a sub, but I don't know if I want to spend the money :/)

 

[Stormborn]

I think I can say I have winging it down to a proverbial artform, but I like most anything written by Monte. May have to pick this one up (honestly, I'd like to just get a sub, but I don't know if I want to spend the money :/)

This is the 3rd in a series. The 2nd one is the most interesting so far. And as it should still be out on newstands you might want to go check it out.

 

[Raloc]

Hmm, thanks for the heads up, will have to check that out. /me goes to check Monte's site, since he hasn't done so for ages.

 

[eris404]

Whoops! I forgot to post the levels for the last two adventures in the issue. Sorry about that. I went back and added them in above. "The Palace of Plenty" is an adventure for 10th-level characters.

Thanks! Now I know when to spring this on my players.

 

[haakon1]

All 3 adventures in 131 sound great! It's been a while since I was enthused by a Dungeon issue.

 

[haakon1]

she was on the cover recently with her lover...

Issue 121 is the one you're thinking of, with Iggwilv as the cover girl. "The Fiend's Embrace" is the adventure . . . just posted about it in the "greatest Dungeon adventure" thread.